celebrating caroline!

We celebrated Caroline's 7th birthday this week!  Friday we arranged to get her out of school during break with the hopes of having waffles - BUT there was a possibility that a container would be arriving (wahoo!!!!) and the arrival (and unloading) of a container takes precedence over waffle making...so we had a back up plan of brownies....BUT, alas, the container did not arrive - so we had brownies AND waffles. 

Sweet friends giving Caroline their best piece of advice to one turning 7.

Some of the pieces of advice:

• wear sunscreen
• don't spit into the wind
• learn to eat like the Europeans (with your fork in your left hand, knife in your right)
• be kind to your little sister 
• learn a musical instrument
• be adventurous

Friday night Caroline got to change her earrings for the first time!  She chose to swap the little silver studs for pink & purple crowns.

Peering at her new bling

Saturday morning she (and the other 2 Cash kids) woke up exceptionally early.  She was super excited to open the gift that Yaya sent back with us this summer.  

Caroline with her "Favorite Things" quilt! 

After opening a few gifts, reminiscing about the morning she was born, eating breakfast & getting our things together, we loaded up with a few other families and went on our first "Congo Adventure."  We went to a place called "The Gorge" and spent the majority of the day hiking, picnicing and enjoying God's amazing creation.  (pictures to come soon!)

We got back to the ship in time for dinner & partying.  

Africa Mercy Tradition:  Someone rings the bell and announces your birthday then everyone sings (loudly!  and beats on the tables at the end!).  Nick did the honors. 

This video clip kind of captures it.  Watch out, Josh, your job may be in jeopardy after the world sees this awesome videography.

 

After dinner, all of the girls in the elementary (plus emma!)(grand total of 10)(two are missing from the picture) came up to our cabin for cupcakes and "Despicable Me" - and a crazy amount of popcorn...those girls can put away an insane amount of popcorn!

Birthdays are special...ship birthdays are extra special.  We think it has something to do with the fact that it's not about the party or the gifts or the money that is spent...it's about the person (which is what we always wanted it to be about when we lived in Georgia....but it seemed harder to achieve that goal for some reason or another).  Celebrating Caroline wasn't stressful or complicated or expensive...it was simple and inexpensive and significant.

Thanks to all of you who added to her joy yesterday with your kind words, phone calls, messages & cards.

Please pray for Caroline as God brings her to mind...may she be exactly who God wants her to be in every way possible.  May she love Him with all of her heart, soul, mind and strength.  May she know His love and be secure in His love.  May she rest in the goodness and kindness of her heavenly Father. May she be an instrument in His hands...useful and useable...bringing His love to this world in every way the Father designed her to.  May her life display the Fruit of His Spirit.

Surely there will be more to come.