Of course, nothing can beat Filipino Christmas. White Christmases are so overrated. You can't even do a lot of things when it snows.. But still, I think my Christmas this year went great. I didn't expect it to compare to past Christmases in the Philippines with the entire clan and friends just a text or a call away. But we made do with what we had.

We went to the Midnight Mass at St. Olaf's Catholic Church in downtown Minneapolis. The priest was awesome, he was relatively young--that is to say he's shaved bald, and not actually balding hehe-- and he talked like he was in a conversation with all of us. One of the rare moments I actually listened to everything the priest was saying... Essentially though, he was talking about how you don't have to be so smart to believe in the greatness of God. Nice. And this is what stuck to me: He said, "The real essence of Christmas is simplistic faith." True, you don't have to go to school to have faith, you don't have to be the best person in the world, God favors the simple. God favors those who sincerely believe. Haay. I love Christmas. And the choir was amazing.

We went home to servings of Arroz Caldo and Chicken Mushroom Alfredo made by my sister and me. (Talagang kasali ako dun noh!) Then we opened our beautiful gifts! I didn't expect gifts this year coz those who I expect to give me presents are in the Philippines hehehe... But then I love my loot. I got a bookmark with booklight and Memoirs of Geisha book from Super-Itik... A Princess wall hanging from Ninang Edith and family.. A $25 gift card from Tita Jing.. A Kelly Clarkson cd from my secret Santa, Ging.. a scarf from Auntie Myrna,a candle from Madison... and an HP Pavilion Laptop from myself! Yipee. Love it all!

And the best thing is that I got to talk to two of my best friends on earth. Taughffeayhe and my Cheekyboy Vincent called long distance for their Christmas greetings...

So now, although I'm probably 3 pounds heavier, I'm still very happy that my Christmas turned out to be good enough, and not as bad as I thought it might be. I would still love to have spent it like the old times but then for now, I have no choice.