My birthday!

Well, it's hard to believe another year has come and gone!! But there were no tears on this birthday, as have been in years past as I struggled against the pricks of growing up! I've accepted the inevitable, I think, and am just enjoying the life God has given me!! I'm also becoming increasingly concerned about using the remaining years that God has given me for His glory, and not my own!! Time is short!!

Sunny was the first to wish me a Happy Birthday this year, as we'd both been up really late getting acquainted with her new MacBook. So after midnight, before we went to bed she piped up with "Happy Birthday Mel!! I get to be the first one to tell you this year!!" I had to laugh. I had almost forgotten!

When I got up later on in the morning, it seemed like any other day. Devotions, walk, breakfast, calls to make and business to do! But then there were e-mails! My first was from my best friend and long time girlfriend Gabriela from Norway! In fact, she didn't just send an e-mail, but had made a video of her kids singing Happy Birthday to me!! It was sooo special it made me cry! (Ok, so I guess there were tears after all!) Luther also sent a cute card with a little baby laughing away. The text said, "To stay young, don't forget to laugh." He says he's not sure if it is working though...as he and Melita have a little boy now and they get to listen to the cooing and crying all day long, and they don't feel like it's making them younger! :-) There were more "Happy Birthday" e-mails as well! I felt very spoiled!

Then I got a 2nd Day air package/letter from my family in Arkansas!! A cute handmade card and personal message! I told them "that was one expensive birthday card!" But it was special! And last but not least, somewhere mid-day, my family in Oklahoma called and sang me the traditional birthday greeting! :-) Yes, indeed! I felt very loved!

The rest of the day went by in a whirlwind as I had errands to run, paperwork to complete, and appointments to meet. Sunny asked me if I wanted to go out to eat with her and Suzy, but I declined the offer, since I had so much to do. Closing off the afternoon, I stopped at the grocery store to buy ingredients to make a "healthy cheese cake." My favorite birthday treat! Since I'm alone this year, I figured I could splurge on something special. (Usually dad makes my cheesecake, so it kinda made me homesick. But what better way to fix that, then to do it myself!?) But my sister Sunny and friend Janine had other plans.

That evening Janine and Sunny and I had planned to go out and eat...or so I thought! Instead, I was ushered over to Janine's house for a surprise get-together! (Jason snuck in the door ahead of us, so kinda gave me some hints that something was up!) But it was still a surprise! There was the dearest of my Advent Hope crew...besides Janine and Sunny, Aimie, Jennifer and Joel, Jason and Janelle, Suzy (recently back from India), and Curtis. Trish, Delver and Gemali came later on as well! It was really special! From a personalized cake, that Joel and Jennifer created, to just sitting around and talking about life and highschool and college memories. What a special ending to the day!!!

I've been feeling a little alone and isolated since I've been out here in Loma Linda...not because of lack of involvement in life. For I attend Advent Hope regularly, go to Singing bands, work with my CCBN team daily, and Sunny and I have our own Bible study we've started with several of us girls. But still, I feel like a little fish lost in a big pond! And I have missed the companionship and sharing and camaraderie of having a circle of good friends. Yet, although I am still miss "newbie in the neighborhood"...they all gave me a taste of that fellowship last night!!

Thanks Loma Linda guys!! Thanks for going out of your way to make me feel a part of things, and to make my little insignificant day special!!! It truly was!!

And to the rest of my family and great friends from afar, that although the years pass, still don't seem to forget me...Thank you too!!! I am so richly blessed!!