Blogging

When we're sitting at the table, we usually ask each other, "How was your day," and "What did you do today." Isaiah has picked up on this conversation starter and loves it. Tonight he said, "I blogged today." We laughed and asked him what he blogged about. He said that he blogged about Gordon, one of the Thomas trains. Then we asked him what blogging means. He said, "I don't know." Ah. Two-year-olds.

Self-esteem?

Yesterday we borrowed Veggie Tales' Dave and the Giant Pickle from the library. I was putting it in the dvd player this morning when I noticed the subtitle on the front cover: "A lesson in self-esteem." Hmm. Last time I checked that's not what the story of David and Goliath is about. It's about having faith in God regardless of your circumstances and God being able to use anyone for the job, sometimes the least likely person. Now this is not a direct knock on Veggie Tales, because in general I think they're great for kids. And they're fun to watch. But to boil the story of David and Goliath down to a lesson in self-esteem is disappointing.

Advice

What's the best advice anyone has ever given you? When I was pregnant with Isaiah, I took all the baby classes, read several books, and talked to other moms, just trying to figure out the best way to take care of a baby. Then someone told me, "Just remember that your baby doesn't know what's right either." That was very reassuring. I realized that my baby would get used to things however I did them.

Some other great advice I got was from a parent at Eden, also when I was pregnant with Isaiah. (There's something about being pregnant that just screams "Give me advice!") I really respect this particular mom who is raising four wonderful daughters. She told me that I should keep my relationship with my husband a top priority even once I have children because when they're all grown and on their own, my husband and I will still have each other.

I was talking to my grandma on the phone the other day, and, as usual, we were talking about the boys. Grandma said that whatever I'm doing, it's best just to stop and play with them if they want me to, because before I know it they'll be grown.

So what's the best advice you've ever gotten from someone?

Review of Joseph

Last night Dan and I saw the Pittsburgh Musical Theater's production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. We enjoyed the upbeat, energetic, fast-paced show. I was thrilled to see that there was a live orchestra/band. The lighting, music, and actors were tight. They used the same set for the whole show, with creative uses in different scenes. The stairs lit up in multiple colors, and the track lighting around the stairs added energy. The narrator had a pleasant voice. Joseph and Pharoah (Elvis) had good voices too, but sometimes their deep voices were hard to hear over the music.

I question the director's judgment in the scene with Joseph and Potiphar's wife. Anyone who is familiar with the story of Joseph knows what this part is about. What happens in that scene is crucial to the overall story, so it can't be removed. But it could have been handled in a way so as to be more suggestive than actually showing certain things. The scene showed Potiphar's wife's 'interactions' with many men, and then her attempts to attract Joseph. Potiphar's wife's dominatrix-type costume was shocking to say the least, and the movements, etc., were far too over the top for a show that should be fairly family-friendly. I would not recommend taking children to this version of the show.

I applaud the modern twists the PMT gave to this show (some pop music and a Hannah Montana reference), and we enjoyed the many laugh-out-loud moments. It's too bad the show had to be tainted by one questionable scene. Overall, I would give it 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Anyway, it was a great night out without the boys! If you haven't been downtown to see a show lately, check out the cultural district schedule. The prices for shows are very reasonable if you're willing to sit in the gallery, and you can park for a mere $5.00.

Bills

We received two medical bills that our old insurance didn't cover. I called our new health insurance to see if they would pay for them, and I found out that the big one ($400) was already paid for! Also, they said they would cover the other one. What a wave of relief washed over me when I heard that! Then I started thinking; Having your medical bills paid for isn't as great as having all your sins paid for by Jesus!