Entry for January 5 2008: It was about six this morning when I was awakened by two text tones. They sounded urgent in the stillness of the early morning hour. Who could be texting me at this time of day? I pulled my cell phone from under my pillow and started reading the messages. Birthday greetings? Oh, yes! It’s my birthday today! I almost forgot! Birthdays are no big deal for a man of 43 (or so I thought). I told them last night during our staff meeting that I’m not going to celebrate my birthday because I’m cost-cutting for our upcoming daughter. I’ve got nothing planned for the day except to go out for lunch, at my wife’s insistence (she said she’ll pay for it), together with our kids. It’s going to be a simple lunch in one of our favorite restaurants near the beach and it’s back to work after that.

After spending the whole morning preparing for the following day’s activities, my wife and I, with our two sons, David and Kyle, hopped into our car and started our way to the coastal area. The traffic was very light. The roads were almost empty. About half-a kilometer away from church Velma suddenly said she badly needed to go to the comfort room! Oh no! Here we go again! “Are you sure you can’t hold it?” I asked. “Yes, I’m sure,” my wife said grimacing. Okay. So, we headed for the church (instead of the restaurant at the beach). When we got to the church, as I parked the car in the driveway of the Taala’s, I noticed Ananias’ car already parked there. Could Aning be doing the garden again? Wow! I admire that man! Sometimes he spends the whole day just cleaning, watering, pruning the flowers on our church grounds. Just then Ira came out of the house and greeted me.

“Happy birthday!” he said.

“Thank you,” I replied. “We we’re on our way to lunch, but Bebing needs to go to the CR first. Can she use your CR?”

“No problem,” Ira assured me.

However, my wife insisted that she wanted to use the church’s CR. I don’t have the key! It’s with our church secretary.

Then Ira said, “Have you seen what Aning did? Let’s go to the church, you’ll see…”

I was right. Aning, our appointed landscaper and gardner, have beautified the church grounds again! What is it this time?

As I was nearing the church, however, I began to hear a familiar song with acoustic accompaniment. It sounded like a group of people was singing “Happy Birthday to you…” When I entered the church hall I saw two ping-pong tables laden with food and about 20 church members singing and smiling at me. I noticed that there were balloons and a sign that said, “Happy Birthday Pastor Norman…we love you.”

I only stood there with mouth agape. I can’t believe what was happening! My mind was reeling, trying to connect all the dots, making sense of what was transpiring before my very eyes. I think my heart stopped for a moment! I WAS TOTALLY SURPRISED! I could not contain my emotions. So, I shouted, “Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh…..hahahaha!”