Christmas Magic

I can feel the cold wind sweeping the bleak streets as I walk. The clouds dim and the Winter stars are far less brighter than the Summer stars. Christmas breeze is blowing , makes me reminisce my childhood Christmas years, those wonderful things. I can feel the child in me that makes me smile as if the years never came and time was taboo. The Simbang Gabi that I missed much, since I decided to move into an entirely new place afar from my family, relatives, and friends but of course, with new friends around to cheer my day up; the puto 'maya', cocoa, and the free coffee offered after each Simbang Gabi session, the Christmas songs that hum the holiday air, me , my sister with my neighbors and cousins doing the Christmas carols at places where we don't have any acquaintances at, crafting Christmas lanterns with classmates, waiting for Mum and Pop to prepare the things that we love to have and eat. My point is, I missed my childhood Christmas years. It was the best ever. The memories linger in me. A time that people from different places come home for something that even they can't explain. No explanation needed. There is something in this season that we don't see in other holidays -- Something that makes us love. Even adults have no time to share their hardships and is always on the go to share how lucky they were to see the people that they like and do what they love to do, depicted on smiles that fit the season of love. Time for little children to extend their arms towards generous people -- which we call ' assumptive attitude' Hmmm! Why didn't I think of this every time I pitch my sales to customers? Hehehe...

I have to tell you that I'm a big fan of St. Nicholas with his reindeers and I believe in the magic that it brings to the heart of each and every being.. my biggest secret, actually. The story simply touches my heart and anyone's heart who believes in it. Influenced by the Western culture, stockings became a part of our lives or soccer knee socks that we hung on the windows believing Santa is just around waiting for you to go to your slumber and would tip toe and would pass through the chimneys without getting dirty and put the gifts equivalent to the deeds that we did from the start of the year, the more obedient we are, the wonderful our gifts are. . Imagine the magic.... But I believed in these little things that makes me and my family happy and make people, who believe in their children's happiness, happy. With these little things makes life so big that makes us too busy to check on other's fault and always find goodness in very individual. MAGIC right? hehehe. It seemed to me that I'm here in Wonderland or the Disneyland but never... because I was in North Pole where it's cold, where I saw the abominable snowman and where the hearts were the warmest; where no evil could disturb the happiness that I felt . Dreaming of those years where me and my cousins would watch the gifts laid underneath the Christmas tree and spend time, before going to bed, thinking of the present that's inside of those beautifully wrapped gifts. And pray each night that my robot or my GI Joe is in that box. I assume you would smile on these wonderful little things that makes us happy that you can relate to.

Nothing compares to the thrill that it gives each and every one of us every time the BIG people gives us a 'Go' signal to open those presents. The thrill maybe simple as it may seem ...but magical. Even I, in my young adulthood, simply can't explain how and why. But I won't dwell thinking on the reason. As long as I see the people and feel myself happy, then that would make me happy for one reason. The season has a reason to make us smile and happy.

Hope you enjoyed your every Christmas experience. I've enjoyed mine since I was a kid. Have a merry Christmas always.

Gifts 'Neath The Tree

That's me in the red shorts holding out a gift wrapped in red. I have gifts for everyone. One for Dad. One for Mum. One for my sister. And for my Dub Dub. That gift I'm holding if from my Mum. I think know what's inside. Dub Dub will be spending Christmas with his family in the city. I'm celebrating Christmas here in my home town. It is very cold here when it's December. Sparkling lights all over town. Children's carol fills the air. Here I am, by the Christmas tree. Hoping to see Dub Dub by my side. I miss him and he'll be coming after Christmas.

Wow! Look at those gifts. Our very first Christmas with all these beautiful and nicely wrapped gifts underneath our tree.

Naked Santa

Christmas Time Again...

Christmas Photos

Christmas Decoration

Bought this set about seven or eight years ago. It's still what we use everytime Christmas is here. Of course according to history, Christ may have been born on the fall, like October. It was the feast of the Winter Solstice that the Christians renamed as Christmas. So, most of the Christams traditions that we know are Pagan. Like the Christmas tree and Santa Clause.

Here's our Christmas tree adorned in red and gold. And oh! The gifts underneath the tree. This is the first time we have gifts for everyone in the family. Next year, we hope we could extend to me cousins, uncles and aunts as well.

Christmasquerade

That's me and Chloe. She's so pretty. I like her a lot. Everybody likes her. If only I was a little bit straighter. Hahahahaha...

This is my Team. Team Psylocke. We work together to assist our customer who are using Quickbooks Payroll in the US. Hey! Where's my mask? I have to put it on or I'll scare them all. Hahahahaha!

This is Evarlyn. She's cute and simple. I like her, too.

Shoes...

Nothing! I just like shoes. My new shoes.

