What is it with us girls and our desire to be beautiful? It's the desire of every little girl and every woman to look and feel pretty. Even the ones who won't admit it.

I see this desire in my 20 month old baby girl, in the teenage lifeguards at our pool, in my 90 year old grandmother and I certainly see it in myself. It's just one of those things that unites us and reminds us that we all have the same Maker. Regardless of age, race, culture, background or national origin, all girls want to be pretty.

It was for this blessed reason that my dear husband spent six hours with Hannah at the hair salon last weekend. Yes, Dan -- not me. Six hours.

I had to rush out and help a friend with an emergency situation. The girl already had a hair appointment. What's a Daddy to do?

He did what any reasonable man would do -- he packed up his iPad and his daughter and spent his precious Saturday hanging around a little girl hair salon. Now that's a good man.

So it did take six whole hours - about 4.5 longer than scheduled, but I think the result is pretty stinkin' fabulous:

Picture by www.griffingibson.com

I know. This child is stunning. She is outrageously, ridiculously beautiful. She always has been. But she hasn't always felt that way.

Eight months ago, she came to us scared, guarded and cold. She was desperately shy, insecure and fearful of almost everything.

But in the last few months, we have beheld such miracles with Hannah. She has bloomed, flourished and come out of her shell. She laughs, runs, smiles and talks with confidence. She still has fears and concerns -- but now they are the appropriate, healthy fears that I would expect and even encourage in any child her age.

Was it the hair that made the difference? I doubt it. Although feeling pretty doesn't hurt.

I'm pretty sure it's all the love she's received and a big, healthy dose of God's grace. Definitely, "He has made everything beautiful in its time." Ecc 3:11

Picture by www.griffingibson.com