Christmas Month - Day 31 New Year's Eve

What a year this has been for us!  The good, the bad and even the ugly but it's what makes the world turn.  Also I learnt long ago that no matter what or who happens, we have to stay the course we have chosen.  We keep what's nice about life and discard what we don't need or want.

There were some sad times but we mustn't let them overwhelm us. Some surprises refreshed our faith in humanity and this is what keeps us going.  

God will never shortchange us.  This is what I believe to be true for our lives.

(Images from Pinterest)

Christmas month - Day 30

The  Christmas month is almost over.  Tomorrow is New Year's eve.  Besides stating the obvious, I guess it's a checkpoint to see the good again and again and again.

Celebrate your life and be happy.  I've always believed that time well spent is a life well lived. 

(Images from Pinterest)

Christmas month - Day 29

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And we're back in Singapore!  As this is posted at midnight, we would have just arrived into Changi Airport and probably lugging our heavy bags with all the goodies from our trip to Manila.

The year is almost ending and it's time to take stock of life and love and be thankful that we made it safely through the year.  

Today will be a day of rest and catching up with news of what's happened in our absence.

Christmas month - Day 28

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Last full day in Manila.  What memories we would have accumulated during our stay here.  From all the hotel reviews, I am certain that we chose well.  Shangri-La doesn't disappoint so I know we would have been well taken care of by the lovely and loving people of the Philippines.

And after the coffee, we have to carpe diem!

Christmas month - Day 27

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I hope that by the time this is published, I have done all that I hoped to do, visited all the places I hoped to see, shopped for all the things I hoped to buy, eaten all the food that I hoped to taste, and seen all the people I hoped to meet.

As this is a scheduled post, I sit here and write about the future. 

It will be our fifth morning in Manila, and I imagine that the time here has filled our hearts with joy, love and peace.  I will check my blog, remember the sweet and little pleasures of life while I sip my coffee at breakfast, enjoying the beautiful view at our hotel club lounge.  

Christmas Month - Day 26

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It's midnight now.  What will the new day bring?  While we sleep, God is awake and we rest in this knowledge.

This is a scheduled blog post but I am sure that our time here since arrival has been nothing but memorable and I confidently write this in advance.  Why not eh?

Christmas month - Christmas Day 25

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 It is our first Christmas outside of Singapore and Malaysia ever!!! 

Truly it doesn't really matter where we are because to have each other and to know God together is what counts.  I couldn't have asked for a better life partner, soulmate and prayer warrior by my side.

Maligayang Pasko, Baby Grosse!

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Christmas month - Day 24 Part 2

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Indeed, I do feel very blessed and I also feel loved and cherished by my husband.  

Today is our wedding anniversary.  We decided on this day, the eve of the birth of Christ, so that we would always be together and so far we've made it!

Until now, we enjoy telling people about the date because it is so special in so many ways.

Happy Anniversary to us!  Cheers!

Christmas Month - Day 24 Part 1

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And we're in the heart of Manila!

The homeland of my ancestors.  

Christmas Month - Day 23

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And we're leaving today.  We're probably catching some shut-eye, as this gets posted online.  Or maybe we're unable to sleep because we have to be at the airport by 4 am.  

I've scheduled posts for the rest of this season so I won't miss a day for my Christmas month series.

Christmas in Manila!

Even if you haven't already guessed from the picture!!

Christmas Month - Day 22

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Enough said!  I've been doing so much of everything and at the same time, so much of nothing.  I must stop and take a step back and remember the reason for the season.

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Christmas Month - Day 21

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It's 4 days to Christmas and 2 days till we fly off. 

How are we going to contain the excitement!!!

I can't remember when I was so happily anxious like this.  It's the most wonderful time of the year to be carefree!

I'm making a list and checking it twice!!

Christmas Month - Day 20

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And I'm all done with the wrapping.  Not much to do this year as we will be away.  Only bought gifts for the 4 kids who live along our corridor that have become a part and parcel of our daily lives.  Well, more of Stephen's life than mine as they gravitate to him.

This year, we will be spending Christmas in another land and it surely is going to be different.  We can't wait to go.  Just a couple of days more and then we're off.

Now to start packing....

Christmas Month - Day 19

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I loved my grandfather as much as he loved me.  He was probably the one who taught me about unconditional love.

I remember so much about him.  Often I see something and memories of what he said makes me smile.  

This was his birthdate.  I always liked that he never made a big deal about being a December baby.  But it was!

Christmas Month - Day 18

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Every year Stephen and I have chosen to do something extra for someone.  Often it is a surprise that we hope would refresh faith in humanity. 

What do we hope to achieve from this?  Nothing.

What is the side effect? Feeling good.

It's exciting that we haven't decided yet.  So many possibilities to consider and we will know when we feel that peace in our hearts.

Christmas Month - Day 17

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I'm not going to forget that there are many aspects easily forgotten and this is a great reminder to me and to anyone who visits my blog.

Christmas Month - Day 16

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If there is one thing that Stephen and I definitely love, without a doubt, it is Christmas.  It is endearing to see him enjoying everything that Christmas brings.  I love how he doesn't hold back when it comes to relishing every moment.

He wants to watch a Christmas movie every night.  He wants to listen to Christmas songs every day.  He wants to do his Christmas dancing every chance he gets.  He even wants to go out for Christmas shopping!  Ha ha ha!  

Christmas Month - Day 15

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I cannot say it enough.  There's magic whenever Christmas comes around.  I feel it in my bones.  It's amazing.

