Jude 2

In light of the Christmas tree thread, I was curious for those that do put up a tree, is it real or artificial?

Growing up, ours was aluminum with the spinning color wheel under it. My mom would get sick if a real tree was in the house over a day or 2. I love to have a tree up all during the holiday season, so we opt for an artificial one also.

We ALWAYS had a real tree growing up. My mom's family had the white aluminum and she hated it.

I prefer a live tree, but I have used an artificial one a couple of years.

We still put up an artifical one with all ornaments dating back to the fifties. Love having a tree, real or not.

We had a real tree when I was a kid, and I loved it. The convenience and lower cost (after the initial investment) of arificial trees have won me over though. I have one of those pre-lit trees, so it is very convenient.

i selected other. we don't really put up a tree, but we do have a Christmas quilt that gets displayed that has a big Christmas tree on it.

No matter what kind of tree you get, this applies if you have cats...

On the first day of Christmas when I brought home my tree
My 12 cats were laughing at me

On the second day of Christmas I saw beneath my tree
2 mangled garlands and my 12 cats laughing at me

On the third day of Christmas I saw beneath my tree
3 missing Wise Men
2 mangled garlands and my 12 cats laughing at me

On the fourth day of Christmas I saw beneath my tree
4 males a-spraying
3 missing Wise Men
2 mangled garlands and my 12 cats laughing at me

On the fifth day of Christmas I saw beneath my tree
5 shredded gifts
4 males a-spraying
3 missing Wise Men
2 mangled garlands and my 12 cats laughing at me

On the sixth day of Christmas I saw beneath my tree
6 fallen angels
5 shredded gifts
4 males a-spraying
3 missing Wise Men
2 mangled garlands and my 12 cats laughing at me

On the seventh day of Christmas I saw beneath my tree
7 half-dead rodents
6 fallen angels
5 shredded gifts
4 males a-spraying
3 missing Wise Men
2 mangled garlands and my 12 cats laughing at me

On the eighth day of Christmas I saw beneath my tree
8 shattered ornaments
7 half-dead rodents
6 fallen angels
5 shredded gifts
4 males a-spraying
3 missing Wise Men
2 mangled garlands and my 12 cats laughing at me

On the ninth day of Christmas I saw beneath my tree
9 chewed-through light strings
8 shattered ornaments
7 half-dead rodents
6 fallen angels
5 shredded gifts
4 males a-spraying
3 missing Wise Men
2 mangled garlands and my 12 cats laughing at me

On the tenth day of Christmas I saw beneath my tree
10 tinsel hairballs
9 chewed-through light strings
8 shattered ornaments
7 half-dead rodents
6 fallen angels
5 shredded gifts
4 males a-spraying
3 missing Wise Men
2 mangled garlands and my 12 cats laughing at me

On the eleventh day of Christmas I saw beneath my tree
11 broken branches
10 tinsel hairballs
9 chewed-through light strings
8 shattered ornaments
7 half-dead rodents
6 fallen angels
5 shredded gifts
4 males a-spraying
3 missing Wise Men
2 mangled garlands and my 12 cats laughing at me

On the twelfth day of Christmas I looked at my poor tree
12 cats a-climbing
11 broken branches
10 tinsel hairballs
9 chewed-through light strings
8 shattered ornaments
7 half-dead rodents
6 fallen angels
5 shredded gifts
4 males a-spraying
3 missing Wise Men
2 mangled garlands and my 12 cats laughing at me

Mike, that is so true!!

I have to have an artificial one. I get soooooooooooooooooo sick if I am around a real tree.

Jinjer

We have tried the real tree route a few time. In Hawaii, you are buying a tree that was likely cut in October in the Pacific Northwest, traveled on a boat in a container, and is pretty sadly dried out by the time they arrive Thanksgiving weekend. By Christmas, you have a 7 foot stalk of fire hazard surrounded by a deep puddle of brown pokey needles embedded in your carpet loaded down with hundreds of little twinkly fire-igniters.

We use a pre-lit, artificial tree and buy a "real" wreath at Sam's or Costco for the fresh smell.

As a cat lover...

Mike I LOVE IT!!!!..

When I was growing up we always had a real tree. Now I only do artificial. It is less of a fire hazard and I don't have to pick pine needles out of the carpeting for months.

Our family displays an artificial tree. I prefer the real thing but my husband doesn't like the pine needles in the carpet. We also have a nice Nativity Scene in the living room, this reminds my children and the children I care for that we are celebrating the birth of Christ. It has helped my kids to remember what Christmas is truly about. This year for Christmas, we are not exchanging gifts within our family, on Christmas our immediate family will be going to a nursing home directly behind our house. We will deliver homemade Christmas cards, crocheted gifts and cookies for the residents who normally would receive nothing for Christmas. That is our gift to each other.

Marcy,

That is wonderful. It would be great if all believers could incorporate something like this into their Christmas celebration.

Our church is preparing two hundred Christmas gifts for the homeless and handing them out on Dec. 23. (which is the homeless feeding night that we normally do)

Each bag will contain a pair of gloves, a pair of socks, toothpaste and toothbrush, soap, shampoo, lotion, razor and shaving cream, and candy.

Our kids classes have been decorating the bags for weeks to look like Christmas wrap. They are really getting into it and I think it teaches them that Christams is about others, not about us.

Kudos to your family.

I have a 2 foot fiber optic tree and a 4 foot artificial tree so I will be putting those up Sat.

where's all the pictures?!?