Preparing for Christmas and all things festive

As it is now December 1st, I will turn my thoughts towards Christmas. Today we will venture into the loft and retrieve this candle display which is always the first decoration to go up. Then little by little other festive bits and pieces  will make an appearance.  I have to do this in stages otherwise I get bogged down with it all, which rather defeats the purpose!

  Look what just dropped through my letter box this morning, right on cue because I am supposed to read Chapter 1 today! 

 From this company:

http://www.alibris.co.uk/booksearch?qwork=1087756 
 for the  price of £0.64! Our next book club read!  We are to read a chapter a day throughout Advent.  Each chapter is headed with the date.....sounds intriguing! (Am awaiting another book from the same company written by dh's great grandmother...but that's for another time!)

And this was my impulse buy today! I love snow globes,but most of them are quite tacky, this one however, ticks all the tasteful boxes!

 ....and finally, a reminder right at the start of Advent:

 1 Corinthians 13 (the Christmas version)

If I decorate my house perfectly with tinsel, 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 delicacies, 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 a soup kitchen, sing carols 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 Christmas tree with shimmering angels and glittery snowflakes, attend a myriad of Christmas parties and sing in the choir 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 toget 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. 

(Anon)