He got Fish!

Alston is now 8 years old. He's been asking for a pet so we decided to get him one for his birthday....he got fish! We went to the pet store to get him a fish and all the accessories and ended up leaving with 2 fish. For some reason his Daddy thought the one would be too lonely. Lol! Alston named his goldfish "Tuck" and "Shawn." He feeds them everyday after school, cleans their tank every week and sits by the window talking to them often. It's really cute and fun for him. I think it will also make him more responsible. Fish and a puppy were his top 2 pet choices and he's happy he got the fish because they don't require as much attention and care. I'm happy he got fish too because I am allergic and terrified of dogs. Everyone in the house, besides me, were almost leaning towards a puppy for him. I almost gave in, but no!

We celebrated Alston's birthday at McDonald's and he had a school buddy sleepover. The MC of the game also announced his birthday at the game 2 days before his actual birthday and the whole crowd sang to him. Alston also competed at the half time challenge that night....he had to shoot from the 3 point line, and then the free throw line in order to win a prize. He made the free throw and everyone was shocked. Lol! He's pretty short, but I'm telling you, the boy has handles with a basketball. He's still working at the games as "Court boy" and he loves to interact with the team and refs while on the court. Alston also just got a new haircut...a modern mohawk. I can't believe it! Lol! It's so fun to watch them grow and see their little personalities come out.

We praise God for blessing him with another year with us and pray for many more to come. Happy birthday Alston! We love you sooooooooooo much!

Beautiful Black History

This year for Black History Month we decided to blog about the very first Disney African American Princess. Our kids love Disney! Characters, movies, parks, you name it!....so at the announcement of this movie they were very excited. It's always nice to hear what the newest Disney film will be about because it's bound to be a classic. But the Princess and the Frog is not just a classic but also Black History because it's the year 2010 and Princess Tiana is the first, ever African American Disney Princess. The movie was spectacular and well done! It catered to many nationalities in the bayou of New Orleans. The movie will make you hungry, laugh and dance!
We think Princess Tiana is beautiful just like all the other Disney Princesses and we are happy that we are making more and more beautiful black history.





About Princess Tiana written by AJ:
Tiana is a young waitress and talented chef who dreams of owning her own restaurant like her father dreamed of doing. She is a "diamond in the rough" who will have to learn some lessons before she reaches true princess status,She is a motivated, determined, and independent young woman.

 ~What our family thinks of Princess Tiana

AJ(13): "I'm really proud that they made a beautiful black princess and the movie was awesome!"

Ania Mason(6): '' Princess Tiana is cute and pretty and I want the same dress when I grow up like her.''

Aniah Mason(2): '' Princess Kiana is twute and the fwog is twute toooo! And dey kish!''

Alston Mason(7): '' I don't know what I think about her but I like the movie."

Dad: '' Anything from Louisiana is all good!''

Mom: "She's classy, sassy, beautiful, elegant and ambitious....reminds me of someone else I know." Lol!

"It's been a long time coming...but a change is gonna come!"

TONIGHT WE GOT THE WIN! ALTON HAD 12 POINTS, 6 REBOUNDS, 4 ASSISTS AND 3 STEALS. I HAD TO BLOG ABOUT THIS BECAUSE LATELY WE'VE BEEN ON A LOSING STREAK. THE TEAM WAS VERY AGGRESSIVE, FOCUSED AND DETERMINED TONIGHT. AS YOU KNOW, OUR TEAM HAS MADE LOTS OF CHANGES WITH PLAYERS, STAFF AND SPONSORS, SO THIS WIN WAS VERY NEEDED! MANY OF OUR FRIENDS IN THE GAME ARE GOING THROUGH CHANGES, TESTS AND TRIALS. THE EUROPEAN BASKETBALL MARKET ISN'T LIKE IT USE TO BE. THROUGH IT ALL, ALTON HAS BEEN WORKING VERY HARD TO LEAD HIS TEAM AS THE STARTING POINT GUARD AND TEAM CAPTAIN. HE IS STILL ONE OF THE LEADING SCORERS IN THE LEAGUE AND ALSO HOLDS A TOP SPOT FOR ASSISTS. WE STILL HAVE A FEW MONTHS LEFT IN THE SEASON WITH HOPES TO MAKE THE PLAYOFFS. PLEASE KEEP OUR TEAM IN YOUR PRAYERS....."IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME COMING, BUT A CHANGE IS GONNA COME!"
Amsterdam Basketball

The Shelter Box

AS THE DAYS PASS BY THERE ARE STILL SEVERAL HAITIAN FAMILIES IN NEED OF SHELTER, WATER AND FOOD. WE FOUND OUT ABOUT THE SHELTER BOX THROUGH CNN. IT WAS FOUNDED IN APRIL OF 2000 BY TOM HENDERSON. WE THINK THIS IS A WONDERFUL RESOURCE TO PROVIDE SOME PRIVACY FOR FAMILIES, AS WELL AS A LITTLE COMFORT, FOOD AND SECURITY. AWESOME INVENTION!

