The ranch land is filled with glorious Pinyon pines
they smell good and are perfect for Christmas trees.
Today after school, we piled into the back of Mr. Nielson's truck
and drove a few miles from the homestead to a place on the ranch
that sits up against the Zuni mountains.

There must be hundreds of thousands of pinyon
trees that vary in all shapes and sizes.

There must be hundreds of thousands of pinyon
trees that vary in all shapes and sizes.
It really is glorious and smells so good.
When we all agreed on a tree, Mr. Nielson used
his chainsaw and cut down four perfectly imperfect trees for
the ranch house.
On our way home, we played Christmas music
(Doris Day Christmas album is AMAZING!),
and sang along while snuggled up in blankets.
I kept thinking about how my little family was making new
traditions and how we are happy and content.
traditions and how we are happy and content.
Not one Little Nie said how they missed going to the
Christmas tree stand in Provo,
Christmas tree stand in Provo,
in fact, they didn't seem disappointed in any way.
Just another confirmation that we are supposed
to be here living on the ranch.
to be here living on the ranch.
We came home, and the girls and I made chili for dinner and
Mr. Nielson made a warm fire in the living room and gave
I will probably never forget these moments- not in a million years.
This is what happiness is to me.
Boss and Mary drove up just in time to join us for dinner.
Having the trees up with bright lights in little corners of the house
really makes Christmas come alive!
really makes Christmas come alive!
And you should see how cozy
and bright, it makes the ranch house look in the dark!
My mind can't help but dream and scheme for my future ranch house.
Hopefully, we will be able to begin building the first of the year