What a big surprise! I had a conversation last week with John’s middle sister. It went something like this:

Lori: What are you doing next weekend?
Me: Not sure yet. Why?
Lori: John’s (her husband’s name is also John) accident was a year ago so I was thinking of throwing a little get-together to thank members of the community for being so good to us and for helping us out.
Me: Oh, that’s sweet!
Lori: Yeah, so Sunday at 2 o’clock.
Me: Okay, for sure. That sounds good.
Lori: Okay then!
Me: See ya then!

Sunday (yesterday) my mom was fussing and asking me to empty her memory card on her camera and upload all the pictures onto her computer so she could take pictures at Lori’s get-together. I didn’t think anything of it.

We get to the Oswald farm and there are TONS of cars parked out back. I still didn’t think anything of it, as I knew this was a community thank you thingy for John Oswald. Well…there were so many people there, all hugging me and everything. My mom was taking photos of me with everyone and it was driving me nuts, as I hate having photos taken of me. I went to the living room to talk to some other people and there were balloons and flowers and lots of food. My friend Rita said, “Do you have any idea why you’re here?” “Uhh…yeah. It’s John Oswald’s thank you get-together.” Rita pointed to a banner which hung above my head and it read: “BRIDAL SHOWER!!”

I had no clue! I was in shock because Lori and everyone else had held this under my nose for the longest time and the entire time, I was under the impression that the party was for Lori’s husband. Of course, my fiance was late. He was working hard on the field. The guys on the fire department almost went over to his place to get him. He also had no idea.

Lori gave me a copy of the invitation she had sent out in the mail a few weeks ago. It read: “You are invited to a HIS and HER Bridal Shower”. How sweet is that?? I cannot believe I fell for my future SIL’s story!! We were laughing because I honestly thought it was a thank you to the community party.

We were showered with lots of wonderful gifts and the people who were there were people in the community who we are very close to. Seeing all the people in the room made me feel so good and so blessed. John (my John) always tells me, “If you take care of the community the community will take care of you.” He is so right.

A big thank you to everyone who was there and to my wonderful future SIL and MIL for organizing the event. Thanks also to my future nieces who helped their mum with all the shower stuff. I’m so lucky to be part of such a great family.