Out sick...

I will spare you the details...but not a pretty bug for sure!   Some sort of stomach thing going around...I just hope that you all are spared!  Sooo I am a little foggy here at my kitchen table and actually haven't spent much time in the kitchen at all...

I now have the "winter" village up.  I have come to call it that because I seem to leave it up on the ledge all winter!   Tim built me a ledge all around my living room that I put up my little village with greenery and blue lights.   Blue Christmas lights make me think of my Dad.   We also have the tree up and this year adorned with blue and white lights and various ornaments as well.  I still want to put up my Nativity scene on the fireplace and the greenery on the stairs.   I don't know if I will get it done today...but I am feeling better...so guess we will see...but as I share below...it's not about the decorating...it's about the LOVE.

When and if I get it all up I will put a picture on.   I love to sit in the dark of the night with just the glow of the Christmas lights and the fire and just pause and think what a blessed time of year this is!   I think of those I love and how blessed I am and thankful for these blessings and give special thanks for all those I LOVE...just how precious life is...and the true meaning of Christmas...the birth of Jesus.

Speaking of love--1 Corinthians 13 is probably my all time favorite chapter.  I got this from my niece and seemed like one to really think on especially at this time before Christmas when we sometimes get lost in the "what" and not the "what for".   It says the author is anonymous so I do not know who to give credit to...so I will give thanks to God and for my niece Keri for sharing. 

"1 CORINTHIANS 13 - - A CHRISTMAS VERSION - By an unknown author.

If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls, but do not show love, 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, 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, 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 husband. Love is kind, though 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."

So wishing you and yours LOVE

 at this special time of year--CHRISTmas!

lyp