While I would like more of my miniature starships adorning the tree, I especially like seeing the ornaments that either feature my children or were made by them. This way the tree becomes a reminder of my own family tree and the connections that we have to one another. It also helps me remember the people that my children were as I spend time with the people that my children have come to be. Looking at the tree becomes a way of looking at my own family's history.
I especially like having the timer set so that the lights on the tree are on before I wake up and until after I go to bed (they serve as a nice reminder during break that I have stayed up too late). With other lights out through the rest of the house, the tree's lights give a peaceful glow that fills me with contentment. I wonder if this is the modern equivalent of humans gazing up at the stars ...
I still don't feel like Christmas is just a little over a week away. I know that the lack of snow is a part of my problem. Finances, too, have made this season a little less cheerful. I don't know whether either of those is the issue, but I do know that the tree certainly lightens my spirits.