This year, I celebrated my 4th Christmas in Thailand. It's doesn't involve big dinners and expensive gifts (as always) but I tried to celebrate it in our own simple way. As we all know that Thailand is not a Christian country, they don't celebrate Christmas as much as we do. We're glad that we celebrated Christmas in church and we're able to spread the cheer even to unbelievers. Even we don't have Christmas vacation, we're glad that the administration allow us to take a day-off on the 25th to celebrate this day with our family.

It can't be denied that all the times I wish to remember my Christmas with Christmas tree with huge pile of presents underneath, table filled with mouth-watering lechon and lots of foods or a wonderful choir singing Christmas carols, but my parents words linger to my hearts. They used to tell us that Christmas celebration and thankfulness is all that is required to properly celebrate. Anything more is a bonus.

At home (in Philippines), we used to attend a Christmas Eve service. My parents don't need to wrap gifts for us (imagine 14 children!) coz our church mates were generous enough to give each one of us Christmas presents/goodies. When I already worked, I tried to wrap gifts for each one of my younger siblings. About food, we don't need to worry about it or cook anything coz our church mates shared to us what's on their table. Now, that's the spirit of Christmas! and that's the blessing of having a father who's a Minister of God.

I also missed our church's ministry during Christmas. We used to do caroling on streets and chose the less fortunate's houses at dawn. We gave them goodies, clothing or grocery . At first they thought that we're the traditional carolers that ask money after singing so they lend to us 1-5 pesos but they're amazed that we won't accept them instead we're the one giving them something. Some cried, some accept with big smiles and some can't help hugging us for the good things we bring to them.

How do we celebrate Christmas here? In our family we reflect on the reason for Christmas by reading the Christmas story in the Gospel according to Luke, Chapters 1 and 2, as well as the Gospel according to Matthew Chapters 1 and 2. We read these chapters aloud as part of our family's holiday. We don't introduce Santa Claus to our lil boy but to the One who's birthday we're celebrating.

On Christmas eve, we just have a movie night and serve the Pizza Hut's celebration set. We watched Fred Claus, All I want for Christmas , Miracle on 34th Street and Jingle All the Way.

Though we've got our Christmas gifts on the first week of December, I see to it that Hyzyd will have something to open on Christmas eve and something for my hubby too.

We don't usually wrap our gifts for each other. Instead, we shopped for our gifts to each other. This time I wanted to have a new pants, I choose one and I need to fit it in the fitting room to make sure that it's OK for me and if my hubby likes it. Once he approved, he buys it for me. Hubby chose his gift and off I buy it for him. It's just like that- we wanted to have what we really want for Christmas. Wrapped presents is also appreciated but we seldom practice it:)



I'm grateful too that I finally got my PRADA. I asked my hubby to contribute for the 50% of the price of this bag...LOL!

I also try to avoid spending money I don't have on Christmas season. I don't go into debt for the sake of one holiday. Some may think that we have much money or savings because we're both working in a foreign land. I tell you that it's not. There are time that we too experienced being financially strapped too that's why we're trying to celebrate special events in a simple but meaningful way for my family. Like this time, we've spent so much for our visa, passports and moving of residence. I love to give but I give within my means and I hope my friends will understand.

Most importantly, we spend time quietly being thankful for the gift of Jesus to the world that we celebrate on Christmas. This is the day we have set aside to celebrate the beginning of the greatest gift mankind has ever received. Coming into the Christmas season with a grateful heart is essential if you really want to make the extension from Jesus's giving of His amazing gift to your giving and receiving.

By the way, I'm looking forward to celebrate New year's Eve with my brother's family and some friends. Hope we'll have a blessed time together.

One more thing, tonight is our school's New Year's Party at Daiichi Hotel and we're going to have a dance number with my co-teachers. Hope it will be a meaningful night to us all and hope to combat stage fright..waaaahhhhh:)

PS We just moved again (!) and our computer just revived from virus attack. These are the reasons why I'm offline. See you around and hope we'll enjoy this happy season:)