[surprise!]

Sometimes, I'm simply overwhelmed.
Overwhelmed at my husband's love for me.
Overwhelmed at the way
he sacrifices for me,
gives to me,
lays down his life for me.
He reflects Christ's love in a thousand different ways,
and through him,
I've come to better understand the love my Savior has for me.

They love me so good.

As I've eluded in recent weeks,
this month brought with it a milestone birthday:
40
While there were a few days I was lamenting this coming number,
God had done a work in my heart
and given me joy and perspective.
And as I've said before,
I want to gladly welcome and embrace each year,
knowing it's a gift from Him,
not meant to be despised or squandered.

With that said, my husband had told me to reserve Saturday (the day before my birthday) for him.
I gathered that he had a little something up his sleeve,
but I didn't know what.

Have I mentioned I LOVE surprises?
But despite my husband's best efforts to pull them off in the past, they've always been discovered prematurely.

So needless to say, I suspected nothing when Thursday night brought with it date night.
Life has been hectic and busy lately,
and dinner---just the two of us---sounded exceedingly blissful.

First, he suggested we drive along the lake
(despite the fact it was gray and nightfall was coming).
Then he took me to Starbucks for fall drinks
(despite the fact I was starving and was more than ready to just go eat).
"We're always in such a hurry," he said.
"Let's just take our time and linger."
And so we did.
Heart-connecting conversation and an unhurried pace was just what my heart needed.

But then I was ready to go eat.
As I began walking toward our car,
he grabbed my hand and said,
"Let's go for a walk."
I tried to resist.
"A walk?  It's cold out here!  And I'm hungry!"
"Just a short one," he insisted.
"Let's just take it all in."

And so we walked.
We hadn't gone far when we ran into dear friends.
Initially, I thought it was coincidence.
But as we momentarily stopped to chat with them,
I looked a bit further down the sidewalk and saw more little huddles making their way toward us.

Every few feet,
we were greeted by friends and loved ones.
From all sides they came:
out from the trees, down the hill,
lining the sidewalk.
I'm certain I would have been a heap on the ground had my husband not been holding me up.
Loved one after loved one came,
and I sobbed like a baby.
All week, I've been replaying the scene in my heart and mind.
There simply aren't words for it.
But that wasn't all.

I made my way into the beautifully autumn-adorned shelter---lovingly decorated by precious friends who know and love me so well---and there, before me, was a sight I'll never forget:
faraway friends who had flown in and driven hours to be part of the celebration:
my heart and soul, friend, Clare, with her beautiful girls;
two of our "girls" from our first youth group in Ohio;
and a dear friend from the Chicago area who has been an "older woman" to me for so many years---
all present to help make this the surprise of the century!

Every detail was picture perfect.
One friend giddily said,
"Can you believe it?  It's so you!"
I couldn't agree more--- tables of delicious autumn appetizers and sweets and a gorgeous pumpkin birthday cake with cinnamon frosting.
The warm glow of candles lit each table, and pictures from the distant past and present graced each one.
My husband put together a beautifully moving video of the first 40 years (which included video greetings from friends).
And my Clare assembled a scrapbook of letters from family and friends.
I'm still working my way through it.
Like I said, sometimes I'm just overwhelmed.

It's a week later, and I'm still soaking in and processing all the love in that room.
My husband's heart for me overwhelms me, and he certainly pulled off a surprise like no other.
As I've told many of my friends, my greatest, most treasured gift is being surrounded by all those I love.
I'm awed and humbled that God would give me the absolute joy and pleasure of walking through life with so many amazing people.
My life is much fuller, so much richer because of them, and through them I experience His abundant goodness and grace.

40 is not so very bad.
In fact, I'm quite certain I like it.

Below is a 6-minute video that was taken by our firstborn as the surprise was unfolding outside.  It's near the tail end of our walk (what you don't see is the herd of people---160 of them---behind me and inside).  The first 3/4ths of the video is dark and difficult to see (but our son gives pretty good commentary if you're willing to hang in there), and then the last bit shows the surprise awaiting me inside the shelter.  Enjoy!