Mommy Bares All: December 2013

I’m participating in the KEEP CHRIST in CHRISTMAS Blog Link-Up 2013,
hosted by

Monica at www.equippingCatholicfamilies.com

Erika at http://raisinglittlesaints.blogspot.ca/

Tina at http://trulyrichmom.com/

Laura at http://daybydayinourworld.com/

Sarah at http://onthewayhome2.com

Chris at http://campfiresandcleats.blogspot.ca/

Birgit at http://designsbybirgit.blogspot.ca/

"Tuloy ba ang Pasko?" (Will Christmas push through?)

With the extent of devastation that Super Typhoon Yolanda did to our country, it's not surprising that you'd hear this question asked in the streets as Christmas Day comes near. People probably ask this question as their way of trying to cope with the trauma and loss brought about by this recent calamity.

There are Filipinos who are thinking of canceling their office Christmas parties so that they can donate their budget to the victims of the calamity. I think that this is a good idea and that if employees agree to do things this way, that would really be highly appreciated by our countrymen who need much help to recover from the rubbles left by Yolanda. I would however suggest that instead of cancelling all Christmas celebrations in the office or anywhere else, simple Christmas celebrations be done in place of the usual festive ones.

Here are three main reasons why I still strongly recommend to my fellow Filipinos that we celebrate Christmas this year.

1. Celebrating Christmas will remind us that God is with us - in good times and in bad. He is Emmanuel, right?

2. Meditating on the Nativity Scene would remind us that Jesus, the Son of God, chose to be born poor... with nothing to boast. He was stripped of His glory and entered the world as a vulnerable infant. Mary and Joseph didn't even know where to go to spend the night in Bethlehem on the night that He was to be born. If they were not able to find a stable, they too, like the many victims of the recent typhoon would not have a roof over their heads. These similarities, among others, can remind us Filipinos that God is close to the broken-hearted and that the poor has a special place in God's heart. That God understands what they are going through because He also experienced being poor.

3. Jesus' coming gives hope. The Jews hoped and waited for the coming of the Messiah. And He did come and saved us - Jews and Gentiles alike. Although we know that Jesus will come again at the end of time, He also comes to us every day of our lives. But for us to recognize His coming, we need to expect Him. We need to hope that He will come. We need to look with the eyes of faith. Because when we do that, we would see Jesus come to us in the ordinary and even in the painful events of our lives. That is what I want my fellow Filipinos to have this Christmas. I want all of us to put our hope in our Messiah. To wait for His help and recognize His help and provision through the ordinary blessings that come our way - be it in the form of a bottled water, a relief pack, a sympathetic ear or a warm smile.

So with these in mind, my family and I will celebrate Christmas this year in simple but meaningful ways. Let me enumerate how.

1. Through our simple Christmas Countdown. I believe that countdowns build up anticipation for big events like Christmas. I want to help our kids grow in anticipation for Jesus coming. Anticipating His coming every Christmas Day I think is one way for them to develop this attitude of anticipating an encounter with God not just at Christmas but even every day or every moment of their lives. You may read more about our Christmas Countdown here.

My boys just opened our first Christmas book.

2. With simple and DIY Christmas decorations. My kids are still very young (5 and 2 years old). So, I'm not very eager to buy ornate and breakable Nativity Scenes to decorate our house with. This year, I've decided to make our own Nativity Scene from our old popsicle sticks.

Here's how we did our version which was inspired by this post shared by a friend of mine in Facebook.

- Gather old popsicle sticks.

- Paint them with your preferred color. (You can use your fingers, a brush or a foam.) My boys used a foam to paint the popsicles green. Then, my eldest son and I used our fingers to paint the popsicle sticks which were used to symbolize the Holy family.

- Air-dry the painted popsicle sticks.

- Stick them together using a glue. Air-dry once more.

- Cut a piece of paper to form a star.

- Put glitters on the star-shaped paper. (You can do this by spreading glue thinly on the paper and then scatter silver glitters on it. Or you can simply use a silver glitter glue. This is what we used. We squeezed some glitter glue on the paper and spread it to distribute evenly on the paper.

Our finished art work.

- Glue the star on the roof of the stable.

Another DIY Christmas décor that my kids and I will do is the Christmas wreath. I plan to use green cartolina for this Christmas art project. We will trace our hands in green paper. Then, my eldest and I will cut the hands traced on the paper. We will use these cut-outs to form the circular wreath. We will glue them in a round piece of board. After that, we will form tubes using 3 purple sheets and 1 pink sheet (cartolina or other kinds of sturdy colored board). I will draw a flame shape on a yellow colored paper, and cut them. Then, we'd glue the flames to each "candle" each Sunday of advent to symbolize that we are lighting one that day.

Our handmade Advent wreath.

3. With a birthday cake for the Birthday Boy on Christmas Day. This is one of our family's Christmas traditions also. Just like in the past years, we would have a simple birthday celebration for the Boy who gave hope, joy and salvation to humankind. Click here to read about my blog post about this last Christmas season.

4. Going to Mass as a family. Participating in the Mass is something that our family loves to do, be it Christmas or an ordinary day in the year. This Christmas, it would be extra special because my husband will be home to celebrate Christmas with us after working abroad for three months. Thus, I'm sure that my eyes would have tears of joy when we go to Mass as a family this Christmas season.

There are many ways to simplify our celebrations so that we can also give to those in need. These four that I have enumerated are just some of them. You may check out this article (10 Ways to Celebrate Christmas Differently) I wrote two years ago for more ideas on how to celebrate Christmas differently but meaningfully.

Feel free to share how you plan to celebrate simply but meaningfully by leaving a comment.

Here's to simple but meaningful Christmas celebrations! Cheers!

Please visit the other blogs who joined this Christmas Blog Link up.

Equipping Catholic Families: Keep Christ in Christmas

Simply Homeschool Living Advent Series 12/1 - 12/25

Fifth of Five Keeping Christ in Christmas - Blog Link-up 2013

Coffee Moments with Sam The Light of Hope

Hand-Maid With Love: CHRISTmas Presence: Keep Christ in Christmas 2013 Edition

Open Window Making hay while the Advent wreath shines

Faith Filled Freebies: Keep Christ in Christmas

Written by the Finger of God: Not Christmas as Usual

On the Way Home: Keep Christ in Christmas

Sue Elvis Writes: Bring Christ to Others