Christmas preparations (i.e. putting up the decorations, menu planning, gift wrapping) for me usually start around mid-October. I want my efforts to be “worth it”, so I prefer to have everything up at the soonest possible time (and I put off taking them down for as long as I can) so my family can enjoy the festive atmosphere longer. I  finish most of my Christmas shopping by June-July. By “most”, I mean 90-95% of my list. Obviously,  I like being prepared. I do not like the feeling of being rushed. I also do not like having to go to malls along with thousands of others who are in panic mode as they do their last minute shopping.

I have had a system that has worked for me for the past five Christmases in our family. I would get things done early, and last minute stress-inducing errands were, for the most part, kept at a minimum.

I had a system and it worked for the past years– except this one.

This year all systems flew out the window. With the new place came a new look, new color scheme, new feel, new schedule….new, new, new. I am not even close to being finished (as I would define the word), and now Christmas is already knocking at my door.

I haven’t done my Christmas shopping. It was just this week that I had the chance to go and buy new decorations that would be fit for our new place. The Christmas tree is up, but that’s about it. The rest of the house is still in a rather chaotic state (Dennis would say I’m exaggerating, but I really feel it is in chaos).

Now you know where I’m coming from when I tell you that I wish to finish EVERYTHING before the week ends. You would also understand if I stay up late at night trying to fix the house, right?

Last night, I was so focused on decorating when Alyanna came and started asking for my attention. (side note: I think that if the kids have to start begging for our attention, something’s off…)

ALYANNA: “Mom, dad said we could sleep in your room tonight.” (At this time, Dennis just left the house to do something for someone)

ME: (Not wanting to be interrupted, I forget to even stop and look at her.) “Yes, love. But you cannot wait up for me tonight, okay? I need to finish fixing this part tonight.”

ALYANNA: “Mom, can you please stop fixing that first so you could be with us in your room?”

ME: (Still preoccupied with my thing, I don’t stop. In fairness to me, I was trying not to fall off, hold up the garland, and put in the decorations all at the same time so I had to focus.) “No, Alyanna. you would have to go sleep without me. Okay? Good night love!”

ALYANNA: “But mom, you have to read this to us first. So can you please stop muna?”

ME: (Hehe I’m ashamed of myself as I’m writing this!) “Love, please?” …… (I look at her, but I don’t even take a look at the book she wants me to read.)

ALYANNA: *Now trying to assert herself even more, but still in a respectful tone* “Mom, you haven’t read the Bible to us yet. You still have to read the Bible to us before we sleep. That’s always more important than finishing the decorations, right? “

ME: *IMMEDIATELY drops the garland and the decorations on the floor, jumps off the stool, and goes straight to Alyanna* (Now, I see the book she was holding. It was the Bible.)

Sabi ko nga. *blush*

“YES!!! You’re right Alyanna! Nothing can be more important than reading the Bible and putting you to bed. You’re right! Thanks for reminding me love. I’m sorry ha? Wow, good thing you reminded me!! Thank you talaga!!” (I’m deliberately using an exaggeratedly-excited tone here in an attempt to make up for the momentary neglect. Hehe!)

Really, I do like to say thank you to you, my daughter, for reminding me of what is really important. All too often we get caught up with what we feel we need to accomplish and to finish as if our happiness depended on it. “I have to do this or else…”, “I have to fix this or else….”, “I have to….or else….”, and we threaten ourselves into saying yes to doing all these things, thereby justifying whatever it is that’s taking our time away from the relationships we have that really matter.

Let’s face it: there will be lots of things that most probably won’t get done— perhaps until the season ends. We have to learn to say “So, what?” and decide to use our time to be with the people we love.

So what if my house isn’t fully dressed up this year?

So what if I would have to serve take-out food to my guests this season?

So what if I would have to use crappy-looking gift wrappers this Christmas?

I will still enjoy this season and build great memories with my family and friends. I will make the most of the time we have for the remainder of this year. I will grab this opportunity to once again teach my children the reason why we celebrate Christmas (and contrary to what I communicated last night, it is NOT to have nice Christmas decorations at home); And I will take this time to remind them of God’s love and faithfulness.

More importantly, I will read the Bible to my kids EVERY day and night, even if it means getting interrupted from whatever it is I am doing….Most likely, it’s not that important anyway.

