when G gets what she wants or is in any way very happy with what you've done for her, she begins to make promises. promises like, "i wiw dwaw you a pictuw with hearts, and you, and me, and wuv." or "i wiw bake you cake!" but it doesn't end there, her eyes begin to sparkle as she explains the process with gusto:

"we wiw dwaw a pictuw togethah, you and me, and dad, and aww da kids. we will dwaw and dwaw and WUV!!"

and then she runs for paper.

i began to feel a little nervous as we sat down to dwaw togethah. what if she doesn't like my silly cartoon version of us? what if it's not what she wanted, or expected, as this idea came to life within her mind? but with her orangutan eyes fixated on my pen i began to draw. i had only finished her figure, the hill and the flowers in her dress when she snatched it out of my hands. "my tuwn!" she said with glee.

it was then that i finally got it through my thick head. this process wasn't about my art. it wasn't about me. it was about drawing WITH my girl. she filled in the other members of our family, putting hearts in E's hair and laughing raucously when she added a mohawk in place of F's crew cut. i showed her how to make swirls and tufts of grass, she added a sun and her name. then it was my turn to fill in the rest as she drifted off to sleep.

creativity isn't about being the first or the best.

it's about loving what you do.

living with passion.

and showing up to work together,

with WUV.