It is still Christmas at our home. We have a Douglas Fir that we cut at a small family farm. Every year the Friday after Thanksgiving is Christmas tree day. No exterior lights at all, just family decorations in the house and Christmas music CD's and television specials. We do the Advent wreath at church every Sunday in Advent. Devotionals are personal and done daily.

Gifts are immediate family only and the cost is voluntarily kept low. We try to give our daughter and son gifts that are things they need for the coming year that they help choose.

My mom and dad never did much of anything other than an artificial tree. Not even a special Christmas day meal. I promised myself that Christmas would be celebrated in a more traditional way for my family and treasure the memories that we have made over the years.

Merry Christmas to all,
Bill