Today we went hunting. We were hunting the rare and obscure “perfect tree”. We didn’t find “The One”, but we were able to fill our tags so to speak. I personally like the Noble Fir. This variety has a nice contrasting grey and green. The needles are erect and well spaced and have the nicest smell to them. We will spend a little time decorating this beauty and will be happy with its appearance as is. I’m a minimalist when it comes to decorating trees, no tinsel, not too many lights, just the right amount of decorations, and I’m happy. What really gets our juices flowing is when the pile starts to build under the tree. My kids are putting little envelopes and hand made items under there saying “I made this for you at school, or here’s your present.”
My family has a large number of members, I’m the eldest of seven kids, there are fourteen grandkids, so far…. We’re (my closest siblings in age) waiting for the rest to pick up the torch and add to the number, but nothing yet. When we get together for any occasion whether it’s Christmas or Thanksgiving or just a birthday we are a noisy, boisterous, happy crowd. My parents usually host these events as they have the house that raised most of us and therefore have the room. We will celebrate with great revel, but we are also cognizant of the Reason for our celebration. We are a family that recognizes that Jesus Christ is the cause, the source, of our time of celebration. That and that my father has a birthday on Christmas Eve. It’s more important to me to have my family together to celebrate, than to receive a present or any gift. Our time on this earth is limited and we’ll be here for just a spell so it’s the time together that seems to be appropriate to me. That is my idea of a perfect gift, family, together.