A couple of weeks ago, Elijah learned the hand motion to the song, "My God is so great..." He loves to sing and do the motions to this song. Sorry that the video quality is so bad but it's from my phone...
Monday, May 31, 2010
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Life's Sad Reality
Lately I have been really struck by how sweet Elijah is. He is a gentle, sensitive child. He is so cute when he asks for things, putting his hands together in the sign language we taught him. He gets his whole body into it, making it almost a bow. He knows how to say "Please" and "Thank you," also in sign language, and sometimes does so without being prompted. He enjoys saying "Thank you" and watching people smile in return. It is interesting to watch him with other kids, who don't understand his signing. He asks politely instead of grabbing and gets a little confused when they don't respond. I know I'm his mom, but he's so adorable when he sees something he really wants and his eyes light up and his hands go together and he scrunches up into a full body, "give me".
When I see his excitement and sensitive expectation, it saddens me to think of the disappointments and hurts that he will face in life. I teared up today thinking that his politeness and sensitivity will be bullied and taken advantage of sometimes - that I won't be able to protect him from that - but instead must let him experience it some so that I can help him learn to overcome it with love and grace. But it makes me sad that life is like that - with suffering such an inherent part. Our suffering is so much less than most of those around us, but it still pains me to think of the suffering that Elijah must endure. And how much more for the sweet, innocent children around here that will grow up in a much harsher environment with parents struggling to provide for them and unable to protect them from so many of the things that we are able to protect Elijah from.
It is all the reality of the Fall, and it will be so until Jesus comes again. It gives new meaning to me that he will wipe away every tear from our eyes. I usually think of it in terms of making the wrongs right - which it is - but not in terms of restoring that sweetness and innocence that I see in Elijah. Our hope is a great one, but today I mourned the pain that we have inflicted on ourselves and each other with our sin. It will hurt Elijah, many times, and that is sad. Jesus gives me hope that there can be a gracious, redeeming way to experience that suffering instead of just living our lives trying to shield ourselves from it as much as possible.
When I see his excitement and sensitive expectation, it saddens me to think of the disappointments and hurts that he will face in life. I teared up today thinking that his politeness and sensitivity will be bullied and taken advantage of sometimes - that I won't be able to protect him from that - but instead must let him experience it some so that I can help him learn to overcome it with love and grace. But it makes me sad that life is like that - with suffering such an inherent part. Our suffering is so much less than most of those around us, but it still pains me to think of the suffering that Elijah must endure. And how much more for the sweet, innocent children around here that will grow up in a much harsher environment with parents struggling to provide for them and unable to protect them from so many of the things that we are able to protect Elijah from.
It is all the reality of the Fall, and it will be so until Jesus comes again. It gives new meaning to me that he will wipe away every tear from our eyes. I usually think of it in terms of making the wrongs right - which it is - but not in terms of restoring that sweetness and innocence that I see in Elijah. Our hope is a great one, but today I mourned the pain that we have inflicted on ourselves and each other with our sin. It will hurt Elijah, many times, and that is sad. Jesus gives me hope that there can be a gracious, redeeming way to experience that suffering instead of just living our lives trying to shield ourselves from it as much as possible.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Remembering Ah-pa (Daddy)
Ah-pa is out of town for work so it has been Elijah and me for the last two days. I could tell today that he missed his daddy. He would say "ah-pa" each time we would do things that normally his ah-pa would do with him. For example, we went to go watch a few kids playing cricket. He said, "ah-pa!" as if he was telling me this is what he used to do with daddy. Then, I played hide and seek with him as it was approaching his bath time. He exclaims in the middle of it, "ah-pa!" It is daddy who plays hide and seek while mommy gets other things ready for bed-time. As we were reading a book together and there was a picture of a frog, he exclaims, "ah-pa!" Daddy and Elijah spent some time looking at frogs last week while we were in the Dooars. But the cutest of all--I was reading him the book Owl Babies which has one repetitious line that says, "I want my mommy!" When the owl babies wake up, they find that their owl mother is gone. As soon as I read the words, "I want my mommy!" Elijah said, "ah-pa!" So, I proceeded to read the whole book changing mommy for ah-pa. When we got to the section where the owl mother returns, his face brightened up with a big smile. I told him, "Ah-pa will be back tomorrow just like this owl ah-pa."
He misses his "ah-pa...." So do I.
He misses his "ah-pa...." So do I.
Who does Elijah love?
I asked him tonight as we were playing around before bedtime, "Who does Elijah love?"
He answered back with, "Ah-pa! Um-ma! Baby!"
"Baby? Elijah doesn't have a baby? Mommy has a toddler (which I have been intentionally using lately) now, but where is the baby?" I asked.
(We have been praying with Elijah before he goes to sleep for some time that Jesus would grant Elijah a brother or a sister).
