Merry Moments (My Holiday Diary)

The busiest, liveliest and happiest time of the year is here again. I bet most of you had been to Christmas rush sales, prepared gift-wrapped presents for loved ones, kicked off Christmas parties at offices or with friends, shopped for KrisKringle or if you're just like me, still stuck in the office until the 25th because my official leave starts on the 29th. By God's grace I completed the 9 mornings(all toothy smile). There was one instance I had to juggle late night meeting to attend 8PM mass and another 4AM the next day. It was tiring but fulfilling! Thank you Lord. So here's a recap of how I spent the Holiday Season and the moment we arrived HO-HO-HO-Home! Warmest of the warm Merry Moments.

**December 24, 2015**

We all gathered at my sis' house. Everyone helped in preparing for an early noche-buena. We also did our traditional exchange gifts. The kids loved it and kids at heart, oh yeah.

**December 25, 2015**

Christmas Day! Went to church later afternoon and practically enjoyed family time bonding before tomorrow's flight! #Excited

**December 26, 2014** 

We flew to Bacolod-via-Cebu at 11PM. We made tambay muna as in literally cause we can't think of anything to do with the available time at Cebu International Airport until 4AM and connecting flight to Bacolod is at 5. It was a good thing that our scheduled flight is after Christmas. My sis and her family flew on the 25th and she tells me it was crazy like Divi.

When in Cebu..it's time for some Zubuchon.

Holiday cheat  officially begins!

When you're stuck in the airport.

 **Dec 27, 2014**

Touchdown Bacolod! Good morning sweet smelling sugar canes, it feels good to be back. These Christmas carolers was a welcoming sight. 

By 6 we are all off to Lacson St. to grab some breakfast before heading home. We made a few stopovers at Central Market and then SM Supermarket. Epic car engine fail can't even ruin the mood. By after 3PM and 73.7 km away from the City of Smiles, we were finally home. Warm hugs and chitchats fills our home once again.. and whole bunch of kids were messing the whole place. Ahhh.. this is really home!!!

**Dec 28, 2014**

We woke up early to prepare some breakfast for like 12 people in the house. It was a bit gloomy and was very cold. Iba talaga sa probinsya! After what was like a brunch, we lounge outside the house to do some catching up again. Isn't it nice when you don't have anything planned to do and just sit by the veranda and listen to the birds?  Lols.  It was also my ate's wedding anniversary so by afternoon we had a small celebration ahem another eating session. (hello Calories)

**Dec 29, 2014**

Rainy morning makes me want to sleep longer. Is it even lunchtime by now? Goodness. I'm suppose to be at the church by this time, so I hurried off since  Manang Honey invited me to attend the Parish's Family Day today.  Just in time for lunch, menu for today? Boodle-fight-style over some laughter's. Though the food seemed to be not enough for everyone, it seemed less important when you enjoy the company of the people you're with. It felt like the old days when we were camping for Diocesan Youth Assembly or Parish Youth Assembly. Something I truly miss.

**Dec 30, 2014**

Rizal Day,  also Riza's birthday and still a bed-weather. I remembered to send Riza a birthday message.  Been raining all day and what I learned typhoon Seniang is threatening to rage the Visayas & Mindanao region. I am attending the Parish Youth Year-end party. We ordered pizza for the youth as a treat  and while waiting for our orders, we tried their best seller too. The youth really loved it. It was a simple treat but the overwhelming gratitude is beyond words.

Wasn't so bad after all!

By the time the party was done. We made our way to visit our departed ones to light candle and offer prayers. We dropped by at the Supermarket before heading home. It was all good with a go except that the whole town was totally black-out when we went home!  Oh it wasn't so fun when you're phone is battery dead. We ended up making up horror stories to scare the kids and let them sleep early. hahahah! Not so good for a year end I say.

**Dec 31, 2014**

For always, can't believe I have to wake up to 31st of December, every time it gives me a certain feeling of gratitude that yes, I have survived 2014 and another year to thank the Lord and enjoy with my dearest family. Certainly the Lord has blessed me so much and 2015 will be more blissful!
Finally, light was back by lunchtime and we prepared  something for Media noche later. By 6PM, the Christmas tree was filled with exchange gifts which we normally do as a family.

Before midnight, we gathered around our humble table, each one said prayers of thanksgiving, wishes and hopes for a bountiful year, ended just in time before the firecrackers lit up to announce it's 2015!

Thank you Lord for a another year.

Welcome 2015!
itsmelory (^.^)

Day 25 - Home is where the heart is

I love weekends-especially when I am at home. So after doing my chores, cleaned the apartment, cooked for myself, my reward would be a nice nap to my favorite guitar music like Wishful Thinking. Ah, feels like home.

Speaking of which, last night I had a chance to talk to my dear Mamita over phone. It was our usual kamustahan how our day was and all. She started complaining and was even high-pitched about how she hated our floor tiles (she had to clean it frequently) . She said she cooked my favorite fish for dinner and that Pops accompanied her to market. Great, my father hates it.  I laughed at the thought that our walls coming off already and pahaging effect (sending clues) that it needs replacement soon! Okiedokie Mamita-try harder. Hehe! She was rambling about Nanay Lourdes' upcoming birthday on the 10th reminding me to send my share (ahemm) for the supposed surprise party they are planning. I told her in return that we will book our flight back home for Christmas vacation and she couldn't contain her excitement that she'll see her apo's na naman. She said Papsie's busy with his permutation thing ulit.  His brain should benefit from it. She thought it was really funny. We bade goodbye and before I could hang up she goes again with her reminders of taking vitamins, vegetable thing, sleep, etc. So when I click the off button, I realized, hey we haven't really talked so much these past few days!

I am guilty for not making the time to call my folks. So suddenly...I miss our small simple home. I miss my double-deck-bed which I share with my kontrabida sis Edz, I miss our after dinner bonding and chat, my Mamita's nagging and careless laughters, I miss her wrinkled face, her streaks of gray hair (which she tries to conceal) and her cooking. I miss being taken cared of my Mamita! 

I remembered back in highschool, I can't wait to be in college so then I could live on my own, being independent, no guardian to look after you and the idea that you could go home anytime you want-it was very exciting! It was awesome yes-but not totally. There were times when I felt bad at school that I wish my Pops and Mamita was around me, but thankfully that's where I learned being independent!  Now that I am working-I had to be away from family and it can be pretty sad sometimes when you miss them. I always can't wait to go on a vacation and spend as much time with them. Well, few more months dear and we'll be home soon. Ah, whatever age we may be, home is really where the heart is.

Missing home,

itsmelory (^.^)