O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree, How Lovely Are Thy Branches!

My family always invested in a live Christmas tree. My mom picked a date to take the annual drive to a local tree farm and select the perfect one. We scoured the field, looking at the color and the texture of the branches (and the price!). After we made our decision, my mother would have it cut down and tied it to the roof of our car as we sang Christmas carols on the drive home.

While my parents still put up a live tree every year, I've never had a live tree of my own. Sure, I've put up a fake fir but never felt quite like Christmas, nor did it have that Christmas smell. This year I asked Jim if we could have a live tree. He wasn't crazy about the idea and so I let it go. This afternoon, however, he went out to run an errand and came home with a 7 foot Christmas tree! It is one of the most beautiful trees I have ever seen and it looks perfect in our house.

Whether you're at work or at home, doing something "nice" for someone -- being thoughtful and kind, should be part of who you are. Setting an example or modeling excellence gives others an opportunity to see the possibilities or options even in crummy situations. This Christmas season choose to be an example of all that is good in the world. Choose to live on the upside.

p.s. What is your amazing Christmas tree memory?