Dearest Rachel – You probably remember how, with every year end, I would make a habit of picking up the year-end wrapup from Life magazine (and later, after that one folded, Time magazine), covering ‘the year in pictures.’ Some of them may have been thrown out in the course of the purge, but I thinkContinue reading “Have You Seen Him?”
Monthly Archives: April 2022
Back to the Wall
Dearest Rachel – Matt has been the point man on the work in the laundry room. While I’ve been holed up upstairs, particularly since returning from my stress test, I’ve been hearing the clamor from downstairs through the floor. When I went down to check on Daniel (and confirm that Logan had joined him) IContinue reading “Back to the Wall”
An Approach to Stress
Dearest Rachel – After a dream in which I’d had a near screaming match provoked by Mohinder for – as far as I could tell – absolutely no reason (which, as bad as he could be, never happened in real life, thankfully), I woke up glad to be where I was, but knowing this wasContinue reading “An Approach to Stress”
Let Them Do Their Job
Dearest Rachel – Day two of what I expect to be about sixty (although, since that includes weekends, it would probably be closer to forty-five or so, wouldn’t it?) between yesterday’s start-up date and when the remodeling is finished. This time around, I’ve decided to actually go in to the ‘office,’ even though there isn’tContinue reading “Let Them Do Their Job”
Hard Reboot
Dearest Rachel – I know you would consider me as such, but I would deny that I’m really a ‘morning person,’ except by default. That is, I’m clearly not a night owl – I would rarely stay up past midnight, even back in college, and would usually be in bed by 10:30. But that wasContinue reading “Hard Reboot”
And So it Begins
Dearest Rachel – After some last-minute scrambling (and no, that has nothing to do with eggs – neither Daniel nor I have had the chance to have breakfast), all the cabinets, all the drawers, all the counters have been emptied and placed… somewhere. They just aren’t in the kitchen or the laundry room anymore, andContinue reading “And So it Begins”
Comic Timing
Dearest Rachel – They say the difference between drama and comedy is mostly a matter of timing. If that’s so, it would explain why I tend to be the straight man amongst our friends, despite being the ‘weird’ one among my colleagues. The day has been a series of mis-timed misadventures, so I figure IContinue reading “Comic Timing”
Too Timid to Talk
Dearest Rachel – This past Sunday was a bit unusual for me, and yet, at the end of the day, it really didn’t make all that much difference. I mentioned that Daniel wasn’t with me, you might recall. He’d gone with Kerstin to the Saturday service (and met the folks there as well, who wereContinue reading “Too Timid to Talk”
A Strange Slow Morning
Dearest Rachel – Well, it so happened that my concerns about the end of silence were a little bit premature. I’ve been slow-walking the day, since I’ve nowhere to go, and nothing to do until my doctor’s appointment just before noon. Daniel’s been asleep the whole time, despite my rattling about in the kitchen, polishingContinue reading “A Strange Slow Morning”
It Won’t Be This Quiet Again
Dearest Rachel – I’m actually overstating things. There may yet be a couple of more days when I’m home and Daniel is off doing his own thing. And once the rooms are done, and the contractors are gone, I expect we may go back to our typical routines, leaving the house fairly silent from timeContinue reading “It Won’t Be This Quiet Again”
from Rachel: Near to God
[starred for emphasis] Our God is faithful and true. He is not playing games with us or changing his mind. He loves us. Jesus died for us. The Bible speaks to us. The Holy Spirit works in us. And in all these things, God is glorified. With no worrying about right or wrong answers, howContinue reading “from Rachel: Near to God”
Where You Don’t Want to Go
·I tell you the truth [L Truly, truly I say to you], when you were younger, you ·tied your own belt [dressed yourself] and went where you wanted. But when you are old, you will put out your hands and someone else will ·tie [dress] you and take you where you don’t want to go.” JohnContinue reading “Where You Don’t Want to Go”
If I Could See My Way Clear
Dearest Rachel – Well, it could’ve happened at a worse time. Barely an hour before Jenn was supposed to pick me up so that we could drive to cousin Jim’s memorial service in the Twin Cities area, I get the bright idea to clean my glasses. Just as I start to rub the lens withContinue reading “If I Could See My Way Clear”
Ready Or Not
Dearest Rachel – There are days when life comes at you fast, like a tree at the bottom of a hill. Other days can just seem to creep along, like the one when the remodeling crew is supposed to be arriving – it’s been pushed back yet another day, wouldn’t you know, to Tuesday (edit:Continue reading “Ready Or Not”
Room for Emergencies
Dearest Rachel – It isn’t as if I write these letters as a call for help; I’m just telling you exactly what it is I’m dealing with (with a few names changed for security’s sake). Still, every so often these things happen. I’ve heard of folks being diagnosed with rare diseases due to an eagle-eyedContinue reading “Room for Emergencies”
Not Encouraging
Dearest Rachel – There are times when I have to remind myself that I shouldn’t be pinning too much hope in this whole online dating thing; it’s just for entertainment purposes (and maybe for a little something to write to you about). Other days, it’s perfectly obvious that’s what it is. Yesterday was one ofContinue reading “Not Encouraging”
How Close the End?
