ELIJAH'S GRADUATION

My boy at the ready.
He is always willing to pose for me. He has always been a big ham!
Ready to conquer the world!
All the graduates gathered for pictures.
Notice the man perched on the roof.
The stadium an hour before go time. This year they broadcast the ceremony on the internet for all of the parents deployed to Iraq. What an awesome thing to do for the students and their parents. It was great for us since all of our family is so far away. Elijah did have me, Jim, Janine, Rik and the girls in the beginning. Unfortunately the girls did not last to see him walk across the stage but Jim and I screamed as loud as we could!
It was impossible from where we were sitting to get good pictures but there is my boy going down the front stairs after receiving his diploma. You can make out his name and picture still up on the screen if you look closely.
The new graduates gathering for the cap toss.
And now the toss!

Mom and her gorgeous guy!

I am a truly blessed person to have had the privilege of being mom to the most amazing young men I have ever known. My boys have given me 21 awesome years filled with laughs, love and overwhelming joy! I am so proud of all of them!

Dad and his boy.
Ironically enough Elijah is so much like Jim personality wise that it's scary. He even has Jim's determination in life!

Elijah and Anna
What an awesome young man that I have raised. His white sash is for being a member of the Honor Society and the turquoise cord is for being in the Marine Tech Academy. This semester he also interned at the New River Harley Davidson dealership. He was a honor role student for most of his high school career and I am so proud of how hard he worked to maintain good grades.
It has been a true honor to watch Elijah grow into this amazing young man. I am so proud of him and I know he will do wonderful things in his life!

CONGRATULATIONS ELIJAH!
WE LOVE YOU AND ARE SO VERY PROUD OF YOU!

ELIJAH'S PROM

What a handsome young man. They took pictures at Anna's house so I will post them when and if I get them.
Isn't he beautiful!
I am either the coolest mom or the dumbest mom ever because I let him take my Mustang to dinner, prom and an over night after party.

Jim was certain that I had lost my mind!
He was so excited about driving it so his joy out weighed my reservations. I know it is just a car but it is the only car I have ever wanted from the time I was young so to hand it over to an 18 year old was a big deal.

Well, he was attending an "adult supervised" party meant for just a small number of kids and large numbers of kids started showing up with alcohol and started getting out of hand. Needless to say the police were called. Elijah had decided to leave shortly after the alcohol showed up but was stopped by the inbound officer. He immediately called me so Jim and I headed out to get him. After taking a breathilizer test he was allowed to leave so we met him at the school and brought him and the car home. You always worry about them making good decisions when you are not with them so I am very proud of him. There were only about ten out of more than 70 kids that chose to not drink! I am so glad that my baby was one of the 10!
WAY TO GO ELIJAH!