For those of you who don't know, on May 29th 1983 I was born to Dave Lipkowitz and Kimmen Sjolander at Mount Zion Hospital in San Francisco at 7:57 in the morning. Today is my 23rd birthday and I have to admit that if the year can be predicted at all by the birthday, this will be a great year. Right now it is only 7:30 in the morning and besides the great birthday hug from Ashlee this morning, there hasn't been too much happening today. But really my birthday started friday. As you all know from my previous blog, friday was a great day full for blessings (I consider those to be my presents from God!) After I wrote my blog on friday I went to Youth group at my church, as I do every friday. THis last week I have been praying about the guys at youth group. I really wanted the chance to hang out with them outside of church, but I wanted them to invite Ashlee and I, not the other way around. And friday night they did. Sam, one of the leaders asked me if I would want to hang out sometime outside of youth group and if he could call me to hang out saturday. So saturday night we met up and went to one of his friends' house. We played a game called Dudo which is a chilean dice game similar to poker. Sam and i were partners and got to talking. Seriously, you guys, I think i met a guy who might care more about theology than I do. Ashlee was making fun of me with the group because I sometimes do "theological equations" in my head when I am on the bus, and Sam told me that he does them too! So we talked about dispensationalism, the emergent church, in influence of Calvin's followers in the anglican church's formation, etc. etc... What a blessing to find someone who not only will listen to my rambles about theology and church history, but who can actually teach something in the subjects!
And the blessings continue...Earlier on Saturday Ashlee and I had the chance to go to a woman's retreat with our church. The group had age ranges from us younger adults to women who had to be in their late 80's. And we all sat around and had tea together. So sweet the fellowship of the body of Christ! Then on Sunday morning, Ashlee (who got it in her head that my birthday is a week long event!) took me out to breakfast at New York Bagels. So over lattes and bagels we talked and shared and laughed. I could not be more blessed to have her here with me! How many of my friends have actually seen me through so much of my growth as a person and even more so, as a Christian? (Chubs, of course you have seen bascially all of it!)
And then after church, which by the way was once again a great message about letting the Word of Christ dwell in you richly (Colossians 3:16), Ashlee and met up with two of our friends who have become our family here, Birgit and Allison, and we went out for Indian food. And boy oh boy was it delicious!!!
At the end of the day, I crawled into bed and spent some time just journaling, reflecting, reading the Bible, and praying. The perfect way to spend my last few hours of being 22 years old.
And now today... I will work basically all day, but after work the party begins... 8:30 Bravisimo Ice Cream Parlor, me and my friends.
And the blessings continue...Earlier on Saturday Ashlee and I had the chance to go to a woman's retreat with our church. The group had age ranges from us younger adults to women who had to be in their late 80's. And we all sat around and had tea together. So sweet the fellowship of the body of Christ! Then on Sunday morning, Ashlee (who got it in her head that my birthday is a week long event!) took me out to breakfast at New York Bagels. So over lattes and bagels we talked and shared and laughed. I could not be more blessed to have her here with me! How many of my friends have actually seen me through so much of my growth as a person and even more so, as a Christian? (Chubs, of course you have seen bascially all of it!)
And then after church, which by the way was once again a great message about letting the Word of Christ dwell in you richly (Colossians 3:16), Ashlee and met up with two of our friends who have become our family here, Birgit and Allison, and we went out for Indian food. And boy oh boy was it delicious!!!
At the end of the day, I crawled into bed and spent some time just journaling, reflecting, reading the Bible, and praying. The perfect way to spend my last few hours of being 22 years old.
And now today... I will work basically all day, but after work the party begins... 8:30 Bravisimo Ice Cream Parlor, me and my friends.
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