Smiling Pictures

This, my blog friends, is one of my most favorite pictures of Caris. Some might find that unusual. Granted, it's a good picture, but if you look closely, you'll notice something. Something most "good" pictures have that this one doesn't. Can you see what's missing? Think really hard. OK, I'll tell you - she's not smiling. Isn't it funny (no pun intended) how a picture with no smile can make you happy? I see so many things in this picture. This is Caris's face 90% of the time, so, to me, it looks most like her. Notice how her hair is NOT arranged perfectly like it was when I fixed it for school that morning? Notice how it doesn't matter? Notice how the expression on her face could be interpreted so many ways? Is she about to ask me to go swing on the swingset AGAIN? Is she about to burst into crocodile tears because I'd just told her we had to go back in the house and start dinner? Is she about to crack a sneaky smile and take off running like a banshee to avoid going into said house? It could go so many different ways, just like any given day being her Mom. It's like the Mona Lisa - noone but da Vinci knows why she has smiled all these years; noone but me knows why Caris ISN'T smiling here. My point is, smiling pictures aren't always the best pictures. I see so much life and possibility in this picture - just like EVERY time I look into her sweet face. I love being her Mom.