Happy birthday Lucas!

Twenty nine years ago today God blessed a family in Brazil with a precious baby boy. Today I celebrate this man's life. I celebrate the life of my husband and best friend, the man who has taught me what it means to live a life spent serving the one who humbly came to serve us.

Happy birthday Lucas Moura de Almeida. I truly and wholeheartedly believe that when God created you, He must've been thinking of me. ;) My prayer today is that the Lord would continue to use you to share His love with others and that He would continue equipping you to lead others into a genuine relationship with Him. As your wife, I pray that through His strength, I would enable you to continue pursuing your first love, Jesus Christ, all the days of your life. I love you.

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

-James 1:17

Happy Birthday Debs!

Today is a very important day for me as it is this very day 28 years ago that the Lord decided to bless me with a little sister. She is an incredibly gifted, wise, intelligent, gorgeous and God fearing women that I am proud to call my sister. One funny thing about our relationship though is that even though Deby is 2 years and a half younger than I am, she has in a way been like a big sister to me. She has been the one I have been able to count on her for advice, to lift me up when I am down and call for fashion tips. One of the things I most admire about my sister is that she has always been a leader and has never been afraid what people think of her. I also know for a fact that my sister is a woman on a mission from the Lord. Currently she is pursuing her Masters in Accounting while holding down a full-time job and being a wife (not an easy feat by any measure) but one I know she will gracefully accomplish.

Deby, I think you already know but just in case I don't say it enough, I am blessed to be able to call you my sister. You have always been an incredible support for me, the strong shoulders that I cried on (literally) and one of the first I always turn to. Today I give God all the praise for molding your character into that of a loving wife, sister, daughter and friend. You are truly a model worthy of imitating. I pray that the Lord would continue to guide you and burden your heart with the ministry that He has specifically called and equipped you to do. I pray for your marriage and I am grateful for the man that God has blessed you with. He is the big brother I never had; a man which we love and admire greatly. I also ask the Lord to show you just how much you have enriched our family's life and those that have had the privilege of meeting you. I love you with all my heart, Debs. Happy Birthday little "big" sis!

Deby is in the red dress next to our mom and her husband, Mike. Isn't she stunning?

The Debut: 28 Years Ago

On July 1^st, 1982, Lucas Moura de Almeida made his debut into the world. The following day Brazil defeated Argentina in the World Cup semi-finals 3 to 1. Quite an entrance for a Brazilian, if you ask me. Really it was the only way he’d have it. ;)

Lucas,

I never thought it was possible to love someone as much as I love you today. Yet I realize that my love for you is not something that will ever cease to grow. You make it so easy to love you. Whether it is your ability to make me smile and find the bright side of things, the confidence you instill in me or your selfless nature that models Christ's love for me. One thing is certain. You have forever changed my life.

Thank you so much for loving me, for taking the good with the bad, and for never trying to change who I am. I don’t know where I’d be without you but I know that I wouldn’t change where I am today with you for anything in this world.

Te amo muito meu Brasileiro. Feliz Aniversario! Happy Birthday!

The Birthday boy with his custom made cupcake. Thank you Danielle!

Happy Birthday, Meli!

Today, May 20th, one of my best friends in the whole wide world is celebrating her birthday. Her name is Melissa Dorceant and she is a wife, daughter, sister, friend, teacher, follower of Christ and soon-to-be mother. Melissa is a woman who loves the Lord deeply and whom I have had the privilege of seeing grow into the God fearing woman she is today. I am so proud of her for choosing to follow the Lord with her whole heart, soul, and mind and am incredibly grateful that the Lord has chosen to bless her with a wonderful husband.

Our friendship is one that almost expands two decades and one I know will stand the test of time. On her special day, there is nothing else I can do but praise the Lord for what He has done.

Dear Lord,

I thank you for the life of my friend, Meli. I thank you for the beautiful, strong woman you have created her to be. I thank you for what you alone have been able to do in her life, the life of a woman completely surrendered to you. I pray that you would continue to bless her life, marriage and the baby in her womb. May you use her to bring countless lives to their knees in adoration of you.

In Jesus Name,

AMEN

A special note for my friend:

Meli, distance, time and responsibilities separate us physically but I want you to know that you will forever hold a special place in my heart. I am filled with awe, wonder and an immense amount of gratitude towards our heavenly Father when I see how He alone has worked wonders in your life. I am reminded of a particular verse found in Proverbs 16:3 that says, "Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed." You are a living testament that God's promises are true and real and He is a faithful God. I am humbled to have such an amazing woman for a friend. I love you!

