I had a surprise adventure on Sunday. Totally unexpected. It started when a pink envelope with my name on it showed up in the mailbox. I was intrigued. Where did it come from? Why just M. Gunnin and no address? How did it get there on a Sunday without mail delivery? Who put it there? My curiosity would not let me wait for one second, I ripped it open and the mystery grew.

A pink index card. On the front, these words, “Small spaces, happy faces, outdoor tables, indoor vases. Should we go and grab a cup? Why yes of course, coffee is a must!” On the back, the number 1. No name. No explanation. Only this clue. I asked Bill, “What is this?” He put on his best I-have-no-idea face and shrugged his shoulders.

I knew the place it was talking about, a small coffee shop in our area that also sells pottery. One of our favorite places. Only one way to find out what was going on…go to Sweetwater Coffee. I had a suspicion one of my kids was up to something. But which one? And why? We arrived. No familiar cars in the parking lot. No familiar faces inside. I ordered a coffee and was handed another pink envelope with my name.

The barista asked, “What is this for? How many clues are there? Is it a special occasion?”

My only answer was “I have no idea what is going on or why.”

The game was afoot.  A scavenger hunt. Just like in the old days when I used to drive for our youth group’s Great Pumpkin Hunt every year. Clues left all over town. Teams racing to be the first to the giant pumpkin stuffed with candy. This had to be one of my kids.

I looked at Bill and asked, “Am I going to get a giant pumpkin filled with candy at the end?”

He laughed, shrugged his shoulders and said, “I don’t know anything.”

I said, “You are a liar.”

There were 8 clues in all. It took an hour and a half to find them all. They were placed in some of my favorite places. Along trials, in parks, and some in my own house!

“How did this get here?” I said.

“I don’t know anything.” Bill said.

“You are a liar.”

The very last clue took me back to my writing porch. We pulled up to an empty driveway. I ran inside to get the clue, leaving the car running, thinking I was only picking it up before going off elsewhere. Bill turned off the car and followed me to the porch. I looked through the window trying to see a pink envelope, but when I opened the door I was shocked to see all three of my boys sitting on the porch and Hannah’s face on the phone. All four kids!

“What in the world? You’re ALL here! What is going on?”

Hugs all around, and then they proceeded to tell me they wanted to do something special for my 60 birthday and retirement, but they couldn’t wait until August since they knew we would want to plan.

“We all chipped in and we are sending you to Ireland!”

“Are you kidding me?” Then the tears came.

“You deserve it Mom. We wanted to do something special for you because you have done so much for us.”

More tears, that I could not stop. More hugs.

Bill says, “Now I can finally talk about it!”

“I knew you were a liar!”

I cannot begin to tell you, how stunned I was, how excited I am, and how blessed I am by my kiddos. I just love them so much! Now, every time I think about it I cry more. I am undone. It is humbling in the best way. It was a surprise adventure. The kind I love. I cannot wait for September for the adventure to continue! Let the planning commence!