Today is Jay's 22nd birthday! Congratulations and well wishes are in order! To celebrate this special day the forum team has organized a special surprise on Jay's behalf as a birthday gift to you. You'll have to wait to find out what it is though. Any guesses? (If you're a Marcher Lord or above you're not allowed to guess!)

I promise that the entire contents of this thread will make their way to Jay next week. So let's celebrate!

I will be sending my own birthday letter to Jay, but I will still toss some glitter in the thread, just for good measure.

We miss you, Jay.

Happy Birthday, Jay!

Happy birthday, Jay.

*sets a platterful of dragon-shaped cookies out*

Happy Birthday, Jay! May God make himself even more real to you this coming year, and be close to you always. God bless!


(Vanya, a voice recording from Jay is what I came up with off hand )

I moved this to I&C by the way.

Happy birthday, Jay! Though my birthday wishes will be belated, I hope God blessed you on that day. We miss you, and I look forward to the day you can return to us!

*Gives everyone brownies*

*enters in a flash of flame and sparking color*

Hello, awesome writers of HW! We're all writers, right? At least in theory? For Jay's birthday, the forum team decided to recognize all writers. And now, everyone has rings! Enjoy your new Writer rings And happy birthday, Jay!!

Andrew

Ooooh! How fun! Elanor and I were speculating about the Writer's Rings. That's awesome.

Ooh! That's really neat. Thank you, guys!

Happy Birthday Jay! I hope this day renews your hope and helps you have at least a little fun with our well wishes. I hope that you are encouraged by all of this. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Ooo! A ring. *scrolls up to see her ring* Teal! I love it (and it will help tie into the story I am helping write for Jay !

Happy, happy, happy birthday, Strawberry! I haven't called you that in ages, but I thought it might make you grin on your birthday. I hope so.

We miss you so much, and I pray for you daily. God bless you on this day, and always.

You're the first of the 22s to join me in 22ness. Fun, isn't it?

*gives pegasus-shaped cookies* A blessed birthday, to our brother, our captain, and our king.

Bonus points if you got the Lord of the Rings reference...

Ooooh! I am so enjoying this birthday surprise! Rings for the unranked! I was thinking about this a couple days ago, but not sure what to do about it. It's perfect! Everyone has rings!

Actually, Grace, Carissa turned 22 on May 1st. So, (at least in my mind) there's three of you 22s now.

Yes, and Katie and I aren't far behind. We are all getting so old!

Happy birthday Jay! Hopefully I'll be able to write to you again soon. I've been praying for you daily that God would continue to work in and through you to do His will (and I am assured beyond doubt that he will). You are an amazing man, thank you for starting HW and all the other things that God has done through you, and thank you for being strong in this time - you've been very inspiring and a model of how we should put ourselves in God's arms at times like this.

Your writing friend and brother in Christ (whom you've never seen), Lycanis/RunningWolf/Jeremiah.

Happy birthday Jay... if I ever make it to twenty-two I'll wear a "tutu" (Two-Two, 22).

Now I have even more reason to die young.

Anyway!!! I miss your late night and early morning chats on Gchat... I've a lot to tell you but, I've been prevented from writing, as perhaps Brendan told you...

I feel like I know you a lot better now.

God's got his hand on you, like all of us.

You're a special guy.

Happy Birthday!!! *Offers Presbyterian beer.*

Happy birthday, Jay!

For Thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness. -- Psalm 18:28

Jay...you are an inspiration, a godly example of what a man should look like. Through all your trials (literally), you continue to do the Lord's work, spreading His light everywhere you go.

Thank you.

I've never met you, and I haven't even talked to you very much because you were always in and out of chat so fast, but the times that we did chat...I miss them. May God's peace and His strength be with you every single day, dear brother, but especially on this your birthday.

Milly/Molly/Allyson/Blue Dragon/Calista

Happy Brithday, Jay! Sorry I haven't sent any letters.

Me too...but my parents don't want me writing to guys..I'm still praying, Jay!

I'm not much further behind you two either . And I agree, we are getting old *limps forward on a cane*

Okay! Sorry I"m late! About the surprise.

Rings for the Unringed! That's the surprise. FAQ!

Q. Are they forever or just today?
A. They're forever and always! We released them today in honor of Jay, but you get to keep them permanently.

