Surprise!!!
My wife did it! She surprised me for my 40th birthday with a party at our house on Saturday night. And yes, I was surprised. She sent out invitations, contacted friends, went food shopping, and coordinated the surprise plan with our neighbors, our family, and other friends. Nobody dropped a clue. I showed up at our house Saturday night after a day of making Korv (a Swedish Christmas sausage) expecting to take a shower and head out with Leanne and a couple of friends to celebrate over dinner. When I walked in the house, I was greeted with a house full of friends. It was such a wonderful opportunity to touch base with some people who mean a lot to me.
There were many highlights to this evening, but I wanted to share a particular detail with The Stretched Community. One of our good friends, Amy Sullens, made a cake for the party. Amy did an incredible job representing me on the cake. On top of the cake was a running shoe (that looked quite realistic). The shoe obviously represents my running interest. The Happy 40 Birthday sign on the front of the cake looked just like a runner’s race bib. On the left side of the cake was a tent and a campfire which represents my love for camping and a couple of camping traditions that go with me each year. There were two chickens on the back of the cake. Yep, I still have a couple of chickens. And finally, the right side of the cake boasted a laptop computer with Stretched by Jon Stolpe on the screen. My blog made my cake!
All this, and the cake was delicious!
What four things would go on your cake to represent you? They can be fun things, or you can choose to go deeper.
(If you’re interested in cakes like this, you should check out the Cake Art by Amy Facebook Page.)
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About
You might be wondering where the “Stretched” thing comes from. For starters, when I was in high school at Rancocas Valley Regional High School, I was short – 5’6″ to start my junior year. Since then, I’ve grown to almost 6’6″. Many of my friends started calling me Stretch.
On a more recent basis, I often feel “stretched” by all the things going on around me – career, marriage, parenting, church, running, reading, friendships, extended family, relationship with God, etc. (in no particular order). My hope is that this blog will provide an opportunity to express some of my “stretch marks” and to possibly hear your thoughts as well. 
So here is a bit more about me: I’m a Christ-follower, husband, dad, son, uncle, engineer, runner, chicken farmer, gardener, saxophone player, operations manager, adventurer, and the list goes on…. I’m extremely blessed to have the best wife in the whole world. We met at Grove City College. We were engaged on top of the Eiffel Tower. We got married in Greensburg, PA. Now, we live in Schwenksville, PA with our two incredible kids, and our black lab.
Jon, it would be orange and white, of course. A football, basketball and Smokey, our mascot would be good.
Very cool! Go Vols! (Unless they’re playing Penn State of course
!)
I’m hurt. i wasn’t invited.
Let’s see. It would have a bicycle (Trek since that is what I ride). A computer with Cycleguy’s Spin on it. jigsaw puzzle of a train (since those are the ones I like to do). A Pirate hat (baseball Pirates).
Maybe for my 41st we can have a blogger meet-up birthday bash! Pirates? I’d go with the Phillies!
That was an awesome endeavor, by your spouse and the I liked how they incorporated your likes into the cake.
If I were to identify four things about myself on a cake (my bd is tomorrow) they would be… She’s Complicated Designs (my jewelry business name), a cruise ship (I’d rather be cruising everyday), two hand intertwined representing my spouse and I (he is truly my bestie
My comment posted by mistake (darn phone)! And lastly, a big heart with a positive sign, because I really care about others and make every attempt to stay in the positive lane.
Glad you had an awesome birthday celebration!
Welcome to the Stretched Community, Reminiscent & Wonder, and thanks for your comment! These sound like great things to put on your cake. Happy Birthday tomorrow!
Great job, Leanne. We’re so glad you were surprised, Jon. The cake was awesome but the food was also. Happy 40th, Jon. I remember my 40th. It’s a real milestone in knowing that God has given you an incredible 40 years on this earth. Congrats ! Love ya. Mother and Dad L.
Everything was great about the party…the cake, the food, and especially the company! Thanks for your help behind the scenes getting the house ready for the party. I had no idea…!
Awesomesauce! Wow! That is a really cool cake!
By the way, I have you book mailing off today…I have been busy with finals (they are over now). It should get to you in a few days…
Thanks, Brandon. I’m looking forward to reading it. (I’m still finishing up Rumors of God from a few months ago!)
Awesome cake and happy birthday!! I pulled off a surprise party this year for my man’s 50th birthday. He did not have a clue!! Let’s see what would be on my cake?? My Legacy Bible study, a book (the easy reading kind), a camper, and a Bible.
Thanks for the comment, Leah. I thought about what I’d add to a cake from a more meaningful perspective, and I would definitely put something on it to represent my faith, something to represent my marriage, and something to represent my family. These things mean the world to me.
A bass guitar, my computer (that sums up so much), a microphone (I work in the audio field), and..I guess maybe a Bible?
Loren, thanks for sharing. It’s cool to know my readers from a little deeper or different perspective.
Happy Birthday! What a wonderful surprise, isn’t it nice to see tangible evidence that you’re loved! Cool cake, she did a beautiful job! I think I would love a cake with some of my favorite photographs represented on it.
Photographs….that would be interesting to see. I wonder which photos you would choose.
That’s great, Jon! God has gifted you with a wonderful family and a set of wonderful friends!
As for the question, I am leaving it to the one who makes the cake for me! I don’t want to miss the surprise!
Thanks for stopping by, Joe!
[...] Perkin’s blog to read my guest post titled Stop & Start. On Tuesday, I shared about my surprise party and I threw out a question about the cake. We learned some interesting things about some of those [...]
That’s amazing that they were able to surprise you like that!
By the way, Happy Birthday! Sorry I’m so far behind. lol
What would be on my cake? Defintiiely my blog, my bible, a few books, and a burger. lol
Thanks for the birthday wishes – a great way to extend my birthday celebration! (I’ve been enjoying EntrepreLIFE!)
I would have to say my blog would make it, a computer or some tech item, baseball, and books.
[...] 4. Surprise!!! [...]