It was all planned out. Stephanie, Lovelyn, Erin, Donya, Sarah and I were planning to all get together yesterday afternoon for coffee and some dessert. I was happy to be able to dash away for a few hours to spend with my girls.
I became even more excited when I saw the weather was predicted to be nearly 50 degrees, which in these parts, is like EIGHTY. I had asked if one of the girls would be willing to take a few belly photos of me, outside, perhaps with something cute on.
I just had no idea.
I had no idea that my long time blogging friend, Megan, who I love so much, would drive two hours and be at the coffee shop.
I didn’t know that Sara would drive down from Detroit (while pregnant WITH twins) and be at the coffee shop.
or that my sister, Amy, would drive from nearly the same location in Michigan, with her daughter and be at the coffee shop.
(photo by Erin)
I most certainly had no idea that my sister, Sarah, would pack up her husband, two kids and a newborn and drive five hours BEHIND MY BACK and be sitting, right there…in the coffee shop.
I was so surprised to see my Mom, right there, smiling so big.
And then to see my soul sister, Natalie, Jen, Nancy, Carrington and Rhonda there, too?
Needless to say?
I was surprised.
The words still fail me. The fact that my best friends would go to so much trouble to celebrate this baby, the fact that so many people would travel so far, the fact that these people would spend their Saturday afternoon for me, this baby and my family?
That means more to me than anything else. I just wanted to sit and talk and take it all in. But there were baby things to be unwrapped and who was I to argue?
And to these five girls? Thank you for everything – the planning, the fact that you got this by me, the decor, the party favors…YOUR FRIENDSHIP.
Yesterday was entirely about love … and it will be etched in my soul for the rest of my life.
(all photos were taken by Crooked Eyebrow, unless otherwise stated. To see the rest of the photos, go here!)
I love your expressions
So happy for you!!
Looks like you had a great surprise shower!! Your little man is coming into a world of people who already love him.
wow, how awesome!
You are one lucky woman to be surrounded by so much love and friendship. I love in the last picture how Erin is clutching your belly.
Love, love, love, love this!!
OH Beth, you are so loved.
You deserve it and I think we were all relieved you didn’t cancel.
When you walked in you were glowing and you still had no idea everyone was around the corner. You have touched so many lives, that we all wanted to celebrate you!
I love you and I can’t wait to watch your love and family grow more!
I don’t think any coffee shop in all the world has contained so much love – ever.
So honored to be a part of your big day.
xoxo.
How nice.
Looks like a lot of fun.
So very very lovely. All of it.
Oh and can I just say that I love that Erin is touching your belly too??? It makes me laugh (since her beautiful post about your friendship included her love of the fact that you let her touch the belly).
Amazing. I’m crying with goose bumps. Simply amazing.
What an awesome group of women you have around you! So cool! Looked like you had an awesome time!
Yay! I’m so glad you had a good time and that you were surrounded by so much LOVE!
You’re a lucky, lucky girl. So much love there.
Oh. It looks like a perfect day. You have some great friends, obviously.
It sounds like they really got you with a surprise….a good one that you will never forget.
You look beautiful.
Oh Beth, even though I don’t really know you, I’ve been following you regularly and I’mSO excited and happy for you. It seems as though you are surrounded by so much love and support. What a blessing.
The best friends are the ones who cry with us during the hard times and lift us up in hope during the good times. You are incredibly lucky to have so many women who think you amazing and want to do something like this for you. You look gorgeous in the photos, what a phenomenal surprise!
Well, I don’t really know what to say either! I love the photos you posted here.
I think what we wanted happened. We wanted, more than anything, for you to feel special and loved.
Steph
It really was the perfect day for a most perfect person. I was so honored to be included. You deserved every wonderful minute of it. Love you!!
Awesome! I’m getting all weeping! Those pictures are amazing and you’ve got some awesome family and friends that are very excited to welcome your little blessing! Hugz, Belly rubz and prayers for a great Labor and delivery!
Awesome! Sounds like you have amazing friends!!
:):)
I have to admit that I cried a little when I read on twitter that this was going on. What an amazing bunch of friends you have…but really it’s fitting. You deserve such wonderfulness and I’m glad you shared your surprise with us here!
