As Luck would Have It? Nah.

True, there is such a thing they call “Christmas in July,” but there sure was Christmas on my 50th birthday one August.

If only you had seen how I was swept up in the Christmas spirit that summer, then you would understand why I felt extra loved because God is so good at proving that to Him, there are no such things as half-measures. A no-brainer, after all, He arranges things in ways only He could do because He can. 

You may recall in Part 3 of "A Journal-Worthy Vacation: He Who Arranges the Details," when briefly I talked about my love for Christmas. What I didn't mention there, is how much I love it. Let's just say it has left an impression in my heart.

That being the case, I loved it as a little girl would in that even when I already got to my mid-40s, it still saddened me when the time to take down the Christmas decorations came. I charge that to this emotional connection I had with it going back to when I was little.

"Why is that?" you may ask. I'd say, it was the goodwill aspect of it that I saw in people that remains true to our time, nurturing fond memories.

If you think it was for the gifts associated with it—not at all because, with all truthfulness, I could count the times I received a present on Christmas morning. I am not complaining though because I've gotten way more. I still recall the uplifting words, and I've gotten tons of them over time. It was like I'd been given this piggy bank, but instead of monies deposited into it, rather were words that build confidence and hope for the future—and most of all, developing the love and fear of the Lord

That said, as far as opening gifts, the gift exchange at school, A.K.A. The Secret Santa gift was the guaranteed time I would have a gift to open.

In fairness, my grandmother, God rest her soul, in the goodness of her heart, bought me a nice dress to wear on special occasions throughout my childhood. She splurged a little at Christmastime so I wore a fancy dress for the much-anticipated Christmas program at school. 

Other than that, I could only expect scrumptious dishes served on platters and bowls reserved for special occasions. My mother, God rest her soul, referred to them as "antigo," such are pieces that have been passed down to her by our grandmother. She treasured them that she kept them under lock and key. 

Several things made up for what was lacking. At our school, it was the prevailing practice to have the classrooms decorated with artwork denoting glad tidings the season brings. Imagine the thrill building up as we inched closer to the schoolwide Christmas program. 

As kids, we looked forward to rehearsal times, meeting after the last period. Here in the US, we refer to them as Christmas Pageants, of which there is a re-enactment of the Nativity. Dance, poetry, declamations, and singing were part of the program. 

As a young kid who grew up seeing all these in school, it was the exclamation point to the joy that Christmas stands for through the activities we all had taken part in as we concluded the first half of the school year. The time to enjoy the festivities had officially begun.

I loved how everyone I knew looked forward to the coming of Christmas because it is synonymous with merrymaking, marked with joyful wishing and sharing joy. 

Shopping centers and even humble stores begin to work their wit to promote Christmas. One by one, TV ads that carry the Christmas theme conveying centuries-old Filipino values get introduced during the commercial breaks.

Advertisers work their geniuses by coming up with slogans and jingles. Expect to see promotional offers and sweepstakes or contests that may last till the festivities are over. Christmas items find their way onto the shelves, and before you know it, they have occupied the entire aisle, and then not long after, an entire designated department bursting with all things Christmas. I loved seeing all that.

Christmas in the Philippines starts in September, unofficially, that is. That’s when you begin to notice Christmas songs filling the airwaves. The moment one home got its decorations up, consecutively, the others begin to follow suit. There are even curtains reserved for special occasions, so you see them hang on the windows and doorways, too. I've always cherished the festive feel it brought me. From my observation, there is something about the ambiance created with filtered rays of light.

Families plan what to prepare for Christmas with utmost care so that it doesn’t hurt the budget. As it nears Christmas, homes are decluttered, at least, I could speak about ours. All the prep work done was out of reverence for God and the birth of His Son, Jesus, our Redeemer.

Everyone in the family got busy helping out. The atmosphere created inspiration and lingered over meals. It just felt different in a whole lot of ways that although there were no presents to anticipate when kissing the hands of the elders in the clan on Christmas morning, a customary in our culture, they spoke words of blessings for us. What could be better than that when you know those were sincere words spoken over you?

In the Philippines, it is common for families to live in the same compound, so we live within walking distance from each other. We didn't give presents to relatives but shared whatever food we prepared. That was our version of the gift exchange, only better to some degree.

