My wife and daughter gave me a big Christmas surprise

Here’s hoping you had a good Christmas. I had a total surprise from my daughter, Ashley, who lives in Connecticut.

Don Estep is publisher of the News Journal.

My wife Judy and Ashley wanted to surprise me, and they did. Friday afternoon I wanted to get out of the house. It was such a beautiful day. We were going to deliver some Christmas gifts to neighbors and Judy kept delaying us leaving the house.

After a while I said I was going out. I didn’t know I was about to upset a big surprise.

So, I go across the street to deliver a gift and at the same time my wife was quickly using her cell phone. A change of plans was taking place.

After walking up the driveway I came back toward the street and turned my back when suddenly a car drove up behind me and the driver barked, “Merry Christmas, Ho, Ho, Ho!”

I leaned in the window and said,”Who are you?” Ashley was wearing a Santa beard and hat and it never dawned on me that it was my daughter.

She burst out laughing and started to take off the Santa garb and for a second or two I still didn’t know it was her. Then I was thoroughly shocked when I recognized her.

What a pleasant surprise. Our two daughters, one from Lexington and one from Connecticut were here to spend Christmas with us.

To me, getting together is the best thing of all. Among the things we enjoyed was watching a Super 8 film that is over 50 years old of our daughter, Angie, doing the hula. She was four-years-old, wearing a pair of my boxer shorts and one of my hats while swinging that cute little behind.

With my sister, Wanda, and Judy’s sister, Jenny, along with our two daughters and grandson, Blake, and friend, Trent, it was a splendid Christmas.

The weekend started with Judy and I reading about love and lighting the fourth Advent candle at church, and then going to a wonderful candlelight service on Christmas Eve.

This preceded what was another wonderful Christmas with family and friends. Hoping yours was delightful too.