This year I get two birthdays. =]

When I turned 20, God gave contentment and confidence in the wake of my second year of college. I was at the beginning of a new ministry endeavor and feeling invincible with God on my side.

At 21 I was in Vegas, awkwardly maneuvering through my first round of drinks and blushing my way through ordering them. (Who comes up with some of these vulgar names huh?) But at the same time God also gave me perspective on what it means to be an adult and the responsibility of conduct that comes with it.

 

This time last year, at 22, I watched two of my dearest friends join together in holy matrimony. God gave me their example of a Christ-centered love and reminded me of what it is I'm praying for: the love of a husband who loves Christ more than he loves me.

This year, at 23, I'm in the Philippines, in my last stretch of my year abroad, contemplating  where to go after this and completely in awe of the gifts God has given year-round.

But at this moment, I know that God has truly given me rest in Him, which is something I have been sorely lacking in the last 22 years of my life. God has given me rest and serenity in His presence. He has also given me new ambition and a passionate love for the new and old people in my life. These are things that stagger me and I just can't believe the omnipotence of the Lord, sometimes.

The truth is I never really pictured myself reaching 23.

I think I've said this before, but I always thought the rapture would have happened by now and I would forever live in heaven at the ripe age of 16 or 17. Just imagine my surprise when on my 18th birthday I woke up and was still on Earth! Haha!

But, I'm 23. Six years older than I thought I would be in heaven and, now that I've reached this point, I can't help but praise God for His omniscience.

He apparently has a lot of plans for me before I go home to be with Him.

For instance, He planned for me to:

- Graduate college

- Leave home

- Live abroad

- Meet people who would change my life.

- Be changed  by a country and a people and a lifestyle that has always been a part of me.

- love Him more because of it.

And I can't wait to find out what else He's got planned.

"Happy Birthday"

I've had my share of parties,

party dresses, party hats,

party favors, party themes,

I've really had all that.

I've had potluck lunches,

Pizza outings, movie dates,

Even a trip to Vegas

With free drinks and buffet plates

I've had dinner with my girlfriends

and with guy friends alike,

I've had all you can eat sushi

as a tradition on my birth night

But more than that I've had instances

of God's unwavering grace,

His love that has always showered me

And helped me face all that I've faced.

This year was very different,

More tame, if anything.

I'm here without my parents

and my brother and sister to sing.

There is no five part harmony

to the birthday song for me

No church family mooching food,

or youth to remind me I'm 23

But I am continually blessed

by the differences here,

The new faces and new friendships

I've made throughout the year.

I may not be home right now

To celebrate my birth,

But "home" has evolved to encompass more

Than where my house is on Google Earth

God, you have been so good to me,

The present of this year

Has been more than I could have ever hoped.

Thank you for bringing me here.

The Bookworm and the Cricket

 This is for my dear friend Richelle on her 21st birthday.

Happy 21st dear Richellephant!

The Bookworm's Birthday Promise

By Aarika Leigh Ormeo Alura 

 Once upon a time there was a bookworm...

and a tap-dancing cricket.

They were best friends.

-----

They shared a deep love for music,

for food...

for learning...

and, most of all, for the Lord!

 The cricket encouraged the bookworm to write for Jesus

while the bookworm urged the cricket to glorify God with her dancing.

 and even though they were VERY busy bugs...

they stayed in close contact, no matter how busy they were, over phone and facebook.

 the bookworm could feel God calling her. It had come time for her to grow up and initiate some serious change in her life. God was transforming her and she needed to follow His instructions.

It was hard because she knew that she would eventually be missing her best friend's 21st birthday. 

  But even though she couldn't be there, she made sure to celebrate from where she was.

 In a letter to her friend, she promised that

God would finish His work in her, changing her into a butterfly so that she could continue doing His work as a new bug...

and once that happened...

 she would fly home to be with her best friend and they would write and dance and glorify God together.

 The end.

Richelle Jean Navales was and is my best friend. She has taught me over and over again the importance of trusting and relying on God and His amazing, awe-inspiring plan. She reminds me that our timing is always off and God's timing is always perfect. That He has no limitations and has the power to create an amazing dancer in only four years and soften the heart of a control-freak in less than one.

She also reminds me that God is also a God that answers prayers. That He is a God that is ever faithful to us sinners who are so unfaithful and so doubtful and so miserably horrible to Him. He is a God that loves us and keeps us safe and does amazing things in this world like creating animals and babies and baby animals.

Richelle Jean is the definition of sweet and God-fearing and loyal and genuine. I thank God every day for her presence in my life and I pray that however long we may have with each other, however much time God may grant our friendship, may He always keep us accountable to one another and to Him. May He keep us from comparing ourselves to each other or to anyone else. May He remind us to encourage each other constantly and to turn to Him and praise Him for the time we have together.

Richelle Jean is also hilarious and ridiculous and awe-inspiring herself. Her love for God makes me want to love God more. Her burdens are my burdens and my burdens are hers. She is the best accountabili-buddy I could have ever asked for and the fact that God has given her another year to continue glorifying Him is nothing short of gracious and generous. Because Richelle Jean knows, better than anyone, how we deserve so much less than the love God gives us and yet He offers us everything instead.

I miss Richelle Jean every day.

I miss telling her stories and listening to her stories.

I miss her crazy phone calls.

I miss her infectious laugh.

I miss her dancing.

I miss her smile.

I miss her rebuke.

I miss her encouragement.

I miss her.

But I also know that it is part of God's plan for us to be apart right now and I trust God in His reasoning and His timing. I also praise Him for internet so that I may write this post for my one and only best friend.

I love you. Happy 21st birthday and I'm sorry that I can't be there. =]

Love from your biffers,

aareeka.