Everyone Needs a HERO

It's been 2 weeks since I've seen Brent, and I can't take it any more.

SOoooooooooooooooo, when Brook gets out of school, she, Brady and I are headed Westward. Not sure what it is about Brent, but in some magical way he is a hero to us all.

Of course to Brook he is her BIG BROTHER.

One she has always looked up to and one who she knows would protect his Little SIS..

Then, there's Brady.... Who honestly isn't quite sure who Brent is.

He's this big guy we call BUBBA and one mom loves all over.

But for some reason unknown to the rest of us.....

When Brent walks in the door Brady just beams with JOY.

He knows this "big guy" is someone we all love.

Then, there's me. Well, I could go on for days

about how I feel about him,

but to put it in nut shell....

Brent was the first person who ever truly made me feel LOVE.

From the moment he came into this world he has changed it forever.

He gives me motivation, inspiration, and determination to be the best I can be.

He is my precious son, my dear friend,

and a Hero to us all.

Staci

Have a FABULOUS Friday.... It's the only one you get until next week.

New FAVORITE Shot

Ok... I must say I stumbled upon this picture.. Guess that's why I LOVE it so much.
Something about posing people just makes my spine tingle. ha
Now those little guys were so cute I could hardly shoot for smiling.
I didn't dare talk to them though because I was afraid to miss the moment.
I was actually there for a party, but these little fellows and their hairy friend
were just more fun than I could resist.
So thankful I was there (with my camera) and caught this moment before it was gone.
Yippie for perfect timing.

New MOM blog

I just started a new Mom blog.

http://momentsofmommymagic.blogspot.com/

I've learned so many wonderful things from people

who have crossed my life along the way.........

AND from the zillions of books I've read in the last 4 years.

Things I wished I would have known sooner along my journey.

So I thought I'd share a few of them with anyone out there

who wants to be a Mother your children will never forget.

May GOD bless you on one of the most important jobs you'll ever do.

Cold and Cranky

What a NOT so fun and fabulous day..

I've worked so hard to find the joy in life,

and today I think I lost it under the bed with all those missing socks.

Maybe it's the gloomy weather, or maybe it's my dirty hair or the warm-ups I've slept in and now worn all day... (Please tell me someone else out there does that)

But........ whatever it is- I've just had myself a little pouty party today.

One filled with coffee and Nila waffers.

I've missed my friends today. I miss being able to call up my pals and giggle about all of our latest decorating adventures. I miss the morning coffee with my favorite Nazi (she's not really... we just call her that), dumpster diving around town, Saturday morning garage sales, and the never ending coats of paint on all of our walls 'cause we've found the perfect color.

I do believe, and have the greatest of faith that God is preparing me a perfect passel of decorating divas out there. And I know sometimes in life there are seasons of waiting.

Waiting for God's timing .... Not Ours..

Boy that's the tough part. So..... while I'm waiting

I decided to get some work done today, and remind myself

of one of my very favorite scriptures of all time...........

TRUST in the Lord with all your heart. Lean not on YOUR OWN understanding. In ALL your ways acknowledge him, and HE will direct your path.

So, while I'm trusting and waiting and drinking too much coffee and eating too many Nila waffers here's a precious little girls first birthday party album I just finished.

Something to CHEER about

Brook had a cheerleading competition this weekend....

And you won't believe it, but I was running so late that I forgot my camera.

Then, I remembered that I had never posted anything from the last competition, and since most all of them are about the same.... I'd just show you some of them instead.

(if I hadn't blown my own cover you'd have never known)

Brady was quite engrossed in the music and the mattes the girls got to get on.

After trying to keep him off of them for 3 hours I gave up.

(No one was on it at the time) ha

I thought maybe he'd think it wasn't so fun after all, but judging by the look on his face... It was all he thought it would be.. It's those simple joys. ha ha

Both of her brothers were there to CHEER her on.

You can tell by the look on her face that it made a difference.

It's amazing what you can do when someone you love is watching.

HOLD on to the memories...

Make the most of each moment, and

if you cherish them, they will last a lifetime for everyone involved.

