In one month Lulu will celebrate her FIRST birthday!!!!!!! She just has too much stuff already!!!! So instead of getting gifts, Lulu is going to give them. Yesterday, I posted our link to clean:water. It is an awesome organization. In lieu of gifts, donations are made to clean:water on Lulu's behalf and it is spent to build wells in underprivileged areas.
Surprisingly, I've met some opposition to this proposal. Whenever I share with others that Lulu will not be having the traditional first birthday party, I am often given great "cost saving" ideals that would enable me to give her a party. I've been told that I could give her a party and ask for money instead of gifts -- which to me is like having a wedding and asking for money (to avoid a huge discussion about that, I will just say that's not my thing); one suggested I go to "the dollar store" and just at least decorate. I'm not sure what would be the point of spending money when even $20.00 makes a huge difference in a project like this. Lulu will have a cake event. Cake, maybe ice cream (a signature drink for her Mom :). We will take pictures and I'm sure the Grandma's and aunts will come, but we won't do any party favors, or invites, or anything like that. I don't think that Lulu will remember much. I believe that special days are important. I pray that she will certainly have many special days. I just want them to be special for her!
More than anything, I know Lulu has all that she needs at this time. I am blessed to have Lulu but it is because her birth parents did not have all they needed such as medicine and clean water that she is with us today. Her mother died because of that lack of clean water. I am mindful of that DAILY!!! This matters to me, it matters to us and it matters to them. Giving is not a requirement, I only want people to do what they want to do. But I really ain't interested in the naysayers :(
On another note, my sister had a Meet and Greet this weekend for Scotland Rose :)
TTYL!
I think thats an awesome idea. Very touching.
ReplyDeleteI think your birthday "celebration" is wonderful. A beautiful tribute to her birth parents. I feel sorry for people who don't get it and think you are robbing her of a first birthday.
ReplyDeleteLuLu is too cute. Always follow your heart eventually others will come around. I LOVE THE IDEA !!!
ReplyDeleteDo.You.And.Don't.Look.Back!!!!
ReplyDeleteRobbin, I'm so proud of you and Lulu and how the two of you have chosen the BEST part of life celebrating---GIVING!
And "eff" the Dollar Tree. Half of that junk is made in china to kill us here in the US of A, the other half is stale and "ain't" fit to eat (well maybe some of the stuff is okay, but it's calorie-piling if it's edible). I hate the Dollar Tree (can you tell I hate the Dollar Tree----yuck)!
Do.You.And.Don't.Look.Back!!!!
Oh Robin - this is such a wonderful idea! Lulu will appreciate this act so much more than the photographs of decorations in the house.
ReplyDeleteWhen i look at all the toys Quinn has at seven years old it's difficult not to get discouraged. What is he learning from all of this?
I appreciate your thoughtfulness and your sharing.
Thanks.
Oh Robin - this is such a wonderful idea! Lulu will appreciate this act so much more than the photographs of decorations in the house.
ReplyDeleteWhen i look at all the toys Quinn has at seven years old it's difficult not to get discouraged. What is he learning from all of this?
I appreciate your thoughtfulness and your sharing.
Thanks.
I agree with the others. Excellent idea and one that makes Lulu's first birthday even that much more special! I agree that it is a wonderful tribute to her history and her Ethiopian family. If people don't get that, then really they're missing out on quite an inspiring event.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful idea for her birthday!
ReplyDeleteI am always shocked when people just refuse to respect a person's wishes. Why do they feel the need to pass judgment or act as if you don't know what you're talking about? Harumph!
p.s. time to change your ticker :-D
ReplyDeleteI love it and could cry as I read how beautiful it all is - you are teaching Lulu lessons early on of how to give when we have been given much.
ReplyDeleteand your friend Jebena is funny - I love the dollar tree critique =)