Excerpt from “Showered By Grace” (from Chapter 4, “Love Touches”)
“We were very excited for our first Christmas together and spent many hours searching for the perfect tree. We agreed on an artificial tree, as we had carpet and wanted to decorate it Thanksgiving weekend. We shared our childhood Christmas memories as we shopped. Scott’s family decorated a real tree every Christmas during his childhood, and I had enjoyed a real tree for a few years in my twenties during my first marriage.
One Saturday, we drove out to Eby’s Evergreen Plantation where Scott and his family had gone in years past. He surprised me when he asked if I would like to choose a tree and suggested that we set it up outside in the front yard and decorate it with lights and weatherproof ornaments. I was delighted with the idea! We drove onto the tree farm, taking a saw provided at the gate, and set off in search of a tree. This was my first experience on a tree farm, and I was moving from one tree to the next, circling around the possibilities, trying to find the one that was perfect on all sides. After checking out another section, I found the tree. It was symmetrical and full with outswept branches that would display the lights gloriously. Scott had to get on the ground to cut it down, as the branches were low on the trunk. As we picked it up to load it on the truck, I felt a twinge that perhaps the tree was a little oversized. Even with the tailgate down, the tree extended beyond the edge and the lower trunk was very large in diameter. It must have measured at least ten feet tall. We returned the saw, and after the tree was shaken and netted, we headed home.
Setting the tree proved to be somewhat of a challenge. Scott used a heavy duty stand suitable for outdoors and also staked the tree. We spent the rest of the evening decorating the tree, using a tall stepladder to drape the lights and secure them to the branches. When we finally stood back to admire our efforts, the tree looked magical. The round clear lights were shining brightly in the dark night and my heart was soaring. I was once again in awe of Scott and his ability to surprise me and delight me beyond my wildest dreams.”
The rest of this story was not included in the book and I share it now.
The night we set up the tree the weather was calm and mild. A few nights later, the temperature dropped and the wind howled relentlessly. The tree toppled over, pulling the foot long stakes completely out of the ground. Scott and I reset the tree, but the wind jerked it over again the next night. He tied new stakes to the tree and anchored it securely. The wind took the tree down once again. For the remainder of December, Scott battled the elements every few days to keep the tree upright. Surprisingly, the lights continued to shine brightly on the branches, whether upright or on the ground. Before the season was over we were ready to unplug and leave the tree on the ground. Needless to say, we did not continue this tradition the next year.
This escapade with Scott remains one of my favorite memories, and I smile in remembrance of the initial excitement and eventual frustration. The outcome was not perfect, but the pleasure was in the doing, the shared laughter and the shared acceptance of the wind over the tree! I am very grateful for that special time.
May everyone experience the joy of delightful surprise during this season of Christmas. Do something out of the ordinary. Do something silly, adventurous, and fun. Celebrate the sound of your own laughter! Let love fill your heart and share with others, for love grows when shared. Enjoy every moment while creating new memories. Live joyously with gratitude!