Sammy's Rainbow Bridge Day

The stars are watching out for a birth

The little child comes down to earth

His angel leads him both day and night

To fill his heart with love and light

At City Garden, the children't birthdays are celebrated with a little story about the child coming from heaven down to earth across the rainbow bridge. Sammy's birthday was at the end of April, but there are so many April birthdays that we just got around to his "Rainbow Bridge Day" this week.

The child wears a crown and a rainbow cape and sits with his teacher while she tells the story of the child in heaven coming to earth to meet his family. Then he walks across the little silk rainbow bridge to his parents (and sister) who are waiting for him on the other side of the circle. It's very sweet. Sammy took the whole thing very reverantly, (suprisingly) and was very excited to get his presents from the class. Each child in the class colors him a picture and the teacher makes it into a book for the birthday boy. Then she gives him a special doll made just for him. Sammy got a little warrior guy who had a little spear attached to his vest.

Then we have the birthday cake and ice cream. Let me tell you how hard it was for me to sit in one of those tiny kid chairs for a half hour. But it was worth it for the cake.

I just think they make the birthday so special at City Garden. It's simple and sweet and the birthday child really feels so honored. It reminds me that the little traditions and rituals that we do with our kids mean so much more than giving them a giant birthday party and loading them down with 100 gifts.

Here is Sammy's doll. He named him Peter and he sleeps with him most nights now. I love that. Then again, he also stabs us with Peter's tiny sword. Happy late birthday Sammy-Sam. I promise I'll throw you a birthday party at our house one of these days with all your friends. I just can't promise that it will be this year.