my husbands hands

my husband's hands

These hands are riddled with history.  They have played games as a child with neighborhood friends.  They are hands of an athlete.  These are hands of a brother who loves his family.  These hands have held 4 children at birth and continue to embrace them during their lives.  These hands have laid dear parents to rest.  They are working hands, of Irish and German heritage.  They are strong hands.  These hands have fought in 3 wars in defense of the United States of America, his beloved country.  They are honest hands.   They are loving hands.  They are married hands.  These hands belong to a man of integrity.

two thumbs up!

two thumbs up mom!

Small hands full of encouragement and determination.  These two hands work hard at school work, chores around the house, and get wrapped around me, his mother, for embracing hugs.  He is a boy;  he uses them to torment his sister, to help him gain his teammates awareness for an open pass on the soccer field (no hand balls of course), to build things and break them down.  He uses them to explore: at the Enfield Montessori School, in the backyard, and also in books.  What I see most from this picture is this small boy using his hands for encouragement!

a child’s play is work

child's hands working play dough

Children’s hands seem to be in constant motion, sometimes intently purposeful and at other times purely for the joy of movement.  By observing her fingernails and movement of her hands, I notice a carefree child and also one with a purpose, working her play dough.