THE HAPPIEST BIRTHDAY ON EARTH!

The largest Christmas star in our retreat centre - outside the building I live in!

It's 6 days to Christmas Eve and everywhere I look people are getting ready for Christmas - lighted stars of so many beautiful colours and shapes are all over our retreat centre. It makes me feel happy just looking at these stars! For the past two days, I have been watching a group set up from scratch a Nativity crib - the love with which they are taking so much effort do so is really heartwarming. It makes me want to join them as poignant Christmas memories rush back of when I would make the Nativity crib in my parents' home - right up to the last Christmas I spent with both of them in 2003.

I  have always loved putting up the Christmas tree, making the crib and just putting up the Christmas decorations and all the twinkling lights! i never ever found it tedious or tiring! I remember my parents  often reminding me to get ready for the Vigil Mass as I would still be busy doing up their home - I usually arrived home the day before. At first, they would say that they are old so there was no need to make all these efforts - but after midnight mass, they would always tell me how beautiful their home looked with a joyful smile on their faces - that was always enough for me! It is something I REALLY, REALLY miss doing, as here, we have many male volunteers who do an excellent job of decorating our retreat centre. 

Well,  I have been getting ready the goodies for our annual Christmaas Divine Homes visit - so I am happy knowing the joy this annual Christmas visit bring to our Divine Family members - esp the orphaned children, the elderly destitutes, the AIDS patients and the mentally ill patients. They expect us to  show up as it has been a Divine Christmas tradition since my 1st Chrstmas here in 2004. How time flies - this will be my 8th Divine Christmas!

The YouTube music video below, "Happy Birthday, Jesus" by the group Alabama, made me feel so grateful and thankful to Jesus for being born on earth - and bringing true joy into all our lives. Jesus' birth is when God's Light & Grace shone down upon ALL of mankind on earth living in darkess - and His Light is always shining brightly waiting to be the beacon in our lives!

I hope you and all your loved ones will sing around your Christmas tree,  "Happy Birthday Jesus", as your gifts are shared with His Love in your hearts - Jesus is in our midst!

Wishing  each of you, your families and friends

        A Most JOYOUS, HOLY & BLESSED CHRISTMAS!