Surprise!

Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad!!! Yesterday was an AMAZING day! I have been planning a huge surprise 25th anniversary party for Mom and Dad since May, and the look on their faces yesterday was WELL WORTH IT!! I do have to confess that amidst all the planning and preparation for the party yesterday I forgot to get a new memory card, so I have absolutely no videos or pictures of this party :( That makes me so sad, but life goes on...

They were SHOCKED!!! The best part about the whole party, besides the surprise, was that I tracked down some of Mom and Dad's friends from high school and they were able to come. I'm so thankful that these people think Mom and Dad are as special as I do :)

I wrote a little poem for a toast, and here it is:

We’re gathered here all full of smiles
With friends and family too
To celebrate your life and love
The years that you’ve been through.

Two people could not more deserve
The words you’ll hear today,
The admiration, thanks and praise
You inspire in us each day.

For twenty-five years you’ve walked the walk
Of devotion and respect,
Now we’d like to take some time
to look back and reflect.

It all started at a game
And a trip to seven eleven
It was obvious even from the beginning,
This was match made in heaven.

At first Steve thought that she was married,
But his Dad encouraged him to ask her
With sweaty palms and a racing heart
He pictured this a disaster.

But Debi was eager to respond
She definitely wasn’t taken
Little did the two of them know
Their worlds were about to be shaken.

Then Debi went off to school,
Their phone bills became insane.
So Steve packed up his little car,
For they could not stand the pain.

When Debi came home it didn’t take long
For Steve to buy a ring,
Even though he didn’t have much money
He still provided the bling.

Then on Saturday August 18th,
With their friends and family there,
A blushing bride and a handsome groom
The love was thick in the air.

After just a few happy years
Even though their life was fun
They felt that something was missing
In the oven they put a bun.

They began to build their family
And they built it on the solid rock,
A couple years later along came Ben,
They had their princess and their jock.

After many passing years,
They thought their family was complete,
But God had other plans,
He added four more little feet.

Steve and Debi live for their kids,
They support their goals and dreams,
From soccer to golf to beach trips and college,
This family is truly a team.

The best part of their story is
That their love has continued to grow,
Amid children and work, the ups and the downs,
The light in them remains aglow.

Mom and Dad, you’ve shown us all
What it takes to make marriage succeed,
With every day, your choices and care
Make you real inspirations indeed.

So everyone, raise up your glass,
To celebrate this pair,
A couple whose story, whose love and whose life
Is truly beyond all compare.

I'm such a poet haha...NOT but they loved it and people got my silly humor so that was good :)

Thank you Mom and Dad for setting such a wonderful example of how to love each other for Brad and I. You guys have shown everyone around you for 25 years what a marriage should look like!! We love you!!