Which brings us into the rest of the month.  As an Acord Family Tradition, after December 14th, my dad’s birthday, we put up the family Christmas Tree.  For us, we take down the other trappings of remembrances,  and focus on family for two weeks.  Each decoration and ornament of the tree reminds us of who gave it to us, what event we made it for, who we were surrounded by, Christmas’s in thick and thin. We make cards and gifts tailor made for our individual family members. We send communication of who we are – where we are – how we’ve grown – what we’re up to. We go to community events, Tree Lightings, Sing a Longs, Chorals, Bell Choirs. Ice Skating Rinks, and Snow Sledding Hills. Gathering to know that through Christ – we have our family in Peace Joy Good Tidings. We see Jesus as the Light in our sparkle Lights. We see His Death on the Tree, we see his heritage as the Root Of Jesse in the branch. We see our Nail tied to the trunk to remember the tree that he carried to Calvary. We remember. and Share.  And Talk of our American Santa Claus and watch Charlie Brown pick out the world’s ugliest and cutest tree. Last year we went into the mountains and cut down a Blue Spruce.  Amazing memories of gathering with friends eating a camp fire breakfast in the snow with hot toddies. We will pass the warmth and security and beauty that is to be had in the middle of the winter with our boys.