God is good even when you are not looking for him. This has been the case this April with my family. Everyone has been busy seeking other things. And still, God is there with us. 

I don't know about you, but I love the story of Easter. We celebrated at Christ. There were songs, prayers, poetry, testimonies, and His presence. God himself intervened in human history, humiliating himself by taking the form of a helpless infant, living a life in perfect conformity with his moral law, and dying an excruciating and shameful death on the Cross.I know that some consider this a vile doctrine, that what God allows to happen to Jesus makes him a moral monster. They fail to grasp the importance of the understanding that Jesus was fully human and fully divine. It is in that way that God himself pays the price for restoring humanity.

Or, as the Apostle John more poetically puts it: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

There is beauty in the ashes of humanity, and to believe is to take part in that beauty.

What were the members of my family seeking? Let's begin with Jordan. I think he was seeking glory. The child was playing soccer at the elementary school and he broke his arm. He was the goalie in a game. He was reaching up to catch the ball and he hit his arm on the goal post! He was in quite a bit of pain for a few days. We did manage to get him to the doctor, and the doctor put him in a cast. He was mopey for a day or two. He then realized that he could read all the web-toons he wanted, and now sits in front of screens whenever he has the chance! 

Aidan and Justin have finished midterms, and I think all mothers breathe a sign of relief when it is over. I know I did. Aidan was seeking high grades, and he did his best! He got 100% in quite a few subjects, which he was very proud of. He has three scores that were in the 90s. The lowest score was a class called ethics. Unfortunately, he does not feel like an ethical person since it was his lowest.

I just want to say that this was the quietest it has ever been for Justin and his midterms. He has been studying diligently at school four days of the week, and working two days a week. I am not sure if he has high scores, but it has been nice to not be consumed with worry about this child.

Justin has been seeking good meals. He has been ordering food from different places when he comes home from work on Friday and Saturday. Last Saturday, he ordered poutine from a small eatery called 'Two Hands Burger'. Well, he was in love with it! He ordered frozen french fries and gravy mix online. Apparently, I am supposed to melt cheese when Justin is making gravy. This was never something that I particularly enjoyed, but I love that poutine is a Canadian thing. 

I am going to end with a story about Aidan. He gave me an early Mother's Day gift on Friday. It was a foldable cut-out of delicate flowers. I kind of gasped when I saw it. There was a lovely, lovely note expressing his appreciation for his mother!

I appreciate all of these boys, and I thank God for them. Even when they are seeking other things, they are still a blessing! 

Let’s begin with Justin. It has been an adjustment with him going to university. I am trying to treat him like an adult, but he is not always acting like one. He leaves his dirty clothes and rubbish on the floor in his room. I am continually asking him to put things where they belong. He says, “Yes Mom”, but he does not actually put anything where it belongs.  Needless to say, his room at the end of the hallway is avoided. 

I think that most university students spend way too much time on YouTube watching ridiculous videos. Justin is no exception to this. The other night he told me that he identified with with being black and female. I assume that he watched something on YouTube and thought it would be funny to share that with me. I looked at him and said, “You are look male and caucasian!” He was amused by my comment and walked out of the kitchen. I do love this child’s sense of humor!  
​
Have I told you this story? When Justin was about 5 years old, he liked cuddling with me. We were cuddling, and he looked up and said, “Mommy, we are having a moment!” I said, “Yes dear. We are having a moment” and laughed to myself. A little less than five minutes passed. “Mom, the moment is over! I am hot!” Of course, I let him get up, and I was laughing hysterically.

Aidan has been a very studious student through elementary school and this continues in middle school. He goes to class and then goes to study room after school. He eats dinner with us, and then spends about three hours studying in the evening. I suggested that he take Friday night off and come swimming. I could see the eyes darting back and forth. He was thinking if he could afford to do that. 
​
I am more than glad that he is ambitious. I am not sure that it is normal to sit and study that much in grade 7. I am also thinking he is going to burn out with all the studying before he even gets to high school. I realize these are Canadian standards of what is normal for a 13 year-old boy to do as opposed to Korean standards. 

He also had a birthday this month! Chocolate cake, Andong chicken, and new airpods! He will be in his own little world for the next two months with those airpods.

Jordan has been a trooper over the past two weeks. He had COVID. He started to feel like crap on Saturday, running a fever and complaining a bit. He tested negative on Saturday, but positive rather late on Sunday afternoon. It was a weird week of sliding food into the library room. There would gasps of delight when the food was something he liked and absolutely nothing when the food was something that he did not like. Still, I love this child’s enthusiasm. He never complained, read every single comic book we have in the house, and he was able to deal with the heat in the room. I think my husband believes that the heat was going to help him sleep, so the temperature was turned up. I could see the relief on his face the following Sunday when he was told that he could eat with us. Lots of hugs were happening.
​
Myself? It has been recommended that I put in a proposal for a new course. Many of my colleagues have been sweating through the paperwork to get new courses into the university’s portal system. I am working on something as we speak. And I am hoping to finish it this afternoon…