And here's to 39

So..... I wondered what my birthday would be like here and it turns out- I had an excellent day.  It was not without some stress (we DID have surgery, after all) but it was full of friends and love and learning and great patients.   And here is my photo essay:  Nik's 39th.  Can't believe it's here already- I still feel like a kid.   I am trying to remind myself to take more pictures here and I'm glad I had my camera around for today.

So my day started off EARLY in the kitchen.  Dan and Shannon are rocking it with breakfast- I grabbed my coffee and headed out to tackle the autoclave....

But first...Joe had a sparkler for me!  It was a Dominican sparkler/blow torch, which meant that we almost burned down the kitchen- but it was AWESOME!

Diego with puppy birthday kisses!

I LOVE my friends!  Dr. Sandy and Nefthali!

In the afternoon, Jhonny and Nef and some of the others surprised me in the kitchen with FLOWERS AND A  BIRTHDAY CAKE.   I almost cried!

And then back to surgery I went...with Shawn and Dave (great surgeons- this was a hand amputation!)

I was surprised in the clinic with two WONDERFUL VISITORS!  Thanks Luigi and Nelson!

Hugs from Livida- couldn't make it through a work day without her!

After work, I got to eat some of my cake with Jhonny and Nefthali.  THANK YOU guys!  I LOVE YA!

Dr. Raya got me the flowers!  Aren't they beautiful!  

I am so blessed to work with the finest of folks and the kindest doctors EVER!

And Bob bought me some larimar jewelry for my birthday- my first larimar EVER!  It's so pretty!

After dinner, we piled in the back of the pickup.....

And went to a softball game!  

And again, wonderful friends visiting during the game!  Thanks again guys- for the huge effort I know you made to visit me!   It means so much to me!

Ahhhh- back in my room staring at my lovely flowers!  What a wonderful day!

I am overwhelmed at how loved I feel, from reading the Facebook messages..to the texts and phone calls (thanks Mom- I love getting my yearly phone call at my birth hour "39 years ago..... YOU WERE BORN!"  Thanks for bornin me!)...to the hugs and kisses and cakes and flowers and blessings that I have received all day.   The kindness of EVERYONE has reminded me of HOW I am LOVED and I FEEL it.   Again, I'm the luckiest girl in the world.    I can't believe I get to be here, to live here and experience all this.. AND have the most amazing family and friends and support system at home as well.   God is good- and I am resting in that more than ever today.  39 years- kinda flew by on me!  Seems like it should be 29 instead but I'm not sad about it.    I've earned those years- I've really LIVED those years. And I hope to really LIVE the next ones too, to be intentional about my life and how I'm sharing it and who I'm living it FOR.    I'm so glad I've got Jesus here with me, laughing at the softball game (um- we lost by about 30 runs), putting His hands on the shoulders of our patients,  welling up with tears at the sickness in front of us sometimes, and celebrating with me and my friends with some yummy birthday cake.    It's been a good day.    Estoy contenta.