Tis the season...

When we got back home from Georgia a few weeks ago, we had a two-day warm stretch and since it was now December I decided that I might as well get some outside decorations put up.  Now if you have read this blog in the past, you know that this is way early for me.  Usually I am waiting until a week like this (off and on snow for the past three days, temps in the 20s and blowing winds) so I can put them up, freeze my fingers, and then hit them with a hammer and bit my tongue to keep from yelling. 

You know what ??  I kinda liked putting them up in the low 50s with no wind.  So I might make a note to remember to watch the calendar and weather next year and jump out there early.

This was Wednesday when I got it done.

This is today after a weekend of snow and blowing.  Thankfully I anchored the tree well enough.

Of course, since the Christmas season doesn't last until March, I don't know how the taking down part will go.   But we usually get a January-February warm spell and a couple of days with a "get out of jail free" card where I can usually get things taken care of.

Sorry about the reflection in the door.  Too cold to retake!

So now we're ready for the snow and Christmas festivities.  What a great time of year.

But I would be remiss if I didn't add this little part...
This time of year is special for a lot of reasons, not just the festivities.  We have lost parents and relatives at this time of year as well as our pet and friend, Bailey.  I have been gone for wars, and we have had the birth of our son at this time of year too. There have been illnesses and times when we and others in our extended family had problems to solve and unexpected challenges.  But we tried to keep our perspective and remember what the Christmas season was all about.  And having that in mind, things usually worked out, lessons were learned, and remembering that we were not in charge, we marched on to the new year.

So its for these reasons I put up decorations around the house...in spite of the cold and snow. Its not for the commercialism of the season, but more that I want to share my/our family's joy of the season.  I know it sounds goofy, but I think those little lights help spread that joy and hope to the world, at least our little part of it.  Each tiny light sends out a shot of hope and warmth. I'm not into the Clark Griswold thing. Small and simple is best. And I'm probably not expressing this very well, but you might know what I mean.

Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before! What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. What if Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more! (Dr. Seuss)

Hooah