I do not wish to go through what I went through last year. Total bummer when you know everyone is having fun with their families and you are stuck at work. And last year was really a washed-out Christmas for me. I just did not feel the season and I felt spiteful whenever I saw Christmas decorations. And what made it such a big bummer was that as early as 9 PM, Potching and I started opening his gifts, since I had to leave for work in a few minutes. The gifts were nice, I know. Nice, but not great. Not spectacular. Just nice. Pot was alll "WOW! Thank you, Mommy." But after opening the gifts, he played with them a little but then they were kept in the cabinet, ayed again. I knew he did not get anything he asked for last year. Those gifts he opened were part of a package sent by my Uncle in the US. Some were candies, some were simple toys which I just wrapped just so he would have something to open. There was no Christmas tree or any decoration at all because no one in the family felt the "Christmas Spirit". I remember cyring to Cucay and Tin about these things. I know we were in a financial struggle last year and all talk about Chrsitmas was carefully being avoided to prevent any "if only" moments. I didn't know what hurt more, the fact that Potching did not have the Christmas experience or that he was oblivious to the fact that it was Christmas, which I believe, no matter how cheesy it sounds, is FOR CHILDREN. I promised myself that this will be the last time that I will be bummed out by the idea of Christmas. You can throw any kind of struggle my way but who cares? The Christmas Tree will still stand tall and its lights will still create a warm glow in our home. After all, this is in celebration of the birth of the Savior. No amount of heartache should overshadow the joy of knowing that everything happens for a reason and that comfort will always follow pain.

And so you can just imagine how happy I was that the whole house is filled with Christmas decorations this year. We have a huge lighted gift box created by my Dad outside our house. The red and gold of past Christmases are now joined with bright blue and green. It's amazing to hear Potching's squeal when he sees another gift is added under the Christmas tree. He slept at 8 PM on the 24th but had no trouble waking up at 11:45 to open his gifts. He had a pretty good haul this year and proof of that is that we slept at 3 AM on Christmas morning, having spent the first 3 hours of Christmas playing with a dragon given by my Mom and Dad ( the dragon comes with an egg which Pot carries around while he says "Who wants me to open it? Want me to open it?!" ala Harry Potter Goblet of Fire).

And now that 2005 is about to end, I am thankful for all the blessings and the wonderful people God has used to enrich my life. This is, indeed, a wonderful toast to usher in 2006.