I’ve always believed that Birthdays are to be celebrated. I’ve loved planning parties for my girls based on a theme they selected. Last year we were new in town so we surprised Shelton with a train trip to DC. Wonderful meals, surprise visitors, and a family party at the American Girl Store.

This year due to COVID19 we did not have the jump park party Shelton planned all year. Somehow though she was surprised and excited. She started the day off with her second annual birthday breakfast at the Waffle House with daddy. They have a bond that includes foodies that love the Waffle House. Shelton is fascinated watching them call out the orders, codes on the plates, and eating with her daddy. This fancy girl loves her daddy and the Waffle House. Daddy also dropped off Mama Crockets donuts to school!

After school she walked in to find a fancy dress and accessories before she was escorted to her birthday party for three. She’d always wanted to drink punch from a punch bowl and to have a fancy party. I incorporated what she described with lots of pink, flowers, beautiful cupcakes, and a beautiful cake. And earrings. Lots of earrings. She has a few more years (per the family rules) before she can have her ears pierced. That has not stopped her love of earrings.

To make things extra special we used our treasures. Her birthday knife from her aunt Say Say, pearls from her sister, candle stick holders and dinning room table from her grandmother, and dishes from her godmother. I cry when I think about all of the family that are not here celebrating with us though a part of them is.

The dishes are an absolute miracle. Shelton’s godmother was cleaning her parents home and came across a set of wedding china. Her mother no longer wanted them so she called and asked if we might want them for Shelton. She described them as simple with a silver band. Sight unseen I said yes! Later that week Shelton’s godmother called back and said she would send pictures of the china. To her amazement when she looked at the back of the plate it was written: Theodore Haviland Shelton

It could not have been anymore prefect! Tonight we told Shelton the story of her China.

We love our fancy girl who loves to dress up and to eat at the dinning room table but who also loves the Waffle House!

💗,

Julie

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17