February 27, 2025: The Secret Visit

My family has always loved surprises.

Tonight, at exactly 8:27 p.m., the plan unfolded.

My job? Keep Jess from suspecting anything. This is a near-impossible feat because she’s got a sixth sense for secrets. And this one had been in the works for days, with hidden texts and hushed coordination.

As the evening grew later, we took the dog for a neighborhood stroll. Timing was everything. Whenever Jess wasn’t looking, I stole a glance at my watch.

Right on schedule, we made it back the house. Somehow, I coaxed her upstairs. And the second she stepped into our bedroom — there they were. Our two JMU boys, sitting on the bed, grinning from ear to ear, home for an unexpected weekend visit.

If you ever want to make a momma happy, surprise her with her kids. Even Cali, our Golden Retriever, celebrated with zoomies.

The real shock? We pulled this off without someone accidentally texting the family group chat.