The Joy of Keeping a Christmas Tradition

30 DAYS OF GRATITUDE | DAY 24

Here are the ornaments we've acquired over four years.
Left hand side from R; right hand side from me.

This is our own little Christmas tradition: finding that perfect Christmas tree, taking it home and then turning the music on for some nostalgic Christmas songs while unboxing the ornaments, the glittered balls, the garlands and the lights we've accumulated over the last Christmases we've spent in Dublin. Then we'll take out the few ornaments, arrange them chronologically, make a few recollections of when we bought them, and then place them in that nook of the tree where they can be admired the most. The next few days, R and I will buy two new ornaments, one from each, to hang in our tree.

---

This is the fourth year we've done this tradition. This time though, because of the baby and the weather situation, only R went to the tree market taking home with him a nearly 6-foot, smelled-so-good pine tree. I took care of decorating the tree whilst the teething baby demanded to be carried. After a few hours of alternating the baby between our arms, we had the tree ready for its first lighting.

The lighting of our fourth real Christmas tree and our first with Zeya.

I'm glad we established this tradition. I'm all the more grateful we have afforded a real Christmas tree four years in a row now. There was a year, our first Christmas as a married couple, when the only decor we could afford to adorn our home with was this DIY advent calendar. 

There's a joy in keeping a Christmas tradition. It is something we want Z to grow up doing with us come Christmas time. Years from now, this little baby of ours will grow up discovering the world and the wonders of Christmas. I want him to have early memories of experiencing the magic and twinkle and warmth and goodness of Christmas firsthand---with his dad and I.

I'm already looking forward to the next Christmases in our lives, to the next Christmas tree hunting and decorating. :)

---

Now here are the ornaments in the tree.

2013

2014

2015

2016

The reason I chose a little bear this year: :)

And here's our tree in all its glory:

Christmas Lights and our Fifth Christmas in Dublin

30 DAYS OF GRATITUDE | DAY 23

My little charming city may not be as magically and extensively adorned with Christmas lights as its other neighbouring capitals in Europe but to my Filipina-living-in-Ireland eyes, Dublin is spectacular in its own glory during the Christmas season. 

Winter in Ireland can give you the coldest, dreariest and darkest of days. The sun sets as early as 4PM during this season; the trees are stripped down to their branches and the sky is pretty much always grey. I'm grateful the city is illuminated and decorated quite nicely creating a festive mood and bringing a cheerful vibe to the dwellers and tourists alike. The lights extravaganza is one of the things which makes me want to pause and say, "Hey, it's not too bad that I live here!"

Here are the photos of these flickering and twinkling Christmas lights, (photo captured through the iPhone and DSLR).

Nollaig Shona Duit, a Gaelic expression for "Happy Christmas to you."

Zeya was wide eye and curious with all the lights.

***

This year's Christmas is our fifth in Ireland, our fifth away from Philippines, our fifth away from families and friends. This means, I've been relishing this show of lights in Dublin for five years now. Sure, I miss every little thing about Paskong Pinoy (Filipino Christmas) and I won't name them one by one lest I'll get homesick. And I will agree with the rest of OFWs' sentiments around the world, that there's nothing quite comparable to Paskong Pinoy, but it's also making the most of where God has brought us and planted us. It's trying to appreciate what lies before us. 

Five years now. I can't say I've gotten used to the quietness and stillness of Christmas in Dublin. But I've grown to appreciate the family exclusivity of Christmas day to the Irish. That Christmas day isn't a "shopping mall day."  That there could be another day for that.

I'm grateful for you Dublin, Ireland. For these lights. For your generosity. And most of all, for treating us well the past five Christmases. :)

10-Month Long Maternity Leave

30 DAYS OF GRATITUDE | DAY 14

I'm grateful I live and work in a European country where maternity leave is quite long. In Ireland, the maximum maternity leave is 40 weeks or 10 months, 26 weeks (6 months) of which are paid either by the company that you work or via the social welfare department. The remaining 16 weeks (4 months) are unpaid, but still! When I look at other countries' maternity leave benefits, 40 weeks is generous enough. 

I opted for 40 weeks and that 40 weeks is about to end this December. I was supposed to go back to work in January but the Lord has given us another favour. I was able to extend that leave with my boss up to the second week of February and with me being back in the payroll end of December. Thank you Lord!

I'm also grateful R and I are in the position where I was able to go salary-less for a stretch of 10 months. Much financial planning is needed when you have another soul to take care of and so far, we've survived. 

Most of all, I'm grateful for this period where I can devote time to be a full-time mommy, to recover well from the tolls of giving birth, and to breastfeed Zeya. I strongly feel for working moms who have not much of a choice but to go back to working soon after giving birth. I feel you mommies and it is my prayer that all of the world should unite and bring forth a standard maternity leave for  working mommies. 

I will reserve my musings about motherhood and breastfeed in another post. :)

***

Double Baby Shower

30 DAYS OF GRATITUDE | DAY 13

I could never let this year pass by without writing this in my online space and without thanking, once more, the people who blessed us with a fun, memorable double baby shower---for a baby boy and a baby girl. We truly appreciate your hearts, and we're very grateful for your presents, your presence and most of all, your prayers.

***

Rovelyn and I were in the same bible study group in 2015 and were in the same season of praying for a child---my first, her second. I remember soliciting prayers from each one in the group and we would almost say the same answer as one of the things we would like to be prayed over,  "Baby sana..."

It never fails to amaze me how and when God answers our prayers. I shared my testimony of getting pregnant in church and a week later, I learned of Rovie's pregnancy too. Our due dates were (surprise, surprise!) only a day apart. Galing ni Lord!

Fast forward to March 2016, both in our 37th week of pregnancy, and there we were, surrounded by the loving presence of the people we do life with. Again, thank you. Not just to the people who joined us that day, but to those who gave us presents too after, prayed for us, gave advices for labor and motherhood, and wished us well.

As of this writing, the two babies, Zeya and Emma who both entered this world via normal deliveries, are two healthy babies. They have an amazing wardrobe and essentials because of your generosity. And in behalf of these little ones, we would like to say thank you again. We are grateful beyond measure. :)

***

Mums to Be (oh my gosh, we were huge!)

Lovely decors in pink and blue

Food!!!

Measuring the Bellies

Games!!!

And gifts!

And more of 'em! 

Now the bloopers! I received the gift for a baby girl, and vice versa for Rov! 

We were overjoyed. Thank you y'all!

Advices from the moms

The point where my Mama said the funniest joke :)

Prayers

Thank you ladies! I wonder who's next? :)

With my Mama who happened to have arrived the day earlier! Talk about God's timing!

Now with the daddies!

Our bible study group! (Special thanks to you Micah and Mona for organizing!)