I got married October 2006 and since then I have had four Christmases in my own place with my very own family. I think I officially start Christmas season in our home at around the 1st week of November. Last year, as I put up our decors and lights, a few friends joined me, JA and Andi as we had ensaymada and hot chocolate. I had so much fun doing that. I enjoyed putting out my Christmas plates preparing special meals, and inviting people to come over at our place.

I love Christmas. I think I love celebrating in general.

I’ve been pondering about this lately and I realized that celebrating is deliberate. I have to choose to celebrate. I decide to make things special for those I love.

Celebration also puts emphasis on what is important. I attended the graduation of my brother-in-law Louie yesterday. He graduated from Reedley International High School. As we ate dinner to celebrate this milestone in his life, he kept thanking me and JA and Andi for coming to his graduation ceremony. It meant a lot to him. We celebrated with him and thus we showed him that he is important to us and that we take pride of what he has accomplished in his life (so far).

Celebration is a lifestyle too.  Yes, birthdays and anniversaries are a big deal. I’ve always liked celebrating those. But I have also learned that even the littlest milestones and accomplishments are worth celebrating. Being a mom instilled that in me. JA and I celebrated Andi’s first step, her first words, her first tricks. We’ve taken notice and we’ve recorded almost everything. And we continue to do that.I want to be a parent who celebrates my child. I wanna be a wife who celebrates my husband. I wanna be a person who celebrates every day that God has given me.

Tom Peters said, Celebrate what you want to see more of. I realized too that what I celebrate not only shows what I value but also it also has the capacity to direct and influence…

I celebrate whenever JA carves out in his schedule time to be with me and prioritizes it. I celebrate the DVD nights that I have with my husband and  whenever we go out on dates. I celebrate whenever Andi packs away after she plays with her toys. I celebrate whenever she shares her toys, and whenever she obeys mommy and daddy. I celebrate her hugs and her various display of affection. Celebrating these encourages repetition and most likely will influence that these be done over and over again. JA tells me that what makes him happiest is when he sees that I take delight in what he does for me. Thus, celebration is powerful.

Correction on the other hand is not something that I naturally enjoy doing. And it isn’t something that I instinctively embrace too. Correction and discipline is hard work. And being disciplined hurts.

As we were going home from dinner last night, Andi started whining in the car. And lately, that is exactly what I have been teaching her not to do. As she began to whine, I said.. “Andi, no…” She finished my sentence. She said, “No whining. Obey mommy. Obey rod.” I couldn’t help but laugh especially at her last statement. But I am glad she gets the point.

I am not sure who said this, but I have heard this statement that “You cannot change what you tolerate.”  I 100% agree. And even if disciplining my child is tough, I know that it is imperative that I do. I love Andi too much (and my future kids too) not to do so. And God loves me so much to let me have my own way too.

So I celebrate those that  I wanna see more of, and I correct and reprimand those that I want to be changed.

Anyway, I have found three common grounds of celebration and correction.

1. Both are intentional. I have to make it happen. It requires time and effort. Both are hard work.

2. Both are done out of love. Celebration without love becomes merely a traditions without meaning. Correction without love becomes rules and has little or no impact at all.

3. Both are worth doing and are life-changing. Celebrations make lasting memories and make stronger bonds. Correction and discipline produces lasting fruit in our lives.

Luke 15:23 ” ‘Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.”

Hebrews 12:11 “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”

Hebrews 12:5b-6 “…My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves.”

Side notes: (P.S.?)– (Do you use P.S in blogs?)

I wasn’t able to blog yesterday. Had a full day. As I have mentioned, I was celebrating with my in-laws.

The speech of validictorian of the batch was very inspiring! I forgot her name, but whoever you are, good job! I am encouraged every time I see how talented and gifted the younger generations are.

I highly recommend the book “The Life You’ve Always Wanted” by John Ortberg. One of my favorite books. Check out the chapter about celebration called “Dee Dah Day”

And to all parents, I encourage you to read books on parenting. I devour on books on parenting (and marriage) because I believe these are worth investing my time and money on.I will post one time a list of some of the books that I have read that are must-reads.