Fingerprints

Today I came across a framed picture of Ryan-Parker's hand and finger prints that he made at the end of the year school graduation for the 3-year old class. It is framed but I had yet to hang it. It is precious to me and I am hanging it now. You can see it and read the poem below.
This comes on a day that I am very sentimental as I found out that the kindergarten that I attended....in....well, let's just say in the 70's and several of my nieces and nephews have been to since is not going to offer 5 year-old kindergarten next year. So, I realized that he will be going to Rouse Elementary School which holds K-3rd grade. His cousin Braden is there just one year ahead of him so that will be good. I realized today too that he may be riding the school bus home with Braden and getting off at the bus stop where myself and my siblings were dropped off until late in high school. I was reassured that my dad walked down the street (they live in a cull-de-sac) and Braden happily greets him each afternoon from being so excited about being a big boy riding the bus.

I knew it was coming...just didn't realize so soon! My baby boy is growing so fast into a big boy despite my efforts of wanting him to remain little forever !
But, as Bill has always told me about both the kiddos...each milestone is a new adventure that I will absolutely love about their growing personalities...
and so it should be. The best it yet to come!
-Ashley


Sometimes you get discouraged because I am so small
and always leave my fingerprints on furniture and walls.

But everyday I'm growing:
I'll be grown up someday,
and all those little fingerprints will surely fade away.

So here's my latest fingerprints
just so you can recall
exactly how my fingers looked when I was very small.

-Crossgates Baptist Kindergarten
3 Year Old Class-2008