A few days before Christmas, our Excellent Daughter Libby called home in tears. Things were not going well. The restaurant where she worked had unexpectedly closed down a few days earlier, she needed to find a new job ASAP, and she was short on funds to board her dog to take advantage of our offer of a plane ticket home for the holidays. She had a couple of interviews lined up and could do some dog sitting to make a little extra money. It looked like, for the first time, we wouldn’t all be together for Christmas. Adding insult to injury, her birthday is December 21st, so that celebration would be missed as well.
We are not parents who immediately try and rescue our kids. It was not in the cards for us to solve her problems and somehow get her home.
However, being a resourceful Chicken Mama, I decided that even though getting her home for Christmas would not be a good idea (that would be rescuing) if all of us got on a plane and surprised her on Christmas Day…well, that would be AN ADVENTURE.
Long story short, we left on Christmas morning and my VERY Excellent Cousin Beth made sure that Libby arrived at the meeting place at exactly the right time. This is what she saw when she walked in.
Libby’s Christmas gift.
She was TOTALLY surprised. I saw her say to Beth as she was walking through the crowd toward us, “Hey, that kid looks like my brother!”
We are living proof that being together is the best gift of all.
Well, this was certainly the right decision.
It just got better…
And better…
And better!
We sat down and ate and drank and talked and laughed and talked and laughed and talked and laughed. Then we laughed even harder because our mouths were sore from so much talking and laughing. Sometimes things are simply meant to be.
I know we won’t always be able to be together at Christmas. The kids are not kids anymore. But not this year. This year, Christmas was perfect.
Merry Chrismas from the family!
(Shared at Clever Chicks Hop, Tuesdays With A Twist, Down Home Hop, HomeAcre Hop, Frugal Days Sustainable Ways, From the Farm Hop, Farmgirl Friday, Homestead Barn Hop and Backyard Farming Connection Hop!)
I love a happy ending story…just like that! 🙂
Annie recently posted…Oh What A Beautiful World
It WAS like a real-life fairy tale! Annie, I hope you and yours have a wonderful New Year 🙂
What an absolutely beautiful gift of family you all have! Brought tears to my eyes….sniffle sniffle….wow!
It was perfect, Becky. Every bit of it was perfect. (Except I couldn’t put the animals on the plane to be part of the surprise!)
Oh, what a sweet, touching (yes, I’m crying) story!! Your daughter is very blessed!! Life is all about God first and family love! 🙂
Big tears!
There were lots of those!
OMGeeeee I love this and your idea of a family adventure…Super awesome! So happy you all had a happy holiday. What a great surprise for her, no doubt one for the family book of moments 🙂
Jen recently posted…Friday Ramblings…
We will NEVER forget the look on her face 🙂
What a lovely story. So well written. They way you did it was the best way. If you solve the problem you become the problem. An inspiring approach. Thanks for sharing. And a nice family picture to top it off. All the best for the New Year Joan.
All the best to your and yours as well!
What an absolutely lovely family you have! Your Christmas gift was totally a blessing for me to read. Merry Christmas!
Thanks for stopping by 🙂 Happy New Year!
I love this story! Such a great memory made.
Jennifer recently posted…Birds of 2013: The Final Stretch
We’ll have it for a lifetime! BTW, I love your bird pics – they’re wonderful!
So happy for you all, that’s awesome!
jody recently posted…Spring Planning (Already!)
aw, made me cry. 🙂
Lori recently posted…New
It was that kind of perfect! Happy New Year 🙂
What a wonderful achievement and the best surprise anyone can get! Happy New Year y’all, and may your daughter get that job she wants! Cheers, heather x
Welcome to The Chicken Mama 🙂 AND, she got the job! Thanks for asking!
Good job mama on not rescuing and great surprise!….Stopping by from Home Acre hop….Glad I found you 🙂
Katey recently posted…Shameless Plug and Some Ch Ch Changes….
Thanks for stopping by! Headed over to your blog now 🙂
I always love your animal adventures but this family adventure bought the tears to my eyes. I don’t make comments often even though I always follow but you are a great story teller and I too love a happy ending. Happy New Year.
Carol Caldwell recently posted…New Years Eve with the girls
Sweet story!
OMG, this totally made me mist up. What a wonderful story. Thank you so much for sharing it. Those are the memories that last a lifetime. I’m featuring you on this week’s Clever Chicks. I suspect that long before you were the Chicken Mama, you were Super Mom.
Thank you for sharing such an uplifting adventure, Joan. ♥
Kathy Shea Mormino
Kathy Shea Mormino, The Chicken Chick recently posted…Flock Focus Friday, 1/3/14 featuring a GIVEAWAY from my new sponsor, Sarah Hudock!
Wow, thank you SO MUCH Kathy! It was the perfect storm of occasions, and I still get verklempt every time I think about it 🙂 I go through the Clever Chicks Hop every week and soak up all the good info, great writing, and happy stories from all who participate. Thanks so much for hosting!