I JUST HAD TO POST A PICTURE OF MY CHRISTMAS TREE!!

OUR FIRST CHRISTMAS TREE

Last weekend I finally bought my first Christmas tree. I had been anticipating this event for weeks, since before we even left for Missouri for Thanksgiving. The thought of having our first Christmas in our own little home was exciting and I couldn't wait to decorate for the holidays. We went to Wal-mart on Friday and chose a nice 7.5 ft tree though our ceilings are barely 8 ft. ha! a little ambitious I'd say, but I loved it nonetheless. I just had to have it. I chose some cute ornaments I thought would be just right and we bought a bunch of lights. As soon as we got home, I opened the Christmas tree box and it already started to feel sentimental. After about 2 hours of putting the tree together I finally dragged it to the corner our little apt. where I wanted it to be. The joy of seeing my first very own Christmas tree was something I will remember for a long time.

My mood was slightly dampened by the fact that our Christmas lights didn't work - not even one set. So I had to be patient for Saturday when we could go back and exchange the lights. I settled for putting my ornaments on a lightless tree. It was beautiful, though the OCD side of me was irritated that I couldn't light it up with pretty white lights. Needless to say, I spent the rest of Friday night staring at it and thinking of all the family traditions we had in Christmases past and how I wanted us to start some of our own traditions.

This year will be our first white Christmas together. The last time I had a white Christmas was probably 20 years ago in Baumholder, Germany. We lived in the mountains of West Germany and so it would snow almost every day of Winter. My brother Mani and I would go sledding down the hills in the back of our house. We'd stay out for hours and hours and then come home as frozen icicles. My mom would always make warm hot chocolate and have treats for us and our friends. Now I hope Sina can enjoy white Christmases here in Utah. There's just something about the snow and it's purity that really brings Christmas to life for me. I can't help but smile when I see how pretty it makes everything look. And since white is a symbol of purity and cleanliness, you can't help but associate that with Christ. How appropriate this time of year.

To all who read this - Merry Christmas!! Stay warm, eat lots of holiday treats, and don't forget to make your own traditions - you're kids will thank you for them.