Christmas Corinthians

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 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 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.

Merry CHRISTmas!

-- Author Unknown

Corinthians 13:13: "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."

The Rodent Speaks

Word around our house is that a certain rodent is a bit put off by the fact that her picture was not included on the annual Christmas card.

She has decided she will be heard.
And seen.

Merry Christmas from our furry friend.

All is merry...

Just keepin' it real...

I know it's been a while since I've blogged.  It seems as if I've been called in other directions lately.  My photography has taken a new avenue:  portrait photography.  Learning and practicing that new trade has taken a lot of my free time.  Add to that homeschooling, training for half marathons, being wife, mom, chauffeur, grocery-getter, laundress, seamstress, chef, and on and on... and there doesn't seem to be a lot of time left over for blogging.

Not to say that I don't think of you who still read my blog!  On the contrary.  On many of my runs, I compose great blog posts.  In fact, on many of those said runs, I solve most of the major problems of the world and plan to blog about them.  At least until I get home, have my coffee, and shower.  And then, it's back to the grind and posting on the blog is pushed aside.  (See paragraph one.)

I don't know what will become of this blog.  It began as a way to chronicle our daily lives for a husband/daddy who was deployed (praise God, that is over), and for family far away.  Now, it seems like Facebook and regular chats (and NO deployments -- can you see how much that thrills me???) have taken the place of regular blog posts.

I expect to be back.  
I just can't tell you when to expect me.
Until then, be blessed!

Grace, always grace...
Annie