Joy Prom 2014

For the past 10 years our church has been hosting a Joy Prom for the adult special needs community. The event has become so popular that our special needs ministry team has helped churches across our area and around the nation start up their own annual joy proms as well.  Since my daughter has demonstrated a clear gifting in special needs ministry work through our service together in the Access Ministry at church, I wanted her to join me this year, during our 10th anniversary, as a volunteer at the prom.  She did fabulously and amazed me with her outgoing nature and clean dance moves.  We were trained to just do whatever our hosts were doing on the dance floor, and she sure did catch on quickly.  I am always blessed at these events because of the way these people love each other, love God, and live joyfully without the self consciousness that restrains so many of us from living life to the fullest..  I'm thinking the Dancing with the Stars crew needs to come to our next Joy Prom if they want to see real, unbridled talent and dancing glee.

The prom had a circus theme so volunteers were supposed to wear either circus or prom attire.  My daughter wanted to wear her gymnastics leotard (the one that barely covers her torso and cost over $500 because competitive athletic wear companies delight it ripping off parents) and calling herself a trapeze artist, but I insisted it was too immodest, so she should wear a dressy dress.  She resisted, for she is a strong willed child, so I told her if she wanted to wear the leo, she had to wear a dress over it.  That was our silly compromise, and she certainly did carry out the theme.  I tried to merge the circus and prom themes together as well by wearing a circus animal print party dress.

My daughter was thrilled to see two of her closest friends there volunteering as well.  We enjoyed spending time with the fellow pictured at the lower right in the collage above.  His caregiver had a very nice English or South African accent and was so very kind and appreciative of our help.  We escorted him through all the many stations (dinner, professional photography, face painting, cotton candy, popcorn, and dancing) while she took a rare moment to relax in our caregiver suite (aka the "Ringmaster Room").

Look at my girl (top 2 right photos) getting down!

Our close friend (top right in collage above) was asked to dance many times by that older gentleman.  Her husband stood behind her chuckling at her predicament, for these guests of all ages tend to gravitate toward the attractive blonds.  The couple pictured at the lower right in the collage above also spent some time with us.  That man was so sweet as he carried that corsage through every station while looking for his sweetheart. He finally saw her on the dance floor, and I got to help him put it on her.  They danced up front the entire night without ever seeming to grow tired.   The lady pictured above at the middle left side had a smile that could light up the darkest dungeon.  She loved seeing herself pictured on the big screens via live video feed.  Elaborate balloon sculptures adorned the entire first floor lobby, banquet hall, dance floor, and reception area.  Volunteers spent long days every day the week before the event making these sculptures.  Our favorites were the animal cage and trapeze artists suspended from the ceiling of the dining hall.  The event was a huge success, and the dancing provided amusement  I will not easily forget.

Charles Brings Back 80's Breakdancing Again This Year

See My 10-Year-Old Dance

 (She's in the turquoise dress up front)