Mixed Nuts: Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree

Quotes

"There is no better way to thank God for your sight than by giving a helping hand to someone in the dark." - Helen Keller
When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, "I used everything you gave me." ~Erma Bombeck
You may never know how strong you are, until being strong is your only choice.- Unknown
Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see a shadow' ~Helen Keller
Promise me you'll always remember: You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.
Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened."- Dr. Seuss
"Life is 10% what happens to you, and 90% how you react to it."
"God doesn't give children with disabilities to strong people: He gives them to ordinary, everyday people, then He helps the parents to grow stronger through the journey. Raising a child with special needs doesn't TAKE a special family, it MAKES a special family."Author Unknown
I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go – Abraham Lincoln
Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. ~ Benjamin Franklin
There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as if everything is a miracle - Albert Einstein
The journey of a 1000 miles starts with a single step
Sometimes in the middle of an ordinary life, love gives you a fairy tale
Where there is great love, there are always miracles - Willa Cather
The Difficult we can do immediately, the impossible takes a little longer
Doing what you like is freedom. Liking what you do is happiness
There are two lasting bequests we can give our children. One is roots. The other is wings.
Be the change you want to see in the world
Don't tell God how big the storm is, tell the storm how big Your God is..........
Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it
Fall down seven times - get up eight - unknown
Despite our differences, we sink or swim together
Life may not be the party we expected, but while we are here, we might as well dance
"The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones." -Confucius

Monday, November 30, 2015

Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree

This weekend we decorated the house for Christmas and got our Christmas tree. Each year we go to a "Cut your own" farm, and pick a tree. We cut it down ourselves (well, Mat does), and haul it home.

This year, we used a new farm we haven't tried in the past. I am so glad we did because not only did they have amazing trees, the prices were exceptional for this area. Every tree - no matter the size - was the same price, which worked in our favor since we wanted a big one.

Finley named our tree this year "Sticky Joe". He was a little sappy (and we did have a few Clark Griswold moments thanks to the sap), but he is doing well now. We set him up, put the lights on and put on the ornaments.

We love decorating the tree. We have ornaments from Mat's and my childhood, ornaments we buy each other every year, ornaments the kids pick out each year, and our annual family ornament. We take each ornament out and talk about it and when we got it (all our labeled with the year). And I think about how someday, the kid's ornaments will go with them to their own homes and hang on their own trees.

It is one of my favorite parts of the season. Recounting memories of years past, and thinking about their meaning holds a special place in my heart. Now it really feels like the Christmas season has begun.

Riding the tractor after cutting the tree