Alyanna and I were in the kitchen last night preparing dinner. We had some other kids over so we had to cook more food. As she was slicing some of the ingredients, this song started to play from the living room:

“One, two, three, four…high-five!

One, two, three, four…high-five!

Aaaahhhh….

Five in the air let’s do it together…..high-five!”

It was as if the song had Alyanna’s name somewhere in the middle because as soon as she heard it, she stopped what she was doing and looked up to me as if to say “Did you hear that mom?? They’re calling me! They need me to be there with them NOW!”

Of course she didn’t say anything, but that’s what I heard as she looked at me.

Me: “You hear that?”

Alyanna: “Yes, mom. They’re about to watch TV!”

Me: “Would you like to join them?”

Alyanna: (Obviously torn at this point) “Uhm…yes because I love watching TV!”

Me: “Okay, you can go.”

Alyanna: “But what about this mom? (referring to what she was cutting) I’m supposed to help you, diba?”

Me: “It’s okay…I understand. You can go be with your friends.”

Alyanna: *Excitedly puts down the knife as soon as she heard the words “it’s okay”, and motions with one foot that yes, she is just about to leave and have me do all the work in the kitchen.*

….but then she steps right back up on the stool and says, “No, it’s okay mom. I’ll just be fast in finishing this and then I’ll go watch with them.”

Aaaawwwww……. I know that gesture may be nothing to some, but that really just made my day!

It’s one thing when our children obey us right away. It gives us great pleasure when we see them paying attention to our instructions and following them. In my kids’ case, though, their obedience is more often out of not wanting the consequences of disobedience. They know that they have to obey simply because it is required of them. That’s just where they’re at at this stage.

It is another thing, however, when our children do something for us, not because it is required of them, but simply because they want to honor us. I knew how much Alyanna wanted to just leave me and go watch her favorite show with her friends. When she made that decision to set aside her wants in order to make me happy and be with me, wow…that meant the world to me.

I’m sure this is similar to what our Heavenly Father feels whenever we set aside our agenda in order to honor Him. It’s one thing to obey when it is required of us. It is another thing to do things simply because we know it is what would make Him smile. Aaahhh…. that would mean the entire galaxy to Him.

Yaaay! It’s mondaaay!

Unlike most people, monday is one of my most-looked-forward-to days because it is Dennis’ day off so we get to spend time with him all we want! We also get the right to complain and demand for him not to think about work stuff or take many calls.

Today Alyanna asked for us to take her to a “house-mall”. I have no clue what her idea of that is, but maybe it’s really just a big mall with lots of kid-friendly places and activities.
Would any of you have suggestions as to where the good kid-friendly places are?? I think I need to have more options…

My father-in-law came to visit us earlier today. Alyanna does love him, but for some odd reason, she just isn’t warm and sweet to him…not like how she is with my mother-in-law, at least. Anyway, as I was coming down the stairs, I overheard my father-in-law persuading her to give him a kiss. When I got to our living room, I took it upon myself to help him persuade Alyanna into obliging him with a kiss…or a hug, at the very least. I took her aside, and after a few minutes, she finally gave in and agreed to give him a hug….but she insisted that I hold her hand while she did it. I went with her, and she slooowwly walked up to her grandpa and stood there in front of him, her body somewhat inclined towards him as if it was saying “If you want a hug from me, then YOU come and get it from me.” I think my dad-in-law got the message and knew it was the closest thing he could get to a hug from her so he happily took her in his arms and hugged her– Alyanna remained still and somewhat stiff (the “shy” kind of stiff, not the scared or indifferent kind). What came after took me by surprise and just made me laugh…

GRANDPA: *Hugging her tight and cherishing the rare moment* “Alyanna, you’re so fat fat na ah!” *rubbing the sides of her tummy, perhaps implying that her tummy was getting bigger*

ALYANNA: *Quickly forced herself out of those loving arms and hands* “No! I’m not fat!!”

GRANDPA: “Yes, you’re fat na, see your tummy? very big already!”

ALYANNA: *Now very disheartened by the comment, swiftly moved away from her grandpa and sat on our coffee table with both arms covering her tummy, frowning* “No! I’m not fat. I eat healFY (healthy) food! I always eat healfy food I can’t be fat! I’m not fat. You’re fat, not me!”

