Bird Day

Just recently a former colleague shared a sweet story of celebrating fun accomplishments in her family. This is what she shared.

"We celebrate Bird Days. Early in our marriage, someone gave me this dorky little crystal bird that held a birthday candle. Sigh. Soon after, one of the kids came home with news of a fun accomplishment that deserved to be celebrated. So I grabbed the bird and put it her place at the supper table. When we all came to the table, we lit the candle. She got to share her good news and we sang, 'Happy Bird Day," while she blew out the candle and made a wish. Bird Days became our way of celebrating promotions, good grades, good deeds, rights of passage, you name it. The kids were eager to whisper "Mom, I think that deserves a Bird Day." My daughter and son will now tell me their spouse deserves a Bird Day next time we gather for a meal. God inspires! Grab those memory making opportunities that unite you and run with them."

She added that she recently purchased her pregnant daughter a pewter bird to begin her own Bird Days. Now we're not necessarily suggested you get a bird candle holder, but her point about celebrating those accomplishments and sweet moments is certainly valid. There are so many challenges in life that people deal with, that to take time out to celebrate the special moments and precious victories is worth it and so much fun. It's similar to our Joy Jar (blog Dec. 31 of last year) talking about writing down special moments to remember and read about at the end of the year. But this is endearing in that it truly celebrates the joy in the moment. Kinda like when we got ice cream cones for every first and last day of school. With all life throws at people, we need to celebrate all we can.

It's part of edification and building up one another as in 1 Thessalonians 5:11. "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing." Enjoy those times and celebrate as often as you can. Those are memories worth making for the people you love.

Discussion: What are ways you have celebrated special moments or acknowledged accomplishments in your beloved? Is there something you would like to do similar to Bird Days?

Prayer: Lord, we are so blessed by you and we love to celebrate those blessings. Help us remember to pause in life to rejoice in those special events. In Christ we pray, Amen.

In A Flash

Recently a friend posted a picture of their daughter hamming it up in a photo while using the family's new Selfie Stick or the official title "Portable Handheld Selfie Stick Self Timer Monopod Extendible Stand Holder Mount For Camera." Yeah, I agree, Selfie Stick is enough. So instead of arm's length photos of yourself, you can extend your PHSSSTMESHMFC (yeah, Selfie Stick is still better), to the desired length away and get more than just your shoulders and head in a picture. It's a great new device.

While touring your reception venue, we saw a wedding planned there had a corner set up for a photo booth. A huge hit at weddings, people can dress up goofily for photos with props, signs, back drops and the like. We've decided to have a twist on it and instead have a Selfie Station. People will use their own cellphones and a selfie stick if necessary to take their picture, hashtag your wedding (#zgogginwedding or whatever you choose) then post it to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and the like. This way they get to keep the pictures and you get a sweet remembrance of your special day. It replaces the old "disposable cameras on everyone's table" thing for spur-of-the-moment photos. It's fun for everyone.

It will also be fun for you and I over the next few months as we find props, make signs and find frames to use for the Selfie Station. Knowing how much I love pictures (as expressed here a couple days ago), I can't wait to see what pictures people take at the wedding.

Scripture tells us 1 Corinthians 15:52 when Christ returns we will be changed " in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet..." In some versions, like the NIV, that first phrase says "in a flash," so capturing that period of time - in a moment, in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye - is a sweet treasure to be sure. Think of them as capturing God's moments in time. Laughter, smiles and fun, framed forever, this will be a precious part of the celebration. Thankfully, when God does the changing on that last day captured in that moment of time, it's permanent and perfect.

Discussion: What are some props you would like as part of the Selfie Station? What should some signs say? What about frames?

Prayer: Lord, we thank you for every split second of our lives. We thank you for the ability to capture those moments and remember the times. But we thank you most of all that one day, in that moment, in that twinkling of an eye, we will be changed forever and given heavenly bodies to dwell with you in Paradise. Thank you for Jesus. In His name, Amen.