The Stocking

Every year about this time, I start decorating the house for Christmas. Each ornament is purposefully hung on the tree and each nic-nac is carefully placed on a shelf. I have always been quite particular about our tree and was insistent we found one that was the perfect shape and fullness. This sometimes required us to walk up many hills through the North Carolina mountains only to go back to the same tree so we could compare it to one we just looked at. All in good fun of course (although Kevin may have a different opinion).

This year would be no different... or so I thought. We tried a different tree farm in hopes that the perfect tree would be on that particular side of the mountain. The owner had apparently not planned to be open on this day so he was very anxious to send us on our way. To accomplish this, he followed us in his truck while we were on foot. He would often yell things from the truck's window like "you won't find anything up there, your best bet is to pick something from right here." I felt so rushed but looking back on it, it was quite humerous.

Kevin and I quickly spotted one tree that looked good on three sides and since the tree man had the chainsaw in hand, I agreed to adopt it. Honestly, I think he was going to load it on our car whether we wanted it or not. I wasn't all that satisfied with our selection, but under the circumstances, it was going to have to work. I believe I put more emphasis on the "perfect" tree this year becuase it is Kendyl's first Christmas and I want everything to be just right. The Christmas tree, for me, has always been where that starts.

We have spent the past few days unpacking boxes and decorating for Christmas. This, or course, includes getting out our stockings. I bought these for Kevin, Abby, and I five years ago when we were first married. A year later, I added a fourth (to match of course) for the baby we planned to have that Christmas. We never got to hang it. For the next 3 years, I unpacked that fourth stocking only to quickly pack it away again. It was always a reminder of little one that was still just a prayer in our hearts.

This year, when it came time to unpack our stockings, I didn't have to quickly pack one away. The tears that filled my eyes this time were that of complete joy. As I hung our four stockings, I realized our Christmas tree would be beautiful no matter the shape or size, no matter how many mountains we climb, and no matter how much time we spent picking it out. Our Christmas will be perfect because of the four stockings hanging from the mantle. Four stockings that represent more love and more answered prayers than one can imagine.