Finger Prints of God

Mason came to me after dinner and asked if we could paint with our hands. Every other day, or I should say any other week I would have said no and made up a reason as to why we couldn't. Well after meeting a lovely family last week and seeing the trails they were having to endure my parenting has changed. I was blessed by them. More than they know.

I have worked on being more patient with the children, and not so quick to not participate in whatever it was they were wanting to do. More patient in my discipline with the two of them and their "sibling rivalry". It all boils down to enjoying these two little lives that God has blessed me with and trusts me to raise. Lately I have gotten impatient with them because of things that I am needing to get done. That my friends is not their fault, or their responsibility to endure by way of discipline.

So tonight, we finger painted! :) I have a roll of white paper that I actually had from T-Ball season that I received from one of the parents (was to return it, but the season ended and well we just have not communicated since). So we got the paper rolled out, down to our undies - it was washable, but I don't trust washable. :) The boys used their entire hands, their feet, and their fingers to create their "art". I then joined in and made a few hand prints with them. :) Then of course we had to get a little messy. :) I went to give Mason a high five, and well.... I missed... on purpose. He just thought it was the funniest thing, and things took off from there. :)

While they played and made they just thought it was a fun activity I am picturing this framed and on a wall, and paying close attention to their hand prints, and the changes they have made. God has blessed me, Blessed me TREMENDOUSLY with these two little guys!!

I am so thankful for the place He brought me last week, and how He is working in my heart on a daily basis to be a better mother to the children he has let me borrow. :)

I pray one day that my children will be able to see my fingerprints as an image of God's love for me and for them.

Enjoy your evening!

Brittney <><

1st Day Success

Well I deleted the post from earlier all because I spelt stinkin' success wrong and planned to copy and paste... well that didn't work. SO, I'll write it again. :)

Mase had a GREAT first day! Once he got in the car he gave me the sweetest "I did so good today" smile. :) I was so proud! :) I could not wait to hear all about it. Mase doesn't usually talk to much about his day to start with, but he told me plenty of things today. :) He told me he had fun, he used good manners, he got to see daddy at lunch but they didn't get to play because the playground was too hot (Abbott has a Metal playground -- oh how it would be nice to have a new one) anyhow. The day was wonderful for him!

We talked about various things on the way home, and the conversation always jumps from here to there. He started telling me that he was rude at school, and when I would say something he would say "Just tricking you". Parent intervention. :) I explained to him that "tricking" can also be like lying if the person doesn't know you are tricking them, or if you don't tell them afterwards that it was just a trick. We talked about this for a while, and he got it. My heart was able to rest. When he was "tricking" me my heart stopped a few times and I was mortified at how he said he acted. I am glad he was just "tricking' :)

As soon as we got home he asked if we could go to school, so I'd say he had a pretty stellar day!

Blessings!

Brittney <><

"Not for me"

Here we are, here I am... home with just Micah for the early part of the day.

So I woke up with Mason next to me. He came out last night just before we were heading to bed with his pillow's, how could I tell him no. :) He although it was after midnight was AWAKE. :) Asking if it was school yet. I told him that when we wake up it will be, that we are supposed to be asleep.

Morning came, first time I didn't hit snooze when my alarm went off in a long time. I rolled over, and he was just as peaceful as he could be. I thought, he doesn't have to go to Pre-k. :) I know ho much this year is going to benefit him and that thought quickly left me. I kissed him and told him it was time to get up, he just grumbled. Then I told him that today was such an exciting day!! He responded with "Not for me" haha. So I'm thinking... here we go...

Once reminded of the Lucky Charm cereal I had bought the day before for him to have he quickly perked up. :) Out of bed he went, and eating his breakfast. Two bowls later, he was ready to put on his clothes. It was great, my initial thought of "here we go" in a sarcastic, this is going to be a long morning tone, was now a wonderful 1st day of school morning with my boy. He went straight to getting undressed and dressed, even told me he would wear his shoes all day. - We had a day of trying out the shoes and he was NOT a fan, but he was also tired. Today though, was great, he never made one complaint about them. :) Then I asked him to get his toothbrush ready while I got Micah dressed, he did that without a peep. :) I love this kid. We got his teeth brushed, tried on his backpack and headed out. :)

He rode with Matt, as he will be doing each day, and Micah and myself took the car. This morning as been great, and he has surprised me in every way. We got to the school, went in with Matt, and headed to his room.

The backpack... well he didn't want to carry it initially because "people will laugh at me" Do you know what that does to a mothers heart?? Hearing your child worry about people laughing at him. He is FOUR, he should not be worrying if people are going to laugh at him. That just breaks me... I pray God keeps him from those who are cruel and do this type thing. Anyhow, he didn't carry it in the long run because he said it was to heavy... maybe I packed to much for his lunch. :) Well when we got to his room he immediately asked for his bag. I gave it to him just outside the room and he walked right to the teacher to show her. :) She is wonderful! She led him to his locker, showed him where his bag would go, where to put his lunch, and then posed for pictures... Of course there were pictures. :)

We took a few, although I am sure I could have managed to create a photo shoot in that room had I had the time. :) He found his spot, sat right down, and smiled for me. This was a big part of how great our day was. Some of you know, but Mason is NOT a fan of pictures. He'll maybe let me take one, but for sure not a day worth. Today, he did great. Not one time did he decline a picture. This made mommy's heart REALLY happy! :)

That was it... the first day was here, we did it, and I did not complete loose it. I began to tear up during my picture with him, but God took that from me as He and I knew that Mason would not do well if I was crying.

I am so thankful for this day. So thankful God was with me, and softened Mason's heart today so that we could get through it together and happily. So what stared with "Not for me" turned into a morning filled with eagerness, smiles, and anticipation for his first day. What a blessing!

~ I want to add a text I just got from Matt, this is what made me cry... "It's absolutely insane that Mason is in school. I have been quiet about it, but it's crazy. I can remember as clear as day him being delivered, and a newborn." I love this man as my husband, and Mason's Father... We are leaning, and growing each day as parents and I am so happy about that.

I am sure there will be more later. It is already almost time to go and get him, YAY! :) Can't wait to see how it went!

I hope you with children have had a great 1st day! If you have a child that is not quite there yet... enjoy every second with them. I too just gave birth to this little life, and today I left him to learn on his own.

Blessings!

Brittney <><

The Day Before.

Well, Saturday I spent most of my day assisting a fellow photographer (Brenda Johnson) at a wedding in the Fort Worth area. I, in most cases am always focused on the event and ready for the challenge. Although Saturday was a little different. I don't feel as though I was not focused, or not ready for the challenge even, I was just not as "giddy" if you well about what was ahead. I was ready, and excited to capture this moment for the Bride and Groom along side Brenda, even more so than usual having knowing the Bride. The problem...

This was it, Saturday, the day before Sunday which just so happens to be the day before Monday. No big deal, it's just another Monday. Well for some, but for me it was my 1st Born's 1st day of school. I hadn't thought to much about it, up until I had to leave Saturday to go and shoot the wedding. It hit me. This is the last Saturday, weekend in general, that I will have with my sweet boy before he becomes accustomed to the daily life of school. That Monday meant no more waking up every day and climbing in bed with him to hear him giggle, or he climbing in bed with me to wrap his arm around my body and nuzzle his face into mine. No more "carefree' living if you will. Waking up when he wants, taking his time to have his breakfast, loving on me all morning long.

So while at the wedding my heart was aching for him. To hold him, to stare at him... I had already forgotten how many freckles he had on his cheeks. I thought about him all day long, and evening, and up until we got in the car to leave close to Midnight... which was now... Sunday.

This was it, Sunday. The real "last" day before school. I had so much I want to do with him, and now all I had was what was left of this Sunday. I got home from the wedding about 1:30 or so, I really don't remember. Sat up with my mom, who had came in to watch the boys, until about 4 in the morning just chit chatting, which seemed to continue to lead to how much I just loved him, was going to miss him, how I was excited for him, happy for him... just alot of emotions.

Bed came, and so did morning. I slept with the little guy last night, and Mason above us. When I woke up I could not wait for Mason to get up. I heard him rustling above us and when I made my first call to Micah to do something that morning, Mason heard. Instantly... "mommy!!!" His little legs hurried down the side of his Bunk Bed, and right into the bed with me and just hugged me. We just laid, and I enjoyed every second of it. We got up, but to only go and lay with daddy. He laid between us and was as sweet as could be. He even manged to tell me how Beautiful my hair was (we just woke up... haha). He asked me to scratch his back, and told me how much he loved me to do that. We made a game of going fast and slow and tickling and such. Just pure laughter from my, baby turned Pre-Ker. Then he asked if I like to have my back scratched, and of course YES!! So he climbed out, scratched my back for a minute or two. :-) God is good.

The morning went on, we watched a movie with my mom and then I headed out with her to get a few things for the 1st day. :) A trip to Osh-Kosh, 3 shirts later I headed to Wal-Mart. Did the things there and just couldn't wait to get home to my sweet boys. When I came in he was eating grapes, and began to share with me. Then as I carried in the groceries he stood by the door and I was only allowed to come in with the groceries if he ate a grape. :) So we played that, got the groceries in and put up. Next up, head over to Dee Dee & Poppie's to visit them and my bestie Tierni and Mason's best bud, Jake. :) Nice little treat before this new journey begins tomorrow. :) The boys ran crazy, I got some Bestie and Dee Dee time. :) Nice!

Home for dinner, Turkey pork chops, long grain wile rice, cauliflower, and peas (not for Matt of course). Next on the agenda... hair cuts. :) Mase is not really a fan of this. I have been cutting his hair since his first cut, the day I cut off his "rat tail" as some would call it. I called it his baby curl. :) So tonight I asked if he wanted to let Daddy do it, being as he is the one who cuts hair, unofficially :). He went for it and on we went. Matt did a great job, and He looks handsome as ever. :)

Next, outside baths to get the hair off. The boys loved it, played in the outside metal tub and took a mud bath. So we then took an official "bath" outside of course because that is all they wanted to do. :) So they got their baths, Pj's on, and in to brushing their teeth, then bed. Mason climbed right in, Micah just behind him. Meanwhile, Matt and I were cleaning out our cars, MUCH NEEDED... goodness. For us, we both are somewhat OCD about organization, cleanliness, and just things looking nice. Boy could you not tell any of this with our cars. Being on the go with two boys just gets past us sometimes.

So I came in after finishing the car (Matt did the truck), to check on the boys. Mason, asleep. :) Sweet as could be... this is it. Micah, not so asleep.. Oh wee that boy... this was 8pm this took place, it is 10:25 and there is a probable chance he is still awake. :) I love him!

So here I am, writing this blog... One I plan to keep up with daily, hopefully with a pic or two maybe to go along with the story. I can't believe "The Day Before" is winding down. :( His clothes are picked out, lunch made, backpack packed. Tomorrow I will take my baby to school. To the hands of another care taker, to the hands of his newest friend, to his new life for the next 14 years (at least) minus the summers. This is hard.. I wonder if others contemplate this as much as I have.

I am so happy for Mason, so blessed to have had him this long. Healthy, Happy (when Micah's not around), and ready for "The Day Before" to be "The Day of" :)

Sorry about my story.. Matt just asked.. "What are you doing over there? Blogs are not supposed to be long"... ahaha I said well this is a story... It's a special day.

Goodnight!

Brittney <><