Water Music

Today was Madison's last day with piano class.  Yes, there was actual playing of the piano, believe it or not.  But it was a "water day" as well, where the students got to go outside and have fun with some water in the sun - all with well-crafted games that teach, or reenforce some musical concepts.  There was only a little bit of water, and a sprinkler that kids were supposed to run through quickly, and only once.  But with Madison, somehow that went on and on a bit!  Yes, she was soaked by the end of the class!  But she had a lot of fun, a great time to end the season of piano classes.  We'll meet up again when the new school year starts, but until then, there's a bit of homework to do.  We're at such an advanced stage that Daddy is determined to make that homework happen.  As we're out of Power Discs - only one left, still unpurchased somewhere out there - he's come up with a new idea:  Inspector Gadget pieces.

Okay, this one takes a bit of explaining.  Some time ago in coordination with the "Inspector Gadget" movie that was coming out, McDonald's released this epic-sized Inspector Gadget doll - but in eight or nine pieces.  The trick was, you had to go back each week and pick up a happy meal, and then get an arm, a leg, the head, the torso, and more.  For some reason, Aunt Shain and Daddy were obsessed with getting every single piece.  We were sick of hamburgers by the end of it, but both of us were victorious, with a complete Inspector Gadget doll.

Fast forward to now, where Daddy found the doll downstairs.  Some of the battery-powered components aren't working at the moment - but at least one of them is.  And all the pieces still fit together, and there he is.  So I'll have other incentives to finish piano practice - I know it isn't a big deal to get an Inspector Gadget leg.  But it will be somewhat of a fun gimmick throughout the summer, along with watching the movie, of course.

Speaking of which, Madison really wanted to watch a pirate movie today.  This pirate-themed week at school is bringing out that inner pirate in her, so we walked down to the basement to look through the pirate movies we have.  Now Daddy didn't think some of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies would be viewer friendly for our young daughter (she's seen the first one only).  But when she saw the "Muppets Treasure Island," that's all she needed to see on the shelf.  We popped that movie in, and set sail for adventure.  With popcorn.

Meanwhile, Daddy has been working on Summer Xtreme, while keeping KidPak afloat with regular service details.  We're still doing our tribe series, which for some reason I seem to keep posting here on - might as well continue, right?  Tomorrow is the tribe of Asher, and a message called "Blessed."

"Blessed"

     The name Asher means blessed, and some of the Tribe members were indeed blessed and highly favored.  For example, some time ago, there was a member of the Tribe of Asher who loved God very much.  Her name was Anna.  This remarkable woman showed us the right way to live:  staying in church, praying and worshipping.  God would see to it that she was rewarded, for all of this woman’s life was spent devoted to Him, serving God in the Temple.

     She was a famous member of this Tribe of blessing, but unfortunately Asher was not always a Tribe that did the right thing.  In fact, years before, things were pretty bleak.  For a time, they did not drive out the sin in their land, as God asked them to.  The end result was predictable:  They found themselves spending time with idol worshippers, and spending time with sin.  But one fateful day, that came to a head at Mt. Carmel, deep in the territory of Asher.  There was a prophet named Elijah who made a stand, asking the people who they would follow.  And for many, that answer became God.
     For Anna, there was never any question about who she would follow – ever.   For all of us, Anna is a picture of perseverance.  So many give up because the path we choose can be hard, or we become tempted to go elsewhere.  Indeed, some may have thought Anna was wasting her time.  But picture that day she saw the Light of the World, face to face.  If she were around today, she would tell us this simple message:  Don’t miss Jesus.
     The Tribe of Asher was blessed – but so are we, just as long as we stay in church, keep the sin out, and persevere until the end.