Highlights of the past few months

 Much of the time life is hard, but every now and then there
are days that pretty darn near perfect.
I suppose it is set up that way to get us to keep going
through all the hard times.  Not 100% sure how I feel
about that.  But regardless, when those happy,
joyful days come around it does tend to make you
glad that you didn't throw in the towel and give up like
you were so tempted to do.
This is a post about one such day.

But first let's look back at another perfect day, the
day Jared was sealed to us in the San Diego temple
18 years ago.  I am so grateful to have this picture to remind
me what that day looked like.

 December 1994

There have been some pretty difficult days in the past 18 years.
 Some days were so dark, I wondered if there would ever be
sunshine in my life again.  Well last December I was able to
go to the Las Vegas temple with Jared as he prepared to be
a missionary.  Trent was with us also and it was a very special day.

We are still pretty good looking aren't we?

December 2012

An early Christmas gift at the temple.

Me and my boys.

My gratitude to my Father in Heaven for blessing me with these boys and then
allowing them to be sealed to me and then to watch them grow up
and make righteous decisions, well there really aren't words for such feelings.

It just was a really good day that I will remember and cherish always.

Welcome Home, Elder Hammond, Welcome Home

After our girls trip to Utah, it was back to the reality

that Trent was coming home in JUST 10 days.
 
Every missionary mom will tell you that this is the day you dream
about and count down to, for two whole years.
That is 730 days for any of you wanting to make a chain.

I have to admit, that I was not terribly sad when Trent went to the MTC.
Somehow I feel a bit ashamed of this fact.
Because all those around me were falling apart,
and continued to do so for several months.

But, there were so many days during his teenage life, that I
seriously wondered if  he would ever go on a mission.
Truthfully, I had resigned myself to possibility, in order to brace myself
for the disappointment.   So much so,
that I am embarrassed to say that when he did go,
I was more surprised and relieved, than sad and depressed.

And so for the majority of the time he was gone,
I really didn't miss him that much.
It felt like the Lord was babysitting him.
And who could ask for a better baby sitter.
Is that horrible to say?  That it felt like a vacation to not be
constantly worried about his welfare?

Even when he served in the ghetto for 7 months,
I never doubted that he was being divinely protected.
And here's the thing, I got these amazing emails every week,
from this kid I had never met before.  Who knew?
Yes, the Lord took my son and turned him into
an amazing missionary.

And so it wasn't until the very end that I finally began to miss him a little bit.
It was getting that video of him back in February that kind of did me in.
Actually seeing him talk was so fun.
But, it made me trunky.

And finally we were down to the end of the countdown.
I seem to be the kind of person who adds stress to things
by making my to do list longer than it needs to be.
If anyone knows how to cure this problem/mental illness,
I am open to suggestions/12 step programs.

I was rather stressed because how was I going to paint the whole house,
re landscape the front and back yard, fix the pool, and well you get the picture.
At least I had already lost the 50 pounds, so that couldn't be on the list.  :) 

And did I mention that this was also one of the times were my
second job demands a lot of time.
So as long as I didn't need to eat or sleep, I seemed to keep on top of everything.

I couldn't seem to find a to do list anywhere that lets you know
every little detail that you are supposed to do to be prepared for a son's return.
Finally, the voice of reason pared the list down to providing him with a place to sleep,
Seemed like a great place to start.

I managed to find some great deals on a bed, desk and chair for his bedroom.
Luckily the top half of his room was painted blue, but the bottom
was purple from when Diana used to be in there.
So Monday night about 10:00 pm,
I painted the bottom half to match the top.

We got the furniture home from work and into the room.

Oh, and just for fun it was girls camp that week.
We went up on the Saturday before to help set up.
And then Tuesday morning,
I got Diana all packed and to the church by 7:00 am.
Then, I worked most of that day.

Wednesday morning I finished up some things at home,
and then went into work.
We got a really big shipment and I was there unpacking things
from noon until 10:00 pm that night.

Thursday morning was the Big Day.
I woke up at 5:30 and was so excited I could not go back to sleep.
Just like Christmas morning.
I had too much to do to just lay in bed.
Making a ginormous sign for the house was my first priority.

It was so big, that I needed to just lay it out
on the driveway in order to draw the letters.
Then next, I got it up onto the house.
No one else was awake, and I don't even know how, but
I managed to get upthere by myself.

I was really happy with the way it turned out and just how big it was.

Giant sign on the house - check.

I finished up some last minute cleaning inside, and then Jared mentioned

some things he  needed from Wal Mart for his job that was starting at 6:00 pm that night.

