Candy Land
I went to Candy Land this weekend. And trust me on this one, in Candy Land you eat way more sugar than you should. But when you get a birthday invitation to this kind of party, you just don’t miss it.
Because she’s turning four years old, and she’s really special to me.
I haven’t seen her for almost a year. The time is passing quickly, and she is growing so fast. But I vividly remember the very first time I met this little girl.
She was still in the womb.
And things seemed hopeless. But I’ll let her mommy tell you about that…
“My story about finding out I was pregnant and making the hardest decision of my life, is something I don’t talk about often. It was by FAR the scariest time of my life. I didn’t know if/how I could be a mother but I was selfish and didn’t want to give up my teenage life. But then I went to the pregnancy center. If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t have my daughter. They are the ones who told me I was pregnant. They are the ones who calmed me down and talked me through decisions I had to make, before I told anyone else. They are the ones who believed in me and made me believe that I could do it. They are the ones who stood by my side when I heard my daughter’s heartbeat for the first time. I’m forever thankful for the community pregnancy center for their impact in my life and saving me and my daughter.”
That was years ago, and today that young woman is sure making “mommying” look effortless. She works a job and goes to school full-time, and how she found the energy and time to pull off this extravagant party is a mystery to me. She confides to me that she’s exhausted. She stayed up late working on the final details, but she doesn’t look tired to me. She’s stunning. I’m kind of in awe of her.
The whole thing is just picture perfect.
When the time comes to open presents, we all gather around to watch our birthday girl unwrap her treasures. And I’m totally struck by something she does.
Every. Single. Time.
I’ve never seen a child her age do it in quite this way. With every gift bag her tiny hand excitedly fishes at the bottom until she finds the envelope. Each time she hands the card to her mommy and says, “Can you help me with what these says ‘decause’ I can’t read.
I saw her do it when she opened the first gift, and I thought it was adorable.
But she does it with EVERY card.
And as the sentiments are read aloud to her, this four-year-old beauty hangs intently on each word. And she punctuates the end of each “love note” with a girly giggle.
She loves to hear how loved she is.
And it occurred to me, this child has no idea how far and wide this love extends. Love from people who despite never having met her wanted her to be born.
People like YOU.
Your gifts and faithful “love notes” made it possible for her teenager mom to have a place to go when she was in a dark place. You gave the hope she desperately needed and because of that, a fourth birthday was celebrated this weekend. A LIFE was celebrated this weekend.
“It’s time for cake!” she tells me. She’s hopping up and down, fists clutched to her chest. I’m not sure I need more sugar but her excitement is contagious.
“Oooo….are you going to blow out the candles?” I ask her.
She nods enthusiastically.
I bend down and whisper, “What are you going to wish for?”
She isn’t sure. I don’t think she even thought about it until that moment.
I scan the room filled grandparents, aunts, uncles, and friends. They adore this child—it’s so apparent. She’s made an impact in their lives.
“Oh, that’s okay,” I reassure her.
I think to myself, “You don’t need a thing, Sweetheart, you already have everything that matters.
-Traci Lester, Client Services Director