Back in grade school, I remember telling one of my sisters, and our mother was around, that Jesus’ birthday is so special in that the whole world celebrates it. True, isn’t it? Yes, we have the apostles to thank for spreading Christianity in all corners of the Earth, just as Jesus had instructed them before He ascended to Heaven.

Anyway, to this day, I don't shy away from saying I love Christmas. It has been ingrained in my DNA, not necessarily one I share with my family back home though. I'm primarily speaking for myself.

Now that I have a family of my own, in the family room, the garland remains on the mantelpiece—with all its berries, pine cones, cardinals perched onto twigs, metallic beads on a string, and miniature warm lights all interlinking.

And yes, on some nights that I wanted some laid-back moments, I plug that in along with the electric fireplace. The mesmerizing flickering fireplace flames light up the room for that winter tranquil feel on any given night, minus the heat, which is easy to do given the technology we have these days, so in an instant, I could have my zen. 

Would you believe that there was a time when we had our Christmas tree up all year?  That’s Emilie for ya..!

Alright, since this sharing is one of the ways God surprised me, I thought it’s fitting to share 1 Corinthians 2:9. As I advance further into this blog, you will understand why I share this here.

—"But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him”— 

Isn't that a whisper of hope? Yes, and because it is He, who establishes that hope.

Nice, right? That’s why it captured my attention, at the same time, increased my confidence in our God that He has everything sorted to the end. I see it for that link to that promise that Jesus gave when He said that He goes to the Father to prepare a place for us, which now I find it easier to understand why Jesus mentioned there are lots of rooms in the Father’s mansion—all are invited.

Well, what I didn't know, God was planning our summer vacation to Vancouver, Canada, long before Canada was on our bucket list. And so for that to take place on my 50th birthday was a twice-fold blessing. GOLDEN, indeed! 

There’s something for every vacationing soul, in our case, we got most of the boxes checked—from churches to captivating ferry rides to castles and historical places and then yes, nature. We knew we were to embark on a nature-filled adventure of a time as part of immersing ourselves in a multi-sensory kind of vacation.

So let me begin by sharing the wonders that awaited us—

Capilano Suspension Bridge:

This is a great place, especially for those looking to explore nature because it boasts natural spectacular splendor. 

Do you enjoy a hike? Get yourself there, and you will be rewarded with breathtaking views as you take a leisurely walk. You’d be up to some amazing trek, may it be in spring, summer, fall, or winter. There is no best time or season to see this place. Anytime really is the best time.

The cliff walk, which is one of the major features or attractions there, elicits the “ohs,” the “ahs,” and the "whoas," as this allows you to walk around the edge of the canyon and see what’s further down the cliff, so have a look, but do so with great care. 

Bask in the glorious sunset, if you get to stay a little late to capture it. Revel in the sweeping views in the same way birds do. Take those epic shots, as many as you wish.

Then make the effort to venture up the treetops so you get up close experience of the vastness of this beautiful creation. Pay a little more attention to the majestic trees. Notice the moss-covered branches and vines draping all the way down, creating a mesh look.

Learn about some of the creatures inhabiting the forested natural beauty before you cross the bridge—a stretchy bridge alright, spanning several hundreds of feet above a river. Feel free to capture a video of you crossing the bridge. Don’t worry, it sounds scarier than it is. Just a heads up, it's not surprising to see the place vibrant and packed with tourists—yes, all the way to the bridge!

I can only imagine the alternate beauty it flaunts when trees are covered in layers of snow in the winter, sprinkled with some Christmastime wonder. It’s got to be a brimming earthly beauty—a “Wow” waiting for anyone.

Is it open to the public year-round? That I don't know. Everyone changes their operating hours from time to time, so do your homework.

The Ferry to Victoria—

We boarded the ferry with a rental car. It was our first. The ferry ride took a little longer than an hour and a half sailing—so imagine yourself cruising the scenic route and having plenty of time to wander along the outer deck. It'll be hard to resist because you would want to have a look around and snap photos and videos to document the experience. 

Once out there, it requires zero effort to soak up the beauty all around you that is only available when on a boat. Although it is many nautical miles, make every moment a picture-worthy opportunity,

It is easy to let the good times roll. We found this to be true. Not one dull moment, especially when you realize it doesn’t come every day to have this kind of venture. It's just not your average day. Call that “Moments in Time.” Charge that to the stunning vista! 

