Nine. Mosely’s turn.

It always happens to Mosely.

It’s because her  birthday is only a few days  before Christmas.

I never forget this cute girl’s birthday.

Not ever.

But I always underestimate the amount of effort and/or time it will take to pull a birthday event together.

Wait – who am I kidding?

I do this for every birthday in our house.

I have it all planned in my mind.

Gift ideas.  Theme.  Location.  Guests.  Odds and ends.

But then – oh – then.  The time always evaporates.  Always.

And then suddenly it’s two days before the birthday and the one gift I want to find is sold out and the place is booked and I’m out of luck and time.

Mosely wanted a little girls tea party.

And I assumed I would have it at the restaurant London and I went for one of our mother/daughter afternoons.

I called that restaurant a few days before the party.

And discovered that they no longer serve afternoon tea.

So.

Rescue came in the form of a very kind friend offering her lovely home as our tea party location.

Candace went over the top too – I tell you what – no tea room could have spruced it up better or could have been a more perfect setting for what turned out to be a simply enchanted afternoon event.

I like the word enchanted to describe Mosely’s nine year old birthday gathering.  I really do.

We gathered at a finely decorated tea table with snacks appropriate for such an occasion.  Petit fours and cannolis and chocolate covered strawberries.

The girls wrote little notes to the birthday girl and stored them in Mosely’s own special tea pot – a pretty little tea pot passed down to Mosely from her grandmother who collected tea pots.

Before dining together we tested our social graces by walking while balancing a book on our heads.

We had a sugar cube stacking contest before our tea was served.

After the tea and snacks were consumed and imbibed, we did what fashionable ladies who take afternoon tea do – we embroidered.

The girls sewed (or started to sew) little designs on bags they received at the party.  Inside their bags were girly little bracelets and wildflower sticker books.

There was even a special table brought for the hand crafted kitties.

One kitty was Mosely’s birthday gift from Sophia and Nora – beautifully created by their mom Alli who has somehow been convinced and cajoled into crafting four of these darlings so far.  You need to really hold them to behold their uniqueness.  They are magical.

It was a simple party.

Candace, in her incredible kindness, probably spent more time arranging the place settings and flowers than any other part of the party planning required.

But goodness – it was a delightful birthday party.

Which brings me back to my word of choice.  Enchanted.

I am sure it was a combination of so many aspects.

Nine is a tender age.  Tea parties are idyllic.  Candace’s house was pretty.  The girls were dressed up.  They were shyly excited.

It was all of that.

But more too, somehow.

I just know that there were moments during that brief afternoon together with those four treasured daughters, those four charming girls, that I just could feel time stand still for me.

Just a little, mind you.  Not nearly long enough for I am always greedy of such moments.  But just a tad.

Enough to be aware.  Enough to breathe it in.

And I remember saying to Alli something about my feelings.  About  my fullness of heart at such beautiful glimpses.

I can’t remember exactly what I said, but something about treasuring these times. About being fully aware that they cannot last.  They are not eternal.

But they are so cherished right now.

And Alli said something back – I am sure it was profound.  (And if you’re reading this Alli and you remember – do tell me what you said!)

The point is – we were both struck by the incredible good fortune our daughters are enjoying right  now.

The blessing of youth, of innocence, of pure friendship and sweet companionship.

And although it may not last – a taste of it is a taste of the divine. 

This I must believe.

So – my dear and beautiful and adored Mosely – when you were nine you received a handmade kitten and several books and a Lego set and a new hiking backpack and a mermaid made by your sister.

But that’s not all.

Oh child – you received the gift of a day without worries.  A day to be a little girl who stacks sugar cubes and balances books on her head.  Who giggles and hasn’t yet been weighed down by the heavy burdens of age and bitter sadness.  A day to try a petit four for the first time and to drink tea from fine china.

A day to be loved because you exist.

Because you belong.

Happy happy birthday my nine year old love.

May this glorious day be a glimpse into many more such days filled with such moments as you grow and learn and create and be.

Goodness – I love you.