Weekend of Celebrations! (Sarah graduates and Kamryn turns 9!)

It was party central here at the cottage this weekend!

First up Kamryn's 9th birthday party was held here.  We have room for the kids to play outside and run around.  Nate and Kayleigh had waterballoons, and a slip and slide for the kids, and also a pinata.

Lindsay made the cutest party favors ever!  Fun Noodle ponies!

Sunday morning we had church outside!  This was on the church property.  It was perfect weather.  I really liked it!

We had a picnic lunch after the service, and then came home to prepare to celebrate Sarah's graduation from high school!

She wanted a casual party with swing dancing.  First though, Tim said a few words and presented her with her diploma!

Then it was time for dancing!  Sarah taught Kyle some basic steps and he danced with her at her party!  Oh my heart!  She was happy and so was I!

Some had never danced before but they picked it up quickly!

We kept it casual and simple as per Sarah's request so we did a few party pizzas and cake.  

We enjoyed visiting with friends and watching the young people dance.  After it got dark, they moved inside, and we sat out with the garden lights shining, continuing to talk with our friends.  It was a lovely end to a busy weekend!

Sarah and I both went to bed exhausted but happy!

Next up, Rachel returns to her school for summer camp ministry.  We'll see her again in July for a few weeks, then back to camp for two weeks. Then she graduates!  We are excited for her and excited to have her back home for a while!

Oh, and our daughter in law is due this week with baby #3!  Can't wait, and Kayleigh is more than ready!  Come on Baby!

Home Again, With Full Hearts

It was a quick trip down to South Carolina, and back, but it was so worth it.

On Friday, I delivered the wedding flowers at 6:30am, heard from the bride that she loved them, and headed out on our trip.  We arrived at EI in time to change for the graduation banquet.  

During the speaking at the banquet Emma put Isla in the Ergo and had been standing in the back trying to get her to sleep - she was so tired.  But she is a people person and she liked everything that was going on.

Graduation was the next morning.  All the graduates spoke and gave a testimony to what God had done in their lives through the two years of study.  Vinnie is a great speaker and they put him last. I turned to Tim and said, "That'll preach."  We are so proud of these this family.  They'll be working this summer to save money for the next course, which is a year long.  When he completes this, that with his gen ed courses from college will give him his Bachelor's Degree.  They aren't sure of the direction they'll be headed after that, but they likely will be in ministry somewhere.

We loved being with Vinnie's family this weekend, too!  We are so delighted to know them.  We are thankful for their love of Emma, and happy that Isla has such wonderful grandparents and aunties!  We love Vinnie, too, and it is such a blessing to see how happy they are.

After graduation all the family headed back to their apartment on campus and loaded up all their stuff. They'll be in a different apartment next year, so they had to totally clean out their current one.  Some went into storage on campus and the rest was loaded into their car and Vinnie's dad's car.  Emma discovered Space Bags and they worked wonderfully for all their clothes!

When they apartment was empty and the vacuuming had been done, we went out to eat - the whole clan!  We really enjoyed the food and fellowship!

Vinnie's family headed back to Nashville after lunch (which was actually eaten at 3:00pm), and we did a few last minute chores they needed to do, then met up on the Furman University campus.  It is right near EI and the whole community uses it.  In fact, it must have been prom day for local high schools, because there were hundreds of students and their families and photographers getting photos by the lake, the fountains, the rose garden.

We enjoyed a walk down to a picnic spot and the kids and Tim played with the volleyball, and I played with Isla!

 The bell tower is beautiful and chimes every quarter hour.  With the hillside behind it, we thought it looked like it belonged in Italy.

There were many people enjoying the campus and the beautiful lake Saturday afternoon.

Isla liked the ducks and black swans.

She also came to enjoy everyone.  She doesn't see us in person often so we FaceTime but being with her was sweet!

On the way back to the vehicles, I wanted to check out the rose garden, so Tim and Kyle came with me.

They have so many varieties!  So much beauty.

We all stayed at the same hotel Saturday night, hung out, ate some pizza, and laughed together.  Sunday morning we had breakfast at the hotel and we were on our way.  Emma and Vinnie met up with his dad who was hiking in a nearby state park.


I'll get to see them again in July in California, when we meet up with them at my nephew's wedding.

We finished our required school days last week, and are just finishing up some science, but we are officially on summer break now.  When we get back from the wedding in early August, it'll be time to start school again!  The summer is just getting started though, and the weather this week is heating up!  Going to enjoy every minute of it!

Wedding Flowers

I'm popping in today to give you a sneak peek at the flowers I am using to make a bridal bouquet, bridesmaids' bouquets, and boutonnieres.

Aren't they gorgeous?

We deliver them early tomorrow morning then we are off for the weekend for Vinnie's graduation.

Its never easy for all five of us to get away, because of the horses and chickens, but we have great housesitters coming to stay the weekend and do animal care!

