Oh Christmas Tree

Every year I, along with people all over the world, bring a tree into the house and decorate it for the holidays. And even though there are millions of Christmas trees decorated each year, and even though I've been doing it my entire life, there is something very special about it.

For some people the debate between real and fake is alive and well, but while I appreciate a real tree, there is something to be said for the one time purchase of an artificial tree.  I take the artificial tree route. Its perfectly balanced so I don't need to worry about it falling in the middle of the night (as happened the last time a real tree entered my home), there is no risk of critters coming inside with it ( I'm told this can be a problem) and I already have it, so I don't have to go out in the cold to hunt down a beautiful tree only to have to determine how to get it back home.All I have to do is haul the box into the living room and begin the assembly.

I love the look of a carefully decorated tree with matching ornaments, ribbon and accents. There is no denying that these are beautiful, but I'm sentimental and have quite the collection of ornaments that have been gifted to me that I love pulling out to display. I think every year of my life I have received at least three ornaments, some with special meaning, some that are just pretty.

Once the tree is assembled, the lights strung, and the ornaments carefully placed, I love to just sit back and look at it. It's the same ornaments, the same lights, and the same tree, usually in the same location of the living room, and yet each year I am amazed at how beautiful it is. I never put up the tree until we are actually in December and it usually comes down a day or two after the new year. With the clock ticking on 2014, I don't have much time left to admire my tree!

I hope you spent your holiday around a beautiful tree with family and friends as well!