What are you?

It's been a big day!  We cemented in paperwork Ryan's sans-aid status.  We are so proud of him and so thankful for his teacher and a school district that will fit the paperwork to him and not him to the paperwork!  Also tonight was the UIL State Marching Contest.  Same kind of thing as state football playoffs, but band instead of football.  Different setup, but basically the same thing.  And it's a big deal.  The year the band where I taught my first two years went to state, Eric took me to see their performance.  Yes, it's that big to us!  Texas is serious about its marching band.  Matter of fact, band is what God used to get me here from Oklahoma in the first place.  Eric was thrilled to learn we could watch online this year, and there was one band in prelims that he just LOVED and he really wanted to share with me.

The band he was crazy about was right about the time we're usually wrapping up baths and heading into story time, so we decided to let the kids stay up a tad past time and watch this one band.  The evening has been great.  Ryan had a project to do, which was actually pretty cool.  Each of the kindergarteners was to decorate a white cardstock feather, all of which they'll put together on a big turkey in the hall.  Say it with me now... *Awwwwww"... yes, I thought it was cool.  So cool, in fact, that I decided Maelynn and Richie ought to make one too.  So armed with markers, scissors, and pre-cut feathers, we went to work.  I was proud of all the kids.  Maelynn, because she positively vapor-locks over the idea of coloring, then manages to color her whole arm purple.  Oh yes.  Her. Whole. Arm. Richie, because he used the glue stick like a pro, and did a great job of talking about what we were thankful for.  Ryan, because he wrote a couple of words with some prompting (okay, goading), and wrote his name on his feather.  I'm one of those moms who doesn't want to do the project for him, but want to give him tools to do what he wants with it, with just a little guidance in the right direction.

Once our feather mess was off the table, I threw dinner together.  After that was over, we went straight to the bath so we wouldn't miss the band Eric wanted to see.  There was a bit of time after baths, so while Eric helped the kids get the living room picked up, I cleaned up after dinner.

Those of you who read about my adventures often probably already know why I'd love to watch this, but it'd be hard at the same time.  If you don't, you can click here to catch up.  Long story short, before I was a committed stay at home wife and mom, I loved my job dearly.  It was truly what I wanted to do forever.  So as I wrapped up the dishes and wiped off the table, I hear "Honey, it's starting!"

Why, tell me, did I not want to do this?  Probably the same reason I don't like tear-jerking movies.  I know it's going to get to me, one way or the other.  I've fought the "but-people-think-I-just-sit-and-eat-bonbons" thing and all the guilt I feel watching other great moms work and do a great job at both.  Excuses aside, that's just not me.  For us, for me, for our family my being home works.  So literally because my husband asked me to, I flopped down in the overstuffed chair to watch the one show he wanted me to see.  As it began, Richie climbed into my lap, asking if I'd read a book.

Mommy:  "I'll read the book after this band, sweetheart.  This is important to Daddy, and Mommy too."

Then the thought struck me, as it has a hundred other times... I wonder if he really doesn't know how much this means to us.  After all, I've all but wiped band off the radar except for volunteering a sectional here and there, and then the kids go with us.  So I explained.

"Richie, did you know Mommy used to be a band director too, like Daddy?  I used to teach the band kids like Daddy does."

You know what my dear son said?

He looked at me like I had lobsters crawling out my ears for a second, and with a slightly furrowed brow, he said, "No, Mommy.  You're a MOMMY."

And you know what?  He's right.

A couple seconds later, Ryan crawled into my lap.  Then Maelynn tried her best to snuggle... and through a few of the happiest tears I've ever cried, I looked at Eric and said "get the camera."

Richie, Ryan, Mommy, and Maelynn

I've been a lot of things in my life.  I've been a daughter, granddaughter, little girl, a grown woman.  I've been first chair, the benchwarmer, the sorority girl, the awkward freshman.  I've been the student, and I've been the teacher.  Of all the things of this world I could be, the best title ever bestowed... above graduate, above it all is the title bestowed upon me by a golden-haired three year old boy... Mommy.  

"For I know the plans I have for you,' says the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future."  ~Jeremiah 29:11

Thanks be to God, the giver of all good things, for weaving the tapestry that is life, never failing to put in just the right colors and textures to give it its beauty.