Grace....with a heart the size of TEXAS

I've always heard, "You train a child in the way she should go.....and when she gets older, she will not depart from it." Now, I know she isn't grown-up yet. She just turned 8. However, I thought I would share how my oldest baby has made me sooooo proud of her. I must be doing something right!

Since Grace started growing hair, I have never given her a major haircut. We've let her hair grow and grow and grow..... only having trims and a few good 2-3 inch cuts along the way. Daddy, as well as Popaw and Pappy, LOVED her long, straight, healthy flowing, golden brown hair. While sitting on their laps I would always catch them running their fingers through it.

(I went through some old photos and found these)

We've come through some milestones with our little Grace. From her FIRST loose tooth....

...that she wiggled forever!!

The first time she read her own bedtime story. She was in kindergarden.... Thanks Mrs. Napier!

By age 8, her hair was touching her waist, for the third time. She was now in the second grade and showing her independance by wanting to get herself ready and pick out her own clothes.

Again, Grace mentioned to her daddy how she would like to get a haircut since, of course, we wanted his approval before making the plunge.

With some hugs around the neck and lots of lovins and kisses......he gave in and said "Whatever you want, baby!"

SHE WAS SO EXCITED!!!!! Grace started jumping up and down and couldn't wait until I got her the appointment. She then said she wanted to DONATE her hair to "Locks of Love", a foundation that makes wigs for people with cancer that have lost their hair. I was so proud of her at that moment. We had discussed this before and she really wanted to do it this time. In order to donate her hair she had to have at least 8 inches of hair cut. She hopped up in the chair, Bobbi separated her hair into 2 little ponytails.

Grace told me, "At that moment I was thinking about all the people who had cancer, like Momaw Bertie, and I felt so bad for them. And I thought if I can do something, why shouldn't I?" and then snip....snip.....

...off they came. Each ponytail was 10 inches long. TEN INCHES!!! I must admit that I lost my breath at that very moment.

This was the hair I've washed and combed and brushed for so many years. The hair I had twisted and braided and curled for picture days. This was my BABY's hair. Now my baby was making a big girl decision and we supported her. She is so thoughtful and considerate of others. It takes 10 sections of hair, usually, to make one wig. Graces' 2 sections of hair will be added to other peoples hair; dyed, cut and styled to make a wig. Grace is so content with her decision. I've never been more proud of her! She looks absolutely beautiful and her expression says it all.