Precious Moments: Growing Up

(* Important Sidenote: For the past year or so we have steadily been moving towards "real food" and cutting out as many processed foods and preservatives as possible.  (I have never been more thankful for my Nigerian up bringing where we had to make everything from scratch!)  This month, I cut out store-bought bread and have been making my own whole wheat every week.  As you know, a big difference is home-made does not come pre-cut...)

Our morning started rather early today.  I woke up and looked at the alarm clock, it was 5:30am and Bryan was already getting dressed.  He told me to roll over and go back to sleep since he didn't need a lunch today and the boys were still in bed.  He didn't have to tell me twice.

A while later, I'm guessing around 6, I heard the boy's door open, close and the pitter patter of feet that sounded like Micah.  Bryan must have told him to go back to bed because soon I heard it in reverse and breathed a sigh of relief, ready for more snooze time.

It wasn't to be.  Soon Brandon and Micah were talking and playing away in their room quietly, then coming out and starting to play in the living room.

After a few minutes I heard the cupboard door open and the thought ran through my head, "Brandon must be getting breakfast for them."  I heard the bread bag open and thought, "He'll put it away as soon as he realizes it isn't cut, like he did last time."  But I never heard it go back in the cupboard.  It was time to get up...

In the kitchen, Brandon was dutifully "slicing" bread for himself and Micah, using a butter knife.  (I was thankful he hadn't made the connection to using the sharp bread knife I usually use!)  The first two slices came out pretty well.  I asked if he wanted me to finish cutting for him.  "No.  I can do it.  Can you open the jam, it's kind of hard for me."  "Sure"

Soon, with Micah as his "big helper" he had two more chunks of bread and began spreading jam and peanut butter on their sandwiches. 

I faded into the background, watching from a distance.  The counter was soon slathered in jam, the peanut butter jar had just as much on the outside as on their sandwiches, the crumbs were everywhere, and the grins of accomplishment spread from ear to ear.

It was a time of letting my little boys grow up, it brought a heartache and smile, but their pride in their own accomplishment together was worth the extra ten minutes it took to clean it all up again!