We stopped at a lot, less than a couple miles from the house, and located one we could all agree on in less than five minutes. I think the fact that it was sprinkling accelerated the choosing process and made us more agreeable to compromise. Tell stood near it and made sure we didn't lose "the one" when Jim went to get the seller.
He gave himself this job a few years ago and takes it very seriously.
Nolan had stayed home but helped steady the tree during setup, which also happened in less than five minutes.
It only took about twenty years of experience and replacing our less expensive stands for an L.L. Bean cast iron one but Jim and I have finally mastered quickly setting up, and KEEPING up, a straight sturdy tree.
With "A Charlie Brown Christmas" playing and eggnog to sip we enjoyed the memories that so many of the ornaments brought back as we placed them on the tree.
We missed Jubal just a little bit as we placed his special ornaments on the boughs in his place. Some reminded us of the little toddler of a thousand faces.
And some reminded us of the man he has become.
When the tree was decorated I put on one of my favorite Christmas albums, Bryan Duncan's "Christmas Is Jesus", and sat on the couch with Jim enjoying the peacefulness.
No snow. No Jubal. Picking our tree out in 50 degree weather....It's a little melancholy to be sure, but these things don't make Christmas, they only enhance the celebration of the One who was born to bridge the gap between God and us. Christmas is Jesus.
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