This morning I decided that I was going to share the My Little Red Crayon poem that I wrote a few years back.  I wrote it for my oldest child when she was nearing two.  I had even dug into my archived photos…no problem, there’s only about 18,000 of them, give or give a little.  Yes, I know I said give or give.  There really is five-digit amounts of them…no lie.

I located the picture.  My girls had fun looking back and laughing at everyone’s lack of hair in the “old days” (my kids don’t have much hair until they reach the age of 3).  I hit save, closed everything up for later, and we had a fun afternoon with my in-laws.  After dinner out, the girls BEGGED and PLEADED for me to take them to a rock painting party.  This was an event that I have heard about (repeatedly…as in every. single. day) since my mother, ever so kindly, told them about it.  I still love her.  I do.

I was exhausted beyond measure, but decided, why not?

For those who may not be familiar: painted rocks are a “random acts of kindness” project that many communities are sharing in.  You simply paint rocks and hide them in and around town.  Someone finds your rocks and POOF!!!  Hopefully it makes their day.  Hopefully they feel the love and care that you put into your creation.  The really awesome part is that (if you are joined in a Facebook group), you can see how far your rocks are able to travel.  One of my kid’s rocks was taken to the Kennedy Space Center.  We thought that was pretty awesome.

Back to the post…

I arrived with my four little angels and we were set up at a covered table with paper plates, paint brushes, and some (once upon a time) separated colors of paint.  Imagine my delight when we were seated next to a friend from my Sunday School class.  Yeah!  A big person…that I know!!!

Well…

Let’s just say that the absolutely, beautiful moon rock that this friend had painted (it was good, guys…really, REALLY good) …kind of got RE-painted…RED!!!

I had turned my back long enough to help my ATTENTION DEMANDING 3-YEAR OLD (3 is not my favorite age) get another rock and some unmixed paint.  When I turned back to the baby (she’s 1), I could only gasp.  She was proud…I was NOT.  I was mortified.  My eyes welled with tears.  The rock was beautiful, and now it was…well…it was RED.

Fortunately, said friend was able to rush to the sink and wipe off what the Almond child had added.  Her paint was dry…ours was not.  That. Was. Close.

Again, sorry my friend…you know who you are.

It seems to be a common trend…and color, RED, for the Almond girls…

 

My Little Red Crayon

I have a little red crayon.  It goes everywhere with me.

If you’ll listen carefully, I’ll tell you what we see.

Here is a big round beach ball.  Playing with it brings delight,

but where there used to be an orange space, now there is a big red stripe.

“Your yellow shirt looks so nice,” is what my Mommy said.

I’ll liven it up with a little art that’s the color of the hair upon my head.

Here is the couch where I watch TV.  It’s a lovely shade of green.

I think it will look nice with big red dots.  Do you see what I mean?

On the couch is a little pillow with roses bright and pink.

I’ll add some extra red petals.  They look better now, I think.

My dolly has a purple dress with ruffles and some lace.

Now she also has some big red squiggles drawn upon her face.

Mama issues paper and coloring books, but for me they are such a bore.

I’d rather place my artwork upon this tall, brown door.

On the table is a lamp of black.  It’s waiting to be turned on.

When the bulb lights up the canvas shade, you can see just what I’ve drawn.

I used to have some pearly whites; when I smiled, oh, how they would shine.

Now my crayon’s missing pieces because on its point I tried to dine.

Oh, how I love the color red and it just dawned on me

That everywhere I turn my head, red crayon’s all I see.

I had a little red crayon.  With it I had such fun today,

but I handed it to Daddy and in a second it had gone away.

My crayon’s gone, my day is through

so off to bed I go.

Tomorrow is another day and I think it will be

BLUE!!

Amanda Almond, 2011

 

My oldest, like her baby sister, loved adding her special touch to the world around her.  Wait! She still does.

 

Matthew 5:13-16 (NIV)

Salt and Light

¹³ “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

¹⁴ “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.¹⁵ Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

 

Dear friends, let your light shine.  Spread love, spread joy, spread peace.  Dare to be bold, dare to be unique, dare to be no less than who you were called to be.  Along with my children, paint the world.

Just don’t paint other people’s rocks.