SWEET SIXTEEN {Doctor Who Birthday Bash}

What is a mom to do when her baby girl turns sixteen!? How does she cope? Well, this mama distracted herself by diving deep into creating a mature, yet fun filled Dr Who Birthday Party! The girl is a Whovian of Whovians, and has asked, and asked, and asked for a Tardis Bedroom door for her room. However, I repeatedly refused to have the bright blue Tardis in my hallway… I eventually gave in, which turned into her first Birthday Surprise…

How'd it happen? Well I knew I didn't want to paint her door permanently Tardis blue. You see these things come and go… She wanted to be a skater for a few years, so we did her room in graffiti and skateboards…

But she quickly outgrew that idea… and I know she'll outgrow The Doctor. At least I hope. So I took some measurements, visited a local resale shop, and purchased an old used door for $10. Next I took some Rustoleum Paint + Primer spray paint to it. Three Cans!  This stuff dries quick, which is perfect for the not so patient DIYer.

I was left disappointed and felt it needed more dimension, so I had the hubby cut some strips of wood for me and attached them with good ole Elmer's Wood Glue. Then I sprayed again, getting all the cracks and crevices.

Next, USE GOOGLE! I found and printed the 'Police Public Call Box' and 'Free For Use of Public' signs, attaching and sealing them with Mog Podge. That stuff is amazing!

For the windows I simply painted them white and drew black window panes with a paint marker.

Realizing (too late) that I should have sanded the door down before painting, and that the spray paint was scratching off effortlessly, I got the Mod Podge back out and Mod Podged the whole door! 

It turned out amazing! Far better than I had envisioned! BTW, I did both sides, that way I get to have a Tardis in my hallway (I know, what have I become!?) and she gets to have one in her room as well J Smart, I know.

Next project… You cannot have a Doctor Who Party without The Doctor Himself. So, deciding on the Eleventh Doctor, and again using good ole Google Images, I created a life-size Doctor. I did this by creating a 50" X 72" Document in Photoshop. After Printing the entire thing out on card-stock (45 sheets to be exact), I cut them out and put it together like a puzzle. Again I got out my handy Mog Podge and glued it all down to a large refrigerator box. After it was glued, I Mod Podged over the top as well. Next, using a box cutter, I cut The Doctor out, leaving a strip attached to the bottom for folding under and helping him to stand. Again, the result was awesome! Seriously, do you guys have any clue how much these things are in stores? 

Here are some of other things I did to make this party memorable…

I began by making and sending out these invitations.

We decorated the front door with a plastic blue tablecloth and some printed out Tardis signs.

We hung Cassandra (the last human) on the wall and decorated a lasagna with red bell pepper, apple, cherry tomato, and lettuce to look like her as well.

Using an image of the Tardis and Microsoft Word, I made a Happy Birthday Banner on card-stock.

I strung lights through it (it was supposed to look like Tardis lights) and forgot to take a picture if it… too many things on my mind… but you can see it partially in this photo.

MY GIRL AND HER PROUD MAMA

Here is the cake table-

Complete with Fish Fingers and Custard, bow ties, and official suspenders and bow tie for the birthday girl (from ebay for $6.00).

Korrie with her Doctor Who Cake. I ordered the edible paper from Ebay. My plan was to make a cake, but there just happened to be one on the discount rack screaming my name! Make a cake? Aint no one got time for that! I gently placed the edible paper, and added some blue spray (edible of course) and sprinkles.

The cupcakes may have been my favorite. I made a cupcake tower following this tutorial, ordered edible cupcake toppers on Ebay, and printed off these Dalek and Tardis cupcake wrappers. Again I used blue spray and sprinkles. They were so cute! (The popcorn boxes were downloaded from here.)

You can't have a Doctor Who Party without Bowties for everyone to wear, Adipose, Gummy Babies, and Sonic Screwdrivers.

I made the Bowties with red napkins and ribbon. I included peel and stick safety pins for all the guests J

The Adipose were done by gluing mini marshmallows to regular marshmallows (using melted white chocolate). I added sprinkles and painted the faces on with an edible marker.

Sonic Screwdrivers were simple: dip pretzel sticks in melted white chocolate, spray blue, and add sprinkles. 

For the photo booth I made masks by printing them out on card-stock and gluing skewers to them.

I wrapped her gift in blue paper and again printed out Tardis signs. What a cute package!

On one wall we added The Crack in Time and Space and had Rory and Amy coming out of it. 

And THAT, my friends is a successful Doctor Who/Sweet Sixteen Party!

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My Girl

What am I building in my children? What do I hope to instill in them now and in the future? I suppose the answers can vary from one child to the next and from one season to another, depending on the battles they’re fighting and the lessons they’re learning.

Korrie, I’m thinking about you today! Been thinking about you all morning as a matter of fact. Some day, when you have children of your own, you’re going to look back on these years and understand why your mother was such a lunatic. Some day you will watch your own children walk through these same flames and say, “Wow, how did my mamma do that?” Some day you will spend all day thinking about your child and praying because in those flames, that’s all you’ll be able to do. And some day you will reflect on these moments and thank God for such a wonderful mamma (ok, you may never do that last one, but I can certainly hope, right! J)

I know you had a rough morning and you know I tried to encourage you, telling you not to cry, telling you “EVERYTHING’S GONNA BE OKAY, KORRIE!” But I know you didn’t believe me. That’s alright; I have to say it anyways because in the end, everything WILL be okay.

After you worked so hard, putting everything you had into that silly project, I knew you were proud of yourself. I could see the satisfaction of a job well done (even though you waited ‘til the last minute… yea, that whole procrastination thing…. sorry about that… I would have much rather passed on my love for shoes, handbags, or french manicures… but it turns out you got none of that). You not only completed the task, you completed it well! I love seeing that in you! Remember the poem we used to quote over and over when you were little:

All that you do, do with your might.

