Happy Royal Roctober 2026 – Nancy Gavilanes

Birthdays were a big deal for mi familia.

My birthdays were filled with cake, birthday crowns, family, friends and food!

As a niña, it included lots of dolls and toys and a pizza party or a party at the fast-food place with the outdoor playground.

As a teen, it included lots of figure skating, gymnastics and Olympics items and memorabilia.

We didn’t celebrate quinceañeras. I didn’t want a Sweet 16 party.

My Sweet 16 celebrations included a trip to Greece and Italy with my high school, watching Les Misérables on Broadway a dinner at a fancy restaurant in Manhattan and an expensive pair of figure skates because I was taking lessons and doing a handful of competitions at the time.

As an adult, my birthdays still included cake, flowers, family, friends and food!

I’m grateful for all those birthday celebration memories!

Why Roctober?

As I grew older, I noticed that some birthday celebrations were early. Others were later.

I found myself celebrating with different groups throughout October, which was fun.

As I started hitting milestone birthdays, I started extending the celebration to a week.

Then, I started celebrating all throughout the month.

With all life’s stress and struggles, I decided to celebrate life!

October became Roctober!

My Dear Dad loved saying “Happy Birth Month” to me!

Whether birthday celebrations are early or later, they’re right on time for me.

During one milestone, I celebrated my birthday all year round. That included my Epic European Adventure. We can celebrate life all year long.

Royal Roctobers

I’ve been fascinated with crowns since childhood.

Not simple tiaras, although those are pretty.

Crowns.

I’m not even sure why.

Perhaps it started with my floral crown during my baptism as a niña.

I was also fascinated with the crown from a popular fast-food chain.

My Mom says I loved posing for pictures with those crowns.

As I look back on birthday photos, I see myself delighted by wearing not just birthday hats but birthday crowns!

It’s something that followed me through my high school years.

It’s something that reemerged as I started hitting milestone birthdays.

During my Epic Year, I saw a few castles in Europe and then came back and celebrated my birthday at a castle for five years in a row.

I enjoyed frolicking on the lovely castle grounds.

It’s peaceful. It’s inspiring. It’s like a retreat.

I loved journaling, taking pics, sitting in the library surrounded by books and dreaming and praying and more.

I just recently spent time at another Bday Castle.

What a joy to get lost in the beauty!

You can see some of the short videos I’ve shot on Abounding Faith’s YouTube channel right here.

Crowns and Castles

I write about my fascination with crowns in God-Given Dreams: 6 Ways to Live Your Divine Purpose (NavPress) and By Faith: Adventures and Reflections on Walking With God Here and Abroad (on Amazon).

So what’s with all these crowns and castles?

I’m not sure.

But I delight in knowing:

• I’m the Beloved Daughter of the King of kings (Revelation 19:16 NIV)
• We’re a Crown of Splendor and a Royal Diadem in God’s hand (Isaiah 62:3 NIV)
• We’re part of the Royal Priesthood (1 Peter 2:9 NIV)
• God Crowns us with love and compassion (Psalm 103:4 NIV)
• We have crowns, or rewards, waiting for us in heaven
• We’re seated in heavenly places with Christ (Ephesians 2:6 NIV)

Over the years ,people have prayed and prophesied words over me that have to do with crowns, royalty and more.

I say Yes and Amen!

We’ll see what that looks like in the future.

In the meantime, I’m going to choose to celebrate the Miraculous Lovely moments in life.

That’s why I started this blog back in 2013!

I’m grateful for all the reasons I have to rejoice.

Remember, Rejoice and Move Forward

I’m a reflective person all throughout the year, but especially at the dawn of a new birthday and year.

I’m grateful for photos and videos that help me remember God’s goodness, faithfulness, love, mercy, grace, provision, healing, power and more!

Birthdays aren’t the same without my Dear Dad who really had a zest for life and loved surprising me with flowers and mariachis and beautiful birthday cards he’d carefully handpick himself and write sweet notes on,

I still find gifts, cards, jewelry, ponchos, backpacks and souvenirs he gave me over the years, including an Ecuadorian traditional dress he gave me years ago. I recently found it hiding in a drawer. I put it on for the first time just yesterday. These items are such treasures now.

I’m so grateful for those who continue to celebrate with me!

As I look ahead to a brand new year of life, I plan to continue to rejoice all year long!

