A Surprise For Papa

Papa turned 50 this year, and Mama really wanted to surprise him....so, we did some big planning. Mama was the brains behind it all. We had a 'surprise' party for him on his birthday, and the boys and I decorated the dining room all gorgeous (in colors of life and vibrancy), in preparation for the 'real' shebang.

David, Samuel and I had lots of fun putting this all up!! :)
The centerpiece was leftovers from past centerpieces, ribbons, paper creche flowers I made out of streamers, and the old wrapping off of store-bought flowers, stuck into an old floral block. :)

We gave him his presents and all too, and had a lot of fun reminiscing back over the years (unfortunately, I didn't get pictures of that, as I was videoing it)... It was really precious! :)

Mama is an excellent cook, and we just love her!!!
Rebekah and Esther had fun decorating Papa's chair and making his poster.

Surprise! :)

The boys decided to play a practical joke on Papa--he absolutely LOVES his mom's rolls, and it's been a family joke for a LONG time... Anyway, they put one into a balloon and had Papa pop it. :) Boy, was he a happy camper! :)

 One thing I love about my dad is that he is a listener. He's very wise, and I love talking to him... He also isn't pushy, though when he has made a decision, though he is open to appeals, it stands. He's always making everything fun, and is a diligent, innovative worker. I love working for him as a boss, and enjoy the times we drive into town together.
Papa is extremely competitive, creative, humble (and as his daughter, I can say that ;p), determined, resourceful, and generous. I am so blessed to grow up in the home that I have, and to have the father that I have.

Papa, I'll always be your little girl!!! <3

Some random pictures we took...I don't get many of me at family events since I'm mostly behind the camera, so it was fun to find these two. Had to post this one of Rachel--isn't she beautiful?! :D

So....on to the big event.
Papa was home all day Saturday, and we had it scheduled for Saturday evening. We were a little worried that we'd be able to pull it off without him suspecting something (since there were going to be 75 people there that we were feeding...) However, he was so busy in the office working on stuff that we even set the tables right under his nose!!!

The plan was that his cousin's family was going to be coming into town and would be eating dinner with us. The hope was that Rick would be able to get him downstairs and playing games before the guests started coming.

That's where we started having issues. You see, Rick was just a bit late, and the guests started arriving. We were able to lock the dogs up before they barked too much, and the girls went out to the lions halfway down our driveway to direct people to park up at the barn and wait until they were signaled. It was an almost catastrophe.

Finally, Rick and his family arrived, and made a big hullabaloo in the entryway, while we tried to motion to him to hurry and get Papa downstairs. He made up some story about how he'd been telling his wife "all day" about how much he was looking forward to playing pool with Papa, and so he was able to get them settled down there JUST IN TIME, for they weren't even out the doorway when a guest tried to walk in the front door. We were able to motion "NO!" and get the door shut just in time that Papa didn't see (since his back was turned), leaving a bunch of people freezing on the doorstep.

 What memories!!! Finally, everyone assembled, including Papa's brother from WA who drove all the way out here with my cousin to surprise him, and he led the charge downstairs to shock Papa. It was perfect. Everyone followed, and we started singing Happy Birthday. Papa was so surprised to see Uncle Jim that he didn't even see the flock of followers for probably 20 seconds!! Then it was a roar again.. ;)

Papa and Uncle Jim

The look on Papa's face was priceless "Who are all these people??" ;)

After welcoming everyone personally, we went upstairs and ate, followed by blessings or memories folks shared with him, and more visiting. It was so special!!! I made a slideshow of his growing up that we showed at the very end after dessert, and that was a lot of fun for people to reminisce over!!

I am so VERY blessed---we are so very blessed to have Papa as our father. Thank you Papa for following God with your whole heart and teaching us what that meant by word and deed!

I love you!!!

"And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve;....but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

~ Joshua 24:15 ~

"Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is His reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate."

~ Psalms 127:3-5 ~