photo source: earle hatsumy
I never intended to have big, fun parties for my kids. It started when Lydia turned one. We had recently moved back to Atlanta and I wanted my best friends, my sisterchicks to be at the party. I see kids’ birthday parties as a time to honor the friends and family who have encouarged us, cared for us and supported us over the last year. That first birthday party is the biggest one—it’s kind of a celebration to say, “We made it! Thank you for helping us through this year!”
I love that I can gather my best friends, my family and new friends together in one spot. It does my heart good to see them all together. It also gives me the chance to do something for them. Yes, I know, they brought my kid a present. But I hope they feel honored by us while they are there, too. I hope they see that we thought of them beforehand. I hope they see their kid having a great time. I hope they enjoy the food!
(And really, their kids usually end up with a gift anyway. Did you see those airplanes?!)
That’s also what I hope you feel and see at this blog. I am purposing in my heart to prepare a special place for you. I want you to feel honored, cared for and planned for when you click away from here. And even though our kids won’t really be running around the backyard together or take home an airplane or a crazy hair do, I hope through the things we discuss and share on this blog, your kids will have a great time!
So, can we be friends? Will you hang at this party with me? I sure hope so!
In honor of friendship, of fun gifts and oh, just super cute stuff. Here’s a quick and fun giveaway for you today.
One lovely lady will win a beautiful Redeemed scarf…
an I am His necklace (the back is the cutest part…click to see it!)…
and a Treasured bracelet...
from the super fabulous Dayspring!
Speaking of honoring their friends, Dayspring is the BOSS of this! When I was at dotMom, they gave me (and all the bloggers there) the most super gift ever–one of the new Lisa Leonard necklaces with an initial charm attached. Hello! Talk about planning for me. I don’t even write for incourage, I have no connection to Dayspring. Yet, they knew I would be at the conference and dug out an “A” charm just for me. I still haven’t gotten over it. (Clearly, I love my name and an “A” just knocked my socks off!)
So, can we be friends? To be entered to win, leave me a comment about…oh, I don’t know, your very best childhood friend or how much you’d like us to be BFFs. Whatever. 😉
CONTEST CLOSED!!!
Have you downloaded your copy of Praying God’s Word for Your Kids yet? Subscribe to get it for FREE!
affiliate links included
My BFF and I used to work together over 15 years ago. Although we don’t talk daily and only see each other a couple times a year, I know she is always there for me!
I just moved to a new city and the best thing I did wasn’t buy a new leather couch (microsuede + a toddler = DISASTER) it was join our local MOPS group. To have a group of Christian moms always at hand for swapping ideas and sharing prayers is a true Godsend. I am so blessed to have a group of new BFFs that support my journey in raising a Champion of Christ…. That will definitely come in handy if my son and his new buds raise half the you know what me and my BFFs did…’But Mom the whole box of detergent made so many bubbles and what is better than a bubble filled town fountain. It looks like snow!”
I am in for it
A friend just recommended your blog. Looking forward to reading more!
My BFF’s name is Emily and we met when I was 14. We don’t talk too often these days (she lives a few states over) but every time we do talk it’s like no time has passed at all. 🙂 Thanks for the chance to win!
I googled “how to cut a paper star” and stumbled upom your site. I’m glad I did!
my BFF is also my SIL and we have such fun when we are together- a look can set us into roaring laughter.. nothing like it…. if I win, she would really love these things!
Who WOULDN’T want to be your BFF?! Thankful for your ministry, loving the new space, and excited for all God is doing through you!
Thank you, Erika! 🙂
a
So excited for your ‘newish’ merged space! My sisters were my best friends and I’ve compared nearly every other relationship against that one. I’m feeling so blessed these days to have a few friends who feel like sisters and to experience some of that childhood bff again now!
You remind me of some of my favorite friends 🙂 If we had gone to the same college, I probably would’ve followed you around like a puppy 🙂
That literally made me laugh out loud! 🙂
a
I meet my best childhood friend when I was 4 and we just met up again a couple of years ago (she is in Aus and Im in NZ now) when we were both pregnant. It was like there hadn’t been years inbetween!
I want to hang out at the party with you!! Looks so pretty around here! 🙂
My BFF growing up was a girl named Christy and every chance we could get to play together, we would! We lived a cornfield away from each other. Many special memories.
