Beauty.

Somebody is ten-years-old and about to bust-out-of-her-boots with excitement. Especially once she found out that TODAY is the day her family will poke a hole in her head to see if her rapidly escaping energy makes her sail all over the room like a balloon! Only, in her case, it'll take two holes. "I don't care." She says. "As long as the holes are filled with bling!"

Your Brothers, Scabs and Bruiser, offered to use the livestock ear-tagger but Sister wasn't going for it. So off we went to the dermatologist to git'erdone the right way. All sterile and proper-like.
At first, you had to fight off some unexpected nervousness.Then, there were the dreaded cotton balls to deal with. OH NO! ANYTHING but the cotton balls! Sorry Baby, I had to keep my sense of humor to prevent myself from dissolving into a puddle of tears right along with you. Just like I did ten years ago when that mean 'ol hag-of-a-nurse pricked your baby pink heel and then proceeded to take what felt like an hour to extract three drops of blood. Only, today, I couldn't pull you to my breast and nurse away your sadness.
But, somehow, you made it through the attack-of-the-cotton-balls. Even though these Yay-Who's were about as compassionate as barbed wire.

And, you made it through the dotting-of-the-ear-lobes. But, by this time, the Brothers-Grimm were telling you about all the things that could hurt a whole lot worse than getting your ears pierced. Like getting shot with a paint ball gun or slamming your fingers in the car door. Then they really ramped it up and offered to be your target the next time you wanted to try out their air-soft guns.

I wasn't so sure this line of reasoning was helping much.

In fact, you almost sent the Paparazzi packing and called the whole thing off. And I almost did too. Because a Mother's heart can only push a kid so far toward their dreams before that Mama wants to make a mad-dash for home and a plate of warm cookies. But don't worry, I would have made a nourishing salad for you too My Love.

Then, just when I thought you were ready to call it quits, I heard you whisper softly "I want to do this. I want to do this."

And, just like that, YOU WERE DONE! And amazed at how much it did NOT hurt!

And that Kristy-The-Best-Ear-Piercer-Ever was, in fact, BRILLIANT and TRUSTWORTHY.

AND, that you had two new best friends who will stand by your side in your darkest hour. And then make fun of you! (see-the-bars, see-the-bars).

Thank you for showing us your brave side today My Daughter. And thank you for saving Mommy from that plate of cookies too.

"...rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God." 1 Peter 3:4