It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Okay so our house is all decorated and it is definitely beginning to look a lot like Christmas. We have our four big pine wreaths with red bows on them out on our front porch, we have our great big wreath hanging on our front door, our Santa head is mounted on our front porch, and last but not least our Christmas tree is all decorated and looks absolutely beautiful. Even though our lights on our tree died on us it was NOT going to ruin our holiday season, let alone Christmas. My brilliant husband went to our storage shed and got out 2 big strands of lights and put them on our tree so that we could have a lit Christmas tree. It worked and all is well for now. Once we take down our tree this year we will take off all of the lights that kicked the bucket and get rid of them. Who would've thought that the artificial tree that we just bought last year would have already died on us, or at least all of the lights! I thought we would get more out of it than that and I was excited when we bought this there tree because it was a pre-lit tree. Richie wound up checking on the warranty and can you believe it........ it only came with a one year warranty, that was up the beginning of this month. Ah well like I said my husband fixed it for now with new lights and every night we turn out all the lights and admire our lighted Christmas villages and our fixed Christmas tree. Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree how lovely are your branches.

There is something so majestic about a Christmas tree to me. Perhaps it has so much meaning for me because I remember the couple of years that my Mother and I were not able to have a tree at all. After my step-dad left we were having a tough time financially and things were really tight at the time. We were just focusing on paying our bills and our local church was helping us with food and our utility bills so a Christmas tree was definitely out of the question. I also am reminded of this one year when we were living in Georgia that I found a $20 bill in a convenient store close to my house. I took it up to the manager and he said he would hold it but if noone claimed it within 24 hours he would contact me. I gave him my phone number and I couldn't believe it when he was calling me a day and a half later telling me noone claimed the money and that I could come get it. Knowing what I wanted to do with that $20 I rushed down there and picked up the money. I took that money and bought my Mom and I a Christmas tree that year and it really made us feel so special at Christmastime. I remember praying that night and thanking God for allowing me to be able to keep that money and thanking Him that we were fortunate enough to get a real Christmas tree that year. So perhaps now one could understand why putting up a tree at Christmastime means so much to me. I am more thankful for having one now because of those years when we weren't able to have one at all, whether it was fake or real. Sure I know what Christmas is all about but having a tree up makes it feels that much more special.

May you and your family have a wonderful holiday season. May you take the time to enjoy the special times with friends and family and may we all remember what Christmas is all about.

Blessings,

~Lori