Commencing to Commence

Well, it has been over a week since I promised to write about the latest two graduates in the Mason family, and I have several very valid excuses for the delay! First, I have been having sort of a hormonal writers' block and couldn't really think of how to put my feelings down without sounding completely sappy and overly-emotional. Second, I have been somewhat busy with other tasks. And lastly, I was waiting on our family photographer (Dana!) to send me pictures to use with my "commencement address". After it became apparent that she was moving with the speed of a 3-legged tortoise, I took matters into my own hands and drove down to Spring Hill to force her to give me the copies at gunpoint. Well, that last part is a bit of an exaggeration, but I did drive down there and get my pictures downloaded at long last! Love you bunches, ReRe, and thanks for being our paparazzo!

First, let me talk about Matt and his graduation from the Tennessee Fire and Codes Academy. For those not in the fire-loop, this is where prospective firemen go to train for 10 weeks so that they can then be a part of a local firehouse as a rookie firefighter.


It has been Matt's dream for a long time to be a firefighter, so it was with great pride that he marched in with the 22 other recruits and received his pin showing that he is now indeed a rookie fireman. For the past couple of years, Matt has been a part of the volunteer county rescue squad, so he has already undergone quite a bit of rescue and first responder training. His time at the TFCA actually was somewhat repetitive for him, yet he has made some lasting friendships and I am certain he learned a few more things that will come in handy over his career. He is so fully immersed in his new life, and it makes us so proud to see his excitement about his job. Matt has held down many jobs in his 26 years, so we are thrilled to know that he has chosen such a noble profession for his career. Of course, being his mother I will worry that he is in harm's way, but my pride that he will be helping so many people will outweigh the worry. His family will have to sacrifice having him home on certain nights, but Lexie and the girls are so happy that he is happy it makes up for his absence - which is why we love Lexie so much!


Matt, we are ALL so proud of your accomplishments and we love you for the wonderful man that you have become - be careful out there, and know that we are always praying that God will keep you safe!


Our final graduate of the week was Cameron, from high school. All of the family were in attendance, even my sister Susie and her husband John and my niece, Ashlyn who drove up from Orlando. It was a very proud day for us, as it was for Cameron. Yet, it is also a little bittersweet because now we have only one short month before he will leave us to go to the Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD. For those of you who didn't do very well in geography in school, MD is quite some distance from the great state of TN! So this mother's heart is a bit heavy, even though I am so proud of Cameron and the person that he is and the blessing of his being accepted at the academy. This is his dream, and he has prayed long and hard about it. And I have to confess here in writing that I have had many reservations about him going, even though the education at Navy is first-rate and he will have a great future ahead of him. But as he said to me "people have served and died so that I can be free, so why wouldn't I do the same for others?" Now just who can argue with a thoughtful and mature young man who so earnestly wants to serve his country and his fellow man? So off he will go to Navy, and we will ALL be here praying over him and cheering him on when football starts this fall. GO NAVY - BEAT ARMY!!



The proud grandparents! Can't you just see the mischief oozing out of my dad?? Cameron thinks that Gdaddy is one funny fellow, and he most certainly is!

Isn't this cute? This picture is of Cameron and his friend Mason, who were both in the same kindergarden class at Lipscomb Elementary. And that lovely lady in the middle is their kindergarden teacher, Mrs. Gilliland! How cool was it that she was at their graduation and that we happened to see her nearby in the swarms of people??

The word commencement means "a beginning, a new start". The word can be used sort of interchangeably with graduation - they both mean that one thing is ending and a new thing is beginning. We went from Isabelle's preschool graduation to Matt's fire academy graduation to Cameron's high school graduation in the course of a week. And I cried a bit at each ceremony, because that is what we hormonal women do at these events. Because commencements mean a new beginning, which can be a little scary. Sometimes it is more comfy to stay right where we are, where things are familiar and safe and we know what to expect. But thankfully God knows best, and He knows that we need to keep growing and changing and learning and stretching our wings - so we have to commence to do something new and different at each stage of life. And with each commencement, we evolve a little more into the people He meant us to be. We meet new people who impact our lives, and hopefully we impact theirs in a positive way. So to each of our graduates - Isabelle, Matt, and Cameron - here's to the next chapter in each of your stories. May you commence to do awesome things!!

Much love, Mom (and Mimi)