One of our traditions at Christmas time is unwrapping a Christmas book each day the whole month.  We use the same ones every year, but I usually add one new one.  One of the books we have unwrapped for years is called the Tale of the Three Trees.  It is about three trees that are used in some way in Christ’s life.  One became the manger, one became a boat that carried Christ on Galilee, and one became his cross.  It is a beautiful story, but here is the real story of the three trees. 
This year when we went to put up our real looking, pre-lit, fake tree after Thanksgiving, half the lights didn’t work.  We have been limping it along for the last couple years, having gotten a good seven years out of the lights on it.  It is the best fake tree I’ve ever seen so I really did not want to go buy another one.  I suggested we just take off the lights and put on our own, but Rock convinced me that taking the lights off of it would be a monstrously tedious task so we decided to look for another tree.  It was too late for Black Friday deals, so we couldn’t find any we liked enough that we could afford.  My whole family, all from Western Washington, the “Evergreen State”, are coming for Christmas this year so we decided to get a real tree and wait for the after Christmas sales.  You should know that my parents, did I mention they are from the “Evergreen State” where the main export is evergreen trees, almost disowned me when we first bought a fake tree.  It was sacrilege!  In all honesty that is probably the real reason they have never spent a Christmas morning with us.    This year they finally decided they could overlook that flaw in my character and come here for Christmas.  But it’s their lucky day!  We got a real one. 
Don’t think we’ll be doing that again.  Here’s why.  My living room stood empty of its Christmas tree for two weeks; usually we get it put up the weekend after Thanksgiving.  Many of our Christmas traditions, like unwrapping the books, revolve around the tree and we couldn’t start them, because if you buy a real tree the day after Thanksgiving it will be dead by Christmas!  
The whole process of getting a real tree was way more work than I remember.  But as I was standing their covered in sap and pine needles, holding the tree upright while Rock adjusted, then cut, then readjusted the tree to get it straight, I was suddenly transported back in time to the home of my youth.  The beautiful smell of the tree alone was enough to transport me back, but having to do the same thing my mother did for years brought back so many memories! 
And now I have to water it too?!  There is a reason I do not have any live plants in my house!  We will be lucky if this tree makes it to Christmas, but hey, my parents and siblings will be happy.  And so, Family, consider this my gift to you for Christmas.  You won’t be getting anything else.  Especially after the two hours and two trips to the store process of putting on the lights.  Ugh!  I will pay any amount now for a pre-lit tree, and throw in my first born child to seal the deal if need be.  Our usual one hour, no pain, no mess process of putting up a tree quintupled!  Don’t get me wrong, the smell is wonderful and really did make me think, “Ah, THIS is Christmas.”  But John Denver’s Christmas album does the same thing and he’s way less work!
So, there you have it.  The real Tale of the Three Trees.  You’re probably thinking I can’t count because I’ve only talked about two trees so far.  I can count just fine.  The third tree is the new fake tree we will be purchasing at my earliest convenience.