Merry Christmas! Live, Laugh, and Slow Down…for Today!

How have you been celebrating the holidays?  For me, there was a whole lot of love, laughter, and…suffering the past few days!

SUFFER-FEST!

I’m talking about the kind of suffering you’re probably familiar with, one that you probably enjoyed yourself over the past few days. Hey, we all felt compelled to burn off all the calories from feasting, plus the long weekends allowed for more time to just “play,” right?

I ran a fast 18k with my favorite running buddies: Ton, Jun, and Lit last Sunday. Aaah!  It was almost perfect.  We finally got to experience cool weather with a bonus light drizzle during the run!

The only bummer was when a bunch of the Polo Tri athletes passed my car as I was changing inside!  Que horror!  Of course, in a few minutes, I managed to get dressed, come out of the car poised acting as if nothing had happened! (These things can only happen to me!)

– All sweaty after our run –

– Lovin’ the shirts too! –

Just before mass and Noche Buena, I hopped on my bike trainer for an hour’s worth of Sufferfest! Woah, I never felt so strong on the bike before. Could it be due to the majestic ham?

LOVE AND LAUGHTER

After the suffering, there was always the reward of good food, laughter, and fun with friends and family.

My best running buddy, Annie, who I’ve missed terribly is back from Singapore for the holidays. Jun and I had breakfast with her.

– Laughter over sausages, crepes and coffee –

Team Berlin enjoyed our Christmas breakfast at Chelsea after our long run.

– with Lit, Angel, Miriam, and Jun. Missing in photo: Ton! –

We celebrated Christmas eve with my side of the family. I’m still dreaming about that salad dressing that my sis-in-law, Tonette of Mama L’Oca, promised to make for me!

– with my sister, Janice, sis in law, Tonette, and the kiddos –

– with my siblings: Jons, Janice, and Tan, and mom in the middle –

– What’s new? Janice and I always have goofy moments shot on cam! –


– My loves! –

INSPIRATION

Before I go and have the kids open their gifts from Santa, I’d like to share with you a quote I found in the book Simple Abundance:

If, as Herod, we fill our lives with things, and again with things; if we consider ourselves so unimportant that we must fill every moment of our lives with action, when will we have the time to make the long, slow journey across the desert as did the Magi?  Or sit and watch the stars as did the shepherds?  Or brood over the coming of the child as did Mary?  For each one of us, there is a desert to travel.  A star to discover.  And a being within ourselves to bring to life.

– Author Unknown

There’s a time to rest, a time to suffer, a time to laugh and cry, a time to speed up and slow down. Today, for the first time, I ask you to slow down as I will too (against my own will heehee.) Rub that big belly and don’t worry about the extra weight. Lie on that couch all day and allow your legs to rest. Savor the special moments with your loved ones because, at the end of the day, that’s what matters most.

Merry Christmas everyone!