Molly Piper

Last Sunday was Orison’s 6th birthday! I decided that we’d just have one marathon day and have Orison’s birthday party on the same day as the twins’ dedication, since it was his actual birthday anyway.

We do birthdays pretty simply. I don’t kill myself over a cake. I let the kid pick what they want to eat, and so it’s usually a simple menu (this year it was mac & cheese with hot dogs in it). I don’t do favor bags. I let my mother-in-law host it at her house (!). We invite a couple families we’re close with, and that’s it. Voila! Kid birthday party!

I didn’t grow up with a birthday “party” every year. We had one every few years, and that was good! I don’t personally think that kids should get used to a huge party every year. I know it’s their special day, but making it special with family is sufficient, in my opinion.

Anyway, off that soapbox. Back to Orison.

There was the birthday plate (of course):

It’s so crazy for me to say this: “I have a SIX-year-old!” I can’t believe I’ve been a mother for six years. I can’t believe he’s so grown up.

There was the birthday song with cake and candles:

He requested chocolate cake with peanut butter frosting. It was delicious (and I can say that, because my mother-in-law made it, not me)!

There were presents:

Legos from Granny & Papa (my parents in Pennsylvania)! They shipped his present in a Milk Bone dog biscuit box, and we kept teasing him that he was getting dog biscuits for his birthday. But he knew better. He kept saying, “Papa’s just trying to tease me!” He knows you well, Papa!

There were friends and cousins:

What else does a kid need? He was so happy with his birthday.

One of the most special presents came from his Grandmama, who did a special skin graft for Orison’s very well-loved “Teddy.” I think that’ll have to be a post by itself, but suffice it to say, his teddy bear has new life, thanks to the skilled hands of teddy-bear-surgeon Noel.

As I put him to bed that night, we prayed together and I got choked up as I thanked God for six years with Orison. He was laying on his top bunk and peeked his head up over the rail with tears in his eyes to give me a kiss. He told me, “I almost started crying!” and I told him, “That’s okay.”

There are some things that are good to cry about. Tears of gratitude are a welcome sight in the eyes of the Lord.

We brought in year #7 with lots and lots of joy! Happy birthday Orison! We love you more than we could ever tell you with words.

(And of course, a very special thanks to my uber-talented friend Wendy Maybury for the photos. Love you, Wendy! Thanks for loving our family well!)