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.

Bright Easter

Like every year, we pulled out the Easter egg dyeing buckets!

Jon and I asked the kids this year if they were too old

to dye eggs and I'm not quite sure I've ever seen their faces look so funny!

I don't think we can ever give up any of our traditions!

Thank God!

Such talented egg decorators!

Never too old to hunt for eggs!

My precious family! Thank you God for blessing me!

Jackson's favorite egg!

Jackson couldn't forget to make his "TJ" egg for Thomas!
He loves and misses his friend so much,

but is starting to rejoice in his memories with him!

Oh Yea!

It's baseball season again!

I love going to baseball games!

Snow cones,

Sun,

Little ones trying to run around the bases,

Good fellowship & laughter and

of course watching my Jackson play some BALL!

The first time up to bat for the season-
Jackson hits his first "little league" home-run! Yep, OUT OF THE PARK!

It was pretty awesome.
Of course, Daddy was smiling so big!

Senior Prom

I do have to say that I am so glad that Prom is over!

I have been working on the After Prom for about 6 months

and was pretty relieved when it was all over.

Lots of hard work, but definitely worth every moment!

Lizzie had a wonderful time and

looked amazing with her new, short haircut!

Lizzie and her friends decided to spend their last prom together

and not go with dates.

They were so glad they did.

It was the best prom ever for them and I am so thankful

that they got to make so many fun memories !

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!

Spring Break with Friends

Jackson and I got to spend a couple of days over spring break

with some friends at the beach.

Jackson had not been to the beach since he was

little bitty and didn't remember much of it, so he was

super excited to see what it was all about.

...and oh boy, did he see what it was all about!

The water was so cold,

but that didn't stop Jackson.

He was determined to surf some waves!

He had so much fun and I had so

much fun watching him.

I loved the smile on his face!

I absolutely love this next picture!

It says it all!

The beach house that we stayed in was beautiful

and right on the beach.

It was perfect!

We even went and did a little crabbing.

One by one.... they marched on...

Jackson couldn't get across that bridge

fast enough!

Oh where, Oh where

are the crabs? None yet!

Oh! That's what they look like!

So fun! Jackson loved it!

Gas....$120

Food......$50

Crabbing supplies.....$5

Sun block.....$10

Fishing bait.......$5

Spending 3 amazing days with Jackson & friends at the beach.....

ABSOLUTELY PRICELESS!!!

Thank you Lord for the memories.

Especially for the smile on Jackson's face!