A Night Under the Stars

Try not to die of shock, but I actually have some blog worthy events to report. And so after you pick yourself up off the floor, you can check out these pictures.

First of all, remember this picture from three years ago? Yes those were some scary times. I was looking through some old photos and even reading some old blog posts, and well that was certainly a memorable time in my life. I am so happy that I recorded so much of the details and can go back and read them. Go figure I had managed to forget about the blood clot scare after the hip replacement surgery. Good, good times people, NOT. But it made me realize how much I take for granted how healthy Jared has become.

Yes we have come along way from hospital beds to this fine looking specimen of a young man:

It is almost inconceivable to think how worried I was that a day like today would never happen. Perhaps there is something to that whole opposition thing. In that when you get what you never thought would happen, does it make it seem all the sweeter? I don't know, but today was a day I had always hoped and dreamed would become a reality. And I am extremely grateful that we both lived to see such a happy event as a Mormon Formal.

Here he is waiting for the bedecking of the flowers.

I think wrist corsages are the only way to go. Really avoids some awkward moments.

And it was a two person job to get his boutonniere pinned in place. Finally his date's mom managed to get it on there.

And here is the happy couple. Check out her dress? Isn't it gorgeous? She really wanted purple and found this perfect dress at the dress exchange. Can I just tell you about the pressure of choosing a vest at the tux shop? Gosh I am so relieved that it actually went well together. Mother blunder averted. Whew!

And a closer up one where you can see their adorable faces. Their group had planned to go to a park and take pictures, but the weather decided that it was still winter and it was cold and windy and then it rained cats and dogs, so they had to go to plan B which was the public library.There is an art gallery at the public library which included this rather interesting colorful cow.

Now who doesn't need their picture taken with a cow like that?Because the light was so bad inside, they did brave the rain and go out for one quick shot, umbrellas and all.

Jared and Bailey had left their umbrella in the car, you can see the rain drops on her dress but it dried soon enough. They are standing next to their good friends Tori and Tanner.

This is the group shot of all the kids from our ward. Eighteen in all, quite a large group.Nice face Jared, way to stand out in a crowd.

Here are Tanner, Tori, Jake, Katie, Jared, and Bailey.

Here Jared is showing just how thrilled he was to have his mother come to the picture taking ceremony. As if there was really any other way it would turn out. Has he met me?

And here is a little bit better one, I took with my own trusty arms length method. Too bad I was so busy getting him ready to be able to put any make up on myself.

You can imagine my disappointment (and Jared's relief) that I wasn't needed as a chaperon so I had to come home after the pictures. I would have loved to tag along for the whole evening. Not a popular idea with my kid.

All in all it seemed very successful. It is his first big dance and I am glad that he got to join his friends for one last hurrah before they all graduate and go their separate ways. He has been very fortunate to have such a great group of friends. Most of them all played soccer together throughout middle school and then there have been scout camps and just generally lots of fun times together through the years.

Goodnight kids,

Have fun storming the castle!

Elder Hammond

I got the best surprise the other day  when there was a knock at my door.  And who do you think it was, but an Angel sent from Heaven, well actually it was a girl sent from Pahrump.  Pahrump is a city that is in the middle of nowhere about an hour from Vegas, but that doesn't really have much to do with this beautiful girl who brought me the most wonderful thing in the world. 

And it's name is a video she made of Trent last November when she was serving with him in Jacksonville.  How stupendous is that?  Well it is pretty much the bestest thing to happen to me in quite some time. 

Because as much as I love and adore my missionary son, he is not up for any sharing of pictures and videos awards.  I can say that after 20 months of service, he has sent home about 20 pictures.  For a mother who documented pretty much every five minutes of his life, well that is kind of like killing me with non information. 

This after I sent him a second memory card for his camera, so that he could exchange it and send me home the one that is full of pictures.  And who then also sent him a stamped addressed padded envelope so that all he had to do was insert said memory card and drop it in the mail box.  Sigh. 

Well I suppose that it just wasn't meant to be.  And you can tell that I am fine with it, right?  And even though it was allowed at Christmas phone calls, we never skyped because we don't have any webcams on our computers. 

So it feels like I have not seen him for almost two years.  And you can imagine how a receiving an actual video of him actually talking to me feels like winning the lottery.  He just looks so much like himself, and he seems so happy.  I can honestly say that I haven't been homesick for him, until I saw this video.  I have watched it over and over.

And so I had to share with all of you.  If you are bored by home movies you can look away, but I would recommend the second two videos because that are some pretty funny parts.

And just last Friday I got a letter in my mailbox from his mission office asking for the details of how they are to send him home.  Yes, people apparently he will be home in just a short 128 days.  I didn't count it, it was another mom whose son went into the MTC the same day as Trent. 

And guess when he comes home?  July 19th which happens to be Diana's birthday.  And she will be at girl's camp that week, but I will go up and get her and bring her home so she can be at the airport.  And then I will take her back that night so she can finish the week.  She has already planned the banner she is going to make.  July will be here before you know it.  It is very hard to believe that two years have come and gone.