…At this point I knew I had to intervene….

ME: “No, Alyanna, what Ankong meant was that you’ve gained weight since the last time he saw you, but of course, you’re still not fat….You just got bigger because you’re a growing girl remember?”

ALYANNA: *Walks away from the table and moves to the other couch, still frowning*

GRANDPA: “Yes! Alyanna, you’re not fat! you’re still thin, but you’re fatter…but you’re still thin..just fatter….but thin!”

ME: “Remember? Before, you just weighed 20 pounds..now, you’re 30 pounds already! You’re bigger! But not fatter….because you always eat healthy food right?”

ALYANNA: *Feeling better now* “Yes.”

*She now smiles…and she starts pretending to be a baby and talking like a baby*

….I would understand why she reacted this way if her parents (that’s me and Dennis!) were the type who cared a lot about not getting fat….but obviously, we’re NOT! So I wonder, where’d she get this sudden body image issue??? I thought this was an adolescent thing…She hasn’t even turned four yet! Oh, dear…

Dennis and I had quite a day— Both of us had to be in Greenhills by noon because call time for the worship team (which I was a part of today) was 12:30, while Dennis also had to finalize everything for his preaching. The whole afternoon and night was work, ministry, work. We both had a great time serving God and the church today, but I was also looking forward to going home and just relaxing after a day’s work. I was looking forward to maybe a movie treat while muching on some snacks in the comfort of our bedroom (using a laptop, of course, since we don’t have TV in our bedroom anymore).

Can I just share this??  We were about to go upstairs just earlier tonight when Dennis and I got a very cute treat from our daughter, Alyanna. She saw her dad’s Bible on the coffeetable and started to open it……

ALYANNA: “I’m just going to preach to the people, okay?!” (With a very excited tone, both arms in a “Hi I’m Alyanna, I’m from quezon citeeeey!” gesture)

“Okay, everyone! Let’s just praise God….Let’s make God happy okay??” (one arm raised, as if asking for the people’s amen…of course, by “people” I mean, me and Dennis)

ALYANNA: *points to the Bible which was facing us, just as teachers do in storytelling time*  “So, this is Jonah…and he said to the bad guy…to make Jesus happy, okay?”

(The Bible starts to slip off since it’s too big for her)

“Uh..I just need to get a table and a stage okay? wait….” *Puts her Bible on our coffeetable*

“Okay, mommy will sing and praise Jesus and then I’ll come back and preach after mommy worships God okay? Mommy sing!” (she calls me to the “stage”)

“Here mom! on the stage now…..worship God people!! Clap your hands!”

—-*clap!clap!*—-

“Okay, I’m just gonna preach but first everyone let’s watch this movie…” *walks off to the side and watches, just like the pastors do whenever a video starts to play*

———————-

“Okay, now the kids will be singing. They will wear a skirt just like a princess and then sing and dance and take a bow…Okay kids!” *calls the imaginary kids to the stage and walks over to the side so the kids can take the stage*

“Oh, they’re not yet starting because the teacher is still talking to someone…….oh, now they’re starting already!!”

……..”Okay, thank you kids!” *goes back to the center of the stage*

“I have a mic here, only one on my face okay?” (describes the kind of microphone her dad uses to preach)

“Okay, preaching time!…. God said to the kids….they will go to a princess store…..and they will go up and down but Jesus is still up and He’ll go down to the kids…..” (and she “expounds” on this topic, which I totally don’t get)

———this part is all jumbled up in my mind….all I get is a princess, a princess store, a castle, the kids’ skirts…..———-

“Oh no, the boy grabbed the toys and it’s broken and God said, Do not grab because if you grab it will get sira already….and God said we have to share our toys and if we don’t we will get a rod because we have to obey…..”

———and for another five minutes it was a series of mommy leading praise and worship, watching a movie clip, and Alyanna preaching again——

“Okay, let’s pray. *Raises one arm up towards the people*  “Lord, thank you for those that will eat food, and then after mom sings, we’ll eat already our snacks, okay? Amen.”

————————-

Alyanna never fails to amuse us…and amaze us. Just when we thought that our kids don’t pay attention in big church (what we’ve coined our adult service), they do this!

PS: video to follow