On Christmas Eve

We had a beautiful Christmas Eve.

Spent in Monterrey, with old friends around and new ones too.

Josiah and Linda's family opened their home to us, as they always do. And Gabriel and Ruth's doors were open too, for the Christmas dinner to be held.

Super yummy! Man, I forgot to thank the cooks!
We had different pastas with mushrooms, shrimps, cheese, chicken and other yumminess; some great juicy meet, salads, drinks, cakes. I felt quite spoiled -toothy grin-

The table lit with candles, gave this lovely Christmas feeling...but there was nothing like having everybody together, singing a few Christmas carols, with little Milly guiding us to sing "What can I give Him?" -the cutest-

Stephy -my long life friend of friends- put together all kinds of music for us to dance. The adults were the leaders, going back into the seventies, moving their feet to merengue and salsa, dancing like no one is watching. Great fun.

And the stars shone bright I swear.

Haha! I forgot to mention how we sang "Las Mañanitas" to Jesus when everyone got tired of dancing, and we passed on hugs! Big Christmas hugs -grins-

Gifts were an event as well. I loved mine -grins again-
Thanks Steph, mom and dad, Adrian and all the people who made this Christmas season special. With their presence, love despite the distance and smiles n hugs shared, thank you dear loves!

Here's a poem that Milly -Gabriel and Ruth's 7 year old daughter- wrote, describing a child's feelings at Christmas till she found Jesus, the meaning of it all, whose birthday we celebrate. Now if you know this kid and what her family has been through you know how this means a lot more.

(Non edited)
Why is there things that just go away
when they are actually meant to stay?
Why does my heart feel so empty when I have every kids' dream?
Is there actually something I don't have this Christmas?
Why is it that I feel so empty and sad?
Every Christmas I checked my list twice.
Every Christmas I felt so lonely,
until someone told me
that there's more to Christmas:
not just Santa and the toys he brings.
It's about love joy, love and the carols we sing.
It's not about what we get,
it's about what we give.
It's what us, good people live.
So that Christmas I was told a very good lesson,
and lots of people questioned me why did I feel so happy.
So I told them about the Person
that just told me the greatest lesson I've ever seen
and I told them my destiny,
so that they would do right,
so that we could live eternally,
forever.

Merry Christmas! -Now and everyday!

A gift for all

"There was a gift to each of us left under the tree of life 2000 years ago by Him whose birthday we celebrate today. The gift was withheld from no man. Some have left the packages unclaimed. Some have accepted the gift and carried it around, but have failed to remove the wrapping and look inside to discover the hidden splendor. The packages are all alike: in each is a scroll on which is written, “All that the Father hath is thine!” Take and live!"—Frank S. Mead

Thank you so much sweet Jesus, I love you.
Happy Birthday!!

Angels

"Be an angel to someone else whenever you can, as a way of thanking God for the help that another angel has given you."—Eileen Elias Freeman

—Some of my angels.

I can't thank God enough for you.
Your existence is important to me,
I treasure every breath you take,
and I thank you for what you've done for me,
and for what you've given me.
Whether it's been years, or months, weeks or days.
Or whether you were an angel and forgot.
There's no way on Earth I could include all angels
but I praise God for you.
The Earth is beautiful cause you're in it!
Yeah,
I believe your smile to be precious.

Christmas means Love

Someone tell me, why is Christmas so soon?!
I think I need more time. More Christmas time.
Maybe I'll have to stretch Christmas into all next year! (nods) Because starting Christmas in July is just not enough.
I love how Christmas is the perfect excuse to give love, time and more love! Everyone craves it!
But I think we forget -well I do- that the lonely hearts are there all year round. And the longing hands are also there, just not stretching out tentatively. Lord help me to love all year long, and to give, not just at Christmas.

I just had to share cutie-handsome Benji with you. Never mind the picture being focused wrong. Love you Benny!

"Take a lesson from God in gift giving: His gift didn’t show us how powerful He was, how rich He was, or what good taste He had. His gift simply showed us that He loved us more than anything else in the world, and that He was willing to do whatever it took to make our lives wonderful. Do your best to give Jesus the best birthday He’s ever had, and He’ll give you the most wonderful, happy Christmas season you’ve ever had."

"You may not have costly presents of gold, frankincense, or myrrh to lay at My feet, but you can give Me gifts of your love and service. Those are what please Me the most."—Jesus

"Jesus was God’s gift to the world, not just for Christmas, but for every single day—your whole life through—and even beyond for all eternity, and for every need that you will ever have."

Ghosts on a december day

I just finished watching an episode of "Ghost Whisperer", it was the sweetest I've seen!
I had the most enormous smile going on, and then was really touched at some points. One of the those rare times when you get up from the couch warmed inside.
Besides there being a romantic little side to it, with a joining story where a romantic shy Italian tries to win over a certain lady's heart; there was a cute guy acting as "a bad boy", a man named William...You see, all this appeals to Steph's heart.
But in truth what was the best about it was that, as the story goes, this man, William had had a heart operation over 50 years ago -at the age of 16. He died for a few minutes and upon seeing his body under him (yes, I believe in ghosts), and all the nurses trying to revive him, he saw the doctor struggling so badly he had to be taken out of the surgery room, and died of a heart attack himself, thinking he had killed his patient and that he had made a terrible mistake in the surgery room. When the nurses brought William back to life, he realized how precious his life was, since it had also cost him the doctor's own life. So he determined to not waste one second of it.
Not waste one second of the precious lives we all have...
In the story, this man did all he could to "live life to the full". He was one of those old men with gray hairs and twinkling eyes, that you know are very healthy and look so youthful. I believe enjoying life ONLY brings benefits.
I know this is just a story...but the lessons it contains go beyond.
I think that all I want to say -since I just ruined a "Ghost Whisperer" episode for you (guilty grin) is:
Why wait for something drastic to happen, like having your life or that of a loved one in serious danger, or even lost, to realize how precious life really is?
I hope I realize how precious my life is.
Maybe you get to learn how to make the most out of life with time. But all in all these seem to be the basics: live (breath deeply, take care of your body, learn all you can), laugh (enjoy the pleasures -that's what God made them for. Haha, Smile!) and love (we won't ever live till we've loved and loved fully). And then, I think we'll have a great beginning once our time comes to leave this Earth.
A friend used to tell me a lot "Live life with no regrets" and then she'd draw a heart next to that saying. (I love you Teresa)
And so this is me at 5:30 pm, with cold hands, an apron on, bright eyed and with a great need to run away from the computer and finish my book for tomorrow's Language exam. Wish me luck.
P.S. I just saw a double rainbow! -smiles-
Last time I saw a rainbow it was January. Man, time goes by too quickly. -hopeless grin-

