He's home!

My baby brother is home! Warning: picture overload! :)

Skeletons and Witches

An interesting follow-up to meeting those princesses that I last posted about...

Here is a conversation that took place late last night...  Emma came into our room because she was "scared of skeletons and witches".  What?!  I don't even know how she heard about them.  I explained both to her to help her understand they weren't real.  Skeletons were easy enough.  She understands that without a heartbeat, people die, and skeletons don't have hearts.  Done. 

I tried similar logic with the witch conversation.  Her response to "they aren't real"?  Well, then what about the witch in Snow White?  I told her she isn't real.  Well, then who gave Snow White the apple?  I said, "Snow White isn't real."  She said, "Wait, then which princesses are real?  Because I saw Tiana and Elsa and Tinkerbell, so I know they are real."  I told her they were all just stories.  She said, "Oh, so then is Jesus real?"

Oh man.  These kids are too smart.  We will be having an in-depth conversation about this topic at my house today.

I can tell you this, though...  I KNOW that Jesus is real.  Not just because I learn about him in church.  Not just because we acted out the nativity every Christmas and it was a fun story.  Not just because his miracles were incredible.  Not just because the scriptures tell about Him, His life and His teachings.  These things all built a foundation, but I know Jesus is real because of how I FEEL.  I feel peace when I'm struggling or worried.  I feel hope when things are overwhelming.  I feel grateful when I'm surrounded by my family, seeing eternal perspective.  I feel calm as I'm in the temple.  I feel loved and cared for no matter what.  I feel the Spirit testifying to me, even now, as I type this, that He is REAL.  And He knows me.  He knows each one of us.