Mom: Are you excited about your birthday on Saturday? I’m excited for your birthday! I’m planning a wonderful dinner and the whole family will be there!
Me: Mom, I’m going to turn 33 years old. Nothing really happens at 33. At 13 you become a teenager. At 18 you can vote, smoke cigarettes, and fight in war. At 21 you can drink. At 25 you can rent a car. But the next big life-turn in when I turn 55 and can get discounted tickets to the movie theater. Nothing really changes at 33.
Mom: Well… Jesus had a pretty significant year when He was 33.
Me: Mother, JESUS DIED WHEN HE WAS 33!?
Mom: It was significant, wasn’t it?
That conversation led me to think about my last day as this age. Today I want to celebrate everything that has occurred in the past 32 years of life and thank the folks who have been there along the way.
- For my Mom and Dad, I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for them. [No, literally—I’m grateful for your act of creating an embryo that you named Bianca.]
- For Mrs. Blume, the librarian who made me feel like reading was what all the cool kids were doing. [Nerds Unite!]
- For Mr. Charles, my second grade Sunday school teacher who taught me the power of prayer. [Power to the people, Charles.]
- For the random guy who rear-ended our car and gave me $3,000 for pain and suffering [wearing a neck brace for three months in 7th grade IS suffering]. Had it not been for him, I wouldn’t never been able to pay for me and my dad’s trip to Israel when I was eleven.
- For Bill and Melinda Gates who believed in me as a college student and paid for almost half of my collegiate tuition. [Uncle Bill, you’re the best!]
- My friends and family who have stuck around through every existential crisis I’ve ever had and still love me. [Me and all my personalities would like to thank you.]
- For Matt who pushes me to do what Christ has called me to do, even while kicking and screaming [emphasis on the screaming].
And a special thanks to my online family who has been here along the journey. Today is coincidentally my 800th blog post. This little corner of the world wide web has allowed me to chronicle my ministry journey, dating successes and failures, quiet prayer requests, and answers to prayers. Thank you, Internet for joining the journey!
To celebrate my 33rd year of life and take my first step into a significant year of ministry, I want to giveaway my three most recent bible study DVD sets [Marked By Love, Scandalous Message of James, and Redeeming Ruth] and my newest favorite book by Rebekah Lyons. There will be a formal book review and giveaway next week of Freefall To Fly, but this gift is my personal hardcover copy that I want to giveaway.
The best way for me to celebrate life is to give things away to the people I love. And I love you, Internet. I really do.
To be entered to win, leave your name and location in the comment section and we will send it out to you by next week 🙂
Here’s to another year of loving people, serving Jesus, and living a good story!
B
Happy birthday Bianca, from Houston,TX
Happy Birthday Bianca!
Thanks for being an inspiration and a great example of a God fearing woman!
-Laura, from Rancho Cucamonga, Ca.
A very happy birthday to you! Sascha in portland, OR
Happy Birthday Bianca!
I’m Bernadine from the Bahamas.
Love your blog.
I laughed – loudly – at the convo with your mother. I’d had the same thought when I turned 33 last fall, but that’s as far s that went 😉 Happy birthday tomorrow! I’ll be celebrating over here in SC with a nice relaxing day with my hubby 🙂
Sarah from Oklahoma. You inspire me!! I love reading your blog.
Bi! Go shawty, it’s yo birfday! *lil dance* Woo!
800th Blog post, wow! And to think it all started with a 100 day commitment. Love your blog, love your personalities, love your smile, love how you love. Read this today in my feed and thought I’d share:
God changes caterpillars into butterflies,
sand into pearls,
and coal into diamonds
using time and pressure.
Imagine what he can do with you. <3
Happy Birthday!
Natalie
Orange County, CA
Hey Happy Birthday love reading your posts. My name is Kim and i’m in Glasgow, Scotland UK 🙂
Bianca,
Have a wonderful birthday!! I hope all your birthday wishes come true…you deserve it! Oh, and please tell Jasmine happy birthday for me!
P.S. Love the new blog design and pictures. You’re so gorgeous!
Bianaca, congratulations on your blog milestone and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! Thank you for all of the wisdom and insight that you post on this beautiful blog…I’m so appreciative!
Happy Birthday, Bianca!
April is by far the best month for birthdays… I’m approaching my 32nd in a couple of weeks. I am so inspired by (and thrilled to be numbered among) the amazing women in our generation God is raising up… You are amazing, and your life is telling a beautifully compelling story… and the BEST is yet to come!