Oh, and did I mention it was Diana's birthday that day?

Because why wouldn't it be.  Just bring it on, people.  Make my day.

So I dashed into Wal Mart, and stopped at the dollar store for balloons saying

Happy Birthday and Welcome Home.

Next it was time to head up to Mt Charleston to pick up Diana from camp.

On the way, I stopped at the mall to do some birthday shopping.

Because go figure I hadn't managed to get anything sooner.

Birthday presents - check.

It takes about an hour to drive up to Girls camp.

I got there about 11:30 just as planned.

It took her a few minutes to get everything together.
She was getting the royal birthday treatment at camp.
Some of her tent mates got up at 5:00 and decorated her tent with balloons.

On the way back home, Jared called to say that the
wind had blown down the sign from the house.

Curse that Las Vegas wind!
Giant sign on the house - uncheck.

I had broken my stapler getting the sign up in the first place, so 

we stopped at Wal Mart for the second time that day and bought a new stapler.

Carside Applebees to go for a birthday lunch - check.

We made it home and Diana showered while I got the sign back up.

I also made a sign for the airport with candy that Diana had picked out.

Trent was due to land at 2:50, but when I checked the airline
 it said that the plane was due to be about 15 minutes early. 
This sent me into a bit of a panic because we had things timed down to the last minute.

I called out/ shrieked to everyone to get a move on
and we made it into the car in two shakes of a lambs tail.

We got to the airport at just the right time.

After parking, we walked across the bridge and through the baggage claim.

I have to admit that the emotion of the moment and the whole day hit me like a brick wall.

It was all I could to do to keep from just laying on the floor and bawling like a baby.

Instead I settled for just tearing up as we walked through the baggage claim.

Finally, we were at the point where he would come out of the secured area.

At the Las Vegas airport, there are two different escalators that people come down.

The tram lets people off on one side, and then the other on the next trip.

This means that a ton of people come down one escalator,

and then you have to walk about twenty feet over
to the other escalator for the next group.

There are a ton of Limo drivers that are holding signs and
doing this walking back and forth process with you. 
I bet in a different circumstance it would be kind of humorous.

Here is a blurry picture of Diana standing with some of the Limo people.

I had managed to pull it back together as far as the crying goes.

But here again, as I would stand at the bottom of the escalator thinking that at any minute

Trent would come down, I would tear up again and get all emotionally overwhelmed.

It was like I would flash back to the day we picked him up,
and they placed him in my arms for the first time,
or the day we had him sealed to us in the Logan Temple,
or his first smile or step,
or first day of kindergarten,
or first soccer, baseball, or football game,
or first orchestra concert,
or first day of high school,
or day he got his driver's license,
or day he graduated from High School.

It was as if the emotions of all these wonderful days were
somehow compressed into this very moment.

And to say it was overwhelming does not even come close to describing the feeling.

Then all the people would come down the escalator and he wouldn't be there, and we would walk

over to the other escalator, and I would stop crying, only to repeat the process all over again.

It was a bit ridiculous.  And I began to wonder if it was really going to happen after all.

Finally, when he really did come, I had kind of convinced myself not to get my hopes up,

and I don't think we even really recognized him.

So it is kind of a blur and not quite like I anticipated.

Still, it was so good to finally see him and hug him and know that he was really home.

He lost about 50 pounds on his mission and I think that is why we didn't recognized him.

Here he is with the parents.

Of course, the batteries in my camera were dead, and so all we had for
documentation purposes was my phone.
So the pictures are a little less than ideal. 
But that is not really the important part, now is it?

We got him home, made some dinner, and got him to the stake center to be 

released.  All of that happened before 5:30 so that Jared could get to work by six.

And I had to get  Diana back up to camp so that she could perform in the skit

that night.  We were back on the road and made it just barely after 7.

Whew!  The Hamster Wheel was on warp speed that day.

It is hard to believe that I managed to get it all done. 
And without any caffeine people,can I get some kudos for that?

Next, it was time to get ready for the company who were coming
for the weekend and the open house.  So as much as I wanted to sit in a corner,
rock back and forth in the fetal position, sucking my thumb, there was none of that.
I kept telling myself if I could just  hold on until August 15th,
my nervous break down was penciled in.
 

I found these super cute cupcake toppers on pinterest and my most wonderfulest 

visiting teacher cut them all out for me.  As well as cutting up fruit for the open house.

I don't know how I would have made it with out her.

Family arrived and we had a nice time catching up.

After church we took some pictures with the missionary.

