Love in the Air on Christmas Eve

Last night at Palos Verdes, California, God had showered so much love in the air and in the hearts of all people who gathered for a family Christmas Eve celebration. I was blessed to have Totoy and his family ( now so much my family, too) over the years. When Totoy and I got married in November of 1997, he had vowed to love and take me forever. I would like to rewrite that sentence : Totoy had vowed to love and take us forever (as he married me with two children, Rachel and Miko, from a previous marriage that ended up in divorce). Over the years of marriage with Totoy , he and his family and clan had accepted and treated Rachel and Miko no different from any of my biological children with Totoy. Totoy and his family had always counted five (5) children as children of Totoy by wife Tess.
So last night was no different from any other days, except for it was really special. Him and his family had showered me with love over the years, and much more so I am teary eyed every time I feel the love they all give my children especially Rachel and Miko. To them, like to me, it is always better to have Rachel and Miko during gatherings.
We arrived at Palos Verdes shortly before 8PM. John opened the door as Totoy and I, together with the kids were singing "We wish you a Merry Christmas". Auntie Shirley's table was full of food lovingly prepared by family members, the "Parol" (lantern) was up and lighted in a corner by the grand piano, the fresh Christmas tree was up with Auntie Shirley's "aged" ornaments including Mike's, Sherman's and John's personalized bear ornaments when they were little boys ( Sherman is now married to Rebecca, Mike is getting married in 36 days with Pancy and we all know that John is already engaged wit Aileen). Auntie Shirley was beautifully dressed in purple, Uncle Eming was hospitably cutting the roast beef he cooked, Joan had cheerfully greeted us "merry Christmas" in her red top and red lined black pants matching with Jamie's red, white and black dainty and cute outfit as always...Ooops, Jamie was wearing her cute black headband, Toby enjoying his spicy tofu in one corner, Itchie greeted us with a smile in her beautiful black dress and black boots, Ashley welcomed me with a kiss and hug in her beautiful red sweater, Brian greeted me with a kiss.... Auntie Precing, John, Mike, Sherman, Pancy, Rebecca, Keith, the Warrens from Wyoming namely Bill, Steven, Casey and Nico and Lora in her beautiful Christmas red sweater.....Junior and Angie came with Angel in her lovely black dress with silver accents and her silver shoes and Jaydon in his cute white sweater. Debbie then came with Auntie Pinay in her gorgeous fuschia top and long skirt with her silver diamond accent belt, Kristine in her elegant white sweater with pearls on the neckline and Jordan in his cute blue and light blue striped- sweater shirt. Finally, Ronald, who had been marked absent 3x in the last family gatherings came with Auntie Erma and Auntie Lory.
Let me refresh my photographic memory.....Pancy was so elegant looking in her black and purple dress, Rebecca was so beautiful with the scarf around her neck, Auntie Precing was so beautiful in her favorite red sweater and Aileen was missed as she was with her family ( Aileen came from a conservative Filipino family. I remembered two Christmases ago, she came with her sister, Mom and Dad to one of the Christmas Eve Gatherings. If she is not coming with them, she stays home with them on holidays.)

Christmas is the time of the year when everything is so colorful, elegantly decorated, festively celebrated, people get busy buying and wrapping gifts, people try to make peace with enemies, etc. What is Christmas to me? I appreciate and admire all the beauties that Christmas time brings. For me, everyday is Christmas as in my heart Christ is alive each day and Christmas is all about our Lord and Savior.

Last night, I felt that wonderful time of a special Christmas because love in the home of Uncle Eming and Auntie Shirley was in the air plus there were extra love brought by all the family members present in the gathering. As children's names were called for their gifts, they were saying "Thank You", "Merry Christmas", hugging, kissing, jumping in joy. You can smell the joy of people handing their gifts they wrapped with love. Everyone has smile in their face, joy and their eyes. Few group pictures were taken as everyone was busy catching one with one another, yet in my heart the pictures are like movies as I cannot forget each one's facial expressions all throughout the gathering. To add, I came with Totoy, Pia, Marissa, Jonathan , my Mom and Melet.


The highlights:

• Jordan picking a big box of gift during "The White Elephant (Exchange Gifts)" and feeling nervous that someone might steal that from him everytime we tease someone to get it from Jordan. Jordan sang in front of us before they left.
  
• Jamie was almost in tears when someone stole her chosen gift. She ended up with Starbucks Gift certificate.
• Ashley was blushing when teased " Let's make Ashley cry.." during the Exchange Gifts.
• Rebecca fell asleep in the couch during the party.
• Pancy ended up with a revelation that we were planning to give her a surprise bridal shower.Because Rebecca was asleep, Rebecca has no clue that she will be hosting the bridal shower at her house. To Rebecca : Not confirmed. You will be notified if confirmed.
  
• Auntie Shirley lost her balance and had a small cut on her arm from the Capo de Monte centerpiece.
• Pia twisting her arm in front of cousins and aunts and uncles and tied up fingers of many. She revealed the tricks before the party ended.
• Casey would always want to be in pictures with Jamie, Ashley and Pia.
• Toby prepared the spicy tofu everyone loved.
• Keith was told there was no "Biko" last night.
• Lora was so happy that Bill, Steven, Casey and Nico are all in town for the holidays.
• Auntie Lory looked lovely in her simple make up by one of her nieces, and does not know who gave her the Guess bag. It was from Auntie Shirley.
• Totoy was going to be the stripper if Pancy's bridal shower plans materializes.
• Sherman is still on physical therapy.
• John missed Aileen so much. The proof: After we left Palos Verdes, while we were already at Kaiser Hospital close to the freeway, John called Melet saying that he gave Marissa a gift that was supposedly Mike's. We drove back happily and laughing. When we got there, Marissa told her Papa:
  "That's my gift". Totoy said: " No, I'm getting you the right one" . Marissa said: "Papa, please make sure you come back with my gift....That's mine." She said it so vividly and we all laughed inside the car.
• Melet who gives the Exchange Gift Rules every year explained it so well but after we asked her to say it in Tagalog she started to get stressed. Melet brought tupperwares for the "to go" foods.
  
• Ronald got a gift that is shaped rectangular when wrapped. It was heavy he said. I thought they were rectangular plates, Totoy taught it was cheese and Angie,by my side, was giggling while we were all guessing because the gift was from Junior. It was a toolbox.
• Auntie Lory got a coffee mug.
• Auntie Erma got a Victoria Secret perfume collections.
• Pia got a blanket in a nice SF wooven tote.
• Casey got a DVD...What was it?
• Mike got some board games.
• Jonathan kissed John about 4 times while receiving his gifts. Rebecca smiling everytime Jonathan kisses John.
• Auntie Pinay has to go home because she forgot her PJ's. She is going back to the Philippines tentatively on Jan. 26.
  
• What did Angel get during the White Elephant?

That's all I can remember. Post your comments to add to the memories.....

Next gathering : Mike and Pancy's Wedding