The Way to Surprise Me

Brett finally figured out how to keep a secret from me and that is to have it right out in the open. A few weeks ago he started a painting of our grandsons playing in the Colorado snow and told me that it was going to be for his office. As I watched him paint I fell in love with the sweet paint curves of Kimball's cheeks and the delicate strokes of Thomas' long eyelashes. I tried my best to talk him into keeping this one at home on our wall, but Brett was adamant about his need to have some of his own art hanging on his office wall.

I don't know why that wasn't a dead giveaway to his real designs, but I believed him with no questions in my mind. Then my birthday came, and even though I knew Brett had finished the painting the day before, I was still very surprised to see it on display when I came down for breakfast in the morning. Even then I just made a comment about how beautiful it was. Brett had to come right out and say, "Well, it's your birthday present. Happy Birthday!"

I was shocked and so surprised. He had finally done it - kept a secret from me. After the initial excitement with my new treasure I immediately thought of the few times I offerred my critiques of the painting when I had stepped into the creation zone during the whole process. I had suggested a little more definition in Kimball's chin or other very uneducated comments. And Brett had borne it without complaint. In fact, he always thanked me for my shamless suggestions! Oh, how could I have been so . . . so . . . pompous! It truly is a remarkable painting and I want to thank my talented husband again for giving of himself to me in this way. And I must say that Kimball's chin is perfect, don't you think?