Surprise!

Can I just say, I'm usually quite aware of what is going on around me - at least, I used to think so. Let me give you a little background...

While we were in Hawaii, we had a little birthday party for me on the 1st. Actually, my feeling was that the trip itself was the party, so I didn't really feel that a "party" was necessary. We did fireworks on the beach the night before and at midnight (Arizona time) they sang Happy Birthday, so that was really fun. And then I decided that I'd go in the water on my birthday, which I did - whole other story. So one of the gifts (I think it was from Becky and Mom) was a day at the Spa, already scheduled for the 6th. Wow! An all day event! I left the house that morning at 8:20 because I had a nail appt prior to the Spa thing. My day included a mud wrap (what?), a massage, facial, lunch, pedicure, hair style, and make-up. I was done at 4:30. But prior to that I had called Becky to see if we could go out for dinner. Sarah and the girls were at the house, so Becky said to just come home and we'd figure something out.

I drove home. As soon as I got in the garage, Becky came out of the house - which is highly unusual. She told me to get out of the car, not say anything, but to close my eyes and she was going to take me down to my bedroom. I immediately tried to think of what catastrophe awaited me in my bedroom. Once we got there, she told me I had to stay there for an hour, and was I hungry? Yes, so she said she'd have a snack sent down. Caitlin brought me a banana and a glass of milk. Downed that, but I also found a candy bar in my purse that looked pretty good. So I settled in with the TV and before I know it, Ross came to get me. He caught me napping, like any normal 50 yr old! He escorted me upstairs, again with my eyes closed. Once I got into the front entry way, I opened and saw all the decorations! Oh my gosh! The family was all there. Becky took me outside to show me what was in front of the house - black balloons tied to one of the cars, signs, banners which all announced that someone was turning 50! When I came back in I saw one of our good friends, Vonnie. I thought how nice that she could come for the party. THEN, the door bell rang. I looked and in walked a couple from our old ward. This was starting to worry me. It was good to see them. Then the door bell rang again - more people from our old ward. I couldn't believe it! It's a weird feeling to think that they show up for "you". It was very touching. As I was greeting them, another couple walked up - Taylor and Kathy Macdonald, my cousins from Utah! Honestly, when I saw them, I lost it! Why does that happen? I just couldn't believe that they were there! Other friends from our current ward showed up, too! Oh my goodness! It was really fun. The decorations included enlarged photos from the past, and some from our trip. I would love to give a full decription, but that would take too long. Then another surprise - Sarah and Jared, and I'm not sure who else, put together a DVD. So so cute. There is a section that starts off with a picture of me when I was about 4 yrs old with a baby carriage. The song is "When I grow up..." - you know, the one about being a mother. I briefly wondered, what? Then the 1st shot after that was a picture of me with the Melchin girls from our trip to Hawaii in 1982. All the other pictures were of nieces, nephews, cousins, etc. So, you get the idea. Very, very touching. Becky, or someone, also asked our YW president to do a video of the YW in our ward (which they did on the Sunday I was gone) and they showed that, too. So cute. Can I just say, I am so lucky to have friends and family. I never expected this, honestly. I love doing it for others, but it's a weird feeling to be the focus. I just want to say a huge THANK YOU to everyone involved! After the fact, I was told how long this had been planned. Invitations were sent to high school friends, mission friends, and family members. That thought alone is, well, amazing. I am filled with emotion as I think of it. Words do not describe it.

So as I said, I used to think I was aware of my surroundings. But not any more.