I spent a lot of time drawing pictures when I was in grade school, more time than my teachers usually thought was appropriate.  While musing over difficult math concepts, I would draw lines around the equations.  And during reading I’d draw pictures of characters in the story.  One time I drew a picture of Miss McClellan as she was teaching us in the 6th grade.  I kept that drawing throughout my adult life until I sadly lost it when we moved to our new home last year.  (See my post about visiting her sister, the other Miss McClellan).

My foster daughter, Kayli, gave me a drawing several years ago of a lake and mountains, a sailboat, a little girl and some apple trees.  Practically everything in it was carefully outlined.  I identified right away with what I’m sure I would have been thinking had I been the artist. Those LINES!  I had drawn lines around my math problems because I struggled to make numbers behave.  And I drew pictures to transport myself into the story where I was assured the outcome would be guaranteed.  But Kayli’s picture might show something similar because of being separated from her family and not having any control over the outcomes in her life.  I think she wanted lines that were uncrossable and outcomes that were inviolable.

But before I continue reading meaning into her drawing that might not be accurate, take a look at the only items that were NOT outlined – the apples.  I’m still contemplating what they might represent.  Perhaps it’s her 4 brothers, or perhaps not.  Perhaps she was just giving the little girl in the drawing a snack!