Friday, May 7, 2010

Happy Nineteen!

Nineteen years ago, the Friday before Mother's Day, I was sitting at work completely unaware that my life was about to change forever. The phone rang, and my case work informed me that a baby boy would be waiting for us at LDS Family Services the next day.

It was so hard to actually believe that after almost seven years of waiting and praying, the day had come for our family to blessed with a child. Never again would I feel quite so sharply the pain of unfilled arms. Never again would Mother's Day and other holidays be quite so grief filled. Finally the desire of my heart was to be granted. It was overwhelming and awe inspiring. And I have never been the same.

It was truly a magical moment when we went to the agency that next day, and they placed the most beautifuly, perfect, precious baby boy in my aching empty arms. I remember the car ride home, sitting in the back next to the car seat, worrying if he was OK. Checking on him at night to see if he was still breathing. Holding him and never getting quite enough of those eyes and baby soft skin. It was heaven on earth, pure and simple.

This is not to say that there have not been days in the past nineteen years that have been anything but heaven on earth. In fact one of those other places you read about in the scriptures. But that is to be expected with motherhood. It is part of the package deal.


Yesterday was another one of those milestone motherhood days. Trent received his mission call. We knew it was coming. We talked about it. He told me he wanted to be the one to get it from the mailbox. We agreed that he would not open it until everyone was home.

I picked Diana up from school and ran a dinner over to someone in the ward who needed it. Trent called to say that the CALL was there. My husband was still not home, and so I told him to hang on, I would be right there.

I am sure it was worse than waiting to open presents on Christmas morning. Hurriedly I delivered the dinner and raced to be home. My husband beat me there, but I made them wait for me.

I was dissapointed that I missed the photo opportunity at the mail box. And from the look on his face in this shot, you can tell that he was not interested in a recreation. He is saying to me "Seriously I have waited nineteen years for this, and you want me to wait one more minute while you take a picture, sheesh."

He opened and read the letter signed by the Prophet of the Lord. He will be serving in the Jacksonville, Florida mission and will go into the MTC on July 14th. There are so many things to do to get ready. I am sure that it will be here before we can say "I hope they call me on a mission."

So Happy Birthday, Son! Thanks for letting me share the past nineteen years with you. It has been crazy at times, but so worth it.

21 comments:

Emily said...

Happy Birthday, and congrats on FLORIDA! What a great two years it's going to be!

Barbaloot said...

Happy Birthday and congrats!! It's always so fun when they open the call...less fun when they actually leave:)

Welcome to the Garden of Egan said...

Oh, that is so exciting!!!!!
Congrats to the new missionary!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Will someone please explain the tears in my eyes? This was the sweetest post! Maybe I'm tearing up because I have four daughters, and so far, only one of them is determined to serve a mission, which means I won't get many opportunities for posts like this, but it's a wonderful thing to get to experience it through another mother's eyes. Happy Birthday, Elder, and God Speed!

Nutty Hamster Chick said...

Thanks Emily

I know Barb it is going to be a bit sad.

Thanks Tauna

Sue, I hesitated a bit to post this, because I know that this dream doesn't come true for many mothers. And I did not want to rub it in. All three of my sisters served and four of my brothers, but I was never at home when any of them received their call. So this was a first for me. Good luck with your daughters, you never know.

TisforTonya said...

Yay! what a momentous day!!!

Eliza said...

Wow! Congrats!!!!!

Smart Helm said...

That is so exciting! I'm so hsppy 4 Trent and I'm sure he'll be an awesome elder there in Florida.

Just watch out 4 those bugs. I hear they have HUGE cockroaches.

Doug and Dawn said...

That's exciting. I've been down there a few times and it seems like a great area. -Dawn

Heidi said...

Yay! What a handsome guy he is. July seems so soon--just around the corner--yikes!

Marjorie said...

Thanks for sharing....We love that boy! I especially like his haircut..what a handsome dude!

Kris said...

Happy B-day Elder Hammond. I picked CA for our pool, but that is Floridaish. Nice and sunny. I just didn't think you would go to Alaska

Love, Aunt Kris

farmgirl said...

Awww...so exciting! And a bit of a tear jerker in the beginning there. Congrats Trent!!
p.s. that's the same mission my father in law served in.

The Songer said...

What an awesome Story, Thanks for sharing!

Congrats to you son!

Homer and Queen said...

Way cool for him and you! I am bitterly jealous but happy for you!

Stephanie & Brad Bishop said...

If he enters on July 14, that would put him in Jacksonville, FL in August. I am going to follow-up on where our nephew Parker is at that time and keep track of both of them.

You have actually met PArker when we lived at 1009 N University--BATES MOTEL! Brad's sister would come down from Murray with baby PArker and visit us.

What a tribute to you and Marion--having your first son serve a mission! I cried when I read this post as I remember signing adoption papers and recommending you as the BEST PARENTS ever. I remember vividly you and Marion standing in the little doorway to the SMALLEST of the 1009 N University apts and telling us your adoption story. We were so honored that you chose us to serve as one of your character witnesses!

What a blessing for your 3 children to join such a remarkable earthly family and be taught important truths to help them someday return to their loving heavenly father.


I love you guys!!!

Shelle-BlokThoughts said...

Happy Birthday! I loved this post. You are awesome and so is your family!

Anonymous said...

Yeahhhhh!! A mission call and a birthday! Thats so awesome!! Happy Birthday!!

val of the south said...

Congrats mama - you did good!!

And Happy Birthday and Congrats to Trent too!

The Crash Test Dummy said...

OMGOSH! This gave me chills. How exciting. How amazing.

Has it been 19 years already?

How lovely.

I LUB the photo of him on the couch waiting. It's precious.

He is way goodlooking, btw. Good job.

I kinda understand what you felt when you got your perfect son after waiting so long.

I mean, I don't understand as much as my twins understand. They've been begging for a puppy for at least 7 years. And we kept saying NO NO NO NO NO NO. It's not the time. We're not in the right place in our lives. And they worked and prayed and researched and brushed their teeth twice a day and read for 30 minutes every night and anything else I could think of to manipulate and motivate them, and then it happened quite suddenly. They found the perfect dog. There she was. It all fell into place. She was born for us. She is the perfect perfect dog and when we were riding home with her we all knew it. We felt it. And I couldn't believe that they finally had their wish. And they couldn't either. And it made all the waiting feel like 5 minutes because she was the dog for us and no other dog would have sufficed.

Life is weird like that.

I'm sure that's how you felt too. Right? Please say yes, so all these words won't be in vain. hee hee

Nutty Hamster Chick said...

Well I can't take any credit for him being good looking.

And yes I am sure it is very much the same. Any time you have to wait a long time for something, it makes the getting all the sweeter, huh?