Good-byes are awful
No need to say ‘em
Say good-bye when love is done
say good-bye when someone’s dying
Otherwise, leave things be
Good-bye is way too final
See ya!
Ciao!
Adios!
Adieu!
Arrivederci!
All sound so much hopeful
All sound like
Catch ya later
Up ahead, down the lone winding road.
Good-bye means just that
No chance of ever meeting up
Good-bye means we closed the door.
-Eva Santiago copyright 2013
CONTENTMENT IS A GIFT
I went to the store yesterday and I bought a wind chime and a hummingbird feeder. Once back home, I put the wind chime on my deck in the back yard. I hung the feeder from a limb on my olive tree with hopes that they’ll come to visit me. Then after dinner I sat on the swing listening to my wind chime sing as the wind caressed the pipes. My son came out and sat next to me. He said he found it amazing that I take pleasure in such simple things. And I told him it’s because I’m the kind of person who can enjoy a $10 wind chime more than a big screen TV. Why is that?
I found out a long time ago that contentment is a choice as well. When my kids were all in the toddler stage, there were days where I found it hard to be content because back in those days they were my main focus. I had no time for myself and when I did make time it was to gather my scattered thoughts on paper to try to make sense of what was happening inside of me. That’s when I decided to purposefully sit back and watch my kids play and interact together and that day I found a sweetness in my choice to be a stay at home mom.
Not too long after that, I would listen to Joyce Meyer on the radio and she’d talk about being content no matter where you are in life. Gee, everyday I tuned in , it was the same message. Being a quick study, I caught on that I was right where I needed to be and that in order to be content in my present state, I had to appreciate it first. So I decided to get down with my little ones and finger paint with them. This is what awakened the artist that I’d never dreamed I was before. Contentment brought me to a place of self-discovery and I’m so glad I chose to make friends with her. She’s a gift that keeps on giving!
So I invite you dear reader to examine your life and see if you’re lacking contentment, ask yourself what can you do about it. What’s robbing you of finding true contentment? If you’re content already, hang on to it no matter what because you and I both know it took some time and struggle to attain it.
The Three Amigos
EVA SANTIAGO COPYRIGHT 2012
‘Twas 3 days after Christmas
when all through the land,
not a kid was in sight.
No fussing, no arguing,
there was not a single fight.
Where could they all be?
I looked out my window
the streets are deserted.
I looked here, there,
I looked everywhere
and I grew disconcerted.
There they are!
Didn’t have to look far.
They all have their eyes,
glued to their Kindles-
their hands on their iPads.
They no longer wonder.
They no longer ponder.
Little ones, of all ages and sizes
too early to be wired,
6,8,10 12 year olds,
young minds now in a quagmire.
So I looked in the past,
when kids did kid things-
they played cow boys and Indians
and the sunsets seemed to last.
They played hide and go seek
some even thought they had wings.
Some jumped rope and hopscotched 
and they made up their own nursery rhymes.
They had imagination,
because it was encouraged.
They had less information
thus, they weren’t so discouraged.
This is a plea for the parents
of this current generation
now being nurtured,
on their iPhones, iPads,
Kindles, Androids, and iPods:
Our kids need US!
Our kids don’t need anymore APPS.
There isn’t an APP to replace
a hug, a kiss and a smile.
There isn’t an APP to replace,
time well spent with your child.
-EVA SANTIAGO Copyright 2011
Image by swarna rajan - 50K views - thank you all!!! via Flickr
Here it is! My last song, I dedicate it to YOU, my dear readers whom I appreciate so very much. We just opened up our loot under the tree and I hope wherever you are, you are cozy and blessed. Spread the warmth, share the love, it’s CHRISTmas!
Today’s song makes me shiver and shed a few tears every single time I hear it. So I have to post 2 versions of “Oh Come All Ye Faithful“. One for contemporary folks by Casting Crowns. Nat King Cole‘s version for the more tradition oriented. I enjoyed listening to both so I had to do them both. I also want to share a Christmas poem I wrote and I hope you enjoy it. Sit in front of a fire and ponder on how much you are loved today. If you happen to find yourself alone, let me remind you, none of us are really ever alone because there is One who promised never to leave us or forsake us.
CHRISTMAS PRESENT
Christmas presents all wrapped in bright festive colors;
awating their big day,
holding secrets and they can’t wait.
Fashionably attired in dazzling bows and ribbons that sparkle and glitter.
The days dwindle,anticipation mounts.
The boxes under the tree; pregnant with good news,
they alone know the treaures they hold.
LIVE each day as a Christmas gift!
You never know when your time comes.
Wake up every morning, face your day
with the same child like joy
of a kid on Christmas morn’.
Stop looking back on your past gifts,
you’ve been there, done that.
