First Love

Opal has fallen in love with Baby Jesus. Right now, it's just the little porcelain or plastic Baby Jesus' or ones she sees in our many nativity books. Everyday she looks up to our mantle and asks, "Baby Jesus? Baby Jesus". Which means she wants to kiss him. Then she says, "O a bed!" (Translation: Go to bed!) and puts him back in the manger.

Eben has a new love for books. When we first started reading with him he was anything but excited. More really, really scared. But he is now reading at a level 4 and it's given him so much confidence to know that he can read almost anything Mama and Dada can. He is currently reading The Pilgim's Progress of his own choosing and we can't be more proud of what a great reader we have.

Ok, a great, great little love story. However, I must admit, I didn't hear it from Eben himself. So please be careful with our tender hearted boy's first story of love.

On Sat. Dec. 19th, Eben had a 2 hour long rehearsal for Lake City Church's Christmas pageant. When we came back, he was beaming. The first thing he said was, "Mama, I met a new friend! You have to meet her!" So he introduced me to Hannah. That's about all I got of this story. He commented about her throughout the day, but I didn't really think anything of it. The rest of the story comes from Hannah's mom the next day during the pageant. She comes up to Peter and I and asks if we are Eben's parents. Then she tells us about how Hannah went on and on after the rehearsal about Eben. Hannah reports that they couldn't keep their eyes off each other. Eben told Hannah that he loved her and that she was the only woman for him and he'll never look at another woman. Then the cutest: He tells her to wear the same shoes the next day at the pageant, so he can find her. I was so shocked! They are so tiny!

So of course after they are done with their performance and are exiting out the sanctuary doors, I ask Eben if I could take a picture of him and his new friend. He says, "Oh yeah, sure!" and escorts her over to the Christmas tree with his arm around her back and then does that cute little couple pose seen above. During the next service, they perform again. Eben and Hannah stand next to each other the whole time and they hold hands throughout the entire last song. Ahhhh. Kindergarten love. Who knew we had such a romantic. Of course he is Peter's son.

The Christmas pageant was so wonderful and real. We loved it! Eben was in the choir and then Jasper and Kivi came out in little sheep hoods and sang Away In The Manger. They all did such a great job. Here's Jasper and Kivi's part: