Kidlet Update

Yes, it is that time again...Time for another episode of "Aidan and Emma's Update"!! The blog-isode that you just can't miss...especially if you are a grandparent or an aunt!!

Emma:

Well, she is addicted to watching "The Letter Factory" by Leap Frog. She LOVES it and wants to watch at least once a day. I don't mind because she is really beginning to learn her letters. That video is amazing!! I should be a sales rep for it since I always plug how good it is. It really is amazing.

She is also really beginning to pick-up the songs from Promiseland. She is now in the Little Lambs room (2 year olds) and they do a story, some songs and a craft. She comes home singing them, which is soooo cute. (Especially when she sings "hawewuya"...It is too adorable!)

She has my personality for the most part. She is not as high strung as I can be (enter Aidan) but she is very stubborn and wants everything done her way. She walks to the beat of a different drum, too, which is really cute to watch. I am thinking that she is a good mixture of both Mommy and Daddy (musically speaking), since she has perfect rhythm (enter Jonathan) and she LOVES to sing, too.

She has started to play on the computer while sitting on Mommy's lap. Yes, at 2 1/2. That's about the age Aidan started, too. What a different generation than even my generation. I learned how to use computers in elementary school playing on those really old Apple IIe computers...With floppy disks...

Aidan:

Well, Aidan is into science right now. Anything to do with weather, space, tornadoes, volcanoes...He loves figuring out how things work and learning new things. He loves learning. (I predict either a career in education or performing!)

Yes, he is our little performer. Give him an audience and there is no stopping him. I mean, he blabbers on about things that don't make any sense, but to him it all makes perfect sense.

He is LOVING Kindergarten right now. He has made some good friends, especially Ashley. He likes the fact that he has to be so independent. (And that there are no bullies in his class like last year!!)

He has been an excellent helper for Mommy. He's been helping out with Maggie and Emma when Mommy gets a bit busy. He likes it, I think because it makes him feel all grown up. I like it, too. It shows how mature he is.

We had his Parent Teacher interview last week and the teacher praised him about how wonderful he was. (Of course she did ask about his temper...We all know that about Aidan!! I wonder where he gets that from....) Anyway, he is doing so well so far.

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I am blessed to have such good children. I mean, I know they have their moments. Even I have mine!! But overall they are great children and I should be so thankful for them being in my life. What a gift from God!! What an awesome responsibility.

Now if only I could pass over the teenage years....

Tuesday Tunes 44: Justin Timberlake

I LOVE J.T. so much. Anyway, here's one that has been going through my head today and I will post the one with Jim and Pam from "The Office" in it. Enjoy!!

Camping...

Off to camp!! Have a great weekend!

Esther: It's Tough Being a Woman - Review 1

I am a very private person. You may not think that, considering I blog, Facebook and Twitter, but it is usually only surface things. Nothing too deep. Perhaps I get a little bit deep when talking about God, but not about those deep recesses of the mind where only a few people are allowed to enter. It has never been my style.

All of that being said, I really need to share about my Bible study last night. I am doing another Beth Moore study. This year it is on Esther (which I always want to spell "Ester"). Last night was the first video night. It was wonderful. And then, it became very revealing for me.

Beth Moore was talking about how the book of Esther does not mention God's name ever. There are times when He is implyed, but He plays a more behind the scenes role. Her point was that we needed to study this book because there are times when we do not see God, feel God, hear God, etc. in our own walk. There are times when He is there, but we cannot feel Him or know that He is there. He never leaves us, of course, but there are times when we experience a "dark night of the soul".

She began to talk about her own experience with this. She couldn't feel Him. Couldn't hear Him. She still continued to read, pray and serve Him, but she was doing it on faith, not really feeling His presence.

That is where I have been the last little while. There are times when I feel Him so close. This is not one of those times. I continue to serve, pray, and believe without a shadow of doubt that He is there, but I have not had a strong sense of Him for awhile. Some of this is my own choice. Some of it is a God thing. After hearing Beth talk about it last night, I realized that God was preparing me for this study. He really spoke to me in the video last night telling me: "I'm still here. Just preparing you!" It was like a flood of emotions. I always cry a bit during Beth Moore, but I wanted to sob last night.

I don't know why I am telling you this. Perhaps it is because I want you to know that Christians do not always have it together. We are not always constantly happy, or feeling God. There is no special formula to help you hear Him. As long as you are willing to let Him speak to you and are seeking Him and His will, I think that is the most we can do.

She ended with telling us that God has a purpose for us. It is going to challenge us to perservere, to endure. We don't want to miss it!! I don't want to miss it!!