Homeschool Graduation Banquet

One of the blessings of homeschooling is graduating your children.  It feels like the end of a journey but really it is just another beginning.  The theme for our states graduating class is "The Adventure Begins." Last night we had the banquet for the graduates.  It was a wonderful evening.  I have been on the decorating committee.  Everything turned out wonderful.  We had a lovely dinner, games, a wonderful speaker, a pastor that prayed over the graduates, then line dancing.  I love getting together with other homeschool parents and their children.  We have similar standards and goals for our families.  It feels like the children are so respectful and happy.  The night was very special and we all rejoiced in celebrating our graduates.

Sierra was absolutely stunning.  My mother had taken her to get her hair done.  We got her dress at JC Penny's and made a couple modifications to it.  It was gorgeous on her.  It is hard to believe her homeschooling is coming to an end.  It hits me in waves of emotion but overall it is with great excitement I approach her graduation.  A couple of the girls at the banquet were in our "Bright Lights" group.  It was so wonderful to see them.

What a great evening and we look forward with great expectation to the adventure ahead. God bless you all and have a great day.

Alicia

Baby Shower

I had the privilege of helping to throw a family baby shower for Alexander and Ivy.  Latisha headed it up and I enjoyed helping where needed.  We got to have a craft day where we made all the decorations with our dear friends help.  It was a great time.  Then the big day finally came.

Alex and Ivy live about 5 1/2 hours away, so we were very blessed that they took time out of their busy schedule to come here and let us throw them a party.  The decorations were adorable, with a woodsy theme.  Then Ivy had asked for pie, so we had a wonderful pie buffet.  

It has been a while since we had seen them, so it was so fun to see how Ivy's tummy has grown into a perfectly round ball and the baby is moving very actively.  It is always a blessing to see my Son and daughter in law.  Such an exciting future ahead for the both of them.  

We also got to celebrate Ivy's birthday.  Happy Birthday Ivy.  I hope you had a wonderful day.  We had a brunch here with french toast and crapes topped with a cream cheese sauce and fruit.  Not to mention some bacon to top it off.  It is so wonderful to have Ivy as a part of our family and I do thank God for putting her and Alex together.  She is an awesome wife and it is with great excitement that we know she will be an amazing mom.  It was a good and fast trip.  But here are some pictures from the weekend.  God bless and have a blessed day.

Come on in

this way to the baby shower

setting up

fun table decorations with prayer card for baby

cool drinks 

hot drinks with hot chocolate, apple cider and coffee

table with coloring pages for the kiddos

the lovely parents to be

pie buffet

up close

David and our grandson, August, praying for our evening

Aidric

Alex and his long time friend Jeremy

The men getting ready for the game

The blind feeding the blind

David didn't appreciate his food.  

Ivy's daddy saying a prayer over the couple and baby

cute poofs Latisha made

Ivy's grandma made this blanket

Birthday brunch complete with china, candles and Christmas music

Happy birthday Ivy

Our two little boys awaiting the arrival of the new buddy to come.

I made the new baby a blanket in the colors of the nursery

Party, Party, Party

With this being birthday season at our house and special birthday's at that, we have been having some fun themed parties.  Danika became a teenager and chose a nautical theme.  Sierra chose a sweet sixteen theme, complete with more sweets than poor little Cassie girl could handle.  Both parties turned out so cute and I enjoy blessing my girls with fun parties.

Parties can be so fun.  I enjoy seeing pictures of kids celebrating their birthday's.  Isabella does not really enjoy being the center of attention so we have never had a kids birthday party for her.  When we have family birthday parties for her she gets very restless.  We try to have her open presents but she will try to escape and prefers to go sit with someone else and watch.  She doesn't verbally communicate so she doesn't really have relationships with other kids except to give hugs.  It can be hard as her parent to see other children her age doing things I wish she could do, like having parties.  I saw some photos of a child Isabella's age having a fun party and playing with friends.  For some strange reason it hit a sore spot in me, not that Isabella wasn't invited, but that she isn't experiencing these life events.  I don't feel upset with the family at all, but I just experienced another moment of "why."  Isabella is totally happy and doesn't seem to have any idea she is missing anything, so why should I experience these feelings.  A friend of mine once explained it to as moments of morning what we wanted for our child... to live a normal life, free of health problems, full of friends and special times.  I think it is ok for me to have moments like these, they are real.  Isabella is not where I wish and pray she would be, but that is ok.  God is in control and I will continue to put her in his hands and trust that He will complete the good work He has begun in Isabella.  We have been having to take her to several doctors appointments lately and she has a lot of testing coming up. I pray God will direct us and the doctors in the areas we need to go.  Maybe some day Isabella will get invited to a party and will have the time of her life, but if not I know she is happy and that is important.

Latisha's friend is getting married soon and the most recent party we got to host was her shower.  Latisha has literally spent months planning this shower and did an amazing job.  The weather outlook was very scary and as the day approached I began to feel a little concern we might have to move the party indoors.  The party was to be at our home and we were expecting around 50 people.  That would be a little snug in our house.  The night before the shower we had a rather large rainfall complete with wind, thunder and lightning.  So we did what we could inside and hoped it would all be fine in the morning.  Well, it was and what a beautiful morning it was.  We had a brunch, so there wasn't a lot of time to get everything ready but we pulled it off beautifully.

So now for some fun pictures.  Have a blessed day.
Alicia

Danika's cute very yummy cake

Danika and Sierra made a boat, there were other cute decorations,
but unfortunately we didn't get them photographed

Isabella giving one of her famous hugs to Latisha

The girls family party, Sierra got tea items and girlie things and
Danika really wanted a bow and arrows and other girlie stuff

Butterfinger cake, one of our favorites

Sierra made her own cake, it turned out so cute

lot's of fun decorations

The sweet table

we tried to have some healthy food with fruit sticks, carrots,
Spaghetti a la Carbonara, and bread stick

The bride to be and her future husband have been on
missions trips so the theme for the bridal shower was
traveling.

such cute decorations and great food from different countries.
We had quiche (France), Danishes (Denmark?), Citrus muffins (tropical),
German Apple pancake, Fruit salad (based off a recipe from the bride to be
Africa mission), scones (England) and an absolutely amazing
 Chocolate/raspberry compote/ganache cake totally USA.  

Such great weather and a beautiful day