My wife, Crystal, managed to give me a surprise dinner for my birthday this past weekend. She called me Friday afternoon and told me she was hungry and what she wanted to eat and that it was time to come home. So I did. Hey, my wife is pregnant and I’m not crazy.

We arrived at the restaurant and had to wait a while for a seat. So we went across the way to the bookstore. When we returned to get our table, the wife and daughter of one of our pastors came out of the door. Then it clicked – but only then. Several leaders and their families showed up and we had a wonderful time eating and laughing and talking. It was great. I was so grateful to my wife for organizing this, even though she didn’t feel well. And it was really special to have this time together with the guys in their families – engaged in the holy work of doing nothing together.

Here are some pictures.