Tale of 2 Fathers

Beth's idea of a conversation starter astonishes us sometimes.

Yesterday, in the midst of spreading Nutella on a slice of baguette, she casually said, "Jesus had 2 fathers right? One is God and the other, what's his name?"

"Joseph."

[At this point, Daddy interjected to remind Beth that she too has 2 fathers, him and her Heavenly Father.]

"And who is Jesus' mother?"

"While he was on earth? Mary."

"Where is Mary now?"

"In Heaven."

Which led me to wonder privately, now that Mary and Joseph are in Heaven, does Jesus still call them Mother and Father?
Do parental relationships last through eternity?

This is all Beth's fault. I never would have gotten myself in this theological muddle if she hadn't started on the subject.

Fun with Colour Songs

You can squeeze an orange but you can't squeeze a yellow
You can't squeeze a yellow
You can't squeeze a yellow
You can squeeze an orange but you can't squeeze a yellow
A yellow just cannot be squeezed!

From COLOUR SONGS, Beth's Christmas prezzie from Alison (our church playgroup coordinator and mum to Daniel, 4; Rebecca, 7 and Emma, 17)

Out of the Mouths of Babes

Overheard this afternoon between my aunt and Beth:

Aunt: Ouch! You stepped on my toe. Now I can't wear my shoe.
Beth: Sorree!
Aunt: I am going to complain to my mother.
Beth: But your mother is dead. She's in heaven!
(My cousin and I exchanged dropped-jaw expressions, highly amused.)
Aunt: I can still call Heaven and tell her.
Beth: But there's no phone in Heaven!
Aunt: Oh no? I will call 0403 413 056 and talk to my mother about you stepping on my toe.
Beth: That's my mummy's mobile number!
Aunt: Then I will call 0423 365 862. Whose number is that?
Beth: That's my daddy's number!

Power Memory with Numbers and Letters

We have my aunt - here on a one-month visit from Sg - to thank for Beth's newly acquired ability to remember long strings of numbers and to spell basic words.

Today, my aunt taught her to use her Memory Bank to spell SHOE, HEAD and EGG.

To remember my mobile number and hubby's mobile number, she used egg cartons marked with numbers, laid them out in sequence and got Beth to jump from one 'number' to another while she shouted out the numbers.

After 2 sessions, Beth can now recite our 10-digit mobile numbers flawlessly.

My aunt told her she needs to know these numbers by heart in case she has to contact me from school - or if she gets kidnapped! Great motivation indeed. :)

Beth's First Joke Book

Beth borrowed the Loony Tunes Joke Book from the library this week.

We were somewhat wary when she brought the book to us. I could just imagine the agony of having to not only read but explain every joke and why it was funny.

Here are her 2 favourites, which she loves to repeat ad nauseum:

Daffy: How DARE you go round telling everyone that I'm an idiot!

Bugs Bunny: Sorry Doc. I didn't know it was a secret!

Q. What do you get when Sylvester runs over Tweety with a lawnmower?

A. Shredded Tweet.

Ouch.

A Theological Question

This morning, Beth wanted to know, "Is Jesus in Africa?"

"Jesus is everywhere," I replied.

"But Jesus is just one person. How can he be everywhere?"

This is the 2nd time this week Beth has asked this question.

I started on a convoluted explanation of how Jesus is the son of God and therefore has special powers that enable Him to do more than you and me, how He sends the Holy Spirit to live in our hearts etc.

It never fails to amaze me how a child can be so simple and innocent on the outside, and yet underneath all that is a heart that is more aligned to God's heartbeat than grown-ups whose lives are cluttered with distractions.

Was Esther a Cucumber?

A couple of Sundays ago, Pastor screened the story of Queen Esther during service. It was the Veggie Tales version, and the children (and adults!) loved it.

At breakfast this morning, Beth started talking about names from the Bible, and we somehow got on the topic of Esther. All was well as she recounted the story.

Then she asked, "Are Haman and Esther still alive?"

I said no, they were all dead, the story took place a long time ago.

"But why was Esther a cucumber?"

After I stopped laughing, I tried to explain that the movie she saw was the children's version, and that the real characters were people just like us.

Fuzzy Lovely Moments

My favourite time of day is just after Beth wakes up.

That is when she is at her purest, simplest and most vulnerable. When she sidles up to me, all baby-faced, asking to be cuddled. I love being able to do that for her - wrapping my arms around her (and her toy lion), holding her close, having her lean in with her face against my chest.

Now that there's another little one on the way, it feels like I'm giving both of them a hug at the same time.

Which is a nice way to welcome Baby into the family.

The Power of the Word

While I was hunting down James 1:5 this morning, Beth asked me to find her Genesis 1:31.

She had learnt the verse - sung to the tune of Yankee Doodle - in Sunday School back home.

God saw all that He had made and it was very good
God saw all that He had made and it was very good
Genesis 1:31, Genesis 1:31, Genesis 1:31
Is where the Bible says it.

We had a great time singing together while she put in the hand movements her teacher had taught the little ones.

I am relieved and thankful that tho' Beth may have forgotten the names of her classmates at childcare, she can still remember the Word of God that she learnt all those months ago.

As the rain and the snow
come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower
and bread for the eater,
so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
it will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
Isaiah 55:10-11