To Dye or Not to Dye

I will reach the tender age of 44 this month.  Wow!!  In so many respects (and sometimes maturity level), I still feel like I am in my twenties.  With the recession finally hitting Texas, and therefore my little household, and Christmas having just passed, our bank account has been on the low side.  As a result, I was forced to cancel my hair appointment.  This may not seem like such a big deal.  Some of you may be thinking, "what a luxury to have a regular hair appointment!" and you are absolutely correct.

However,  I am completely gray at 44.  I found my first gray hair when I was 18 years old and the numbers have increased dramatically through the years.  Both of my parents' hair color, in their sixties, is just beginning to salt and pepper. I recently found out that my paternal great grandmother was fully gray in her thirties so apparently I got that bad gene.  I have been coloring my hair since my twenties, mostly myself with the box colors you find at the grocery store.  I started having it colored professionally when I had my children and mostly because a house with small children is NOT a conducive environment for hair dying, but also because the box brands just didn't appear as effective anymore since my hair is almost COMPLETELY gray.  I also have very thick hair and my natural color was dark, almost black, brown, which can be seen in my bathroom on the carpet, doors, and sink.

Every morning when I get dressed as I gaze upon my root line and it's increasing width, I am met with a lesson in humility.  I think about my great grandmother, Lena Broussard, and how she had to just deal with premature gray. Perhaps she even resolved herself to the conviction that, "This is the way God made me. This must be in His plan."  If I continue to dye my hair, am I missing opportunities to practice virtues? Immediately the virtue of humility comes to mind, but also patience when undoubtedly I'll have to graciously respond to the comment, "What beautiful grandchildren you have!" when they are, in fact, my own children.  I'm just not sure I am that strong or holy and I am ONLY 44.  Vanity O Vanities!!

So, family and friends, when you see me, whether my hair is gray or dyed, dark brown, please send up a prayer for me.  Either way, I am in desperate need of them.

Snow Day!

Every year since we have moved to Texas, we have had exactly one snow day.  It is always very exciting for the boys and usually me as well.  I miss the snow.  Well, I don't miss the actual snow because I do not like to be out in the snow.  What I miss is how the snow can take a backyard littered with plastic toys, sticks, and turned over lawn chairs and make it look so beautiful and white, almost as if the world outside your window is purified.  I also LOVE to watch the snow falling, especially those big snowflakes, from the comfort of my couch near a cozy fire, of course.  Finally, I LOVE the fact that I don't have to feel guilty for not leaving the house and staying in my PJ's all day.  To me, it just doesn't get much better than that.

However, this morning was a wee bit disappointing.  1-3+" were fore-casted for overnight.  This is a lot of snow for south central Texas.   I really thought I would wake up to winter wonderland and I was so excited.  I woke up in great spirits:   first and foremost because it was just Bruce and I in the bed (a miracle), but also because it had snowed!  I jumped out of bed (the second of two miracles) and rushed to the window and looked out upon a barely snow covered yard.  I could still see the black roofs.  I could still see the grass.  Oh No.  I got up and turned on the TV to find out that there had been intermittent bouts of snow and freezing drizzle which adversely affected the snowfall.  It did continue to snow, but it was barely visible.

I feel like such a complainer, but it was probably my only chance for snow this year.  Praise God!  I have  conclude that it just wasn't in His plan for me today.  Besides, I still get to enjoy my fire and my semi snow covered backyard, AND I am still in my jammies and feel no guilt whatsoever.  My boys LOVED the snow and had such a wonderful time!!!!   What a blessing after all!

 Yeah!  Snow Day!

 Ooops or was that on purpose!

 Hi!  You can't see, but he has a snotty nose.  How could I keep him in when his brother was outside?  We'll deal with the pneumonia later.

 Tracks in the snow!!

 Silliness in the snow.

 My 5 year old angel 

My littlest angel.

Andrew is 5 years old!

Wow!  I can't believe Andrew is 5 years old already.  The weather conditions are the same as they were when he was born.  It was in the 20's when I was sent to the hospital and it snowed the entire first day of his life.

Andrew, you are such a joy to us.  We love you so much.  You are growing into such a sweet little boy and loving big brother, most of the time.  You are becoming very independent and have learned to make your own smoothies (mom works the blender) and your own PBand J sandwiches with minimal mess.  Since we started practicing our virtues with our virtue chart (www.thevirtuestore.com),  your Dad and I are so very pleased that not only are you learning the virtues and what they mean, but you are growing in many of them.  You are primarily working on growing in the virtues of kindness, obedience, generosity, perseverance, patience, and faith.  You are also working on self-control, but that one is a bit more difficult for you.  We are so proud of your progress!!

You amaze us with your ability to understand things and believe God has given you a beautiful mind which we pray you will use for His greater glory.  You continue to LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to dress up and play different characters:  superman, iron man, transformers, police officers, cowboys, and Luke Sky-walker (below, blowing out his candle).  You really get into character and try to get the entire family involved in your play.

Our greatest goal for you, son, is that one day you will embrace your own spiritual journey and begin to seek God with your whole heart and soul.  We thank our Great God for the gift He has given us of allowing us to share our life journeys together.  We are so happy that you are our son and we love you so much.

Sweet big brother letting Mark open one of his presents.  

Always acting silly.

This is his Luke Skywalker costumer because of the hood. Note:  He has never seen any of the Star Wars movies, but he and Bruce did watch a documentary once on the science of Star Wars which showed clips from the movies.