This birthday celebration didn’t end with my picture plastered in so many publications! My family surprised me with a party, held on Saturday noon November 12, at the Elks. I thought it was a fundraiser.
Before I could analyze the fact that there weren’t many people there for a fundraiser, a loud yell of, “SURPRISE” came from a bunch of my favorite people. The next surprise was when the Arizona people showed their faces!
The food and laughter were plentiful and lots of cameras were being used. My nephew, Chris, had set up his computer and we all had the opportunity to talk with my brother and his wife, Wayne and Heide Darling in Austria.
Those family members attending were my sister and brother-in-law, Elayne and Dean Bice of Johnston; my nephew, Chris Bice and daughter, Maggie; niece Dena and Dave Losen of Urbandale; niece Lara and Mike Lissick, Maya, Aria, and Will of Inver Grove Heights, MN; cousin, Judy Wilson and Jerry Erickson of Paton and cousin Nancy’s husband Kenny Smith, of Britt.
Special friends rounding out the gathering were, Shawn and Lori DeMoss, and Kyle and Emily DeMoss, Gabe, David, Ellie and Robert DeMoss of Rippey.
Thanks to my wonderful family, Linda, Blake, Sierra, Jayden, and Sophia; Michael, Jill, Jace and Seth; Robert and Mel; Alan, Sarah, Kane and Kale, who really pulled this over on “the one with the oldest eyes’” as Sierra said later! My heart is full!
Sunday was a day for watching the big machinery cut down trees for a new fence. Linda, the kids and I were able to visit Virgene Morse, and as luck would have it, her daughter Diane and Terry Ostendorf were there. It had been many years since they had seen each other, so that was an extra bonus for this short visit. The Hampton family flew home early Monday morning.