For most people, the holidays are full of family traditions and memories.
The traditions may be as simple as touring the area to view Christmas decorations, cutting down the tree or gathering with family and friends to sing carols and enjoy hot cocoa. Certain songs heard during the season may evoke memories of loved ones and holidays past.
As my family and I were preparing to enjoy one of our traditions -- cutting the Christmas tree -- I was reminded of the first time I visited a Christmas tree farm.
For all but one of my childhood Christmases, the family tree appeared just before Christmas and was magically decorated without any help from the kids.
But one year my mother wanted our family to harvest our tree. My dad knew the perfect place to go, so off we went.
The weather had evidently been less than desirable the week before our tree-hunting expedition, because I recall us clad in boots and surrounded by acres of mud. The mud made things very exciting for my 3-year-old brother, who ended up swathed in various articles of our father's clothing after he managed to do a near-swan dive into a large puddle.
As an adult, I love the search for the perfect tree to grace our family room, but as a kid, it seemed we walked for hours before my mother finally pronounced a tree "good enough." My dad didn't give her the chance to change her mind and he quickly set to work cutting the tree. After the trek back to the car and the struggle to secure the tree to the car's roof, we were finally ready to head for home.
But the mud made it impossible to just get into the car and drive away, and the tree farm had two large tractors with which to pull cars clear.
As we waited patiently (my mother tells that part a little differently) for our turn with the tractor, it grew increasingly dark. Finally, a tractor was hooked to our bumper and we thought we were set.
Imagine my father's dismay when the overheated tractor burst into flames while attached to our brand new car. A small panic ensued before the fire was extinguished and another tractor extracted us from the mud.
Was this the end of the story? Oh, no. It was apparently too early to have the tree in the house and decorated for the holidays, so it was left in the yard for a few more days. This gave a neighborhood cat plenty of time to use the tree as its litter box.
After we had cut off most of the bottom branches and used several cans of pine scent, the tree was installed in the living room. It was the most memorable tree of my childhood.
This year, our family will make yet another holiday memory as we search for our perfect tree at one of Carroll's tree farms. Believe me when I say that we get the tree into the house and decorated as soon as possible.
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Our family has enjoyed the Nativity presentation at Faith Lutheran Church for nearly 10 years.
On Sunday at 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m., the public is invited to attend and participate in the moving story.
The presentation will be narrated by Martin Parlette, who will play the part of a father telling his family the Christmas story. Children from the audience will be invited to become part of the scene.
About 25 members of Faith Lutheran will portray shepherds, angels, Roman guards and citizens, the three Wise Men and the holy family. The church's choir members will be dispersed among the crowd to lead carol singing. Llamas, sheep and a donkey will add to the atmosphere.
The donkey was quite resistant to the shepherds' directions last year and may add some unexpected excitement again.
The public is encouraged to bring blankets or lawn chairs for seating. Donations of nonperishable food items will be accepted for Carroll County Food Sunday.The church's youth group will offer free hot chocolate, coffee and homemade cookies in the church lobby.
Faith Lutheran Church is Liberty Road and West Hemlock Drive in Eldersburg.