Wednesday, May 26, 2010

"Wordless" Wednesday: Soaring


A Look At 100 Boys That Join Scouting

12 will receive their first time religious contact
5 will earn their religious emblem
2 will enter the clergy
18 will develop hobbies which will last a lifetime
8 will enter a career based on Merit Badges work
17 will become Scout volunteers
1 will use Scouting skills to save the life of another person
1 will use Scouting skills to save his own life
28 will continue lifelong hobbies started in Scouting

2 will attain the rank of Eagle


I'm going to move on from this; I really am. I know my posts in these past few weeks have been soaked in Eagle. But I'm just so darned proud of my son, and I'm so happy that at last, it's over! Graduation, which is coming up in 10 days, seems like a piece of cake compared to the Eagle Scout ceremony. My biggest regret is that Randy's family couldn't come see this. In retrospect, we wish we had encouraged them to come to his Eagle Scout instead of graduation.

But everything else about the day was perfect. Almost everyone that we invited came to the ceremony—thus we had some people even standing in the back, because who knew 100 people would be there? Even our college friends who live 2 hours away came for the event, which really, really touched us. My father, who got his Eagle in 1941, gave Jesse the Eagle charge. I didn't break down weeping, although I did have to get mad at the camcorder a couple of times to ward off the tears.

I loved hearing the positive things that the speakers—his two Scoutmasters and the overseer of his Eagle project—had to say about my son. I know that he is polite, respectful, and honorable, but it's nice to hear other people say it. One of the best things I did prior to the ceremony was make a photo book (on Shutterfly.com) documenting Jesse's Scouting journey from Tiger Cubs all the way up to Life Scout, including several pages of his trek to Philmont Scout Ranch. We had the book on the table and asked people to sign it as a guest book of sorts. That is such a treasure to us, and I imagine will be to Jesse in a decade. ;-)

And now, moving on to graduation…

10 comments:

  1. it's okay to go on and on about things that are meaningful to you! we all need to do that sometimes to sort out emotions and process thoughts. and what better place to do that than your blog? after all, it is, in fact, YOUR blog.

    and i'm thinking this is not JUST about eagle scout, although that is a huge and wonderful accomplishment. the fact that you know he's graduating is no doubt coming into play as well. this is is about your firstborn growing up and moving to a new phase in life, which means a new phase in your life as well. it is a very significant and emotional time in a mom's life. i know; i have been there twice (not the eagle scout part, but the graduating and moving on part).

    so you go on and blog about those things as much as you want. :-) (not that you need my permission to do that anyway.)

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  2. oh, and i laughed at your line, "i imagine it will be to jesse in a decade." my son could hardly have cared less about his graduation scrapbook; i knew i was doing it for ME, and perhaps for his future wife :-). my daughter, on the other hand, looked forward to hers for 4 years and actively participated in gathering pictures and making suggestions for hers. now i am thinking i will have to fight her over which of us gets to keep it. :-)

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  3. GREAT accomplishment!!! Something to really brag about!!

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  4. Congratulations to the whole family. That must have been a very special moment for your father.

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  5. Congratulations! That is a big accomplishment for the whole family! Brag all you want! :-)

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  6. What a great accomplishment! Congrats!
    Blessings
    Diane

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  7. I bet you're so proud!! Wonderful pics! :)

    http://meandmineinasmalltown.blogspot.com/

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  8. That is truly a great accomplishment. Congratulations! Sounded like a beautiful ceremony. You have every right to brag!

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  9. Oh, my goodness! That's fantastic. His hard work has paid off (although I suspect you put some hard work into this too, mama!).

    Congrats to both of you!

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  10. very impressive statistics. I have 2 Eagle Scout brothers but did not know those facts. :)

    And Congratulations!

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