Things done by halves, are never done right.

I think there was more to it, but I recall reinforcing those specific words year after year. So after you put everything you had into it, and then you dropped it on hard, cold concrete, I know you thought the world stopped spinning. There was glass everywhere, a missing moth, and several insects now without adequate legs and body parts. Um….. are you sure insects can’t have just four legs? Looking back now, you know what I love about this whole ordeal? YOU!

What’s important to me? What do I seek to build in you? What do I desire to watch God teach you? Character. That’s my answer in this season for you. I’ve listened to you cry. I’ve watched your tears of frustration, and ached as you’ve dealt with hurt feelings, and learned from your own poor choices. I’ve watched you turn in repentance and begin to come willingly to a God and a mom who loves and supports you. I am seeing you laugh and love and enjoy these years! Your teenage years!

So when you freak out and get upset because your project is ruined and you’re bound to get a failing grade, I rejoice! I rejoice that you care enough to freak out and get so upset. I rejoice that you’re real enough to let the tears fall. I know how impossible it is at times to have such strong emotions over the smallest of things (again, this mama is guilty for passing that one on), but please don’t forget that God gave you those emotions. He has bestowed in you a heart that cares about your grades; a heart that sees another in pain and aches as they ache; a heart that questions her own actions when a friend lashes out on you for no apparent reason; a heart that reflects a Creator who loves you passionately and unconditionally. And that love He has for you- it does not cease when you turn in a dismantled insect project- because that love is a love like no other; a love you cannot earn; a love you cannot lessen; a love that is not moved or shaken by any storm or flame you encounter.

Remember Korrie, in this world, you are guaranteed trials. You WILL walk through flames and storms. The question is, how will you come out on the other side? What or who will your character reflect? Trials are ok! And in the midst of those trials, never forget that “EVERYTHING’S GONNA BE OKAY, KORRIE!” Because He’s got you in the palm of His hand, He knows the beginning from the end, His plans for you are perfect, and this mom supports you. Always!

The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord,

Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.

Proverbs 21:1

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The Silver Lining

I don’t mean to be a Debby Downer going on and on about my family’s struggles and heartaches, but let’s face it, life is hard, and sometimes we need to know that it’s just as hard for others as well.  We also need to glimpse that silver lining; to know that somewhere in what seems an impossible, unrelenting tempest, there’s hope, and light is shining through those dark clouds.

Lately I’ve been walking one of the most difficult paths, facing a storm whose strength is unlike any other I have encountered. The waves are crashing in, knocking me down, taking every ounce of joy, comfort, and life I possess; leaving me exhausted and sorrowful. This storm- seeing my girl face life for the first time.

I can’t bear to see the wounds! I can’t endure the pain she’s facing! I want to take every tear, every disappointment, every moment of loneliness, and carry it for her! But I can’t, and this scares me.

As we sat quietly, listening to her share, and cry, and cry some more, I couldn’t help but weep myself. It was such a relief to see her finally open up. What a blessing to hear the heart of my baby girl. But it tore me in half listening to the pain. She’s hurting! She’s facing life’s struggles, and those struggles are no longer as simple as choosing which cereal to eat for breakfast or what color to paint her nails. My girl is encountering trials, and these trials are not short lived, but will continue to challenge her for years to come.

Where’s the silver lining here? These struggles she’s facing- I’ve faced them time and again. The loneliness she’s experiencing- I’ve experienced it so often myself. Those feelings of hopelessness; that sense of being alone and having no one who can relate- I know that feeling! I can empathize with my daughter’s season of sadness because I have faced these seasons myself; and this is my silver lining.

However, a fourteen year old struggles to find comfort in her mother’s wisdom or in the fact that Jesus Christ faced similar trials and felt similar pain. I have no magic words that will wipe away the hurt or shorten the storm. I cannot take away the grief, lessen the sorrow, or remove her from the trial. What I can do is be there to listen, remind her that she’s loved, and pray with her and for her. I have set an alarm on my phone at a precise time each day; at a time when my girl faces her struggles; at a time I anticipate God will speak to her, comfort her, and use her to reach out to others.

I’m here for you. I’m listening to your struggles. I feel your pain. I am praying you through this. I love you <3

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Everything's Gonna Be Okay

“Everything’s gonna be okay, mom!”

She’s been yelling it through the house for weeks now. I’m not sure what started it, or why she feels the need to remind me every day, over, and over, and over again. Am I so stressed and overwhelmed with life that my fourteen-year-old feels the need to put things back into perspective for me? I certainly hope not! But, I welcome these words!

“Everything’s gonna be okay, mom!”

From out of nowhere they smack me in the face, and instantly I feel relief. What’s funny is that most of the time I don’t even realize my stress. There I am, going about my daily duties, folding clothes, sweeping the floor, driving the kids to school, and BAM- those words are thrown at me. It’s at that moment that I feel the weight of the world on my shoulders. It’s at that moment that I allow myself to exhale and relax. It’s at that moment that I realize everything IS going to be okay. EVERYTHING! And it’s at that moment that I am incredibly thankful for my fourteen-year-old! (Oh how I NEED to be thankful for her; to be reminded of how precious she is and how much I need her.)

I love how God speaks to me- in so many ways. I love that He allows me to be taught by the one I am obligated to teach. Doesn’t He know exactly WHAT to say, and exactly HOW to say it?! Only He knows that anyone else could say those exact words to me, and they wouldn’t quite have the same effect.

“Everything’s gonna be okay, mom!”

Yes, EVERYTHING IS going to be okay!