I survived Christmas 2016

Christmas 2016

Let me just quote someone's Christmas greeting. Dr. Tinali wrote “Taking a much needed break from all the Christmas preparations and chaos... however tired I am, I feel the joy of the season, as I remember my loved ones near and far, and those who have gone ahead of us. From my family to yours, a very Merry Christmas!! May your celebrations be filled with joy and love. And may the New Year bring you overflowing blessings and prosperity!”  

What follows is how I felt and what I wrote on Instagram… “It was exactly how I was feeling. And that no matter how life treats us, We take extra effort to create a happy place not for ourselves but for those people dear to us.  If it is just to beautify our homes and labour in the kitchen for hours, even days, and make that one day special every year to celebrate our Lord’s birthday, by sharing what little that we have with our family and extended families, make each one feel important, make them forget (for a few hours) their own miseries, by setting aside our own troubles is probably the essence of Christmas.  Showing love by simply ‘showing up’ for that one gathering…  I can always go back to being selfish, grumpy, Grinch-like every day of the year. But on Christmas,  I should be selfless.” 

And may I add … It’s not about giving gifts because I don’t really give nice expensive gifts since I cannot afford them.  Hosting this Christmas dinner is a lot of work, months of decorating, days of cleaning the house, hours of washing dishes and cooking.  Some might not even appreciate this gesture. They might expect gifts or cash in red envelopes. Oh well,  maybe someday they will realize how much work was put into hosting this one Christmas dinner. 

  

                                                   

                                                   

The calm before the storm ... 

Sanders' Christmas Eve Dinner

Chicken 'kamameshi' Rice

and Cayenne Shrimps by me

Chinese Ham and Queso de Bola

Chicken Rolls by Rosalie

Ox tail Karekare, Beef Asado,

Spaghetti Bolognese and Fish Fillet 

by Ate Nene

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Leche Flan by Ate Nene & Grapes

Pear & Almond Tartlets

Caramel Apple Cake topped with Green Sprinkles

and Crushed Candy Cane by me

Merry Christmas!!!

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Just the 12 of us... hope to see everyone in 2017!!!

The kids have all grown bigger than the oldies.

At ang lalakas uminom ng Tequila at Henessy.

Kami Mountain Dew lang at Pepsi Max.

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My three Christmas trees for 2016

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All is calm again ....  the Sanders' Christmas dinner ended at half past ten.  I was watching TV in bed (like I always do), when the Acapellago started singing Christmas carols. That's cool!!
(I remember watching Alvin at The Manila Peninsula every Christmas when the Ateneo Boys Choir would serenade the hotel guests. What a lovely memory.) The Acapellago were guests of Mr. Boy Abunda in his late night talk show.  I tuned in a bit late and they were discussing Christmas traditions. When I was about to turn off the TV,  The Christmas Eve Healing Eucharistic TV Mass started. Now, how lucky can one get? ... Noche Buena Dinner with Family. Christmas carols, and Christmas Eve Mass.  All in the comfort of my own home, All I have to do is turn off the TV, pull up my blanket and have a good night's rest.
Happy birthday Jesus!  Thank you for my family and for the few good friends who never forget me. I hope to do this again next year, Life is good. All is well. All is calm again ...

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PS...

I was wondering why I had more than a dozen notifications on my phone. I thought that the 4:45 pm written on the right upper portion on my phone was part of a previous screenshot.  OMG …  ganern? I slept for 18 hours, with one bathroom break at 4am, then for 12 hours straight of dreamless sleep. And ...No… I didn’t take extra pain meds. The HubB  thought I had stopped breathing when he checked up on me at 3 pm.  That’s how exhausted I was. 

Last year,  I remember hosting three parties in eight days. This year, we only had two parties in 7 days.  Aging is fast catching up on me.   It's been six days since our Christmas eve dinner and I haven't fully recharged. Oh dear... I missed watching the MMFF movies.  

Oh well…. 

I survived this Christmas! 

Hope to see you all again next year!!!
love love love love ........ betsisanders

Flowers on Christmas

Title:  Flowers

Size:  16 x 16 inches

Medium:  Acrylic:

Artist: betsisanders 2016

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Christmas in the Philippines starts on the first day of the -ber months.

  Some say we have the longest Christmas season in the entire world.

  For me, the season starts in August, when I begin to bring out my decors

and start setting up a Christmas tree.  I've been doing this for years  and I make

 sure the tree is up and ready on my mother's birthday in October.  

Hopefully by Christmas eve, I am done decorating trees. 

 This year I have three Christmas trees. .The season extends  even after 

the New Year and ends on Valentine's Day, Chinese New Year 

or my birthday.   That's the time when I dismantle the trees

 and keep the decors in plastic storage boxes. 

Advent means the arrival of a notable person, thing or event.

Advent is the "second coming of Christ".

As we wait for the arrival of our Lord,

some become impatient, some are filled with emotion, 

passion, expectancy and positivity. We wait for Christ 

to fill \us with love. In turn, we share, give, impart and transfer

this love to our family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, 

our community and most of all, with the poor, 

needy, sick and elderly.

We may not be financially or physically capable 

of sharing material things.  What can one do?

  ...... ... I can't even  think of anything noble, worthy, unselfish, 

generous or virtuous to do.

I guess a sincere greeting, with a beautiful 

smile, and a warm hug would suffice.  

This painting of flowers is my simple way 

of  greeting you all on Christmas day.  

May you all be filled with an abundance of

 love from  your family and friends.

love love love love,

betsisanders