It started with this…

A rosemary topiary
free because nobody wanted it

Not a tree, but almost looked like a Christmas tree

Now, just outside my window is an actual big pine tree

A storm a few years ago left the ends of the branches scattered on the ground

I remember thinking that each would make an awesome…

Charlie Brown Christmas Tree

So the other day in a cold rain
I picked the perfect little branch

Sorry Pine Tree

But I still needed a stand

The topiary was in a pretty pot

Hmmmmm

Now to chop down the mighty topiary…with my bread knife
I took it outdoors, laid it on its side, and began to saw away

Sorry Topiary

And I hadn’t really thought about it until now
But sacrifice is part of the meaning of Christmas

The tree sacrificed a branch
The topiary sacrificed more

I tried shoving the branch in
but the soil was dry and unfriendly

A screwdriver
some water
and in.

A lesson in that too, I think

It was a little tilty
I tried to straighten it out
but then I decided to let it be

although Laska thought the ornament looked silly in the pot

It was perfect – perfection in imperfection – Christmas

A stable, a surprise pregnancy, no room in the inn
And from all that imperfection was born perfection
and from him, the grace by which we can all be perfected

The topiary found its undignified end in the trash – didn’t seem right
But then, I thought, Jesus was buried in a borrowed tomb – felt more right

Tree – check
Base – check

Now I needed a red ornament actually on a branch, because Laska made a good point

I have only one Christmas ornament
a handmade gift from a friend

and red

Sadly the ornament has no hook

But, a little story…

When I started blogging I attended a blogging conference
Blogging has been bittersweet, the conference more bitter than sweet
But I read somewhere that you should bring paperclips to a conference

So I bought, and brought, a box
the only box of paper clips I’ve ever bought
a little bending and twisting and voilà … a hook

Tree – check
Base – check
Red Ornament on tree – check

Perfect!

Until I watched A Charlie Brown Christmas
and saw Linus wrap the bottom of the tree in his blanket

Swaddling clothes for the tree

I had no little baby blanket
nothing soft small comfy and blue

But lately I’ve been wearing my one stained ratty old blue sweatshirt

Tadaaaaaa … and Laska admired the placing of the ornament

It’s a quiet tree
It’s a simple tree
It’s a humble tree

It’s not really a tree

It’s imperfect and charming

It makes me smile

Merry Simple Quiet Humble Imperfect Charming and Hopeful Christmas.

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