Birthday Surprise

Since I'm always the one behind the party planning and camera at our house, I was totally caught by surprise Sunday!

We had invited my husband's side of the family (that lives here) over for lunch after morning worship - all combining food for the lunch.  What I didn't know was that he had someone pick up a cake for me so that we could celebrate my birthday, which was Thursday!

It was fun getting a picture with all of the "kids" at the party, just like I always do for my own children's parties.  Fun memories! Thanks to Joe for planning it! Maybe he'll become my partner in party-planning...??? :).

Special Surprises

Gratituesday is hosted by Heavenly Homemakers. Please take the time to read Laura's post (here) today. You will be uplifted by her story about a special blessing from God!

"Special Surprises":
Last week we celebrated our 21st anniversary. I wrote about that here. But today I want to tell you about a special surprise that happened that day.

Early the morning of our anniversary, our daughter got up and decorated the dining room with this anniversary banner she had made several days before. She put a white tablecloth on the table and set the table with the nicer dishes. My husband had given me two vases of flowers (roses and an assorted mixture) and she used those for the centerpiece.


For lunch I had planned on cheeseburgers, but we went ahead and ate at the fancily-set table with the nice white tablecloth! The kids were especially excited for their dad to get home at noon for lunch so we could open our anniversary card from them. When we opened it, we found two gift cards to two different restaurants. Now, we live in a town of about 900 people, so the gift cards are, of course, for out of town use. In fact, one of the cards can only going to be used an hour and fifteen minutes away or further! So, they've bascially told us to "get lost" for a while, don't you think? (Ha! Ha!) We will use them, just as soon as baseball games are over in a few weeks.

All four children had gone together and pooled their money to treat us on our anniversary! It was so sweet and so special. It was quite a sacrifice for them to give up that much of their money, but they were so excited to have done it for us.

Thank you, Lauren, Zachary, Jacob, and Tyler for your special surprise for us! We love you very much.

Devotional thought: How can you surprise someone by treating them to something special? It doesn't have to cost much money. How about calling someone just to say hello? Send a note to someone to let them know you are thinking about them or how special they are to you. Take the time today to "Shine Like Stars"!

Have a great day!

SURPRISE, SURPRISE SURPRISE!!!

This past week has been full of surprises! Last week we were on Spring Break. My husband was going to take our four children, plus a nephew, to see a movie on Friday. I don't really like movies or TV much so didn't care to go. It's also a tradition for him to take them alone like that once or twice a year. I had shopped all day in Oklahoma City the day before, so didn't really have the need to shop while they were watching it, either. I was looking forward to staying home for an afternoon and cleaning and straightening up the house with it empty. I like doing that. I light candles and crank up the music and make a big party out of it...it's more fun that way!

Well, my husband informed me on Thursday evening that he HAD to get me to Wichita Falls the next day, which is where they were going to go to the movie (NOTE: For those who don't know, Tipton is a town of LESS THAN 1,000 people...we have no movie theater or much else for that matter!) I immediately figured it had something to do with my birthday, which was a week away (the 27th), but didn't know exactly what. I still wasn't too excited about going because I had looked forward to my day at home, but did, of course. When we got to Wichita Falls, we went to Olive Garden where my family was waiting. My sister, brother-in-law, their three children (who were visiting my parents from out of town), and my parents. They all had to drive 1 1/2 hours to be there. It was very special and an enjoyable surprise!

I mentioned in yesterday's post that my husband would be out of town until Saturday. Well, guess what?? He came home TODAY! Two days early! He surprised me because he didn't want to be gone on my birthday. He was last year because this workshop is every year at this time. He said this year was different because it's a milestone. Yes, it is. I'm turning 40 - in about an hour from now, actually!! Then he informed me that he is having me a party tomorrow night and family members (my parents and many from his side that live here or close) are coming. I can't believe my two oldest children kept that secret. It's a good thing he didn't tell the youngest two, though!

Surprises are fun and exciting, aren't they? They are fun to plan for others and they are fun to receive. Do you realize that God wants to surprise you? God's Word tells us in Ephesians 3:20-21, "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21" He wants to surprise us by showing us just how much He can do through us. He wants to do more than we can ask for or even imagine! So, how can God surprise you today?