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
My name is Destiny from Tx 🙂
Wow…so I’m sitting in a hotel 300km from home at 11.10pm in Cambodia, reading your post and….its my birthday! Thanks for posting this today!! I’ve spent the entire day sitting on a bus taking a baby to a hospital so it’s been a little uneventful this year. Its sort of nice to open your blog page to find a reminder of the things I should be thankful for 😉
As much as I would love a good new book, I won’t butt in and try for the giveaway as Cambodia is a bit too far to mail it but thanks for your generosity to all of us online and I hope your 33rd birthday is fabulous!!!
God bless,
Millie
Happy BIRTHDAY!!!! And just for you, friend, I will see about uploading Scandalous Message of James onto YouTube so you can get the free resources. I love missionaries 🙂
Lyndsay and I’m from Houston….luv your blog. Happy Birthday from one April baby to another!!!
Happy Birthday B!!! xoxoxo
Happy Birthday, Bianca! Wishing you a beautiful day & a blessed year ahead! 🙂 ~ Lisa G from Pittsburgh, PA.
Misty from Virginia! {Happy birthday!!!}
Susie from Florida
Sarah from Austin, Texas! You are so inspiring! I’m hoping to work with A21 when I graduate! I can’t wait to see where and how God uses me! Thank you for being a light to so many! :]
Happy Birthday!.. My birthday was on April 1st
Hacienda Heights
HAPPY BIRTHDAY BIANCA!!
Have a wonderful Saturday!!!
<3 Janie from Edinburg, Tx
50 minutes from the beach and 20 minutes from the border
Anita, From Fontana
Happy Birthday, girl. You are beautiful 🙂
South Gate , CA – Rosie Happy Birthday to you and your sister!
Amanda from Ottawa, Ontario. Happy Birthday Bianca, you are an inspiration to all!
Happy Birthday! I’m in April too! 🙂
From West Covina.
Thanks for this post! I just turned 33 last month too, and I also felt it was quite insignificant…..until I remembered what Jesus did at 33 and then I thought well maybe, just maybe this could be an eventful year! So far, God has made it very eventful. My husband and I really feel a ‘shifting’ in the spirit and know that God has something amazing up His sleeves for us! Praying the same for you and your family and ministries! Happy Birthday for tomorrow from a girl who is the same age, with a similar outlook, hopes and dreams! Have a fabulous day! Oh I’m in Concord, California!!
Happy happy birthday!! Can’t wait to see all that God will do in this next year for you and your family =)
-Katy, Minnesota
ahhh, no comment for the giveaway, but i’ll de-lurk to wish you an amazing birthday and a wonderful year ahead! hugs!
mel
Blessings for a wonderful birthday, Bianca! You are a treasure!!
Denise D. from San Diego…. 🙂
Happy Birthday…may you have a blessed birthday weekend filled with love, family and friends!
Carmen, Baldwin Park, CA
Happy Birthday, Bianca! Thank you for being you. For sharing your heart and sharing Jesus. 🙂 I’m in Dallas! Hope you and Jasmine have a fabulous birthday celebration!
Happy Birthday Bianca! Congratulations on your 800th blog post too! 🙂
Larissa from Canada.
Happy Birthday!!
I believe that the book, you mentioned was an answer to my prayers! This year I’ve been struggling to let go and do things that I am soo sooo sooooo afraid of taking a leap and going to school and having the money for it, but far more I’m afraid of me own dream . I have proof here http://msanapatino.blogspot.com/2013/04/moments-like-this.html from this Wednesday. I just saw the video to the book and I believe its an answer.
Thank you B!!
Happy Birthday, B! 🙂 This is Ashley Phelps from Chesapeake, VA! Woo-hoo!
I’m blessed by your heart for Christ! Thanks for serving faithfully.
Stephanie, CA
Message*
Happy birthday!!
