What was this past weekend like for you? Family gathering? Church? Easter Egg hunt? Cookout? Timeout?
For us it was almost all of the above, plus a surprise birthday party.
Some of those who regularly read my posts (or follow me on Facebook) know that we are planning to move to Amarillo this summer after my retirement at the end of June. That’s been pretty public for the last month or so.
What hasn’t been so public (not that it’s a secret, just hasn’t been as relevant to public conversation) is that we already have a house in Amarillo that we’ve been in the process of remodeling. We’ve been staying there since last October every time we travel up there to see the kids.
My favorite daughter checked in with me a few weeks ago and asked about the possibility of a surprise birthday party for Mrs. Sweetie, to celebrate the 40th anniversary of her 20th birthday. The trick would be to find a reason to be in Amarillo less than two weeks after our most recent trip.
No problem. I’ll just tell her that I think we should spend Easter with the family in Amarillo.
Then I had another idea: How about we invite my mom (“Grandmother”) to go with us to see our house? Mom lives in Mabank (just southeast of Dallas) and it will be a lot easier for me to go get her while we still live in Azle than it will when we move to Amarillo.
Good idea.
Then Sweetie had another idea: How about we celebrate Grandmother’s 88th birthday while we’re there since it is coming up in a couple of weeks?
Good idea.
So, on Good Friday, we had all our kids and grandkids together at our Amarillo house (known as “Las Casita de Grandpa and Sweetie”) to celebrate Grandmother’s and Sweetie’s birthdays.
On Saturday, we had everyone back over again to dye Easter Eggs and then have the inaugural Casita Easter Egg hunt in our front yard.
Then, on Sunday, Sweetie, Grandmother, and I joined favorite son’s family for worship at FBC Amarillo, where Grandmother (a former junior high choir director and church organist) got to hear a wonderful choir and massive pipe organ.
As the choir was singing, Sweetie nudged me and pointed to Grandmother. She was unconsciously directing with her right hand in her lap.
Priceless.
Sometimes someone asks, “Why in the world would you want to move to Amarillo?”
That’s why.
And here’s another twist:
The house we bought in Amarillo is the house in which a college friend grew up. We met during our freshman year at West Texas State University (now WTAMU) in an organization called Campus Services (a group of freshmen who served as hosts/recruiters for prospective students) and have kept up with one another for these almost 43 years.
On Friday before the birthday party, we had an appointment with a local business to give us a bid on an installation of smart blinds in our living room. During the visit, I had a flashback when he mentioned where he grew up. I didn’t figure it out until after he left, but I can’t wait until the installation happens so I can tell him that we met 43 years ago.
In Campus Services.
As Jerry Clower used to say, “Ain’t God Good!”
Be amazing today, my friend.
