Graduation Part 1: Celebration

This past weekend Mike, Martini, and I travelled back to Searcy to celebrate BJ's High School Graduation. This blog entry is the first of three Graduation entries. Yes, you heard me correctly, BJ's "Graduation Celebrations" were so numerous that I am going to have to break them up into 3 different blog entries:)

The first "Graduation Celebration" took place Thursday night. It was the Senior Assembly at Searcy High School. The purpose of this assembly is to honor the seniors and all the hard work they did throughout the year. The majority of the assembly is scholarship announcements. The students who are awarded the scholarships have not been informed so it is a complete surprise to the student and their family when their name is called.

Our little BJ did not disappoint. She got not 1, but 2 scholarships! BJ received an Academic Scholarship from Harding University and she also received the Rotary Club-Barron Gray Memorial Scholarship. Congratulations!

BJ receiving the Barron Gray Memorial Scholarship

Friday night brought the next "Graduation Celebration." Mom and Dad threw BJ a cook out and invited all of her friends. Dad grilled hamburgers and hot dogs, Mom made a bunch of food and a family friend (Pam R.) made the cakes for both the cook out and the open house on Saturday. The kids had a lot of fun. They ate, played Guitar Hero, and watched movies. While the teenagers entertained themselves inside, my parents, brother, and I played "washers" in the back yard. Dad and Mom were on one team and Kyle and I made up the other team. Who knew my mom could throw a washer:) Needless to say, Kyle and I were got our butts kicked. For all of you who are wondering what "washers" is, it is a game that has the same premise as horseshoes, and for you southerners is the equivalent to "corn hole".

Also, I am excited to announce that while we were home my dad made Mike and I a set of "washers" so now any of you Nashvillians can come over to the casa de Organ and play until your hearts content. Thanks Dad!

Dad Grilling

Some of BJ's Friends

I had to add this picture. This came about because one of BJ's friends thought it was a little over the top to have pictures of BJ all over the house. So as a joke she put a picture of BJ in her cake and started bowing down and paying homage to BJ. It was really funny because everyone in the immediate family had been giving BJ a hard time about seeing her face every where in the house, and now here friends were following suit. We love you BJ:)

The next "Graduation Celebration" took place Saturday afternoon. This gave family and friends the opportunity to stop by and celebrate with BJ this great accomplishment. The Open House was really nice. Mom went out of her way decorating the house and getting all the food together. In addition to the food that mom provided, family friends, Mike & Vicki, made their famous crawfish etouffee, which was absolutely phenomenal. It was great seeing the dozens of family friends that stopped by to congratulate BJ. Unfortunately, I was too busy talking to everyone and didn't take any pictures of the people that stopped by to visit, so here is a picture of part of the house all decorated.