Funny moment with Emma

Little Emma is 7 now, as you can see. She is growing up, but she is still the absolute joy she has always been.

This is one those stories I didn't want to forget, so I am writing it down, right here, and sharing it with you.

We have been teaching her and Bella to play Cribbage, which has been very fun. I didn't learn myself until I started dating Shaun. Although we have added some new vocabulary to the game, it has gone quite well. (For example, to remind her to jump over the peg for counting, we keep telling her "leapfrog".)

Last night she was playing with Bella and I was coaching them both through it. So it's Emma's turn to deal. She was handing out the cards in a very different fashion. It worked, but I knew some of the people she may play with other than me, might not appreciate how she was doing it very much. She has always been so creative. Just when you think there is only one way to do things, she shows you how to shake it up a bit. Anyway, I thought I should mention how it was fine with me the way she was doing it, but that I wanted her to know how most people do it, so that when she was playing with them, they wouldn't get upset with her for not doing it the way they are used to.

"So they get kinda mad?", she asked.

"Yes, some people can get pretty particular on how the cards are dealt." I responded.

To which she says, "Yeah, some people can be so miniature".

I know she meant to say "immature". But I giggled to myself and thought of all the people I play with, that can be so "miniature". You know, petty, particular and irritable. Taking all the fun out of playing the game.

At least with Emma, as little as she actually is, being "miniature" isn't an issue for her.

Aww...

My little Emma. The child is such a gift.
Just a quick note today to share her thoughts, and remember them later, as I tend to forget.

We've been listening to country singer Carrie Underwood lately. I don't have a radio in my van, the antenna came off in an ice storm in Iowa a few years ago. So we buy our tunes and I STILL haven't spent on CD's what it would have cost me to have it fixed. Besides, this way, no commercials, and not being totally aware of the awful things that happen in the news of our world isn't so terrible.

So Emma and I are getting into the car to go to school, and as she buckles up, she makes her song request. With a smile and a please. She wanted the song, I believe titled, "Temporary Home" by Carrie Underwood.

A beautiful song. I still almost cry every time.

And Emma chimes in and says, "Mom, can we listen to that Townhouse Song".
I DID cry at that one.

I love that kid.

Her little innocence always brightens my day and reminds me, today, that this time in our life, this time in our townhouse, is just temporary.

This is my little Emma. She sparkles and she shines.

And that hair goes with her personality so much.

She got her haircut recently and the hairdresser "straightened" it for her.

It was fun and cute... for a day.

Like playing dress up, except with hair instead of crowns and twirly dresses.

But wow, does she look different!!!

We brought back the curls after one day of wearing it straight.

That was plenty.

She said that curly was better than straight. Bella interpreted that to mean in general.

(Bella has stick straight hair, and the stylist curled hers, of course it did not stay.)

I explained that Emma just meant she liked HER hair better curly,

the way God made her hair to be.

To which she jumped in and said,

"yeah, and I trust in God."

A good laugh

The other day, after struggling since we moved here, to find a good Sunday school option for the kids, like we had in Iowa, and having no luck - I decided to "home school" the spirituality of my kids. It's our overall job anyway as parents, so I decided to give it a shot a few Sundays ago.

We had a total blast!!!!

We spent 2 hours on it, everybody got into it. Even Anthony was in full attention. And did his memory verse super awesome everyday after.

In one of our discussions that day we talked about the four Gospels. Bella couldn't resist the urge to repeat over and over in a sing-song tone, "Matthew, Mark, Luke and John". She had all of us singing it actually. Even little Emma was just going to town with her new little song.

A few hours later, I was talking this over with my grandma and sharing with her how great the experience was, how connected to the kids I felt and how precious the family time was for all of us learning together as we went along.

Soon Emma appeared for a little snuggle time. While on the phone with my grandma, I quick asked Emma if she remembered the four Gospels we learned. (I was sure to impress grandma with this one.) At first Emma hesitated, so I prompted her with "Matthew...".

To which she thought for a moment and finished with -

"Matthew..............Jon... and Kate".

I laughed so hard.

So did grandma.

It's really only funny at first, because if you think about it for too long, it's kinda pathetic.

So I don't, and I continue to just laugh.

That kid ALWAYS cracks me up.

Bless her heart.