so that's why we came to buca.....

The bride called me yesterday afternoon. She said she'd just gotten off the phone with her mother, and that we had been invited (along with Mike, Paula, Will and Katie) to dinner at Buca de Beppo at 6:00. We both thought it was a little strange to get together as a family again so soon after Christmas. Was there something wrong? Was either Ken or Hattie sick? Or, worse yet, what if my 70-something mother-in-law was expecting? I had some errands to run after work, so I told the bride that I'd just meet her and the girls there.

I got to Buca and saw Mike and Paula in the lobby area. We went back to our seats and saw Ken and Hattie already at the table. The bride and Sara arrived about 5 minutes later. Meg had to drop a "friend" off on the way, but would be along soon.

So Meg walks toward the table with this funny smile on her face. About 10 feet behind her, I saw the reason for her smile - Jeff and Ellen! Jeff had surprised Ellen with plane tickets home on Christmas day. Since most of the kids from the orphanage visit extended family members the week after Christmas, Jeff and Ellen had an opportunity to come home for a week. They flew into Birmingham Wednesday and drove to Franklin. The doorbell rang at Mike and Paula's house about 9:00 that night, and when Paula opened the door she saw Jeff and Ellen on the front porch. They didn't tell anyone they were coming, so it was a shock to us all. After spending a few days here, they'll go back to Birmingham and spend a few days with Jeff's family.

Even though it's just for a few days, we're glad to have them home.....