Matt's thoughts on our Christmas Tree Tradition

In our previous post we answered this question from Matt ... just why do you go to Home Depot each year for your Christmas tree? After reading the post, we heard from Matt via email. With his permission, we'd like to share his thought provoking, or should I say - made me laugh so hard I fell out of my chair - response with you.

And I quote ... "Two questions. First of all who puts the angle on top first? The topper goes on last. It is the climax of the Christmas tree decorating! Second, How can you be inside looking at trees.

You need to be on top of a mountain, wind blowing, children running among the trees. Then there is the whole saw thing. You gotta get down in the mud, sap on the hands sawing back and forth, back and forth. Don, my NJ friend, you should know all of this...unless you have been drug down by too many female Glabs...Don I will save you, there is hope for next year....if you think Home Depot Christmas tree shopping is fun you have been deceived by the woman.

It also might be helpful (as your pastor) to point out the biblical/spiritual aspect of going into the mountains to find a tree. Was Jesus born in a Home Depot? Did He have heat? No, He was born in the mountains, a stable cave, the cold, the wind...We must do all we can to identify with Christ coming to earth. Just like His manger was cut from wood, we cut our tree. The symbolism is amazing isn’t it!!! We even saw some sheep and cows on our way to cut the tree! How biblical is that.

Did Mary and Joseph have a group of people, orange aprons on, ready to load their donkey and tie down their stuff? No, it was a long journey. Many, many miles. Certainly we can walk half a mile to show our appreciation for what they did so we could be blessed. What a sign of thankfulness to God that we persevere the journey like Joseph and Mary. How kind of God to allow us to identify with them this way.

Maybe I should put this in a question rather than an accusation...What do you desire from the Home Depot experience more than pleasing God? What are you craving? Perhaps we should set up another counseling session with your children so I can help them work through the trauma of their childhood Christmas tree experience. They either need to deal with this now or the singles pastors will have to care for them later in life, you choose."

While I read that, I laughed and laughed and laughed ... and then I thought, was he kidding?!?! or serious?

Then came his response, "Just in case some of you are wondering, there is NO truth in any of this!”

Well, what do you all think ... Home Depot vs. cutting down a live tree vs. an artificial tree?

O Tannenbaum
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree,
You give us so much pleasure!
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree,
You give us so much pleasure!
How oft at Christmas tide the sight,O green fir tree, gives us delight!
O Christmas Tree,
O Christmas Tree,
You give us so much pleasure!

Finding the Perfect Christmas Tree!

Welcome to the Glab's annual Christmas tree gathering at the local Home Depot. Our pastor Matt asked us "Why do you go to Home Depot for your tree?!" Well ... take a little trip with us through the store as we tell you our story, excellently captured on film by Kendall.

Home Depot is a local merchant, so we don't have to travel too far, just up the road to Germantown. One year we drove there in a snow storm, loaded up the tree in freezing cold weather, and stopped at the nearby Stabucks on the way home.
Shopping for our tree at Home Depot brings a smile to our face!
Christiana and Kim thought this "Charlie Brown" tree was perfect, but alas, it just wasn't tall enough.
Home Depot has the tallest trees for the most reasonable cost! And just look at all of the trees to choose from. With the help of this friendly employee, we found the perfect tree!Smiles all around and no complaining, isn't that everyones experience? As Don puts it every year, "This is the best tree we've ever had!"
Thanks for helping us carry our tree to the netting machine

Home Depot even nets the tree and gently bundles it up for the safe ride home

Ready to travel ...

Now, we won't talk about the steps that it takes to get that huge thing from the top of our SUV to the cast-iron tree stand in the family room. Yes, we sometimes need to call our wise pastor Matt for marital counseling after it nearly falls over, but not this year! All is well and the tree is ready to be decorated.

The daunting task of decorating ...
... checking to see if the lights work
The angel is on the top ... and we're ready to start the lights ...
ornaments ...... all of the ornaments are in their place ...Our tree is complete! “ Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” Luke 2:14

That's our Home Depot Christmas Story ... we hope you found your perfect tree this year and maybe we'll see you next year at Home Depot! And we invite you to stop by and see our tree anytime!

Let it Snow!

It started snowing this morning ....

it's still snowing tonight!

The girls are hoping for a snow day tomorrow!
Aren't snowflakes amazing!?

This snowflake was found by Christiana and photgraphed by Kendall :)