Do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things. But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.

~Luke 12:29-31

http://shelterbox.org/index.php

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I ALMOST DIDN'T MAKE A "HAPPY NEW YEAR'S" BLOG ENTRY THIS YEAR BECAUSE OF THE TRAGEDY IN HAITI. WE ARE SO BLESSED AND SO HAPPY AND LOOK HOW THEIR NEW YEAR HAS BEGUN, IS WHAT WE'VE BEEN THINKING. WE HAVE MADE DONATIONS AND REACHED OUT IN ANY WAY WE CAN, BUT FOR US IT'S NOT ENOUGH!....WE WOULD ACTUALLY LIKE TO BE THERE!  WE'VE NEVER WITNESSED AN EARTHQUAKE, (THANK GOD) BUT FEEL SO EFFECTED BY WHAT THE HAITIANS ARE GOING THROUGH, STILL. EVERYDAY, IT'S SOMETHING NEW ON CNN, SOME GOOD, SOME PROGRESS, BUT MOSTLY BAD. LOST LOVED ONES, NO SHELTER, LACK OF FOOD/WATER, ETC. IT'S SO SAD! WE ADMIRE AND APPRECIATE THOSE THAT ARE THERE TO VOLUNTEER AND OFFER RESCUE AND RELIEF. THANKS TO TECHNOLOGY YOU CAN EVEN MAKE DONATIONS THROUGH YOUR CELL PHONE, JUST BY SENDING TEXTS. REFLECTING ON THESE ISSUES AND OUR BLESSED LIFE, I DECIDED TO BLOG ANYWAY BECAUSE EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON. WE BELIEVE THE LORD USES DIFFERENT ONES AND DIFFERENT THINGS TO LET YOU KNOW WHO "HE" IS AND WHO'S IN CONTROL! WE JUST PRAISE HIM AND LIFT HIS NAME ON HIGH BECAUSE ONLY "HE" KNOWS. OF COURSE OUR KIDS HAVE LOTS OF QUESTIONS AND THEIR LITTLE HEARTS JUST GO OUT TO THEM. BUT, WE JUST REMIND THEM THAT YOU CAN'T QUESTION GOD, JUST HAVE FAITH  IN HIM THAT A BLESSING WILL COME OF ALL THIS AND MOST OF ALL....PRAY! PRAY! PRAY! THESE ARE CALLED TESTS, TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS. IT CAN HAPPEN TO ANY OF US. WE DON'T TAKE ANYTHING FOR GRANTED AND WE ARE SO THANKFUL AND GRATEFUL TO BE HAPPY, HEALTHY, SAFE AND WITH EACH OTHER. BUT NOW, WE ARE EVEN MORE GRATEFUL, NOW WE ARE EVEN MORE GIVING, NOW WE ARE EVEN MORE AWARE OF HOW TOMORROW IS NOT PROMISED. NOW WE ARE EVEN MORE HUMBLE....AND THAT TO US IS A AWESOME MINDSET TO HAVE TO START OFF THIS NEW YEAR.
DINNER, CHAMPAGNE, CHURCH, FAMILY AND FRIENDS IS HOW WE SPENT OUR NEW YEAR'S HOLIDAY..... NEW YEAR'S EVE WE CELEBRATED WITH NEW FRIENDS, (KEITH AND NATASHA SPENCER). WE WENT TO DINNER AND THEN OUT ON THE TOWN FOR THE FIREWORK DISPLAYS. THE FIREWORKS STARTED HERE ON DECEMBER 30TH AND JUST RECENTLY STOPPED. IT WAS LIKE THE 4TH OF JULY HERE IN AMSTERDAM! LOL! ON NEW YEAR'S DAY WE CELEBRATED AT HOME WITH OUR KIDS AND HAD LOTS OF SNACKS, TREATS, MOVIES, DANCING, PRAYING AND GAMES. WE PRAY THAT YOU AND YOURS WILL HAVE A VERY HAPPY, HEALTHY, SAFE, AND BLESSED YEAR IN 2010!
Click here to find out how you can also provide help for Haiti.