Birthday celebrations 2017

As a child I enjoyed the birthday parties at home, whether they were attended by friends or just family. As I got older my birthday fell in the middle of exams so there was no desire to celebrate. When I started working birthdays were always celebrated with a meal at a restaurant. But after a while, I felt that the restaurant owners were benefiting more from my birthday celebrations than me, because of all the money we spent. So I started planning my birthday celebrations around the things that I love, and this year was no different.

At one of my favorite places - the beach!!!

My celebrations started two days early since my sister who normally resides in London was in Trinidad for a family thanksgiving. Her departure was scheduled for the day before my actual birthday, but luckily I have no problem celebrating my birthday on a day other than my birthdate ;) So my brother and his wife were roped in, along with my newest niece, for a trip to the sister isle. We were fortunate to rent an apartment right on Store Bay beach so we were able to maxmize our time there. I was so happy to be able to share my Tobago birthday beach time with my family who I love dearly :D

The gardens overlooking the sea

Sister sister :)

Fun in the sun and sand!

Enjoying her first taste of sea water with her parents

Breathtaking sunset

Pizza dinner

Enjoying the flowers in the garden

Enjoying my homemade mango cheesecake surprise with my
Bible Study family later that evening

On the morning of my actual birthday, my goddaughter and my munchkins sent me a voicenote singing a happy birthday song, and ending with pleas for me to take them to the beach. According to the 3 year old, "I know you will take us to the beach because you love the beach!" She was right, and fortunately one of my bathing suits was dry by then and none of them had school so off to the beach we went :)

Photoshoot on the rocks

With my beach buddies!

My official birthday event took the format of an evening of praise and worship. The idea was born after listening to a radio ad for a "worship experience" where the tickets cost $250. I did not like the concept of having to pay to worship God so I had an idea to create an opportunity for people to do so free of charge. After sharing this with one of my friends, she suggested that I still ask persons to make a financial contribution, which I could then allocate to whichever area of need I saw fit. And so the plan for an evening of praise and worship was born, with an offering being collected to purchase fans for Iraqi and Syrian refugee families living in Jordan. Because of the tremendous support of my church family, apart from inviting people, asking my friends to lead in worship, and getting someone to make and serve refreshments, I had very little planning to do.

United in worship

Many of those who attended came straight from work so they were really tired. Others drove all the way up from Point Fortin and other parts of South, and had to drive back down afterwards. One person even changed his flight to Tobago to allow him to be a part, and someone else had just come back into the country the day before and had to prepare for a job 2 days after but they came anyway. After spending 3 hours declaring the greatness of our God in song, persons expressed how much they needed that time in God's presence with His people, how they felt rejuvenated and encouraged after a stressful day at work, and how they felt burdens lifted as they worshiped. In addition to this, we collected enough funds to give over 50 refugee families relief from the summer high temperatures in Jordan.  I give God all the glory because this was all HIS doing. 

With some of my children afterwards

I do not take it for granted that God has allowed me to see another year on earth. Clearly His purpose for me is not yet completed, and I eagerly look forward to how He will work those purposes out in the years to come.