Family Update - Emma

Watching Emma grow up is one of the most amazing experiences of my life. She is learning and growing in every way. Sometimes I just watch her in awe.
This year, she started her second year of preschool. (In U.S. terms this year would be the equivalent of Pre-K.) On the first day of school, I went to an opening day celebration. All of the parents gathered downstairs in a large room and sat on tiny chairs in neat little rows. After about half an hour of prep time with the teachers upstairs, about 100 little kids came downstairs and sat on the front group of tiny chairs. Next came a 10 minute motivational speech for the children to work hard, study hard, be kind, and learn a lot. Then the director introduced the school and the teachers. Next, the students all went upstairs and the parents had a 20-30 minute orientation. I was really wishing I had brought a book or something to read. My Korean is definitely getting better, but it's still hard to stay focused when I only understand about 10% of what is being said. Finally, we went up to the children's classrooms to meet the teachers and see the kids in the classrooms.
Over all, I am very impressed with Emma's preschool. They offer lots of special activities, field trips, and after school activities. This year Emma decided to drop out of ballet and take up art instead. She loves drawing, so I'm sure she'll enjoy that. The thing that impresses me most about Emma's school, however, is the kindness of the teachers. I think they have really done an excellent job hiring and training their teachers. They are overwhelmingly kind and loving to the children. It's beautiful to see them interacting.
Emma is also continuing her piano lessons with our friend Adam. She loves going to piano and is progressing well. Right now she is learning to read music. The song she is working on now is "Ode to Joy, " or "Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee."
Emma has started working through a math book for the pre-K level. It is teaching her to match things, to recognize which has more, and to write her numbers. She really likes it. She considers it something fun to do. Thanks Nana!
Here's a funny story to wrap things up. Like the rest of us, Emma was getting tired of winter. About a month ago, whenever we would go outside she would start talking to God, "God, please make winter go away forever. Please let spring come!" Surprisingly (to me at least), we have had an especially early and mild spring. It has been in the 50's most of this week. It seems like God has answered her prayer.