20: Submitted by Indira B.

Indira, Greg, Maya, Ana, Pari and Cymran. We are mixed and happy!

19: Submitted by Myranda M.

BLOG: Just Because

So in addition to adding all of your beautiful pictures, I'll be blogging. Feel free to pass on the link!

Wow. What a Friday this has been.

It started this morning before the sun came up. I was still in bed when I placed my hand on hubby's head and prayed. I thanked God for the day and told him it was His--something I need to start doing everyday.

On my way to work, I noticed that my gas tank was on big fat E. I dropped the kids off at school and thanked God that I had just been paid. (Our account was overdrawn because of something I did, and I was already feeling bad about it, but now we were back in the green.)

I was about a mile from the job when I rolled into the gas station on fumes when I realized that I left my bag at home. You know, the one with my cell phone and wallet it in. "No, no, no!" I said. "No ..."

The only option was sitting in my car covered with icky ink. A blue pen had exploded in the ash tray (do people still call it that?) earlier in the week and my coins were covered in blue, gooey ink.

So, there I was, holding a hand full of sticky, blue change. I walked it in (with head--and hand--held high) to the gas station and said "50 on pump four, please."

And then I held my hands out and profusely apologized. "I mean 50 cents and it has ink all over it, but I'm going to run out of gas if I don't ..." She didn't say a word; just held her hand out.

Back out by the mom van, I was about to lift up the pump handle and pump for about two seconds when a man called out to me: "I just added five to your 50."

"What?? Really? Oh, thank you SO much!" I said.

At that moment, I swear I was almost moved to tears. Because at that moment, I knew that God was taking care of me. I just knew it was His way. After pumping the gas, I walked over to the other side of the station where the man was getting ready to drive away.

"Thank you so much," I said. "Can I have your name?"

"I'm Steve," he said.

"Well, how can I repay you?" I was hoping he worked somewhere close enough so that I could return the money.

"No worries," he said. "It's my good deed for the day. I'm just here on business. I'm from Ocala."

I thanked Steve from Ocala again and when I got in my van, I thought, "Yep, you are here on business."

When I got to work, I scrubbed my hands. By lunch time, there were still remnants of the ink-covered coins in my hands. I opened my palm and showed my co-worker over lunch.

Just before lunch, I got an extra-special surprise when I headed downstairs and saw a vase of beautiful roses sitting on the receptionist's desk. They were for me. Hubby sent them with a card that read "Because I love you."

That's just how I felt when Steve from Ocala stepped in and gave me those $5. I felt like God was saying "You know. Just because I love you."

So that's my message to you today: Do something for someone just because you love them. And be sure to tell them "it's just because." There is something so special about that.

18: Submitted by Eric H.

Just joined and sending in a pic of the beautiful mixed family.

17: Submitted by Dodi B.

16: Submitted Jenna R. (Florida)

15: Submitted by Heather P.

14: Submitted by Erica B.

13: Submitted by Colleen (New York)

12: Submitted by Christina M. (Florida)

11: Submitted by Carissa C. (Florida)

My three happy sons!

10: Submitted by Gina C. (Florida)

9: Submitted by Lisa F.

8: Submitted by Rhonda J.

7: Submitted by Katherine

6: Submitted by Adrianne H. (Florida)

Adrianne is having a baby! We are so happy for you, Adrianne.

5: Submitted by Craig W. (Florida)

This family happens to be one of my favorites. They are an amazing couple who love God with their whole hearts. I see it in their life and in their family. Such an inspiration to so many.

4: Submitted by Brenda B. (California)

These were the first Mixed and Happy photo submissions, submitted by Brenda B. Top to bottom: Granddaughter, grandson and daughter. Thanks for sharing, Brenda!

3: Submitted by Jen M.

Easter photo submitted by Jen M.

2: Submitted by Arelis R. (Puerto Rico)

From Arelis:

Representing my roots: I am of from a white Spaniard/African black blood from mom's side and a Mixed Caribbean (white, Indian and black) from my father's side. My husband is from a white Spaniard father whose family never believe in mixed families and were marrying relatives to keep their names and blood (ridiculous, yes) and a mixed mother (indian and white).

We have three beautiful children. Very proud of our origins and my ancestors. I can't trace my mom's family side due to her grandmother (a rich white girl) who ran away with my grandfather (a slave from her father's plantation) and their names were removed and his purchase papers destroyed.

We don't even know from which region in Africa he came from; the Catholic Church, who took care of the kids when they died of TB around 1918 changed their last names. You should have seen my grandpa, a tan guy with green eyes and course blond hair. I loved him so much.

1: Welcome to my blog!

This blog was sparked the day I read an article that went like this:

NEW ORLEANS – A Louisiana justice of the peace said he refused to issue a marriage license to an interracial couple out of concern for any children the couple might have. Keith Bardwell, justice of the peace in Tangipahoa Parish, says it is his experience that most interracial marriages do not last long. (Find the article here.)

Interestingly enough, at that very moment, I had a 10x13 photograph staring at me. My family and I had ventured to Picture People earlier in the week to take the dreaded family picture. (Yes, it's a dreaded event when there is a 3- and 1-year-old who would rather throw legos at the camera lady than smile for her.)

I picked up the picture the night before and hadn't gotten around to framing it. But instead of sticking it in a frame, I stuck it on the scanner and thought I'd share it with my facebook family. I jokingly wrote that I should send Keith Bardwell a Christmas card with our new family picture on it.

It really was a joke; just me being cynical. But, people were telling me I should really do it. And so I decided I would. It's been a week and more than 100 people have joined the Mixed and Happy facebook group, but I am praying that people from all over the world send me pictures of their mixed and happy families.

I think Bardwell deserves a very colorful treat this Christmas. I'm shooting for 100 pictures; 100 families. If you know a mixed and happy family, please send them the link. Pictures can be emailed to mixedandhappy (at) gmail (dot)com. All pictures will be posted here so people can see how the card is coming together. Also, feel free to join the Mixed and Happy group on Facebook.

And if Oprah's reading, let's do a show about families who are mixed and happy! (And by mixed, I mean any and all mixtures. The whole point is that we need to be over the racism thing already. It's pigmentation of skin. I mean, really. It's time.)