Christmas Blessings

First Corinthians 13 - The Christmas Version

If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights

 and shiny balls, but do not show love to my family, I'm just another 

decorator.

If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing

gourmet meals and arranging a beautifully adorned table at meal time, but 

do not show love to my family, I'm just another cook.

If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home and give all that I 

have to charity, but do not show love to my family, it profits me nothing. 

If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, 

attend a myriad of holiday parties and sing in the choir's cantata but do not

 focus on Christ, I have missed the point.

Love stops the cooking to hug the child; Love sets aside the decorating to kiss 

the spouse; Love is kind, even when harried and tired. 

Love doesn't envy another's home that has coordinated Christmas china and

table linens.

Love doesn't yell at the kids to get out of the way, but is thankful they are 

there to be in the way.

Love doesn't give only to those who are able to give in return but rejoices in 

giving to those who can't.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails.

Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost, golf clubs will rust. But 

giving the gift of LOVE will endure.

Middle School Christmas Concert 2012

The excitement is building as we get closer and closer to the holidays! It seems like the school Christmas concert is earlier and earlier every year! I think they are always concerned about inclement weather because they automatically schedule a snow date along with the concert date. These are the joys of living in the northeast.

The middle school concert was excellent! Here are the three songs Em's class performed, Enjoy!

A Baby Will Come

Carol of the Bells

A Classic Christmas

Wintery Sights and Smells.

Yesterday we had a beautiful snowfall. It was the kind of snow with the big puffy flakes that looks like someone shook up the snow globe! It was a wet snow and did not stick to anything but the trees and grassy surfaces. The roads were just wet which made me very happy because I have been sliding in bad weather lately. It might be time for new tires!

Our backyard.

The snowfall put Emily and I into a Christmas cookie baking mood. The Christmas carols were playing and we got to work right after dinner. Emily is turning out to be a great baker! She is a perfectionist and remembers all of the tips and tricks I've been teaching her throughout these last few years of baking together. The smells from the kitchen along with scene outside was wonderful. We even lured Joshua into the kitchen with us to help decorate cookies, which he really loves to do.

Emily

We only had time to do a single recipe last night of press cookies. I had forgotten that the whole family loves red hots (aka: cinnamon imperials) to eat and decorate the cookies with. We had a few leftover from last year, thankfully, but I'll definitely need to pick up some more as our baking has only just begun!

I'm so thankful for this time of year. We so need the different pace, different look and renewed spirit of Christ in our hearts and lives. A dear friend reminded me that our

"Days are falling into weeks, which are tumbling into months, which are snowballing into years!"

This is so true. These beautiful children the Lord has given to us are growing up way to fast. This year may we all stop and take the time to enjoy beautiful moments that occur unexpectedly. These unexpected blessings might just be the very things that linger in the hearts and minds of our family for the years to come.