Nothing Like LOVE

I've said many times to my friends and family that

"life sometimes deals you a hand that you weren't

expecting, and you've just gotta figure out a way to play"...

But.......Boy I had no idea how all of our lives would change when Little Brady came into our world.

I told Brook and Brent over the holidays that they have taught me so much about how to be a better mother to Brady. Their experiences, giggles, tears, upset moments, and all the happiness along the way have been a lesson. There is just nothing in all the world that can take the place of being a mother.

It's the hardest and best thing I've ever done.

But, I also tell them that Brady has made me a better mother to them. He has reminded me of the "little joys" that we sometimes take for granted. But most importantly he shows me daily that life passes by too quickly.

The things that seem like such a big deal at the time-

you will look back on and wish for a tiny part of them again.

I'd love a bunch of loud boys who eat all my food and throw their sweaty gym bags down in my entry way. I'd love a silly slumber party where we get all the hair products we own

out and do make-overs.

The mess and magic of those moments

I now look back on in a much different way.....

So, Brook's clean laundry I just folded piled in her floor right along with the dirty, and the oh so scary driving lessons we've been doing.....

I remind myself I will someday miss.

The 10 loads of laundry coming home from college, and the grades that weren't the greatest somehow took on a whole new meaning. Because in the end it's a child knowing they are loved (even when they aren't always loveable) that makes all the difference.

J is for JOY

I was given the task today in "the land of blog "by a sweet, inspiring blog friend at

http://deekaye-heartshare.blogspot.com/

to take a letter and find 10 things that you love

that start with the letter you were given.

Well, I was given a J...

JOY in the hearts and eyes of our children

JESUS who saved me 35 years ago, but changed me forever in 2006

JUNE & JULY weather...sunshine fills my soul

JANUARY I was the first baby born in 1967.

Look at my beautiful mother.

JABBERING ( words are ever flowing from deep inside my heart )
JACKETS with money you left in the pockets from last year

JEWELRY... big, gaudy, and fabulous

JOURNALS.. I've filled hundreds in my life. I still write every day.

It's so incredibly amazing to go back and look at the thoughts from your

heart years later. It truly shows you that Tomorrow is another day,

and This too shall pass.

JUMPING and bouncing to music that takes over your feet

JOGGING with my dog who could care less what my hair is

doing, what clothes I'm wearing, or how slow we go. He just

loves being with me.. Now that is LOVE

What a fun "blog" game. I had to really think to get the J's in,

but such a continuation of my new outlook on life.

2009 is Family First....

I'm giving this whole year an attitude of gratitude.

I can tell you already it will change your life.

Horse full of Happy

What a wonderful, beautiful, summer-like day in January it has been.

I couldn't be more thankful to live in Texas than I was today....

You just gotta love an 84 degree winter day.

Or at least I do.

Makes my whole body and mind warm and full

when I see the sun shining outside.

Someday I'd love a house with all glass on both the East and West

sides so I could have the sun shining in all day long.

Something about the sun just fills my soul.

I love to ride with the windows down and feel the heat from the road.

We (mostly Brad) drive out to Brock to feed the horses

extra feed (besides their hay)

every Tuesday and Thursday.

Today, Brad's dad met us out there.

He was riding each horse and talking to them like they were people.

What a joy to see someone so full of passion for something.

It shows all over their face.

Papa (Brad's dad) will be 70 years old in April and climbs on those horses like a kid.

You can just see his spirit lift as he becomes ageless in that saddle.

It is true that joy is contagious.

I watched it first hand today as Little Brady

climbed right up in the saddle with his Papa to ride.

He didn't exactly know what was going to happen....

But he knew to TRUST. Trust the joy in the face of Papa.

Thank you Lord for letting me be a part of their lives today.

Sometimes it's the big events that get all the attention, but really it's the little ones that make life worth watching.

My PARTY

I turned 42 years old on January 1st.

And I can say without reservation that this year's party was the most fun,

total best, biggest smiles I've ever had...

I've always kinda had issues with my birthday being so close to Christmas,

and people always giving me stuff wrapped in Christmas paper,

or being broke and forgetting it all together.

