SURPRISES!!!!!!

I was awake for 20 hours yesterday, so I’m apologizing in advance if this post doesn’t make a lot of sense. : )

After working for 8 hours, I flew up here to Chicago. After grabbing my bag and walking to the car, my daddy greeted me with a single yellow rose. He tells me I’m the “yellow rose from Texas.” Aww he is a sweetie.

I stumbled into the house and my mom said, “I know you’re tired but I have something to show you…upstairs.” So we walk upstairs into “my” bedroom, and there is a male figure lying on his stomach on the bed (face away from me.) My first instant thought was that it was my husband, just as instantly dismissed as an impossibility. Then I realized, it’s my brother!!!!!!

my brother…umm…Kurt? did he drive up from Indiana? or is it Ben? It took me a few seconds to figure it out!!!!

It was BEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I haven’t seen Ben for over a year, since Christmas of 2007. Ben is an Intelligent Specialist in the US Navy (and for my fellow Army friends, “specialist” is his job title, not his rank…although he was JUST pinned his E-4 last week!!!) Ben is deploying to Afghanistan within the month, and I didn’t think I would have the chance to see him before he left. I was totally surprised to see him, but what a wonderful gift! He will be there the whole time I’m here with my parents.

But that’s not all…

My mom told me about 10 minutes later that my other two brothers, Kurt and Michael, will be coming up to visit as well on Thursday. Which means I’ll be with ALL of my siblings (not to mention my grandparents who are driving over from Cleveland!) on my birthday…something I did not expect at all!!!

I also received a sweet box of chocolates from my sweet husband. MMMMMMMM!!!!

So today has been busy with being in church with my parents, meeting a whole bunch of people who seemed nice but who’s names I probably won’t remember. A nap, quick phone call from my hubby, and then back to church to drop my mom off for choir practice. So Dad, Ben, and I are at Panera (awww I have missed this place!) eating the best cream of broccoli soup in the world! (oh and did I mention the cafe mocha to keep me awake in church tonight?)

After the service there is an all-church ice-skating-pizza-and-pop party! I am going to attempt to not break any bones. : )

God is good. Life is full of surprises! I’m just glad that this week it looks like they are good ones!