It´s that time of year again!

I can´t believe that we are approaching December fast.  That means Christmas is just around the corner.  I am glad I am in Chile for this time of year.  Although it is strange, not having snow on the ground, or at least cold weather, I can escape the commercialisation which has ruined the true meaning of Christmas.

The birth of Christ is obviously where it all began, and the 25th December is an important date for Christians worldwide, but I think over the years we have lost the sense of the family get together and the importance of family and that is also a great shame for me.

Too many people worry about what to buy, worrying about getting in debt to be able to give what they think other people ´need.´  All this for one day which crashes down into such an anti-climax after the fact.  What happened to the times when families came together to spend time with one another, and to enjoy the moment in each other´s company?

This year I will be receiving my mum for Christmas.  She has had a desperately sad and difficult time with the loss of her partner, Frank, and so I want to make it the most special time for her.  We won´t be thinking so much about gifts, but more about quality of time together and I will be taking her to places in this beautiful country I am living in.  I will be sharing with her our little love nest in Laguna Verde, with all our blessed trees, flowers, animals and magical hummingbirds.  

We have our wedding celebration to look forward to where we will be surrounded by Mauricio´s family, whom I consider to be as much as my family too, and I will embrace tightly this precious moment of sharing a day together with this inspirational, selfless and loving person that is my mother.  So while children rip open their presents and squeal with delight or scream in horror because they have or have not been given the latest gadget, I will be hugging my Mum, and will be giving and receiving the best and most priceless present of all. LOVE.