Christmas, 1 Corinthians 13 Style

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 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.


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.

SNOWBALL FIGHT!!

Non-Crappy Starring You! eCards on JibJab

Kohl's

I went to Kohl's yesterday to do a little holiday shopping, and while I was there I saw this Zillions brand Deluxe ATM. The sign above it read 10-65% off. I got all excited because just the day before, John had bought that very same Deluxe ATM machine for Madison at Target for $30. I wasn't close enough to it at Kohl's to see the price tag, but I just assumed that it would be the same price regularly as Target's and that it would be an extra percentage off of that. I get up to it and the price tag said that it is normally $59.99 and ON SALE it was $29.99... the same price that the thing sells for REGULARLY at Target. Grrrr. If someone didn't already know that, they would think they are getting a good deal.

It annoys me that they try to say that their products are "normally" one price when that price is WAY above the retail value of the product.

I noticed the same thing with their Imaginext brand dinosaur toys. At Wal-Mart the larger dinosaur sells for $28. At Kohl's the same dinosaur was "50% off" but they say that their normal retail price is $44.99.... making the dinosaur's sale price $24 and change.... a whole whopping $4 cheaper than Wal-Mart.

Their Little Mommy Sweet As Me Dolls were 50% off. "Normally" $39.99 "on sale" for $19.99. Wal-Mart sells the same doll for Kohl's "sale" price.

You really have to be careful when shopping there. They try to trick you like that into thinking that you are getting a bargain but you're really not. I bought my dad the game "The Last Word" there. They said that the regular retail price was $30 but that it was 50% off which made it $15. I thought I was getting a deal. Later I saw the same game at Wal-Mart for $14.99.

That gimmick annoys me.

Vomit Comet

I got woken up at 4:30 this morning by Levi SCREAMING for me up in his bedroom. I ran up the stairs to find him standing beside his bed in a pile of throw up with throw up all over his chin and face.

I don't know what is going on, but I am MORE THAN ready for my children to be healthy.

please keep us in your prayers as we try to figure out what is going on and get everyone feeling better.

*sigh*

thanks.