A little under 2 weeks from now it will be my 20^th birthday. Since I can remember my family has always done cake and icecream for birthdays. No matter where we are, from my parents in Iraq to my older brother at school we always find a way to sing happy birthday and get them a little treat to show how much we love them. It’s a family tradition.

Even when you know it’s coming you are always excited, you always smile and you occasionally laugh if the fire alarm gets set off because of the number of candles on the cake.

This year I thought I was going to miss that, the off key singing, the silly gifts and reading the cards out loud. All of it. 

But my mum was having none of that. So a few days ago (just a little early) I opened an unexpected box from home containing a homemade, shrink wrapped cake, a can of icing, party hats and cards.

My mum had sent me my birthday all the way from the U.S. A little ahead of schedule because she thought it would take much longer to get here. But it had to be the most amazing thing anyone has ever done for me for my birthday.

So I iced it up with my friends, who were quite excited for some homemade cake, and had a mini pre-birthday party party.

Best early birthday gift ever. 

Location: Lincoln, New Zealand