This year, we are putting up our tree for the first time since my father’s death 12 years ago. He died at 2:34 am on December 14, 2000. The year he died, he was too weak to make it down to the family room to see the Christmas tree, and passed on about a week later. We tried some years to put it up, had a few false starts, but this is the first year it’s really being done.

It’s slow going. Little bits here and there since Thanksgiving Day. But that’s okay. So long as it gets done by this weekend, I’ll be happy with myself. 🙂 The lights are on, there are a few bulbs, and candy canes… My nephew helped me get some boxes of treasured ornaments down from the garage and I’ll work on those this afternoon. There are lights twinkling from the ceiling and the mantle. It’s lovely.

Whatever your station in life, wherever you are, whether you live alone, or with a passel of children, do something to mark the season for yourself  this year. It doesn’t have to be a gigantic tree. It doesn’t even have to be in your own house. But something about decorating warms the heart. Do it!