Sneaky Plans Done With Love - Happy Birthday Mom

Sunday - February 28, 2010

It has been a while, but I felt today was a good day to share with you the efforts the family went through to throw a surprise birthday party for our 90 year old mother - Irene Layne.

The last couple of months have been full of planning and sneaking around by the family. The undertakings of the family paid off on Saturday, February 27, 2010. My mother, Irene Layne, turned 90 today – February 28, 2010. My nephew Billy always told her when she turned 90 we were going to have a big party just for her. The closer time got to her birthday, the more she would mention about what Billy had said. Thus the plans began to materialize – let’s surprise her and give her a party the day before her birthday. She would expect us to throw her a party ON her birthday, but not BEFORE! The plan was in motion!

We decided to give her party on Saturday at her home church, Highlawn Church of Christ. A list was made of who we needed to contact; invitations were mailed; and invitations were even sent via Facebook. Cousins, nieces, nephews, grandchildren, neighbors, friends, and the church family were all now in on our plans. Many thought it could not be pulled off, and that Mom would find out about our endeavors. The conspiracy was in action and many plans were being made behind her back!!! She never even suspected what was about to take place.

All of the family here would definitely be attending, but it was the family away from here who would be putting the icing on the cake. They all were making plans on being here for Mammaw’s big day! She would expect all of the grandkids from here, but not those who lived away! Oh what a surprise it was going to be for her to have all the grandkids and great-grandkids here!

All the invitations were out and now we were waiting on RSVP’s so we would know how many to expect! While we were waiting for replies, I ended up with the first cold/flu symptoms since retiring, and Mike had his back to go out causing him much pain! We both didn’t feel up to par, but the party must go on!!! We had help from the grandkids here, our cousin Patty, and my dear friend since junior high - Sharon, and some of the members from church! With all the extra help the plans were on schedule. We had the cake ordered, food was bought ready to prepare, decoration ready to put up, and one of the most difficult parts of the planning was ready!

Mike came up with the plan – along with some of the people from church. The church would host an activities day in which they would invite members from the area churches to get together for some Christian fellowship. Saturday was to be one of the first days for this get together! I got the idea to fix a PowerPoint of pictures showing Mom’s life over the 90 years since her birth. This was a labor of love that was like a roller coaster of emotions for me. I loved looking at pictures of Mom as she was growing up; of her family which was large when including her “foster” family; her with her sisters; and pictures of her parents and grandparents. I decided to do the pictures in a chronological order – showing her through her childhood, as a young woman, when she and Dad first married, as a young mother, and up to her being a great-grandmother today. The hardest part was going through pictures which included Dad and John and thinking how much I wish they were here to share this day with Mom!

There were moments I laughed when looking at the pictures because I remember when and where it was taken. Such great memories! Others I would cry when I looked at because those in the pictures weren’t here with us now. I scanned all the pictures I could find, and then I had to choose which ones to use. I tried to include everyone in the presentation. I have about seven or eight drafts with one having 125 slides and the one I chose having 85. Once the pictures were chosen, the order they were to be placed, and the timing for their display, the music needed to be chosen. If it wasn’t hard enough to go through the pictures, double that with choosing the music. We wanted to include music she would be familiar with and was part of her era!! Yep, they all ended up being tear-jerkers!!!!

Finally all things were ready to go! All we needed to do was get Mom to the church!!! After prayer meeting Wednesday, Mike made an announcement with the support of their Pastor and the lady who does the organization for activities at the church. The church would be the host for a movie with all area churches being invited. Mom is always ready to help and be part of any activity at church. We were hoping this event would be the same! Mike talked the activity up. He and Bill were planning on going to a MU basketball game that night. Mike told Mom he wouldn’t go the ballgame with Bill unless he came in early to go the movie!!! The plan was really in motion now! Bill agreed to attend the movie which tickled Mom!

Bill and I dropped all the things off at the church Friday. Meghan and Cassie had taken all the pictures and placed them on the display boards earlier in the week. They were now there at the church along with Billy to help clean and decorate. All the food was placed in the kitchen and was ready for the volunteers to put it together Saturday morning. Decorations were put up and the cake was picked up and delivered. I was taken to Mom’s ready to spend the weekend as I usually do! Bill would be back tomorrow to take us both to the movies!

There was one thing that could spoil our plans besides Mom refusing to go – the weather! SNOW SNOW GO AWAY! It did not go away! The snow kept many from attending, but we know they were there in spirit! Luckily for us, the snow had melted off the roadway for those who lived close to attend. The plan was to get Mom to the church a little after 1:00 with lights dim in the sanctuary so she couldn’t see who was sitting in the pews. With the extra cars in the parking lot, we wanted her to think other churches had members there who were going to participate.

Mike got to the church early. He called Mom and said he was going to make sure it was warm enough for her! Bill arrived at the house around 12:30 as planned. Mike called again. He needed us to stop and get some creamer for the coffee – another ploy to keep us from getting there too early. Those who know Mom know that she wants to be the first one there!!!! We finally left the house about 12:45! Mom was antsy! Bill took his time and we stopped at the store. Mom stayed in the car, and I took my time in getting the creamer! Mike called again – we needed to stall a little longer! Whew, this was getting harder, but again luck was on our side – we hit every light red going through town. Again Mike calls!!!! They needed a couple of more minutes to get some of those who came in from Logan to be seated. Bill was to turn at 27th Street – he missed the turn! Mom went oops – you missed the turn, but that’s okay we can go up and turn.

We finally pull into the church’s parking lot. The gentleman that always comes and helps her out of the car on Sunday morning was there to do the same thing Saturday. He and Mike escorted Mom into the auditorium. As they were walking toward the front Mike told Mom he was going to have her sit on the front pew so she could see the movie better! She could not see who all was there, but there were at least 60 who had been able to get there by 1:00. This was going to be great!!!!

Mike goes up to the front to welcome all who had come to the “movie!” He says we will open up with a song, but he wasn’t going to lead the singing! So he motioned for the grandkids to come to the front! Mom still has NO clue of what is taking place! The kids start singing “Happy Birthday” and Dink is wheeled up beside her!!! It is at that point she realizes what is taking place! Dink takes her hand and the tears start flowing – not just from her but the rest of us too!!!! She then realizes the pictures I have been working with and she has seen is the movie being shown. She leans over to Mike and says, “And I left a good John Wayne movie to come and watch this!”

After the “movie” she was greeted by all upstairs! She was definitely overwhelmed. As she said later there were many there she hadn’t seen in years! We all made our way down stairs for refreshments and fellowship. Before the party was over she had another surprise, John’s widow, Laurie came in. She had been on vacation and drove straight through from GA to get here to be with Mom!!! Oh it was so good to have her here with us!!!!! Laurie and John’s kids were kept away because of the snow –they were as disappointed as we were. However, we wanted them to stay safe and out of “harm’s way.” We hope to get everyone together when the weather is much prettier and warmer!

By the end of the day, Mom was tired but so thrilled to have so many come out and wish her a happy 90th birthday! She thanked everyone and said she would help give us a party when we turned 90!!! She was thankful for all the gifts and cards stating no one had to buy her a present, them being there was all the present she needed!

The hours of preparation and plotting had turned out to be the success we had hoped it would be. Mom was totally surprised and a large number was able to attend to help her celebrate 90 years of life! She is one special lady who is loved by many people! Many of those people were with her Saturday while there were many others who wished they could have been!

Pictures will be on the next posting!