Happy Birthday, Wendy! 🎈🎂🎈

April 20 is your birthday, my precious daughter 👧👧👧

Here is a note I wrote on your birthday, but published it a day after ☺️☺️☺️

I know you've been busy, and I understand we won’t have time to chat this weekend, but I want you to know you’ve been on my mind. Even though I can't be with you on your special day, I'm thinking of you and sending you my love.

While walking to the library early in the morning, I left you a voicemail on Facebook.

I also sent over that ancient birthday video your brother made when you were only a teenager - it’s been 15 years 😲😲😲

I chatted with my sister about the day you were born, 33 years ago! Can you believe it? Time flies. I still remember hearing my mom's and sister's voices outside the delivery room (they were not allowed to go into the delivery room) while I was in labor. And there was another mother-to-be there next to me who sadly lost her baby due to heavy bleeding. Luckily, I had a very smooth delivery with you.  You came into the world gently, and joy followed you and people around you like sunlight ever since that day.

Sitting down in the library, I started reading some articles I wrote about you on my blog.

• Articles with your name in the titles:

  • April 21, 2023: Happy Belated Birthday, Wendy!

  • April 20, 2021: Happy Birthday, Wendy!

    
    

• Here is the list of articles I wrote and published in Chinese newspapers and magazines (original articles have been embedded as PDFs in the blog posts below):

  • Sweet Memories

  • Language Game

  • The Secret Weapon

  • A Sweet Talker? A Straight Shooter? 

There were countless other moments that I never put into words or got published, but they live vividly in my memory and will always in my heart ❤️❤️❤️

There was that one moment on the little balcony of our apartment we had in Beijing. You spoke such beautiful words—so beautiful, in fact, that you said I might not even believe you, but you assured me they were all true. Funny enough, I can’t remember exactly what you said… but I’ll never forget the way you blurted it all out and the bright sunny smile on your face. I believe you as you always have a way with words since you were a very little girl.

Then your own words came: the birthday in/out list.

Beautifully written, simple yet elegant👍👍👍

Wendy, I am proud of the young lady you have become, and I will be there for you every step of the way—cheering you on, holding space for your dreams, and always, always loving you.

Happy Birthday, my precious daughter 🎈🎂🎈