I know you are probably wondering what these "soldiers" are doing here...
And what do they have to do with my big brother Scott and this bag of Dove candy that he just got as a birthday gift?
Well, Scott makes these "Ninja Warriors" out of those Dove candy wrappers. These are just a few of the many things he has created from the candy wrappers...and that is why people give him bags of Dove candy for every special occasion, like birthdays, Easter, and Christmas...
Aren't they really cool? He fashions these all by hand, using aluminum foil for a body base, and then covers them with the candy wrappers.
He started creating these "Warriors" when our other brother Matthew passed away after a four year battle with cancer. Scott wanted to do something special as a kind of "therapy" to deal with the grief of losing his older brother, but also as a positive way to symbolize warriors to fight this deadly enemy.
He actually, at the time, attempted to contact the candy maker to see if they would sponsor a way to manufacture these for charity to raise awareness and funds for fighting the type of cancer that Matthew had, Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumor, or DSRCT, but there was no interest from them at the time.
So Scott just continued to make all kinds of other special "gifts" for friends and family... a cheerleader,
A weight lifter,
A golfer and a hockey player for someone who loves watching hockey,
And many other gifts and unique creations to make people smile...
And so today we celebrated Scott's birthday again, this time with the rest of our immediate family who live nearby, my big brother Benton and his wife Rose, (who I call "Auntie Rose"), and also her sister "Sherrie", (who I call "Auntie Sherrie").
So of course he had to blow out the candles again:
And I got to wear a special birthday hat for the party, (because no one else would wear it!)
And since Scott wouldn't wear the birthday hat, he had to wear "Me with the Hat" on his head!
Ha ha! I guess we got him!!
But he's a good sport...
And then we had cake again!! Here I am with MY piece of cake and ice-cream:
Daddy was helping me eat it:
"Auntie Rose" and Benton are back home from their vacation, and they were also enjoying the cake and the party...
Looky! I ate up all my piece of birthday cake and ice-cream!!!
It was a very good party!
Oh, and just in case you think I don't always eat right, here is what I had for breakfast today:
Yogurt with granola and fresh strawberries and blueberries, and some more of Mommie's home made Apple Bran Muffins and a banana!!! So there! That should make me very healthy, don't you think?
It sure was good!
Mommie said that Birthday parties and gifts are always nice and fun. But she said there are also other kinds of gifts that are very special, like the "gift" that my brother Scotty has for creating things.
His talent is very unique, and he uses it to bless other people and bring a smile to their faces.
You don't have to spend a lot of money on things to make people happy.
Mommie also said that you don't have to do outstanding or remarkable things to please God.
Take whatever you have and offer it up to God as an offering of thanksgiving.
Ephesians 5:1-2
"1. Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.
2. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma."
Hebrews 13:16
"16. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God."
So what I learned from this today was we should use whatever talents we have to please God and to please our families and friends in special ways. It doesn't have to be something that we spend lots of money on to make people happy. Sometimes just being ourselves, and being kind and good and joyful is a way to bless others, and that is also pleasing to God.
I hope that this little post today has brought a smile to your face! Until next time,
Be happy and Be joyful!!
Love,
Lily Grace
