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A Simpler Christmas

“We knew it would be a common cedar… it was always a cedar - but it would be the

best one ever. He chopped down the chosen tree and loaded it into the trunk. On

the way home, we sang carols - our voices blending in perfect harmony”. 

Story & Photos by: Rhonda Spiers

s a child, there was

one day each year that excited me

even more than my

birthday or Christmas

Day. Oddly enough, it

was the day that we got

our Christmas tree.My sister and I would

bolt down the steps of 

the school bus, racedown our long gravel

driveway, and yell for 

our dad to take us to getour Christmas tree!

The author and her sister at Christmastime 

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t was not the day after Thanksgiving and we didn’t

drive into town to search for a Douglas fir at a cor-

ner tree lot. The tree didn’t get a fresh cut at its

  base, and it didn’t get wrapped in weird plastic

webbing. It did not ride on the top of a big SUV, and it

didn’t get strung with two thousand white mini lights

when it arrived home. It didn’t take all day to deck it

with bulbs, beads, and baubles, and our mom didn’t

watch to insure that it was done perfectly because the

garden club ladies were coming over for coffee the next

morning. We didn’t have the radio blasting Christmasmusic while we decorated the house.

It was one week before Christmas when we piled into

the car with our Dad and drove to our grandparents old

home place. We followed closely behind Dad as we

searched for the perfect tree. We knew it would be a

common cedar…it

was always a cedar -

 but it would be the best

one ever. He chopped

down the chosen tree

and loaded it into the

trunk. On the way

home, we sang carols-

our voices blending in

 perfect harmony.With two bright-eyed

little girls under foot,

Dad strung the lights

around the tree, care-

fully tucking the large

colorful bulbs between

the cedar’s branches. I

am still amazed that

those hot night-light

sized bulbs didn’t set

our house ablaze!

My sister and I were

allowed to wrap the

gold garland around

the tree, trying to fill in

the spaces between the

see-through branches.

Lots of silver tinsel

helped to disguise the

  bare spots. After 

  plainer ornamentswere hung, we care-

fully placed the hand-

ful of fancy glass orna-

ments on the branches.

I thought they were the

  prettiest things I had

ever laid eyes on!

When Dad placed

the star on the tree top,

we knew it was fin-

ished.

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What happened next

still makes me laugh! It

is the reason that this

was my very favorite

day of the year.

Sister and I tore out

the front door like two

wild horses, crossed the

large expanse of dewy

grass - usually barefoot,

to stand  smack-dab in

the middle of the road!

Why? The answer is

quite simple.

We went through thisdelightful ritual every

year just so we could

squint our eyes so that

our lights would twinkle

softly from our front

window. These Christ-

mas memories of child-

hood will be forever

etched into my heart.

‟ I thought they were theprettiest things I had ever laid

eyes on!”.

Rhonda Spiers

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The Birth of Our Saviour 

Nativity scene handmade by the author,

Rhonda Spiers

And the angel said unto them, Fear n

for behold, I bring you good tidings

great joy, which shall be to all peop 

For unto you is born this day in the ci

of David, a Saviour, which is Christ t

Lord. Luke 2:10, 11

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‟Glory to God in the highest,and on earth peace, good

will toward men”;

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oday, Christmas is much busier and considerably

more complicated. Our calendars are filled with

Christmas Cantata’s, holiday open houses,

neighborhood gatherings, and office parties. There are

at least three trees to decorate, Christmas cards to ad-

dress, gifts to wrap and cookies to bake.

While all of these festivities are enjoyable, there is a

  part of me that longs to return to a simpler time - atime when a quick trip to the road, with eyes squinted,

was all that I needed to be completely happy.

But, since I am from the “more-is-more” movement,

Blue Creek Home will be lovingly decked with

  boughs of Holly, Magnolia branches, and lots of 

Christmas finery. Of course, handmade treasures

from the past will come out to mingle with the glitz

and glamour 

This year, we are adding a smalltree decorated with natural elementsand handmade items. Who knows? Imight decide to stand in the middle ofthe street to watch our Christmaslights twinkle through squinted eyes…

and I will be very happy!

The yo-yo garland was made by a sister. My brother made the detailed, stringed instruments from wood.

The last fancy ornament from my childhood graces

our china cabinet all year long .

I am thankful for the ChristChild, my family and friends,

sweet childhood memories…and a simpler Christmas at

our Blue Creek Home. 

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Delicate , dancing

angels in all their

finery .

en bearing gifts

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‟When Dad placed the star on the tree top,we knew it was finished”.

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Rhonda Spiers writes the wonderful style and design blog: http://Blue Creek Home.blogspot.com,

You can purchase her fabulous creations at her online boutique at The Shop@Blue Creek Home