Fast forward five years in the blink of an eye!  It was my little one’s fifth birthday and she wanted to have it at this indoor place where they have bounce houses and slides.  First they put you in a room that sort of resembles American Gladiator for littles.  There are these enormous balls on which kids try to hop all the way across or they fall into a bouncy pit.  It reminded me of watching frogs jump as the more nimble ones aced the course.  Then you can request bubbles to cascade down from the ceiling.  One can simply never be too cool for bubbles!  At a certain point they herd everyone into the next room with more slides and different bounce houses only they turn off the lights.  All these little white socks were running around glowing under the black lights.  They had glow necklaces and bracelets so wary parents could at least have some semblance of where their kiddos were.  There were blurry psychedelic images of little ones gone wild; like some sort of a kiddie rave.  Just before they all dropped I heard requests for “CAKE!”  So shoes were put back on, hand sanitizer was dispensed, and everyone rushed into the party room filled with sea star balloons and oceanic decorations.  Her theme this year was The Little Mermaid.  I do not want her to be spoiled (one reason why I always request the pleasure of her friends’ presence and not their presents.)  But I do want her to feel celebrated, special, loved, and happy, especially on her birthday.  She had been looking forward to having her friends at her party for months (an eternity to a child) and she was so excited.  The American author Bruce Barton said, “If you can give your child only one gift, let it be enthusiasm.”  I want her to have enthusiasm for God, helping others, caring for God’s creatures, protecting the environment, learning, and enthusiasm for life.  So I am really glad she began her next year pumped up.