June 9th - 11th 2006 - Special Moments

June 9th

Jason graduated from high school. He was asked to perform one of his original songs and we wrote a speech that we shared with him in front of everyone!
This was our speech …

In our home we’ve given you much good and also some bad. It’s our own incompleteness as parents that mixes the bag. You have our permission to take the best, and leave the rest behind.

Learn from our mistakes. Don’t repeat them. Go and make new mistakes, so when you fall, you fall forward.

Remember that living a great life is not worrying about being normal. You can’t stand out by trying to fit in.
Nor become dangerous by playing it safe. Risk. Don’t settle. Dare to dream with no regrets. The greatest failure is not trying.

Know yourself, love others, and love God. Dare to let Him make you fully human. Follow your dreams, set goals, make plans, but in the end, fight to remain flexible and fluid. Follow the Wind. Enjoy the journey.

You always have a choice before you to bring light or darkness into the world. Choose light. Fear will come, but hold to courage. Remember that courage is not the absence of fear, but the realization that some things matter more than our fears.

Lastly, know that we have always loved you, will always love you, and in our hearts you will always find “home.�

There was a nice candle lighting ceremony

All the girls were given bouquets and the boys were given a devotional

Because we were graduating our last child we (and several other families) were honored and given “parting gifts”

June 10th

Today we moved Aaron into his first apartment in downtown LA. He is starting FIDM (Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising) next month.

A view from his new place (FIDM is white the building with the curves)

We even painted!

June 10th - Evening

Jason performed in a Battle of the Bands at the Ventura Theater. So we raced from LA to Ventura to hear him!

Sunday, June 11th

The big day finally arrived. My Johnny married the beautiful and sweet Valerie!

The wedding party

My Johnny

My mom and dad

Mikey and Kristina (my next future sister!)

Noah (Val’s brother) and Jessy

Luke (Val’s brother) and me

Val’s nephews - Caleb and Jacob

Val and her daddy

Kristina, Jessy, me, and Val’s sister & matron of honor, Eva

Peter and Jason performing during communion

Mr. and Mrs. John and Valerie D’Attile

Staci and Robert (Kristina’s son and my soon to be nephew!!!)

My son, Aaron and his lovely Chelsea

Tim and Greg being their wonderful selves!

Um … excuse me! Only trashy girls do that! (ok .. bad joke j/k)

Jason giving the toast

our dear friends

Another toast

Look at the way he looks at her … God, I love it!!!

Jason and his new cousins

Jason sang Val her favorite song, Beautiful Warrior, and then we wished them off!

OK so that was a weekend of once in a life time moments!
Thanks for sharing in the memories with me!!