Daisy didn't have dance class during the summer months, but still practiced faithfully.
One night, she announced she would be putting on a dance show for the family.
We were pleased, until she informed us that we would have
to pay $1.00 each for the privilege of watching. Joe was incredulous.
"We have to pay?"
Being thrifty, Daisy quickly came down on her price.
"Okay, 25 cents, but you have to pay before the show."
Obviously, she had pegged us as the type that might skip out without paying.
We paid for the performance, which was not the first time we have
shelled out money for the privilege of viewing children's art.
When Jonah was around 6 years old, he presented me with a beautiful
picture he had drawn. When he saw that my interest was piqued,
he took it back and told me it was for sale if I wanted it. Well, of course I wanted it!
He had drawn a picture of Mary giving birth to the baby Jesus!
How often do we see the baby Jesus wrapped up in a blue blanket, with Mary standing
demurely next to Joseph? Jonah had drawn the baby Jesus
making his grand entrance and Mary was scowling with the pain of it all.
I can explain.

This happened shortly after Jonah had overheard the facts of life talk I had had with
Linda Jo. We had thought that Jonah was asleep when I walked her through an
explanation of the miracle of life, from conception to birth. When I was finished, I was
slightly concerned that she might be feeling overwhelmed at all this information.
I wondered if I had explained it clearly. "Do you have any questions?"
I asked. She was just shaking her head no, when we heard a voice from the next room.
"I have a question."
Linda Jo was horrified. "Mom! Jonah heard everything!"
Somehow, I remained calm as he walked up to me. "I have a question," he repeated.
"How does the doctor get that extension cord off the baby?"
I guess I had done an adequate job of explaining it after all, as his only concern was how
the doctor would handle the extension AKA umbilical cord.
Thus, a few months later, although nothing more was asked, he drew Mary in the throes
of labor...this is the part of the Christmas story that no one speaks of.

Children's art is a wonderful thing.
Each of our children have graced the walls of our home with crayon
at one time or another. This phase usually hits them around age 3 or 4.
Linda Jo was the most conscientious of the three, looking at her masterpiece
and feeling guilty immediately afterward. "Momma!" she cried, running out of the
playroom. "There's a picture on your wall," she confessed,
pointing to her right hand, "and this hand did it!"  

Here is a work of art that my nephew drew on his brother's belly.
Time passes too quickly...these boys are teenagers now.

If you find artwork on the wall, enjoy it a few days before you scrub it off.
You have the rest of your life to enjoy clean walls...if that's what you want.
Trust me, you'll look back and wish you had the dilemma of sticky little hands with
spaghettios on them, a belly that needs soap and water, or a priceless print
of the Virgin Mary that someone is offering you for a mere 50 cents.
Trust me.