Just last weekend I celebrated Holiday with my folks in
Batangas. And being the hands-on Tita that I am, I take my niece with me
everywhere I go. Everybody adores her. And along with their admiration and
happiness comes the dreading statement reminding me that I am not getting any
younger: “Ikaw kailan ka mag-aasawa?” And I just laughed and shrugged.
Yesterday, I turned 27. And how do I feel being 27?
Actually, I feel great. I feel cool. I feel blessed. And most especially I feel
loved. Just as I woke up I smiled, prayed and thanked God of all the things He’s been
given me. For so many times, I prayed for so many things. I always looked at my
life thinking what’s been missing yet I never see what’s been there, and
always been there.
This year, my birthday came without anything neither real
fanfare nor grand preparation. I am blessed to be greeted by friends and few
took tremendous effort to call me from different parts of the globe. And
through that I am constantly reminded that distance is not a hindrance in
friendship or the time you’re apart from each other. I am humbly reminded that
through everything I will get through I will always have my family with me.
The Surprise.
Unlike
my previous birthdays, this year, I wanted nothing but to stay at home. The
only thing I asked was a birthday cake, just that simple. But as the day ended
I received not only a cake but a wonderful surprise. It turned out that my
sister planned to get me out of the house (I went with her to get my niece’s
passport) in able to fulfill their surprise. They secretly ordered food, in
which arrived in my presence without me noticing it. I believed my cousin when
she told me that she was waiting for her classmate outside our gate. Ate
secretly invited few relatives. She even connived with ‘Boss’ in letting me
believe that he was in Batangas when in fact he’s inside our house. And why didn't I notice all these, huh? Maybe because I was not that little girl any more
wanting those grand things. ^_^ Their love is enough to let me feel that it is
indeed the most wonderful birthday I ever had. So thank you Ate for organizing
a perfect surprise! Thank you, Boss, for giving me the most memorable message
ever. Thank you, Mama, Mommy and Papa for giving me your utmost support,
unconditional love and panlalaglag ever. The gang, Mama Jo, my cousins and
relatives, thank you, thank you!
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| Ate, Our angel Miel and Moi |
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| Birthday cake which I coaxed them to buy |
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| With Ate Ceng and Miel |
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| Boss, Papa, Kuya Edward, Ate Che, Ej and Ate Ceng |
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| Laiza, Mama Elsa, Moi, Bianca and Miel |
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| The repeat. :) |
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| With Boss and Papa |
The alter-ego.
I always thank God for giving me the talent in writing, for
giving me the opportunity to bring happiness to other people. Being Nicka
Gracia opens a lot of opportunity for me. I met a lot of people, I made new
friends, I create my own fortress. Words are not enough to express how thankful I am to all the greetings
sent to me. I can never thank all of those who took time and effort to post
something on my FB wall. I am so touched and overwhelmed by those greetings. I
never thought that I will make it this far, I just wanted to write. Your greetings brought me in tears. But God
always find His way to let us know that we are indeed a present to the world.
From the bottom of my heart thank you po.
Birthday
Reflection.
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| photo from Google |
My birthday was a day of reflection with both gifts and challenges.
It made me think what I did in the past 26 years of my life. It made me count
all those blessings and be thankful enough that with every day God gave me an
opportunity to be a blessing to others. Yesterday was also the day to not only
remember the many losses that are imprinted on my heart, but to celebrate my
life. Future is unexpected, we may have so many detours to reach God’s main
purpose, but we must be reminded that He ‘always’ prepares the best for us.
Today may not be what we expected it to be but that’s okay. In order to grow we
sometimes need to experience unfathomable things. Life will not always be the
most wonderful fairy tale we want it to be, but it can be the most wonderful fairy
tale God want it to be. Thank you, Lord, for giving another year! I love you, Lord!
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." ~Jeremiah 29:11, NLV
"And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts." 2 Corinthians 3:3
