O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree… It’s that wonderful time of year again, time to visit the tree farm for our annual Christmas tree! Our family loves this tradition: the scent of fresh pine, the beautiful wreaths, and the joy of running through endless rows of fir trees.
On the first Sunday after Thanksgiving, we head out after church to pick the perfect real tree. By then, the air is crisp and chilly, and the tree farm always has hot chocolate and warm apple cider waiting for guests. Our boys absolutely love it!
This tradition prepares my heart for the season ahead. It’s something Candace and I began before our boys were born, something we cherished together that naturally grew into a beloved family tradition. I love our boys’ joyful cheers when we find our Christmas tree. Once it’s chosen, the workers strap it to the top of the car, and off we go!
Getting the tree into the house is always an adventure, ha-ha! We clear space in the front room; we love for the tree to shine through our front window. We set the tree stand in place, with a towel underneath, and pour hot water in the base to warm the sap so the tree can drink and stay fresh as long as possible. The boys help however they can, they’re wonderful little helpers!
Then comes the great tree wrestling match! We cut the twine, haul the tree off the car, and carry it inside. Our cats go wild sniffing it, and by the time it’s standing tall, there’s already a trail of needles from the driveway to the front room.
I’ll usually put on some old Christmas vinyl records, or Candace plays carols on the piano, I play too, just not quite as well as she does! These moments are the heart of who we are. Together, we prepare our home for the joy of Christmas, setting up a decorated evergreen tree as a symbol of everlasting life and hope in the darkness of winter, and placing a star on top reminds us to tell our boys the story of the star over Bethlehem.
God bless you and your family as you live out your old traditions and make new traditions. May the joy and warmth of the season find its way into your heart, and may you be a beacon of hope and love for those who need it most. Merry Christmas!
Logan Fish, Director of Arts and Edmond Hospitality
