Be Safe Little Boy

One day a little boy was born into the world and for a very small moment, his mother held him close. But soon they came to clean him up and right then the mother knew. Life with that little boy would always mean letting him go.
Time passed and the little boy became a one-year-old. His mother knew something had changed because the little boy didn't want to be held anymore, he wanted to walk. So she kissed him on top of his head, took a seat at the back of the room, and held her breath and crookedly, very crookedly, he took his first steps. From the place where she watched him, that mother hummed a quiet hum. And in her heart the words went something like this:
Be safe little boy,
Don't you fall little boy,
Look how fast you've grown.
Be safe little boy, where you walk little boy
You're not yet on your own.
The boy grew older and for his sixth birthday he got a shiny bike. His mother knew it was time to let go a little more. So she kissed him on the top of his helmet, stood back, and slowly, very slowly, he climbed into the seat. From the place where she watched him start to ride, that mother whistled a quiet whistle. And in her heart, the words went something like this:
Be safe little boy,
Pedal hard little boy,
Look how much you've grown.
Be safe little boy, where you ride little boy,
You're not yet on your own.
Middle school came and the boy became a football player. Football was rough and tough and sometimes boys got hurt, but his mother knew it was time to let him play. So she helped him with his shoulder pads, kissed him for good luck, stayed at the top of the bleacher, and wildly, very wildly, he tackled and ran and won that game. From the place where she watched him play, that mother thought a quiet thought. And in her heart, the words went something like this:
Be safe little boy,
Don't get hurt little boy,
Look how much you've grown.
Be safe little boy, where you play little boy,
You're almost on your own.
More time passed and the boy learned to drive. Driving was scary for his mother, because sometimes she wouldn't know where he was or if he was okay. But his mother knew it was time to give him the keys. So she found him a car, kissed him on the cheek, stayed at the top of the driveway, and carefully, very carefully, he backed down the hill and drove out of sight. From the place where she watched him leave, that mother prayed a quiet prayer. And in her heart, the words went something like this:
Be safe little boy,
Buckle up little boy,
Look how much you've grown.
Be safe little boy, where you drive little boy,
You're almost on your own.
The years went by crazy fast and the boy fell in love. Love meant that his mother would have to share her little boy's heart with someone else, but she knew it was time for him to take that journey. So she helped him order flowers, blew him a kiss as he drove off, and gladly, very gladly he went to find his girl. From the place where she watched him leave, that mother whispered a quiet whisper. And in her heart the words went something like this:
Be safe little boy,
Guard your heart little boy,
Look how much you've grown.
Be safe little boy, where you love little boy.
It's time you're on your own.
Two more years passed and the boy was getting married and moving away. Marriage meant his mother might not see her boy much, maybe not at all. But she knew her boy loved the girl, and it was time to plan a wedding. So she helped him find a fancy suit, kissed them both as they finished their vows, and suddenly, very suddenly her little boy was gone. From the place where she watched them walk out of the church, that mother cried a little cry. And in her heart, the words went something like this:
Be safe little boy,
Don't forget me little boy,
Look how much you've grown.
Be safe little boy, where you leave little boy,
You're finally on your own.
~ Karen Kingsbury

Purity Ball at West Jackson Street Baptist Church

Friday night, our church had a Purity Ball for children ages 3 to high school seniors. Since the first of January, they have all participated in age appropriate purity studies. Since both of my children are in the preschool department they were involved in a study about integrity. This ball was a chance for us as parents to make a commitment to them to keep our lives pure as well as our family and make it a goal to help keep them pure.
Carson was presented with a pocket watch as a reminder of his purity as he gets older and Emilia was given the prayer box necklace that Vince actually gave me on our wedding day to save her kisses in/purity until she gets older and they both meet the person God has for them to marry.
Vince did write a prayer for Emilia along with a letter explaining his commitment as a father to her. And I did the same for Carson.
It was exciting in that we all dressed up for the ball. Then when we got to the church, we had pictures made, ate supper and then the "ball" started. The stories you will read above and below were read and I had to post them for anyone that has never heard them. How touching they are, and so true. Then "A Mother's Song" was sung for the mothers to dance with their sons. I thought this would be a really sweet moment for Carson and I but I've never wanted to spank his bottom as bad as I did them!!!!!!!! I wanted to hold him to dance with him b/c I told him I probably wouldn't be able to hold him many more years. He didn't want to cooperate and thinking if he passed some gas, yes, you heard me right, I'd put him down. Needless to say, I didn't put him down, but I wasn't shedding tears like all the other moms around me either!!! :):)
Then Cinderella was sung for the daddy's to dance with their little girls and I must say Emilia was much more cooperative with her daddy. They were so sweet and she loves to be spun around.
We were happy to have my parents join us for the event, as grandparents were welcomed to join in on the commitment.
This is something we look forward to in the future and a night we'll always cherish.
Thank you WJSBC for all you do for our families and children!!!!

