My Thankful Thursday on Wednesday - My sweet handsome boy CODY!

My sweet Code-man is a very precious gift to me. He was born on January 13, almost two weeks late. It just seems like yesterday when he was little..now he has grown up (almost 5 feet 11 inches to be exact) to be a wonderful young man who is thoughtful, kind, caring, and helpful. He is often the peace-maker when his brother and sister start fighting...(not Brett and Jes...oy!) He has been such a blessing.

Anyway...as we were preparing for our trip tomorrow he said that he wanted to cut his hair. I asked him if he was sure and he said yes. Now for some background about his hair. Since he was 6 yrs. old he didn't want his hair to be cut. I remember asking him why and he said so people will know that I am a Native American. So we started growing his hair. Growing our hair is not about being vain but it is about tradition and strength. It helps to identify who you are in our culture. Some natives believe it involves the spiritual part of you as well. It all differs in how you were brought up. When someone passes on we show respect by cutting our hair if you want to. Now why would he want to cut his hair? I believe it had to do with people mistaking him for a girl. Now come on people does this picture look like a girl...I think NOT!!! You know he actually had a comment written about his hair in the editorial section of the newspaper, which was written by a student at his school and they used his name...I was not to happy about that so I better not get started talking about it because it just ignorance on their part and for anybody else who thinks that any male who grows their hair long is a girl...

So back to the part where he said he wanted his hair cut before we leave, I said okay are you sure? Yes mom, I'm ready for a change is what he said. Then just to tell you all how caring and thoughtful he is he said I want to donate my hair to LOCKS of LOVE which, I'm sure you all know about, is hair donations of lengths of at least 10 inches that goes towards making wigs for under privileged children who have lost their hair due to sickness. His hair was about 12 or so inches long...That's my Cody!

HERE IS HIS HAIR HE DONATED - TOOK A WHILE TO CUT THROUGH HIS THICK, LONG, WAVY HAIR

AFTER THE CUTOFF OF HIS BRAIDE

HAVING HIS HAIR SHAPED

THE FINAL RESULTS - LOOKS LIKE HIS DAD WHEN HE WAS YOUNGER

Here he is getting ready to donate - he looks good and it is taking me a while getting used to seeing his new look - he still is a handsome young man and still Native American