My Papafather died when I was 19.  I loved him very much, he had been an awesome daddy.  When I found I was pregnant with Girl 1, I knew that I wanted to name the baby after my Papafather.  I prayed that this baby would have red hair and brown eyes just like my Papafather as well.  It couldn't be any red hair, I was very specific about the color, and adamant that the eyes must be brown, not blue or hazel.  For whatever reason, the Lord answered that prayer. 

As she grew, Girl 1's hair became wild!  It had curls that went every which direction, and when it was humid I didn't even bother combing it.  There didn't seem to be any use.  I never cut it, because I loved her hair, it was beautiful.  When she was five she came downstairs and I immediatly noticed that something was dreadfully wrong!  I raced upstairs to the bathroom and sure enough, their in the wastebasket was a tidy wad of red, curly hair.  Girl 1 had cleaned up after herself, and I was just left with the damage done. 

I went to look her over, and found that she had chopped off the front of her hair.  Right down to the scalp.  I wailed, "Why?"  She said, "I wanted my hair to be short like Girl 2's."  Girl 2 was was only two years old and her hair had only grown with the size of her head.  We took Girl 1 to a beauty salon to have what was left of her hair fixed.  I cried.  Girl 1's hair  has never been the same since.  Now it is straight, and on humid days she gets small ringlets.

I say so much about her hair because it is the first thing people notice about Girl 1.  Interestingly, she has never been called carrot top.  Her hair is but an outward showing of all the hues that boil within.  She loves bright, vibrant colors.  She goes through life with these colors splashing out of her.  Red for anger, pink for love, yellow for joy, purple for calm, and  orange for humor.  These colors splash about the canvass of her life leaving an abstract impression of who she is. 

When Girl 1 was two, we made a garden on our property.  She came over to help us pick out rocks.  With her pointer finger and thumb she would daintly pick up a pebble, put it in a bucket and would brush her hands clean after each one.  After awhile she went into the house, and a few moments later came back outside completely naked.  She plopped herself down in the dirt and began to pick rocks and toss them into the bucket with gusto!  It has become apparent to us now, that for Girl 1 there is no point in doing anything unless she can give it her all. 

This attitude of all or nothing causes her great frustration when she is working at something and it is beyond her capabilities.  She will finally settle for less, but she is never happy about it, and will make a sweeping decision.  Either she will learn more about how to do it, or give up ever doing anything with it again. 

Girl 1 has a great memory.  When she was five she joined Awana's and it was a great challenge for her to memorize the verses.  She would spin in the middle of the living room floor, repeating the verses over and over.  It seemed to work for her.  When she was 13 she joined the Bible Quiz team from the church we attended as the youngest member.  She had to memorize the first three chapters of Hebrews.  She was the only one on the team who did, and at the quiz meet, the entire team looked to her for chapter and verse. 

At 11 she was invited by People to People to become a delegate for the United States. It was the summer after 9/11 and it was hard to see her go.  Still, I knew that security was at it's highest and there was probably no safer time to fly and visit other nations. Girl 1 was the youngest, and only homeschooled member.  She loved the trip and it has inspired her to want to travel the world over. 

Girl 1 has a love of  fiber arts and weaving.  Especially dying arts!  She has read books and taught herself to crochet, knit, tat, and weave.  She wants to learn to make bobbin lace and spin.  Her love of music has also led her to read and teach herself to play piano.  Not well at this point, but she plays with both hands and never had a lesson. 

I know that Girl 1 will go far in life, as long as she submits to Christ.  I can't wait to see where it takes her, and I look forward to seeing her life's painting unfold.  The first child is always an education in learning how to parent.  Who knew that she could have so much to teach us?

Want to learn more about Girl 1 ?  Then click on the link and visit her blog!