For the last few years, Ryan and I have funded the boys birthdays and Christmas. We didn’t mind because we knew Mark wasn’t making much money due to being in the hospital so much. Ironically, when we did have a party he was usually working so he couldn’t even come. He purposed to make this year different.
A few months ago Mark had called and asked if he could pay for all of their birthday and Christmas and plan the party. Of course, I agreed. I don’t think it is any secret that I am not a good party planner so I was excited that he offered to do it. I mean, I always forget stuff and wait till the last minute and all sorts of other bad party planning stuff. Yes, I will start planning Matthias’s now. I am learning my lesson. 
Anyway, he had called the boys several times to see what they wanted to do and to get ideas for gifts to buy. He even called my grandma and my sister to find out some other details. He really was making a go of this and trying to do it all himself. He was so happy about it too. Several times he shared the idea with his brother and sister. He told them all about it. He even showed them all the money he had saved to make it happen.
When he died, we found this list with his things…
Ryan and I were determined to make this party happen the way Mark planned. That is a challenge for a party planning impaired person like me. But, I sucked it up and rented the big blow up jumpy thingy. I ordered the cakes. I sent out the invites ( a week and a half before said party). I remembered to buy balloons to put on the mailbox so everyone could find the house. I even got them in their colors: 3 green for Carsten, 3 red for Maxon, and 3 blue for Andrew. You know I color code my kids. I also got 3 yellow ones for Matthias because the boys didn’t want to leave him out. And, with the help of Mark’s parents, brother, and sis-in-love, we gathered up the gifts on the list.
It was a beautiful day out. It was chilly but not too cold. Many of our family and friends showed up to celebrate with us and despite the fact that I forgot the candles and didn’t buy near enough food to feed everyone, it turned out awesome.Here they are about to open the gifts from their dad.
Maxon actually got Mark’s old cell phone. Andrew’s DSI was replaced with a PSP since he prayed that God would tell his daddy to “please exchange it for a PSP before his birthday”. Yes, he did. They ask God to deliver lots of messages to their daddy. I’m quite convinced that they alone keep Jesus quite busy.
The best part came after everyone had gone and we were putting everything away. The boys had taken the balloons off of the mailbox and asked for their balloons. I painstakingly untangled each and every one to pass them out. While I was getting the knots out I heard pieces of a conversation about letting them go. They wanted to send them to heaven for their daddy.
So, as my sister and I stood back and watched, Carsten, Maxon, and Andrew along with my niece and nephew, Grant and Gabriela (they had Matthias’s balloons) slowly let them go. As they did I heard them each say something to their dad…
“I love you, daddy!”
“Thank you for the party, daddy!”
“for you, dad…”
I even heard Gabriela shout out, “thank you for the party, Uncle Mark!”
For a split second I ran to to go get the camera but then decided not to because I simply did not want to miss the moment. We just stood their watching those balloons get further and further from the earth.We did not move until we could no longer see the faintest trace of them.
Later on, the boys laughed and talked about how much they enjoyed the party. Then, at one brief pause in the conversation, Carsten said, “I really hope daddy liked his balloons.” I just winked at him and said that I was positive their daddy was all smiles when he got those 12 balloons.
I believe that there are now some balloons floating freely around heaven and all who see them sense and know the love three little boys have for their daddy. And I know it made Mark really happy.
Thank you for allowing me to share our family and our hearts with you. I have so much more to share in the days to come. If you would like to see the rest of the photos from their party you can view them here on Flickr: Boys Birthday Party
Wow, I just sat and read this tears streaming down my face. Your posts about loosing the father or your boys just bring back so much for me. My daughter’s dad died of cancer 2 1/2 years ago, she was 15. I still can’t believe he is gone. We were divorced, neither remarried…that was the hardest thing I have ever gone through. It still hurts today and will forever.
It was awesome that you found that list and made it happen for the boys! They will never forget that!
What a treasure to find that handwritten left behind list for the boys AND be able to carry about his plan! A neat way to carry on memories for each one of them!
Blessings,
Tammy ~@~
So precious. Thank you for sharing your heart and life so candidly.
Merry Christmas!
Oh, and we are sort of neighbors now…we just moved to Mandeville.
)
Amy,
I wish we could have come to the party, it looks like the boys had a wonderful time and made memories that will surely last them a lifetime. We really need to get together for coffee some time! (((Hiugs)))
Oh Amy. *sniff* What a GIFT!!! A precious gift at the perfect time.
Thinking about the boys releasing the balloons to daddy made me cry. I am SO thankful for the birth of Jesus Christ. If it were not for Him, we would not have the promise of eternity and the hope to get through each day!
That was so precious, thanks for sharing it with us. I cried and smiled as I read this!
Oh, Amy, what a sweet, precious, and absolutely wonderful memory! I couldn’t get through it without tears, though. You made the perfect choice in this.
What a touching story! Thanks so much for sharing the story and the pictures!!
Amy I was crying when I read this. You have given them such a gift. And you have given Mark a gift too. You never cease to amaze me with your love.
That was soo lovely, Amy. Thank you for sharing it with us.
I tried emailing you about the Homemakers challenge. I’m not sure how the domain works or anything. If you’re too busy, please don’t worry about it. Right now, though, it’s sitting dormant until I know how it works.
I actually just bought my own domain through hostgator. Come visit me!
*quietly crying* Thank you for sharing! If I were home alone, I’m sure I would be LOUDLY BAWLING!
Thank you for sharing, Amy. What a precious memory for your boys!
What a lovely story. Sending the balloons up made me tear up. It will be a memory for you to treasure forever.
Thanks for posting this. I cried my eyes out because it hit so close to home due to the fact that I lost my mother this year as well. So glad you were able to carry out his plan for the boys.
God bless you all!
SO precious and sweet. Made me cry.
Amy, this is precious and brought tears and smiles to my face and heart. Birthday blessings to your precious sons. I continue to pray for your family. Much love and Christmas blessings!
Very sweet!
So, are all three boys birthday’s really together?
Carsten and Jacob’s birthdays are both in November but Drewnan’s is in February. He always hated that Drewnan felt left out when they were both celebrating their birthday. I guess that is why he wanted to do them together. I really don’t know. I never got to ask.
We will still give Drewnan a small at home party on his birthday. We always celebrate at home on the day of.
