*WOW, HOW TIME CAN GET A WAY FROM YOU. AS THE SAYING GOES, "IF YOU WANT TO MAKE GOD LAUGH...TELL HIM YOUR PLANS." LOL! I AM EXTREMELY LATE WITH PUBLISHING OUR HOLIDAY NEWS LETTER, BUT BETTER LATE THAN NEVER RIGHT? LOL! MOVING BACK TO THE STATES HAS DEFINITELY BEEN A HUGE CHANGE IN OUR LIFESTYLE. I THINK WE ACTUALLY FORGOT HOW FAST PACED WE AMERICANS CAN BE AND WE SOMETIMES MISS AND CAN STILL APPRECIATE THE RELAXED PACE WE HAD IN EUROPE. WE HAVE BEEN BUSY, BUSY, BUSY BEGINNING A NEW LIFE POST-BASKETBALL. HOWEVER, PLEASE READ A LITTLE OF WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON IN OUR WORLD BELOW.....
WE PRAY YOUR NEW YEAR HAS STARTED OFF AS A BLESSED ONE AND YOU FOUND GOD'S SWEET LOVE AT THE HEART OF YOUR CHRISTMAS...
THE YEAR 2011 WAS FILLED WITH MANY NEW BEGINNINGS FOR THE MASON FAMILY.
AJ, NOW 15, DECIDED TO BE BAPTIZED IN OCTOBER OF 2011. WE FEEL SO BLESSED THAT HE UNDERSTANDS CHRISTIANITY AND PRAY HE STAYS COMMITTED TO OUR SAVIOUR. AJ LANDED ONE OF THE LEADING ROLES IN HIS HIGH SCHOOL PLAY CHARLOTTE'S WEB. YES.... HE WAS CUTE LITTLE WILBUR. WE WERE SO PROUD OF HIS PERFORMANCE AND DEDICATION TO THE MANY DRAMA REHEARSALS. ACTING IS A NEW HAT HE WEARS, AND AS A TOP SOPHMORE SCHOLAR HE ALSO CONTINUES TO PURSUE HIS ATHLETICS AND MUSIC AS WELL. DURING THE SUMMER HE JOINED THE AAU LEAGUE AND PLAYED IN MANY SUMMER CAMPS. HE'S QUICK ON THE COURT AND HANDLES THE BALL WELL. AJ HAS WRITTEN MANY SONGS AND PERFORMED A CHRISTMAS DUET W/A FRIEND . THEY SANG "BABY IT'S COLD OUTSIDE." IN THE SPRING OF 2012 HE WILL TRAVEL TO L.A. TO MEET A WELL KNOWN MUSIC PRODUCER AND TALENT AGENCY.
ALSTON WILL BE 10 ON FEBRUARY 15TH OF 2012. AS A FOURTH GRADER HE CONTINUES TO EXCELL IN HIS 2 FAVORITE SUBJECTS....MATH AND P.E. IN THE SUMMER OF 2011 ALSTON ALSO JOINED THE AAU LEAGUE. HE'S A SMALL PLAYER THAT ALWAYS SURPRISES THE CROWD WITH HIS "BIG MAN" BASKETBALL SKILLS. ALSTON PRACTICES BASKETBALL WHENEVER HE CAN. HE TRULY LOVES THE SPORT AND IS DEDICATED TO THE GAME. HE ALSO PARTICIPATED IN MANY SUMMER BASKETBALL CAMPS AND WON SEVERAL AWARDS. AT SCHOOL ALSTON PARTICIPATES IN JOGGING CLUB AND ALSO CHESS CLUB. HE'S TYPICALLY OUR LAID BACK CHILD, BUT HAS BECOME QUITE SOCIAL AS A 4TH GRADER AND ENJOYS HAVING FRIENDS OVER FOR GAMING PARTIES AND SPORTS.
