For Kristi Johnson’s 50th birthday, her childhood friends wanted to do something unforgettable.

What they planned was more than just a celebration—it was a homecoming, a tribute and an act of care that left Johnson in awe. In a viral TikTok video, Johnson shared how her closest friends, whom she has known since the seventh grade, secretly rented out her late mother’s house on Airbnb to celebrate her milestone birthday.

“I never dreamed I’d be back in my mom’s house again celebrating my 50th birthday,” Johnson captioned the video. “I’m one lucky girl.”

The house, which was being renovated by Johnson’s sister, had just been completed in time for the occasion—a coincidence Johnson calls “miracle #1.”

“My friends had a secret text thread going that I couldn’t see,” Johnson told Newsweek. “They planned it all out, and every bit of it was a surprise. My mom specifically asked my friend Hillary to take care of me after she was gone, and she followed through.”

A Weekend of Memories

The details of the weekend were straight out of Johnson’s childhood. Her friends stocked the house with all their favorite childhood snacks, crowned her with a birthday tiara and even had a high school friend cook a meal just like her mother used to make.

“Hillary baked the cake just like my mom would have,” Johnson said. “Even my mom’s hospice nurse stopped by that I had grown so close with. Every detail was thought out.”

For Johnson, stepping into her mother’s house was emotional. She had not slept there since the night her mother passed away of cancer. Seeing the newly decorated space, filled with photos of her mom, made it feel like she was still there.

“It was so bittersweet—wonderful and sad and happy at the same time,” she said. “I knew she was sad she’d miss our big milestone birthdays, but she was there in the middle of it all after all. Then, as I pulled away, I saw the red birds. She was there with us, cheering us on.”

A Lifelong Friendship

While the weekend was a tribute to Johnson’s mother, it was also a testament to the strength of her lifelong friendships.

“Friendship is everything,” she said. “I’m so very lucky to have these ladies in my life. They’ve loved me through every stage—happy ones, sad ones, good decisions or bad. They always have my back.”

Having been by her side through the loss of her mother, her friends knew exactly how to honor her on her birthday.

“They stood by me at her funeral. They ran to my side as she died,” Johnson said. “I know we’ll be friends till our last breath. We’ve all been through a lot together. Nothing can shake our friendship.”

As for her mother’s home, Johnson believes she would be thrilled to know it’s being filled with laughter again—whether through family, friends or new guests staying as Airbnb visitors.

“My mom loved entertaining, so I know she loves having company in her house again,” Johnson said. “She loved big crowds. And she loved cooking…I just know she was beaming down on us that night.”