Mackay knows how to give really great pretend pedicures, complete with the word “cuticle”.  Whenever we pass a nail salon she tells me how much she “NEEDS” to get her nails done.  She is fully aware of when she is wearing her “Gap” jeans, and she uses the phrase, “You’re stressing me out!”  Yes, I’ve taught her well.

My mom taught me well, too.  Like one year at Christmas-time.  We had just cut down our Christmas tree, and the entire family was in the basement looking for the tree stand so we could set it up in our living room.  But the tree stand was NO WHERE to be found.  My dad was getting frustrated and saying things like, I guess we just won’t have a Christmas tree this year! Well, my young three year old self was stressed out.  But my mom had taught me to pray, so I went upstairs by myself as fast as I could and kneeled down in the hallway.  The moment was so intense, I remember the adrenaline pumping through my little body as I prayed.  That we could find the tree stand so we could have Christmas that year.  (Like we wouldn’t have Christmas, seriously.) And as I got up from my knees to run and help my family in the search, everyone came up the stairs cheering. THEY FOUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE STAND!  My jaw dropped to the floor.  God had heard my little three-year-old prayer and it had only taken like, 10 seconds. And we had Christmas.

That’s what my mom taught me, and what I hope to teach my children, too.  Life’s not just about name-brand clothing and well kept nails.

I haven’t had a JSYK post in a while, but a lot of things have been going through my head.

Like kindergarten being 7 hours long here in Texas.  Does anyone else find this odd?  Where I grew up kindergarten was like, 2.5 hours long.  Mackay doesn’t go to kindergarten for another year, but I already want to cry when I think about it.

My first crush was in kindergarten.  His name was Doug.  I thought there might be complications with him having the same name as my dad.  But I figured that love would find a way to make it all work out.  I wore a very special dress to school one day–hoping he would notice.  He did notice.  He said I looked pregnant.  I was crushed.

My first lie was in kindergarten, too.  My mom was pregnant, and my teacher knew.  One day at recess she asked me if my mom had her baby yet.  Before I could even think about what I was saying I told her that she had.  I also told her the baby was a girl.  Well, when my mom picked me up she was obviously still pregnant.  And I am the only girl my mom ever had, so that was the second lie.

Yesterday I had to go to the store and buy school supplies.  The special extra-large section in the back of the store got the best of me.  Knowing my urge to buy school supplies was a bit ridiculous, I left with just a few packs of lined paper.  But REALLY wanted to buy Elmer’s glue, pencils, colorful pens, and some brightly colored binders.

I got this message from a client and regular blog reader and friend the other day:

Your “Proof Movement” has hit home with me. You are so right- I find that I am always behind the camera, hiding from family photos because my makeup is not done or my hair isn’t fixed. Here is my PROOF!

And then she SENT ME A PICTURE of her with her daughter.

You have GOT to be kidding me!  My jaw seriously dropped and my eyes started to tear up.  At our last session this woman, BEAUTIFUL, by the way, only wanted me to photograph her daughters–with absolutely no images that included her.  And of course I pushed a little bit, and made her get in a few shots with her kids at the end of our session.  Great, great, great–but no, she was not putting those up on the wall.  But I am so passionate about preserving our lives for our children that I started this “My Proof” blog post to force myself to document ME with my kids.  No matter what my hair looks like, or my house looks like, yadda yadda yadda.  And here this wonderful woman found the courage and the inspiration–from something I did?  I couldn’t feel more blessed.  You know who you are, and I just have to say, thank you, thank you, thank you–for touching me just as much as you say I’ve touched you.  Here’s to many more pictures of US!

When we were out in Deep Ellum for Zack’s photoshoot I gave my camera to Nate for a few minutes.  I want a picture that looks just like this from this angle.  Stand this far back… Zack gives me kisses all the time.  And not just kisses, but pull me in with his teeny little hands kind of kisses.  Definitely something that won’t last forever and definitely something I always want to remember.  So thank you, Nate–for being my wonderful photographer.  And thank you to Zack, for actually cooperating when a camera is around.  This is a memory I will absolutely cherish.