Friday, November 14, 2008

Happy Sweet 16 Janai!

Yes, this is now Naomi's blog, but No, I'm not Naomi. I'm Janai's Dad sneaking in as a guest contributer to let you all know that my Janai is turning 16 on Saturday, November 15th, 2008!

Wow, 16, it seems like just yesterday she was small enough to carry, fit in a stroller, and needed her little pink doll to stop crying...now she needs money to stop crying! :D

Honestly, Janai Marie is the sweetest 16 year old I know. She is so dependable and talented, I can't believe she's mine! :0

A few of Janai's gifts, talents, and accomplishments are:
  • Gifted Pianist
  • Gifted Violinist
  • Great sister to her seven younger siblings
  • Has read the Bible cover-to-cover for the past 5 or 6 years
  • Great personality
  • Great sense of humor
  • Beautiful (gets it from her Mommy)
  • Loves her baby twin brothers
  • Started her own blog for teens called "Teen Impact"
  • Embraces Biblical femininity, and seeks to live it out
  • Cares deeply for the youth of our nation and is seeking to be a light to them with her life
  • Has never sinned :)
  • And most important, walks with Jesus Christ everyday
So feel free to send a message to Janai via the comments here as I'm sure she'd love to hear from you...

Happy Birthday Janai,
Love Daddy!

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

JANAI HAPPY SWEET 16!
What a great time of life you are in! You continue to grow in Christ and knowledge in biblical & homemaking skills. You truly are learning to be a wonderful homemaker. And I have seen first hand your skills in sewing :o)!! And what a great teacher you were to me! You are a true blessing and I enjoy seeing you in church each Sunday and talking with you.
I wish you great joy in your years to come! Keep drawing nearer to Christ!
Blessings! Tammi Hall

Jasmine Baucham said...

Happy birthday, Janai!

I pray that you will have a wonderful, blessed year of growing in the Lord, that, as the Lord shapes you into a woman after his own heart, you will acquire the wisdom, grace, and dignity of the Proverbs 31 woman, using the talents and passions the Lord has given you for His glory!

And I pray you have a very fun birthday!!

Love in Christ,
Jasmine

William D. said...

Happy Janai! I hope you have a nice Birthday. You are growing up to be a fine, young lady, and with some Martial Arts Training a Fine Warrior Musician young lady. Think about it ;)

Karisse Wesco said...

Happy 16th birthday, Janai!!! I've always enjoyed watching you and how you treat your many little siblings with such tenderness. What a blessing you are! May God bless you in the coming year. Stay Faithful, friend!

Anonymous said...

Let me be the first to wish you a happy 16th birthday! May God richly bless you as you set a godly example for your younger siblings!

June Fuentes @ A Wise Woman Builds Her Home said...

My dearest, sweetest Janai!

You are the BIGGEST blessing a mom could ever have! You are all these things on the list and even more...I have seen you in a thousand situations being so patient, so loving, so Christ-like, when it was never expected and I, above all people, know your true colors and I can truly say that you are a child of character, who is growing in Christ and I am so completely and utterly pleased to see the fruit the Lord has been growing in your life!

I am so proud of you and all the things you know how to do and learning to do. I am proud that you try to please the Lord and so obedient as an older child. Also, I have been blessed watching you unfurl like a flower before my eyes. As I have said many times before, whoever will marry you will be blessed (and not just for your frugality!)

What is a daughter? All of a mothers dreams tucked into one little soul who one day grows up to be a beautiful lady and also her mother's friend! You are all that Janai---keep up all the good work you do in serving the Lord, for His eyes are on you and He doesn't miss a single thing.

I love you! I love you! I love you!!! What a blessing you are to me and so many others...

Happy Sweet Sixteen!

Love,

Your Mother Who Loves You Like No Other

Daniel Devine said...

Happy Birthday, Janai!

I appreciate seeing how you follow the Lord, honor your parents, and love your siblings. As a big brother with young siblings I know the influence you have over the others in your family, and how demanding (and tiring) it can be to always be "in charge" when mom & and dad aren't local. But you seem to have a lot of patience. God uses those firstborn responsibilities to shape our character (and in my case, fix the flaws!)

