Megan and the Prom

 Would it even be an official trip to Utah if I didn't miss out on at least one special and important event?

I missed her last piano recital. The very last one. And the one she wore her prom dress to and her darling piano teacher stood up and told her how much she is going to miss teaching her. Megan was her one and only student for a couple of years. And they had the kind of friendship that helps a kid get through. 

But wait! I also missed seeing Megan go to Senior Prom all dressed up in this gorgeous dress. So that isn't my favorite thing. But she had a wonderful time! Isn't she beautiful?

I did get her this corsage just for the occasion, which was tragically traded under duress...I won't get into it. It's too sad. But we have pictures and it lives on in our memories.

 

Sad as I was to miss it, she had a wonderful time and sent me great photos!

Surprising Mom

Jordan was talking to Mom earlier this year and she revealed that she was afraid she would never see all her kids together again before the end of her life. 

Oh. 

No.

That isn't the way it's going to be. 

So we started planning, making arrangements, clearing work schedules and buying plane tickets. 

And we prayed that she'd feel good on that day. 

Do you think she was surprised?

I think this was just what she needed. And just what I needed too. Our family has been through so much. We need some happy memories!

Graduation Photos

Megan and I decided to get those grad photos done...today!

I'm hoping all the kids agree to the back fence as the ideal location. 

A few of my favorites:

And winners for the graduation announcement!

Watercolor

Look whose watercolor was chosen by the Johnson County Arts Council to be an actual card that they use and send out! 

I love it!

Megan Hufford - Artist!

Unplanned

I didn't know that I would be in Utah this weekend. Mom is very sick and the siblings there have been taking care of her around the clock. They are tired and we're all worried. She isn't eating or drinking and so I flew out to take a turn and give everyone a break. But mostly I don't wanna miss time with my mom if she isn't planning on sticking around for another 10-20 years. That's really not something I wanna think about, but when we lost Dad 16 years ago, reality came in uninvited. 

So I loaded the fridge with Costco meals and hopped on a plane. 

Mom stayed in bed for just one day, and then she rallied! She wanted to go outside and work in the garden. I know exactly how she feels. It's the best medicine. The siblings that had been watching over her these past weeks a monitoring how many ounces she drank or trying to convince her to eat a little something were flabbergasted. 

I'm not sure why she started feeling better, but I won't argue! We're gonna make the most of any feel-good days she has. The garden soil worked its magic on our souls and Mr. Carrot popped out to say hello. He was definitely a Mister. (stoooop!)

Mom grabbed her binos and we went out to check the water levels and look for any winged creatures. We drove around Burraston Ponds and remember the time I forgot that I had a straw in my drink and went to take a sip and that straw stuck straight up my nose...in front of my whole Beehive class at Burraston Ponds. This is what Utah does to me.

We drove past our old Payson house on the way back to Spanish Fork. It looks mostly the same, but sadder. I wish they had kept it up. That house deserves more love. 

Back in Kansas, Mark had a run in with a stray trailer hitch on his way to Arkansas. It was dark and raining and it completely totaled his Jeep. Which sucks. But I am grateful he come through that without any injury. That easily could have flipped the Jeep on impact, or he could have been hurt out there in the dark while he was checking out the damage. 

The offending hitch: 

But he didn't let it throw off his Dad game! I still got me Sunday Sacrament Selfie

And he forced the kids outside to go swing on the swings are get away from their screens. He's my favorite.

I got to sneak in some Ethan time and he introduced me to the wonderful world of Kolaches. 

I continued the tradition of being totally startled by the scarecrow girl in her basement. Dear Heaven, that thing looks like a real kid from the corner of my eye. Never fails. 

I set off with loaves of bread in my purse. A happier trip than I anticipated on the way out, but that's how life goes.