21 July 2025
Time really does fly so fast. I never thought I'd still be in my country today. I had other dreams and plans before, new places to see, new adventures to start. But life really has a funny way of messing up our plans. And sometimes, those unexpected changes that we didn't expect lead us to the most meaningful moments.
One of the things I am truly grateful for about staying home is being present for the special days of the people I love, especially birthdays. A year ago, we celebrated my little niece's 2nd birthday. I actually didn't expect to be around for her 3rd. But here I am, having new plans and dreams again. I guess that's life!
Our little Breiana turned 3rd on the 5th of July, and we made sure to give her another unforgettable birthday celebration. We even closed our small snackhouse for the day so we could fully prepare and enjoy on her birthday.
For the nth time, we headed to the beach, a place that holds so many happy memories for us.
This year's theme? Moana! Our little birthday girl picked this theme. Every time we gave her options and told Disney Princesses names and movie characters, she kept going back to Moana.
So, her mom got her a cute Moana costume, and she looked so cute. We even teased her about looking like Maui more than Moana because she's chubby 🤣.
I pitched in by designing and printing the birthday tarpaulin, balloons, and ordering a customized Moana-themed cake. My mom and I cooked the rest of the food ourselves. I also made her some chocolate cupcakes. I'm proud to say that I baked them myself :).
It wasn't a grand party, but we poured our love into every detail and preparations. And I guess that was what made it special.
This year, more family members were able to join her birthday party compared to last year, which made the celebration feel even warmer and special. We laughed, sang, ate, and most of all, we watched the birthday girl enjoy sand, the sea, and waves. She truly love the beach, splashing in the water, and playing with her cousins.
We stayed at the beach until dusk, then we packed up, bid goodbyes, and parted ways with full hearts.
That simple birthday celebration at the beach reminded me of a few beautiful lessons. "Life doesn't always go as planned, and sometimes, the unexpected changes lead us to the moments we truly need." Just like spending time with loved ones and creating wonderful memories together. Celebrations like birthdays also don't have to be grand or fancy to be special, the love, time, and laughter shared with loved ones are truly what matters most.
My niece's smile on her birthday is like a small win and deserves to be cherished.
Do you like her Moana costume? She truly is adorable.
That's all for today. I'll see you around!
Thanks for your time.
Jane is a Filipina wanderer in a foreign land who finds comfort in nature and freedom in writing. She loves watching raw picturesque landscapes, listening to the symphony of nature, breathing in drops of sunshine, walking through scenic trails and cityscapes, tasting new culinary flavors, capturing pretty little things, venturing into hidden gems, and dancing with the flow of life.
Her new experiences, adventures, challenges, lessons, small successes, and joys are colorful paints that fill up her canvas of life. She hopes to see it beautifully painted while she can.
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