Overcome by Emotions....

What an amazing feeling I had as my sister walked into my house for her surprise birthday party. This is just what I had been waiting for. A month's worth of preperation and this was the day. The day to see if all the hard work and stress would pay off. And boy did it!

About a month ago my sister-n-law Amanda had talked to me about us giving Ashley a surprise 18th birthday party. The thought had already entered my mind but I had been consumed with giving a baby shower for a girl at church I hadn't given it much more thought. Then as Amanda and I began to discuss it we came up with the perfect plan. Amanda mentioned something about Dallas Cowboys, Ashley's favorite football team, and then I knew that was it! I quickly checked the Dallas Cowboys schedule and found out they would be playing on October 19th at 12. Perfect! We would have a surprise party at my house with it being Dallas Cowboy themed and with the game playing. So the planning began. Thank goodness for Amanda to be my sounding board. We had lots of instant messenger talks about how should we do this and what should we do about that. Oh the excitement was about to boil over for both of us. But we HAD to pull this off. What an accomplishment if we could keep this a secret.

Mom is really bad about letting the cat out of the bag at times so I kept this party a secret from even her for a couple of weeks. I had to find the perfect time to tell her or it would be ruined. Even telling her over the phone could be a hard job because mom doesn't know how to discuss things over the phone secretly. A perfect example.....do you want to know how Anthony and I found out mom was pregnant with Ashley? It wasn't a sit down discussion between the family or even a one on one with either of us. You see, she was talking on the phone. Anthony and I were in the same room and she was talking to an aunt of ours and there it was. The secret was out. Mom was pregnant. Oh I jumped and screamed and giggled. At the age of nine I was SO excited of the thoughts of being a big sister. I couldn't wait. So there you have it, mom is NOT good at keeping secrets. So anyways.....back to this surprise...we all managed to keep it a secret.

Invitations were sent out and the waiting began. I could not wait to see how Ashley would react. I wasn't really prepared for the emotions that would consume me at that moment. I always stress out over parties or showers that I'm helping with. Wanting everything to be just perfect. I am sure the other party goers thought I was a spaz. I am thinking that next time I give a party or shower that I will take a pill that morning. ha!

So I give Anthony and Amanda a lame excuse as to why they need to park in the back of my house for a "planned" lunch we would have together at my house. This was actually going to work. They pull up out back and I let all the family and friends know. "She's here!!!!" That's when the emotions were raging for me. Excited, scared, nervous, hands were shaking. I stood by the back door, off to the side, with camera in hand. "SURPRISE!!!!" Ashley just stands there looking all around at all the people that have filled the house. Dumbfounded I think would be a good word for her expression. She walks in further and puts her hands to her face and that's when it happened. Tears! Tears from Ashley, Amanda, me, and others. It all happened so fast but I remember us all hugging and tearing up and laughing. Oh it was wonderful.

Even thinking about it now, the emotions start to hit me. Who would imagine a surprise party being so emotional. This was it tho, the baby of our family is turning 18. To make someone feel so special and loved makes me feel so wonderful. There are no words to describe how I felt at that moment standing there watching Ashley become overcome with emotion because of pure surprise. Being 9 1/2 years difference between us, I have often felt like another mother to Ashley. I want to protect her, encourage her, be a friend, be someone she can come talk to about anything, and sometimes even be a sister that gripes about what she should be doing. But over all, I want her to know that she is loved and very special to me. I can't imagine life without my sister. She is very spoiled but I couldn't ask for a better sister. One thing I admire most about her is what a great christian young woman she has become. In today's society it is extremely difficult for teenagers. They get caught up in drugs, sex, alcohol, etc. at such an EARLY early age. But by the Grace of God, Ashley is still walking on the right path.

Time sure does fly by. Friday will be 18 years from when my sister was brought into this world. I remember Anthony waking me up early that morning telling me that Dad had taken Mom to the hospital. I couldn't wait to meet my little sister and I wondered what she would look like and couldn't wait to help with her. Now, 18 years later I thank God for the beautiful, sweet, loving friend He has given me as my sister.

........Love you Ash!