I am very grateful to have made it to #4 Simbang Gabi at Incarnation Catholic Church with Fr. Joy Lawrence Santos officiating. It is lovely to hear his baritone voice and his substantive homily. The Filipino priests are working so hard these 9 days before Christmas, travelling near and far to celebrate mass at different churches.
His homily, excerpted:Series of revelations about God’s plan by Fr. Lawrence SantosJesus, Mary, Joseph, Angel Gabriel, Elizabeth, Zechariah, John the Baptist, Holy of Holies to offer incense – these are the revelations about their lives.
Annunciation to Mary and Zekeriah, yet different results. Though Mary asked the question, why, she was favored as she was full of grace. Whereas Zekeriah asked the same human question, disbelieved, the angel made him deaf and mute until thr birth of their son, John to an advanced age Elizabeth.
Picture this – Fr. Lawrence went to a silver haired woman and said, “would you believe you would have twins? Would you believe it?
“We then understood why it would take a leap of faith to believe such forecast, such good news from Angel Gabriel.
When we pray to God, we don’t control God. It is in God’s time that God hears our prayers.
John means God is so gracious.
“The fog of illness in me, I was not coughing during the mass.
#maharlika2023la woke up after an hour and a half nap, earlier a 45-minute nap.
Lolo @enriquedlz took over for 4 hours as Grandma was not feeling well. He persisted in shadowing him as he climbed the stairs, crawled all over, and then fed him.
#maharlika2023la was extra thirsty and had 2 bottles, and he ate his scrambled eggs with tomatoes and panettone bread.
Then he crawled to the living room. He took the sticks and hit the kulintang with rhythm. I foresee drumming as part of his life.
He was full of joy and energy and waited for his sister, #princess2015la, whose joyful presence is inimitable. Their love for each other is so palpable. They genuinely take delight in each other’s presence. It was truly a joy to watch them both anticipate, greet one another, smile, kiss each other, and play.
Then as #princess2015la left, she shouted: “I love you, Grandma.”
I was so exhausted taking care of my youngest grandson, #maharlika2023la who is handsome, charming, smart, and loving. Today was one of those days. Yet, after seeing these photos, my fatigue evaporated.
He got down from the sofa on his own. He climbed the stairs so fast and went down the stairs too.
He ate a lot today. He finished his solids and ate my banana bread with 3 bananas, sour cream, and 1/8 of an avocado. Yummy! He had two stroller walks and two half-hour naps.
Me: Hugging my granddaughter, #princess2015la as she explains the Oregonian beads on her bike.
#princess2015la: Sorry, Grandma, I am going to miss you while I go biking.
Me: It’s okay; you are going to have fun with your grandpa.
Two bikes are loaded into the bike rack.
Do you want me to give you some money?
#princess2015la: I don’t need money, Grandma. I don’t (with emphasis), she said.
Me: Oh, I like hearing that. It means to me that you see beauty wherever you go and that you can play with anything you find.
But ask Grandpa to buy you ice cream. He buys me that when I go biking with him. Do you know he has taken me, his children, and now you bike riding on the beach?
I forgot he also took his mother tandem riding at the beach, restoring the use of her legs, while I supervised her walking 4 miles around Lake Merritt in Oakland, with her husband, Enrique, Sr.
Enrique, Jr., requested that I supervise his mom walking, while he attended an activist meeting. Then after, we all went camping, and my mother-in-law, Felisa, got to walk much better. While walking, she had eagle eyes, detesting me, not her son. I kept telling her I was just following my husband’s request.
Practicing climbing the stairs, looking at the photo book made by @hydeepichai, and posing with #superlolo while #grandma took his photos. Lolo is his shadow.
The gift of being fully present for each other results in joy. #princess2015la fed her brother #maharlika2023la eggs, and he loved the coconut water. We were happy to be with one another. It felt like heaven—a complete moment of happiness and true love. I made spam, eggs, broccoli, and spinach fried rice that my granddaughter wanted.
