Eli's graduation party

Last Sunday, after church, Erika and I hopped into my car and headed south on I-95.

We had planned for weeks to go help Amanda with his party.

This is what I love about where she lives...

The Jupiter Civic Center is right on the beach.

It is a rustic, open-air pavilion just perfect for parties.

Eli was home-schooled for most of his high school, so he was the only one graduating.

We had a lot of decorating to do.

Amanda and Erika installed the curtain, with balloons and banners

as the place where the commencement address would take place.

The windows overlook the ocean.

Ocean breezes were blowing through,

 providing nice, cool air.

They outlined the windows with lights, and we set up chairs for his guests.

This was the "gift" table, complete with a box for envelopes.

This is looking toward the back, where the delicious dinner would be served.

The banner was a little off center,

but, still, it got the message across.

I put round black tablecloths on the tables and placed flowers in the center.

Each table had a picture,

That's me and Eli when he was a baby.

Eli, Jake, and Mark taking in the view from the porch.

Amanda helping Eli with his cap.

Eli in the mangrove forest.

A row of friends.

Eli processed down the aisle we made for him.

It was his moment.

He made the most of it!

Juan Abreu gave the commencement address.

A friend who Eli looks up to and admires.

Eli moved his tassel at the end of the commencement address.

He has officially graduated from High School.

🎓

The cake.

The table was full of friends sharing a meal.

The food was delicious.

It was the best part of the evening for Eli.

Here is the Bibe verse that Juan used to challenge the graduate...

"When I was a child, I used to speak as a child,

think as a child,

reason as a child;

When I became a man,

I did away with childish things."

I Corinthians 13:11

Eli is a young man now.

I have no idea why his sash was glowing.

It was that kind of night!

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