He's Back!

We are knee-deep in the season of Lent right now, and with that comes communion every week at church, lots of talk about Jesus' resurrection, and curious-child questions about what heaven is like.
It was spring break last week, and so, on Friday, we took all of the kids bowling to get out of the house for awhile. Brice is planning on going bowling for his birthday in a few months, so he was loving every moment of the fieldtrip.
On the way home, he asked, "How many birthdays am I going to get?" He wanted to go bowling for this one and then go to Chuck E. Cheese next time. He was just checking how far out he could be planning.
Ella, a very confident 4 year old, said proudly, "You get birthdays till you die." Hmmm, she's right I suppose.
That's all it took for the van full of 3, 4, and 5 year olds to begin a theological debate about what happens when you die and what heaven is like.
Questions addressed included:

• What do you wear in heaven? Is everyone naked or do you have to wear the same clothes that you died in forever? What does God wear?
• Does God have legs or does He just float around?
• Will we be able to find Nibblets, our hamster who died, when we get there?
• Will everyone be in heaven? What if they don't know and love God?
• Can you still have birthday parties when you are in heaven? Is every day like a birthday party?
• Can you ask God to make you an angel if you are done just hanging out?
• If we are done just hanging out with God, can we come back to earth like Jesus did?

Never in my life have I been more glad that I recently read the Bible cover to cover. I actually felt like the answers I was able to give and the way that I was able to guide the conversation was Biblically sound rather than just what I thought. I tell you, even knowing what the Bible says, these kids had some tough questions! I also am so thankful that my childhood pastor, Kathy Bostrom, wrote a children's book called, What About Heaven? I have that out and ready to read tomorrow!

In addition to it being Lent and this conversation post-bowling, we have been talking each week with Wendy and Gary, who sit behind us in church, about some people in their lives who have cancer. We have been praying for them and checking in to see how Gary's father and Wendy's friend are doing. None of these conversations were lost on little Halie. She has asked lots of questions about why people's bodies stop working right and why they can't just get better. Man oh man, this little girl is going to keep me on my toes!

Unfortunately, two weeks ago, Gary was not in church because his father's condition had worsened, and Gary was at the hospital with him and his family. Gary's father died later that evening, and we prayed for their family that night.

Last week, Wendy and Gary were out of town, so we didn't see them at church.
This morning, as we got settled in our pew, Wendy came in to her usual spot behind us and said good morning to everyone. Gary came in just a few moments behind her. Halie, with her mouth wide open and her eyes as big as saucers said, "Mommy, he came back!"
Not understanding at all what was going through your head, I said, "Yes, Gary's back," very casually.
You put your hand on my arm to get my attention and said, "But Mommy, He came back. How did he come back from heaven?" She was acting like, come on people, a miracle is happening here and you are all just sitting around like it's nothing!
She thought that "Gary-the Dad" had died, not "Gary's Dad". We all had a good laugh as we reassured her and clarified what had actually happened.
What I love most about this whole situation, besides the laughter, is the trust that Halie has in her God. She didn't doubt for a moment that God could do that. He could have brought someone back to life and Halie knew that if he did, it would be worth making a big deal about. She just trusts so whole-heartedly. This is exactly what people mean when they talk about a child-like faith.

While we are waiting...

I have never heard an adoption story that didn't involve lots and lots of waiting. This is precisely where we are...again. Not much to do but just live life and feel confident in the fact that the timing will work out eventually.  I thank God each and every day though, that our kids are right here with us as we wait. My heart goes out to all of those adopting internationally whose babies are worlds away while they are waiting!

No adoption date or baptism date yet. I do have a big party planned in my head though for whenever those dates are made known to us!

So, while we wait, we are planning for the spring season of birthdays. We have one in April, 2 in May and 1 in June. We will be seeing lots of the bowling alley it sounds like this year. I am hoping to avoid Chuck E Cheese at all costs. No one has mentioned it yet, so I think we are safe. Chloe has requested a dance party sleepover at our house, so a high school girl is going to come over and teach the girls a new dance. How fun!

Just today, Halie and I took a trip down to the elementary school where we signed her up for kindergarten in the fall. She got to go tour the classrooms, meet the class guinea pigs and mice, and tell the teachers how smart she is. She didn't hold back. She made it perfectly clear that she is ready to attend school...I hope they are ready for her. I have warned them that she is the polar opposite of quiet, soft-spoken Brice!

Wren insists that she is ready for kindergarten as well. Just like with Carter, it's going to be a looooong year of telling her that she has to wait until she turns 5.

Next week is spring break. I have decided that I will use that week to schedule all of the kids' doctor's appointments, eye exams, etc, so that no one has to miss school. I hope the weather isn't too nice because we will spend almost every day in a doctor's office. :) Day to day life with 6 little ones is manageable, but keeping up with dentists, eye doctors, shots, conferences and yearly exams is quite an undertaking!

It was wacky day at school today, so the 3 bigger kids got to choose how they wanted to look. Quite funny!