Here are my kids all grown up.

And here is one showing brotherly/sisterly love.

Here is one of the kids with me.  Sadly my husband was still at church.

Here is one with my sister's family.

Here is one with my parents.

And one with just mom.

After pictures we had the traditional dinner of haystacks.

Everybody eating.   Sorry about the glare from the light.

Jared and Victor had their own table.

Next it was time to celebrate Diana's birthday with the extended family.
I really meant to buy a cake from Sam's Club to save some work,
but it didn't happen.
It is the strangest thing, but I have lost my 9 x 13 airbake pan.
If anyone reading this, has borrowed it from me, let me know.
Luckily, I found this foil pan and it worked.

The little kids were willing to help her blow out the candles.

There was a little bit of time for visiting.

My brother David, my Mom, and Trent.

My sister Jen and David.

A blurry shot, with me thrown in for good measure.

We hurried and cleaned up lunch and put the food out 

for the open house.

We had chips and salsa.

Zucchini bread, brownies, and red velvet cupcakes.

A good friend made her famous mint brownies, 

and my other  VT brought some pumpkin chocolate chip cookies.

Here is the fruit my VT cut up for me.  It was both gorgeous and delicious.

The drink station.

We had a lot of people come by.

It was so much fun to visit with everyone and it 

seemed like a big success, thanks to the help of many.

I was kind of having a melt down over worrying about the open house.

My sister talked me off the ledge by reminding me of the 

miracle of asking for help.

Letting others help truly saved what little sanity I have left.

And thus we see that one should never give up hoping on a child, 

and that when we let others bear our burdens, they

really are lighter, and perhaps what doesn't

kill you does make you stronger.

One son returned home from a mission with a 

strong testimony of the Gospel and Jesus Christ - check

The Wonderful World of Women's Conference 2012

This year was my eighth year at Women's Conference, and it was just as wonderful as always.  I don't expect to ever miss a year until I die.  This year was sad because my sister  Amie had a baby and couldn't come and my mom didn't come this year, but as you can see my other two sisters and I still managed to have some fun.

The first speaker of the conference told us when we have hard days to think back and remember the feeling of sitting in the Marriott Center with so many other righteous women.  It really is amazing.  So often as a mother I feel that I am in hand to hand combat with Satan, and it is easy to feel overwhelmed and alone.  To sit in a room full of others who share my convictions and goals to raise a righteous family is fortifying in a way that is hard to describe.  This is one of the reasons I go to Women's Conference.  That and the food.

After the first general session, my sisters and I headed up to the conference center where we listened to a wonderful class given by Chad and Michelle Lewis titled: Mormon's Warning: Arming your home and family.  While we listened we made these bunnies.  Their cuteness is somewhat questionable, but hopefully they will be given to children with nothing and that will make them look better.  They are certainly better than nothing.   That or blind children might enjoy them as well.

Brother Lewis shared a story about climbing Kilimanjaro last summer as part of the wounded warrior project.  There was a soldier from Iraq with them who had lost his leg in an injury and had a metal leg.  That soldier became too sick to go on and had to turn back, but the others told him that they would take his leg to the top even if he couldn't make it.  As they climbed the air became thinner and thinner and the task became more and more difficult.  Brother Lewis was helping carry the leg and was determined that he was strong enough to make it happen as a sign of respect for this soldier and his sacrifice.  But it became very difficult for Brother Lewis and the guide with them finally said "Let me carry the leg.  I am used to the elevation and the thin air, I climb this mountain all the time."  And so Brother Lewis let him carry the leg and he compared this to how we try to carry our own burdens and the Savior is right there trying to help us if we will only let him. He is pleading with us to cast our burdens on him, for his yolk is easy and his burden is light.   It was a wonderful class.  And such a good lesson.

Jen poses with her cute blue bunny.

Look I made a purple one.

Of course there was the BYU mint brownie consumption.  That is mandatory and a completely necessary part of the whole experience.  Look I got a corner piece.  Yummmy!

And of course there are the spiced almonds.  I have to admit to purchasing 3 of these bad boys.  One each day, and one to bring home.  How do I love these almonds?  Let me count the ways.  And the fact that they are warm when you get them is not a bad thing for warming ones hands or face.  Delectable and delicious delicacies.

Here is the group shot on day one.  After all the learning and the sewing and the eating, we went to Brick Oven for dinner with our two sisters in law.  Somehow we did not get photographic evidence of the eating going on there, but it happened, true story.  After dinner we headed back to the Smith Fieldhouse for the evening of service.

