Chinese New Year superstition

CNY fell on Feb 19th this year.  Dad's birthday.  Here's a Jaclyn quote on CNY:

Me:  "Do NOT eat meat for the first meal on Chinese New Year's Day!"

Jac:  "Why?"

Me:  "Because it is not good to kill lives at the start of a year."

Jac: "Yea, but the animal was probably killed a coupla months ago."

Taj Mahal

I said to Michael, "Are you going to build a Taj Mahal to display your love for me?"

Jaclyn said, "He doesn't have enough money!"

Real or not real?

On the way to church two days ago, Madison was asking about if something was real (about the musical "Into the Woods").  Is it real in the story?  Is it real?  Etc.  She kept on persisting because obviously Jaclyn and I didn't understand what she was getting at. 
We kept saying it is NOT real.  It is a story.  "Yes, but is it real in the story?!!!"

Anyways, it ended with Madison very frustrated and upset.

So I said, "I am sorry Madison that Jaclyn and I couldn't answer you in a way that was satisfying.  I am sorry that you are frustrated." 

Then Jaclyn said to me, "Did you learn that from a parenting class because it sounds like you did!!" 

The Wizard of IBS and OZ

this morning's conversation went like this:

Madison to me, "Mommy, what is heavier ibs or oz?"  ("ibs" rhyming with sibs and "oz" as in Wizard of Oz)

Me:  "Huh?  What is that?"

Madison:  "What is heavier ibs or oz?"

Me:  "I don't know, Madison."

Jaclyn answers nonchalantly: "ibs" (again rhyming with sibs")

Madison, "Mommy, is Jaclyn right?  ibs is heavier than oz?"

Me:  "I don't know what that is.  Is that something I should know?"

Jaclyn says to me, "She means pounds and ounces."

Priscilla Shirer's The Names of God

In Genesis, He’s the breath of life
In Exodus, He is the Passover Lamb
In Leviticus, He’s our High Priest
In Numbers, the Fire by Night
Deuteronomy, He’s Israel’s guide
Joshua, He’s salvation’s choice
Judges, He’s Israel’s guard
In Ruth, the kinsmen’s Redeemer
1st and 2nd Samuel, our trusted Prophet
In Kings and Chronicles, He is Sovereign
In Ezra, He’s the true and faithful scribe
In Nehemiah, the Re-builder of broken walls and lives
In Esther, He’s Mordecai’s courage
In Job, the Timeless Redeemer
In Psalms, He is our morning song
In Proverbs, He is our wisdom
Ecclesiastes, He’s the time and season
In Song of Solomon, He is the lover’s dream
In Isaiah, He is the Prince of Peace
In Jeremiah, the Weeping Prophet
Lamentations, the Cry for Israel
Ezekiel, the Call from Sin
Daniel, the Stranger in the Fire
Hosea, the Forever Faithful
Joel, the Spirit’s Power
Amos, the Strong-arms that carry
Obadiah, the Lord our Savior
Jonah, the great Missionary
Micah, the Promise of Peace
Nahum, our Strength and Shield
In Habakkuk and Zephaniah, He’s brings revival
In Haggai, He restores that which was lost
In Zachariah, He’s our fountain
And in Malachi, He’s the Son of righteousness rising with healing in His wings
AND THAT’S JUST THE OLD TESTAMENT
In Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, He is God and Messiah
In the spirit filled book of Acts, He is the reigning fire from Heaven
In Romans, He is the grace of God
Corinthians, the Power of Love
Galatians, Freedom from the curse of sin
Ephesians, our Glorious Treasure
Philippians, the Servant’s Heart
Colossians, He’s God and the Trinity
Thessalonians, our calling King
In Timothy, Titus, and Philemon, He’s our mediator and our faithful pastor
In Hebrews, the Everlasting Courage
In James, the One who heals the sick
In 1st and 2nd Peter, our Faithful Shepherd
In John and Jude, He’s the lover coming for His bride

AND in the Revelation, in the very end, when it’s all over, said and done, when time is NO MORE. He is and will always be the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Prince of Peace, Son of Man, Lamb of God, The Great I Am, Alpha and Omega, God and Savior

He is Jesus Christ the Lord

HE IS EVERYTHING THAT YOU NEED

My Sweet Angel

I went to bed really early last night.  Not sure if I was under the weather or just a bit sad.

Sometimes grief just comes upon me in big waves, and I feel paralyzed.  And even though I am busy with life raising my kids, I have a big ache in my heart for my dad.

With lights out and tears in my eyes, I said to Madison, "I miss my dad!"

Madison said with much empathy and a hug, "Oh Mommy!  Let's pray for Gung Gung"

Then she prayed.  She prayed for Gung Gung and talked about our mixed emotions, "we are also happy because he suffered for so long".

She prayed for people all over the world who are having a hard time because they lost someone they loved.

I shed more quiet tears because my heart was so moved with her compassion and sweetness.