How Far We've Come - How Far She'll Go

Oh my, where to begin?

Maybe with memories of that very first visit ... when Cearra decided Mary Baldwin College was the place for her (and Bob and I sighed with relief).

How far we've come (part 1)

Onward through four years of Cearra learning who she was; spreading her wings; growing in confidence; gaining not only book knowledge but life smarts. Four years of making friends; Apple Days; continuing her cheerleading; volunteering and helping others. Four years of new experiences, new ideas, new places (New York, Hilton Head and New Zealand), and new honors.

Happy with her choice!

NZ encounter

Seniors - Apple Day

Cheer captain and coach

And then this past weekend, the compilation of these years - Cearra's graduation. On Friday we arrived in the valley of Staunton for dinner at the Mill Street Grille with Nanny, Dennis, C, and us. Time to give Cearra a special graduation present from Bob and I (diamond earrings than sparkle almost as much as her smile), and for Owen to give Cearra the gift he had picked - a graduation cap bead for her bracelet.

Owen was excited to give C her present ...

and to eat squid and mussels for the first time!

A BBQ on the lawn of the President's House on Saturday afternoon. C's mother and brother coming from Virginia Beach; her sister Kristine, Cliff and sweet little Virginia driving in from Tennessee; and her grandfather arriving from Maryland. Enjoying the music and company as the sun set over the rolling hills of campus.

Nanny - my "partner in wine". We very much enjoyed the BBQ!

Owen's school spirit

So glad Dennis could be there the whole weekend

Aunt Cearra and Uncle Marcus with Virginia

Cearra's mom's family

And then it's Sunday, and Cearra appears in her cap and gown, adorned with the lapel pins and tassels which signify her academic achievements. Uncle Todd arrives and we all take our places on the hill, as Mary Baldwin tradition has dictated for 170 years.

Our eyes well with tears as the first notes of Pomp and Circumstance fill the air and the candidates for graduation walk down the stairs and take their seats. Dr. Abigail Disney, niece of the great man, speaks (a tad too long) about being a princess in the "right way" as we fan our necks and wait for the big moment. Finally, it's here.

"Cearra Marie Mechem" ... and there she is, walking towards the university president with a huge, confident smile. We cheer and holler and wave, and the tears are spilling over and my heart is about to burst. I grab Bob's hand - we are so very proud of her! She has earned this degree, Bachelor of Arts in Sustainable Business with minors in Education, Marketing and Sociology.

MBC Class of 2012 - Go Boldly!

There's Cee-Cee! Right between the lamp posts!

The new college grad!

Uncle Todd brought Aunt Maria and Hannah's love as well

C gets a lot of of her brains and beauty from Nanny!

Proud parents (and another one taking the pic!)

Everyone wants a pic with the graduate!

How far we've come (part 2)!

I honestly didn't think I'd be so emotional at Cearra's graduation. But tears - happy tears - threatened all weekend. And I realized it's because I'm not just proud of her for receiving her diploma and for doing so in a distinguished manner - although of course that's big.

I'm even more proud of her for doing something that scared her; something she wasn't at all sure was for her. For sticking with it when it got hard or lonely or not-so-much fun. I'm proud of the lofty goals she set for herself - and the way she went about reaching them. I'm proud of the person she has become - the personal choices she has made in the past few years, the knowledge she has gained of herself and her heart. I'm proud of her for how she treats her little brother and the role model she has become for him. I'm proud of the daughter she is. I'm proud that although she doesn't yet know quite what she will be doing starting tomorrow morning, she is facing the future with grace and the belief that it will be good.

And for ALL those reasons, I know she has a bright, bright future.