Broken Arrow Marine Mom Gets 'Best Christmas Surprise…Ever'

Ashli Sims, News On 6

BROKEN ARROW, Oklahoma -- A homefront surprise brightens one Green Country mother's Christmas.

She expected to spend a second holiday in a row without her Marine son. But he had other plans.

At the Lamb's Broken Arrow home, every snowman and Santa are on their posts. Every ornament on the Christmas tree is in its place.

But the Lamb family picture is incomplete. Eli is the Lambs' youngest son, and he's also a Lance Corporal in the Marine Corps.

This time last year, he was serving in Afghanistan.

"That was the hardest Christmas, because we didn't have any contact with him. We didn't know where he was at or exactly what he was doing," said Marine mom Jackie Lamb.

This year, he's not in a war zone, but still training in a desert far from home.

"He'd said all along that he wasn't going to be able to come home for Christmas because he was in the Mojave [Desert]," Jackie said.

This Blue Star mom said the Christmas lights weren't coming down and the Christmas decorations were staying up until her youngest son was coming home. Turns out she didn't have to wait too long.

Christmas day, their oldest son told Bill and Jackie Lamb their present is in the trunk of his car.

"He was in the trunk and I even tried to pull him out of the trunk and that didn't work…He kinda had to unfold. He's six foot tall," she said.

The best Christmas present they say they've ever gotten.

"I was speechless. I just laughed. I was just so happy...I just wanted to get my hands on 'em ya'know," said Marine dad Bill Lamb.

"I thought my plan worked...perfectly," said Lance Cpl Eli Lamb.

This year was a striking comparison to his last Christmas.

"Last year on Christmas Eve, we were out on the trucks in Afghanistan. It was just another day. To actually get to be here with them this Christmas it was a lot better," Eli said.

"We got the best Christmas surprise we have ever gotten in our lives!" Jackie said.

Eli Lamb said his plan was almost thwarted because he got very sick with strep throat last week and almost didn't make it home.

His parents were just shocked that their children could keep such a big secret from them.