What do you mean its Christmas next week?

Chimbote is shouting out "Christmas!" day and night nowadays. The market is full of everything jolly and our neighbor Doña Cristina has put up a huge nativity scene. Just in case I forget, there's the big question that comes up quite often in conversation, "What are you doing for Christmas?" Then I realize, Christmas is next week!

The heat along with the blooming flowers and the singing of the birds is very misleading. It is spring here, almost summer. Kids are out for summer vacation and families are getting ready to head out to the beach. I can't complain of course, I left the States along with its winter and arrived in Perú to continue celebrating the sun of summer sweet summer!

Christmas for me is wrapped up in my grandmother's delicious "rosca" and my mom's sweet kisses. With a big bouncy bow of girl time with my sisters and coziness sitting by the chimney in my grandpa's arms drinking hot chocolate. I can't help but think of how much I will be missing them. It will be a new experience to spend Christmas away from them but I have accepted that it is okay. Yes, we are over 3,000 miles away but we are close at heart.

When you think of Christmas, what do you think of? Remember the true essence of Christmas...

"Want to keep Christ in Christmas? Feed the hungry, clothe the naked, forgive the guilty, welcome the unwanted, care for the ill, love your enemies, and do unto other as you would have done unto you."
-Steve Maraboli

Here are some ideas:

• Invite someone who doesn't have anyone to spend Christmas with, to spend the day with you and your family. Maybe a boy or girl from an orphanage? Two years ago, my family invited an elderly man from the local nursing home over for Christmas. A friend that cannot go home for Christmas? 
• Keep small gift bags of whatever you'd like in your car to give out to the homeless at intersections. 
• Gather a group of friends and collect money to buy blankets for families this winter season and help them stay warm.
• Volunteer, shop for gifts at a fair-trade market, visit patients at your local hospital... everything counts if it is done with love and good will. 

I know Christmas is just around the corner but regardless, you CAN find the time and create the opportunity to do something nice for someone this holiday season!
Everyone deserves to be loved.