a Sign

I believe that my Children and I (and all of us for that matter) are, and will always be, works in progress.   

But, Cora did something this week that made me think that despite being our first Child, our "guinea pig" so to speak, we must be doing something right, in the midst of our daily challenges with our very lovely but high-maintenance, strong-willed child. 

An encouraging moment in the midst of the daily grind of trying to raise a good person while being a good one yourself.  (not an easy task at all)

We heard through a friend about something very tragic that happened to someone in our Mom's group and so our friend asked us to string together decorated prints of our little one's hands to give to a lady that we all care about very much who is going through a hard time right now.

So I traced Cora's hand and told her to please write her name on one side of the hand and decorate the other side by drawing pictures of things that "would make someone feel better".  I left it up to her and sat and drank tea and read the paper while she occupied herself with the task I had given her.

When she was done and showed me her work, I found myself with tears in my eyes.  She had drawn and colored 4 things (since she was four and does everything in 4s now) "a mommy and baby butterfly flying together", a rainbow, a flower, and Baby Jesus laying in a manger. 

She told me that they were four things that always made her feel better when she was very sad.  Then she asked me how to spell Jesus' name so she could write it on the card.

Cora (who never misses anything) noticed the tears in my eyes and seemed confused... why would her pictures make mommy so sad? 

That was when I explained to her that sometimes Mommies cry when they were very, very happy too.

Cora, a little over 2 years old.  This picture was taken by my sister and it has always been one of my favorites.