~Twins Baby Shower~
This past weekend Grandma, Steph, Elim and I threw Mom a Dr. Seuss themed baby shower. It was so much fun to put together, and we took lots of pictures to share with you.
Our decorations were all Dr. Seuss themed! We hung these Thing 1 and Thing 2 onesies on the wall with colored twine and mini clothespins.
We printed out Dr. Seuss quotes and framed them and put Dr. Seuss books out for decoration.
Our color scheme was red, white, and blue.
Elim made this adorable 'Double the Fun' banner, and we hung up red tissue paper balls that we bought at Walmart.
We set up a book signing table, where guests could sign the Cat in the Hat book and leave messages inside for the twins.
We bought and printed out these adorable Diaper Raffle Tickets. We put them inside the invitations, and we also printed out extra and put them on a table in case people forgot them.
Our two big prizes were a movie basket and a tea basket. Our movie basket had candy (whoppers, swedish fish, and sour patch kids), soda, popcorn, and redbox gift cards. Our tea basket had a mug, assorted teas, and Milano cookies. Our movie basket prize was for the diaper raffle, and our tea basket prize was for the Dr. Seuss matching game.
While Mom was opening presents we set a timer. Every 6-7 minutes we would give out one of our centerpieces as a prize. We bought jars from Walmart and filled them with America Mix skittles.
Grandma picked some Dr. Seuss books and made a Dr. Seuss matching game. To win the game you had to correctly match the most Dr. Seuss quotes with the correct books.
Our food was so much fun to put together! We kept everything Dr. Seuss themed.
We bought a fishbowl and filled it with goldfish. We used a fish net to serve them in.
Of course we had to have 'green eggs and ham,' so we made deviled eggs and colored them green with Wilton neon green coloring. Grandma made her delicious ham salad sandwiches to go with them.
We played off the 'Hop on Pop' book by serving 'Hop on Popcorn.' This was dark chocolate peanut butter drizzled popcorn from Sam's Club.
I made a tiered cake with my cake pans that I got for Christmas. It was my first tiered cake, and I love how it turned out! I dyed the layers of the cake various bright colors and I tried a new flavoring in my frosting: vanilla custard buttercream. It was delicious! I love the Wilton Treatology Flavor System! It has so many amazing flavorings. I did the different layers white and blue, adding borders, shaggy mums, and two little Thing 1 and Thing 2 cake toppers that Elim made for me.
We registered Mom on Amazon. Shaila loved helping Mom open her gifts!
Krista did an amazing job with coordinating everything. She wrote a devotional for Mom, which I've included below.
Some thoughts as you prepare to
welcome your twin boys into your big, wonderful family…
I was excited to be asked to do this devotional in theory,
but then as the time drew closer, I got a little intimidated. I realized that
it was going to be impossible for me to say anything to Megan that she doesn’t
already know and put into practice 1,000 times better than I ever could! She is
organized and disciplined and wise.
She has a daily schedule that she actually sticks to –
something I never managed to do. Her marker board looks like she’s running a
small country singlehandedly, which she essentially is. She homeschools
practically every grade simultaneously, preschool through 11th, and
keeps every kid busy and challenged. They’re all turning out so smart that I’m
afraid to get into a conversation with any but the youngest three for fear I
won’t be able to keep up intellectually.
She provides meals and snacks for her kids every single day
that look like something you’d be served at a fancy day spa – all the food
groups well represented and beautifully displayed on 6 little plates. She even
keeps all those little people hydrated with a row of color coded water bottles
in a rack on her counter, always at the ready.
She coordinates each child’s involvement in a sport, music
lessons, or whatever interest they have, and totes them around to practices and
lessons.
On top of all she does for her own family, she still makes
meals for other families when the need arises. And honestly, it’s worth having
major surgery or some kind of crisis just to get a sympathy meal from Megan!!
The only thing Megan isn’t really great at is cutting
herself some slack and taking a load off her feet. Recently I went with her to
one of her doctor’s appointments. I tried to be stern with her on the ride home
about forcing herself to rest a bit. I told her if I was pregnant with twins
and already had 6 kids to care for, I’d cut the school year short and call it
good enough. I’d also proclaim it “Cereal and Toaster Waffle Month” and only
prepare one meal a day. She listened very sweetly, but I knew that there was no
way that was going to happen.
