Graduation Partay! 2010

The event we spent most of Leslie's senior year planning finally came and went without a hitch. Weather was great, decorations all came together, the amount of food and beverages was spot on and the smile on her face made all the time and effort worth it.

Thank you to all our friends and family for your support. It warmed our hearts to see so many great people supporting us and our daughter. A big Thank You to Linda Seitter and her family for helping us set up for the party,  and to Linda for all her advice. It was priceless having a friend who already did this once and who was willing to share all her wisdom. Not to mention the reservation for the shelter, this seriously would not have been such a success with out you Linda. I am eternally grateful for you and our friendship.

Also, another big Thank You to Chris and Diane who spent an entire day baking and cutting brownies and rice crispy treats for our chocolate fountain. (the main attraction). Your treats were a huge hit and I personally thank you from the bottom of my heart. I would probably be in an institution right now if I had to bake all the brownies and crispy treats on top of everything else that needed to be done. We love you both.

The Decorations...

Center Piece

The Shrine of Leslie...

The Chocolate Fountain


Approval at its best. :)

Yummies to dip into the chocolate fountain....

The Love....


Neighbors Judy and Larry


Friends and Neighbors Joy and Mike


Leslie's friend Matt

Friends the Cottermans

Leslie's friend David


Nick

Leslie's favorite teacher Mr. Erwin

Les and Jill


Leslie and Tom


Les and I with all the Great Grandmas

Les and Great Grandma Jergens

Les and Great Grandma Hoff

Les with Great Grandma Gretchen

Friends Pat and Melanie

Friends the Smith's


Les with Jack and Jill (nope... didn't go up a hill)


Les with Mom and Dad

Friends The Yount's

Friends the Seitter's

Friends the Mathews

Les with Peepaw

Family Aunt Robin and Cousin Danielle from KY


Friends the Eyre's

Friends and Neighbors Janice and Pat

Friends and Neighbors Keith and Elizabeth

Friends The Gill's


Friends the Rohr's

Friends the Wolfe's

Grandma and Grandpa Jergens






Family Uncle Jamie, Aunt Amy and  Cousin Maya

 

Friends Deborah and Owen Mace

 

 

Friends the Tomasoski's

 

Family Cousin Glenda and Family

 

Chocolate faces.... 

 

 

Friends....

 

Nick loved the balloons.....

As the day came to a close it was some what emotional as we took down decorations, put away food and loaded up the vehicles with all our stuff.  The day we had been planning, for what seemed like all year long, was over.  We have been planning a long time for many events that have and will take place this year.  This party was very superficial in comparison.  

I knew I would become emotional with Leslie graduating this year but I didn't know when it would hit me.  It hit me while driving home from the party (how convenient especially since I was the only one in the car and I was driving).  I was out of planning mode and reality had a chance to sink in.  The day we have been planning for the past 18 years is here.  Our beautiful daughter is a high school graduate and she will soon become a fledgling leaving her nest to pave the road to the rest of her life. I am excited to have a front row seat on this journey and pray God continues to guide, protect and speak to her as she continues her walk away from home.

As I look back at these photos of Leslie's party I can't help but think of the saying "It takes a village to raise a child".  How very true.  Each and every person in these pictures had a role in getting Leslie where she is today.  Some have been direct, some have been indirect, but all needed just the same.

We are blessed to have family and friends and couldn't be more thankful for all of them. 

Many loved one's from out of state supported Leslie too but could not make it to the party.  They are not present in pictures but were present in her heart.