OK- so what's a BIG DEAL that he would so totally love -- but not a big deal with a huge bunch of folks??? Time. With. Family.
I e-mailed our family -- and invited everyone to come surprise T for the weekend! They were right on with it and started making travel plans. Dave and Dolly coming from VA -- Candy and James from TX - Marshall and Katie secretly making plans with Bethany to surprise us all.
It has been 13-14 years since we'd all been in Tulsa together. In that time our kids have married, started their families and we'd all gotten older.
Bethany and I started menu plans that centered around T'giving since that's the meal Candy and her family always shared with us in the fall. I made Meme Bell's favorite coconut pie -- pecan pie -- (Pop grew all kinds of pecan trees -- so we always had pecan pie).
I told Terry that Bethany and the kids were coming for dinner and he didn't even notice that I had set the table for extras -- I just kept the lights down in the dining room. B & the kids settled in and T looked up to see James and Candy at the door. He was so surprised!!! Meanwhile, we kept getting texts from David that their flight had been delayed even longer.
Finishing supper AND dessert, still no David and Dolly -- finally James and Candy had to get to bed and left for the hotel. Terry, decided it was time to turn in and started getting ready for bed, setting the alarm and all our usual nighttime routine. David texted to see if he was available and then rang the doorbell -- There the two of them stood with bows on their heads -- singing happy birthday!!!
Terry was even more surprised!!!
We snacked on leftovers
Talked
Talked some more
and all of us headed to bed.
About 1:30 Terry heard the toilet upstairs running water and the downstairs toilets gurgling.
When he stepped into the kitchen bathroom there was an inch of water!!!!
We shut off all water at the street -- sorry people -- have to go to QT or Walmart to potty.
Mopped up -- looked for more towels and sheets -- mopped up some more.
It was our coldest morning of the year! At 7:30 Terry and I headed to Walmart to buy gallons of water.
Marshall showed up to surprise his dad and he became in-charge person to help us navigate this situation --
He and I headed to Walmart for a fan.
Later Marshall bought more fans.
Happy BIRTHDAY TERRY!!!!
While the rest of us brunched at Bethany's -- Terry sat at home waiting on first a plumber named Ted -- who couldn't get his rig together to get over -- so we went the Roto Rooter route.
4:00 and $500 later -- we had water and started to re-boot our birthday celebrations.
Marshall and his Uncle Dave grilled steaks, Bethany hosted a wonderful family celebration and we all enjoyed the time to affirm, toast and encourage each other.
To complete the surprise - Bethany was able to have a Sasquatch Birthday cake made for him -- (the entire family believes in Big Foot and the Goodletts look for him every year -- while Marshall & Terry watch Big Foot specials.) Uncle David was a hit with the 5 Grands -- ripping their faces off like he used to with Bethany and Marshall.
Sunday we were able to reclaim our holiday and enjoy the day at our house.
Yes, we had a BIG BIRTHDAY DEAL -- a beautiful family reunion, lots of affirmations and touching toasts --along with memories of sopping up water with Dave -- lots of stories will come from this as well as a new floor.
