Teachable Moments

I never really know when those teachable moments are when they happen, I just always pray that my children are learning all the time. There were a few teachable moments today. Actually, i wouldn't really call them teachable moments, because I didn't 'teach' Christen at those moments, I just had the privilege of talking with her and hearing from her what she has been learning.

For devotions today, we read the story about the poor widow's gift. I gave Chris a purse with 2 coins, and Lauren another coin purse with many coins. After the story, we acted it out, and she got to decide how many coins she wanted to put in the offering box. She said, " I will give God all my coins. I won't save it for my kiddy ride." I was so proud of her response.

At lunch, we were listening to tape recording of The Creation and Satan tempting Adam and Eve in Chinese. She said, " I know who Satan is. He is no good, and very naughty. Lauren is a bit naughty. But I'm a good girl." I replied, " You're right! But sometimes we are naughty too. When Lauren bites you, she's naughty. When you snatch her toy, you're naughty. And mommy is naughty too." She laughed and said, " That's why we need God. And He shows us grace." That was another 'wow' moment for me. She has assimilated our previous discussions about God and grace.

My prayer for my children is that they will know that they are sinners in need of God's grace and receive His gift of grace and salvation.

God made me this way

When Alvin told Christen that she was very creative, Christen replied, " God made me this way."
I pray that she will truly understand and know that God is her Creator, and she will worship Him and obey Him.

Family Traditions

I've always read about the importance of having family traditions so that children will grow up with a strong sense of belonging and identity, as well as precious memories that they will carry with them throughout life. I've read about things people do and have tried to replicate them, but nothing beats creating the Chee's very own family traditions.

Christen has started the few rituals that we do every night. One night, after Daddy read the Bible, Christen said, " Let's hold hands to pray." We did it that night, and have been doing it after Bible story time every night. She started another one tonight. After we prayed tonight, she said, " Let's stand up and hug." So we all took turns to hug one another and to say we love one another. Christen specifically told Mommy and Daddy to hug too. After we've done our rounds, she said, " Let's do it the 2nd time." So we hugged and kissed again. We all felt so loved, it was so wonderful!God really reveals His love in tangible ways.

Funny Quotes

Dad: (trying to scrape the whole chicken off the grill) The chicken doesn't move.
Christen: That's because it's not a person like us.

Mom: ( in exasperation) How many times do you want me to clean up spills in a day?
Christen: Only 1 time.

Christen: I pee-ed and pooped! 2 pieces. They were round circles.

Christen( at Henderson waves where one can hang on the side of the undulating bridge): Look! A monkey!
Dad: Where?
Christen: Here!
Dad( looking around and not seeing any monkeys): Are you the monkey?
Christen: Yes!!

I love you very, very much

It's truly the little things in life - the words said, the hugs, the smiles, the small deeds, that mean so much. Christen wanted to write after seeing me write the memory verse on the blackboard. So she went to her whiteboard and said, " I want to write ' I love Daddy, I love Lauren, I love God, I love Mommy." She proceeded to draw a picture of Daddy, and wrote I love Daddy with help with spelling from me. Then she stared at me intently, and said, " Your face is an oval."She drew a few shapes, but wasn't satisfied. She asked me to help her draw it finally. Then she said, " I love myself too, so I'll draw myself. I draw myself next to you because I love you very, very much."

She said it in a matter-of-fact way, but I was floating up to the clouds. :) That was the highlight of my otherwise disastrous day.

Christen's Prayer

Quote from Christen's prayer tonight:

Dear God,
Please heal Lauren. She is very, very sick. Only Jesus can heal her. She cannot heal herself. If Jesus does not heal her, she will not get well! In Jesus' name, Amen