OUR CHRISTMAS TREE: CHARLIE BROWN STYLE

When we went out to cut our tree down last weekend, my vision was for a tall, well-branched tree with lots of room for ornaments.  You know, one of those magazine-worthy trees.

It was an accident that we channeled Charlie Brown when we picked the one we cut down!

It’s been several years since my little family has cut down a tree.  Being on my own, a lack of a truck to transport a tree got in the way of doing what I love to do each year.

But this year is different!

We purchased our tree-cutting permit (only $10 from the BLM) and we were on our way with a saw and a feeling of joy in our hearts.

Finding a tree is not easy or quick.  Often trees that look perfect from the front are bare in the back.  Or they are too tall or too short.  Or they are covered with sap.  Or they are just ugly.

It took about one hour to find ours. I always feel grateful to locate the perfect tree, and the angels seem to sing “Hallelujah”, if only as a sigh of relief that the hunt is over.

My biggest obstacle in cutting a tree down is that I can never quite gauge the correct height.  What seems like a perfect fit in the woods, is actually 4 feet too tall in my house.  And that was the case this year.

The fact that our tree was on a bit of a hill probably obscured our view.  And our ability to fully see the top of the tree.

Once we cut the extra off the bottom, our Charlie Brown tree emerged.  Quite distinctly, in fact. It was definitely good for a laugh.  Or two.

And now that it’s decorated?

In all of it’s glory, here is our Christmas tree: Charlie Brown style:

But somehow it fits our life.

Far from perfect, but made wonderful because of love and proper care.

From the outside it may seem a bit lacking to some, but from the inside all the ornaments fit us just right.

It’s our Christmas tree.  And we love it.

Even if it’s Charlie Brown’s style on accident…