PATTY'S CHRISTMAS SURPRISE

    My oldest daughter has had a very difficult year. I won't go into details but will say most people would not hold up under such circumstances. Please keep Patty in your prayers.
   She moved the week before Christmas and was in the process of organizing her new household and did not have time to put up any Christmas decorations. I felt so sad for her that I decided to go to her place without her knowing and decorate for her. I told my youngest daughter Cyndi who was thrilled and wanted to help, then my daughter-in-love Joan and two granddaughters Miranda and Brandey and two great granddaughters Julia and Hailee. It just grew beautifully.
  Cyndi had a key for Patty's house made for me then she took Patty out for the afternoon and we used a 'code' phrase and cell phones to know when it was safe to go to her place. Miranda and Brandey parked all our cars down the road so they wouldn't be seen.
Above is the little metal tree that Patty had decided would have to be her Christmas tree. I brought a table cloth to cover the table, the stocking and candy canes.

 I also brought over my extra Christmas tree and some decorations. We knew Patty liked gold and cream colors on her tree so Cyndi picked up some ornaments and ribbon and Joan brought some beautiful cream colored balls. In the above picture Julia is decorating.

 Joan brought a tray of cookies and also brought the makings for more cookies which she and Hailee baked, making the house smell delightful. Hailee at nine years old is a wonderful little cook and baker and she also sews beautifully. Am I proud of her? You bet! Joan has a catering business too.

 Here is Patty's table after we did a little decorating but before all the plates of cookies were added. I took some gingerbread people over and one of the gals hung them on patty's little tree. It was a darling idea. Also we brought chocolate covered cherries, red vines and something else I forgot which are Patty's favorites. At the right is Miranda's boom box. She put Christmas carols on Cd's the night before so we could have Christmas music too. The pictures are of Patty's boys and one of her on her first birthday.

 Here Miranda is putting the finishing touches on the Christmas tree. We were all getting pretty excited by this time. Carols were playing, cookies baking and evergreen boughs brought the fragrance of Christmas into the house. an evergreen swag and red bells decorated her entertainment center, Candles were lit all over the living and dining rooms, Snowmen, candles and santa's adorned the hearth, A huge, red, stuffed Christmas stocking hung beside her front door, Two Nativities were set up. We were all rushing around like a bunch of Santa's helpers.
Miranda even went to the hardware store for bolts to repair a table that had been damaged in the move. Everything was repaired and as festive as Martha-S could have managed. We did good!

 At last, we are done and I needed a sit!

Julia did a little 'crash' herself. All the hurry and scurry took the wind out of us!

 Then Miranda called Cyndi to let her know we were ready for her to bring Patty home to the surprise. We all hid in Patty's bedroom. Above Julia and Hailee are peeking out the front window waiting for them to arrive. Lots of tension and giggling at this time. LOL

We were quiet as mice when Patty walked through the door. We waited until we heard her say, "A tree?"  then we all came out of her bedroom at the end of the hall singing "We wish you a merry Christmas."
Yes she cried. for about an hour but they were happy tears. We hugged her heart. Our surprise was a huge success.

Patty won't forget this Christmas and neither will we. There is something wonderful about giving at any time of the year but especially at Christmas, and when you can do it in the form of a surprise somehow the blessing is multiplied a thousandfold. Try it and see.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

|