Happy Birthday Party!

Every Agape Home child has a celebration of their birthday each year---for many, the first ever birthday celebrations they have ever had! It still touches me after all these years to see how excited they all get...the build-up, the anticipation, and the HUGE smiles on the "big day"! I love being here to share in some of those special days...and with 72 children and young people in residence currently, chances are pretty good that I will catch at least one party no matter what time of the year I am here!! In the "old days", we used to be able to celebrate each day separately...but with so many now, the practice is to group children who share the same day/week for their party. The practical impact is just the same though---as no matter how many birthday boys and girls are being celebrated, each sits in their own specially decorated chair, has their own birthday cake and candles to blow out, and thier own bag of presents chosen just for them. We had such a celebration just this last Monday---and it was as great as ever! My favorite part comes at the end though, when one child is chosen from the celebrants to step forward and offer a prayer for the birthday child. It is a special moment indeed---often followed up with squeals of laughter, and cake-eating, and at least one balloon "fight"!!