Please tell me that I am not the only one who still has their Christmas tree up.
I know, I know, it’s not that we’re lazy, it’s just that having a lit tree brings such calm to a darkened house. We usually keep our tree up well past the New Year, its an important part of our celebrating the return of everyone to the flock.
The Christmas tree and I have become friends.
Our family has always played a holiday game when we drive where the first to spot a tree inside a home and who yells out “Tree in a house” scores a point for that tree. It started as a way for me to keep toddlers focused and it’s continued as a welcome family tradition.
And of course anyone who spots a tree in a house after January 1st not only gets the point but also gets a “luck” bonus as trees are so rare after that date.
Apparently we like to keep our house in a lot of luck.
My birthday is in early January and so for many years, I would convince my family to keep the tree up until my birthday as a sort of decoration. You can take it down after the 8th, I’d tell them, hoping by then that we would all be ready for the change.
This, of course, worked well until the year my son, for his birthday wish, wanted to have the tree up until his birthday. That year we had a fully decorated Christmas tree up until March 24th.
To be honest, it wasn’t the worst thing in the world.
Before I sat down to write this, I walked by our lit tree. I know its days are numbered. With the kids back at school and the college students getting ready to soon leave, I have to acknowledge that our winter holiday is coming to an end and that whether we want to or not , it’s time to return to our regular sometimes hectic schedules.
I will make that change, I promise you – just not today.
And yeah, someone didn’t do a good job hanging those candy canes.
***
Wendy Thomas writes about the lessons learned while raising children and chickens in New Hampshire. Contact her at [email protected]
Also, join me on Facebook to find out more about the flock (children and chickens) and see some pretty funny chicken jokes, photos of tiny houses, and even a recipe or two.
Like what you read here? Consider subscribing to this blog so that you’ll never miss a post. And feel free to share with those who may need a little chicken love.
