A Lovely Surprise

[pegkerr]

I came home today, tired and subdued, to find the girls in the kitchen, vibrating with excitement. "Surprise!"

I looked around. The kitchen had been cleaned up. Rob had taken the wire shelving that has been in the girls' room for the past six years and turned it into a pantry shelving at the side of the kitchen. All the extra cans and boxes that have been littering the kitchen floor were up and neatly stacked away. And with stuff actually out of the way, the kitchen floor had been cleaned.

More surprises followed. The girls were in their birthday dresses. "Your dress is laid out on your bed. Go change!"

I stepped into the dining room to discover it was transformed. Both the living room and dining room were picked up. The table was beautifully set with all our fall linens, and my Nana's beautiful old tea set was all laid out. All the tea light holders from my office were scattered around the dining room, lit with candles, and George Winston was playing softly from the boom box in the background. A little bouquet of flowers had been picked, tied with a ribbon, and was resting at my place setting.

"Daddy read what you posted on LiveJournal, so we're having tea! And then we'll have formal dinner!"

Tears came to my eyes. What a beautiful, wonderful surprise. I went up, got dressed in the dress I'd worn in my anniversary picture, and then came down. We had Yorkshire Gold tea and crackers spread with raspberry jam. After we had our tea, the girls cleared the table and started serving dinner. Fruit salad was the first course, and then spaghetti with real shredded parmesan. Delia brought out a bottle of sparkling grape juice and everyone was given a glass.

Rob took a sip and offered a true Minnesota compliment: "That's not totally repulsive."

I cracked up.

We lingered over dinner. This is what it means to have a family, I thought, and I was flooded with sentimental gratitude. Yes, my girls and my husband sometimes drive me crazy. But then I get something like today's heart-felt gift, when they spend an afternoon knocking themselves out to give me a wonderful surprise, to give me joy.

Because they love me.

We have decided to take a hiatus before dessert (pudding pie and ice cream). I am using the girls' computer to tell you about my surprise (Rob's still working on getting mine configured.)

The girls have also told me I'm not to do the dishes (although it should have been my job, since I didn't cook.) Instead, Rob and the girls will do them.

I took pictures. Once my computer is up and running, I will post them for you all to see.

Edited to add: Pictures are here!

Comments

[sociofemme.livejournal.com]

Aw. I'm blinkinng back tears, here. That's just the sweetest thing.

[dancingwriter.livejournal.com]

How lovely!

[awelkin.livejournal.com]

Oh, my heart is touched, reading this. Oh my.

Catherine

[slrose.livejournal.com]

That's wonderful!

[madlori.livejournal.com]

Oh, I can't wait to see the pictures. What a wonderful surprise; I know you really needed it, too.

[bohemianspirit.livejournal.com]

"Daddy read what you posted on LiveJournal, so we're having tea! And then we'll have formal dinner!"

Oh, God. I am totally melting. How awesome. ENJOY. ;-)

[prunesnprisms.livejournal.com]

I'm glad they thought to give you something you enjoyed. I hope it happens very often.

[dd-b.livejournal.com]

Oh, wow! That sounds really fine.

[hobbitbabe.livejournal.com]

awww!

[chelsearoad.livejournal.com]

When you shared that story, you shared the heart-warming moment with many. Thank you.

[aome.livejournal.com]

Oh, Peg - what a lovely surprise. I know your family drives you bats sometimes, but here's proof that you have clearly been a positive, loving influence on all of them, that they want to put out that extra effort to make you happy, and to be a family. I can only hope our girls will do that for me sometimes, when they're older. Lucky you!

[barondave.livejournal.com]

Family sometimes sneaks up on you.

If you're reading this, Rob, girls: Good job!

[rachet.livejournal.com]

That's WONDERFUL!!! What a beautiful evening!

[jonquil.livejournal.com]

Oh, how lovely. What joy.

[pennswoods.livejournal.com]

Oh what a lovely perfect surprise!

[malinaldarose.livejournal.com]

Aw! That was so sweet of them!

[sdn.livejournal.com]

okay, i love your family.

ROCK ON MINNESOTANS

perfect

[mkaout.livejournal.com]

That's perfect.
remember a few weeks back when you and rob dropped the girls at camp and spent a lovely afternoon together and you decided to tuck the memory away for when you were feeling particularly sh*tty? (My words, not yours)
Seems you have been fortunate enough to have another memory to add.
Lucky you!

[chamisa.livejournal.com]

Oh! How wonderful!

[jbru.livejournal.com]

That's got me all misty and smiling. What a lovely thing. Thanks for sharing.

[nmalfoy.livejournal.com]

Oh, Peg. How wonderful. That's one of the sweetest things I've heard about in a long time. What a gift.

What a surprise!

[alfreda89.livejournal.com]

We all thank them, too, because we couldn't arrange it, and they did a stupendous job!

Yaay you!

[dragonet2.livejournal.com]

and happy day!

[kitsune13.livejournal.com]

That is so sweet, and you totally deserve it. And happy anniversary!

[vass]

*sniffle*

That is the most beautiful thing I've read all day.

[weaselmom.livejournal.com]

Wow! I know it must have been a lot of work, all the cleaning and reorganizing. That's a lovely gift they gave you - to really hear what the cry of your heart and then make it happen.

[http://users.livejournal.com/anam_cara_/]

That is just so wonderful, so extremely thoughtful, and detailed (courses at dinner- they must have been busy!), and every mother's dream- to be appreciated and shown it. A very loving family memory to store away to warm your heart. I'm a little jealous!

[fairestcat]

Oh, how wonderful of them! You are a lucky woman.

[priscellie.livejournal.com]

What sweethearts! Oh, this is wonderful.

[dlgarfinkle.livejournal.com]

That is so sweet!