Tag Archives: parents

Double Header

Dearest Rachel – To address the question you wouldn’t have to ask if you were actually present – since conversation with a live person doesn’t require adding titles to one’s topics – yes, this is about sports in general, but no, this doesn’t have to do with baseball, from whence the term itself hails. You’dContinue reading “Double Header”

孝道的限度 (The Limits of Xiào)

Dearest Rachel – I don’t claim to be a student of Confucianism by any stretch of the imagination, but I am passingly familiar with at least one tenet of the philosophy? …religion? I’m not even entirely sure as to which it really is. Both are a means to guide behavior in the present world; whileContinue reading “孝道的限度 (The Limits of Xiào)”

Meanwhile, Back Home…

Dearest Rachel – I just stuffed the bags back into the car behind my driver’s seat again this morning. Normally, I’ve got this rotation of two of the many (most of which I either disposed of or gave away) cloth grocery bags you left behind, for when I stop at Aldi – either one, asContinue reading “Meanwhile, Back Home…”

from Rachel: The Record of the Maccabees

[Antiochus IV Epiphanies] wanted [the Jews] Hellenized, not just in spite of their wishes to the contrary, but because of them. Please read Daniel 8:9-10 carefully. Using the same figurative language, record what the one fulfilling this prophecy would do. “throw some of the starry host down to earth and trample them” To what doContinue reading “from Rachel: The Record of the Maccabees”

from Rachel: The Lap of Luxury

What kind of goals did you have for life? In other words, what was your idea of personal success? “I couldn’t picture college or adult life, so my impossible goal would’ve been to be five again and stay a kid.” Have your life goals or ideas of success changed at all since that time? “yes”Continue reading “from Rachel: The Lap of Luxury”

from Rachel: From “He” to “You”

Which parts of Harper’s definition of ‘providence’ mean the most to you? “‘The will of the Creator who is actively involved…’” Now, return to Daniel’s proclamation of praise in 2:20-23. Note specific ways these verses express God’s sovereignty and providence. “‘He removes kings and establishes kings’” How does the sovereignty of God described in theseContinue reading “from Rachel: From “He” to “You””

Needing More Rest

Early to bed, and early to riseMakes a man healthy, wealthy and wise. Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richard’s Almanack Early to rise, and early to bedMakes a man healthy, but socially dead. Yakko Warner, Animaniacs Dearest Rachel – After a night rehearsing for the Christmas Eve service (and hoping in vain that I could find aContinue reading “Needing More Rest”

from Rachel: Renaming and Resisting

The days seem to pass slowly, but the years fly like the wind. ‘I choose joy. I may not feel it, but God has appropriated it and I choose it.’ Please read Daniel 1:6-7. Write each of the young men’s names below and… what they were renamed: “Daniel – God is my judge” renamed “BelteshazzarContinue reading “from Rachel: Renaming and Resisting”

The Secret Handshake

Dearest Rachel – To be sure, Mom and Dad aren’t doing any more traveling from this point on. Between the logistic issues presented by his feeding tube (although, since the surgery, he hasn’t had to deal with any leaks that would otherwise force him to leave any event he was at at a moment’s notice)Continue reading “The Secret Handshake”

Routine But Rare

Dearest Rachel – I sometimes wonder what little things I might say or do will happen to resonate with someone, without me ever knowing it. To be sure, everybody makes offhand comments from time to time; sometimes, one of them lands in an onlooker’s mind, and stays there for the rest of their lives. ByContinue reading “Routine But Rare”

Your Regularly Scheduled Lifecast

Dearest Rachel – Well, I think that’s taken care of things; with the Ultimate World Cruise (at least, the single leg I was on for) behind me, and a weekend’s worth of mostly bed rest, I think I’m ready to get back to my regular routine, after a fashion. Sure, I’ve promised myself that IContinue reading “Your Regularly Scheduled Lifecast”

from Rachel: The Fruit of Unfailing Love

Give at least five endings to the incomplete sentences, offering your own thoughts contrasting two children: one who believes he or she is loved and the other who does not. A child who believes he or she is loved… – “has confidence to go out into the world– “knows they can come home and beContinue reading “from Rachel: The Fruit of Unfailing Love”

Strangely Familiar, and Yet…

Dearest Rachel – Well, honey… here we go again. I can see his skin stretched across his collarbone and rib cage as he lies in his hospital bed. He’s down to skin and bones, but at least his salt and sugar levels are down to normal – or at least considerably more normal than theyContinue reading “Strangely Familiar, and Yet…”

Catching Up With the Crowd

Dearest Rachel – Twenty-two miles in, and I haven’t seen hide nor hair of Erin – which, if she’s wearing that bright orange kerchief she’d been sporting at church last night as part of her running ensemble (an eminently suitable choice, being both brightly colored and a unique combination), she really ought to be easyContinue reading “Catching Up With the Crowd”

from Rachel: Hearts Broken by Loss

Have you ever experienced a season when you seemed to face one loss after another? If so, describe when and what it involved. “Thankfully, no, not yet. I do dread the potential approach of one now that Mom has joined Dad in the eighties.” Have you ever experienced feelings of grief that surprised you orContinue reading “from Rachel: Hearts Broken by Loss”

from Rachel: Surveying Ancient Ruins

Please read Ezekiel 18 in its entirety. Write a one-sentence synopsis of this Old Testament chapter. “God explains to the people of Israel that He holds each person accountable for their own sins alone – no one else’s – and He desires that all should repent and be saved” Write your own basic outline ofContinue reading “from Rachel: Surveying Ancient Ruins”

