Surprise Card Party

For a whole month the kids and I had been planning a surprise card party for David.  We asked people from all over to send cards of greeting for David's 40th birthday.  The mailman was in on it.  He saved cards for us when he saw that David's car was home.  He even came back to deliver some when he knew that David had left.  The mailman was awesome!!  It was hard to advertise this since we couldn't make announcements at church or put anything int he bulletin.  But we found ways to pass out little cards when David wasn't around.  We played games gathering info about him that we would want at the party.  We made signs and figured out decorations.

We kept planning and kept wondering....would it really be a surprise?!

It was a COMPLETE surprise!  :)  When he finally pulled into the parking lot it took him a long time to finally get out of his car and come into the church.  Once he cam in, he shared that seeing so many cars in the parking lot made him stressed about wondering what meeting he had completely forgotten about and was missed.  He spent time checking his schedule and the online bulletin to see what meeting it was that he was suppose to be at.  Once he saw there was no meeting planned, he looked around again and saw that some of the cars were Alpena Church members and realized what must be going on.

The kids were so excited about planning this party!

Howard Nash...aka the picture guy! 

People thoroughly enjoyed looking at these pictures from throughout David's life.  I believe the hot topic and favorite picture was the one of him with a mohawk!  :) 

This was also a favorite!  People thought they were looking at Elijah.

Today the final count on cards was 74!  He enjoyed them all so much!  Thank you to everyone who took the time to send him a card!

1975... 

So many lovely church members!

Dessert!  Church ladies helped make the pies and the carrot cake!  So yummy and so helpful!  I really couldn't have pulled this off without all the help!

We spread 40 tea light candles all over the dessert table.  He got to blow them all out and he was able to do it in three breaths! 

There WAS candy around that candle in the mason jar!  Cute candle decorations with a practical purpose. 

What an amazing memory we have stored away from this night!  David was truly touched by the time people took out to come and help him celebrate and by all the cards and calls that he received from those who love him!  Thank you to everyone!