A Special Surprise Parcel

“We need to pick up a parcel in Abbotsford.” This was the excuse we used to explain why we picked the kids up from school one day. They were okay with that, but Luke gradually became more curious as we drove and started asking a lot of questions. “Where do we need to pick it up from? What is it? Who is it for?” And as we got closer, “Are we going to the airport? Don’t parcels get delivered, not picked up?” We had to evade and redirect the whole drive! We told them that us was a parcel they would like and it was a surprise for them.

In the airport, poor Luke was very confused. “I really don’t think you can pick up parcels here.  There is no setup for that.” We said maybe it would come on the suitcase belt or maybe the stewardess would disembark carrying it and just to be patient as he would definitely recognize the parcel when he saw it. He overheard us talking to church people we knew and suddenly figured out it wasn’t a true parcel, but would be a PERSON. He was absolutely excited to see Micah and Stephanie through the glass, but quickly told Elise to close her eyes as the parcel was coming. She obeyed. Meanwhile we hugged and greeted them. I was surprised to see Elise standing off to the side with her eyes closed instead of hugging them. So I told her to go hug Stephanie. “Stephanie’s here? What?” 

The hug was very real once poor Elise figured everything out.