• The joy of the Lord is our strength (Nehemiah 8:10 NIV)
• Let’s rejoice in the Lord always (Philippians 4:4 NIV)  
• God is the same yesterday, today and forever (Malachi 3:6, Hebrews 13:8 NIV)
• We are clothed with strength and dignity; we can laugh at the days to come (Proverbs 31;25 NIV)

God has been faithful in the past, He’s faithful now and He’ll be faithful in the future.

Esther Season

There’s lots of inspiring people in the Bible.

I share about a few in Book 2 Abounding Faith: 30 Bible Heroes Who Will Inspire You to Believe God for the Impossible!

While I’ve written about Joshua in probably 6 of my 8 books, I’ve been thinking about Esther in this season.

I’ve written about Esther in at least 3 of my 8 books.

I talk about her in two of my Bible school online courses.

There’s so much we can learn from Esther’s example.

Its’s amazing how the orphan girl named Hadassah grew up to be Queen Esther.

She’s 1 of only 2 women with a book in the Bible named after her.

I didn’t know about her until I was a young adult.

I was fascinated when I read about a brave Queen in the Bible!

Her story is timeless and timely.

God came through for Esther.

God can come through for us.

God has called us for such a time as this!

What stands out to you in Esther’s story? Please let me know on Abounding Faith’s social media.

Only God knows what’s ahead.

We can trust God with our life story!

My late Pastor once said, “God will write your story and you will tell it.”

All these years later, that’s what I continue to do.

The future is a surprise to us.

But nothing surprises God! He is the Alpha and Omega, He knows the end from the beginning (Revelation 22:13 NIV).

I’m grateful for your continued support and prayers.

I hope to have more good news to share.

Stay Tuned!

There’s lots of ways to stay connected including joining Abounding Faith’s Email Community right here and following Abounding Faith on social media.

Don’t give up in the messy middle.

Keep moving forward by FAITH!

Thanks for helping me celebrate another Royal Roctober!

To God be the Glory!

Here’s a few of my favorite Bible verses that remind me that we’re Created, Called and Chosen by Almighty God:

“For you created my inmost being;

you knit me together in my mother’s womb.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

your works are wonderful,

I know that full well.

My frame was not hidden from you

when I was made in the secret place,

when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.

Your eyes saw my unformed body;

all the days ordained for me were written in your book

before one of them came to be.” (Psalm 129:13-16 NIV)

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2;10 NIV)

“Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.” (Psalm 34:8 NIV)

If you’re looking to experience spiritual growth in 2026, keep reading your Bible and praying and feel free to connect with me in the following ways:

• Insightful Our Daily Bread Devotional Articles – There’s usually at least one of my devotional articles in the monthly Our Daily Bread devotional that’s translated into more than 50 languages and available worldwide in print and online. You can read my past devotional articles and an article written about me where I get to share parts of my testimony here. 
• 6 Faith-Fueling Books – God-Given Dreams: 6 Ways to Live Your Divine Purpose (NavPress) is available widely and my first five books are available on Amazon right here.
• Uplifting Abounding Faith for Today Podcast – My podcast, which was named “A 2025 Rising Star” and “A 2025 Binged Show” by Spotify for Creators. is available wherever you listen to podcasts.
• Edifying Social Media – Follow Abounding Faith on Instagram, Facebook or X.
• Faith-Fueling YouTube Channel – Check out the more than 150 videos shot here and abroad on Abounding Faith’s YouTube channel right here.
• This Inspiring MiraculousLovely.com Blog – Now in its 13th Year by the Grace of God! It’s still updated on Mondays.
• Empowering Life Coaching – I’d be delighted to coach you through to your breakthrough. Learn more right here.

WAYS TO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT

If you’re being encouraged and inspired by my writing, speaking, social media posts and more, here’s a few ways to show your support:

• Follow Abounding Faith on social media and Like, Comment and Share posts with others.
• Buy my books for you and yours and leave a kind rating and review on Amazon or Goodreads.
• Join Abounding Faith’s Email Community right here.
• Subscribe to the Abounding Faith for Today podcast and Abounding Faith’s YouTube channel.
• Invite me to speak to your online group/event or invite me on your podcast.
• Buy me 1, 2 or more virtual coffees right here or join Abounding Faith’s Dream Team on Patreon.

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Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.®