Steph is right. All we wanted was for you to feel special–and we’re so thankful you did. We talked over and over again about how even if you figured out the surprise, you would never guess that Amy and Sarah were coming, that Sara Joy was coming, that you’d be meeting Megan…I can’t believe that we managed to pack that much special into one day, but I also can’t think of anyone more deserving than you.
The expressions on your face are priceless…You can tell there’s so much love in that room.
Oh my word. Your soul and mine both, honeybuckets. I went out with my girls Saturday night after I got back and they asked SO HOW’D IT GO? And I just kinda sat there with this goofy, half-open-mouthed grin and said, “Siiiiiiiiiigh… it was. BIG. It was a really, really, BIG BIG day.” And it was. Crazy big. Now that I’ve had time to ponder and enjoy and savor inside myself it a bit, I’d say the word that comes to mind is SPIRITUAL.
Nothing on earth would have stopped me from being there to celebrate everything there is to celebrate both with you and about you and that boy you’re baking up. I’m so happy and honored I got to be there and will forever be blessed by the experience as well. And three cheers for the party planning ladies, too! They created a magical afternoon for all of us.
You have the best friends ever, EVER! I love that they surprised you, that they were able to make it so special for you.
All of you look so beautiful in that group photo.
You all are the storybook example of true friendship.
What a blessing to have people in your life that care so much.
So happy you had a good time. : )
The love and friendship is evident and seeing this brought tears to this hormonal, pg woman! You and your precious baby deserve to be celebrated.
How fun!! You are truly blessed to have such great women in your life!!
So absolutely beautiful. I went through the Flickr pool and could just feel the love coming off all those shots!
You are so blessed.
I wish you all the best, Beth. I know I don’t always make it by to comment, but I want you to know that you are always in my heart. <3
I love that your photog caught all your great expressions. What a treasure to have!
Crying happy tears for you…what precious friends! Praise God for turning your weeping into dancing…only HE can do that!
so much love for this little one and for you.
Celebrating with family and great friends is a wonderful blessing!
And how could they (we!) not totally marvel in and celebrate this pregnancy – you – this baby?! If you didn’t already know it, you and your family are quite loved by all!
Nell
So awesome.
I can’t believe they were able to keep it such a surprise!
xo-z
What a wonderful surprise for you! You are loved by so many Beth…I’m glad you got to soak in all that love at one time for a few hours. I hope it sticks with you for many more!
Wow – I just can’t stop smiling reading this post and looking at all the pictures! What great friends/family you have for doing this! It’s wonderful to be loved like that!
I’m glad you had such an awesome shower! It looks like everyone had a great time.
How wonderful! Soak it all in!
Awww — this post made me tear up! What a wonderful surprise and a wonderful group of friend.
that is amazing. i really wish i was in that group of friends. you all just strike me as beautiful, amazing, fun girls! cannot, cannot wait until little mr. miracle shows up.
that is too sweet and glad you were able to enjoy it. i was too scared to have a baby shower, i just still with only 3 days left cant come to grips with the situation and what went wrong last time. so stupid to think that but your shower put a smile on my face, too sweet!
wow. what a fabulous surprise! where do you live exactly? well, not exactly, but about where do you live? i think you may be close to me. i live in the ann arbor area. i’m so excited for this baby to be born!
I felt so honored to be at this well deserved most Loved baby shower. You have an awesome group of gal friends to pull this off so perfectly. I didn’t want to go home, I was having such a good time. The food was excellent and desserts to die for….the gifts were incredible. I want to have another baby…not.
What a wonderful surprise! So nice to have so many wonderful friends and family
Congrats!! You are so blessed to be having a baby and then to have such wondeful friends and family. I do hope that it will be etched forever in your mind and soul…but I am sure it will be.
Words may fail you, but the pictures say it all. I can practically feel the love and the warmth in that room!!!
Looking at these pictures brings tears to my eyes. What a special and perfect day this had to have been for you. Just amazing!! I’m jealous I wasn’t there to give you a big hug in those moments. You are incredibly blessed, Beth. Oh, and that tie…that tie?! Adorable. I know you’ll continue to savor this day and the beautiful days to come.
So very beautiful… everything single piece of it! You’ve got some *very groovy* friends and family… I am so glad I was able to hug & squeeze you & your fam *and* talk to that sweet little soul-family member… HUGS! ~JH
p.s. I was VERY tempted to steal Steph’s awesome Sharpie collection. I bought some tonight for my meetings in Houston.
p.s.s. Tell AnnaH that I love her project!