Not that I was ever counting on huge things...

but it always kinda took the special out of my birthday...

This year Brent came down and stayed a week with me. He, Brad,

Brenae (Brad's daughter) Brook, and Little Brady took me out for my birthday.

ALL the kids bought me gifts with their own money..

What a precious, wonderful treat and sign of unselfishness that was.

I was just all bubbles inside.

We went to Olive Garden (my favorite place).

Brad snuck a cake in to the waiter

while I was changing Brady's diaper.

When we were all finished eating .... out came the singers with MY cake.

Now that is just down right wonderfully romantic and fun..

Even at 42 birthdays are just as much fun

as ever if you're surrounded with the people you love most in the world.

I've always heard that whatever you're doing on your birthday you'll do all year long.......

IF that's the case then I'm set..

I spent it feeling on top of the world..

I read today in a new motivational book I'm reading that

"Everything you want to become on the outside,

you must first become on the inside"

(author unknown mom)

Well ........ I felt lucky...

Because my insides feel full of peace, gratitude, and bubbling over love..

What a start to "MY year of the Fairytale Family"

2009

I know it has been forever since I've written... WOW..... almost a month in fact. Didn't realize quite that much time had gone by.. I've just been going non-stop since the holidays and haven't made time to walk upstairs to get on my computer. I took the entire month of December off to spend with my family. It is usually one of the busiest months for photographers. But... after the whole Lance accident I just felt like my work needed to take a backseat. And, after a month and some serious considerations I have decided to keep that same mind set and take it with me into 2009. I told all of my family that I was dedicating this whole year to them. I am going to work less, play more, and enjoy the moments we have together. Lance's accident has taught our whole family a very important lesson......... LIFE can change in an instant... Remember what's important and all the rest can wait. So, for 2009 I will have much less work to blog about, and a whole lot more family stories, pictures, and words of 42 year old wisdom.

By the way.... for all of you out there who had Lance in your prayer and wondered what has been going on with him.... I can tell you that I just took them BOTH back to college last weekend. The doctors are all amazed at how far he has come. He was released from his therapy after passing all the tests for brain functions. God was watching over him and healing things the "powers that be" said would never be the same. Every day he is getting better and better. We laughed all through supper that Brent was supposed to be the one who was watching out for him this semester helping him to be responsible to take all of his medicines. haha Some things never change because when I left Lance was reminding Brent to study.

My Favorite Cowboy

WELL, I don't know if he'll really grow up to be a cowboy:
but he sure does make a cute one.
Except for the fact that his head was too big
for his darn hat.

Some of my favorite people in all the

world wore a cowboy hat.

Not sure if it's the hat, or the

kind of man who is underneath it that I love so much.

Something about it just seems to stand for hard work,

honesty, and a man you can count on.

Grandad.... I wish you were here to see my sweet Brady.

I know you're looking down upon us.

Every time I see a straw hat flipped over upside down

I think of you.

You were the most wise, honest, genuine man I have ever know.

I miss you, and think of you all the time.

The lessons you taught me live in my heart always.

Little Brady's First Birthday has come and gone..
What an angel that precious child has been to our lives.
God never sprinkled so much personality
into one little fellow as he did
into my main man.
How quickly a year has gone by.
May every year of his life be as blessed & happy
as his first.

Together Again

I'm headed to Snyder today to see Lance,

my baby boy, and the pack.

I'm so excited he got to come home for Christmas

and has his buddies to help push him to get well.

He is doing so much better than

anyone first expected.

Thank you to everyone for your prayers.

As I get ready to travel today my mind always

has time to travel as well. It seems like driving

tends to send me either backward

or forward in time.

Today I'm choosing to head backward.

Back to a time where

I felt like I could protect my kids from any dangers

the world might throw their way.

Back when they sat in my lap and thought I

was going to grow up and be their girlfriend.

Oh how precious those memories are

when I look back and remember.

Time goes faster than any mother would want.

So take all the pictures people will let you,

and even some they won't. Because looking back,

those are the times you treasure.

