The 12 Days of Birthday

You've surely heard of the 12 days of Christmas before. But have you heard of the 12 days of birthday?

I was expecting a pretty low-key, relaxing day to celebrate my twenty-fifth birthday. A friend and I had plans to go out for Thai massage, and I figured that would be the extent to which I publicly celebrated the day. Little did I know that the celebration would span across 12 days, blowing out four sets of candles, complete with friends from the university, church, and other ex-pat friends in Chiang Mai. Besides the aforementioned Thai massage, the 12-day birthday also included copious greetings and well-wishes from friends and family, a special birthday dinner in the dormitory, an ice cream cake from friends in the dormitory, an awesome evening of karaoke, birthday wishes and goodies from classmates, a birthday lunch with friends from church, awesome personalized and homemade gifts, a game night "held in my honor" at my friends' place, and a partridge in a pear tree...wait, not that last one.

The realization I've come to is that I am extraordinarily blessed with wonderful friends and family. That is the best gift of all! I thank God for the wonderful 12 days of birthday. I can only begin to wonder what Christmas will be like this year!

Peace!

Eric