Advent: The Tree

We may have gone on the hunt for the perfect tree the day before Advent started, but I’m still counting it as an Advent tradition.  We always have a blast.  For five years running, we’ve ventured up to the Salado Christmas Tree Farm.  Worth every mile.  They have a cute little hayride, hot chocolate, awesome swings, the nicest folk and most importantly, the most beautiful trees!

Here, it is all about the atmosphere.  Scott and I have had artificial trees, Lowe’s bought trees and trees delivered by the Knights of Columbus.  By far, my fav is Salado.  For one, we have a great time choosing “the” three.  There’s always one that stands out and it just lights up when we get it home.  We can’t help but remember Clark Griswold everytime we bring it in the house, though.  “Lotta sap.”

Scott and the boys get it all situated in the tree stand, I put on the lights and tree skirt and the kids help with the ornaments.  There is something about the smell of a real tree and ornaments hung a little too low, all clumped together that make it the perfect tree.  It may not grace the cover of a magazine or be featured on a how-to decorating blog, but it is our tree.  And it is perfect.  As we hang all those ornaments, I’m reminded of my childhood, my children’s first fingerprints and art projects, special trinkets I picked up in special places, my heritage, my past and my future.  Surely, that is what God intended.  As we decorate our trees, take the time to make it a memory rather than a chore.

A stroll down memory lane, shall we?

2011

2010 

2009

2008

2007

2006