Little ABBY... and Sara's "Locks Of Love"

After getting home from our first road trip to Wheeling... we decided it was time to get everyone (especially McCaleb...) a haircut. So we set the appointment - and began to make plans.

Since the time the kids were very little, at night we would add people to our bedtime prayers that we knew were sick, or sad, or hurting.... it has become a family ritual. Lately, it seems, the list has been really growing. It seems that more and more we find people who are hurting, or sick, or just need to be lifted up. The kids are so aware of each and every name on our list... and we say them all, out loud, together, each night during our prayer time. It has been a great way to make them aware of people and their situations... and also aware of times that we can praise God for the blessings of healing or restoration. It has been an awesome thing to watch unfold... and it truly touches me when we bump into someone out - and one of the kids will say... "We've been praying for you!"

One of the people that we have been praying for nightly for quite some time is little Abby Riggs. What a precious little girl. Her story is one that you hear - and it immediately tugs at your heart. (I would encourage you to go to the Riggs Family Blog and read about Abby, too. Consider adding this sweet child and her family to your prayer list each day!)

When the time came that Abby was losing her hair... and she decided to shave her head... Sara decided that she was going to give Abby her hair. Sar had heard the story of how I cut my hair off and donated it to Locks of Love. I don't think she really understood the concept at that time...it was very soon after she first came home from Guatemala. However, when she saw Abby had shaved her hair... she immediately informed me that she wanted to give HER HAIR TO ABBY.

When we went to get our haircuts... Rachel went first. (She only wanted a "trim" and made that very clear.) Then we had Ali go next... because she wanted to cut her hair short too, since Sara was cutting hers. I thought that this would be a good idea (Ali has had short hair before...) so that Sara was able to see that once the hair was gone... it couldn't be put back on.

Sara was adamant that she wanted her hair cut... so after Ali was done... she hopped up in the chair, and held her hand up to her ears and said "Cut it up to here." Uh oh.

So Melissa... in all her infinite wisdom... pulled her hair back into a pony tail, measured off how much she needed to cut... and whacked off that pony tail.

Sara was THRILLED. She was so excited to send her hair to Abby. I tried several times to explain that we can't just send her hair to Abby... but I still don't think she ever really understoond me. She was just so proud of herself - and I am proud of her!

After the haircut - I could not believe how much older and more grown up she looked!

WOW! So here are all the kids, with their fresh cuts and trims. While I think they are the cutest bunch of children ever... my heart is overwhelmed by their sweetness and unselfishness... and their hearts that reach out to others. They are such good kids... and I am so blessed to be their mom!