Time to move on…live today in the present…
it truly is your one and only present.
The gifts of the future remain under the tree of life,
to be opened at a later date;
tomorrrow’s presents bring hope for today.
So wise up and get to steppin’!
Don’t live your now fretting over your past because it’s been opened;
nor about your future because you’ve yet to unwrap it.
Live this very day: Go! Tear up the paper, don’t save the bow,
it’s what’s inside that matters,
that’s what’s yours to hold.
“Merry Christmas!”
Eva Santiago Copyright 2010
It’s down to 2 days my dear readers! Today’s song pick had to reflect the post I wrote for today. As you watch this video and listen to this beautiful version of “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” may The TRUE Spirit of Christmas come to find a resting place in your heart. Rejoice in the season but more importantly, rejoice in HIS love!
I wrote this a couple of years ago and I’m posting it here for you in the hopes that you too may know the One, the TRUE Spirit of Christmas
I thought I did not know what The Christmas Spirit was. For years I had gone through the motions and wondered what the big fuss was all about. On the first week of December (2009), I could not sleep,tossing and turning about in my bed much like the main character of the movie “Castaway”
when he was on the vast ocean on a tiny raft he created by himself. I am not an insomniac so my sleeplessness was beyond my understanding.
After a while, my daughter Elena came to my bedside and she asked me if I wanted to talk. By now it was around 1 am and I didn’t want to keep her up because school would be rough for her the next day. Finally I consented after she reassured me that I she would be fine. Then we began to talk about Christmas and what it signifies to different people. She pointed out that she noticed that I love celebrating other holidays but that at Christmas, “Your spark goes out, Mama.” Well,here I had to stop for a second and realize my 15-year-old was reading my mail. UGH. So then I decided to face it head on and I admitted to both of us that she was perceiving correctly.
Elena proceeded to tell me that as she had read my book,
As Clear As Claire Gets,she noticed that Christmas for me as a child was never about me but about everyone else. I winced as I let the full impact of her words penetrate through to that wounded part of my heart. I cried a while as she held me and then I felt the burden lift. I thanked her for being there for me and we both went to sleep.
The next morning that precious girl had left me a beautiful note written on an index card for me. She was pledging to make it her goal this season to help me feel the Christmas Spirit. She informed me that she would employ the help of her dad and her siblings to help her achieve this goal. I wept as I hugged her close to me.
Then I realized, I DO know The Christmas Spirit; I live with Him everyday of my life. You see, God‘s Spirit IS The Christmas Spirit and He dwells in my home and in the hearts of all my family members 365 days a year. What I find sad is that most people only allow God’s Spirit to touch them once a year at Christmas time.
Come on folks! This year when you pack away all of your Christmas ornaments
and store them in your garage ,attic or basement, don’t put God’s Spirit in there and forget about Him until next December. That Spirit of Christmas is the same yesterday,today and forever and his name is Jesus Christ and He is alive and well! He wants to dwell in your heart all through the year. Are you going to invite Him in all year round or just dust Him off and put Him on display for one month out of the year?
-EVA
My pick for today is “Adoration” by Newsboys. This band is one of my top 5 favorite groups because they tell a message that goes straight to the heart. This video is amazing, I hope you take the time to watch it. As time flies and you get ready for your holiday celebrations, I want yo to know how much I appreciate everyone that stops by to read my blog. Thank you to all of my readers from every place on the globe that drop in. May you feel love and great comfort today and through out the rest of the year. I look forward to posting more for your benefit and enjoyment. I wish you all my best in 2012!
This year let your gift giving not be out of mere obligation. When all the pretending stops,it gives way to real love. When we feign anything it is like eating imitation food.Think of it ,imitation vanilla is terrible.
The taste may resemble vanilla but it lacks the depth of flavor.
Same goes for imitation love; you are just going through the motions and you remain unsatisfied. Living in reality is the flavor,the zest of life because then and only then is love intensified and magnified and everyone around you,including yourself is nurtured and fed by it. Stay real!!
“Merry Christmas…Feliz Navidad to all of my family and friends!”
-Eva
” Stop buying things for people you can’t stand and that can’t stand you. Stop living your life trying to impress people “
-Joyce Meyer
This song I dedicate to all of my friends and family whom I wish I could see for the holidays. Bon Jovi does a nice job with “” Please Come Home for Christmas“. I’m just reminded to hold those who are near a little bit closer. This season hug and kiss those who are close by. And for those who can’t be there with you, say a prayer and send them angels to comfort and protect them 
For today’s song pick I had to look to my Latin roots. ”QUE VIVA LA NAVIDAD!” Get your Salsa on with this festive beat. Vamonos amigos, get off your couch , call your friends and family and have a party. Celebrate the season with Latin music and DANCE!
