Friday, April 17, 2009

Camille's Birthday

April 19, 2008

Sunday is Camille's birthday. We will be celebrating the 2 years of having her as part of our little family. Last year we invited the neighborhood over for cake and ice cream. This year we are having cake and ice cream with family. We will also let her cousins exchange dollar store gifts that remind them of Camille. We also will be watching a slide show of photos of Camille. Tomorrow we will be planting a tree in memory of her. (More on that tomorrow). 

One of my out of town brother's and his wife and three kids wrote me a note to tell me they each made a donation to our church's missionary fund in Camille's memory. This meant so much to me. Especially because I do believe that Camille is out there helping so many people find the inspiration they need in their own lives.

This gave me an idea. I would like to invite all my readers to join us in a "random act of kindness" drive for Camille's birthday. I invite everyone who reads this to do something above your normal good doing for the day in honor of Camille. Tell a friend. Spread the word. Leave an anonymous comment to tell me what you did. 

It can be making a donation to a charity like my brother's family did. It can be giving blood. It could be doing work at the temple. It could be reading extra stories to your kids at night when you are really tired and would rather not. It could be taking your kids out to ice cream for no reason. It could be sending someone tulips for no reason in particular.

Be Creative. Just do something, big or small, that will spread goodness in the world and that you weren't already planning on doing. I have felt strongly that this is what Camille would most like us to do for her birthday. The rest of our "party plans" are really for my other kids and as a tangible way for us to "celebrate" her birth and her becoming part of our family then; and being part of our family forever.

Spread the word and please let me know what you do. I love hearing the good my sweet little girl inspires in this world. Thanks!

28 comments:

Jennie said...

What a sweet idea! I hope that knowing that others are serving, and doing acts of kindness, that it will ease the ache in your heart, I am sure you will feel, with her birthdate approaching. I will be thinking of her, and your family this weekend.

Mel said...

That is the sweetest idea ever.

Angie said...

This is a good idea, I am going to try and do it.

I haven't been able to check your blog in a while, can I still guess the stats of Noble's birth? If the answer is yes, here are my guesses:

8lb. 10 oz.
May 6th
20 inches
10:02 am

If the answer is no....well then, okay:)

Davis' said...

Thank You for letting us share in your celebrating.

Heywood Clan said...

What a great idea! You are always so creative! I will definitely pass it on! You will be in our prayers!

Susan Anderson said...

I will be sure to come up with something to do in Camille's honor, and I will be back to post about it.

=)

Anonymous said...

You are such an amazing woman. Thank you.

plaidspolitics said...

I'm glad Camille is still remembered outside of your home. Dominic's birthday was yesterday, and it was heartbreakingly forgotten. Not too surprising, as Bridget's first birthday was also ignored even though my family was here from out of state (yes, they were *right here* and I *reminded them*) and they easily could have done something to let us know the day mattered. So I guess I had to expect that yesterday (and I prepared myself the best I could), but I understand you wanting to hear how Camille's memory influences the world still. I'll try to think of something special. And then check back in...

Carolyn said...

I love this! I'm looking forward to tomorrow! Love you Steph, and all the fam, and especially love and miss Camille.

Anonymous said...

I think this is a wonderful idea! I will let you know all of the kind acts that I can do in Camille's honor and have already passed it on to my friends and family. Your family will be in my heart and my prayers as you celebrate the day the world was blessed with your little angel.

EvaMarieva said...

I love this! We are donating to the church's fund as wlel as to march of Dimes ofr another friend and we hope to find a way to do some service in the next few days. Thanks for this wonderful opportunity and I plan on sharing it with others.

Sarah said...

I posted this on my blog too! What a great way to remember and honor Camille. We are brainstorming on something out of the ordinary for us to do and will report back!

Amanda said...

I think that's a wonderful way of remembering her. I will keep my eyes open for something worthy of her.

Nannette said...

I just read your "long term care" entry and wanted to let you know that I think about you often. You are such a strong person and you have an amazing faith. I can tell that you are a great mother and that your family is so lucky to have you, especially since you are so patient with them. You will be such a good mother to little Noble, and I am sure that you will hold him and love him twice as long because you will want to treasure him all the more. Good luck with your upcoming labor!

Mindy said...

I love this idea. I've been reading your story for awhile now (October). I am inspired by your strength and weaknesses. You help me to believe that with faith I can do anything. I wrote what I did on our family blog, http://theroyalhaven.blogspot.com/. I hope you enjoy.

Brittany said...

thank you for this good idea. i was just going to stay in bed for a week until it was all over.... maybe i will change my mind :)

Mindy said...

I am going to try and make it to the temple at least three times this week to do sealings. That way more people can be sealed to their families the way Camille is sealed to you - even after death. :)

Anonymous said...

My post for today is A Random Act of Kindness Drive for Camille Kathleen Waite in an effort to spread the good word.

What a beautiful idea!

Kimberly

Brimaca said...

What a great idea and I will for sure do something. Now I just have to decide what to do and when - today or tomorrow? hhmmm...

Marie said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

Hey Stephanie and family!
Just thought I would let you know what I'm doing in memory of your beautiful Camille.

Its Sunday April 19th here in my neck of the woods,so for my random act of kindness I made chocolate and vanilla cupcakes for my youth group.

I pray tomorrow goes smoothly for you all.

xx M

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday to Camille! In her honor I was extra sweet to my kids at bedtime (which is hard at the end of a long day) AND I payed for a lady's things at the store who I know needed some help. It felt so good to serve and I thought of your special little girl. :)

Browning Buzz said...

In honor or Camille's birthday, my husband and I made strawberry jam for our first time. We are going to give some to a less fortunate family in our ward(when the jam has set up). Happy Birthday to Camille!!

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday Camille! I am keeping you and your sweet family in my thoughts and prayers today and I plan to take this next week to do random acts of kindness in honor of your sweet angel. ♥

Hilary said...

I just climbed into bed with my daughter to cuddle even though she was asleep. She had told me earlier that she needed to snuggle with me. After I got our son down for bed, it took me a little while until I got in her room. I decided to go in and snuggle (something that I don't usually do once she is asleep). It was wonderful. Thank you for this encouragement!

Anonymous said...

in honor of Camille's birthday I read 3 bedtime stories last night to the kids and let them all sleep in my room

Blog Blah said...

I know I'm late commenting, but I did it the other day. I made soup for a couple that is having a hard time medically in my ward right now. It was great to give them something they need, do it for Camille and feel the blessings from doing something for someone else! Thank you for being strong!

Heidi said...

I am having a garage sale this weekend. The proceeds will go to a family in our community. She was babysitting a 2 year old little boy that got out into her back yard while she was in the bathroom. The little boy drowned in their backyard pool!! Unfortunately because she was babysitting charges have been brought against her and she has even lost custody of her own 5 children. It is a sad tragedy. I do not know the woman very well, but I know her daughter and know what a kind and wonderful daughter she has raised. She is facing the loss of a little boy she babysat everyday for 18 months. She loved him dearly! She couldn't attend the funeral because she was sitting in jail. Her heart aches to hug the mother and tell her how sorry she is. However she is unable to have any contact with the family of the little boy. So I will be having a garage sale this weekend to help raise money for her defense. She needs love and support, not legal fees. Her children need their mother as well. I have been reading your blog for about 7 months and I instantly realized that I had been reading your words, and that I can help her. I am a church member and she is not, I have been gathering items for the sale all week from ward members, they have been so helpful!. So that is my good deed. I just hope I raise enough to help her regain custody of her children. She will never get over this, but her children need her now more than ever.