Joy Prom

A real highlight of our children's new life in Henry County is the Joy Prom, a special needs prom they have attended each year for the past four years. It was started by a local church, First Baptist Church of Stockbridge, and has grown so popular over the years it had to be moved to a larger venue, a local christian school that could accommodate more people.

Bethany and I shop for their dresses and tuxes, adding a few new dresses each year so the girls can mix it up. We even used glittery nail polish to decorate all the girls' dress shoes to match their dress. Bethany helps the girls feel beautiful by creating elaborate hair-dos, colorful makeup and sparkling nail polish. Even her fiance helped this year, painting tiny fingernails! My brother-in-law, Bill, hand makes gorgeous hair bows that we match to their dresses. 

Chester on nail duty.

This year was Mardi Gras themed, hence the purple mask.

Amy dances with her boyfriend, Raymond. 

Once we get to the prom (fashionably late, of course) there is always a team waiting to give the Murphy kids a special greeting. There are youth volunteers dedicated to making the kids feel very special by escorting them, one-on-one to the pre-dance booths and throughout the rest of the night. They have stations set up for corsages and boutonnieres, shoe shining, makeup, nail painting, etc. Most of these things we have already done, so we usually head straight for the photo room, where they have a professional photographer waiting to take their Prom photo. 

After the photos it is time to head down the red carpet to the main room! 

Chick-fil-A provides all of the food and even the Cows are there to kick off everyone's favorite part, the dance party! 

Gettin' down!

Cody is so suave.

 Noah loves to show off his dance moves for the ladies!

I couldn't do this without Bethany, and I would never be able to take these beautiful photos like she can. As the popularity of this event grows so does the crowd, and it becomes more difficult each year to capture these joyful moments. It is such a wonderful event these people have put together and I hope the idea spreads to many more counties and states. Everyone deserves a magical night at the Prom!

Even Jimmy danced with his partner!