Mine is tomorrow on April 6th 😉
I am not sure if your giveaway is open internationally, since I am from Germany. But I love your blog! It gives me faith and makes me laugh 🙂
Happy birthday to you and your twin! 🙂 And thank you for serving God with your blog. You have helped open my eyes in several areas and this blog has led me to other blogs that have been blessings. You are glorifying His great name – hallelujah! You have inspired me to stand stronger in my faith, and I thank you.
I am Sheila and in Orange County, CA
Steph from NJ
Recently, on a flight, I was seated next to a darling grandma from Maine and in ALL SERIOUSNESS she asked me if people from NJ acted like the cast of The Jersey Shore. I may or may not have laughed in her face. 😉
Happy Birthday Bianca. I moved to Kansas City Missouri in November after living in Whittier all my 48 years of life. I miss my Montebello church so much. Your Daddy is the best. Thanks for all those interesting blogs. Keep up the good work you do. ~Peace ~
Happy Birthday Bianca!!! Sending much Internet love from Chino. Wish you a year full of blessings…
Happy Birthday, I hope that it’s amazing.
I just recently found your blog and I love it! Thanks for being faithful!
Rebecca from Louisiana
Happy Birthday Bianca and Jasmine! I’m a wedding photographer, and a lover of God…so reading you and your sister’s blog is always a great way to start my days!
I’m Laura from Palm Bay, Florida.
Also, Bianca…I just finished a really moving book, “The Scent of Water” by Naomi Zacharias….have you read it?
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! 🙂 🙂 🙂
haha do you actually ship overseas I live in Singapore! 😛 (no worries if you don’t! ^^ )
but thanks for being so brave and wise and open here on the internet, you’ve blessed me in more ways than you can imagine 🙂
it was my birthday just a few days back! 😀 we can totally celebrate together if we live closer HAHA 😛
hope it already feels like spring where you are!! 🙂
and blessed birthday!!!! 🙂
Happy birthday Bianca and also to your precious sister, you are amazingly insightful with the wisdom that the Lord has given you. I so enjoy reading what you have to share about the Lord and how he uses His love, grace and mercy in your life and that of your precious family to bless all of us with. Love you and your family so much………………..
Happy Birthday! Thanks for always sharing your heart so honestly. Much love to you!
Michelle
Orlando, FL
Happy Birthday….you made may day. May God bless every single day of your life.
(Karla from Montebello)
Priscilla from San Clemente CA.
I would love to win at least one of your giveaways to share it with the group of college girls at my church.
Happy B-day Bianca! <3 May God keep blessing you and leading you to be the great beautiful woman he envisioned to be!
-Priscilla
JoAnne,Knoxville,TN!
Ana from Pomona, CA! 🙂
Happy birthday Bianca! 🙂
Happy 33rd Birthday Bianca!! I love your birthday post. . .by the way I’m Sheri from Georgia. 🙂
From La Mirada….loving reading your posts. We share a birthday!! Happy early birthday!!
Chelsey from Riverside, ca!
Carol from Canada….
Being from Canada, don’t include me in the give aways…probably would be expensive to send here. But, I wanted to wish you a Happy Birthday. Thanking Jesus for you today……
Happy Birthday Bianca!!
Your posts continue to inspire me, I feel so fortunate to have found your blog on all of this internet.
Elise
Happy Birthday Bianca!!
Your posts continue to inspire me, I feel so fortunate to have found your blog on all of this internet.
Elise from Vancouver, BC, Canada
Emmonak, Alaska
Happy early birthday, from a random internet sister in Ottawa, ON, Canada!
My “old man” husband keeps telling me that his 30s have been the best decade yet, and that each year keeps getting better (he just turned 35)! From the eyes of an internet-sister: Bianca – you are beautiful in every way. As you celebrate another year, may you remember that age and wisdom are like a fine vintage of wine – full of flavour and to be treasured more and more with each year! Blessings to you (and Jasmine!) on your 33rd birthday(s)!
Sending gigantic hugs via the interwebs. xo
Happy, happy birthday!! My name is Jenn Garcia from Anaheim, ca
Happy birthday Bianca!