VROOM VROOM BRANDON

I don't think Brandon as a small boy ever dreamed that while he was "pretending" to be a race car driver and making all those cute vroom vroom sounds, his dream would become reality. This week at SIR Brandon became certified to do just that, drive a dragster. He had to make 8 passes down the strip with specific instructions for each pass. As his mother this made my stomach hurt and my heartache as he approached each starting line and waited for the Christmas tree of lights to change from white to green as he revved up the enormous engine. With each pass I held my breathe and prayed that he would stay in control of the car which sped up to 160 miles per hour in 8 seconds. The very last pass he had to pull the parachute per the certification guidelines, which you can't see in the video at the end of the track. Even though this was very stressful for me his mother, it was very rewarding to see the smile on his face as he completed this process. Now it's time to put the helmet and gear away as he prepares for another kind of Vroom Vroom in Australia.

LOVE THE SMILE :)

I love this smile....I think he was pretty proud of himself!

Time to get out of the suit and load up the car.
At the starting line, waiting for the Christmas tree to light up.

Getting Ready for the first pass!

Ken gave Brandon instructions before each pass.

First thing for certification was to exit the car blindfolded in a certain amount of seconds, see the green cloth?...he passed!

Helmet is on and secure.

There are many buckles and harnesses to keep a driver safe in the car.

California + Binghams = a ton of FUN!

Boardwalk on the Santa Monica Pier
David being David!
This tree trunk was massive!

L.A. Temple

Kim and David Bingham

January Adventure to Coronado Island

Wonderful home we stayed in on the Island
Jim, Kelly, Gramma Tidwell, Cindy & Frank

Future Missionary

Brandon came to me yesterday morning after digging in the file cabinet for "nothing" as he told me when I asked what he was looking for, half dressesed in this amazing suit that he purchased himself from Banana Republic 2 weeks ago, the lower half of his body sported plaid boxers, he looked quite funny, anyway after a short while he came and found me and asked me to take his picture, when I ask what it was for he said "I have completed my portion of the online missionary recommend paperwork and I need to post a picture of myself with it, gladdly I took his picture but I'm now feeling like maybe another shot with a smile would be better? I had no idea what he had been working on this particular morning but he was up early and in a very good mood. He saw his pediatrician yesterday for a phyisical, we have lab orders to take care of, Dr Alston is seeing him on Monday for dental eval, and then it's wait and see time as all the doctors paperwork comes trickling in. Brandon has hopes of leaving after Christmas to serve a mission. I felt very humbled and emotional on my way to work yesterday at the thought of the changes I see in Brandon and his desire to serve.