Elder Lee's Surprise Party

Elder Lee is finishing up his mission and we will truly miss him!  He has grown so much while he was here and has given so much wonderful service in our area!  Tonight we had a surprise party for him.  It was funny because we were planning on throwing him a surprise party all along and so when he suggested to my husband that we have a party for him before he left, Rick wasn't sure what to say.  So he ended up telling him that we already had a branch picnic planned for this night.  So Elder Lee knew that we were having a Branch Party -- he just didn't know that it was for him.  So he was a little confused at first when he walked in and we all yelled, "Surprise!!" Then we explained that we had planned the party to be a surprise for him all along.  He loved it and was very touched by the wonderful response.  Rick had taken Elder Lee to the temple and did a photo shoot of him with the temple as the focus with Elder Lee in the background doing different poses such as reading his scriptures of looking at the temple.  Then he had one of the pictures enlarged and had everyone in the branch sign the frame.  We had Mexican food (Elder Lee's favorite) and let him be the first person to swing at the pinata.  I told him to hit it very softly so that all of the kids could have a turn!  We wish Elder Lee the best as he continues on with his "life after mission!"  We love you, Elder Lee!