Hope you feel older today. BTW, I just saw your Teen Impact blog; you've done a good job with that.

Blessings,
Daniel

Rhonda Devine said...

Happy, Happy Birthday!!
You're a blessing to watch as you grow,not just physically, but in your walk with the Lord and caring unselfishly for your family.
I pray you will follow God's leading for your life and find true joy in seeking Him,
Rhonda

Anonymous said...

Happy sweet 16 Janai!!!!
Sorry we aren't there in Indiana anymore to share in your birthday celebrations. You're an inspiration to young women and thier fathers everywhere. Thank you for being you. Happy 16th again may God grace you and your family.

Dean, Karen, Jacob, Jonathan, and Jessica Anderson

Anonymous said...

Happy 16th Birthday to a beautiful young lady!!!
I am sorry you don't know us better but we are your Dad's cousin. You have grown up to be a beautiful daughter of the King. I am sooo impressed by all the actitivies you are involved in.The Lord continue to bless you.
Love,
The Fuentes Family
Joe& Sue

Anonymous said...

Happy birthday, Janai!
What a pleasure it is to be acquainted with you and to callyou my friend! I have always enjoyed our chats and times together when you and your family come to visit our church, and I look forward to more fellowship in the future.

Janai, it is a real joy to see you be such an attentive, elder sister—always watching out for the needs of your younger siblings. I know your mother certainly appreciates all of the loads you help her carry. Keep up the good work, Janai, as it is always "more blessed to give than to receive."

May you have a blessed birthday, and may you continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and be fruitful in every good work!

With much love and prayers on this special day,
Ruth Wesco

P.S. I recognize that picture of you, Janai, and recall the fond memories of your visits through it.

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday Janai!

Since we were introduced to each other a couple of years ago, it's been my privilige to get to know you. Whether playing frisbee and volleyball, chasing younger siblings around, or just talking, your gentle spirit and caring ways have been quite apparent.

I know that the assignment of oldest child sometimes seems daunting, (hey, we didn't ask for the position, right?) but it's also a great responsibility that God Himself trusted to us-- to set an example for the brothers and sisters following behind us.

There's a poem that speaks of this, and here's a portion of it:

"A careful girl I want to be
A little sister follows me
I do not dare to go astray
For fear she'll do the self-same way.

I cannot once escape her eyes
Whate'er she sees me do, she tries
Like me she says she's going to be
That little sister following me.

I must remember as I go
Through summer's sun and winter's snow
I'm building for the years to be
That little sister following me."

I'm honored to call you friend, and for what it's worth, I think you're a great big sister, and someday, you'll be an even greater wife and mom. God has great plans for you... and I can't wait to see them!

Your Friend,
Megan

Sarah said...

Happy Birthday Janai! I haven't known you for very long, but there are somethings that you don't have to know a person long to figure out. After my first conversation with you I right away knew three things about you.
1. Your kind, beautiful, Jesus like smile was not something you wore only for Sundays. It was too real:)
2. Your love for you family was genuine and sincere. You cared deeply about them and they for you.
3. You were destined for greatness, like a diamond among stones, you had been carefully chosen and set apart from the rubble by our Lord to do his will and bring him pleasure.

So Happy Birthday, Janai! May this year be the sweetest yet, and all the years after sweeter still as you walk ever closer to our Lord!

Forever and Always,
-Me

Anna Joy said...

Happy 16th Birthday, Janai!! :) I am very blessed to count you as a friend even though I don't see you as much any more. Hope your day was wonderful, and that the year ahead will be very blessed!

Janai Fuentes said...

Thank you, everyone!!(I know it's a little late but, I still wanted to thank everyone!)
I had a wonderful day that day! It was full of surprises(some included going to see "Fireproof" at the theaters, my grandpa came out from Chicago and took me out for lunch, and while we were there my cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents went by our house because my parents had planned a surprise party)!
I especially was surprised when I woke up that day and my dad told me to look at my blog "just to see what was on there"! I was starting to tear up a little while reading the different comments. I'm very thankful that I have all you to count as friends!

God Bless and Merry Christmas,
Janai