Gobsmacked by Surprise (our Thailand trip)

/ amylynw

It was the day before my fortieth birthday. The last three months had been full of deep hardship. I had just experienced our first miscarriage, slept late every day, and hardly ever saw Matthew because he was working an insane amount of hours. He told me “very soon” this season would be over, and even though I knew it wouldn’t be like this forever, my heart felt like it was falling apart. Little did I know what had been going on behind the scenes.

Our older two kids were supposed to be at school, but the day began with my eldest son knocking on our front door, handing me an Amazing Race envelope. I love the Amazing Race. I was watching the shows pretty regularly all year, and the thrill of ripping open that yellow envelope was pretty rad. Before I could even figure out what was happening, he was directing me down to the front yard where Matthew pulled up in my dream car: a Mercedes G Class, playing his song for me. Say what. We took off to the city of Brotherly Love for more adventures when this happened…

It’s getting near dawn
When lights close their tired eyes
I’ll soon be with you my love
Give you my dawn surprise
I’ll be with you darling soon
I’ll be with you when the stars start falling

I’ve been waiting so long
To be where I’m going
In the sunshine of your love

I’m with you my love
The light’s shining through on you
Yes, I’m with you my love
It’s the morning and just we two
I’ll stay with you darling now
I’ll stay with you ’til my seas are dried up

I’ve been waiting so long
To be where I’m going
In the sunshine of your love

Just nonchalantly finishing lunch at Morimoto’s restaurant when my childhood best friend walks in! Matthew then left us alone to do more secret things (which I didn’t know he left to do), and we spent the next few hours visiting a flower shop where he had a bouquet ready for my pickup, a walk through my favorite gardens, coffee, and then home, where I was met with a bower of friends and flowers and surprises. The amount of love I felt has carried me through some very difficult days (which I didn’t know were coming). The evening culminated in the last envelope being opened. I read the clue with some confusion- it was about taking a cooking class- which sounded awesome. I thought it was in Philly. Then I saw who it was from and where the class was being held: Thailand. Like, the actual Thailand across the world. My dear friend was living there at the time and had bought this cooking class for me.

My first thought, after it registered that I was going, was: “Are you going with me??” I missed him so much, as I said before. The feeling of stranger was strong, and we desperately needed to reconnect. When he told me he was coming too, and we were were leaving in 12 hours… I burst into tears (not seen on video here). I had literally been carrying around my passport in my purse because I had a secret hope of being whisked away to another country at SOME POINT that year. Little did I know, Matthew had booked this entire trip months before I started carrying said passport. I had only JUST renewed my drivers license two days prior. I literally had no inclinations. I found out later that the kids and he talked about this trip behind my back whenever they could. I never had one single hint thrown my way and was for the first time in my life completely gobsmacked in the best possible way.

I had twelve hours to pack, sleep, and leave. The kids were all taken care of, and we took off to NYC to return the dream car and then hop on a plane. I got to leave on my birthday and arrive on my birthday almost 24 hours later, chasing the sun the entire way. Such an amazing experience. The world shut down while we were there, and we came home to hibernate for almost a year. These memories literally kept my soul alive when I just wanted to give up some days. God knew this all ahead of time, prompted Matthew to just book it, even though practicality said to save the money.

I still weep with gratitude for the chance we had to travel like this before everything and everyone got crazy. It is one of my most treasured memories. Thank you, Matthew. I love you and am so grateful for YOU!

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