Saturday, December 27, 2008

Looking back at Christmas

So it's finally over, the madness, the rush, the traveling for some (not for me), the anticipation and the stress of the "most wonderful time of the year". If I look back there are certain moments that will stuck in my mind, hopefully forever. The most precious one was at church, on Christmas Eve our tradition is to go to the candle light service, that night there is no nursery - this is the only time of the year that all children are in the service - so I went prepare with snacks, toys, and all kinds of "entertainers" in my bag. (Nicolas was so cute, wearing his dress up outfit and Santa hat). There is this song that it's presented every year on this service, "Mary did you know?" not sure if you've ever heard it but I love that song, and it always makes me tear up (I know, what a mush). So there goes our Pastor with the first like "Mary did you know? that your baby boy will one day walk on water?" and there are my tears, there I am in church, sitting between my men and wondering what would my son do with his life, that always makes me tear up even more, imagining the things he will accomplished in his future, but the most wonderful moment was when Nicolas was leaning on my arms and I was holding Matt's hand and we were singing a caroling and my mind was thinking, what else could I ask for? Yeah, it's true that I would of like to have more family from Chile with me but in all reality this is the best moment, I'm relaxed, I'm happy, I'm fulfilled, I'm with my husband and my son at church celebrating the birth of Jesus, there's no place a rather be right at this second! I know this sounds cheesy and may be silly but words make no judgment to the overall good feeling!!!!!!!!

My second favorite time was when Nicolas was in the midst of opening his presents and as I was getting a toy out of the box, he looked around, lifted his arms right up in the air and said "Merry Christmas Everyone!" and we all said "Awwwwwwwww" it was just darling!

My third favorite time this Christmas was not on Christmas Eve, nor Christmas Day but the day after that. Matt & I finally got ourselves together to go look for a car, neither one of us was excited about going through the hassle and "crap" that all car salesman puts you through, so we decided to just go and look around, see what's out there and make up our minds (really just my mind, the car was for me and I was the one who needed to decide what I wanted). I've always loved the Honda Element and Honda CR-V but I thought there was no way I could afford either one of them to stay in our budget (I didn't want to have big car payments either) so anyway, we went to one place, not many models on the used lot that got my attention, just a couple but nothing fascinating (I'm this way when I shop, unless something really gets my attention and I really love it I don't feel I should buy it) so Matt suggested we went to this other place right down the street so we did and there it was, The Honda Element, 2007, one previous owner and when we asked the price, I thought "don't get excited it's probably going to be too expensive" and when he says the price, I wanted to jump high in the sky and scream of excitement. I test drove it, I wanted to run back to the car dealership and said here, take this money and let me take it home and let's be done with it". I loved it and well, we did it. We bought it and I am officially in debt now but what a great cause, right?

Friday, December 19, 2008

What have you done?

Yesterday I was talking to a friend and she told me her nephew was diagnosed with either Leukemia or Lymphoma, they weren't sure yet. That made me thought about all the children I've hear of being sick (I'm not talking about a cold or anything simple, I'm talking Cancer, Illness ... horrible stuff), how great things are in our lives and how we take them for granted.

Today I turned my cell phone on and I realized I had a message, it was another friend of mine asking me to pray for a little girl who is in the NICU, she's not doing good at all.

Last week a little girl from our local elementary school died after a long fight of cancer.

I know this is the cheerful season, right? Well, I'm not trying to be negative, I'm just trying to put things in perspective and wondering how often do I complaint about things, how often I'm not satisfied because things didn't go my way. WOW how dumb that makes me feel. How ungrateful ... one of my favorite Christmas songs is the one John Lennon sings "So this is Christmas, and what have you done? another year over ..."

Well let's see:
* I've made new friends this year, wonderful girls!
* I got my act together and decided it was time to get serious about going back to my "pre-baby" weight, so I joined a program and I've made my goal and may be in January I'll work on dropping a few more, you know, nothing ever stays on the same place after you gain 50 lbs. (or more??!!) with your pregnancy.
* I've worked with a group of friends and doing certain projects to help our community, which has felt GREAT. I wish I was loaded with money so each week we could do more and more! :D
* I had my first long week vacation at the beach after years of not doing it, it was awesome. Our little boy still talks about it. :D We went with another family who are really good friends of ours. It was so much fun.
* I took a trip with friends, for 2 days, without my husband and without my child. FIRST TIME ever being away from both of them and let me tell you IT WAS FUN. It was so nice to be away without worrying about what I need to do when I get home or wondering how Nicolas is doing or anything. Just having fun. Thanks to good friends and my wonderful husband who's an awesome Dad!!
* I didn't see any of my family (from Chile) this year and that's kind of sad but I know I'll see my Mom (Lord willing) next Spring.
* I've decided to not worry about the pressure of having another child, if we do it'll be later (when Nico is in kindergarten ... may be) so that makes me feel much better.

I'm sure I've done much more this year but these are the things that are fresh on my mind and the things that make me happy right now. I'm thankful of all the blessings God pours on me everyday of my life, friends, family, health, job, having way more than I need.

Hopefully when I'm having a bad moment I can come back in here, read it all over again, get my act together and stop complaining about "This" or "That".

What about you? How often do you complaint? What have you done?

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

1st post ~ randomness

I've been blogging for the past 3 years or so and today is the first time I do it in my "English" version, so needless to say I'm excited because I've wanted to do this for a long time but I just haven't taken the time to do it.

As this is my first post I'd like to take this opportunity to clarify and excuse myself if my grammar is not proper or you see some other errors of that type, you see? I learned this language by hearing it so I have no clue about grammar rules - which I'm not sure many Americans do either, ha ha ha - Having that clarified here I go.

So many random thoughts in my head this morning, so here are a few:

1.- Christmas will be here in a few days and I really don't feel it coming. I do have my Christmas tree up, I took my son to get his picture made with Santa, I've bought all the stuff to bake my cookies this weekend, I've ordered the food for Christmas eve (which will be at our house again this year!), I'm almost done with my shopping (3 more gift cards and I'm done baby!), so ... what's missing?? Why am I not feeling it?? I even lead a bible study on the Purpose of Christmas, is it because we are too worried about the economy and what not? Is it because I haven't done my daily devotions lately? Is it because I keep thinking in all those families who have a dad that has lost his job and they are not sure what kind of Christmas they will have this year? Am I so wrapped up in these commercial society I live in that I haven't allowed myself to feel the spirit??? Who knows!

2.- I've turned 31 a few days ago and I'm excited about that (May be the excitement of my birthday has taken off the spirit of Christmas!). I'm excited that I finally feel like an adult - took me a while didn't it? - not that I feel old or anything like that, I just feel comfortable with myself and that's a great feeling.

3.- My son is growing so so so so fast, it's almost sad to see. Don't take me wrong, I love to see him grow up and do, say, express new things but at the same time I see little babies and I wonder "where's my baby???". I mean, he will always be my baby right, but I can't hold him anymore, I still pick him up but only last a few minutes and it's over :( On my birthday I explain to him what day it was and I asked him if he could sing to me, so he did and after he was done (after I kissed him all over to the point of uncomfortableness ... I think?!) he said "Look Mommy! over here -pointing at the wall- I see your birthday cake, Let's Eat It!" as he lean close to the wall and pretended to eat "My delicious cake" so of course I did too. I love him, I love his imagination, I hope and pray he keeps it for the rest of his life.

Well, it's time for lunch.

Gotta go.