Celebration of Life

When a child attends Belden Street Montessori School, their 5-year-old birthday is a very exciting time. This is the time of the birthday celebration. For the past year and a half, since Savannah Grace started school, she has kept a celebration book that captures herself in baby pictures, her 1-year-old self, all the way up to now...5-years-old. The book talks about things she learned to do during those periods of her life, likes, life changes, etc.

On the day of her celebration, which was this past Tuesday, our whole family filed into her classroom and were greeted individually by each child in the class as they shook our hands and introduced themselves. Then, the Celebration of Life began. Here are the words to the Celebration:

A Celebration of Life

by Ms. Scottie Johnson

So light, light a candle that represents the sun

And represents that you were born,

That very special one.

And the people who loved you,

Who were waiting for your birth,

Were so very glad you came to earth.

Chorus:

But the earth keeps moving

In its orbit 'round the sun
And the months keep passing, one by one.

Pretty soon a year is done, so.....

Light, light a candle that says that you were one.

You'd learned to crawl; you learned to laugh.

You were a lot of fun!

And the people who loved you,

Who you kept on the run,

Were so very glad that you were one.

Chorus...

Light, light a candle that says that you were two.

You'd learned to walk; you'd learned to talk

There's so much you could do.

And the people who loved you,

Who said the year just flew,

Were so very glad that you were two.

Chorus....

Light, light a candle that says that your were three.

You'd grown so much that you could say,

"hey, look, my friends, it's me!"

And the people who loved you,

Who'd set you running free,

Were so very glad that you were three.

Chorus....

Light, light a candle that says that you were four.

No longer a baby,

You'd grown to something more.

And the people who loved you,

Who'd been watching you explore,

Were so very glad that you were four.

Chorus....

Light, light a candle that says that your were five.

The world so full of wondrous things,

It was good to be alive!

And the people who loved you

Who'd helped you grow and thrive

Were so very glad that you were five.

--------------------

The Celebration involved Savannah Grace walking around the sun model that was on the floor for each year of her life and then lighting a candle. It's really special and emotional for parents. But, I survived and actually didn't sob like I did in Jackson's. I guess I was more prepared for what to expect. I don't like my babies growing up so fast!! During the celebration, I kept thinking about how Savannah Grace has been waiting for this moment for a whole year. She couldn't wait to be five! This celebration was another sweet moment with our precious girl, who is simply growing up too quickly.