24.1

Quite honestly, I really didn't want my birthday to come. I felt like turning 24 would make me SO OLD and I didn't want to be old yet. And also because I knew that my family wouldn't be here for yet another birthday. And yet at the same time, I really dislike parties and being the center of attention so I dreaded the 'surprises'. But so far, it's been pretty amazing and God is just SO incredible and I am SO grateful that He has blessed my life with so many generous, amazing, beautiful souls.

So at first when I got some of my birthday gifts, I was a bit confused about getting so many of the same things [later I realised, as I wrote in the earlier post, that it's just a reminder that God always gives us MORE THAN ENOUGH of the things we want/need, not just ONE of them so it'd be just enough - and I did want/need all of those things]. I was just telling my sister about it and she said, "You have to tell people what you want."

ME: I DID! They still got me something else!

So anyway, since Daniel had announced he was going to get me a birthday cake on my birthday [I have never had so many birthday cakes before in my life by the way haha!!], I decided I shall just tell him exactly what I wanted. So I told him I don't like cakes and would he please not get me a cake as I've had 2 rounds of cakes already. I specifically said I love tarts and he should get me fruit tarts instead [which are cheaper too!] or cookies if he really wanted to buy something.

And he STILL bought me a cake!!!!

At first I was like GOSH this being honest and straightforward thing doesn't work at all. And I was also a little disappointed that I didn't get any tarts hahaha.

So it was very funny, God was working through a few things in my life and one of the things He was telling me was that I had been putting little things like how people treated me on my birthday ABOVE His approval of me and I realised OH MY GOSH, I never asked Him, "God what do YOU want me to give YOU this year?" I mean it's crazy when you think about it: we're not responsible for our own births, it's completely beyond OUR control. But God was. God thought of me right from the beginning when He laid down His plans for this earth. He was the one who orchestrated every single detail that led up to my birth. He was the one who fought for my life. He was the one who pushed me out of my mother's womb when I refused to come out. He was the one who carved out a role for me in this world. And He has held my life together for the past 24 years! And yet I never gave a single thought to how I would honour Him with my 24th year - I could tell people what I wanted them to give me, but I never asked God what He wanted me to give HIM.

And so I repented of all these things and I just told God I wanted to know Him and live for Him and to give me wisdom in my relationships and perspectives...and in the midst of all these, suddenly Mercy knocked on my door and said that Daniel wanted to tell me something [which is funny, can't Daniel ask me to come out himself? HAHAHA but I didn't suspect anything]. And I thought, "Oh dear, what did I do wrong this time?" coz they never tell me they want to "talk to me" unless I had done something wrong like not cleaning the kitchen after baking.

When I opened the door, I heard another female voice shouting "SURPRISE!" and nearly jumped out of my skin!

It was Jewel!!!! She and Jerome drove over after their leaders' meeting just to make sure I got my birthday gift before I leave for home tomorrow! Isn't that sweet??? I didn't even hear them come into the house, which is amazing coz you can normally hear EVERY MOVEMENT in this house. I was so incredibly touched by their generosity and sweetness!

And look what's in the box!!!! TARTELETTES!!!!

So I did get my tarts after all! :D Isn't God just CRAZY?!!!

And Daniel has been stealing my Kinder Buenos so it was such a nice surprise to get so many! :D

Haha Jewel also decorated the box with this:

A reminder that no one's supposed to steal my goodies! :p

And what's incredible is that I HAD wanted a box for my craft stuff too! Though the one I wanted was from Marks & Spencer and it was a crazy $30 [after discount!!!] but SO PRETTY and would look perfect on any book shelf!!!

Well, the point of me writing all this is just to say that I am so incredibly bowled over by God! :) I don't normally do much on my birthdays and I think this has been the most celebrated one so far and I'm just so thankful that God has given me so much to celebrate, and that He loves me enough to correct me and humble me and make sure I have my life right!

Also got a cute gift from Miss Eve. Hahaha from SMIGGLES of all places! Apparently Mel told her I was excited about this place when we hung out on Saturday.

Haha I was! And this was very unexpected! And very sweet. Haha and a reminder from Eve, whose very presence transforms me from a 90-year-old to a kid, that there will always be space for me to be kiddy and make mistakes! :)

Mel cutely said, "You can bring it with you on mission trips! And cut it and give to the kids!"

LOL.

Eve also wrote me the funniest birthday note: "If you ever need a shoulder to cry on/eat mutton on, I'm here as a friend, not that Jesus doesn't have a big enough shoulder, haha :)"

Oh and advantages of being in an all-girls cell? My girls wrote me the sweetest notes [not just those reluctant one-liners] in the cutest handmade card made by Aberdeen! :) And they all prayed over me and Mel! :)

Thank you God that my life is so full of fun and joy and love!

Apparently some of the sweet people from the US that I've only met twice gave me some gifts too haha. I'll get to see what they are tomorrow when the parents get back! :)