Check out my last post titled “Birthday Blessings.” This year for my b-day, I received blessings on top of blessings. The biggest and best one was completely unexpected but intentional. A gift that only God could see fit for me. Bare with me as I try to put into words the divine timing of everything that lead to the blessings I received.

It started with a short notice business trip that caused me to reschedule my birthday trip, which left my birth week open. Then a group chat formed whose only mission was to go somewhere. The available dates ended up being my birth week. My cousin and travel bestie’s birthday trip was canceled also and she really just wanted to be out of the country. We all selected 3 places we wanted to go to and the one with the most votes won. We all agreed on a destination and all that was left, was to find a place to stay and flights.

One morning at 2a, I woke up because I couldn’t sleep but the plan was to book our flights at 4a. I booked it and everyone else booked theirs at 4a or a little after. Next was the Airbnb. We settled on one we all agreed on and booked the dates. A few weeks later, with no plan, no itinerary, no to-do list, NOTHING, we hopped on a plane just winging it.

The first couple of days were filled with eating, sightseeing, pool lounging, and chilling. Then on the third day, we decided that we needed to figured something out. We settled on a flamingo experience and that fell through. Then Toya saw Clear Boat Kayak pictures! That was right up our alley. We paid for it and it was scheduled for the next day, which was my birthday. We figured we’d make it a beach day also.

We get to the beach and get right to it. Toya went first, then myself and Yannie went last. Everyone had the perfect color bathing suit for the environment. Each color popped off of the water and our skin! Toya in a mustard yellow, me in a neon green and Yannie in royal blue. Perfection! I get in the boat and there’s a man flying the drone and one holding the string to the boat and instructing the poses. I get to the pose where I have to turn over on my stomach. I told myself to take advantage of the moment and look down into the water through the clear boat. The water was beautiful, almost unreal, the sand was bright, I could see seaweed like debris floating by and awareness and gratitude filled my heart. I was out of the country for the first time ever, on my actual birthday. Later that day for dinner, sitting at the table with people I love and who I know love me, tears formed. It’s a moment I’ll never forget and I believe everything happened just for that moment.

The blessing I received was the present. I was in Aruba on my birthday. I was with two of my favorite people. I was in a dress that I’d worn before but one that I felt beautiful in. Beautiful shoes I found at Goodwill for about $7.00 and sunglasses I got on clearance for $1.00. I was in a clear kayak just to take pictures but I zoned out and took advantage of a moment that I’ll live with forever. I don’t even remember if the guy was talking to me telling me to do another pose, I decided that this moment was worth taking in. And it was the biggest blessing I’ve ever received.

Pictures and videos will always be top tier for me but you can always see much better in the moment, with your eyes, heart, ears, hands, nose, etc. Take a moment and take a mental picture. Those core memories will last forever.