Dearest Rachel – It is taken as axiomatic truth that, from the moment we’re born, we begin to die. Indeed, there are times we can sense it through our own aches and pains. If we’re lucky, we begin with all of our cells holding perfect copies of our DNA (and even that isn’t guaranteed –Continue reading “How Close the End?”
‘Dear’ in the Headlights
Dearest Rachel – I have to confess that I’ve all but given up on watching Doctor Who any longer. Not because it’s ‘gone woke,’ like some people claim. Heck, I’ve enjoyed Jody Whittaker’s distaff take on the role: she comes across as the team mom for a fairly crowded TARDIS, much like Peter Davison’s Fifth,Continue reading “‘Dear’ in the Headlights”
Cheap and Cheerful Children’s Chocolate
Dearest Rachel – For the longest time, All Souls’ Day and Easter Monday were holidays for us as an immediate family. Not as a religious observation, of course, but more as a shopping event. Assuming we – and by ‘we,’ I mean you – could remember to do so early enough in the day, youContinue reading “Cheap and Cheerful Children’s Chocolate”
Keep Me Warm ’Til Then
Dearest Rachel – So, I was going to tell you about this yesterday, but I got distracted by the events of the day. Somehow, Resurrection Sunday seemed more important to talk about than my latest acquisition. I think you’d be fine with the delay. Besides, I’d gotten the notice from UPS on Friday that itContinue reading “Keep Me Warm ’Til Then”
Empty
Dearest Rachel – One of the problems with relating someone else’s story is that you can’t always expect to get all the details right. Indeed, if the characters involved are too far removed, you can’t even be necessarily sure that the interaction even happened. But sometimes, as the saying goes, you can’t let facts getContinue reading “Empty”
from Rachel (and family): Why?
“The ‘therefore’ in verse 10 is ‘dia touto,’ which is not the Greek word that refers back to the previous point; it is more like, ‘so, here’s what I’m saying… “Verses 11-13 were probably either the lyrics to an early Church hymn, or a creed the assembly would recite together. “Do I deny following JesusContinue reading “from Rachel (and family): Why?”
Hitting the Wall
Dearest Rachel – Long-distance runners talk about the concept of ‘hitting the wall,’ both in practice and in competition. There is apparently a point at which your body basically tells you, “That’s as far as I can go, kiddo. I’m tired, I’m sore, I’m gonna give up, and I recommend you do the same, becauseContinue reading “Hitting the Wall”
When the Wind Blows…
Dearest Rachel – It’s a literal situation out there today; a fairly bright, sunny day made uncomfortably cold by the fact that the wind is blowing like crazy out there. I’ve even been forced to order a supply of zip ties, as the sign on our light post has snapped one of the ones thatContinue reading “When the Wind Blows…”
from Rachel: The Legend of the Dogwood
“There is a legend that at the time of the Crucifixion the dogwood had been the size of the oak and other forest trees. So firm and strong was the tree, that it was chosen as the timber of the cross. “To be used thus for such a cruel purpose greatly distressed the tree, andContinue reading “from Rachel: The Legend of the Dogwood”
If You Said That’s the Way it Ought to Be
Dearest Rachel – You can’t escape music when you’re out and about it the world. Retailers in particular have decided that we need a soundtrack in order to encourage us to stay and buy, I guess. And restaurants seem to think we’d rather listen to tunes than talk with each other, judging by how loudContinue reading “If You Said That’s the Way it Ought to Be”
They Don’t Break All At Once
Dearest Rachel – So, I’ve just done three loads of laundry and run the dishwasher, all in a single afternoon. Not out of some sense of nostalgia for appliances that will soon be pulled from the house and discarded – odds are, I’ll still need to do a load or two yet between now andContinue reading “They Don’t Break All At Once”
So Much For That
Dearest Rachel – It’s amazing, how fast things can change from one day to the next. One day, you think you have a whole lineup of plans for the foreseeable future; the next, so much of that list has been delayed, postponed or gone by the boards altogether. I don’t know when I first realizedContinue reading “So Much For That”
It’s That Much Worse If You’re There
Dearest Rachel – I mentioned a little while ago about a dream I had that might have been based off of a plan I was trying to make for yet another trip – and at the time, I didn’t bother to tell you about the details, partly because it was still up in the airContinue reading “It’s That Much Worse If You’re There”
Family Room No More
Dearest Rachel – As much as I like the setup I have in the yellow room upstairs, and I’m glad for an alternate bedroom to use while the construction begins in the laundry room next week, I’m a little bit concerned about getting too comfortable up there. I fell asleep in the recliner pretty quicklyContinue reading “Family Room No More”