Stay Close Little Girl....

One day a little girl was born into the world and for a very small moment, her father held his breath, because that little girl was all his and his heart had never been so filled with joy and fear. From her tiny hospital bed, that baby girl reached up, took hold of her father's finger and held on tight. And right then, that father knew he would never let her go. Life with that little girl would always mean holding her hand.
Time passed and the little girl became a on-year-old. Her father knew something had changed because the little girl wanted more than his finger to hold. Now she wanted to walk with him. So he took hold of her hand, led her across the room and daintily, she took her first steps. From the place where he stood beside her, that father grinned a silly grin. But in his heart, the words went something like this:
Stay close little girl,
Be my angel little girl,
Hold onto my hand,
Stay close little girl, when you walk little girl,
I'll always be your man.
The girl grew older and for her sixth birthday, she got a princess crown. Princesses wore pink satin and curled her hair. Her father looked at that little princess and knew she needed a prince. So he took hold of her hand, led her on a parade across the living room, and proudly, very proudly, that princess giggled at her tall prince. From the place where he paraded beside her, that father waved a silly scepter. But in his heart, the words went something like this:
Stay close little girl,
Be my princess little girl,
Hold onto my hand.
Stay close little girl, when you play little girl,
I'll always be your man.
Years passed and the girl didn't want to play dress up anymore. Instead she pulled her hair back in a ponytail and became a rough-and-tumble soccer player. Her father knew it was a long walk from the parking lot to the practice field, even for rough-and-tumble soccer players. So he took hold of her hand, grabbed her gear, and easily, very easily she jogged with him across the field. From the place where he ran beside her, that father gave a silly pep talk. But in his heart, the words went something like this:
Stay close little girl,
Be my star little girl,
Hold onto my hand.
Stay close little girl, as you run little girl,
I'll always be your man.
Seventh grade came and the girl was changing. She was growing up and she didn't like princess crowns or soccer balls. Now she liked to shop. Shopping wasn't really a daddy thing, but some nights the girl needed a new sweater or a pair of socks and she would beg her father until he gave in and drove her to the mall. Her father knew that parking lots could be dangerous, so he took hold of her hand and safely, very safely, they made their way from the car to the store. From the place where he walked beside her, that father teased a silly tease. But in his heart, the words went something like this:
Stay close little girl,
Be my laughter little girl,
Hold onto my hand.
Stay close little girl, when you wonder little girl,
I'll always be your man.
More years passed and the girl was invited to her first dance. Dancing was something she'd dreamed of doing, but she wasn't sure how to dance with a boy. Her father watched the way his big girl's eyes sparked and he felt something strange in his heart, but he knew that little girl needed a dance partner. So he turned on the music , took her hand, and fondly, very fondly, he twisted her around the living room. From the place where he danced beside her, that father smiled a silly smile. But in his heart, the words went something like this:
Stay close little girl,
Dance with me little girl,
Hold onto my hand.
Stay close little girl, though you date little girl,
I'll always be your man.
The father blinked and six more years disappeared. This time the girl fell in love....love so real the boy asked her to be his bride. In the time it took to smile at her ring, the father's heart sank to his knees, and that's where it stayed until her wedding, because marriage meant his job was done. HE knew that the walk down the aisle would be the longest in his life, so he took her hand, looked long into her eyes, and slowly, very slowly, he walked his girl toward the front of the church. From the place where he gave her away, he swallowed a lumpy swallow, but in his heart, the words went something like this:
Here we are little girl,
Change your name little girl,
Here we are little girl, I'll let you go little girl,
And now he'll be your man.
-Karen Kingsbury