Steve and I hovered in the back of the room whispering to each other.
He asked, “How should we let her know we are here?” and I said, “Maybe send her a text and tell her to look over her right shoulder.”
He hadn’t even finished writing the text when suddenly, for no reason whatsoever, Sarah turned around and looked over her shoulder. It was so much fun to see her surprised face and have her come running over for a hug.
You may be wondering just why we happened to show up at Sarah’s new church when we have a church of our own. Well, it just happened that this was the Sunday after the hurricane and we had canceled our service due to no electricity. What better way to spend a Sunday than to go surprise our daughter at her new church!
When we pulled into the church parking lot and spotted that familiar gray car, my mama heart started to have mama heart palpitations.
On the morning we were there, Sarah was shadowing someone on running media; it was great to see her in her new spot.
We enjoyed the service so much . . .
and I especially enjoyed getting sit with these two. When you are a pastor’s family, you don’t have many opportunities to sit together in church.
After church, we took her out to lunch . . .
and then she headed off to Virginia Beach for some hang out time with her college buds.
We just loved getting to be a part of The Sarah Sunday Surprise.
What about you?
I realize this was a small surprise on the Official Scale of Surprises. Maybe you have a larger surprise to share with us, either when you surprised someone, or someone surprised you.
What a WONDERFUL surprise. And so fun to see Sarah in her new environment. I’m so happy you were able to spend some unexpected with Sarah and soothe your mama heart.
Sue Ellen,
Yes, it was a treat for my mama heart, for sure!
Glad you got to go see and surprise Sarah. Guess Dorian had some redeeming qualities.
My aunt and uncle were having a 30th birthday party for my cousin. I lived in Louisville at the time but was able to fly back and go with my parents. She didn’t know I was coming so I hid in the bathroom with balloons at Red Lobster until she got there and was seated. Then I came out and surprised her. She did not expect me to be there.
My aunt and uncle and parents decided to have a 40th birthday party for me in the town I was living in at the time. I think I was supposed to be going to dinner with a coworker. I had tried to call my parents and they weren’t home. I had a sneaking feeling something was going on so I drove by the restaurant on the way to get my friend. Sure enough, there was my parents and aunt and uncle’s car sitting in the parking lot.
Phyllis,
So you’ve gotten to be the one doing the surprising and the one being surprised. (Even though you figured it out ahead of time.) 🙂
Surprises are such fun.
I LOVE this surprise! AND that skirt you are wearing in the picture, Becky. The colors are beautiful and it looks so comfortable too. Also love that y’all are holding hands.
Best surprise of my life was when my husband-to-be proposed in October of 1992. We hadn’t even really discussed marriage (he’s the strong, silent type), so my legs turned to rubber and I almost fell down. That night, I just lay in bed with my eyes wide open, saying over and over to myself in wonder, “I’m getting MARRIED!” You see, we were in our 30’s and I had almost despaired of God ever providing me with a godly mate. But now, almost 29 years later, I can say that he’s still the most Christlike, wonderful man I ever met. I am so blessed!
Jenny Jo,
Thank you. I have LOVED that skirt. Doesn’t wrinkle, doesn’t show dirt, has an elastic waist (comfy!), and the colors make me smile.
I love the picture of you lying in bed saying, “I’m getting married” over and over. A lot of times women know that a proposal is on the way but when you are surprised by it, it’s all the more wonderful. So inspiring to hear of you finding lasting love a little later in life.
I am so happy that you were able to surprise Sarah. How fun! Even tho it’s only been a short time, I’m sure it was good to see her…and hug her!
Krista,
Yes, even the shortest time together is worth it–just for the surprise and the hug!
Speaking as a parent, I loved this delightful and heartwarming story!
Fred,
Glad you enjoyed the story! It was such a fun surprise.
Have a feeling it was just your presence that Sarah felt and that’s why she turned. :-). Sorry your church didn’t have electricity, but glad you were able to surprise Sarah. Told my husband when I turned 70, that I wanted a party. Since I was telling him about it, it wasn’t a surprise, but it took place in one of my favorite restaurants with several friends and some family. The surprise – my son, who lives in Oregon. Much laughter and tears. It had been a couple years since we had seen each other.
Sharyn,
Oh my. I can only imagine how you felt when you saw your son! I would have loved to have seen the tears, the hugs, the smiles. What a perfect surprise!
In 2006, our daughter was away at college. She had just been to the doctor who had told her that she suspected a thyroid tumor and wanted to get a biopsy. We were 100 miles away and feeling so helpless. This was a week night too. But as soon as hubby got home from work, we hopped in the car and made a mad dash for our girl. When she opened the door and saw us there, she bawled like a baby. Oh, and so did we. We all got the hugs we so desperately needed, grabbed a quick bite to eat with her and then headed back home. 200 miles for a hug. SO worth it!! <3
LeeAnne,
Two hundred miles for a hug. A perfect way to sum up the love between two parents and a daughter. I can only imagine that she would burst into tears when seeing you. When you’re away from home and facing a crisis of any sort, an unexpected viewing of familiar, beloved faces is the greatest gift.
We went to Louisiana in June 2012 and surprised Jim’s Mom. She had no idea we were coming. We spent a week there visiting her daily in the nursing home. When I walked in she threw her arms up in the air and said I thought I saw an angel. I have that picture and treasure it. That was the last time we got to spend with her as she passed away in September of that year. So thankful for the surprise visit.
Ann,
I love the line, “I thought I saw an angel.” What a gift to her and what a gift to you and Jim that she was so thrilled to have you come.
My son was a freshman in college and my mama heart was missing him something fierce, I hadn’t seen him in weeks and from our texts it sounded like it would be weeks more before he’d be home. On particularly long Friday I came home and waited for my daughter (a senior in hs at the time) to get in the car so we could go grab a bite to eat. I was reading something and so my head was down and the next thing I know there is a tap on the window… startled I look up and there he is! My big grown boy ❤️ Best surprise ever!
Sarah,
I bet the only smile bigger than yours was the one on your son’s face. That whole story just makes me smile.