Here are some more of my favorite images

of these wonderful, "growing up too fast" guys.

The memories must have been special to them too....
because they always remember the pose.

May we always take the time to

look back and remember.

Make a moment Last a Lifetime........

Staci

Lance is Coming HOME

I've missed a lot of fabulous shots in my life while my camera was not

glued to my side...........

But one that I am so thankful that I DID NOT miss was with these boys.

I had to make them let me do the first shoot the day before they started Jr. High.

Then we took the exact same shots the day before they started their Senior year.

This time they wanted to do it.

All four of them remembered right where they were standing and whose arms

were where. Our only problem was that they had grown so much

they hung over the tracks on both sides.

God (& time) had added a little meat to the size of their shoulders.

Of all the hundreds of shots I've taken over the years this is still

one of the most priceless. I have a 24x24 hanging in my house.

I look at it everyday and remember how thankful I am that

God picked me to be Brent's mom. How wonderful it was to

be a part of those boys lives while they grew up.

And how amazingly thankful we all are that they will be

there to see a member of their pack come home today.

There are just some things that time can not alter,

and the friendship between those 4 is one of them.

How lucky I feel to have been a part of their lives....

To watch them play football, to see them ride off all dressed up in a limo

for prom, the many "spend the nights" that lasted all weekend,

the countless amounts of food they ate, and the State Championship

they all won together their Senior Year.

May time never erase the joy, the friendship or they moments they

have shared together.

Staci

Please Pray

As I write this message today by heart is choking me in my throat.

I feel like someone has punched me so hard that it has taken my breath away.

My son's dearest lifelong friend is still in the hospital.

They were jumped by several other guys at a party this weekend,

and Lance was hit so hard in the head that he was knocked unconscious.

He later had 2 seizures and they had to call 911.

After several days in ICU he was moved to a room.

He continues to not really open his eyes much,

and has incredibly painful headaches.
The trauma to his brain was a severe blow.

These boys have been best friends for as long as I can remember.

Since becoming blood brothers in the second grade

they have remained through the years as close as any true brothers can be.

They got the same scholarship to play college baseball

and again got to be together.
They are roommates at Midland and continue to spend everyday together.

I have often wondered how they will ever make it when life takes

them in different directions.

But I never dreamed it would be now.

To everyone who reads this BLOG

I am asking for your prayers for Lance.

I know head injuries can change from day to day,

and God can do what no doctor can.

"What is impossible with man is possible with God."

May we all have a buddy that grows up to be our "brother."

Staci

Christmas Over-achiever

I LOVE Christmas..... Every year I say that I'm not going to get all

of this stuff out to decorate for just one month.........

but every year I do.

I just can't help myself it seems.

But.... I did realize that every year around this time

I end up sick.

I finally went to the minor emergency clinic and told them

I had to be well

by Saturday for Little Brady's birthday party.

I got 2 shots and 3 bottles of medicine.

Those steriod shots are just the best.

The dr. was right. In about 2 hrs. it felt like someone

had taken the bowling ball off of my head and

given my old one back again.

So, now that my head feels like a head again

I thought I'd share a little of my Christmas Fun.

This is my Front Room and the dresser I had so much fun painting.

I filled this room full of whimsy and fun...

Brady has loved playing in here. He points to all the Santa's and smiles.

Our tree in this room (we have 5) is filled with Santa Clause

and polka dot balls.

Of course the balls didn't come that way.. But a girl just needs

more polka dots.......... so I painted them.

I even painted polka dots on the railing on the stairs.
It took Brad 3 days to notice, and he stared at it and said
"Did we want that?" I said well I think WE did. ha


Next is the piano in the hall. It's covered with little trees of all shapes
and colors...... and of course more pictures.

I put stuff everywhere. My friends are wondering

where I had all of his stuff stored.

It was all in an extra closet. But.... I must say,

I can pack like clowns in a circus car.

The guest bathroom is filled with the "White Christmas"

My new favorite thing is my little Frong PRINCE..

Our tree in the living room had to go up high this year.

Little Brady has made it his goal to try and reach the balls......