As we were about to enter the Fieldhouse, who should come out but, Sandra Rogers.  Now most of you will not know her, but she is the academic vice president of BYU.  She has also been in charge of Women's Conference for the past 8 years.  She gives wonderful talks and even better etiquette videos.  I have snapped pictures of her from the stands for years, but I never dreamed I would get this close to her.  I love this woman who is responsible for something I look forward to each year and has changed my life for good.

And then as if  Sister Rogers was not enough who should come out next, but the entire new Relief Society General presidency.  Now  those of you who know me well, (and really who would be reading this, if they didn't know me well,) will know that I had a goal to get my picture taken with this dear, sweet lady, Sister Burton.  Of course in my wildest dreams, I never really thought it would happen.  But as I posted on Facebook, the stalking Gods smiled upon us and we were able to get this picture.  Look she doesn't even seem that scared or anything.

A BYU Brownie and my picture with the new General Relief Society president, how could this day get any better?

But wait there's more.

We went into the Fieldhouse, where we helped with the finishing up of putting together 35,000 back pack kits for Title 1 schools in Utah county.  Service really is one of my favorite parts of Women's Conference.

 Then we went into the Sports Museum and I got my picture with all of the Jimmer memorabilia.  That is pretty awesome, isn't it?

 And then look we made our sister from Utah State pose with us and the cougar.  She was a good sport about it and it is a pretty cute picture of all of us.  I mean really who doesn't need a picture with a large bronze cougar?

And then it was back to the Marriott Center for the evening concert hosted once again by Hilary Weeks.  I got my picture with her last year, in case you forgot.  This evening was a tribute to Relief Society complete with a visit from Eliza  R Snow.  It was very moving and I would have to say one of the best.

Here is a Youtube video of the last song.  This video does not quit capture the magic of the moment, but you can get some idea.  Click on the button that says skip to the best part.

That was Day One.  Hard to believe that it all happened in just the span of twelve hours.  Time to head home and sleep and rest up for Day Two.

I didn't really have any classes picked out for Friday, but I noticed that Blaine Fowler and his wife were teaching a class.  He is a sportscaster and often calls  BYU Football and Basketball games.  I knew that I had to go to his class and see if I could get a picture with him.  When I got there I asked the lady at the door if she thought I might get a picture.  She said she wasn't sure because he wasn't there yet.  I went and set up position in a seat on the front row in the preferred stalking section.  It wasn't too long before the lady brought Blaine up to me and said "This is the lady that wants a picture with you."  How nice was that of her to facilitate my stalking?

This is what I had to say about this picture on Facebook:" Here is today's installment of "See Pat stalk people at Women's Conference and raise questions about her sanity or at the very least her manners." This lucky/unlucky victim is Blaine Fowler. Most of you will have no idea who he is, but he was a quarterback at BYU when I was at school there. And he went on to be a sports broadcaster. I have watched him call games on TV many times. He was very kind and a bit shocked that I would want a picture with him. Look how well he masked his inner terror in this picture? His wife was also kind to share him for a minute as if she had a choice or anything."

And next as I was walking back to the Marriott Center, who should I run into, but Sister Dibb, President Monson's daughter.  She very unsuspectingly asked me if I knew where the shuttle stop was. Of course I did and was glad to tell her, but not before I snapped this little gem.  So nice of her to come to me, even. 

And here is the group shot on day two.  Don't tell but I may or may not have snapped this while a speaker was speaking, but it was necessary before we all split up to go to different classes.

And here is one more at the end of the day.  Look at the crowd thinning out behind us.  And look how cute we are with our matching bags.  Too bad I missed the memo about bending my arm and hence ended up looking like my arm was amputated.  For any of you concerned, I do in fact have a hand at the end of my arm.

And so another successful Women's Conference comes to an end.  Sigh.  It is hard to say which part is my favorite: the speakers, or the classes, or the spirit, or the General Authorities, or the General Auxiliary Presidencies, or the musical performances, or the food, or the stalking, or the service, or the time with sisters, or the shopping in the bookstore.  Pretty much all of it is my favorite part and makes it two days of the year I can not do without.

And here is a shot of my beloved Y.  I know all of you are sick to death of hearing me go on and on about BYU, but it is a place that is near and dear to my heart.  I understand that not everyone feels the same way, and that is OK.  I don't ask that you do.  But for me, after growing up in the mission field and being alone a lot of the time, I loved going to BYU and being part of the majority.  And each year I get to relive those golden college years for two days at Women's Conference.  That is my other favorite part.  So thanks for the memories.  See you next year. 

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!