Happy 29th Birthday!

Enjoy your first with your husband. I know next year a very special baby girl will be joining in your celebration.

The day of Meli's baptism.

Meli and I (My 28th Birthday)

Meli and I on the happiest day of her life.

This picture speaks more than words.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

-2 Corinthians 5:17

Sweet Sixteens

Sixteen years ago today, God appointed February 26th as the day in which he would bless us with the life of Danielle Moriah, my sister. And what a precious gift she has been for our family and to all those who know and love her.

Lord, I thank you for the life of my precious sister. As much as my heart cherishes her, I know it is not even a tenth of how much you love her. I pray that as she celebrates her 16th birthday that you would show her what you alone have destined for her. And like Queen Esther, may you use Danielle with power for your divine purposes.

Princess, my words fail me when I try to describe just how much you mean to me and what a privilege it is to be your sister. I want you to know that I count you as one of the greatest blessings in my life. I love you sooooo much princess.

Happy 16th Birthday, Tati!!!

Photographs courtesy of the super talented Jess from Be You Images

Beautiful Daughter of God

January 20, 2010

Dear Shaina,

Shaina Beth, "beautiful daughter of God," today you have officially become an adult. These years that lie ahead of you are probably some of the best years of your life. Use them wisely.

As you finish your senior year in high school and begin college, I pray that He will guide your steps and watch over as you spread your wings and soar. I pray that in all you do, you will always seek to bring Him honor and glory. He has wonderful things in store for you, things that you cannot even fathom. Don't ever forget it!

I am so proud of you lil' sis and I love you deeply.

Happy 18th Birthday!

Your big sis,
Indy

A Tribute to My Friend

On this day, a beautiful friend, wife, mother, daughter and sister will be celebrating her birthday. Her name is Rosa and although she now lives in Orlando with her husband and their precious daughter, she continues to be a very special person to me.

Before I met Rosie, I always thought I knew about Jesus. I went to church, was baptized, and even prayed on occasion. All that I thought I knew about Jesus changed as I got to know Rosie. She had something different, something I wanted and something I knew I needed. It was more than a religion. Rosie had a real relationship with Jesus.

Rosie played a great role in leading me to Christ and I am forever indebted to God for giving me such an amazing friend who not only talked about church and God but truly lived it out. She inspired and encouraged me to grow in my relationship with Jesus, stood by my side when I needed a friend, believed in the power of prayer and diligently prayed for and with me.

With my friend, Rosie and her family after her graduation. (2005)

Rosie, on this day, your birthday, I want to tell you that you have made a profound impact in my life. God used you to help restore a broken woman, a woman who was lost. Today my heart has what it was always missing, a relationship with Christ. Thank you for being an exemplary role-model of a God-fearing woman, thank you for loving me unconditionally and most importantly, thank you for allowing God to use you to lead me to Christ. I love you!

"A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother."
-Proverbs 18:24

Happy Birthday, Rosie!

Surprise!!!

I'm not sure what it is about surprise parties but for some reason I absolutely love them. Although I can barely keep anything from my hubby, this time, it was fairly simple to keep this secret under wraps. Maybe it's because I myself didn't know it was going to happen until 5:30 pm this evening. But most likely it is because the birthday boy was an unsuspecting soon-to-be graduate preparing for his senior recital. He never saw it coming and it was certainly the last thing on his mind when he walked in the house at about 10:00 pm tonight.

It was a short party but it was fun nonetheless. A big thank you to our family for coming in so early and sticking around a little later than we anticipated to make this day special for Luki.


My siblings hiding under the table waiting to surprise Luki.



SURPRISE...We really got him!

Unsuspecting birthday boy arrives at his surprise party.

Delicious ice-cream cake from Cold Stone Creamery (Thank you, Mami, Vito & Tats!)



Showing our family the guayabera I gave him for his birthday. Now he is a real Cuban. ;)

Our family (my side...Luki's side of the family lives in KY but not for long *I say that by faith).

Luki, I pray your birthday was as wonderful for you as it was for me. I'm looking forward to spending the rest of my 1st of Julys with you. Thank you for making me one of the world's happiest women. Eu te amo muito e para sempre!

Happy Birthday, Maricruz!

Today one of my best friends turns 27. Happy Birthday, Maricruz! May this be the start of many more.

"This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!"
Psalm 118:24

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