One of the great things about living in Kentucky is the fact that I can be so close to my niece and nephews as they grow up. I can cheer on Reagan as she scores more baskets then I could ever hope to make in my basketball career. I can teach Aidan (AJ) how to play the piano, although at 2 years old I don't expect much. But most of all I love the times I get to spend one on one with them.

Yesterday, I was in charge of taking Rea to practice and watching Micah for that hour. Micah is so much fun to have one on one, for being the middle child he enjoys getting attention. He and I had a date at the library for an hour, reading books and looking for new "Magic School Bus" Videos. Micah loves to learn. He has been soaking in as much "Magic School Bus" as he can. There are not many four year olds (or adults for that matter) to whom I can talk to about limestone forming marble.

The great things about "my kids" (as I call them for saying my niece and nephews just takes too long) is that there is such a level of grace extended between adult and child. There are many times when I make them mad because I won't give them another glass of chocolate milk or remind them that they need to listen to their parents. But yet, they still love me whole heartedly, showering me with hugs, kisses, and smiles two minutes later. Similarly there are times when they make me frustrated, but that does not detract from my love for them.

In my Bible study of John 1, I was opened up to truths about what it means be called a "Child of God." Just as I love "my kids", God loves me. He might not always like the choices I make or what I do, but that never makes him love me less. Being God's child also means that I exhibit traits of God, just as I have my dad's ears and my mother's mathematic ability.