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 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 tree with shimmering angles and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties anod sing 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, even though harried and tired.
Love doesn't envy another's home that has coordinated Christmas china and lots of presents.
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.
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Family Identity!
This is a great article about family identity. It goes along well with the idea of traditions and family unity at the holidays. Check it out if you get time--it's hard to go wrong with Focus on the Family!
http://www.focusonthefamily.com/parenting/building_relationships/celebrating_your_family_identity.aspx
http://www.focusonthefamily.com/parenting/building_relationships/celebrating_your_family_identity.aspx
December Meeting!
Well ladies, it's that time again! We hope to see you this Friday from 9-11 for our very laid back, casual December MOPS meeting. It will be coffee shop style (sit wherever you like), with lots of tasty treats and FABULOUS prizes. We will also be making a craft that would easily double as a gift if you were willing to give it away...(hmmm...suspense!) We hope to see you Friday morning for a small break from the hustle and bustle of the holiday season! Blessings and Best Wishes to all our MOMS!
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Book Review with Sara!
The ADVENTure of Christmas: Helping Children Find Jesus in our Holiday Traditions - A Mom's Guide
by Lisa Whelchel
Illustrations by Jeannie Mooney
Published by Multnomah Gifts, a division of Multnomah Publishers, Inc.
I recently interlibrary loaned a book I've heard about to help me think of some ideas for Christmas. I've heard about The ADVENTure of Christmas by Lisa Whelchel on Focus on the Family and FamilyLife Today so I thought it could help me. I really like the ideas in this book. The whole idea of the book is that we shouldn't feel bad about getting excited about Christmas and all the things that Christmas brings. We should embrace Christmas and all the traditions because there is meaning behind all the things we do. Lisa Whelchel, who is also the author of Creative Corrections, does a good job giving a brief description of the history and Christian meaning of all the traditions so we in turn can explain to our children why we do what we do. Activities and questions are also given to do with our children so we can enjoy the traditions and focus on Christ during this special time of the year. I really enjoy Christmas so it's good to find a book that isn't about alternatives or complaining about how secular Christmas has become. This book takes what we already do and love and puts Christ in the center of it.
I think a quote from the book best sums it up:"Now it is my desire to lure parents into the hustle and bustle of Christmas and then set them free to join their children in the celebration - guilt-free. On each day of the traditional Advent, the twenty-four days preceding Christmas, we will explore together a different aspect of the Christmas celebration. It's amazing how short a distance you have to go to find Jesus in our present-day symbols and traditions. We will encounter the true meaning of Christmas in such unlikely places as a candy cane, a fruitcake, and the partridge in a pear tree. We will rediscover the significance of Santa Claus, tree ornaments, and even the colors of Christmas."So go find the book and have fun celebrating with your family this Christmas. I know I will be making the birthday cake for Jesus that the author describes in the book. It has lots of symbolism which I love!
Merry Christmas!
Sara Trott
by Lisa Whelchel
Illustrations by Jeannie Mooney
Published by Multnomah Gifts, a division of Multnomah Publishers, Inc.
I recently interlibrary loaned a book I've heard about to help me think of some ideas for Christmas. I've heard about The ADVENTure of Christmas by Lisa Whelchel on Focus on the Family and FamilyLife Today so I thought it could help me. I really like the ideas in this book. The whole idea of the book is that we shouldn't feel bad about getting excited about Christmas and all the things that Christmas brings. We should embrace Christmas and all the traditions because there is meaning behind all the things we do. Lisa Whelchel, who is also the author of Creative Corrections, does a good job giving a brief description of the history and Christian meaning of all the traditions so we in turn can explain to our children why we do what we do. Activities and questions are also given to do with our children so we can enjoy the traditions and focus on Christ during this special time of the year. I really enjoy Christmas so it's good to find a book that isn't about alternatives or complaining about how secular Christmas has become. This book takes what we already do and love and puts Christ in the center of it.
I think a quote from the book best sums it up:"Now it is my desire to lure parents into the hustle and bustle of Christmas and then set them free to join their children in the celebration - guilt-free. On each day of the traditional Advent, the twenty-four days preceding Christmas, we will explore together a different aspect of the Christmas celebration. It's amazing how short a distance you have to go to find Jesus in our present-day symbols and traditions. We will encounter the true meaning of Christmas in such unlikely places as a candy cane, a fruitcake, and the partridge in a pear tree. We will rediscover the significance of Santa Claus, tree ornaments, and even the colors of Christmas."So go find the book and have fun celebrating with your family this Christmas. I know I will be making the birthday cake for Jesus that the author describes in the book. It has lots of symbolism which I love!
Merry Christmas!
Sara Trott
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