Astonishing Birthday

No celebration can be as astonishing as the birth itself. It was rightly foretold, and when it happened, the world was never the same again. We have been gifted with Hope for an astonishing future that never ends. 

Our own celebration in our small household was pretty much the same as in previous years, but the joy took on a different form. Which is what makes every year something to look forward to—the new surprises wrapped in grace. 

The turkey was roasted to perfection. JR had a chance to supervise its preparation because our church service was moved to a later time in the evening. JC remembered to wear a new shirt from last year’s, and Ate Vi hummed along with her new help, Shirley, who is so efficient and organized we now can’t find where our things are.

And Tony, he decided to wear a bow tie for reasons only he knows. I wore a blonde wig to hide myself from me. There were days during this year that I didn’t like me very much (impatient, prone to whining and grumbling, snappish, etc. etc.), but for as long as the Lord grants me more years, I will try to do better. 

JB, Gianina, and Adrian had their own celebration in the US, but Tony got some shots of the little one while he was opening our Christmas gifts in November.

And so it was . . . and so we thank the Lord for allowing us to celebrate His birthday in this manner. The family was all in one place, and that was in the heart.

The turkey was the smallest in the supermarket at 5.9 kilos

Chef JR with his aides (upper left)

The photographer and the chef

Happiness: Two Prince Valiant books for the chief

The gifts of choice: buy your own gifts

We miss the little one (lower right)

“But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:22-23(NLT)