Surprises are a wonderful, and Anna Marie knows just how to pull off a surprise celebration. She decided to have a surprise Moody Book party for Sarah. I have to add a little sis-in-law promotion. Anna Marie is super sweet, and she knows just how to make someone feel special.
Here is the list of events as they unfolded.
Mary and I were playing with the kiddos on Friday morning at Gigi’s house when Anna Marie popped over to discuss the party food. We came up with a long list of foods that were in the Moody books (mostly desserts) and started weeding them down. We ended up deciding to keep it simple—homemade pizza and sugar cookies—because there was so much to fit into one evening besides eating.
Plans were coming together. The day before the party, we had Aunties’ playtime at Anna Marie’s house so Sarah wouldn’t come visit us. Mary let each of the girls take turns helping her make the cookies while I played with the littles outside. We then finished with a walk, staying away from our house because we didn’t want any little girls to announce that we had been making cookies.
Anna Marie busily worked on creating a sign and other projects while the rest of us felt a bit helpless, because we couldn’t do too much without Sarah knowing.
Tuesday, party day, rolled around, and things were finally coming together. Joseph and Elissa asked Sarah for some last minute help before dinner in order to allow us to finish the party preparations. Otherwise Sarah would wonder where we were all going. Yay! We could finally talk again as we raced over to Anna Marie’s.
Christopher called Joseph to see if Joseph would ask Sarah to drop a tool off at Christopher’s on her way home.
Sarah texted us to let us know that she would be a little late for dinner.
Christopher was out front “working” when she pulled in.
She gave him the tool, and Christopher asked if she could go inside for a minute because Anna Marie wanted to show her something.
Everyone had gathered at the end of the front hallway. As she walked through the door, we all said, “Surprise” and then told her we were celebrating the completing of her Moody book series.
Anna Marie’s surprise worked.
After dinner, the little ones went outside for a Moody I-J-N (In Jesus’ Name) project, picking up sticks at a widow’s house (aka Gigi’s house).
We had Bible time and read 1 Corinthians 13, just like the Moodys did in one of their books.
We then played a Moody trivia game that I had written. It had everyone thinking hard and laughing hysterically as they tried to answer questions like, “Who was Mr. Adams?” Abby was the only one to get that one right.
Even Abby, Bethany, and Tina played.
Meanwhile, Andrew occupied himself by trying to turn summersaults.
Nathan got 1st place, Sarah 2nd place, and Abby 3rd place. Nathan has been reading the Moody books to his family in the evenings so they got almost all the questions right—even more than Sarah!
We closed out the evening with one of the games the Moodys enjoyed playing—rhythm.
Anna Marie did an amazing job of planning and coming up with a festive Moody-themed party! We all had a blast together that night.
Congrats to you, Sarah, on a job well done!
“Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation,
in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.”
1 Timothy 4:12
That is the SWEETEST idea! And those cookies look toooooo good. 🙂
What a sweet blessing!
And as a side note, the children are so much fun these days. Of course children are always fun, but the personalities in your pictures always make me laugh out loud. Thank you for sharing!
So sweet. Can you post the Moody trivia quiz?
What a great way to honor Sarah for all her hard work and dedication! Can’t wait to read the newest book!
Congratulations Sarah! And bravo to Anna-Marie for carrying out a fabulous surprise.
That looks like a great celebration, especially sharing it with family. Our children love the Moody books and they enjoy Dad reading them. We are eagerly awaiting our copy of the latest book. I was wondering would you post your Moody Trivia questions? Anna Marie was very sweet and
generous to do this for Sarah,mum’s with small children are very busy.
Blessings to you all,
Chrisitne
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Good question. Brainstorming how we might accomplish the trivia questions the best way!
What a sweet, clever idea! It sounds like planning the party was almost as fun as the party itself. The cookies look yummy!
Congratulations Sarah! I hope and pray you continue to expand your literary pursuits and explore all kinds of new things. You are a kind soul. I hope for more and more new experiences for you.
May God bless you.
– Dena
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I’m already working on my next book 😉 — so excited.
How exciting!
What a lovely family you have.
God bless
xx
That is absolutely amazing – well done Anna Marie and Team Maxwell! I have managed to keep the new book a secret from my youngest and am hoping it will get to the UK in time for a surprise Christmas present – she will be over the moon. I was wondering if it would be possible to share your Moody quiz at all, please – I think we would enjoy playing it too. If not, I think I will have to make up my own!
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We’re thinking of the best way to share the Trivia game. We’ll let you know! How cute you’re keeping the book a surprise. It should easily be there in time for Christmas ;).
I was also wondering if you post the trivia quiz; I would love to see how our whole family does too.
What a fun idea!
Thanks for sharing,
Lea
It looks like you all had a blast! Anna Marie was so creative
Anna Marie is such an amazing sister-in-law. What a great surprise party! I hope that you are eventually able to add the Moody Trivia Questions to the end of the 10th and final book.
What a lovely and thoughtful gesture! Sarah must have felt so blessed to have her family celebrate with her.
Wow! Great surprise!, sarah, thank you for publishing an excerpt from your book I enjoyed reading it out to my little ones tonight!
I’m keen to get our family into hiking but I was a bit co fused about the
“Rules” you mentioned for hiking. Perhaps you could write a mini book for us newbies to hiking. The hike club! First rule of hike club is etc etc it would sure help us! Do you get your ideas from real life scenarios for your books?
With love cherry
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😉 I have so much fun writing. You’ll figure out after reading the book that the “rules” comments are only things Max thinks up. You can imagine what that might be. I definitely take a lot of ideas from real life–life is full of interesting adventures! You can easily take a mundane event and turn it into something top notch too ;).
Way to go Anna Marie, Sarah. and all of the secret keepers. What a great surprise. What a huge accomplishment Sarah. The Moody’s have been absolutely wonderful. I’m planning to buy a set for a new homeschooling family that I have recently become friends with.
I’m hoping you find a way to share the trivia with us. I’m pretty sure my daughter will be pretty good at it.
Anxiously awaiting the last installment.
Blessings to all!!
Johnna
You always have so much fun together!
What a sweet post!!! I know you have already answered this, but I just wanted to also add we would love to have a trivia on the Moody family books. My kids have read them again and again!!!
Thank you for posting!
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Yes, I’ll try to get a solution figured out on how to get the trivia up. Life has been so busy lately!
Sounds like Anna Marie has the spiritual gift of service/hospitality!
This blog post made me smile. 🙂
What a wonderful idea to have a surprise party celebrating Sarah’s book, and it sounds like you all worked hard to make it a successful surprise!
Anna Marie seems like such a precious and thoughtful young lady. A true servant of the Lord.
Thank you for sharing all these cute photos, and Congratulations to Sarah on this latest book! 🙂
Love, Mrs. Patti
What a clever idea! How awesome and sweet!! Great job, Anna Marie (and all her helpers ;))! Congratulations, Sarah! The Moody Trivia sounds pretty cool 😉 I LOVED the post! 🙂
What a sweet and creative idea from Anna Marie! I enjoyed all these photos. Thanks for sharing. Blessings.
Congratulations Sarah!
Congratulations Sarah! You did an awesome job. We have thoroughly enjoyed the series. We look forward to your next book!
Anna Marie – great ideas for the party! So special! Wish we could have been there! 🙂 🙂 🙂
We also would really like the trivia quiz!! Sometimes we play the question game and ask each other trivia questions from the Moody’s. 🙂