Finally, fifteen days late and missing a few of our kids, we made the trek (in the pouring down rain!) to pick up our Christmas tree. Traditionally we’ve done the annual tree toppling the day after Thanksgiving. I (David) have always been a sucker for Christmas and everything that goes with it. Of course I know the true meaning of Christmas. I love the things that remind us of that meaning – nativity scenes, Christmas songs, and even special movies. But I also love Christmas lights, stockings, candy canes, and of course Christmas trees. As I’m writing this we’re all sitting around the living room watching “cheesy” Christmas movies on the Lifetime channel. Growing up my kids hated being stuck in the van with me this time of year because I’d make everyone sing Christmas carols. Yes, I’m “that” dad! The truth is, while our kids groan and moan about all the “cheesy” traditions – inside they it gives them stability and they love it.

Our schedule this year (I was out of town with my older kids) didn’t allow us to get the tree on our traditional day (the day after Christmas) and then trying to coordinate our family’s schedule made getting our tree difficult. My kids know I don’t like just going down to the local tree lot to get a tree. Whenever possible we want to make a memory! So this morning (Saturday), the only opportunity this week they had to sleep in, I made them wake up early so we could drive down to Tumwater, Washington and visit our favorite tree farm, Clyde and Dale’s. It’s more than getting a Christmas tree – they have a wagon pulled by a team of horses to take you around the farm and to pick up your tree after you cut it. My kids did not want to get up – and it would have been easy to give in and decide on a local tree lot. But traditions and memories take commitment and resolve. I don’t want to overstate this, but I do believe it’s worth fighting through the whining in order to create something meaningful. Besides, there’s not much a stop on the way at Starbuck’s doesn’t make a little better. We did get a great tree, but more importantly we made a memory.