Old Friends

Haven't seen Jaypee in a long time! Missed this guy. We've been friends since high school. So good to meet up with old friends. Especially if it's Christmas time. Jaypee is one of my few good friends. Can't spend much time with this guy since he stays in town while me and Casper moved to the city. We just visit him every now and then whenever we went back town. Here we were watching a tribal dance practice in our town.

Need Washing???

A little girl had been shopping with her Mom in Target. She must have been 6 years old, this beautiful red haired, freckle-faced image of innocence. It was pouring heavily outside. The kind of rain that gushes over the top of rain gutters, so much in a hurry to hit the earth it has no time to flow down the spout. We all stood there under the awning and just inside the door of the Target.

We waited, some patiently, others irritated because nature messed up their hurried day. I am always mesmerized by rainfall. I got lost in the sound and sight of the heavens washing away the dirt and dust of the world. Memories of running, splashing so carefree as a child came pouring in as a welcome reprieve from the worries of my day.The little voice was so sweet as it broke the hypnotic trance we were all caught in "Mom let's run through the rain.", she said. "What?", Mom asked. "Lets run through the rain!", she repeated. "No, honey. We'll wait until it slows down a bit", Mom replied.

This young child waited about another minute and repeated: "Mom, let's run through the rain.'' "We'll get soaked if we do.", Mom said. "No, we won't, Mom... That's not what you said this morning", the young girl said as she tugged at her Mom's arm. "This morning? When did I say we could run through the rain and not get wet?'Don't you remember? When you were talking to Daddy about his cancer?" You said, : 'If God can get us through this, he can get us through anything! '"

The entire crowd stopped dead silent. I swear you couldn't hear anything but the rain. We all stood silently. No one came or left in the next few minutes.

Mom paused and thought for a moment about what she would say. Now some would laugh it off and scold her for being silly. Some might even ignore what was said. But this was a moment of affirmation in a young child's life. A time when innocent trust can be nurtured so that it will bloom into faith.

"Honey, you are absolutely right. Let's run through the rain. If GOD let's us get wet, well maybe we just needed washing," Mom said.

Then off they ran. We all stood watching, smiling and laughing as they darted past the cars and yes, through the puddles. They held their shopping bags over their heads just in case. They got soaked. But they were followed by a few who screamed and laughed like children all the way to their cars.

And yes, I did. I ran. I got wet. I needed washing.

Circumstances or people can take away your material possessions, they can take away your money, and they can take away your health. But no one can ever take away your precious memories...So, don't forget to make time and take the opportunities to make memories everyday. To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under heaven.


I HOPE YOU STILL TAKE THE TIME TO RUN THROUGH THE RAIN.

They say it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them, but then an entire life to forget them.

Alch3mist's Simple Reminders IV

Sometimes in our relentless effort to find the person we love, we fail to recognize and appreciate the people who love us. We miss out on so many beautiful things simply because we allow ourselves to be enslaved by our own selfish concerns. Go for the man of deeds and not for the man of words, for you will find rewarding happiness, not with the man you love but with the man who loves you more. The best lovers are those capable of loving from a distance far enough to allow the person to grow but ever too far to feel the love within your being. To let go of someone doesn't mean you have to stop loving, it only means that you allow that person to find his own happiness without expecting him to come back. Letting go is not just setting the other person free, but is also setting yourself free from all the bitterness, hatred, and anger that you keep in your heart. Do not let the bitterness take away your strength and weaken your faith, and never allow pain to dishearten you; but rather let yourself grow with wisdom in bearing it. You may find peace in loving someone from a distance not expecting something in return. But be careful, for this can sustain life but can never give enough room for us to grow. We can all survive with just beautiful memories of the past, but real peace and happiness come only with open acceptance of what reality is today. There comes a time in our lives when we chance upon someone so nice and beautiful and we just find ourselves so intensely attracted to that person. This feeling soon becomes a part of our everyday lives and eventually consumes our thoughts and actions. The sad part of it is when we begin to realize that this person feels nothing more for us than just a friendship. We start our desperate attempt to get noticed and be closer, but in the end our efforts are still unrewarded and we end up being sorry for ourselves. You don't have to forget someone you love. What you need to learn is how to accept the verdict of reality without being bitter or sorry for yourself. Believe me, you would be better off giving that dedication and love to someone more deserving. Don't let your heart run your life, be sensible and let your mind speak for itself. Listen not only to your feelings but to reason as well. Always remember that if you lose someone today, it means that someone better is coming tomorrow. If you lose love that doesn't mean you failed in love. Cry if you have to, but make sure that tears wash away the hurt and the bitterness that the past has left with you. Let go of yesterday and love will find its way back to you. When it does, pray that it may be the love that will stay and last a lifetime.

There are two ways to live your life:

One is as though nothing is a miracle.

The other is as though everything is a miracle.

There is no mistake so painful that love cannot forgive.

There is no past so bitter that love cannot accept.

And no love so little that we cannot start all over with...

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