The family of Ashley Oleviri, of Lima, picked out new stockings this year.
Courtesy of Ashley Oleviri
The family of Ashley Oleviri, of Lima, decided on a minimal winter look.
Courtesy of Ashley Oleviri
The family of Ashley Oleviri, of Lima, has hung their stockings with care and decorated their Christmas tree with simple decor.
Courtesy of Ashley Oleviri
Trevor Pellegrini, of Wapakoneta, made these cut-outs to decorate with this year.
Courtesy of Trevor Pellegrini
Trevor Pellegrini, of Wapakoneta, always decorates and is excited to do so.
Courtesy of Trevor Pellegrini
The family of Mary Lou Bryan helped her decorate this year, like they usually do, and added the “Joy” sign in the front. She was excited to be the first in her neighborhood to decorate for the season.
Courtesy of Theresa Hoffman
The family of Mary Lou Bryan helped with her tree.
Courtesy of Theresa Hoffman
This is Teresa Maag’s favorite nativity and is a tradition of hers to display.
Courtesy of Teresa Maag
The cat of Marilyn Hinegardner, of Lima, checks out her Christmas village.
Courtesy of Marilyn Hinegardner
Marilyn Hinegardner, of Lima, has two trees.
Courtesy of Marilyn Hinegardner
Kristy Cochenour, of Harrod, decorated before Thanksgiving, which was a first for her.
Courtesy of Kristy Cochenour
Kristy Cochenour, of Harrod, decided to look ahead to the new year a little earlier than usual.
Courtesy of Kristy Cochenour
The Lima News asked readers if they were planning to decorate for Christmas any differently from their usual habits, with the pandemic finding some people with more time and in need of a mood boost.
Their stories are below:
Staying simple
We always decorate the day after Thanksgiving as a tradition, and this year was no different. We did change our theme however, and picked out new ornaments and stockings as a family. We did not get to do as much outside as we like, as it was cost prohibitive due to the pandemic, so it was decided money could best be spent making the best of the holiday for our children who have been homeschooled since March. The pandemic has changed our habits as by this time we would have been planning on having extended family visit, but we have decided not to out of an abundance of caution. We have also had to cut down on typical crafts and cut out all outings unless they can be observable from a vehicle. It definitely isn’t as much as maybe others have, but the simplicity and minimalism are welcome this year that has been fought with struggle and getting adjusted to the new normal.
— Ashley Oleviri, of Lima
Favorite nativity
I love putting my nativity up each year because, to me, this is the meaning of Christmas. It is a very large set with cloth clothing on the figures. It is always the first thing I put up for the Christmas season.
— Teresa Maag, of Leipsic
Handcrafted scene
This year I did my traditional warm white lights and garland. I added a “Grinch” scene this year to my front yard. All the decorations were handcrafted by me. Christmas decorating has always brought me great joy and I’m always anxiously awaiting approval from my wife to begin decorating. This year working as a safety coordinator at Airstream in Jackson Center and dealing with COVID-19 has been a challenge, and the decorations help me escape the tragedy of this year and continue counting my blessings.
— Trevor Pellegrini, of Wapakoneta
First on the block
In early November, with the family’s decision to cancel our big Thanksgiving gathering and much time stuck at home due to the pandemic, my 88-year-old mom (Mary Lou Bryan) started to prep for the Christmas season. Her grandson and great-granddaughter have put up her lights for the past few years. This year they decided to go big. They added the “JOY” sign and put “lighted presents” under a tree. My mom was so thrilled because her lights were the first to go up in the neighborhood.
— Theresa Hoffman, of Lima
Two better than one
COVID-19 has affected all of us this year, so my photos depict how one Lima family brought Christmas a little earlier this year. Even Miss Maizie is wondering how she can make the decorations look “better.” Merry Christmas to all!
— Marilyn Hinegardner, of Lima
Looking ahead
We decorated on Nov. 18. We have never decorated before Thanksgiving. I usually don’t decorate early but this year has been tough on us emotionally and we all needed cheered up. My three grandkids live with me, and they are 4, 7 and 11. We decorated the inside of the house, too. We needed the Christmas spirit in our lives. COVID-19 has been tough on us mentally. Just like it has for everyone else. We needed our spirits lifted. We put 2021 up for the new year already in hopes for a better year. This year has been very strange on us all.
— Kristy Cochenour, of Harrod
