Secret Keeper Girl

It is tradition. We have to conquer the forest. My favorite Christmas tree conquest was the year Robby was 3 1/2 and Lexi was just days from delivery. (Her birthday is December 28! ) A blizzard hit the mountain, but Bob was determined we would not leave until we  had our tree. When we finally got it, we fought our way back to our car with barely any visibility…Bob lugging a tree and me waddling behind him—nine months pregnant and carrying a crying three-year-old. Robby and Lexi were in far sillier form for this year’s tree hunt. Look at them now! Stormie, our wonder dog was also in rare form as she picked her own tree branch to carry home.  And then, she “treed” a tiger cat! We were so proud.  (I’m sorry if you are this cat’s mom. I trust she made it home safely after this traumatic photo was shot.)     Of course, when we finally got the tree…look who did all the work!     I carried it while Autumn acted as photographer! (Just kidding. My Bob does all the tree-lugging along with Robby’s help! In fact, I think that dirty look he is giving me in the photo is actually his non-verbal skills kicking in to say, “Are you kidding?”)I  just love traditions. In fact, I love them so much that one of the gifts I am giving this season is a book I highly recommend by Noel Piper called “Treasuring God in Our Traditions.” It has re-awakened my heart to the precious value of establishing and keeping traditions. They are glue for a family. What are your Christmas traditions?