Christmas Preparations

We put up the Christmas tree on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, when Amy was still here.
We have a fake tree, so this picture is putting it together and fluffing up the branches.

Dad made a stand for the tree, because last year I broke the original stand. So here we are making the tree stand straight by putting legos under the stand.

Melissa and I (Ellie) put on the lights, and we all decorated it.

And here the tree is. We have lots of homemade things, like the felt rocking horse on the bottom right. My grandma made each of us girls one, and we each have different colors.


This is a nice picture of Amy with her roommates.

1 Corinthians 13 [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 mealtime, but do not show love to my family, I'm just another cook.

If I work at a 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, though harried and tired.

Love does not envy another's home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.

Love does not yell at the kids to get out of the way, but is thankful they are there to be in the way.

Love does not give only to those who are able to give in return; but rejoices in giving to those who cannot.

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

Author: Sharon Jaynes

I saw this recently and I was really blessed. May you also be blessed!