I'll try to get a lot of photos of our weekend, but my photos will likely be mostly of Isla!  Just kidding!  😉

Cleaning Up After The Weekend

Tim and I were away from Thursday night until Saturday night. The kids came home Friday night with Lindsay and Joseph and then there was a big Airsoft event here on Saturday.  This house gets used which is how we like it.

After church yesterday, we went to our friends home, where we helped host a grad party for Rachel and our friend Quinn.  It was fun!  Tim and I arrived home from that after 8:00pm and the kids almost two hours later.

This is how the house looks this morning, though I admit to moving the blanket and pillow before I decided to take the photos.

The kids are sleeping in a bit and when they get up this will all be tidy in no time.

I don't mind these kinds of messes.  They are a sign of life being lived, fun being had, and events being celebrated!


Joining Bernideen for BTTCG and Sandi for No Place Like Home

Graduation 2016

Just a quick few photos from last night, all taken by phones, the first two were with mine and the rest with my mom's.

She was excited and nervous!  The graduates all prepared something to say to their parents during the ceremony, and this is not her comfort zone.  She did great though!

Before the ceremony

The graduates file in to Pomp and Circumstance with their parents.  Tim is just a step out of the frame on Rachel's right side.

We had a few graduates perform music, a graduation speaker and then the awarding of diploma's to our students.  There were 26 graduates that participated.  After we gave her the diploma, she gave me a rose and then shared a few words of thanks with us.

 The graduating class presented...

After this they tossed their caps and filed out!

A friend took photos with his camera, and will be sharing some with me.

Our friend Quinn graduated with Rachel and that is so special.  I hope that someone got photos of Quinn and Rachel together!

We were so blessed to have all our family, and many friends, including friends from church come to share this night with the girls.  Its at least an hour's drive without rush hour traffic to get there.  We are so thankful to be part of this fellowship.

This morning Tim and I are headed back to the convention.  I was a volunteer all day yesterday, and today I'll do my listening and shopping!

The kids are all at home.  Air soft is on tap for today for them.  Tomorrow afternoon we're having a joint grad party for Quinn and Rachel.

Today's The Big Day!

We are at our state Homeschool convention today and tomorrow and tonight Rachel and her friend Quinn will graduate!  It's very exciting!

I'll be at the CHAP booth for part of the day on Friday doing mentoring, so if you are attending this convention stop by and say hello!

Senior Photos

Rachel is graduating this year during our state convention in May, that is put on by Christian Homeschool Association of Pennsylvania.  Her friend Quinn will be graduating with her.  They are very excited.

We needed to get some senior photos done and so Lindsay took some on Sunday.

This is the one she chose for the CHAP magazine and the program.

She's a lovely girl who works hard, loves the Lord and her family, is a loyal friend.  We are so proud of her. 

Graduation

 Our county has the largest number of homeschoolers in the state.  We have an organization that provides insurance for support groups, as well as quarterly breakfasts for support group leaders, a monthly newsletter, and they organize a graduation every year.  Nate and Lindsay both opted not to participate in this graduation.  If you click on their names, you can read about their choices for how they wanted to celebrate finishing high school.

Emily wanted the big graduation and a chance to participate with several of her friends - our co-op had quite a few graduates this year; Emily, Chelsea, Emily, Bethany, Vanessa, Emily, Josh, and  Amber! There were a total of 90 graduates who participated in the graduation this year!

 Here Tim and I are meeting Emily on the stage.  The couple at the podium read a brief statement about Emily, her plans etc, and after she hands me a rose, we hand her a diploma, and hug.  During our hug she said "I love you Mom.  Thank you for everything!"  She is a happy girl.

 Here are the caps flying after the announcement that they are the Graduates of 2011!  The black caps against a black ceiling may be hard to see, but if you click the photo it should enlarge.


After the ceremony they have a reception time where your guests can congratulate your graduate.

 Here is Jenny from our church.  She is an amazing woman from China.  Our church is so wonderful - so many came out to celebrate with Emily and Chelsea! 

 Lindsay and Emily...Emily smiled the whole evening!

 Here are more of the family - the younger kids were so excited for Emily - so sweet to see.

 This gentleman is a friend and co-worker of Tim's.  They used to go to breakfast a lot and sometimes Emily got to go along.  He always would tease her and she has very fond memories of him.  She sent him a graduation announcement/invitation and he came!  She was so excited.  He honored her in a huge way by coming to her graduation.

 Afterward, we went to Applebee's with the Hospitality Lane gang, my parents, the Finefrocks and Denny from our church, for a bit of sustenance.  We have to be at the church, where graduation is held, so early that we didn't have time for dinner.  Tim and I shared a half-price appetizer and a dessert.

I guess she like the whole evening...she gave it a thumbs up!

Congratulations on finishing this stage of your life well.  We are so excited to see what the Lord has for you!