A quote that stroke

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."—Mark Twain

Slightly horrified!

Latest news:
....(Horror movie background music) Our computer crashed! It won't work! Don't ask me I don't know anything...It just won't turn on, I just hope nothing burnt...badly.
Pray for it -grins- will ya? That is so that we can save our dear...stuff -big toothy grin-
Lovely news: I'm getting a laptop in less than two weeks!!

-I need one of those -smiles-

To Estie

You're a golden rose!
So precious and greatly treasured by those who know that your kind is rare.
Your heart is big enough to stretch even over lands and seas.
Yours are arms firm and reassuring, you're a good shoulder.
You are a lively spirit!
Beauty indeed!
Your is a voice that moves hearts, a heart with a pen that can reach out and comfort, understand and at times explain.
You've got eyes that change lives with a fire of a steady Love burning within them.
You fill tummies with your delicious baking n' cooking, and fill hearts with your hugs and tender kissing.
You're a creature of enjoyment and laughter!
...and to think that time will still teach you more, tears will make you stronger, challenges make you more of a daring soul and changes mold you and give you the life you were destined to live!
Happy Journey crazy creep!
You know you're only 17 once.
-Don't forget to include me in some of your wild adventures!
And if it so happens that we don't see each other often, we know we're both good at sending love over oceans.

Small Beginnings

A wise man once said:
"The story of Christmas reminds us that it's okay to start small. Jesus started in a stable, but He ended up at the right hand of the throne of God. And because of Him, our small beginnings will have greater endings in His eternal Kingdom."
...actually I don't know if it was a woman -grins-

The fellows who made me smile

It's midday.
My mom made me smile with the yummy breakfast she lovingly prepared, served so nicely.
Adrian made me smile as he was about to run out of the kitchen and go out the door, he peeped: "thanks for doing dishes Steph!" -It's been a long time since someone mentioned that.
Nala made me smile enormously while checking out her two latest blog posts. One titled "Smile", the best!
Phil made me smile another huge smile when he sent this, catching me offline and offguard: "well peeps, it's that time of year again. Merry Christmas 2 yah all. don't 4get to stuff urselfs full of C-mas dinner" (sends a hug) -Phil's hugs must be pretty huge..and warm (winks).
1st day of December.
Making people smile is not so hard. You can really be a sun beam to someone in the dark, or a snowflake for someone who's always yearned to enjoy one.
Like Sam and I, dreaming of a white Christmas.

Us birds

I felt I was in a cage, and that he was in there with me. And that now that I had let him out, even though he stayed near to cuddle and sing to me, I feared his song I'd never hear again. He could fly from me at any moment, with no warning.
Then I took a closer look and realized, I'm not caged and neither is he, and we both stay on the same tree. Not because there aren't other trees around, for this is no desert, but because we love each other's songs. So we sing to each other, and meet where his day ends and my day begins...

Robinson Crusoe

My literature book seems like a monster to me, but I'm starting to like it. To really like it, looking like a funky lil nerd engrossed in a book. Today I found this:

-From Chapter IV -First weeks on the Island.

And so it happened that dear Crusoe was stuck on an island, his circumstances were pretty awful and he was considering seriously his condition. So he began writing, the best list of "good and bad" in a situation exactly as it was - the best I've seen so far.

Evil:
I am cast upon a horrible, desolate island, void of all hope of recovery.
Good:
But I am alive; and not drowned, as all my ship's company were.

Evil:
I am singled out and separated, as it were, from all the world, to be miserable.
Good:
But I am singled out, too, from all the ship's crew, to be spared from death; and He that miraculously saved me from death can deliver me from this condition.

Evil:
I am divided from mankind-a solitaire; one banished from human society.
Good:
But I am not starved, and perishing on a barren place, affording no sustenance.

Evil:
I have no clothes to cover me.
Good:
But I am in a hot climate, where, if I had clothes, I could hardly wear them.

Evil:
I am without any defence, or means to resist any violence of man or beast.
Good:
But I am cast on an island where I see no wild beasts to hurt me, as I saw on the coast of Africa; and what if I had been shipwrecked there?

Evil:
I have no soul to speak to or relieve me.
Good:
But God wonderfully sent the ship in near enough to the shore, that I have got out as many necessary things as will either supply my wants or enable me to supply myself, even as long as I live.

Upon the whole, here was an undoubted testimony that there was scarce any condition in the world so miserable but there was something negative or something positive to be thankful for in it.

-Robinson Crusoe (By Daniel Foe, 1719)

And so, reminded of how good life is, I sit to update my blog. I should follow his example in more than one way (winks)