Smells like a flower, stings like a bee.

Hannah got her first bee sting today, Memorial Day 2010.
She was outside with her daddy, smelling the flowers in the front yard. Apparently someone stepped on the bee's nest and irritated them. Mike got stung first, on his toe. He told Hannah there were bees, and that she should run into the house, where it was safe. But she was so scared and panicked that she refused to move. Consequently, Hannah got stung next, on her shoulder. (I am so thankful that Aliah didn't get stung!)

Hannah acted like this bee sting was a major medical trauma. She wailed and got so upset that Aliah started in on it, too.

I tried to make this a lesson in obedience: "Hannah, when Mommy and Daddy tell you something, you need to obey. Right away." But she isn't ready to hear that quite yet.

Questions about Heaven

Last night, Hannah and I had a long conversation about going to heaven. She said she believes in God and Jesus, and knows that Jesus died for her sins "on a cross." I told her that if she believes, and says she's sorry for the wrong things she's done, then she can go to Heaven too, to live there forever. "Like Amber", she added.

Then she asked "Where is Amber's cross? Where is her body?" I had to explain the concept of a spirit to her (this is very abstract stuff for a five year old). I said something like "Your body dies, and stays here on earth, but your spirit stays alive. All of your thoughts and feelings and everything that you believe in are still alive, and that is the part of you that goes to Heaven." I dont know if she understood that, but it was the best thing I could come up with.

Hannah continues: "Well I am not ready to die on a cross." She thought that when we die, we are all crucified on crosses, as Jesus was. She was taking "die on a cross" very literally! So I explained that only Jesus had to die on the cross, not us. "He died on the cross to take away our sins", she reiterated. Yes Hannah, He died on the cross so that we don't have to.

"Ok Mommy", she said, "If I say Im sorry, then when can I get 'bappit-tized'?
Maybe when Im eight, or nine, or eleven?
I think eleven would be a good age, don't you?"

I am feeling really really frustrated and useless and like I can't accomplish anything today. WHY can't I just finish one task, just ONE thing, without being interrupted or having seven more messes to clean up while my back is turned?!
Oh my gosh, do I need a break from these kids!!!