Babydoll Party

My little Madie loves baby dolls.  She always has a doll in tow.  So I knew this had to be the theme for her 4th birthday party.

The Decorations
Pink polka-dots with a bit of vintage.  I got the party paper wears at a great discount online site.  I used to make the flower tissue puffs but you can get them in a two pack at hobby lobby for the same price at buying tissue paper.  So its a time saver.  I made the garland from dollies.  Just fold in half and string on baby yarn.  The baby clip art printables I ordered as a download from Esty.  I'm totally doing this again instead of trying to make my own.  I had never made garland with strips of fabric before.  It was cute but a bit time consuming. 

The Eats
I saw the watermelon baby carriage on Pinterest.  It was pretty easy to do if you have done a watermelon basket before.  You just use toothpicks to hold the wheels and handle in place.  I served a simple snack - fruit and animal crackers  (I had not had animal crackers in forever and could not stop eating them myself!)  Cupcakes were from the box - Strawberry.  I used to try homemade but they never seemed to be as good as the box.  Let me know if you have a great recipe! 

The Activities
I set up three stations that the our guest could play at with their baby dolls.  We also decorted "diaper bags" and had a stroller race.

The Favors
I made baby diapers from patterned felt and gave the guest baby doll bottles that said, "You're a doll! Thanks for coming to my party."

It was the sweetest party ever!  Madie loved playing babies with her friends and I loved watching the girls play too.  If you have a daughter who loves playing babies, I would totally recommend this party theme. 

A Heavenly Father for Father’s Day

I made the drive to the most unlikeliest of places to see my dad on Father’s day...in prison.

As I drove up my heart hurt.  Hurt because I didn’t have what every little girl really wants.  A Father that can be her hero.  A Father who is faithful.  A Father who is there.  Though I’ve grieved this many times before, Father’s Day always reminds me of the hurt again.  

Yet in the midst of the hurt, I had hope.  

Hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. Romans 5:5

Yes I had hope.  Hope because I know my journey is not done yet.  God has been patient with me, as I’ve walked the path of choosing forgiveness.  And He will continue to walk with me.  He never expected my hurt to be healed overnight.  He whispered His Truth over and over again to my hurting heart.  I’m deeply and completely loved! (1 John 4:10)

He is a Father to the fatherless. Psalms 68:5

Yes at times, I feel fatherless.  But I do have a perfect heavenly Father.  One who is my hero.  One who will not fail me.  All earthly father’s will fail.  They are human just like us.  Some seem to fail in our eyes more than others.  If that has been part of your journey my heart hurts right along with yours.  

You received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba”, Father.  Romans 8:15

So I’m choosing to rejoice today.  Because, though my earthly father has not been what every little girls wants, I have a amazing heavenly Father who is all I could want and so much more.  The best part... you can rejoice too.