A night we celebrated
the woman of the hour

Gizelle

HAPPY 24TH BIRTHDAY

Gizelle smiling in her red dress at dinner Gizelle covering her face as she holds her flowers Gizelle and Lawrence with her birthday cake
twenty-four

JoiaTHE NIGHT YOU WALKED IN

The Evening

How the night went, in the order it happened.

The Long Way

Missed exits, on purpose

I kept stalling and missing exits so everyone would be seated in time. You were getting annoyed, with a lap full of roses and no idea what was waiting.

still patient here
another missed exit

The Surprise

Hand in hand into Joia

We finally parked. I held your hand, we walked in, and the whole table was already there waiting for you.

The Flowers

Red and gold

Then came more flowers. You hid your face for a second, and after that you could not stop smiling.

Gizelle covering her mouth in surprise behind a bouquet
caught off guard
Gizelle beaming with her bouquet
then this smile

The Dress

The woman in red

Every head in the room turned. Mine never turned back.

Gizelle in a strapless red dress smiling at the table
the birthday girl

Your People

One long table

Every one of them helped plan it and kept the secret, just to see your face when you walked in.

The long table under the hanging flowers at Joia
under the flowers
Friends gathered around the long dinner table
the secret keepers

The Wish

Strawberries, cream & six candles

One deep breath and a wish that is yours to keep.

Gizelle about to blow out the candles on a strawberry cake
make a wish
Gizelle blowing out the candles under purple light
and done

One more, just for fun

Tap each candle to blow it out.

Happy 24th
Birthday

6 CANDLES TO GO

Twenty-Four

Written across the top

Happy 24th Birthday, and you holding it like you could not believe it was all for you.

Gizelle holding her birthday cake with a playful face
yes, it is all for you

A Letter for You

Gizelle and Lawrence taking a selfie at Joia

My love,

Seeing your face when we walked into Joia and you realized everyone was there for you made the whole thing worth it. I’d been looking forward to that moment, but seeing your reaction in person was something else. And you in that red dress? Yeah, I was having a moment of my own.

I know how much you’ve been carrying lately between nursing school, all those long study nights, and everything we’re working towards together. I see the effort you put into the things that matter to you, even on the days when things aren’t easy. I hope Friday reminded you that you deserve to be celebrated, too. Not just for what you do for people, but simply for being you.

I wish I could give you a glimpse of how I see you sometimes. Maybe then you’d understand why making you happy means so much to me.

Happy 24th birthday, baby. I’m proud of you, I believe in you, and I’m excited about the life we’re building together. There’s still so much ahead of us, and if there’s one thing I know, it’s that I want to keep doing life with you. The big moments, the ordinary days, the stressful ones, and all the little moments in between.

I love you.

Lawrence