The Perfect Christmas Tree

Today was the day we were going to get our Christmas tree. I have pictured this day in my head for quite some time. The weather is perfect. It's a nice mix of dreary December day with a romantic chill in the air. It smells like winter. I had always envisioned us waking up early. The new bride and groom getting out of their bed and sleepily walking into the kitchen, fixing coffee and sitting in their pajamas in the living room. The groom catching up on his sports center while the new bride grabs her computer to read the latest celebrity gossip.

They both eagerly get ready and dressed as they head out to pick their perfect Christmas tree. The bride wears her skinny jeans tucked into awesome "over the knee boots" (an early gift for herself perhaps) and a cozy turtleneck with an expensive cardigan she won from Lucky magazine. The groom is wearing his classic look, jeans and a plaid button down with converse. Very "jock hipster" as Dwight described Jim on The Office.

The couple would hop in their car, turn on their heated seats and head to the outskirts of town, maybe to a tree farm or over to the local charity tree sale. They would both be in their newly married world giggling and enjoying this time in their lives. Perhaps the bride would try and steal a kiss in between the trees or grab her groom's hand as they find the right tree to celebrate their first Christmas as husband and wife.

Then once the tree was picked and placed on the top of their car they would head back to their darling duplex for an afternoon of decorating and memory making. Just the two of them in their cozy home, adding lights and ornaments to their very first tree. They would set up the digital camera and take pictures by the tree, drink eggnog and and listen to Christmas music. Today would have been the day we were going to get our perfect Christmas Tree.

However, as some of you know, Blake has begun his residency interviews and over the course of November through January we will travel over 7,400 miles by car and plane visiting possible residencies. It seemed crazy to try to get a tree when we won't really be home to enjoy it during the month of December. So I have decorated our duplex and put out the small fiber optic tree on our dining room table that my Mom gave me forever ago. I have sacrificed not having a Christmas tree. It's really a small price to pay for our future. And I can have that same romantic day next year in our new home. And hopefully some day I can have that same perfect day as a family with our kids in tow.

I got to thinking about the amount of travel Mary and Joseph did during this time of year and 7400 miles in the comfort of a Honda Accord or Delta Airplane is nothing compared to over 100 miles on the back of a donkey full with child. But even more so, the fact that the Word became Flesh and left the realms of glory to dwell among us. Christ took the form of an infant, relying on someone else to feed him, burp him, clean him and provide his basic needs. He did all this so that he could ultimately one day find the Perfect Tree to lay down His life for me. What an eternal price to pay for our future! What an amazingly romantic day Christmas truly is.

John 1:14 (New International Version, ©2010)
14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

So as you gaze at your own Perfect Christmas tree or perhaps your small fiber optic mini tree don't forget that this season is more about the other Perfect Tree.

Redesign: Obviously we will be traveling so much this season so please accept this little holiday card below as our Christmas Card. I would have loved to printed this out and mailed to all of you complete with our own little Christmas Tree. Maybe if I get a wild hair in between our trips I may print a few out! Merry Christmas.