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 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 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 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?

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

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.

Day 31 New Year's Eve

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As we go through the last 24 hours of this year, most people are wondering if they will have a better year or it will be a repeat of same ol' same ol'.

If there is one thing that I've rediscovered in 2017, it's that I am the captain of my ship and I direct the sails.  For much of my life, I've steered as I saw fit but along the way, I sort of lost the realisation that I could change the course.  

I still worried that I needed to do what people expected of me and, in so doing, I allowed my personal space and happiness to be pushed aside. Now I've taken back the rudder and I feel empowered to face 2018. 

So the new year is mine, what will I do with it?  *Rubs hands in glee*

I will do with it, whatever brings goodness to my life.  I will spend more time meditating on God's Word.  I will give permission to me to eat what I enjoy.  I will immerse myself in a healthier life.  I will do so many new and better things with my 2018. 

    

Day 29 Christmas Reason

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Well, it's almost over.  Everyone is thinking of the new year.  In a few places, some decorations are already being replaced with the colours of the next festive celebration.

It's at this time that we should remind ourselves about the wondrous gift of Jesus in our lives.

We all prepared for Christmas with so much gusto and it shouldn't end there.  We should strive to keep the kindness and love that we felt during this season.  Jesus is the risen Christ.  Jesus is the Christ in Christmas and Jesus is with us every day of the year. 

We should rejoice!  

Day 23 Christmas Baby

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Oh yes, indeed!  A baby changes everything.  Even when our children are all grown up, they're always our babies, no matter how old they get.

Just like Baby Jesus and how his birth changed everything, our babies change everything for us.  

Even when we don't think about it, our lives revolve around them.  We think about them.  We worry about them  We pray for them.  We talk about them.  We connect daily with them.  What would life be without them?

To have them here and to be able to shower them with our love, care and concern means so much to us.  I always like to think we're making memories: Christmas memories, to boot!

Day 19 Christmas Memories

Image from Instagram and edited

Without fail, I always think of my grandpa on this day.  He would have been 108 years old today.

We all called him Papa.  In fact, everyone called him Papa.  His children, grandchildren and even great-grandchildren all called him Papa.  No one bothers about it.  I like that.  No protocol and just a term of endearment.  

I still think of him every now and then and today especially, I feel sad that he's no longer with us. All of a sudden, I miss him more.

Day 17 Christmas Spirit

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And just a reminder that the spirit of Christmas is the Spirit of Christ!  Too often, the reason for this beautiful season is lost among the dazzling images.

They're all lovely.  Don't get me wrong on that.  But amidst all that loveliness is the saviour's birth.  

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Day 16 Christmas Coffee

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So it's really easy to please me because all I want for Christmas is COFFEE!  I usually drink coffee only in the mornings and will risk one in the afternoon, if I am out and about.  

I find that coffee does keep me awake at nights, sometimes.  But if I'm dead tired, I sleep no matter how much caffeine I have ingested.  

So, yeah, coffee is all I want for Christmas.  Easy peasy, y'all!

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Day 15 Christmas Time

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It's really been a good two weeks of December for me.  I haven't felt rushed or stressed about getting organised for Christmas.  

Plus I can check off every thing on this list, despite binging on Christmas movies and my TV series, I should add.  

When I was working, I used to feel a bit of tension the moment we hit the first of December.  I wondered when I would start to "Christmastise" the home.  I wondered how I would do it all.  More often than not, I would work a full day and then after dinner I'd start on the decorations.  It wasn't easy but I did do my best and always felt satisfied with everything.

These last years, it's been easier.  I've either become better at it or I've become more easy-going.  It's not about overdoing but just about doing.  And I'm done!  

Yay!  Celebrate!  

Okay, maybe not yet.  I'm still tweaking some things every now and then!  

Day 14 Christmas Cheesecake

So Stephen joined me to make this no-bake cheesecake.  It was a trial run but it turned out super tasty.  The texture could be improved but the taste is just glorious.  

We tweaked two recipes and came up with this.  So the next round will be even better, I'm sure.

Already it's almost all gone after only two days!  We did give two pieces to our neighbours just to get their reaction.  Hahahaha

It's not a huge cake although it looks huge in the picture.   We'll be making another for our Christmas dessert and for the children to enjoy with us. 

Day 13 Christmas List

Image from Instagram and edited

So there was a time when I was probably on Santa's naughty list but that was so long ago when it was fun and caution was thrown to the wind.  We did things that we enjoyed and didn't worry about tomorrow.

Now, however, I may not be on everyone's nice list but I am quite certain that I'm on Santa's nice list.  At least, I'm on Santa Stephen's nice list which is all that matters.  

Time changes everyone.  Perspectives are fine-tuned and we are no longer slaves to other people's opinions.  

Day 3 Christmas Santa

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Stephen just told mom that he still believes in Santa Claus.  Mom smiled at this.  He said that when he was a small boy, he truly believed that Santa would come at night and he tried to look out for him.  Now that he's older and wiser, he still believes in Santa.  I think we all want to and in some way, it's a nice memory from our childhood that we can safely carry into our adulthood.  

These words in the image resonates with the spirt of Santa Claus.  So let's give freely without expectation and spread joy, love and light.