Surrender

I would have waved a white flag but the draft would have just knocked more needles off of the tree. The saga continues.

Ironically, yesterday, the day that I posted photos of our house decorated for Christmas, was the day that I took the tree down. Merry Christmas kids! The tree is past it's expiration date! I'd had enough of the needles on the floor and was beginning to worry about the flammability factor. Nothing says Peace on Earth like watching your house go up in smoke!

Jack and I carefully removed each and every ornament and then I delicately unstrung the lights. I gently eased the quickly disintegrating tree out the front door and around the back of the house, leaving a trail of needles the whole way. I set the tree in one of the snow covered flower beds in the back yard for the birds. I should probably hang a sign on it: "land at your own risk". Then I returned to the living room to clean up the aftermath. I ended up with two dustpans HEAPING full of needles. It was hilarious really.

So as not to leave the children with no tree at Christmas time, we pulled out Old Faithful. We still have, in a box in the storage room, the artificial tree that Nate and I bought our first Christmas together 13 years ago. We were ecstatic to purchase a tree that first year of marriage and were blind to the reality of the quality of tree that we could afford. It seemed huge and lovely to us then. Now? Ridiculous and small. You can see right straight through it to the pole in the middle. I chuckle a little bit every time I look at it. This morning Jack and Gemma and I decorated it. Carefully. So as to not dislodge any of the branches. Now instead of losing needles, we are in danger of losing whole limbs.

You know, the whole ordeal makes me realize how much it's not about the tree and the decorations and the "stuff" I do to create the perfect Christmas for my family. Swapping our beautiful tree for a more humble one has helped me refocus a little bit. How I handle this extra stress sets the stage for what kind of a Christmas we are going to have. I have to admit, this week I have been very Grinchy, despite my best efforts not to be. I wasn't going to wig out this year. I was going to be more organized, more peaceful, and more loving to my children. I think the Lord is trying to get my attention and show me to slow down. He is showing me that my best efforts aren't ever going to be good enough without Him. He is the only one who can give me true peace at Christmas, or anytime of year for that matter. Even if the Christmas tree gets thrown out the front door.