The Beautiful Christmas Season

Dec. 14-Christmas is the season to be jolly and to celebrate the upcoming birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.This year I've not only received the unspeakable blessing given to us by our heavenly Father and wonderful counselor born to us on Christmas Eve in Bethlehem, but I'm greatly blessed by our savior with a beautiful miracle of a lovely baby girl, I can't wait for my sweet bundle of joy to be born on April 29th, 2017.

People often lose sight of the true meaning of Christmas, which is me and myself included. I'm pretty sure for those of you who have grew up in the United States are more than familiar with this term "keeping up with the Jones". While our family are practically the Jones and living the glamorous Hollywood lifestyle in Taiwan, when it comes to beautiful Christmas decorations and fancy decors in our neighborhood, we really looked up to our Lakewood Country Club neighbors in southern California, America.

There is this lovely family home and corner house with double-lot I'm extremely frustrated with, we can never outdo them when it comes to these festive and elaborate Christmas lights decoration. They put up an incredible display of Christmas lights and a different theme every year, which this year is Moscow Ballet's Great Russian Nutcracker. We bought the cheapest lights which only costed about $3.99 per box at Big Lots, while our festive neighbors bought the expensive lights that costed $12.99 per box at Costco or Home Depot. Our lights will get automatically turned off and short-circuited every time it rains. Their Nutcracker, candy cane, ballerina puppets, Santa Claus and Christmas tree were always fancier and flashier than us every year.

The funniest thing happened right before I was about to lose my sleep over my neighbor's over the top festive decors and beautiful Christmas lights, it has eventually clicked in my head that this is not even the true meaning of Christmas. The true meaning of Christmas is about generosity and giving, which it is not always about how much money you've spend on your presents or whether or not you've out-shinned your family and friends in giving them the best gift of the century, but the true meaning of Christmas is about spending time with your family and giving the gift that comes directly from your heart.

This is why we have participated at the Toys for Tots Christmas event this year, which is definitely not for the free horse drawn carriage ride across the city, but to donate new and unwrapped toys to little kids from less fortunate families. We have also picked a family on a sharing tree at our local community church, which we have volunteered to purchase a small microwave oven for a family in need. Giving fills my heart with unspeakable joy and satisfaction, which is the kind of contentment a college degree completed at a prestigious university or a decent paying job can't fulfill. Let us try not to lose sight of the true meaning of Christmas on this amazing Christmas season.

Don't forget to RSVP for the Moscow Ballet's Great Russian Nutcracker on Dec. 17, 2016. Direct from Russia to Los Angeles, the classic Great Russian Nutcracker will entertain the whole family this Christmas. Experience the exceptional dancing of award-winning principal artists and a company of nearly 40 classically trained dancers. With a 60-foot growing Christmas tree; hand-made costumes by Resident Designer Arthur Oliver; stunning, hand-painted sets designed by Academy Award nominee Carl Sprague, Los Angeles audiences are sure to be delighted. Moscow Ballet’s “Great Russian Nutcracker” receives critical acclaim in the over 100 cities they perform, from New York to Chicago, Miami to Los Angeles.

The production is dedicated to achieving world peace. Act II is named “Land of Peace and Harmony” and features a rose-shooting cannon and stunning two-person “Dove of Peace” with a 20 foot wingspan.

Tickets in LA start at $30. Groups of 10 or more receive a special discount and benefits to the Great Russian Nutcracker, and local California Girl Scout troops receive a special interactive program. Contact smi@nutcracker.com or more information. Seniors, Military and MotorClub members are eligible for discounts at the theater box office.

For Platinum Experience featuring a Meet N Greet; Gold Circle Gift Package; and single tickets call Ticketmaster 800-745-3000 or go to www.nutcracker.com/buy-tickets

List of 2016 Christmas Events: Nov. 26-(9:00 a.m.) Hanging the Greens at LVCC Nov.27-(5:00 p.m.) Family Advent Christmas Dinner Dec. 2-(5-8 p.m.) Toys for Tots Horse Drawn Carriage Rides at Parkview Village Shops. Dec. 3-(6:00 p.m.) Saturday Nighters Christmas Party at LVCC. Dec. 4-(10:00 a.m.) 2nd Advent Christmas Service at LVCC. Dec. 4-(4:00 p.m.) Prelude to Christmas at Bethany Church Dec. 5-(6:00 p.m.) Deacons Holiday Dinner at LVCC. Dec. 8-(6:00 p.m.) Remax Christmas Party at Eagle's Nest Restaurant, Cyprus Gray Golf Course, Cypress, CA, Dec. 9-Decorating our family Christmas tree & lights. Dec. 11-(3:00 p.m.) Christmas Celebration & Kids' Christmas Pageant by Kids of the Kingdom at Lakewood Village Community Church, Long Beach. Dec. 11-(1:30 p.m.) 47th Annual Christmas Concert "From Heaven Above" at Bethany Lutheran Church, LB. Dec. 11-(5-7 p.m.)Joy to the World Christmas Concert by Justin Rudd and Community Action Team at Belmont Shore, Bay Shore Church with Miss, Mrs. and Miss Teen Long Beach and Southern California Beauty Pageants. Dec. 11-(7-8 p.m.) Christmas Cookie Contest at Bay Shore Church. Dec. 13-(7:30 p.m.) Christmas Dinner at Sir Winston's, Queen Mary. Dec. 17-(8-2 p.m.) Christmas Party Dec. 17-(1-5 p.m.) 6th Annual Winter in Willmore Dec. 17-(5-7 pm.) Moscow Ballet's Great Russian Nutcracker Musical at The Wiltern. Dec. 17- (7:00 p.m.) Long Beach Chorale Christmas Concert by Grace First Presbyterian Church Dec. 18-(3-4 p.m.) Help From Heaven Christmas Concert at Resurrection Lutheran Church of Long Beach. Dec. 18-(5:00 p.m.) Christmas Lights Family Bicycle Ride at 6301 Myrtle Avenue, Long Beach. Dec. 18-(6-9 p.m.) Hot Chocolate, Coffee & Cookies at 3704 Gaviota Avenue, Long Beach. Dec. 23-(8:00 a.m.) Collecting Socks for the Homeless for Christmas Day at 388 E Ocean Boulevard, Long Beach. Dec. 24-(5 p.m.) Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at 3332 Magnolia Avenue, Long Beach Dec. 24-(5 p.m.) Family Christmas Eve at LVCC. Dec. 24-(11-12 a.m.) Candlelight Christmas Eve at Lakewood Village Community Church

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