Nobody does Christmas like you do, Momsie,
you must be from the North Pole, home of Santa
and his reindeer, when the calendar turns to July,
you’re off with your imaginings, of ribbons and
wreaths and glitter and small things, from your
hands fly red, yellow, green ribbons, like caterpillars
into cocoons into butterflies, things of beauty they
will be, if you even just gave them your look, and
the girls will be delighted when they come home
from everywhere, from traffic on land or on air,
they will surely come home to Christmas like no
other, from the time they could say Mommy they
knew Christmas the way you made it, and we thank
you for your spirit, family all the way, Christmas
all the way, no other way but joy and tons of food,
and happiness like no other, Christmases in the
Villanueva home, from Mommy to us, it’s alive in us,
Christmas by Christmas Mom.

Merry Christmas, Momsie!

Dad

Tips on how to create a Go Bag, see link below:

http://www.bernco.gov/upload/images/fire_rescue/CreateAGoBag.pdf

Here’s what my Go Bag contains:

Maintenance medication
LED flashlight
Thumb drive
Small first aid kit
Swiss knife
IDs, Prayer Novenas
Cellphones and chargers
Rosary
Needle and thread
Whistle
Money and loose change
Small plastic flask or bottle with water
Ziplock plastic bags (to keep electronic gadgets from rain)
Light rope (think clothesline or tourniquet)
Handwritten numbers of cellphones of family members,
relatives and support groups (my cellphones may be down)

I’ll place them in a small bag or backpack beside me in bed, carry it in the car, when I commute, bring it to office, anywhere.

Palitan kaya natin ang name ng Go Bag, something like H.O.P.E. Bag (Help Other People in Emergency) para hindi masyadong calamity-oriented. We should be able to help others, that’s our direction, that’s the point of survival.

In addition:

We have directed our children to turn off their cellphones in extreme situations. Anyway, cellphone lines will be clogged. We have an appointed time, 3-4 a.m. and 3-4 p.m. They are to turn on their cellphones at these times so we can contact each other.

When able, they are to proceed to the nearest aid station (hospital, church or city hall) where they can help out and be safe. They are not to walk home, alone or with friends.

They should lead in 3 o’clock prayers for Divine Mercy, lead Rosaries, attend Masses.