photographs.

a good snapshot stops a moment from running away -Eudora Wetly

if i could tell the story in words, i wouldn't need to lug around a camera -Lewis Hine

there are always two people in a photograph: the photographer and the viewer -Ansel Adams

a photograph is a secret about a secret. the more it tells you, the less you know. -Diane Arbus

"Payton Story #1"

Payton remembers EVERYTHING! One day we were on the way home from church, and we had stopped by chick-fil-a to get something to eat and get Payton something to drink. Well Mom decided she would just give Payton the cup that it came in. I thought it was a bad idea because I figured he would drop it and it would get all over the car, but Mom disagreed. At first, he did really good with it and didn't spill anything. A little later though, I turned around to check on him and the cup was no where to be found! Mom pulled over the car over on the side of highway 34 and started looking in the back seat for his cup. She couldn't find it anywhere. Payton didn't understand what she was looking for and I was practically rolling on the floor laughing. Neither of us were any help. Mom finally asked Payton what he did with his cup, and he simply raised his arm and showed us that it was sitting right beside him. That's when Mom realized she'd taught him to put his cup there when he was in his stroller one day so he wouldn't spill his drink...so needless to say, that is the first place we'll check for his cups from now on. :)

from two DIFFERENT worlds.

Payton amazes me by how smart he is. He has learned so much since he has been here. That very first month was crazy because we didn't consider the fact that he hadn't had ANY previous structure. He wasn't used to eating at certain times, having a bedtime, or socializing with anybody. Honestly, he wasn't used to having someone love on him or care about him either. For me, it was hard to understand because my first two years were completely different than his. I never had to "survive" like Payton did. There was always somebody there to take care of me. It made me realize that everybody needs a family that loves them, whether their related by blood, marriage, or adoption.

Payton. Payton. Payton.

 In October of last year, I got a new little brother, but not the kind of little brother you might be thinking about. God didn't send him like he usually sends a little brother or a little sister. God sent him through the children's home. Payton James Westbrook is two years old and completely nuts, but he is also a little boy that anyone would be considered lucky to meet. Although I love him now and would do anything (literally ANYTHING)  for him...it didn't start off that way. When he first got here, he was loud, annoying, and out of control. All he wanted to do was eat and be held. I wasn't so sure if I wanted a foster brother after meeting him the first time.
 Now, Payton is no where close to the same little boy he was. He has learned so much, and I try to spend as much time with him as possible. Yes, he still loves to eat and be held, but then again who doesn't love that?
Payton loves for all eyes to be on him, and if he wants your attention, he's going to get it no matter what it takes. He turns the worst days of my life into the best ones, and he's just being himself.