Living for Love

You will find as you look

back upon your life

what the moments when

you have really lived, 

are the moments when

you have done things

in a spirit of love.

Henry Drummond

Lovely Locks for Love

My oldest daughter continues to amaze. 

Over a year ago a friend of ours was growing his hair really long.  Emma asked him "why?" because guys just don't grow their hair that long.  Or, at least, not the guys in her small social circle.  Our friend told Emma that he was growing his hair to be ten inches long so that he could donate it to Locks for Love.  She was intrigued that someone would take his hair, make a wig and that wig would go to someone who was sick and had no hair.

Now Emma has beautiful, thick, blond hair.  And she wanted to grow it long.  Really long, so that SHE could also donate her hair.  She didn't want to have to shave her head as our friend had, so she needed her hair to be much longer then ten inches.  And so it grew, and grew, and grew!  And was a complete pain to wash and brush.  

Emma didn't want to cut it during the winter, because it's cold out. Duh!  So she would wait for spring.  She thought Easter would be the perfect time.  A sacrifice, just as Jesus made his ultimate sacrifice for us.

But then spring break is just around the corner.  We will soon be off to Florida to visit Gramma and Grampa to swim and play in the pool and at the beach.  Needless to say the thought of long, thick, wet, sandy hair was not high on the list.  So, we made a date to cut it off.  All ten inches of it. 

First few snips.

The raw cut.

Final, very trendy, haircut with her braid to be sent away.

Emma did a wonderful job of preparing for this day.  She was SO calm and cool about getting her haircut, and then she looked in the mirror after it was all done and screamed like a teenager.  So much for calm and cool, be she still amazes me.

Hank the Tank!

Our darling son has decided to thrill us with his desire to walk.  Yes, Hank is ready to walk.  He has yet to master the art completely, as his few steps generally end in a lunge for whatever his end goal is.  But, boy is it fun to watch!  Enjoy!

A partridge in a pear tree

From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote this carol as a catechism song for young Catholics.  It has two levels of meaning: the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to members of their church. Each
element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality which the children could remember.  For example, the partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.  The two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments, and the three French hens stood for faith, hope, and love.

However, the one that caught my attention were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit; Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control.  These "fruits" are very bountiful indeed!  This year, as a Christmas gift, I will be teaching our children about these fruits and how to apply them as best they can.  A gift of love.  Hopefully they will one day reap the rewards!

From Grace I learn

Here is my little angel Grace, posing just before her ballet recital.  Precious, yes?  This precious one just made me think.

Grace was cuddled up on the couch and asked me to bring her her water bottle from her room.  I was in the kitchen at the time and said, "You can get it."

Grace said, "How come you always say that?  You can get it."

Me, "Because you can get it and usually I'm doing other things.  Why do I need to get it for you?"

Grace, "Because it's the nice thing to do and God wants us to do nice things for each other."

Me, "Yes, he does.  Here you go."

Whew.  From a four year old.  One might think she was  being manipulative, but she's not.  She's Grace, with lots of love in her heart, and some leftover even.

Isn't it amazing when we can learn the most simple, and often most important lessons, from our children?

Let in snow!

One of the reasons I love living in Colorado is the fact that we have four definitive seasons.  While Denver is essentially a desert in the summer, it is also fairly dry throughout the winter.  Hot and dry OR cold and dry.  Yes, even the snow can be dry.

But we hadn't had snow this season, until now.  The snow started right at rush hour, of course, but since we didn't have anywhere to go it as perfect.  The girls and I watched the snow fall through the Christmas lights and it was just beautiful.   

In the morning we put on our snow gear and hiked to school through six whole inches of snow.     Hank wore his fleece one piece and into the backpack he went.  Grace had on her full snow suit. Emma wore big boots, down jacket, and her backpack.  Ready for school!

While walking to school we got a couple funny looks, some smiles, and everyone drove slow to make sure they didn't slide into us.  A first for 20MPH!   (now we live three blocks from school and I simply refuse to drive.  just plan silly to load everyone in the car for such a short distance AND we are teaching our children the joy of being outside and caring for our planet, darn it!)  

We were ALL happy for the fresh snow.

My snowmen!

Goin' Green!

I used my clothe bags at the grocery store today.  Finally!

There are three in my car and I continually forget to bring them into the store with me.  Frustrating, especially since I really do want to "do my part" in reducing the use of plastic bags.  And, well, I bought them, for crying out loud!  So the fact that they sit in my trunk, untouched seems like such a waste.  I love using them, when I remember, they carry a ton of groceries, and it makes me feel good.

Baby steps.  That's what this is.  One good deed at a time.  One day at a time.  And if, when, everyone steps up and does their part, we all win.  

Now, what else can I do?  I'll have to ask Emma.  At seven years old, she's pretty savvy on how to save the world.  Pretty cool if you ask me.  And that we can do this (whatever project it may be) together, is even better.  I'll get back to you on what she comes up with.....