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And I hope my blog helps me to remember each day of December 2018.   

Christmas Month - Day 14

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I know that some people are going to be spending Christmas alone but if we know Jesus, then this will never be true.

And if you have children, this means a whole lot more. I hope that Jared and Gwen will embrace this Christmas for themselves because next year, it's going to be way more different.  Life will never be the same.  Your heart will live outside of your body.  It's both scary and beautiful. 

Christmas Month - Day 13

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I fully agree that it is what we make of it.  There were some Christmases in times gone by when I was too sad to be merry or cheery.  What a waste it was to not have known that it was up to me to make the best of it.

And now that I know better, I realise the decision to be happy is in our hands.

Christmas Month - Day 12 Part 2

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In memory of our Allie Girl.  

She was a huge part in the life of her Mama and then became a big part in the life of her Papa.  She will be missed so very much especially today.

Christmas Month - Day 12 Part 1

Blessed birthday to our GG who is going to have a baby!  She's our Santa Baby this year.  

We wish you all the best that this day can hold and more than enough to get you through till the next birthday.  

We love you so very much and we are thinking of you every day.

Christmas Month - Day 11

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We won't be doing much at home, in terms of decoration.  Well, we never overdo either.  Not like when we did the home in KL.  But that's another time and now belongs to history.

But when the grandbaby arrives, then we'll see where we will be and that's where we may go overboard.  Who knows?

Image from Pinterest

But whether there is decoration in the house or not, it is STILL the most wonderful time of the year.

Christmas Month - Day 10

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I have always liked this analogy of glue.  And it's perfectly used here for Christmas!

Christmas Month - Day 9

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At the heart of any true believer, Jesus is the reason for this beautiful Christmas season.  

And because Jesus is love, Christmas is love.  It just goes hand in hand.

Christmas Month - Day 8

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We forget sometimes about the love that goes in the giving.  We look at the gift without seeing the heart of the giver.

St Teresa was right!  It isn't how much we give.  It's the love that is inside the giving.  

Christmas Month - Day 7

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I have always felt a warm glow because of who I get to spend my Christmas with.  Stephen makes all things fun and wonderful.  

But at Christmas time, it is even more meaningful because he goes beyond the norm to make all things lovely and beautiful.  

This virtual tree is for him!

Christmas Month - Day 6

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Often we forget that the Christmas spirit is the Christ spirit.  I want to remember this.  

I will keep this in mind because we must never lose the real reason for the season.

Christmas Month - Day 5

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It's the most wonderful time of the year when people give without a thought of getting. Well, most people do.  Let's look for the positive everywhere.  

And I totally agree that we should fill the season with magic!!!!

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Christmas Month - Day 4

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All the things about Christmas make me feel so good inside and outside.

My favourite time of the year when life feels surreal.  

Christmas Month - Day 3

Lights are so beautiful and make the home look so cosy especially with Christmas music playing.  

Add to this, a husband who prances around while he sings and the mood is elevated to the magical level.

Christmas Month - Day 2

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We are mindful of every bit of magic in the air everywhere!  Thank you, Lord Jesus for all our blessings.

Christmas Month - Day 1

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We are advocates of this.  Thank goodness for youtube with so many channels to choose from.

Move over November

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I feel quite excited about Christmas this year.  For longer than I can remember, it was always a fixed thing for us to be in Singapore. This year we will be away.  I almost cannot believe it.

We're planning and already thinking of packing.  Hahahahaha

Anyway, it's lovely to be able to go away without thinking of anyone other than ourselves.

Originally we planned to be in Sabah with our children but Stephen decided that this Christmas will be just for us.  Because after this, there will be a new addition to the family and it will never be the same again.

Christmas isn't even here and we are already thinking of 2019 and how that will change both of us.

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Holiday mood

Image from WWW

So we just had an overnight weekend trip to Johore for a short shopping spree.  The children had the car so we joined them for the drive and although it was an impromptu decision, it turned out to be a very enjoyable time with Jared and Gwen.  

We found a nice hotel near to the shopping belt of town and it was a marathon walk from one mall to the other.  

Isn't it funny how we don't feel the tiredness as long as we are on the move?  It's only when we stop that we feel the ache in our bones!

But this is just the prelude to more shopping as Christmas gets near and also as we prepare to visit one of the biggest shopping malls in Asia.

We're definitely in the happy holiday mood already. 

Where do I go from here?

Image from WWW

Two months have passed since my MIL passed away.  During this time, I have thought about the questions people had asked me before, during, and even after the funeral.

"What are you going to do now?"

"How will you fill your days?"

Many different questions but all curious to know where I was headed.  And maybe it isn't a bad thing to want to have a direction.  But surely it isn't a necessity.

Stephen immediately responded to some that I was to take a break.  I was to do whatever I wanted.  I wasn't to jump into the next role of caregiver for someone else.  He's so protective of me and I always smile when I think of how he, himself, is so selfless.  But he's always protective and caring for me.

But this was an immediate change. I always knew it would come one day.  Suddenly I had nothing to do, no place to go and no one to worry over.  It was nice but it also left a small void in the life that I had become accustomed to.

So far, I've just enjoyed being still and embracing the new peace that has slowly filled the vacuum I felt from the busyness I left behind.  It isn't a difficult thing to do or not to do.  

Where do I go from here?  

To wherever life takes me...

And with a grandchild on the way, the horizon seems beautiful.  Stephen and I are excited beyond words because of all the joy that a new addition to the family can bring.