Hamilton

Now that the wedding and farewell are over, it was time for a vacation (sort of)! In a last minute decision, Jeff and I bought tickets to see the musical, Hamilton, in Kansas City, MO. The boys, including Jeff, LOVE this musical. Amber introduced us to it. We were all a little skeptical as we initially heard rap and hip hop when we listened to the soundtrack, but the story is amazing and the music is nothing short of genius! Yes, ours wasn't the cheapest decision, but we wanted to have one last hurrah with Dallin before he leaves for two years, and we knew this was going to be a memorable one! (Danny got to come along as well. Jonas got to stay with Krystle's family and my parents who were still in town visiting). We flew out Thursday morning and were back home in a little over 24 hours. It was a whirlwind trip but totally worth it! We landed around lunchtime and found a little hole-in-the-wall diner in the town where we took the boys to an indoor race track. After eating, we went to race cars. I was a little skeptical about this activity. I'm not an adrenaline junky at all! Fast cars don't impress me, but I actually had fun. I didn't like it when cars tried to pass me, but when I was on my own, I enjoyed racing around the track.

After racing, we ate again! Isn't that what you do on vacation? We went to a BBQ place in a beautiful outdoor mall in downtown KC. The food was delicious!

We left the restaurant and the boys found some Bird scooters to race around on. Jeff and I chose to wander in and out of the stores.

These amazing murals were EVERYWHERE! I may or may not have broken a few traffic laws to try to snap this picture.

Finally, it was time to go to the show. The Kansas City Music Hall is beautiful! I was actually pretty impressed with the venue, but the show was astounding! It lived up the soundtrack. We were all worried that seeing the show may somehow diminish our experience, but it only enhanced it. The music, lyrics, stage, acting, etc. worked in perfect harmony to provide an incredible experience. Jeff and I felt that it was beyond worth the expense to share this memory with Dallin and Danny! The next morning, we all flew home with stories to tell and memories to share.

Farewell Dallin!

As if a wedding wasn't enough, the next morning, we celebrated Dallin's choice to serve a mission.  He received a change in his report date/place. He now reports to the Provo MTC on July 10. Today he was able to share his testimony with everyone. He spoke about Christ's miracles, including the miracles he has seen in his own life. He has been a miracle in our life. I think sometimes we expect grand events or unexpected healings or drastic changes in relationships to classify something as a miracle, but in reality, God's miracles are usually in the small things. It's a sunrise following a rough day. It's a child's smile when you feel down. It's a son's choice to put life on hold for two years to share his faith and God's love with the people of the Dominican Republic. Yes...I am beyond exhausted with all the events of this weekend, but it is all worth it! Our family is evolving. Our kids are making excellent choices...and life moves on! After he gave his farewell talk, we had a pancake bar brunch for family and friends. Again, I was impressed with all the people who wanted to support Dallin and say goodbye. He is a good kid; it's no wonder there are so many people out there who care about him. I'm happy that he still has a couple weeks to go before the final goodbye. I'm not sure I'm ready yet.

I love this pic of Dallin and his friend group with all the flags from the countries they will be serving in.

Jacob & Amber Armstrong!

Today Jacob and Amber covenanted eternity to each other! This has been a long-anticipated day, and it was beyond beautiful! As parents, we couldn't have asked for a better companion for Amber. It has been a privilege to be on the sidelines watching this love story unfold. There were many obstacles that seemed insurmountable to some, but Amber and Jacob never lost sight of the end goal - to be sealed in the temple for eternity. They worked hard and even sacrificed much in order to be in the right place and the right time...and the day couldn't have been more perfect. It began with a beautiful sealing ceremony in the Payson Temple. As I sat beside Amber, I couldn't help reflect on my own wedding day. I loved listening to the officiator repeat the words of the ceremony and remember the promises Jeff and I made to each other. Those promises have seen us through good times and bad. Marriage isn't easy, but when you find your perfectly imperfect partner, it is worth it.

After the temple, we went back to our church building where Amber and Jacob chose to have a ring ceremony for those who were unable to be inside the temple when the sealing took place. While the promises made in the sealing ceremony were poignant, I was brought to tears as I listened to Amber and Jacob exchange vows. I was grateful that they chose to allow us all in on this intimate moment as they publicly made promises and confessed their love.

The rest of the day is a bit of a blur! After the ring ceremony, we had a family luncheon. Our friends, Byron and Angela Lacey, grilled up some burgers with fries! It was delicious. Finally, everyone dispersed and we quickly set up for the reception that evening. The weather was perfect. The decorations were beautiful. The cake was gorgeous...and the bride and groom were beyond happy. I was glad to see so many people come to celebrate with the new Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong. Congratulations to the happy couple!