Our tree

Besides our nativities, my favorite Christmas decoration is our tree. I love clicking on the lights and seeing it start to sparkle. Looking at it also brings back memories of Christmases past. I remember our Christmas in Birmingham, the first Christmas we put up a tree (a live one that cost $12.88). I was so excited because my Mom had given me a lof of the trimmings for my birthday and had helped me design it. That Christmas we were so poor almost all of our presents came from the dollar store (and there weren't many!!!), but the spirit we felt that Christmas was so strong. We were forced to be simple, and simplicity focused us on the Savior.

I also remember the Christmas Lydia was born. She wasn't due until after Christmas but came a week early on December 21. We were living in David's parents unfinished basement and our Christmas tree was our valiant attempt at making our "home" feel cozy and nice. That Christmas all tradition went out the window and it honestly wasn't one of my favorite years. We had pasta for our Christmas Eve dinner, and Christmas morning McKenna woke up with pink eye (which quickly passed to me). It's a Christmas I don't want to forget though because it reminds me that for Mary and Joseph the circumstances of Christ's birth were not ideal. I tend to want things to be perfect, and remembering that Christmas reminds me that things don't have to be ideal to be wonderful and triumphant.

Looking at our Christmas tree also makes me eagerly anticipate our upcoming Christmas. Abbi will be home from Romania, my parents and Adam will fly in, and we will all join together around the Christmas tree. We'll act out the nativity, sing Christmas carols, and bask in the love and spirit of the season.