day of the Christmas Tree

I think I love the Christmas season more every year. The older I get, the more I realize that nothing about life would make much sense, or matter much, if it were not showered in the light of what Christmas is all about. Jesus is the reason for the season...His miraculous coming as "Emmanuel" (God with us), with the purpose of reconciling a fallen race with their Creator, gives every reason for us to celebrate and treasure the holiday.

And then it's the delight that children find in Christmas. I think I find more joy in watching John and Sam's delight with absolutely everything Christmas than I even felt as a child myself. I mean, the boys get so excited about all the little changes indicating that Christmas is near. They love to see city crews hanging up lights and Christmas decorations.

Oh, and then there are the Santa sightings. Have you noticed that Santa is everywhere? Yes, he is. If you have a three-year-old and a five-year-old, they'll help you never miss a Santa that's there to be seen. So, Sam was thrilled to see "the real Santa" at Half Price Books, and insisted on sitting right down next to him and chatting away as if they were old friends. He cracked me up by addressing Santa by name throughout their chat...here's an excerpt from my recollection...

Sam: "So, Santa, how was your Thanksgiving? Did you have pie?"
Santa (in a deep, jovial voice): "Why yes I did have pie! Ho, ho, ho! So...have you thought about what you want for Christmas?"
Sam (totally clueless, because I don't think he knows he's supposed to "want" certain presents for Christmas): "Ummmm...a tree?"
Santa: "Would you like a Thomas the Train set? Ho, ho, ho..."
Sam (dumbfounded and totally in awe of how Santa could know that Sam wants this item, which John was just given for his birthday!): "YES!!!"

Half Price Books volunteers were nice as well, and gave me a free Polaroid:

I digress. I was going to tell you about going out and cutting down a Christmas tree: our first time to do this as a family. We drove out to a lovely Christmas tree farm (if you're in the Dallas area, let me take this chance to give a recommendation to the Walls Family Farm)...then got a hayride out to the rows upon rows of evergreens.

There we walked and searched for our perfect tree...found it...cut it down...and took it home.

Then we decorated the tree and took the requisite "kids in front of the Christmas tree" photos (of which every photo turned out funny for one reason or another)...

 

Happy December.