We have always had a real Christmas tree. At 25, I found myself far from home, living in Saudi Arabia with my husband and toddler. It was the first time we had a “fake” Christmas tree.
In the Kingdom, there were no ornaments to buy. Refusing to let this dampen my spirits, I ventured out and purchased fabric in colors that were anything Christmassy. I set out to craft my own ornaments.
As Christmas Eve arrived, the doorbell rang. Standing there was our house helper, his face lit with a broad grin. In his hands, he held a real Christmas tree—a scrappy, Charlie Brown tree. To me, it was utterly gorgeous.
Our helper worked at the Air Force landing strip, where the military had drop-shipped Christmas trees for the families stationed there. He had found a tree lying on the tarmac and thought of us. I was thrilled. However, this real tree was much taller than our “fake” one. That night, I stayed up late, crafting more ornaments. Some ornaments were undeniably ugly. But this one remains my favorite. I made it in 1976, and every year when I hang it on the tree, I am transported back to that moment when I really learned to “bloom where you are planted.
The lesson stayed with me: The fulfillment of Christmas didn’t require the grandeur of a Rockefeller tree. It was in the small, intentional acts of love and faith that the true spirit of the holiday shone.
Our lives are made rich by these seemingly mundane moments. These are the colors of memory, the threads that weave together the story of a life well-lived. Each small act, each cherished memory, fills our lives with depth and meaning.
I love to make memories exceptional with little moments (and big ones) that together, create a special moment in time. As we welcome 2025, my wish for all is that in the planning of a new year of life and love, we remember the tiny moments that make our lives meaningful.
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