Tag: christmas lights

Merry Christmas from Our Little Family to Yours

RhizaLeave a comment

How crazy is it to have little ones running/crawling and making a ruckus around the house on Christmas day? I can’t even begin to describe the joy! It’s the kind of joy that makes you soar above the holiday stress, the busy-ness, and the chaos that often come with this most wonderful time of the year.

I realize time and time again that there’s no amount of stress or traffic or dirty dishes that can take away the effect of those smiles, the tiny kisses, the little arms around your neck, and the mumbo jumbo of syllables that come out of a baby’s lips. They’re just.. priceless.

Coming home from our annual Christmas eve party in my Mom’s side of the family, we let the girls open their gifts and play with their new toys a little before tucking them in. The obvious truth is, we’re still constantly in awe that this is our life now. I hugged Dawn & Rain a little tighter and longer last night, knowing that my life was utterly changed the past year by these two tiny lives.

Even the way I look at Christmas has spun into this whole new level of wonder and awe. Being a parent now, it blows my mind whenever I think about how much it took for our Father in heaven to give up His own Son as a ransom for many.

I pray that you too will not stop marveling at the wonder of God’s love this Christmas day, remembering the real reason for the season, and having the kind of amazement that can be seen in the eyes of little children. Christmas is here, and it will fly by in the same manner it came—like a breeze. I pray that we won’t miss out on God’s message to us this Christmas, the big and small moments to be treasured, the lessons to be learned, and the love that’s meant to be shared and given away.

Merry Christmas to you and your family!

With love from the four of us,
David & Rhiza, Dawn & Rain

#countdownto2014

Meanwhile I’m Putting Up More Twinkly Lights

Rhiza4 Comments

I like quoting from movies, even if no one gets it. And sometimes I like explaining them too, when no one gets it. :p

In You’ve Got Mail, when Kathleen Kelly’s book shop was starting to lose sales after Fox Books opened within the block, she confidently shrugged off the concerns of her worried employees and simply said, “They’re new, it’s a novelty. It’ll all shake out. Meanwhile, I’m putting up more twinkle lights.”

I love that scene. I love how Kathleen said that line as if putting up those lights was more important than worrying about her business. We all could use some of that attitude, don’t you think? (:

Last week, I woke up from a quick nap to the sight of this beauty *points to the picture*. We were supposed to do this together, but the husband thought he’d surprise me so he went ahead putting the Christmas lights up while I was sleeping. A word to husbands out there: big or small gestures like this are very much appreciated. Never get tired surprising your wives with kindness, rest assured, your act of love will be returned tenfolds. ♥

x o x o

Here’s some linkworthy stuff to start the week:

+ Interesting thoughts on making disciples by Laura Hamilton. I agree with her, Christianity does involve a bold, unashamed declaration of faith, rather than a quiet commitment you keep to yourself.

+ I cried like a loser, watching this Coca-Cola OFW Project. Good job, Coca-Cola! You make me want to buy boxes of Coke and give them away for Christmas.

+ Alie Edward’s December Daily hybrid journal project makes me wish I have time and skills to do one of my own. Paislee Press and Paper Relics are doing it too. I started scrapbooking (again) lately, I just don’t think I can do it with the same passion and commitment as these ladies here. At least not yet. Maybe someday. (;

+ Pentatonix won the Sing Off last week. I love this video I found in Youtube, a montage of all their performances this season. We still watch them at home until now.

+ I love how Seth Godin’s blogs transcend both business and life. He may be using marketing terms like “products” and “customers” and “services” or may be directly referring to entrepreneurial principles in his posts, but for all we know, he’s actually imparting to us important life lessons on achieving real-life breakthrough one step at a time. Oh, and he’s got some interesting thoughts about Christmas lights, too! This guy thinks about everything! LOL.

+ I’ve been thinking about this SEO and Online Marketing industry I happened to have been exposed to for the past 6-7 years, and I thought, even though I don’t really see myself doing this forever, perhaps I shouldn’t give up on it just yet.

+ Lastly, you might want to help Wikipedia, since, you know, we’ve all somehow benefited from it at one point or another.

Here’s to starting, and ending, the week right! (:

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Rhiza3 Comments

It’s December in 2 days and I bet you’re wondering too where on earth November went! Time flies fast, no?

Last night, we put up the Christmas tree at home. We started putting up Christmas lights at the veranda, too, last week, getting the place ready for some Christmas parties and get-togethers. It’s our first ever Christmas together since we met 12 years ago, and I’m kinda giddy about celebrating it with him! I used to think that Christmas is the saddest of all holidays (I had my share of depressing blog posts, IKR), but this year is bound to be so much different from all the other Christmasses we’ve had apart. Sweeter, and happier, for sure.

So I had my brother deliver to me the old tree I’ve had since 2009. We deliberated on buying a bigger tree this year, but we thought we’d save the money for a much-needed, much-awaited Christmas present we want to give ourselves instead. Besides, this little Christmas tree is perfect for our little home, for now. The idea of using Instax photographs as ornaments came about last year, and we thought we’d do it again this year.

This could be the start of our very own Christmas tree tradition or something, putting up photos on the tree like a timeline, representing milestones and beautiful memories of the year that was. I’m all for traditions these days, especially now that I’m starting new ones with Bud.

I’m excited to post more photos, for some reason. I think Christmas looks really pretty in photographs because of the Christmas lights. (:

I’m keeping the twinkling lights

Rhiza1 Comment

So I finally boxed away my tiny Christmas tree three months after I put it up. I wouldn’t even bother, really, after all, I live in a country that self-proclaims itself to have the longest Christmas holiday in the world; but I woke up this morning with the collapsed tree on the floor, as if it resigned by itself and I was like, “okay okay I get it, it’s time to give you a break!”

And so I took away the tree, but I decided to keep the twinkling lights just because I like bright and pretty things, and just because I like the idea of keeping a little remnant of Christmas the whole year.

While it was a quick and uneventful experience, I have to admit that boxing up the Christmas tree had a subtle way of reminding me that life is softly (and swiftly) turning its pages, and everyday takes us a little closer to the life ahead of us and a little farther from what used to be, you know what I’m saying? Sometimes, in my self absorbed moments, I feel like the whole world is sighing with me.

Anyway, hello! It’s been a while, but for once I don’t feel so bad abandoning this blog for a couple of weeks because I was too busy actually living (and working!). I get tired easily, yes, but I love that God has given me so much that I never seem to run out of things to do!

I hope 2011 has so far been good to you as it has been to me. :)