Giving Up and Going Down
Dearest Rachel – I want to say it was Everest; I’m pretty sure it was the North Col we were suspended from. Our Sherpa guides – because you definitely need them, when assaulting this mountain – had advised us to make our way back down, even though we were ‘only’ a thousand feet short ofContinue reading “Giving Up and Going Down”
from Rachel: Believing God Loves You
[starred] There are people in great need who decide to become great at being needy. It’s easier to stay needy than take hold of the power to change. [starred] There is no “enough” for us with God. Good enough. Kind enough. Generous enough. We do not earn His love because we have finally become enough.Continue reading “from Rachel: Believing God Loves You”
It’s Just Dinner…
Dearest Rachel – I’ve been led to understand that there is a dating service in the area called ‘It’s Just Lunch’, which is pretty much exactly what it says on the tin – a means for singles to get together with each other and just have lunch, without necessarily anything else to be behind it.Continue reading “It’s Just Dinner…”
Closing My Eyes
Dearest Rachel – I don’t remember where I heard about it – probably in the Readers’ Digest when I was a kid; I spent a lot of time going through my grandparents’ cache of them, with particular emphasis on their monthly features on ‘Laughter, the Best Medicine’ and ‘Toward More Picturesque Speech’ – but thereContinue reading “Closing My Eyes”
If It’s Northbrook, Forget It
Dearest Rachel – I think I should feel sorry for the good citizens of Northbrook, Illinois. If my experience is any indication, they will never be able to call someone out of the blue and get a willing response. That’s because so many of these stupid robo-call emanate from their town. What’s even crazier isContinue reading “If It’s Northbrook, Forget It”
How Can I Miss Her…
Dearest Rachel – I will occasionally wonder what things might have been like had our roles been reversed that awful day. After all, freak accidents don’t just occur to the risk-takers, or they wouldn’t be considered freak accidents. I went down that hill a few times myself – I even lost my phone during oneContinue reading “How Can I Miss Her…”
Cleared For Takeoff
Dearest Rachel – It was one of those silly things that we would occasionally quote at each other when the circumstances warranted it – which is to say, when we were completely prepared and ready to leave on a trip: And it would seem that we finally have clearance (Clarence?) once again. As close asContinue reading “Cleared For Takeoff”
Stuck With It
Dearest Rachel – It’s one of those things that you used to keep on top of because I couldn’t be trusted to do so myself. And sure enough, I botched it this year, just like you might expect. In my defense, the window is so small, I could hardly be expected to squeeze through. Although,Continue reading “Stuck With It”
Mouse Trap
Dearest Rachel – As if politics weren’t meaningless to you where you are, I feel the need to talk with you this morning about our portfolio. Believe me, I get that this is literally of no value to you, but it’s been keeping me awake at night from time to time. And it’s not evenContinue reading “Mouse Trap”
It’s Just Another Day, Innit?
Dearest Rachel – I still have that balloon that Our Father allowed to drop on our driveway last year at this time, and let me pretend was from you. It’s long since gone flat in a bin in the basement, but I can’t help but treasure it, as I don’t think I can expect suchContinue reading “It’s Just Another Day, Innit?”
from Rachel: God All-Knowing and All-Powerful / Letter to Kerstin
How often have you wondered if God knows what’s going on in your life? Your heart? Does He see what happens in your family? Can He have any idea about the struggles you face? Tell me your thoughts. “Wow! Those questions are a foreign concept to me. Each sounds completely ludicrous to my ears.” GodContinue reading “from Rachel: God All-Knowing and All-Powerful / Letter to Kerstin”
Messages in the Morning
Dearest Rachel – It’s six-thirty in the morning; I need to get up and prepare myself for the day. It’s ironic that it’s the weekend in which I have to wake up and be somewhere, while during the week, there’s never any rush (although I always feel the need to let the folks know whenContinue reading “Messages in the Morning”
Poisoned Dove
“·Listen [L Look; T Behold], I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. So be as ·clever [wise; shrewd; cunning] as ·snakes [serpents] and as ·innocent [harmless] as doves. Matthew 10:16, Expanded Bible Dearest Rachel – When I first signed up on the dating app, Jan had helped me put together a profile (although later on, she pointed out that I should not haveContinue reading “Poisoned Dove”
Letters to Rachel 