We Will Always Birthday.
Chris Ladd is the man of my dreams, BUT he's got a few things to learn about life. Ok, its' just one thing: BIRTHDAYS.
I love to celebrate and have infused that love into my children. Lifa is an absolute boss at celebration, and one of Benjamin's first words was "Hooray!" (Future daughters-in-law, you are welcome.)
In our earliest days, Chris told me he wouldn't mind if he never celebrated a birthday again. I didn't even let him finish explaining that nonsensical thought process. I just looked him square in the eye and said, "When you married me, you gave up the right to be un-celebrated."
He's really tested that statement.
His last two birthdays were two of our all-time hardest days. Not because they were his birthday, but because of all the other circumstances of life. His 38th birthday was last Saturday, June 5th. FINALLY the circumstantial tides have turned. Just as I started birthday planning, Chris "Birthday-Boundary-Pusher" Ladd chucked these curveballs at me:
1. "We need to go on a spending freeze. No extra spending on anything for any reason. Bare bones."
2. "I'm going on a spiritual fast. I am only drinking water and coffee. No food."
3. "I've invited a couple over for breakfast so we can talk through the wedding I'm officiating for them. I know it's on my birthday, but it's important to talk about their marriage."
4. "I need to work on my sermon the rest of the day on my birthday."
Cool, babe.
No birthday food. (What is life without birthday food?)
No money-spending. (Gifts are his love language.)
No celebration plans. (It's actually inhumane.)
Finally, the man conceded. "Just let me get ready for church on Saturday. I will let you do whatever you want on Sunday." He only had to say it once. He didn't even know that, by the next morning, we had blasted social media with a message for the church about his birthday. (He's not on social media at all.)
We had THE BEST birthday weekend! Benjamin woke his daddy up with birthday balloons straight in his face and a perfectly 2-year old card. We put up a few celebration decorations, and broke the rules to give him a gift... that he loved.
The church came prepared on Sunday from the messages I had sent out and social media posts. I set up a birthday station - helium balloons, a big red birthday card drop-off box, and art supplies to make birthday cards. Our incredible church filled that box with love and sang over him with joy during the service. Later that day, our home and hearts were full of friends who are like family. It was an incredible day.
We will always be birthday people. It's always worth it.
When the years are hard, we will birthday anyway. When there are stifling parameters, we will birthday anyway. It's not about the conditions. Circumstances are never promised, and they never stay the same. But we become who we are year by year. We punctuate our lives through meaningful days and moments.
I will always go overboard for birthdays because I want the people in my house to know they are worth more than what makes sense to them. Their lives are worth celebrating even if their circumstances aren't yet. We will always find a way to birthday!
