Thankful

So last Saturday we celebrated Cody's 5th birthday. If you have ever been to a Cody birthday event or if you just know Cody, he is usually not a big crowds kind of guy. His first 4 birthdays were just family at our house, simple and the way he wanted it. So this year when we started talking about his birthday he wanted a party with his friends there. I was excited to hear this, and at the same time a little scared that the reality might overwhelm him.
I like to plan the kids parties with the kids and let them make as many decisions as they can. Of course at this age I do not say, plan your party. What I do is sit down with them on several different occasions and give them a couple of choices and let them choose. We usually pick the theme first and sit at the computer and order all the plates and decorations. Then we talk about who they want to invite. Finally we pick a venue and the food. So this year, without much hesitation Cody wanted a Super Mario Brothers Party and that the party had to happen on his actual birthday. Then he said family and this time he added the names of several friends from school. So we talked about where this many children could go that they would have fun and the adults would not be miserable. He wanted the party at home at home, but I said that many kids in August where we would all be forced to stay inside would just not work. So his first solution was to move his birthday to the winter when it would not be so hot outside. I explained that would not work and we finally settled on the pool. The food decision was an easy one for Cody. He wanted all his friends to eat McDonalds Happy Meals with him. When I asked about the adult food, he said he did not care. Finally he wanted Aunt 'Zanne to make him a cake, and that she did!
So the party was planned, the stuff bought, the arrangements made. The day came, and after no rain to speak of in probably a month, the forecast called for terrible storms and up to 2 inches of rain.
At first I thought of this the same way I do when they forecast snow in Georgia. If they say it is coming, then it is not. Then I thought it was wisdom to make a back up plan. So I figured out what we could do if we needed to have the party at our house. I let people know how they would know of a venue change, but I still hoped the original plan could work.
At 4:30 on Saturday I was pretty stressed out, trying to get everything ready, trying to decide if we should move it, but I carried on with the plan. And I am so glad I did.
It was the perfect birthday party. The weather was overcast and not as hot. It sprinkled at the beginning but with no lightning or thunder people just continued to swim. Cody's friends were there. His family was there, and in the way Cody can, he just glowed. The party went smoothly and everyone had fun, the cake was amazing, and my boy is now 5 years old. The best part of the night was after many people had left and I was taking Cody to the restroom. You could hear the radio playing "Mighty To Save." Cody says "Mommy it sounds a little but like church in here." I just smiled and said yes it does Cody. Then I went where he could not see me and just cried. I was overwhelmed at God's goodness to me on that day, with Cody, with how the party turned out, with how my life turned out. He really is Might to Save and I am very thankful!