I met my BFF by accident one day in 1st grade, when my mother almost walked out of the school with her instead of me. We were born two days apart; both rail thin with red hair, green eyes and an abundance of freckles. Our parents survived two inseperable, giggly girls from that moment on by shuffling us back and forth every weekend.
We lost track of each other after high school but, in His usual (wonderful) way, God brought us back together as adults about 10 years ago. She is a sister and friend. She knows all my secrets and she STILL loves me.
I met my BFF when I was 3 and we have been friends ever since! Although we have busy lives now with husbands, jobs, and kids, we still know how much our friendship means!
I met my best friend when I was 14! She and I went to different schools, but we went to church together. She and I have remained the best of friends through many life changing events. We have been there for each other through wedding, car accidents which almost took a life, a total of 5 babies between the both of us, deaths, and one babies heart surgery. I know that we have remained friends through it all because the Lord is first, family is second, then our friendship!!!
Since I moved far away for college and then moved on again after that, I hadn’t stayed close to many friends from childhood. FB has brought some people back into my life that I was so glad to have back – like my oldest childhood friend from pre-school – or the 2 sets of couples that I went to school with all the way from kindergarten through high school, when no one was dating anyone, but I get on FB and see these dear people married each other long after college…
I truly would love to meet you in real life on this side of eternity and party together and have our kids play together! I take comfort in knowing that we’ll all get to party forever together in eternity, but it would still be fun to meet & give each other a real hug. I sometimes have met people briefly, knowing I’ll possibly never see them again in this life, but I get that feeling that we would be good friends, if given the opportunity. It feels a little weird to say it here, but I have felt that about you, Amanda. 🙂 I have felt that heart-connect and I feel welcomed and accepted by you, even though we hardly know each other at all. Thanks for that! 🙂
By BFF in middle school and I put band aids on our hips when we were apart. Since we were usually attached there, the wounds were usually fresh:-).
I remember staying up really late just talking to my best friend. We knew everything about each other.
In my head, we are totally friends. I thought you knew that?? 😉
My BFFs are my sisters-in-law that I am soooooo blessed with, a mom I met a baby story time five years ago and now talk to every day, and my BFF from 8th grade who I once traded notes with containing code names for our crushes.
Love this giveaway!
Ohhhh Amanda . . . your encouragement and love for fun are infectious and even though my kids are too old for most of the things I read on your blog, I am finding myself contemplating an airplane party for my soon-to-be 18 year-old!!! I am so excited about your ebook. I love the topic. I was part of an amazing Moms In Touch group for many years which taught me how to pray scripture for my children. So powerful and encouraging. Many blessings to you and your ministry!
I’m looking forward to your future posts. As a mom of three (with seven years in between the youngest and two oldest), I’m in need of fresh inspiration.
My bestie is Brandi. I love that we can always pick up where we left off 🙂
We already are BFFs. Duh.
Love girlie things! Thanks for thinking of us!
I could sure use help in the department of fashion accessories! 🙂 What lovely items!!
Thanks for all the fun ideas for friends!
My (adult) BFF just celebrated her first anniversary this week and they are expecting their first baby in Feb… I am over the moon excited for her!! SHe’s waited so long for these blessings! Thanks for the giveaway! 😀
My BFF is my husband, but always looking for new friends!
My BFFs growing up were Susan and Nora. Best memories with them were making forts in the woods and having sleepovers. Feel bad that we lost touch. 🙁
I’m sure we’d be the best of friends…if only you lived near the Rocky Mountains!
My best friend is my cousin – and we have been having fun since we were babies!
One of my best friends moved in the last year, and I’ve really noticed the difference! She just had twins and oh, how my heart longs to be with her, to help her out with her big kids and anything. She encourages me in the Lord and believes in me, I appreciate her and miss her so much!
My very best friend from childhood is now an amazing 2nd grade teacher at my children’s school. I love bumping into her there and I love remembering all the good times we had together when we were little
I’m new to your blog,I hope this the beginning of a long a friendship!!
You totally crack me up! I am excited for this new blog….and the eBook! It is SO important to pray scripture over my kiddos….thanks for the reminder, dear friend!!
My best childhood friend was Jennifer…. she and I moved the same year and we’ve lost contact. 🙁 It would be great to reconnect!
I had a lot of friends as a child, but haven’t really kept in touch.