I tried to find Bible verses to cobble together to write a
devotional building a case for laziness, but it was harder than I thought it
would be.
---
As I prayed about what I could possibly share that would
encourage Megan, a song popped into my head that was popular when I was in high
school. I hadn’t thought about it in years, but there it was, running through
my mind and distracting me. But then, as I tried unsuccessfully to ignore it, I
realized actually this might be just the thing for this devotional… Its message
is simple, but actually solidly biblical.
I’m going to play a little bit of it just to get it stuck in
your head now as well. It’s only fair…
[Bobby McFerrin: “Don’t Worry; Be Happy”]
It goes on for 5 minutes, but you get the idea.
----
From this simple little song, I’m going to make two simple
little points, which seems appropriate because this is a shower for twins.
Point #1: Nothing steals a mother’s joy like worry.
Point #2: Nothing steals a child’s joy like an unhappy mamma.
In other words: Don’t worry; Be Happy.
There is actually a “Don’t worry Be happy” chapter in the
Bible: Luke 12. That’s where we’re going to spend a few minutes today.
Don’t Worry
[Luke 12:22-34]
This passage is incredibly practical, since many hours of
each day are devoted to the feeding, changing, and clothing of little children.
Worrying about tending to their needs is a huge part of what we do as mothers.
Feeding them is an obvious concern. (Although, I think the phrase “don’t worry
about what you eat” builds a strong case for Waffle and Cereal Month.)
Clothing them is a full time job. We need to keep track of
the laundry to make sure they have clean clothes when they need them. We have
to keep checking their sneakers to make sure their toes aren’t pressing against
the ends. We have to make sure everyone has winter boots. We feel guilty that
we can’t afford to get everyone ice skates or roller blades.
But this passage provides the simple basis for not worrying.
The basis is another set of twin statements:
1.
Don’t
worry because you don’t actually control anything.
2.
Don’t
worry because God actually DOES control everything.
It was a huge relief to me when I finally
realized that I have no control over anything. Paul wrote, “One plants, another
waters, but God gives the increase.” We can faithfully do our part in any
endeavor, but the outcome is always completely and entirely up to God. We can
budget our money carefully and never waste a cent on anything frivolous, but
our savings can still get sucked dry by an unexpected car or appliance repair.
We can pump our kids with vitamins and use sanitizing wipes on the handles of
our shopping carts to keep them healthy, but that’s not going to keep them from
taking a tumble and needing stitches. We can make them brush and floss so they
never get a cavity, but we can’t keep them from needing braces. We can teach
them the Scriptures diligently and discipline them faithfully, but that’s not
going to guarantee they always make the best and wisest choices in life.
·
Knowing that I do not control anything frees me
to relax, do my best, and leave all the outcomes entirely in God’s hands.
·
Knowing I don’t control anything means I can’t
take credit for my children’s successes, but that’s a small price to pay for
knowing that I also do not have to take the blame for their failures.
·
I plant. I water. But the outcome is God’s
responsibility. Their successes are for His glory. Their failures are His to
redeem.
So Point #1: Nothing steals a mother’s joy like worry.
The overarching assurance of the passage is
this:
·
God knows exactly what we need.
·
God will provide exactly what we need.
·
And God “delights” to give us His kingdom!
Those are three great reasons not to worry.
Be Happy
Point #2: Nothing steals our children’s joy like an unhappy
mamma.
We’ve all seen the t-shirts and bumper stickers that say,
“If mamma ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy.” That’s such a true statement… I
know if I am stressed out, my kids are also stressed out. They fret and worry
about me and feel like the ground beneath them is not quite stable until they
see that I’m stable again. They need me to be happy.
So if I’m going to be happy even when there is a whole lot
of crazy going on around me, I’m going to need a pretty good reason to be.
This same chapter in Luke gives us that reason.
[Luke 12:35-38]
“Those slaves the master will find alert when he comes will
be blessed… If he comes in the middle of the night or even near dawn, and finds
them alert, those slaves are blest.”
The word “blessed” here means “happy, fortunate, well off.”
So, those who are faithfully doing what God has called them to do at all hours
of the day and night (which Megan has been doing without a doubt for about 17
years now…) are to be HAPPY.
