Feeling beautiful

I've been thinking quite a bit about Africa and our travel. Trying to decide what donations we will bring with us. It is a challenge of space and weight and need. A story problem in and of itself...what can we pack in two 50 lb bags (or more) that will make a difference? Both our care center and AHOPE, a care center for HIV+ children, have urgent needs for diapers and formula. Diapers seem to be a no brainer--they are light and I think I can squish a whole heck of a lot in those space saver bags when you take the air out. Formula will be a bit more problematic. We're bringing some, but it is really heavy!

But reading the list of needs for AHOPE, something struck me-- particularly as the mom to girls. They need hair accessories. A part of me feels like, why bring hair accessories when other needs seem more urgent, like vitamins or anti-fungal cream? But thinking back to when I was an eight year old girl, I remember barrettes being tremendously important. Remember when there were those metal barrettes that you would string with ribbon and finish off with beads at the end? Or the rainbow barrettes with your name on them? Or those hair scrunchies in your school colors? How cool and beautiful you felt when you wore them for the first time? How powerful it was to do your own hair in the way that you wanted (not the way your mother wanted), to claim ownership of yourself and define your own style?

So we are bringing hair accessories along with the other donations. Because I think feeling good about yourself is important, whether you are a preteen in the US or a girl in a care center in Africa. Feeling pretty for a little while can be as nourishing to the soul as vitamins are to the body. Besides that, every little girl deserves a little sparkle in their life.

If you want to send me some hair elastics or barrettes, I would be honored to carry them with me. In the meantime, the girls and I have some fun shopping to do.