Happy Birthday from Dallas, Texas!
Happy Birthday!!
Kylie – Redlands, CA
Happy Birthday beautilful Friend! 33 isn’t so bad. 🙂
Has it been 800 post??? WOW! Blessed by reading your journey, here’s to 800 more!
143!
Lily M.
Hey Bianca,
Happy Birthday bope you have a fabulous day tomorrow.
**Brittany kane from Riverside CA**
Peggy from Berwyn, AB, Canada. Happy Birthday! I celebrate 42 years on April 10th.
Happy Birthday from Tallahassee, Florida!
Eboni from Washington, DC -.and for what it’s worth, I’ve always referred to 33 as the “Jesus year” Guess it is odd, now that you mention it…. 🙂
Happy Birthday from me (Cynde) in Dallas. Have a absolutely amazing new year of your life. God bless I enjoy your blog and fb comments. The video’s are great too. Love your heart for God and your style and humor. Your making a difference by what you do.
My birthday is the 20th of this month. It’s a big one the big 55. How did I get so old lol… Praise God I never thought I’d live to see 30 and look at me now. 🙂
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Bianca! I’m Nadine from Surrey, BC and my 33rd birthday is on Wednesday. I had no idea you and I were the same age AND April baby’s to top it!
Have a wonderful birthday!!!
Rachelle from Ann Arbor, MI!
Have a great birthday!
Birthday blessings and Happy 800th Blog post 🙂
Elaine from Hesperia CA…woo hoo 😉
Eboni from Washington, DC. Happy New Year!
For what it’s worth, I’ve always referred to 33 as “the Jesus Year”…now that you mention it, yeah, kinda odd. 😉
Shannon from Inglewood
Happy Birthday Bianca!!!
Happy, happy birthday
Happy birthday!
Que los cumple feliz
Que los cumple feliz
Que los cumple Bianca
Que los cupmple feliz!
Kelli
Córdoba, Argentina
Gema from 305!!! Happy birthday Bianca 🙂 May this be your best year yet!! Power to us Latinas! woot woot!! Xoxo
Happy Birthday and Congratulations on your 800th post!
Karen from Denver, Colorado
Happy Birthday!!!
This is my first of probably many comments on this blog (don’t say I didn’t warn you!). I’m so thankful to have stumbled upon your words, sweet sister. You communicate truth wonderfully and I literally spent hours going through your archives the evening I began reading.
God bless you!
Kel (from the northern tundra called Wisconsin – thankfully the snow is melting now. For a while, it was like Narnia. Always winter, never Christmas.)
Happy Birthday, Bianca!
Lupe from Costa Mesa, Ca
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BIANCA!!!! 🙂
Happy Birthday Bianca….
don’t put me in for the give aways…Canada’s a wee tad too far away.. Hope you have a great day.
Happy 33rd birthday to you and Jasmine! If it wasn’t for her, I never would have found you..and you give me so much courage. Thank you for sharing yourself with the world.
Jess in CT
Happy Birthday Bianca!! Hope you have a great day!
Leola – from Chicago
Happy birthday to a woman who moves me to think, sometimes uncomfortably, about the things that matter. And wishing you many more milestones before 55!! You are a blessing to me here in portland, oregon.
Happy Birthday Bianca!
I am so so happy you decided to keep your blog and continue writing, I actually have to get back to doing the same…. anyway, Thank you for always being dedicated to God’s call although I know at times it may seem that it is stressful and too much to handle, God always (and I mean always) knows how much we can handle… I am so thankful for your life, ministry, and internet friendship?!? is that event a word?? haha. I dont know, but I am thankful for your life! May God continue blessing you and pouring wisdom and love! Keep spreading the good news! xoxo, scar (:
Maria from La puente! Happy Birthday! Love love love you and your blogs! You inspire me!
Krystal from Downey!
Happy Birthday!
Kristy – Mississippi
Julie from Illinois
Happy Birthday!!!!
I turn 33 in June. I’ve been calling it my Jesus Year. Expecting big things!! 🙂
(I also may be too late to enter in this;) )
Happy Birthday! May God continue to bless your work and family, you are of great inspiration and encouragement to many!
Mari from Los Angeles, CA
Happy birthday!!! May the Lord bless you with many precious more!
Nayi
Old bridge NJ xoxozo
Happy belated birthday! Also my name is arumi and I live in Santa Barbara, Ca 🙂
From an April bday to another, Karen from Miami, FL! 🙂