You see, God, in His almightiness, has a plethora of ways to grab our focus to show what He has for us so we can rest up to clear the mind and from there, restore us to our equilibrium, only if we let Him. This hour-and-a-half-long sailing is one of the myriad ways God does it. It is truly a postcard-perfect waterscape made available for you to relish. Water has some restorative properties, by the way.

Oh, and I loved staring at the bright, blue skies and down below, the light shimmering off the water as if right underneath the surface are embellishments reflecting the light from the rays of the sun hitting the water, hence; the scintillation happening there. 

And then the moments-long cloud-filtered sunlight when a cloud passes by, for some strange feeling was more delightfully noticeable than usual. And then just moments later, everything catches the light so perfectly again.

I also loved how the wind caressed my hair, I thought it was so playful. Now, picture yourself having a favorite drink in one hand, it can be nonalcoholic, yet every sip is what we call, perfection! Isn't that extraordinary? You know vacation is sure in full swing. Peaceful moments are not in short supply, so you experience a range of calming emotions, all drizzled with bliss.

And yes, keep an eye out for some soaring eagles and other sea creatures. By this I meant, to get your camera ready, not only because the panoramic views of the forested shorelines are picture-perfect. 

In large part, for this type of moment, to describe in full detail, taking into account the emotional aspect of it, words fall short. All I can say, if you are the appreciative type, it is easy to get all sappy in some measure, all while in the middle of supreme relaxation. Tears of joy?

So, are you getting all excited yet? Can't blame you, just make sure you have the proper layers. We knew it could get a little chilly while on the ferry ride, so I had a warm shawl wrapped around me. Hubby and our sons donned puffer jackets.

Given all that, still, this wasn’t the highlight of our trip but is fitting to say it was the prelude of what was to come that we just didn’t know awaited us.

Craigdarroch Castle—

It is worth visiting this castle although not as grand as the Hearst Castle in San Simeon, California, and definitely, far from the grandness of the Neuschwanstein Castle, located in the Bavarian region in Germany, which was the inspiration for Disney’s Cinderella Castle.

But, I’ve always wondered about the life of the to-dos, especially during the kingdom era—the grace and finesse in everything they did in public. 

Each time we walked into one, it never failed to bring me warmth, like stepping into a fairy tale: a tiara nestled on my head, and wearing a billowy garb with satiny overlay, and maybe sequined bodice, too. It’s one of those times when you say a foreign becomes a familiar situation. It sort of tickles my fancy, actually, considering back in my youth, never did it come anywhere near in my imagination that I’d walk into castles and mansions. Touring castles, especially in Germany, and mansions and castles in the Northern part of the Americas are a lot more than I bargained for.

Looking back, I say this tour helps me to remember that there are hidden gems along the way, which is something that is still hard to wrap around my head at times, but then again, it only proves we can expect nothing less from God. When the world can’t give us an upgrade, God gives it to us, much more often than we realize. 

God always has it all together for us, it just varies in degrees for each one of us, but special every time regardless. When something is from God, it just feels right, we experience it in the light because it's got His fingerprints all over it. No one can delight us better the way He does.

As I’ve mentioned, this castle wasn’t the first one I’ve set foot in, and it won’t be the last either, but it’s always experiencing it differently. Each one is presented uniquely that’s particular to the time it was built, so I visit the souvenir shop for some little something-something for memorabilia reasons. It’s often home decoration, nothing extravagant.

Saint Andrew’s Cathedral—

My heart leaped for joy! I have been praying the Christmas novena by Saint Andrew probably since 2013 or 2014. The novena begins on November 30th, the Saint’s feast day, and concludes on Christmas Eve. I love this novena for it’s all about the birth of Jesus. It has emotional value to me.

This was the very first church in this Saint’s namesake, a cathedral even, that we have visited. It was all in God’s plan. And, I love how He arranges things because it’s always given a notch up—like an instant upgrade. It feels good to be upgraded.

Inside the cathedral, I sensed Christmas: plush red center aisle carpeting reaching the altar, green accents throughout, the stained glass windows reflecting the colors of the season—everything tied in. It just feels joyful! You can easily make it your sanctuary of serenity. Christmas is legit there. The exterior architectural design is equally captivating.

