To Read on the Journey

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

blink

this past weekend we celebrated josie's 10th birthday. 
TEN!

 78,840,000 blinks
 and
my baby is 10.

josie wanted to celebrate with a "just dance" slumber party.
she began planning 6 months ago,
and knew exactly what she wanted...

bright colors and lots of them!  

i relinquished control and let her choose everything.

her party looked like her!
*love*




josie gave each of her guests a gift containing her must-have-favorite-things:
mismatched socks
silly bands
fruity chapstick
&
pixy sticks

for the cake josie selected rainbow cake-jars {seen on pinterest}.
these were easy to make, 
and fun to eat! 


as the girls "just danced" together 
i was entertained by the mini flash-mob in my living room.

the evening was filled with games.
 "twister" was a giggling must.
as well as  "spin the nail polish!"
{various colors of polish, played like "spin the bottle,"
when the polish lands on you, you paint a nail that color, and so on}.
 
and because no event of josie's would be complete without tutus, each of the girls made their own tutu to be fabulous in. 





our d.j. friend loaned us his disco ball for the occasion



and the girls "pumped up the jam!"
{i'm think'n a disco ball NEEDS to become a permanent part of our decor}.

10.
i can't believe she is 10. 



after the girls were giggling in their sleeping bags i said to michael,
"i want to be like josie. when she enters a room she fills it with joy."
he agreed.

the moment josie was born,
 78,840,000 blinks ago,
she entered our lives and brought with her joy. 
it's who she is.
who God in His generosity and sovereign plan created her to be~
illuminated joy!

her joy shines on us through the songs she sings, the out-loud love she lavishes on us, the grace she lives in which splashes on us, and her uncomplicated faith.

oh! it has been a good 78,840,000 blinks!

and though i know from experience that the next 78,840,000th blink is just a blink away, i'm looking forward to   indulging in every blessed blink'n minute with my deLIGHTful girl!

may God be glorified in your life Josie, and continue to illuminate Himself to you and through you in Christ Jesus! i know He will!



17 comments:

mel @ the larson lingo said...

Happy 10th Birthday Josie!! Looked like her party was so fun! Love the mason jar rainbow cakes! Very cute! And, you ARE like Josie...you bring joy & smiles into rooms as soon as you enter them!

Joy said...

So sweet. I love all of the details of the party. Your girl has good taste! Happy Birthday Josie!

{cuppakim} said...

a big happy birthday to miss josie and an even bigger congrats to you mama, for raising up a girl like her. keep on doing what you are doing (and by doing, I mean let God Do!) because you're doing it right.

and, um, I wish i was josie.
this looks like the most fun, most genuine, most authentic sweet girls birthday party of life. :)

Anonymous said...

What a FUN birthday party. I love that girl's personality.

Ryan will be ten next December . . . it is just a blink away; and who knows what all that holds? :)

Leslie @ top of the page said...

why am i crying at this post??!! sigh. i guess it's because i'm seeing my girl, almost 10, too in this, and feeling your heart reflect mine. you did an amazing job at this party, seriously. thanks for sharing how you relinquished control and let her choose everything. my daughter has always wanted a slumber party, but our house is so small, and something i dont feel proud of, so i've never let her. but the truth is, the girls wouldnt care if they had to cram in a little room, and no one would notice my unpainted walls :) i love the simple childishness of the party too. so many of the friends seem to be throwing the kinds of parties that are pushing the kids to be more grown up than they are. (ie. a western party with a pretend "bar"? really??)

Unknown said...

first of all ... wow ! what a party- you are incredible.

and most importantly; wow. you are incredible.

Happy Belated birthday and birthing day.

Laura said...

it is all so PERFECT! I love it!
And you really should have invited me because I am a HUGE Just Dance fan.

And like Mel said...you ARE absolutely nothing but JOY and SMILES. That is why I come here...

happy birthday to Josie and congrats to YOU on 10 years of mothering!


xo

denise said...

Your Josie is an original, and her party looked awesome. If only we would let ourselves celebrate like that as adults! I want a disco ball and rainbow jar cakes at my next birthday party. :)

Happy birthday to your sweet girl.

Rachael said...

That looks like an amazing party! How did you find making the cakes in jars? They look amazing and I'd love to give them a try. Rx

http://sandersonsmithstory.blogspot.com/

Linda Z said...

I just love your little girl's spunk!! Looks like such a fantastic party, and I love your creativity, Denise. You are a great party thrower!! :)

Rachael said...

Hi Denise, just wanted to stop by and say a huge THANK YOU for all the tips on your cakes. So sweet of you to stop by twice and offer advice. I'm hoping to make them in the next couple of weeks so I'll be sure to let you know how they go. Rx

http://sandersonsmithstory.blogspot.com/

Simply Sara said...

oh sweet josie.
you are beautiful!
happy birthday!

denise. you never cease to amaze me.
can you please move to canada?

Tiffany said...

This is adorable!! What a fun memory this will be for her!

Gina said...

Happy Birthday to your Josie! Looks like she and my youngest would get along just fine...we made those same cakes for her birthday too, yum!

And yes, those blinks go by too fast!

TDM Wendy said...

SO awesome. Next time invite me please. Happy Birthday Josie. Way to party it up in style!

grey rose (they/them) said...

super gorgeous and fun!
your mama heart encourages me.
love you!

Stephanie said...

Oh my! I LOVE this! Such a great party for a sweet girl! Just the right amount of growing up stuff mixed with the sweetness of giddy little girls...PERFECT. Good job momma..I'm sure this is one she'll be talking about with her kids one day when she's reminiscing about her childhood :)