Christmas Greetings 2022

 

During this Christmas season, it's easy to get so overwhelmed with the cooking, decorating, and shopping that we forget why we're celebrating in the first place. For us, the last two weeks have been filled with a different sort of ''busy'' involving hammers, saws, caulk guns, and paint brushes as we participated in another Habitat for Humanity build.

And while we were often ''dead tired'' by the end of our work days, we have to say that our time here in Dade City, Florida has helped us to focus on St Paul's message in his letter to the Corinthians ... showing love to others ... which is especially appropriate during this Christmas season.

So grab a chair and join us around the warm Habitat campfire, as we share ...

1Corinthians 13 ...

The Habitat for Humanity Christmas Version.

If I decorate my house perfectly with lovely bows, thousands of bright lights, and huge inflatable snowmen, but do not paint, caulk, or side a house for a family in need, I'm just another decorator.

One of the ten new Habitat houses that are going to

help bring new life to this neighborhood.

If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals, and arranging a beautifully adorned table, but do not share with those around me, I'm just another cook.

Snowball cookies all ready to help refuel

our fellow Care-A-Vanners!

If I work on the Habitat site, but do not share my knowledge, skills, and kindness with my fellow volunteers, it profits me nothing.

Laura helped me perfect the fine art of caulking and painting!

If I trim the tree with shiny ornaments, attend a myriad of holiday parties, and practice for hours for the Christmas concert, but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.

Celebrating the season of love

with the local faith community.

Love pauses the cooking to reach out and build houses for those in need.

... and delivers lots of fun in the process!

Love sets aside the decorating in order to make sure that the house siding will be level.

Great and skillful minds at work!

Love brings the choir to the worksite.

Thanks, Laura, for leading the Habitat outdoor Christmas concerts!

Love foregoes the homemade Christmas cards in order to share kind words, encouragement, and lots of laughter with our fellow volunteers.

Our skilled construction supervisor, Jose starts

each day with words of wisdom and plenty of laughs!

Love is kind when working to build a home for a deserving family.

Our Habitat team along with some future homeowners,

and Bob, the greyhound ... who was always ready to encourage and serve!

Love doesn’t envy another volunteer’s super cool tool collection or huge RV.

Rumor has it that there's a huge kitchen with a ''real''

oven that makes a delicious fruit cobbler in that beautiful Class A!

Love doesn’t get impatient with those less skillful than you.

My Christmas present ... a paper towel holder ...

came with its own expert installer!

Love doesn't give only to those who are able to give in return, but rejoices in sharing their talents with others.

Laura gave ukulele lessons and

led many fun Christmas sing-alongs! 

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things, and ...

love is felt from the faithful presence and encouragement of our favorite worksite mascot, Bob!

Bob is always hopeful the appearance of a tasty ''reward''

for his continuous faithful service!

Love never fails.

Saw blades will become dull, carpenter pencils will get misplaced, house siding may not be perfectly level. But giving the gift of love that helps build another Habitat home for a deserving family ... that kind of love will endure!

This home will even come with real live ''lawn ornaments''!

Wishing you a Christmas overflowing with memorable moments of love!

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