Our Simple Birthdays

Last week, we celebrated something special our birthdays. Not just mine, not just my husband’s, but both of ours, within just a few days of each other. Vandy turned… well, let’s just say he officially has a birthday on August 6th, and I turned 45 on August 9th.

I say “officially” because in Cambodia, birthdays especially for those born in the 70s aren’t always recorded as the actual day a person was born. My husband’s real birthdate is a mystery even to him. According to my mother-in-law, when he was born, the family didn’t immediately register his birth. Later, they chose a birthday based on Chinese signs and the season of the year. This wasn’t just about tradition it was protection. Read my similar post here 👈

You see, during that time, there was still a lingering threat of another Khmer Rouge regime like movement. Young boys could be recruited as soldiers. By delaying his registration, they were protecting him. Vandy was the only boy among four children, the only one who would carry on the family name. His life had a special weight from the very beginning.

So yes, August brings a double birthday in our house. But honestly? We don’t throw parties. Not because we don’t want to celebrate, but because, for us, every day is a celebration of life and life itself is a gift from God.

We believe that birthdays aren’t just about another candle on the cake. They’re a reminder that God’s grace sustains us every single day. Every breath is borrowed from Him, and every day is a chance to live for Jesus.

A Simple Birthday

This year, on my birthday, I didn’t want anything fancy. I just wanted to do something that makes me feel alive to be near the water, to take in God’s creation, and to enjoy family time. So I asked Vandy if we could go to the riverside and ride the ferry boat.

Now, the ferry ride is something we usually do as a reward for our son David. Whenever he finishes reading a book of the Bible, we celebrate with a ferry ride just to make it memorable and special for him. But this time, it was for me.

And here’s the sweet part, Vandy agreed right away. David even noticed and said, “Ooh, it’s very special because I haven’t finished my goal yet, but we’re still going.” I love that. It reminded me that love isn’t just about the grand gestures sometimes, it’s the willingness to make an ordinary day special for someone else.

We brought along our teenage nephew, Pich, and stopped by one of our favorite artisan bakeries, Khema Go. We picked up croissants to take with us on the ferry, because honestly, food sold onboard can be pricey and not exactly healthy. Plus, the croissants were 50% off a little birthday bonus! It might not sound like much to some, but to us, that’s joy. Simple, wholesome joy.

Quiet Times, Shared Prayers, and Marriage Lessons

Over the years, Vandy and I have prayed for deeper faith, to serve God better together, to be a blessing to others, and to discern the needs of the body of Christ.

That’s why our individual quiet times with God are so important. They keep us spiritually grounded. Then, every so often, we share what God has been teaching us. Those are some of my favorite moments in marriage, when we realize God is speaking to both of us in ways that affirm each other.

It’s not always perfect. Sometimes those conversations turn into gentle corrections or needed adjustments in our hearts. But we laugh, we grow, and we keep learning. That’s marriage.

Just recently, Vandy shared something that had been on his heart a vision from God that could impact our family, finances, and ministry. Normally, my first instinct would be to analyze, question, and sometimes resist. I can be too objective, too defensive, too quick to think of reasons why something might not work.

But in that moment, I felt God stirring my heart to simply listen. To not rush to respond. To support my husband instead of challenging him. And by God’s grace, I did just that.

I’ll be honest as a wife, I still need to grow in submissiveness and humility. Listening without interrupting or without thinking about my next point is hard. But God keeps reminding me that my role isn’t to control the direction of our journey, but to walk alongside my husband in faith.

Psalm 46 God in the Midst of It All

That same week, God led me to read Psalm 46. It’s a psalm I’ve read many times before, but that day, it felt like God was speaking directly to me:

“God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea…” (Psalm 46:1-2)

The psalm reminds us that no matter what changes, shakes, or threatens to overwhelm us, God is constant. He is unshakable, unmovable, and unchanging.

And here’s the part that brought me to tears just the very next day, we sang a worship song based on Psalm 46 in church, in Khmer. The words hit me so personally that I couldn’t hold back the tears. It was as if God was confirming, “I am with you. You are not alone.”

Leading, Loving, and Trusting God’s Plan

As we step into another year of life, my prayer is that Vandy and I will continue to live out our faith in a way that reflects God’s heart. That we’ll be obedient to His call, no matter where it leads us. That our love for Him and for each other will deepen, even in the midst of challenges.

Ministry isn’t easy. Marriage isn’t easy. Parenting isn’t easy. But when God is our refuge and strength, we can face each day without fear.

We may not know what’s ahead for our family, our finances, or our ministry but we know Who goes ahead of us. And that’s enough.

Practical Encouragement for You

Psalm 46 isn’t just for people in ministry. It’s for you, right where you are. Maybe you’re a parent struggling with the demands of family life. Maybe you’re a student uncertain about your future. Maybe you’ve just received news that turned your world upside down.

This psalm reminds us that God’s presence is not just a comfort it’s our lifeline. Here are a few ways you can live out Psalm 46 today:

1. Start your day acknowledging God’s presence. Even before the coffee, whisper, “Lord, You are with me.”

2. Replace fear with trust. When anxious thoughts come, speak God’s Word over them.

3. Make space for quiet. Let God’s still, small voice be louder than the noise around you.

4. Share what God is teaching you. It could encourage your spouse, your children, or a friend.

5. Choose joy in the simple things. A ferry ride, a discounted croissant, or an unexpected kindness can be reminders of His love.

Closing Prayer

Lord, thank You for another year of life. Thank You for walking with us through seasons of joy and seasons of challenge. You are our refuge and strength, our ever-present help. Teach us to trust You more, to listen better, and to love more deeply. Whether in the quiet moments or in the storms, help us remember You are with us, and we are not alone. In Jesus name. Amen. 

Thank you for praying for us, 

Tess & Vandy 👫💕🙏

Bonus to Read!

5 Bible Verses to Pray for your Husbands