God Provides a Bouncy Birthday Wish!

It was Mari's Birthday and because she is turning 4, we didn't do a "big" party.  She was a bit disappointed because she had a list of things she thought all birthdays should have.  I let her pick out the important ones (within reason) and tried to make her day special.  I realized with my first two kids that having a big birthday party every year wasn't the wisest choice for us.  It was too time consuming, exhausting, and expensive.  Now the kids get a "big" party at 5, 10, 13, 16, 18 and 21.  Then they are on their own.  The other birthdays, they are allowed to have cake and presents with our immediate family and maybe a date with a friend.

Letting Mari choose her party supplies took an extreme practice of patience on my part.  I had to completely let go of my controlling nature.  Nothing matched, but she was happy.  I even did "goodie bags" for her cousins and siblings.  We decided to go to the park for cake and gifts since I had had a bad cold the week before.  I was still feeling run down.  All the way to the park, Mari was trying to make sense of what her party would be like.  The only thing she wanted that she didn't have was a "jumpy house."  I have never ordered one before, but I understand they can be expensive.  I had a little tiny bit of guilt about not doing more for her party, but I was determined that I was going to teach the kids to focus on the eternal things and not the material things of this earth that we get so carried away with.  I talked about how fun it was going to be just playing with her brothers, sister and cousins. 

I hadn't thought to reserve a place at the park since it was only us, but when we got there, the only table area near the play structure was reserved.  UG!  I had been praying about trying to be a better steward and had felt guilty about spending money on frivolous stuff.  When I saw that the area was reserved, I started to wonder if I shouldn't have tried to buy my way into a nice day by throwing the big party that most people expect.  I then remembered that God has been teaching me about considering what I do.  I have felt that I need to weigh each thing with the things that are eternal and I realized that a picnic style party would be just as good.  I am fighting against my consumerism training!   I told Kevin to wait in the car for just a min. while I asked someone in the group if they were using the whole area.

The area was very large and most of the people were at the first few tables.  I went up to a small group at the front and excused myself right into a conversation.  Who should be in that group, but the person in charge of the party.  It was a corporate party for Smile Office Supplies.  I had no idea at the time that I was talking to the person in charge, but I asked if we could use one of the tables.  She said yes because their party was just about over.  Not only that, but she said the kids were welcome to jump in the Jumpy-house that they had rented because the man was late picking it up!!! 

The kids played in that bounce house for about a half hour and then went to play on the park.  The man came a few minutes after that to pick it up!!  God is so good!!!  I was trying so hard to honor HIM and not spend needlessly.  I am so guilty of putting my kids wants first that I sometimes put them in front of God!  YIKES.  I never want to do that and I realized I needed to make this a simple party, but what does God do??? He sees the desire of my daughter's heart and honors her with the one things she wanted anyway. 

What an amazing blessing!!!  She had a great day.  The weather was perfect, She got the presents she wanted most of all and she even got the bounce house until she was tired of it!  What an awesome God we serve!