Last Saturday on January 7, I celebrated a very special day…my 24th birthday! In a day full of yummy food, friends, and great cards, I was reminded once again how lucky and blessed I truly am. My day began with an early morning trip with Sor Keidy, the fransiscan sister who runs Fase II, to Dunkin Donuts. We talked about funny birthday stories and enjoyed our favorite doughnuts; she even said a special birthday blessing for our birthday doughnuts! Then I went back to the apartment to open my amazing birthday presents and cards from my family. Thanks Mom, Dad, Ann, and Matt, I love them all!
After that I headed back to Dunkin Donuts with my girls and Deirdre. This time I got a yummy frozen coffee drink, while the rest enjoyed donuts and coffee as well. Deirdre stayed in town after dropping off a friend just to celebrate my birthday, a true friend indeed. After this we dropped Nolvia, one of my girls, at work and then hung out at the apartment. While there I got a call form my parents, Scarleth, a wonderful friend and former finca vol who left last December, and Ysmary, the on site director of the farm. It meant so much to be able to talk to all of them on my birthday.
For lunch we headed over to the Satterlee’s house, a family who supports the finca here in Ceiba. They made my favorite tomato soup with grilled cheese, and even bought a huge delicious chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream on the side. As Deirdre and Nils and I sat on the couch, we couldn’t keep from smiling and laughing as we reminisced about our time at the farm and our friendship. After a nice long lunch, we headed back to the apartments.
That night the kids all went to youth group and Nils, Deirdre and I headed to the Italian restaurant here in Ceiba. We enjoyed amazing thin crust pizza, drank delicious red wine, and laughed the night away…while at least until our 9 PM finca curfew. As we arrived back at the apartment a couple of our kids’ friends from youth group came up to me as they were heading home to give me a birthday hug. We then closed out the night eating yummy gingerbread cookies Sor Keidy made for me while I read my card that all the volunteers from the farm and all the kids in Ceiba had signed.
As I went to bed I felt overwhelmingly blessed and lucky. Not only had I been gifted 24 years of life and health, I also am supported in a most extraordinary way both near and far by the most amazing family and friends one could ever ask for. I have gone to sleep every night of my life under a safe roof, with a tummy full of food. I cannot even remember a birthday where I did not have multiple cards and presents wrapped in fancy paper. Most children in Honduras, and thousands of thousands of kids in this world cannot make this statement.
I therefore would like to dedicate my 24th birthday to two things. First, to my incredible friends and family, in eternal gratitude for your amazing and endless love and support; may god bless you all and grant peace to your amazing hearts. Second, to all the children in this world who have not been as fortunate, may God grant them hope that their future will bring them greater peace and stability; and may he grant the rest of us the words and hands to help shape this new world for them.
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