The Annual Age Growth

My birthday has always seemed to be a big event every year. Not with parties, not with presents, but with the people I spend it with and all the mental build up of getting one year older. I tend to convince my family that we should celebrate my birthday for the entire month of January. I'm not quite sure how that all started, but I've milked that philosophy dry to the point where it's a joke rather than a reality.

This year was a little different. While being home at Christmas, I celebrated a few weeks early with my family, only to come back and with 2 weeks until my actual birthday. However, upon waking up that morning, it felt like birthday had come and gone. I was not expecting anything out of the ordinary, but I was in for a surprise.

My teaching partner, Budi arranged for a cake to be made for morning devotions and we had a small party with all of the PYP teachers. The cake was delicious but gave me quite a sugar jolt that seemed to reverberate through the better part of the day.

All throughout the day while I was teaching, random students interrupted my lessons with presents from other teachers: chocolates, jewelry, cards...It was all so sweet. My students got a kick out of it as they tried to figure out who all was sending these gifts.

In the afternoon I had break duty. During this time, my students decorated the room and made cards for me. When I came in they all sang happy birthday and we had more cake. At this point I was flying high in the sky from all the sugar I had.

To end the day, my neighbor had a big birthday party for me that included all of the expats. It was great food (baked potato soup, homemade bread, and salad), dessert (chocolate chess cake), presents, and fantastic fellowship with my other family home away from home. Then just before bed, I got to talk to my mom and dad on skype for some of my last birthday wishes of the night.

I realize that a birthday is just another day that really isn't all that special except for the fact that you get one year older (which tends to freak me out every year). I was truly blessed to have such an amazing birthday. The Lord has put such amazing friends and family in my life. Thanks for all the birthday wishes! Love to all of you!