As I mentioned yesterday, DIVA and I are home to surprise my parents and we sure did!

Plans were in the works for over six weeks.  My mom asked me one time and I said I couldn’t get away and she believed me.  She was much more pestering of DIVA and still didn’t really believe she wasn’t going to be here up to the last possible moment.   The cutest story is that on Friday, my mom left work early to rest before Shabbat dinner and services.  My dad was outside doing yard work and apparently she walked around the house saying, “hello,” in a loud voice thinking DIVA at least was here.  My mom was also making my dad nuts asking him repeatedly if we were coming home (everyone knows better than to tell my dad a secret).  He became increasingly frustrated with her and finally told her to “get over it.”

Fast forward to the beautiful Shabbat dinner.  DIVA and I are hiding back stage.  They begin singing Shalom Aleichem, lighting candles and kiddush.  Then the rabbi asks, “where’s the challah?”  Jane thinks to herself, “if I had been allowed to do my job I definitely wouldn’t have forgotten a challah.”

DIVA and I open the door and I say, “we have a challah.”

This is followed by major tears and huge smiles.

As you saw yesterday I gave a sermon.  One of the rabbis introduced me and I didn’t have to say anything and my mom was already crying.  DIVA sang two trio pieces with the cantors and Lechi Lach as the sermon anthem.  My mom cried tears of joy the whole time.

Awesome surprise – check!

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I’ll be taking a few days off from blogging so I can enjoy my family time.