Why? What is in store for them that they are to be so happy
about??
“He [the Master! Jesus Himself!] will get ready, have them
recline at the table, then come down and serve them.”
This is amazing enough – the idea of a master serving his
servants. But the context makes it even more staggering. This is not just a
master on an ordinary day. This is a master on his own wedding day!
This is the bridegroom serving his servants at his own wedding!
This makes no sense at all. This is just plain GRACE.
This passage says we can be happy about our tireless, tiring
service for two reasons:
1.
Every little thing we do in our lives is
significant. Nothing is mundane. Nothing is pointless or wasted because we are
told elsewhere that even the most ordinary things like eating and drinking can
be done in a way that glorifies God (and therefore matters for eternity).
So, endlessly washing the same dishes, the same floors, the
same clothes, and the same little bodies even though they all get dirty again
and again is an eternally significant calling.
But we are given another reason far beyond that to be happy:
2.
The God we serve takes notice of our sleep
deprived nights and early mornings of faithfulness and He appreciates it so
much that He plans to honor us by serving us in return!
Jesus is going to force Megan to finally get off her feet
and relax!! That makes ME happy just thinking about it!!
In summary:
·
DON’T WORRY!!
God delights to give us not just everything
we need, but also His entire kingdom.
·
BE HAPPY!!
Jesus, the Lord and King of that kingdom, sees
every little thing we do, and He is looking forward to the day when HE can
serve those who have so faithfully served HIM during their lives.
Krista followed the devotional with a parody of Dr. Seuss' Green Eggs and Ham.
I am Doc.
Doc I am.
That Doc I am,
That Doc I am
I do not like that
Doc I am.
Do you like that
ticking clock?
Do you like elastic
socks?
I do not like them,
Mr. Doc.
I do not like the
ticking clock.
I do not like
elastic socks.
Just get these
babies out of me.
I’m getting tired,
can’t you see?
What about those
Braxton Hicks?
Do you like those
bladder kicks?
Stepping stomping
night and day?
Tell me, tell me.
Have your say!
I do not like those
Braxton Hicks.
I do not like those
bladder kicks.
I do not like those
stomping feet
Going crazy when I
eat.
I’ve had it, had it.
Can’t you see?
Now get these babies
out of me!
I think I begin to
see your plight.
Now tell me if I have
this right.
That belly’s getting
in your way?
You want those babies
OUT you say?
Yes, I do. I want
their birth.
I’m tired of my
stretching girth.
I’m tired of my
swollen feet.
Tired of watching
what I eat.
I’m tired of this
indigestion,
So if I might make a
bold suggestion,
Get these babies out
of me!
Hurry up now, one
two three!!
THREE you say? But I
digress…
You realize
birthing’s quite a mess.
You really ought to
have a plan.
So you don’t have
them in the van.
You could have them
near or far,
But best not have
them in the car.
You could have them
in the shower
Or at the library
story hour.
You could have them
after dark
Or at baseball
practice in the park.
You could have them
in a shop.
Look at you! You’re
going to pop!
You could have them
here or there.
You could have them
anywhere!
I would gladly have
them in the shower
Or give birth at
story hour.
I would have them
after dark
I would gladly drop
them in the park.
I might have them in
a shop.
Because you’re
right, I’m going to pop!
Just listen up now,
Mr. Doc.
It’s time for
action. No more talk!
I will have them
here or there.
I will have them
anywhere!
I’ve had it, had it.
Can’t you see?
Now get these babies
out of me!
Ah, I begin to
understand.
This thing is getting
out of hand.
I understand just how
you feel,
But listen and we’ll
make a deal.
Hang in there three
more weeks, let’s say,
I promise you, you’ll
have your day!
You’ll carry babies
One and Two
Comfortably OUTSIDE
of you.
Can you ignore the
ticking clock?
Will you just for Mr.
Doc?
I suppose it’s what
I’ll have to do.
I’ll hang in there
for One and Two.
I’ll ignore the
ticking clock.
Thank you, thank
you, Mr. Doc.
For favors I made vanilla and chocolate cake pops that I dipped in vanilla candy melts. I printed out these thing 1 and thing 2 labels to add to the bags.
We can't wait to meet 'Thing 1 and Thing 2!'
