how to make your mom cry.....

first, let your dad come up with the idea to fly your older sister home for your mom's 70th birthday. 

as a SURPRISE. then join forces with your sisters to figure out how and when.

next, spend 3 weeks being very sneaky and lying 

while your dad makes secret phone calls from the garage. 

from his cell phone. which he never uses.

then pick up the surprise from the airport and drive to younger sister's house and pick her up, too. then travel south 30 minutes and walk casually into your parent's home while your mom is making dinner. also, bring your daughter and your niece along just to fill the stairwell, so that for a few seconds, when your mom turns around, she doesn't see that there's an extra face in the crowd. 

~

then

when she sees that face

that lives a long way away

well

let the crying and happy tears begin

here's my dad

~hugging my older sister ~

while still looking stunned that he pulled off this amazing surprise

which i'm now calling a mission

~
also

from now on

i'm referring to him as 007

*