Public Tour of the Parliament House—

I enjoyed the tour. Very informative. And there was plenty of opportunity to take photos inside! The biggest takeaway though—this vacation sure had a royal touch here and there. I wish I could wave my hand like the royals.

Outside, you’d appreciate the sprawling gardens, the huge fountain, and overlooking a spectacular view of a picturesque waterfront that presents sunsets with wonderment. Due to time constraints, we didn’t stay out long enough to photograph an otherwise striking moon glade.

And yes, if you care about carriage rides, they have it there. It lends that European vibe seen in the movies set in the late 1800s to the early 1900s. I would love it more in the fall or wintertime, so then you could cuddle a little, and maybe with a hot cocoa drink or spiced apple cider to enjoy. I could imagine the twinkling lights adorning the streets and outlining the establishments. Snow every inch of the way, too. My kind of view!

Saint Nicholas Church—

Here is where the cherry on top rested during the entirety of the vacation. It was the reason I wrote this article.

Wherever we vacation, we visit a church, and often, attend the Holy Mass there. Not to brag, but we visited the most churches during this vacation among all the summer vacations we've had—the Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Coquitlam, the St. Andrew’s Cathedral in Victoria, and this in Langley.

With this visit to the St. Nicholas Catholic Church, God sure was working behind the scenes, we were just clueless. I say this with certainty because St. Nicholas Church is well within the hotel vicinity where we checked in. None of it happened purely by chance. 

Discovering this church was part of the magic so God can roll out what He had brewing hidden from me. This is why this gospel song by Leeland, “Way Maker,” is the other inspiration behind this for it truly fits this experience. God is always working on something even when we don’t see or feel Him doing something, as indicated in the lyrics to this song.

What I can admit, this visit to this church caught me by surprise in every way possible, not realizing I'd be in for some grand gesture—The Unsuspecting Subject of His plan that only He can pull off, all because He can.

God was our tour guide there. 

Merely a few steps into the church and His plan was revealed.

Dear me, it was August but all around the church had the winter feel! There was a movie being filmed there that had a winter setting, “Four Christmases and a Wedding.” 

Now here is how it got more interesting—

I know I had to write this blog post now because just days ago, I was able to see this movie. YES! Oh, I searched for Christmas-themed movies that could be shown that year, but this movie didn't come up. I was dismayed, to say the least, but this time, it did come up on the TV programming. Interesting, huh?  I guess it's because I mentioned Christmas in the last blog article I wrote, and what I had in mind as I concluded it was to write about Christmas, more like a sequel to it— like "The Topic" for another time, and this birthday would be at the heart of it.

How God arranges things truly is amazing.

It had an outdoor skating rink setting. Artificial snow covered the bushes, ground, rooftops, and trees. Yes, even decorated trees, gigantic candy canes on the ground, and several inflatable Christmas decorations, the huge kind, were on display. How about a Santa sleigh? Absolutely! 

It was just breathtaking because I love winter escapes! Oh, it was frosty alright! Best of all, it was like I stepped into a life-sized snow globe and became part of its design aspect. I felt privileged in a good way considering admission was not by chance or invitation per se—yet I was there in the middle of it enjoying the season of miracles and hope. 

In my emotional state, I didn’t need a concert pianist tinkling away on a grand piano, or a string quartet up on stage to complete the experience because, in my head, the heavenly choir was providing the celestial hymns. How about that?  Awww…

I hope you can picture all this that transpired because sometimes words are not enough to convey a thought.

To this day, the significant effect it carries dwells in my heart. How God showed up, in a way, heart-stirring, proving how well He knows me and how much He wanted me to relive my love for Christmas, even in the middle of summer because turning golden on this planet can be a rare milestone, will forever rest in my memory, a shared memory with loved ones, and now with you all.

God remembered me on my birthday in grandiosity, yet I am just Emilie, not some big name, or whatnot. If this isn’t special, I don’t know what is.

Coincidence? A Godwink? Nah. 

Now is your turn to share your stories ingrained with a heavenly touch. Shoot me a message, I’d love to hear your thoughts. 

Many blessings!

A Christmas-Themed 50th Birthday!