Next Stop..........The Pros

Last night we had one more graduation. This time it was Garrett's graduation from high school.

Computer problems keep us from putting any video on here but we are able to show some pics.

It was hot again yesterday. About 90 degrees. Thankfully it was a little cooler in the place where we had the graduation.

Giovanni is our hot natured kid. He is always hot. Yesterday he was hot and tired and he crashed during the graduation. First he crashed on my girlfriend and then we switched and he crashed on me.

His head was soaking wet with sweat. It looked like someone had poured water on my shirt where his head was.

So while he slept we used the sweat as gel and spiked his hair.

The hot day kind of zapped Anderson's strength as well.

The graduation was good and fun except for the goofball that sat next to us who kept blowing his air horn right in Gi's ear while he slept.

Garrett has a really great class and lots of good friends. We like all of his friends. It was a fun night.

Some post graduation photos:

This is Elias. He's been one of Garrett's best friends for the last 4 years. They make me laugh any time they are together. He may get to spend a couple of weeks with us when we are in the states. That sure won't be boring.

Garrett has never owned a suit in his life. He found out he had to wear one for graduation so a couple of months ago my girlfriend took him suit shopping. They found one and had it tailored. He didn't decide to wear a tie until 2 hours before the ceremony. He said he owned one tie but it was ugly. I told him I had some old ones that he could look at. I haven't bought a tie in 20 years and have used one once, that I can remember, in the last 10 years. We aren't big dress up guys. He looked over my choices and wasn't too impressed with any except the one he is wearing. It says Jordan 23. That's right, it's a Michael Jordan tie. After the ceremony he told me everyone was talking about how cool his tie was. Who knew a 20 year old Michael Jordan tie would be so popular at a Brasilian high school graduation in 2013?
Garrett with his soccer coach. Playing for this guy this year Garrett won the city high school championship as well as the FC Bayern Youth Cup in our city. He got selected to go to São Paulo and play in April and his team was one minute away from getting to go to Germany in June. I think it's safe to say he's a good coach. 

Garrett's graduating class was made up of four different classes of about 30 students each. Each class was called to the stage and there they were presented with their diplomas. After Garrett's class had come off the stage and returned to their seats they called Garrett back on stage to present him with this:

It's a Brasilian World Cup soccer doll. His friend, Ivan, told the audience that one of their classmates was getting ready to move to the United States and they wanted to do something special for him. They called Garrett back up to the stage and gave him the soccer doll along with a big piece of paper signed by all his friends with messages about how much they will miss Garrett. . When Garrett got to the stage he told Ivan, "Why are you doing this? You know I'm coming back in March." and Ivan told him that they loved him and wanted to do something for him in case he moves to the states to go to college some day. Somehow, since we bought our plane tickets, some people have understood that Garrett is moving to the states today to live. We've had parents coming up to us over the last couple of months with tears in their eyes talking about how much they are going to miss Garrett and are sad that he is leaving. We repeatedly tell them our trip is a visit and NOT a move and yet people still think he's leaving for good. He got home this morning from his post graduation party and told us that people were crying at the party because he is moving back to the states. His friend Bruno, who seems to be the only one who understands what is going on, finally said, "Guys, he's coming back in March. He's not moving." Even though his visit to the states has taken on this life of it's own  I love the fact that his friends did this for him. It showed me the love they have for our son and the example he is to them.

Today we get on a plane for our almost 3 month visit to the states. When we get home in March we begin testing at different pro teams to pursue Garrett's dream of being a professional soccer player.

The soccer world needs a soccer player who shines the light of Jesus. Garrett would definitely do that.

We leave the future to Jesus. For now, we celebrate with Garrett on his victory over high school. It was hard fought and Jesus gave Garrett the victory.

And we are so proud of him.