12/21/2015 God's word and prayer

Earlier this morning we were sitting at the breakfast table learning about Jamaica when we started talking about the importance of having God's word in our lives, and to get it however we can, even when it's difficult.

I asked, "How do people who are deaf know God's word?"

Jadon astutely answered, "They can read God's word."

I continued, "What about people who are blind?"

Jadon again astutely answered, "They can listen to God's word."

I responded, "Yes, we can read it to them."

All of this time Evangelina was carefully and quietly listening.

I went on, "What do we do for people who are deaf AND blind?"

Finally, Evangelina broke her silence, and quickly answered, "We have to pray for them."

I think she got that one right!

how now brown cow?

The other day while Evangelina was with Mommy on her way to a doctor's appointment, she asked, "Mommy, do some cows have [make] chocolate milk?"

"No, Mina, all cows have white milk, & people just add chocolate to it."

Funny hearing what our kids are thinking sometimes.

all work and no play makes Eva a dull girl

This afternoon while JJ & Evangelina were waiting outside Jadon's art class, JJ initiated some math games with our little one: counting, evens & odds, & following numbers.  At first she was having a good time (especially when she earned a sip of Chia Squeeze with her correct answers).  After awhile, however, (especially when she was required to get more correct answers per sip of Chia Squeeze) she turned around in her chair, leaned into it, & said with an exasperated, matter-of-fact tone, "I don't want to play anymore.  This is not game; this is work."

whattaya want first? the good news or the bad news?

Way back in April I asked our children separately, "What does the Bible mean to you?"  Each had a very different answer.  To my shame & sadness, Jadon answered, "[The Bible] tells you about the past so that you can change it."  A few days later when I asked Evangelina, she turned to Jadon with open hands before her (as if she had an open Bible in hand) and said, "I'm going to read the Bible to you-- 'Jesus loves you, even he prays for you, even he always loves you.  The end.'"  This really makes me wonder what it really is that we are teaching our kids about God (& how they may have different ways of hearing what we tell them)...  May God help us to communicate the true Good News of God's perfect gift to us undeserving sinners!

our ex-Boss

This morning when going through our geography lesson over breakfast (using "Operation World"), the kids chose to discuss the United States.  After I talked about how many people live in the U.S., I started to go through country's history, including its colonial past.  Trying to see if Jadon remembered who was the power over 13 original colonies, I asked them, "Do you know who used to be the boss of the United States?"  

Evangelina immediately answered, "God."

Judging by what I see in the news (though I certainly do not have the romantic view of any heightened godliness of our nation's founding fathers), I would say that she was correct!

our first geography lesson

The other morning over breakfast, I was giving Evangelina her first geography lesson (about continents, oceans, & peoples), & I began by explaining how the globe in front of her represented God's world.  

With an interested look, she responded with a question, "Where's Costco?"

sleepytime explosion

In the dead of sleep (while I was massaging Jadon's legs -- both Jadon & I heard this), Evangelina blurted out, "Jadon!  Your shoes are no good.  They could be a bomb!"  Not a peep afterward!  (I'd sure love be in on her dreams!)

Don't get die!

Jadon recently received from Akong & Ama (from a trade show?) a Mexican lollipop when has real ants stuck inside the candy.  Jadon jokingly asked Mommy in the car whether she wanted to eat it, & Evangelina began to cry with a very serious face, "Noooo, I don't want Mommy to get die."  I guess our little one has taken seriously our warnings about not eating dangerous things!

Evangelina received a ton of new toys from her female cousins when they generously cleaned out their home for us, & among them was a keyboard that very simply records & replays what is played on it.  It's colorful & attractive, too, which has made it a very fun toy that she & Jadon vie for when they can.  After breakfast this morning, Jadon commented, "I love that keyboard!"

Evangelina's reply?  "I love that keyboard too, because it's not yours!"

[Mina was on a roll this morning with her funny sayings!]

I fixed the kids some late breakfast this morning, & after a while they wanted to just go & play.  I told them they needed to finish their food, but then Jadon complained, "My stomach hurts."  I didn't make a big deal of it since I figured he meant he felt uncomfortably full, but then Evangelina chimed in with her own (embellished) moaning, "My stomach hurts...  My head hurts..."

We take lying seriously in our family, so when Evangelina said that second part, I gave her a stern look that seemed to scare her into speaking the truth...

"...but not right now."

Proclaim it!

It's really neat to watch as Evangelina learns to recite Scripture, as we're doing with AWANA, a weekly Bible club she's part of.    Today we talked about telling others the good news about Jesus with Mark 16:15 "Go into all the world and proclaim the Gospel."

Evangelina's version (at least her first take)?
"Go into all the world, & complain."

Slavery in the Inland Empire

A little while ago I was talking with our daughter about how some people around the world became slaves, & how it was so good that Jesus through His people (in a ministry called International Justice Mission) rescued them.  As expected, she didn't quite understand it all, but a few minutes later I was taking off my shirt when she apparently thought I looked like some of the ex-slaves in the IJM newsletter we received) when she pointed out, "You're like a slave." 

I responded with a smile & asked, "Oh yeah?  Then who's my slavemaster?"

Still with her happy face, she answered, "Me... no, I mean, your wife."

Correctly grammar

Often while our kids are eating we tell them to "shin-le," which is Taiwanese for making sure that you bring your mouth over your plate/bowl so that the food won't be lost.  This evening Evangelina happily showed me how she was eating over her plate & declared, "Look Daddy I'm 'shin-ing'!"