Graduation Month

Okay, I know it has been forever since I have blogged, but I have a great excuse- My Lizzie Graduated! I want to fill you in on all of the graduating events that have been going on in the past month, so this post is a little long- sorry.

I know that I will have a lot of time on my hands after things settle down, so I am looking forward to getting back to blogging everyday or at least every week!

TO START OFF FIRST.....

The Tea Party

Lizzie's wonderful Sunday school teachers, Tammy and Terri, held a Princess Banquet for Lizzie and her friends when they were sophomores. It was so special to the girls. Tammy wanted to do one last special event for the girls before they graduated so she decided to host a tea. It was beautiful and so good to share sweet memories with a wonderful group of ladies. I know that Lizzie will forever be grateful for her teachers. They helped make her into the young, Christian woman she has become.

Thanks Tammy and Terri! We love you!

Senior girls with Tammy, Terri & Kendra.

Senior Church Recognition

Our church has always had a tradition where they honor the graduating seniors with a special Sunday. They usually give them a framed picture with their favorite scripture verse and show a slide show. This year our youth leader decided to make it much more special.

As parents, we were to write a blessing to our child, just as God had done with some great men in the Bible. Jon wrote a beautiful blessing and of course had to be the one to read it aloud because I was a blubbering mess. We were also asked to give them a "token" that would remind them of the blessing. We gave Lizzie a sweet bracelet with a charm that meant "blessings and love". I love this sweet picture of Lizzie and her daddy praying!~

After the ceremony, they had a reception where members of the church could leave gifts and talk to the graduates. One of the hardest things for Lizzie about going away to college is that she is really going to miss her church family. I pray that she finds a church that she loves just as much as this one.

THE GRADUATION
Lizzie's graduation invitation...

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future..."Jeremiah 12:11

My family was eager to see their little Lizzie graduate!

Congratulations, Class of 2011!

Class of 2011's ceremony was extra special!

For the first time ever, fireworks were shot off in the distance by a family that was celebrating their nephew's graduation also!

Friends love at all times. Proverbs 17:17

Now Time to Celebrate

This was Lizzie's invitation to the house reception.

I tried to make all of the decor in the house reflect Lizzie and who she is, from her senior pictures to all of her vintage favorites, especially her cameras!

There were so many loved ones that came to congratulate her!

Another Celebration

The next day, Lizzie had another graduation party with seven of her closest friends. It was so fun and special.

Each graduate got to decorate their own table for their pictures and gifts. They were so cute, because each one reflected each graduate's personality.

The eight honorees!
Great friends!

Thank you Lord for such a great graduation time. Thank you for the sweet friends and family, the sweet memories and most of all thank you for my Lizzie. My life nor family would not be complete without her. Thank you for making her the woman that she is. I pray that she always pleases you in everything that she does.

FRIENDS

I really have been so busy lately with

After- Prom planning & fundraising,

senior pictures, scholarships, applications,

campus visitation days, sports games, practices,

dress shopping and on and on.......

What is it all for?- all the time, all the work,

all the stress, all the money and on and on........

When Lizzie told me that her and her friends wanted to

take a senior group picture, I thought, "another thing"!

I didn't know when we would be able to do it

with every one's busy schedule, but we pulled it off

and got everyone together.

As I was editing the pictures at home- it HIT me-

yeah- you know what-

it HIT me!!!!

Tears and all!!!!!

They looked so old! These girls are my "adoptive children"!

I have been so used to a house full of kids in our t.v. room.

I have been so used to hauling them around all over the place.

I have been used to dressing them up in funny clothes.

I have been used to make them snacks and their favorite lemonade.

I have been used to them getting in their little drama moods

and forcing them to talk it out.

I have been so used to being so close to each one of them!

What am I going to do without all of that?

What am I going to do without all the work, stress and time that

I have put into these kiddos?

Poor, poor Jackson. He's not going to know what to do

with all of the time we are going to have together!

I am really going to miss them!

I thank God that He let me be apart of

each one of their lives.

I am so very proud of all of them!

A Bake Sale Success!

Thank you so much to everyone who came by on

Sunday to the Bake Sale.

It was absolutely a success and

so much fun to put together!

It made me want to have a get together in my front yard more often.

Josh, Leigh and Jady were overwhelmed at the

love and support

from all of our friends and family.

I thank God for each one of you!

Jady loves her daddy!

Again, thank you for helping the Texas Chargers!

I know that their fall retreat will be a great success

with the help that you have given!

i am in the mood to have a party...

anyone, anyone? the weather is so nice and beautiful. the decorations during this season are so bright & wild. and it's just time to have some girlie FUN!

i haven't done anything in a while with all of my friends, so i think it would be lots of fun to have a little get together, so i went looking for some ideas in what else, but blog heaven. i found this great site www.thepartydress.net it has some great ideas from all sorts of resources and then put together to plan a perfect party theme. check it out. it's great! the following photos are a few of the featured ideas from the site.

happy planning!

okay, so maybe we won't play croquet...

i better get busy planning! i'll let you know how it goes!