Q. Will we get them on the other forums?
A. Yes. It will be a bit more difficult, but we're working on it.

Q. Why are we still called Registered Users?
A. Because your group hasn't actually changed. Registered Users is a default group for the forum software and we can't change it. The ring is connected to your rank instead.

Q. How come our names still show up in black in places?
A. We're not sure, but we're working on it.

Q. What is the point of the ring? What does the rank mean?
A. Everyone on the forum has a job to do. They're rings tell people what jobs they have. But the Registered Users thought that because they didn't have a ring they didn't have a job. They thought that perhaps they weren't really any use to the forum. They envied the shinies of the forum team.

Everyone on this forum has a very important job: Writing. You write posts, threads, stories, and novels. Without you this entire forum would be an empty shell with out any point. As you're the bottom of the chain not even the forum team would exist were there not any writers.

We told ya'll this, but it's hard to accept when they have shinies and we do not. And so we sat and thought about it and thought... why not have a ring for the registered users? It'll make everybody happy and shiny and pretty! And so the rank of Writer was born bestowed upon all of those very important people who keep the forum ticking.

Write away!

Oh, I know, I know! Wait, I'm not allowed to guess... and it's already been revealed... Well, so much for that!

I'm so delighted this present has gone live; I've had such fun admiring the ring on everyone's posts today. It is such a gorgeous color! Big thanks to Seer for doing the photoshop work.

Jay, while we sorely regret that you cannot be with us, I hope the contents of this thread bring you joy. You have been especially prevalent in my thoughts this week, and I miss you a particular amount. Know that much love in Christ has been sent to you today from all of us.

*is late*

Happy Birthday, Jay! I hope to write you again sometime... soon-ish. Soon-er, then soon-ish I hope.

Happy birthday, Sir Emeth! Thank you for your life and your testimony. May you continue to glorify God in everything you do.

P.S. Love the rings! Can you hear Elrond saying "Henceforth you shall be called the Fellowship of the Many Rings!"

May 30th--My internet connection decided to be naughty and die this evening. I'll post this tomorrow...

*slips in regretfully late to join all the awesome HWers*

Happy Birthday, Jay! I hope you had a good day! All throughout the day, you were in my prayers.

Well...according to God's flawless plan...there's nothing I can say about knowing you earlier than this. I feel like I miss you nonetheless, and pray God's blessings upon you in this new year of life.

"The LORD bless you, and keep you; The LORD make His face shine on you, And be gracious to you; The LORD lift up His countenance on you, And give you peace."

Happy birthday!

Happy Birthday my brother! I love you Jay!

Just found this. Thank you for this thread! Thank you people sending letters!

Seven cheers for Jay!
God save the King!
Long live the King!
Praise him with great praise!
Long live King Sir Emeth Mimetes!
Long live the King's king!
God bless our leader!
God save the King!

(Ahem, "king sir..."?
*shrugs *)

So... this means all ranks will be receiving rings on the other forums then, doesn't it?

Yes.

Happy birthday, Jay! I pray that your day was one of joy and peace in the midst of the storm. I miss your presence on HW and in gchat very much... Awaiting your return. God be with you, brother!

Romans 13:12

~Bushmaiden

I was looking everywhere for the announcement about the rings! I was so confused...
I'm a bit late, I know. Firstly because I miscalculated and thought that Jay's birthday was the 31st. Mainly because I didn't have computer access.
In any case, Happy belated twenty-second birthday, Jay! You've been a blessing to so many people. God bless you in the year to come -may He give you strength and wisdom, no matter what happens.

* carefully selects the perfect shades of glitter *

* quickly and carefully begins to spread the colors in a large pattern *

Happy birthday, Jay! May the Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord make His face shine upon you, and give you peace. May He give you the courage to believe, the strength to carry on, and the hope that comes from Him alone. May His measure of grace and joy be bountiful, and that you will always, always feel His love.

* smiles and looks at the glitter * It's a picture of an eagle, flying...

Isaiah 40:28-31

--Shawn/Elizabeth

Happy Birthday, Sir Emeth!
*hands piece of chocolate cake and a piece of apple pie with icecream, custard, cream, and a party hat, to boot*

We're thinking about you, and praying for you.

Happy really really late birthday Jay!
May God's blessings shower upon you!

Why do I never check this room? I always miss the important stuff!


Happy birthday Jay! I pray that God will bless you and use you in whatever way He chooses in this new year! Praying for you!

God bless,
Bethany