Party Animals

All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small, all things wise and wonderful, the Lord God made them all...



This spring, Emily approached me and asked if she could have a kid party. We always have a family party. Why was she asking me about a kid party? The deal was that she could have her friends each year she was in preschool and then she'd take a break and have one when she was a little older. Or...at least that is what I thought the deal was:)

So, I accost the poor child with my typical diatribe about the excess kids live with these days and "what the deal was" and on and on. To which she replies, with her blue eyes blinking wildly, "I don't need presents, Mommy. I just want to do something fun with my friends." Oh.

To further put Mommy quite in my place, she says, "I'll give my presents to the animals. I'd like to save the animals." Oh.

Not being one to ever shy from a true challenge, I took it and ran with it. How do we have a kid-friendly, economical, philanthropic birthday party fit for six year olds?? Weeellll, we began by calling our local animal rescue center, appropriately named Aark (yes, totally cute). We requested a wish list of items they could use. It just so happens the timing was perfect because they are being forced to move from their current home of thirty-five years to a new location. They sounded shocked and amazed that we would do this and must have asked me ten times, "how old is your daughter?"

As I spoke with the director, who was busily feeding animals and assisting other staff, I became a bit intrigued myself at this completely non-profit organization solely devoted to saving wildlife and the question of the day popped right out of my mouth. "Do you do presentations?" Mmmm hmmm, yes, they do! So, I did what any self-respecting mother planning on not having a party for her child would do, I booked 'em, right there, on the spot. I would surprise Miss Em.

The invites went out for the day after school let out (I have done this before and it always ends up being a great way to end the year) and indicated "no presents", just donations for the Aark. I also indicated there would be a presentation by an Aark volunteer, toting three animals to show the children. Sure, that day came and there were water balloons, cake and a bouncer we bought long before Em could walk, but the real joy came when the children got up close and personal with three different wild animals being saved by this fabulous foundation. The gentleman, a retired school teacher with an affinity as wide and broad as Emily's for those precious animals, spent thirty-five minutes answering questions and showing off his caged friends. It was six-year-old Heaven. They sat rapt with attention, even the mommies enjoyed the presentation. It was a wonderful, albeit very hot, June morning and Emily helped educate others about animal rescue.















The Friday before we left for the beach, Emily,Hannah and I visited Aark to deliver the donations from our family and all of Emily's friends. We could not take pictures inside the facility, but she got to see two baby raccoons, both girls got to help feed the baby and hurt birds, they saw a bunny in a "feel better" box and we met the neighborly peacock and guinea hens. Emily loved it there and was so excited to give them what we collected. As we drove out, this sign bid us goodbye


Emily said, "Look, Mom, they know how much we care!"


Leopold the Peacock (Hannah yelled, "Hiiii Peeetot!")

I'm not so concerned if they know she cares, I am so happy her heart is called to service by how much she cares.