Best Christmas Gift EVER!!!

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Anonymous
Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
edited June 2014 in Life After Breast Cancer
Best Christmas Gift EVER!!!
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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited December 2007

    My husband and I went to Charlotte for the Christmas holidays.  I have two daughters, a son-in-law and two grandchildren there. 

    Christmas morning the grandbabies were opening their presents.  They had just finished and the door bell rang, and, of course, the dog barks.  My son-in-law was videoing the kids and just happened to go to the door with the camera.  I thought, what in the heck is HIS mom doing here?  My daughter and family were going to their place a little later to celebrate the rest of the day with them.  Anyway, I looked at the door and saw this girl walk in..noticed her hair...and thought it was my daughter's (who's house we were staying at) "old" neighbor.  THEN I realized after the second person walked in that it was my DAUGHTER AND SON-IN-LAW who have been traveling throughout Africa the past two years!!!!!  Surreal!!! Dumbfounded!!! STUNNED to say the least!!!

    This was their second Christmas that they would have been gone.  I knew my daughter was homesick when we got her email on Thanksgiving Day.

    These "kids" did not tell ONE soul that they were coming.  They left later that morning to come on home to Wilmington to be with his folks.  Oh, how I wished I could have been a fly on the wall to see his parent's reaction.  They were also going to see his brother and his sister-in-law and new nephew who is four months old.

    I cannot wait to see the video from that special Christmas morning (and I HATE pics and such of me!).  NOTHING could top that surprise gift for our family.  The took the last flight out with only two seats left.  My son-in-law said he woke up one night to my daughter's whimpers.  He said that did it....she was missing her family.

    So, now we are back home and I patiently wait to see them.  They are going to be home a whole month!

    You cannot imagine the surprise we had...and the tears flowed...happy tears!

    I hope your Christmas was as great as mine.

    Shirley

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  • celia088
    celia088 Member Posts: 2,570
    edited December 2007

    Shirley,

    That is the absolute best news that i have heard in a long while!!!!! I am so happy for you.  That must have been quite a shock when they first walked in and you barely recognized them!  That happened to me once with my brother who i had not seen in years, even tho i talked to him by phone all the time.  I did not recognize him for the first 15 seconds!!!  Have a great and happy month with the kids!!!!

    celia 

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited December 2007

    Oh, I forgot to post a couple of pictures of the my gypsy children. Laughing

    And to think these pictures were taken a year ago.

    Crossing the Equator near Ndgole, Gabon, Dec. 2006

    Dinner with friends in Gabon, Jan 2007 (daughter in sleeveless blue shell and hubby next to her in white shirt).

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited December 2007

    Thank you, Celia.  I plan to enjoy every moment I have with them.  I'm sure they will be busy seeing friends here in Wilmington and in other cities nearby.

    Shirley

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  • celia088
    celia088 Member Posts: 2,570
    edited December 2007

    Oh boy Shirley, i bet your daughter cries when she has to leave!  They both look great despite all their huge and scary adventures.  Good-looking couple.  I can imagine what stories they will be able to tell.  Please let us know more!

    hugs,

    celia 

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  • twink
    twink Member Posts: 1,574
    edited December 2007

    Shirley, how very special.  They sound like wonderfully interesting children.  How lucky you are.

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  • newter
    newter Member Posts: 4,330
    edited December 2007

    What a wonderful surprise, especially after your Christmas gift/surprise 3 years ago?

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited December 2007

    Awww, thank you again ladies.  I think I'll be coming down from cloud 9 pretty soon...getting tired. LOL

    Newter, my daughter was wonderful during that difficult time three years ago.  All three were.  One daughter was VERY pregnant and had to work...couldn't do what the other two did during the dx and tx.  She had to save time for "baby leave."  And I couldn't be there for the birth of my grandson.  However, the other two met us for onc visits, one came for my first chemo, stayed with me when their dad had to go out of town, were there for my surgery and came home with us, cooked food and froze it for hubby and I.  I can't tell you how much these children were my rock.  And the daughter and hubby who has been traveling put off their trip for a year because of my dx.  I am blessed....truly blessed.

    We will ALL cry when they leave.  But I will forever have that picture embedded in my mind the moment I REALIZED the gift.  Smile

    Shirley

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  • Fitztwins
    Fitztwins Member Posts: 7,969
    edited December 2007

    You have a beautifuly daughter!

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  • junie
    junie Member Posts: 1,216
    edited December 2007

    Shirley--I am smiling from ear to ear at your happy news!  What a wonderful, magical present!  Enjoy your visit with them.

    junie

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  • iodine
    iodine Member Posts: 4,289
    edited December 2007

    Oh, I'm so tickled for you!!  I've enjoyed reading of their exploits, but really, really happy they came home to you.

    Happy New Year!

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  • Isabella4
    Isabella4 Member Posts: 2,166
    edited December 2007

    Shirley... I am filling up with your overflowing tears!! I know from your posts and pics how much you have missed these two kids.

    I really, really hope you have a good month with them, make the most of every second.

    Isabella.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited December 2007

    That is really awesome! So happy for you...

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  • 2up
    2up Member Posts: 1,358
    edited December 2007

    that just made my day!!!!!

    i'm so happy for your shirl .......... you, wonderful lady, deserve this!!!!

    shel xo 

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  • nosurrender
    nosurrender Member Posts: 2,019
    edited December 2007

    Shirley this is great news. I am so happy for you!

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited December 2007

    Thanks again, ladies.

    My daughter just left about a half hour ago to go back to the inlaws house.  Poor baby, she's got a cold. 

    She informed me that she was eating dinner with us.  LOL  So, we ordered take out.  She and I both had a salad large enough to feed us for two days.  My DH couldn't understand WHY she wanted a salad instead of some good old Italian food.  She informed him that she doesn't get salads where she is now.

    I cannot believe the food they eat.  She was telling me about eggs.  If the chickens are feed fish bones and other yucky things you can smell them when they are cooked AND NO she doesn't eat them.  I just cannot believe this child of mine is eating crap....stuff that's been dropped on the floor then picked up and then cooked.  Yes!  She eats it!  Gritty from dirt and all.  She says it's cooked dirt.  YUCK!

    Dottie, they've been trying to update their website.  They've been having problems with their computers being so slow.  I believe they're going to get a new one.  Sure hope so.  My brother is very disappointed that they haven't updated lately.

    Thanks again, everybody, for sharing my joy with me.  I think I'm going to wake up from this dream. LOL

    Shirley

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