So I proceeded to ask him, "Elijah, do you want a baby?"
He nodded a "Yes."
"Should we pray and ask Jesus for a baby inside um-ma?", I asked.
He puts his hands together for prayer and bows like he is about to pray. We prayed for a baby.
I don't know if Jesus has another baby in store for us, but this interaction brought tears to my eyes. His sweetness overwhelms me sometimes....
He answered back with, "Ah-pa! Um-ma! Baby!"
"Baby? Elijah doesn't have a baby? Mommy has a toddler (which I have been intentionally using lately) now, but where is the baby?" I asked.
(We have been praying with Elijah before he goes to sleep for some time that Jesus would grant Elijah a brother or a sister).
So I proceeded to ask him, "Elijah, do you want a baby?"
He nodded a "Yes."
"Should we pray and ask Jesus for a baby inside um-ma?", I asked.
He puts his hands together for prayer and bows like he is about to pray. We prayed for a baby.
I don't know if Jesus has another baby in store for us, but this interaction brought tears to my eyes. His sweetness overwhelms me sometimes....
Monday, May 24, 2010
Our future cricket player?
Upgraded to:
He still likes both the same! Actually, he has moved on to the spatula as his bat! ;)
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Our flexible little guy...
Dear E-li-yah,
Yes, this is how you pronounce your name now! I can't believe you now know how to say your own name and when you want to do something on your own, you say, "E-li-yah, E-li-yah." It is so fun watching you grow, Elijah. Mommy is having a hard time keeping up with all your new words...."up, clock, big (in Korean), jump, look, wow, kite, stuck..." You also said a few Nepali words couple of days ago--"kai (where), bhayo (done), and jheum (let's go)." It is so fun being able to communicate and even though you can't say everything you want to say, you sure know how to communicate what you want and you amaze us with how much you really understand. You are able to follow directions about what to do, what to bring, where to put things, and where to go....
Last week, you spent a lot of time for the first time with auntie Elizabeth while mommy and daddy taught God's Word to some people. You were amazing! Mommy kept asking auntie Elizabeth, "Did he cry?" and she would always answer back with a smile, "No." You cried once after you woke up early from a nap and mommy wasn't there, but besides that incident, no tears were shed for mommy. Mommy was a little worried at the beginning because I wasn't sure if you would understand Nepali and how the communication between you two would go. But, as auntie Elizabeth said, "He understands all of my Nepali." It seemed you had no problem communicating with each other. It amazes me that you understand three languages!
I was so proud of how you took naps, ate, and played pretty much most of the day with auntie Elizabeth so that mommy could have some time with the adults. THANK YOU! I'm glad that auntie Elizabeth came with us because mommy didn't have to worry about you while you were with her. I know that she thinks you're great and loves to take care of you.
On our way back home, we saw an elephant and boy, were you excited! We have been really lucky lately--the last time, we saw a rhino and this time, an elephant!
Mommy and daddy are very proud of you--our sweet, flexible, and independent little man!
Love you lots.
Um-ma
Yes, this is how you pronounce your name now! I can't believe you now know how to say your own name and when you want to do something on your own, you say, "E-li-yah, E-li-yah." It is so fun watching you grow, Elijah. Mommy is having a hard time keeping up with all your new words...."up, clock, big (in Korean), jump, look, wow, kite, stuck..." You also said a few Nepali words couple of days ago--"kai (where), bhayo (done), and jheum (let's go)." It is so fun being able to communicate and even though you can't say everything you want to say, you sure know how to communicate what you want and you amaze us with how much you really understand. You are able to follow directions about what to do, what to bring, where to put things, and where to go....
Last week, you spent a lot of time for the first time with auntie Elizabeth while mommy and daddy taught God's Word to some people. You were amazing! Mommy kept asking auntie Elizabeth, "Did he cry?" and she would always answer back with a smile, "No." You cried once after you woke up early from a nap and mommy wasn't there, but besides that incident, no tears were shed for mommy. Mommy was a little worried at the beginning because I wasn't sure if you would understand Nepali and how the communication between you two would go. But, as auntie Elizabeth said, "He understands all of my Nepali." It seemed you had no problem communicating with each other. It amazes me that you understand three languages!
I was so proud of how you took naps, ate, and played pretty much most of the day with auntie Elizabeth so that mommy could have some time with the adults. THANK YOU! I'm glad that auntie Elizabeth came with us because mommy didn't have to worry about you while you were with her. I know that she thinks you're great and loves to take care of you.
On our way back home, we saw an elephant and boy, were you excited! We have been really lucky lately--the last time, we saw a rhino and this time, an elephant!
Mommy and daddy are very proud of you--our sweet, flexible, and independent little man!
Love you lots.
Um-ma
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