Well today is (or was) my birthday. It was a really, really great day! I enjoyed it.

 

Being that I am in Redding, I feel like a lot of my friends have moved away and there is "nothing left" for me. In some respects it's true, but tonight I really got to see that I still have many good friends still in the area willing to celebrate with me. In fact, 10 people showed up to my birthday dinner, I was thrilled!!

 

I went and ate at a Mexican restaurant in town called Casa Ramos. The manager comes into the bank all the time and I have developed a friendship with him. He was so wonderful to my friends and I. He brought out appetizers for us as his gift to us, and gave us excellent service. The happy birthday song they sing is so long and drawn out and talk about embarrassing! I just pulled that sombrero over my eyes and waited for it to be over! Ha! I got the whole thing on video too.

 

I am so thankful for the many relationships God has brought into my life over the five years in Redding. I've definitely made "forever friends" that have changed my life for the better. I feel so blessed to be sent out in a community like the one I'm living in now. It's weird to think I may never come back. My brother goes to school up here so I'm sure I'll come and visit every now and again, but I imagine the majority of my life from here on out will be spent in Africa. At least that's the plan.  

 

Thanks, God, for letting me celebrate your love for me today. You're awesome.