Nothin' Could be Finer....than a SURPRISE!

Remember how, during our stay in the States, our journey's path surprisingly took us to the South?  Well here's the fun story!!

We didn't think we would get to go to South Carolina during our visa trip.  We thought we would be in Spfld for 2 weeks, waiting on visas, and then would return shortly after.  Say mid October.  However, there were some unexpected, but not surprising delays with JP's birth certificate that held us there a bit longer.  Then, when we were trying to schedule to leave on the 20th, there was going to be a $3000 dollar fee for going then rather than waiting 5 more days.  So that left us leaving the 25th which, at the time, was a little less than 2 weeks away.  Knowing this, we talked to our boss, and were told to be back for a meeting on the 24th!

We immediately rented a car, packed our bags, finished a few meetings/get-togethers we had already scheduled, and then headed down South at 4am in the morning that Friday!  Mom and Dad Mayfield had NO IDEA!!  Misty was in on the plan as to make sure no last minute plans to leave that weekend were made.  In fact, she was even willing and helpful in revamping plans that Mom Mayfield had made with Jack that weekend just so that we could instead be with her.  We told Mom and Dad that we were leaving on Friday and they just assumed it meant back to India.

Traveling with a one year old makes the trip a bit longer, but the Autumn leaves and smooth American roads made up for the increase in time.  16 hours later...we pulled up the driveway!  Quietly shutting the doors, creeping up the sidewalk, and positioning ourselves perfectly in front of the door, we pressed the doorbell!  We could only imagine the thoughts running through their heads.."Who would be at the door at 9:30 at night?"  The door opened and.....SURPRISE!!!  The rest was hugs, kisses, laughter, and the acknowledgment that THIS had been the ultimate surprise that would never be outdone!!