A Happy Philip

Happy 22nd birthday Brother; you are really loved.

Philip requested Nicole's scrumptious cheesecake as his birthday dessert, and he got it. However, she opted not to make the traditional, yet simple, type of cheesecake. She combined Philip's love for her cheesecakes and apple pies. "Yum-o" hardly describes this delicious hybrid.

Philip requested Yashima--our family fave for Japanese cuisine--for his birthday dinner with the family, and he got it.

My prayer for Philip this year: To remember the grace of God and to be thankful for His mercies.

Love to The Brother

Although I am blogging an hour or so after Philip's birthday has ended, I sing to him a Happy Birthday.

You Surprise Me, Brother
Twenty-One: Oh my, how you have grown; you live on your own.
Twenty: You have a girlfriend.
Nineteen: Your first year of college, driving, and major surgery. You gave me a scare entering the freeway, college by your lonesome, and the hospital.
Eighteen: Con-GRAD-ulations, you have finished high school. You were meant for more.
Seventeen: You are a special boy, with a special love for those who are in your life. You have helped more than you have wanted to.
Sixteen: You shared a book. You opened the door to a new world of science fiction.
Fifteen: You started a new high school and made your new friends.
Fourteen: You started high school with your old friends. At the end of the year, you handled that news fairly well.
Thirteen: You were so good at basketball.
Twelve: You encountered the most important person you will ever know in your lifetime, Jesus.
Eleven: Good one, you started Final Fantasy.
Ten: All you ever played was basketball.
Nine: All you played was tether ball.
Eight: You mostly played was handball.
Seven: That mean kid on the play ground.
Six: Lola bit you.
Five: You had the afternoon session for Kindergarten. Then you were switched to the morning. Maybe you really do better in the afternoon classes.
Four: All you did was eat junk food.
Three: You ate all the Gummi Bears and the Barquillos.
Two: You were fat, like Buddha.
One: You were nice to look at.
In the Womb: I love you, even before you were out.

The past weekend has made it to my Top 5 Weekend List--even though I do not really have one. Why? Well, it is because I have spent it with my lovely brother, Philip. Wednesday night, Saturday, Monday night, and Tuesday night. I do not believe I will ever have enough time with him. I love, love, LOVE Philip.

Together Again

Yes, today was a day that my Brother and I were together again. Oh, how I have missed my not-so-little Brother! What did we do? After church today, I went straight to his work to pick him up. It turns out that the next person on cannot make it because he has some family business to take care of. What stinks is that Brother has to stay an extra four and a half hours. Instead of carrying on with our plans, I have practice. I practice and come back for Brother. Then we leave for our errands...tickets to a show. YAY! After that, we have some dinner at Wahoo's. Yep, Wahoo's. There was a good conversation, there it was. He actually asked me about church that day. Oh man, I do not recall the last time I talked to my Brother about God or his Word, but I loved it. Shortly after we finished eating, off to studying at a near-by Starbucks...near our home. It was a good time there too because he began to encourage me in continuing to study. YAY for study buddies! When we were done studying and getting ready to leave, we were able to have a chat with an old friend...a friend we have not spoken to in a while. Oh, it was a good day. A very good day. I love my not-so-little Brother, and I hope he knows and remembers that.