Monday, December 7, 2009

Christmas Tree

Someone casually asked me the other day what kind of Christmas tree I had. In the course of the conversation, it was revealed that I did not have "the standard 5 ft artificial tree", but many trees, of various descriptions. Her reply "I thought you would be that type". Hmmmm....."that type"?....what type? It honestly hadn't occurred to me that I was out of the norm (in this. I am well aware that I am not in the norm in most other things). It hadn't even crossed my mind that I had more than one tree. But when she asked, I stopped to count....and it took me a minute. So, I might as well document, and put it out there.
So, let me show you my trees, and explain...
This is my Christmas tree. I thought I had one christmas tree, this one. Went to the tree farm to cut it down, 10 1/2 feet tall, decorated with family ornaments. Obviously, this is my Christmas tree, right?

But then, last year I wanted Toby to have his own tree in his room, to be his night light approaching Christmas, like I had, when I was little. He loves it, and he can do whatever he wants to it without Mommy "fixing" it.
Now, if Toby gets his own tree, then Aimee must too. Actually, Toby insisted, because he was infuriated that Aimee kept taking the bells off of his tree. Aimee loves to pull things off of her tree, and knock it over.

This is Fred. I have had Fred for...15 years? My grandma gave him to me when he was a baby. Fred is MY tree. The official christmas tree of my alfcove. I bought him pink lights this year. Very wild of me.

This is wild too. Scott's coworker gave us an old artificial tree a last year(unsure why) but I decided to give it a try on the front porch, because I was sad that you can't see our family tree from the street this year. My first ever artificial tree over 2 feet tall.

This is also on my front porch, I hesitate to mention it though, because I am pretty sure it is totally dead. It lived on the other side of the porch over the summer, and I didn't make it there with a watering can frequently enough. Makes me sad.
I LOVE these little trees. I had several of them in past years, but couldn't find them anywhere this year. Turns out Big Lots has EVERYTHING. Aren't they sooo cute!
These are some of Fred's friends. I am almost certain that there are Norfolk Pines in the North Pole and Bethlehem.
This is an artificial tree that I had when I was little. And I love it!
And this is the Christmas giraffe. Not a tree, per se, but I felt he should be included none the less. He was a "white elephant gift" from 5 years ago. He lives in my basement. Toby insisted we bring him up. He now lives in Scott's alcove. I think the employees next door enjoy him.
So, how many trees do I have? Well, 1 family tree, 1 fake porch tree, 1 friend tree.....so....who can keep count.
I love Christmas trees.

Friday, December 4, 2009

Hypocrite

I frequently wear flip flops in the snow. I avoid jackets at all costs. I hate the restriction of movement caused by layers of bulky clothing.
And yet, I do this to my children....




"I am cold, go put on a sweater!"
One of the perks of being a mom. hehe

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Uncomfortable

I am currently sitting in my living room "alone", practically trembling. I am uncomfortable. Not physically (though my house is not warm) but spiritually, relationally, mentally. Its not bad. Its probably good. Its just.....uncomfortable. And I am human, and American, and a (former) Goodridge. I hate discomfort, uncertainty, awkwardness.
But I love God, or at least I am trying to. And He doesn't want me to be comfortable. He wants radical love. Fruit. Hot or cold? Am I hot or cold? Do I love Him? Do I love His people? The widow and the orphan. Am I entertaining angels in disguise? Or turning them away because they make me nervous?
So, whatever the outcome, outrageous love is always the right answer. And maybe someday I will get better at it, and it won't cause me to tremble. Or maybe the trembling is right...maybe the whole point, beginning and end, is just that I get shaken up a little bit.