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Monday, March 8, 2010

The BIG Birthday SURPRISE

Okay ...




I guess I'd better show you ...




what Papa got for his birthday ...




I shopped for several months ...




I pinched our pennies ...




It is BIG ...




I couldn't even bring it to the
island by myself ...




I lay awake at night trying to figure
out how to get it here without him knowing ...




I lay awake at night trying to figure 
out how to keep it a SURPRISE ...




I bought it several weeks go and had 
to keep it at a friend's house ...




When I went to the bank to get cash 
to make my purchase, I was told, 

"We don't usually have that much cash on hand."
What?!  The bank doesn't have enough money?!
I guess banks aren't used to people that 
pay cash for everything.





Yesterday, I cropped this picture for you.
Today, what else do you see in the picture?









As Papa heard something,

he leaped up and headed to the window.

What does Papa see?









Here is Papa's BIG SURPRISE ...







Papa has dreamed of owning a 

Harley ever since I met him,

over 30 years ago.




We've always joked that, 

"Maybe by your 50th Birthday we'll be able to afford one."  

We had no idea that the Lord would 
call us to take a huge pay cut this year.  


But, the Lord provided painting jobs for Jim ... 
and I kept putting away that "extra" money.





Here is the TOTALLY CREATIVE cake 

that Janie had made for Jim's Big Surprise.







The whole house was decorated in a Harley theme.
We had Harley plates and Harley napkins.
We had orange & black streamers everywhere.



Since we'd always talked about buying a Harley for 
Papa's 50th, the decorations didn't ruin the surprise.



Papa just thought he was getting a "Harley Party",
but never expected the real Harley to go with it.




The only thing Papa ever said 
about his upcoming 50th birthday,

"Don't have one of those 'Over the Hill' parties
where everything is decorated in black."

"Oh.  Don't worry honey."

He didn't mind the 

"Over the Hill on a Harley",


nor did he mind the black and orange decorations.

Posted by Mama D.'s Dozen at 10:50 PM
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17 comments:

  1. Wow! That is an amazing surprise!

    My Jim would love a Harley too. He had a motorcycle when we met and he had three accidents. We always said when the youngest was 18 he'd get a Harley and we'd ride off into the sunset.

    Of course, with 15 years between children we may need a Harley with a place to store our walkers..ha, ha.
    Great job Laurel!

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  2. Love this! I enjoy trying to create big surprises, too. The closest I've gotten to a Harley so far was a bike for my dad, and a remote controlled monster truck for my husband... great job pulling it off!

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  3. Amazing! What a precious gift for you to give him. :) I've loved all your recent posts, but I've been a little comment-deficient, since this baby is starting to suck up all my energy and brain cells. ;)

    Excited to read your latest comment about house stuff. :) Your sweet spirit is so evident through the things you write and share you continue to be such an inspiration to me.

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  4. aw. it's good to be wrong! sweet shot of your hubby on his new ride.

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  5. Oh, That is so SWEET!!! I honestly thought of a Harley, but didn't think it was really even Possible. You are Awesome!!

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  7. That is a fun present!!! Just don't show it to my children :)

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  8. I love this! and quite honestly, am in awe that you could save this up, pay in cash, AND keep it a surprise! Amazing!
    ~Sheri

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  9. Renee ... when we started talking about getting Jim a Harley for his 50th birthday, we thought that our kids would be grown & gone. Six of them are ... but we are blessed to still have 6 at home. We have 18 years between the oldest and the youngest.

    Linda ... I don't know which Linda you are, but I'm hoping that you are the sweet friend Linda who's husband also has a harley. Our hubby's will need to go riding together.

    Dawn ... yeah, the kids? Yikes! Elijah totally thinks he's getting a ride on it. Wrong! I told Jim he will have rules like teen drivers: "No friends along until he's had his license for a year."

    Sheri ...I, too, am amazed that the Lord helped me to BLESS my sweet hubby with such a gift. Saving up and paying cash was TOUGH (especially since we haven't even gotten our tax refund yet ... timing was hard). And, the SURPRISE aspect was very difficult, but totally worth it.

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  10. AHHHHHHHHHH!!! You are amazing!!!!!!!

    WOW. That is the most thoughtful gift. Ever.

    I'm so happy for the both of you... I assume you bought an extra helmet for yourself :)

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  11. Hi Laurel ... No Harley for my Hubby. Mark & Linda in Puyallup. For Some reason, the Harley came to mind, so I'm sure Jim used to talk about it :)
    Miss You guys!!

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  12. Sorry Linda ... I have a few Linda friends. :)

    Oh yes ... he has always talked about it.

    Miss you guys, too. You need to come visit our island this summer.


    :) :) :)

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  14. how fun!!!! what a great weekend of surprises.

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  16. Love it! I love the look on his face!

    But I need to make sure my hubby doesn't see this, lest he ask for a refurbished vintage land rover for his birthday!

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  17. What an amazing way to bless your hubby! He is a blessed man!

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