Christmas--The Orange Box

December 24, 2009! The King cooked, while Princess and I made cookies and bread. We went to Mililani for dinner and spent our NOCHE BUENA with Aunty Wanda and Uncle Alvin. AUnty PUa and Uncle Sam were also there along with other friends.

After the party we got home around 11:20 pm and Warrior 1 and 2 were anxious to open a gift at midnight. Warrior 3 was so tired he went straight to bed. Not long after that the King and Warrior 4 followed. Well, 20 minutes to midnight and Warrior 2 was growing impatient. He told me that this is the longest 20 minutes ever. So, to kill time I told him to play board games with Warrior 1.

Okay...10 minutes to 12 am I was falling asleep on the couch. I must be getting old. I have no energy to stay up! It's a couple minutes past midnight and I could hear Warrior 2 waking me up. "It's 12 o'clock! Merry Christmas! Mom!" Anyway, he and Warrior 1 opened a present. Princess didn't open one. When that was done...I went straight to bed.

Well, Warrior 4 woke up 2x to eat and so I was tired. At 6 am I heard him crying and I continued to sleep. The King took care of him. Warrior 3 came in the room @ 7 something to ask me if he could open a present since he didn't get to open one at midnight. So, half asleep ...I told him to go ahead. I finally got out of bed at 11:30. I was that tired! Anyway...short story gone long. So, get to the heart of the story already. ok. ok. ok.

SO, Christmas 2009! After 12 noon, the kids are so ready to open their presents.

Warrior 4's 1st Christmas! Yey! Humble Christmas for us. Christmas without Gramma and Grampa but we will see them to welcome the New Year.

The King asked what day is today. SOmeone answered, "we are celebrating the birth of Jesus." "It is the day to open presents." Why do we have presents? Princess answered, "because the 3 Kings gave Jesus 3 presents when he was born." Blah blah blah. The King read the Christmas story in Luke. He was subbing for Dad. =)

After reading it, he reminded the kids that we have a lot to be grateful for. Friends and family have blessed us so we can have a wonderful Christmas. He then gives WArrior 3 a hug and just held him. (for a long time). His heart was full of gratitude. (He got emotional. Yes, the King.) The older kids saw that so, they too started getting teary eyed. Okay, most of us got emotional. We have so much to be grateful for. Words can't express it.

Well, he composed himself and then got up to get an orange box. He sat back down and then opened the box. I knew what was in it. He took the contents out of the box and showed the kids. They were surprised. The King told them that there was over an XXXX amount of money in there from family, friends and from an anonymous giver.

Money has been hard especially this month. We had to help my parents pay for some of Papa's hospital bills. It was hard for me to tell the King that they are in need of our help. I've never felt so helpless. I knew we didn't have the money but the King without hesitation gave anyways. Because of that, something had to give. LIke rent...

I can't imagine what the King had/has to go through. The stress of thinking where to get the money to pay this bill and that. But you know what? Heavenly Father works in mysterious ways.

Who would have thought? On Monday, someone (whose name I will not disclose) drops off a big folded bag. Inside the bag there is a pocket, in that pocket they put a generous amount of money. Later that evening, after returning from PCC (the King had to play for the Hawaiian Choir) someone left a card on the screen door. I thought it was from our Secret Elves (another blessing-someone was doing the 12 days of Christmas to us) so I just put it on the King's desk. Later that evening in the room, I was dressing Warrior 4 whom I had just given a bath. The king asked me who the card was from ...it was blank on the inside as well. In my head, i was thinking that our secret elves were funny to leave us a blank card on this day. I said, "I don't know who it is from." He then showed me what was in the card. Started counting and again ...wow! Who could this person or people be?

Two days later, we get a package from the mail and in that package 2 more envelopes which contained ....yes more green leaves with faces. We have been really blessed. Heavenly Father knows us and our needs.

The King reminded us to be grateful. And before we opened the presents the King suggested that we say prayer. I gave the prayer and was reminded of how full my heart was.

This Christmas has been a humbling experience. The presents under the tree were mainly from friends and family. Not to mention all the goodies we were given to eat and enjoy.

To all the Clauses who made Christmas memorable.... from the bottom of our hearts...THANK YOU. Mahalo. Maraming Salamat. Agyaman kami. Un Dangkulu Na Si Yu'us Ma'ase. Domo Arigato. Malo 'aupito.

Love,

the GOOey Goos

THAT'S "THE" ORANGE BOX.