Bargain-Hunting Blues

Dearest Rachel – Back in the day, on the years when we were downstate visiting your folks over Christmas, we would generally make a habit of driving those five minutes or so to the edge of town, where the big box stores were located, in order to go shopping for after-Christmas bargains the day afterContinue reading “Bargain-Hunting Blues”

A Second Adolescence

Dearest Rachel – It’s been long said that senility and dementia result in something that is referred to as a ‘second childhood’. You no longer know the things you used to know, so you’re about as ignorant and helpless as you were as a little child. You remember how this was, especially with your mom’sContinue reading “A Second Adolescence”

The Way of the Wayward Son

You know the rules. Driver picks the music; shotgun shuts his cakehole. Dean Winchester (Jensen Ackles) to his brother Sam (Jared Padalecki), as they begin their adventure, in Supernatural Dearest Rachel – I never got into the series; it was something you would watch as you were doing your chores or whatever it was youContinue reading “The Way of the Wayward Son”

from Rachel: I Just Want Everyone to Love Me

Anyone else want to join me here? “Yep, I have belonged to the ‘just love me’ club too.” Looks like you agreed with the author that you are conflict-avoidant, risk-averse, and easily pushed (although you preferred the term ‘manipulated,’ for all the difference it made). You did not consider yourself easily-bullied, work-yourself-into-oblivion, or a bigContinue reading “from Rachel: I Just Want Everyone to Love Me”

Pocket Veto

Dearest Rachel – I’ve been told that one way to keep a marriage fresh is to continue to treat each other as though you were still dating. Make an effort to keep winning your partner over; behave as if you were still young (to the best of your ability, of course – some things areContinue reading “Pocket Veto”

Goodie!

Dearest Rachel – It’s the sort of thing that gamblers at the craps tables always talk about needing, and it’s the last of my Christmas presents – at least, until such time as some girl comes into my life to take your place in our home and family (although I suspect that will be anContinue reading “Goodie!”

Felling the Tree

Dearest Rachel – It’s not the sort of thing you enjoyed doing; indeed, it had been left undone at our house at the time of the accident (and as a result, was not dealt with for several months thereafter), but the folks are a little more punctual about things like this, and so, Daniel andContinue reading “Felling the Tree”

from Rachel: I Am Thankful…

“I am thankful… “7/21/97 “that I am a child of the King “that He has forgiven all my transgressions (Psalm 32:1) “that I’m finally keeping one of these (silly) journals Oprah keeps promoting “that I am laid back enough to not get stressed out if I miss a day sometimes (/often) “for a break inContinue reading “from Rachel: I Am Thankful…”

More Enthused Than I

Dearest Rachel – Not too much to report in the way of dreams this morning. Just some snippets of trying to rent transportation to get to Akihabara and Comiket, only to get some kind of FaceTime call from you and Kevin(!), indicating that the two of you were already wherever I was trying to getContinue reading “More Enthused Than I”

Overlooked Traumas

Dearest Rachel – So last night at Grief Share, the subject under discussion was that of trauma. And while it could be argued that any loss can be considered traumatic from a certain point of view, tonight’s session dealt somewhat specifically with the likes of the more sudden variety – murders, suicides, multiple deaths (suchContinue reading “Overlooked Traumas”

Asking For Approval

Dearest Rachel – You might’ve been aware of it back in the day, but as it wasn’t necessarily a concern of yours, it was never really discussed, but I always would – and still do – call the folks when I’m on my way to the ‘office.’ It’s not a necessary thing – I haveContinue reading “Asking For Approval”

That Much Emptier

Dearest Rachel – So Kevin just left this morning, and will likely be driving through the entirety of the day, arriving home after sunset. It’s the nature of the trip, and the distance involved. He’s going home to an emptier house than ours, which is why I really shouldn’t be complaining like I am. ButContinue reading “That Much Emptier”

Having the Right

Dearest Rachel – My parents celebrated their sixty-first wedding anniversary last Friday. It’s a difficult number for me to wrap my head around. Of course, they’ve always been married for seven and a half years longer than I’ve been alive, but the longer I live, the larger their number gets, to the point where it’sContinue reading “Having the Right”

Never Knew I’d Need Notes

Dearest Rachel – At some point in last night’s Grief Share meeting, the video session was going over certain emotions and attitudes we might have within the first few days and weeks. Honestly, I’m not sure why I was told earlier that my grief was ‘too raw’ and it was ‘too soon’ to go throughContinue reading “Never Knew I’d Need Notes”

from Rachel: The Importance of Loving Parents

Would you describe yourself as having been filled with the knowledge of God’s love for you? Why or why not? “Yes, I’m sure largely this is easier for me than for some because I grew up with parents who were so grateful to have me and so proud of me and so open about howContinue reading “from Rachel: The Importance of Loving Parents”

On Pain, Pacemakers and Purpose

Dearest Rachel – I figured I should give you a follow-up on my previous post. Either it stopped raining while I was working on converting our convention and vacation footage, or it never really blew up into a real rain in the first place. By the time I emerged from the basement at about threeContinue reading “On Pain, Pacemakers and Purpose”

The Wife of One’s Youth

Dearest, darling Rachel – You know, I will never apologize for bragging on my folks. Over sixty years together, and they are still going strong. To this very day, my Dad never fails to refer to Mom publicly as “the wife of my youth,” with nods to both Proverbs and Malachi, among others. It’s suchContinue reading “The Wife of One’s Youth”