Oh Christmas Tree...

Having kids certainly changes Christmas.

I cannot remember the last time I was actually excited about decorating for Christmas. Seems strange to admit. For most of my life I was known as a Christmas geek. I was the kind of person who would decorate in September if given the chance.

Then over the past 5 years the reality of balancing work, travel, and the holidays kicked in and the Christmas joy was literally sucked right out of me. It was more work than enjoyment. Last year I had even suggested to Josh that we not bother with a Christmas tree. I'm sure he thought I was sick with a fever. He had just returned from three weeks in Japan, followed by a whirl-wind trip to Oregon. Who wants to decorate a tree? I didn't. He took me tree shopping on Christmas Eve, and I will admit, I did enjoy our tree last year.

This year we got our tree the earliest I have ever had one in my life. And, it was a quite the experience decorating it.

You see, Liam is EXCITED about Christmas. He happily repeated over and over how "Dad put tree on car!" and he happily laid on the ground under the tree with Josh to fill it with water. He joyfully took every ornament out(the kid friendly shatter proof ornaments, thank you Ikea) and examined them. Then he found a sheet of bubble wrap and danced on it, laughing as each bubble popped. As Josh tested the strings of lights Liam would happily cheer "Dad turn light on!" Or he'd climb up the step ladder and complain that he couldn't reach the star like Dad could.

What a difference it makes to your heart to see the joy of the holiday decoration through your child. It is something I cannot exactly put into words.

I don't expect Liam to yet grasp the beauty of the Christmas we celebrate in Luke 2: 8-14. And, perhaps my quest to obtain a truly "beautiful" picture of our Christmas tree did not help.

However, as I look at this last picture, the one I have named "my reminder" I will forever think of 2011 as the year true Christmas joy crept back in my heart.