Birthdays, Part 2

I think I have delayed this post, not just because I couldn't find the cord to my camera but because of feeling like all my best efforts to throw Lauren a wonderful birthday party didn't work out like I had hoped. Let's just say we were glad it was an "almost slumber party" and wasn't an all night event. At one point, even Chuck E. Cheese was looking like a better alternative! Maybe I expected more manners from a couple of the girls - they acted pretty downright rude. Everything we did was either boycotted or criticized. Lauren was a good sport but we did have a long talk about choosing friends wisely and developing some boundaries. Unfortunately we aren't the best examples.

The great parts of the birthday were meeting a couple very sweet new friends for Lauren and seeing that Lauren has developed some social ease with her friends. The night was very cozy with the whole room set-up as one giant slumber party with mattresses, sleeping bags, pillows, blankets and stuffed animals. We strung white lights and streamers everywhere too. After each girl arrived from the pouring rain, we gave them each a pair of fuzzy socks. We had a lot of fun activities that we were so grateful to find from other websites with advice on the "almost slumber party."

sleeping beauty

Some of the games we played: 1. In the dark and with flashlights, the girls had a hunt for glow in the dark items. 2. "wake the sleeping beauty" - each took turns being "asleep" while the others tried to make the beauty laugh (wake) 3. "piggly-wiggly" - one girl would leave room while others hid under a blanket. When girl returned, she would sit on a blanket and say "piggly wiggly" and whoever was under her would "oink". She would have to guess who had just "oinked." 4. Blind lipstick smash on their friends 5. Pass the marshmallow with a toothpick.  Also two projects - decorating their own pillowcase and making bracelets.

lipstick smash

Pass the marshmallow

The girls had plenty of pizza and snacks everywhere. They especially loved the candy and having popcorn. Present time was exciting for them as I think they were very interested in playing with the things they brought Lauren. We ended the night with cake and a movie.



The biggest reward of the night came after the party....

Lauren is in Missionettes (now M-pact) at our new church and they made arrangements for Lauren to arrive late for their own slumber party where the girls work on several lessons together and have all night fun. The church is normally locked down for the event but her teacher met us at the gate to let Lauren in. I had also made a cake for the Missionettes girls, complete with a Missionettes book on it and stars (which they ended up fighting over). Lauren was greeted by all the girls running over to her and giving her birthday wishes, hugs and welcoming her! It made her feel so good! They even made her a birthday card and all signed it! What a wonderful way to end her birthday! We are so thankful God has Lauren with such caring and sweet teachers and kids at our new church!!

So what awaits us during Birthday month next year?? Let's hope we can have one simple party for the two of them.  Mom is too old and tired!  For more pictures, check out the smilebox posted on this page.

Happy Birthday, Sweet Lauren!

LOVE AND PRIORITIES

"We cannot do a thousand things to the glory of God. Do a couple of things 

and do them with everything you've got." ~ Beth Moore

Our Pastor was saying on Sunday that our calendars and checkbooks show where our real priorities are. We can fake the whole Christian life but these two things will show what we are living for.  I want live my life for the Lord, my husband and kids.  I had seen the above quote on another blog and thought it was so fitting.  I also want to share what God had to say to me this past week, as I put my all into making my son happy.

As my son's sixth birthday approached, I kept asking him what he would like for his birthday and each time he would reply that he just wanted a party with his friends.  All I could think of is "how are we going to pull this off financially"!  With a little help from my Mom, I moved towards trying to come up with a thrifty way to celebrate and the pieces started to come together - in this case, the LEGO pieces! 


We put together a fun LEGO birthday party for our little builder for his class to play at the park and enjoy cake!  Complete with giant LEGOS and cake made by Mom and the birthday boy himself and in true Southern California style - a LEGO pinata!  


We invited the whole kindergarten class to the party and had only about six kids RSVP.  To our surprise, a bunch more came, with siblings and parents.  Even the kindergarten teachers and principal!  Jerry was so thrilled.  His teacher even shared that when the class sang "Happy Birthday" to him that he started to cry and told her it was because he was so happy.  Well, seeing my son this happy only made his Mom happy too.  (You can see pictures of his birthday on the smilebox here on this blog)

I was standing at the kitchen sink and just felt so overjoyed about making Jerry happy for his birthday.  I was telling God thanks and what joy it brought my heart to see my son that happy.  Without missing a beat and right out of the blue, God spoke to me and said don't you know that's the way I feel about you.  What?!  Did I hear right? Yes, I guess I did and it will be a moment I won't forget.  Well, my daughter's 10th birthday is TEN days away so you know where to find me - I'll be spending time making her feel loved and special too and reflecting on how much God loves me too!

You are loved! ♥  

Clearing Out the Cans

At times i have looked back at the start of this blog and thought - why can't I just blog something fun like cooking or crafts?  Well, miracles are coming and soon it will be exciting to share those and later look back at the history.  So bear with me and meanwhile, some thoughts have been stirring in me. Then maybe next year I'll be off to share recipes or do a craft...


My husband amazed me with an illustration he came up with for a motivational talk at work this week.  He talked about picturing a pantry shelf with a variety of new, clean cans and then some that have been on the shelf for years that are age-stained and worn. The new cans represent the new challenges that we so easily grab and get into, like our annual new year's resolutions.  The old and dusty cans are still up on the shelf because they represent our fears (and probably dislikes).  These cans are the things that hold us back from having a fresh start and from living the life God intends for us.


Looking at it another way - I think one of my fears is to see the shelf bare!  I've experienced it so many times as I trust the Lord for His provisions in food.  It's too easy to hold on to my fears of the future when I don't see any "new cans" coming on the horizon in the form of new blessings!  A bare shelf tests me to see where I am placing my hope and challenges me to completely let go of control and worry over it.


Our Pastor spoke along these lines this past Sunday. Facing the issues God wants us to will be key for us to move forward. Everything God tells us to do is for our best. In order to bless you though, God needs our obedience.  As a parent, we can't pour out our favor on our child if we can't trust them to obey. God knows who will do right under difficult circumstances. He wants to get us on the right path and bless us. Not that we have to be perfect but what is important is having a humble and honest heart before God.  When David was confronted with his sin with Bathsheba, he responded right with repentance so God restored David and gave him favor again.  He wasn't perfect but honest and obedient. 

Deuteronomy 11:26-28 (New International Version, ©2010)

²⁶ See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse— 
²⁷ the blessing if you obey the commands of the LORD your God that I am giving you today; 
²⁸ the curse if you disobey the commands of the LORD your God and turn from the way that I command you today by following other gods, which you have not known.

So taking my old excuses and ways off of my can shelf will take more discipline and commitment than ever before. 1 John 5:3 says that God's commandments are not burdensome. Obedience is at the heart of our relationship with God.  


My Aunt Debbie (affectionately known as my FA) had a saying that used to crack me up when I heard her use it.  When she would notice that several soda cans were around in the kitchen, she'd always say "it's time for the can committee to have a meeting."  Still makes me laugh and think of gathering those cans to go smash them for the recycling.  I think it's time for the can committee to have a meeting and I'm going to smash the cans that are holding me back in 2011!  Care to join the can committee?