ANIA TURNED 8 IN OCTOBER OF 2011. WE'RE HAPPY TO REPORT THAT SHE HAS BEEN SEIZURE FREE FOR ALMOST ONE YEAR NOW. IN FEBRUARY HER NEUROLOGIST PLANS ON STOPPING HER MEDS WITH HOPES THAT SHE HAS OUTGROWN EPILEPSY. HER SKIN DISEASE STILL EXISTS BUT THE APPEARANCE IS MINIMAL. WE CONTINUE TO USE TEA TREE OIL ALONG W/HER TOPICAL STERIOD CREAM. SHE IS A HAPPY AND HEALTHY GIRL SCOUT WHO LOVES ARTS AND CRAFTS. ART IS HER FAVORITE SUBJECT IN SCHOOL, BUT SHE'S ALSO A GREAT SPELLER. ANIA'S NEW LOVE IS "CHAPTER BOOKS." SHE'S VERY PROUD OF HERSELF FOR READING BOOKS THAT ARE LENGTHY. ANIA CONTINUES TO PRACTICE MODELING, FLOWER ARRANGING AND PLANS ON LEARNING TO RIDE HORSES THIS YEAR.
ANIAH WILL BE 5 IN MARCH OF 2012. IN THE FALL OF 2011 SHE BEGAN PRE-SCHOOL. SHE CAN WRITE HER WHOLE NAME AND CAN RECOGNIZE, READ AND SPELL SOME SMALL WORDS. SHE IS A LEADER IN HER CLASSROOM AND IS ALWAYS THE FIRST TO VOLUNTEER. SHE IS A GIVING AND FRIENDLY CHILD WITH A CONSTANT SMILE ON HER FACE. ANIAH IS A VERY HAPPY LITTLE BALLERINA WHO SAYS SHE WANTS TO BE A CHEERLEADER. ANIAH HAS BLOSSOMED INTO QUITE THE CHATTER BOX, (PERHAPS THAT'S FROM HANGING OUT W/HER BIG SISSY ALL THE TIME). ANIAH IS STILL THE ULTIMATE "DADDY'S PRINCESS' WHO LOVES TO SING AND DANCE.
MR. MASON RETIRED IN 2011. THE DECISION SEEMED TO COME EASY FOR HIM, AS HIS DESIRE WAS TO SETTLE THE FAMILY, ASSIST HIS BOYS W/THEIR BASKETBALL ENDEAVORS, AND PURSUE HIS COACHING CAREER. IN THE SUMMER OF 2011 HE STARTED HIS OWN BUSINESS AS A PERSONAL YOUTH WORK-OUT COACH. HE ALSO COACHED THE YOUTH SUMMER CAMPS FOR THE PHOENIX SUNS AND ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY. HE IS CURRENTLY FINISHING UP HIS INTERNSHIP IN ORDER TO OBTAIN HIS DEGREE BY VOLUNTEERING IN GROUP HOMES. ALTHOUGH HE SOMETIMES MISSES PLAYING, HE WILL ALWAYS BE DEDICATED AND INVOLVED IN THE GAME.
MRS. MASON STARTED A NEW WINE BUSINESS, (WINES FOR HUMANITY) IN NOVEMBER 2011. HER COMPANY'S MOTTO IS "A PASSION FOR WINE, AND A HEART FOR OTHERS." WITH THIS BUSINESS A PART OF THE WINE PROCEEDS GO TO HELP A LOCAL CHARITY CALLED "UMOM." HER COMPANY'S GOAL IS TO HELP FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN WHO ARE HOMELESS. SHE ALSO STARTED A NEW CAREER..ENTERING THE CORPORATE HEALTH INSURANCE INDUSTRY. BEING THE VIRTUOUS WOMAN THAT SHE CLAIMS TO BE...SHE STILL CONTINUES TO WRITE, ASSIST HER HUBBY W/HIS NEW BUSINESS, IMAGE CONSULT AND MAINTAIN HER HOME.
THANK YOU FOR VISITING OUR BLOG AND TAKING THE TIME TO READ OUR NEWSLETTER. WE ASK THAT YOU KEEP THE MASONS IN YOUR PRAYERS AS WE CONTINUE TO GROW OUR STRENGTH IN THE LORD, OUR MARRIAGE, AND OUR FAMILY. BE BLESSED!
~THE MASONS~
ALTON, ANITA, AJ, ALSTON, ANIA AND ANIAH
"BUT EACH OF US WAS GIVEN GRACE ACCORDING TO THE MEASURE OF CHRIST'S GIFT."
EPHESIANS 4:7
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