Category Archives: Daniel

Daniel, Family

College Bound!

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Today Daniel received a very exciting and anxiously-awaited email. We had hoped that word might come this week — we were so excited to get definitive notice today.

Daniel's college acceptance letter!

Daniel’s college acceptance letter!

Daniel spent the last year at Clover Park Technical College, studying low-voltage electricity and learning about fire alarms and security systems. Frustrated with the tedium of academic life at the end of his junior year, Daniel pressed us to allow him to pursue an alternative final year of high school. Truth be told, it wasn’t a resounding success. The coursework was not very challenging, and he was not inspired by the instructor or the subject matter of the course.

So when Daniel reached the end of his senior year, we weren’t sure how to advise him. Should he start taking classes at a local community college, to see if he can get back into the swing of academic life? Should he pursue a short-term mission trip? Or should he work a year or two, to gain some real-world experience, and maybe come to desire a college education? Maybe by working, he would find a career path that was inspiring …

We believe that Daniel is being stifled, to a certain extent, living at home. Most young men need a chance to make choices, determine their values and priorities, and, hopefully, acquire wisdom. Living under our roof, with Kathy’s tendency to “fuss” and my tendency to pompously “lecture,” we think that Daniel was not really able to stretch his metaphorical ‘legs’ and stride into manhood.

As Spring was ending and Summer beginning, we began to worry. What could Daniel do if he wasn’t eager for a four-year academic program, didn’t have a job that would allow him to support himself away from home, but was also suffocating a bit under our, ahem, mildly overpowering influence??

“Not to worry,” Rachel told us, confidently. “I’ll take care of things.”

Next thing we knew, Daniel had applied to Calvary Chapel Bible College, and was gathering letters of recommendation to send in. Several of our friends’ children have attended Calvary Chapel, and we think it will be a good fit for Daniel. What a great opportunity for him to spend a year or two studying the Bible and learning to live on his own, yet in a fairly controlled and safe environment, around other students who love Jesus!

Daniel is still a little in shock.

Daniel is still a little in shock.

We are so excited for Daniel, and delighted that he has been accepted. Calvary Chapel’s focus on servant leadership is an excellent fit for Daniel’s spiritual gifting, and we hope that he will thrive there.

It will be strange to have the three older kids away next year, with just David and Sarah home with us. Each of the kids add such an important dimension to our family, it is hard not to feel rather diminished when one or more of them are away. Visiting Joshua, we attended his church, and then engaged in a little family weirdness …

Preparing for a long drive, we gave each other a back massage ...

Preparing for a long drive, we gave each other a back massage …

We got a few strange looks from the other folks in the lobby — too bad that Joshua will now need to find another church.

CONGRATULATIONS, Daniel!!!! Can’t wait to see what this next year holds for you. We love you and are very proud of you!

Project 365, Day 194
Tim

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Dan the Gardener

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This year Daniel gave me a unique and special Mother’s Day present.

From my sweet son!

From my sweet son!

Weeding – Planting- Paying for Bark

Happy words to a mother’s heart! At least a mother who has a bare and forlorn looking front yard.

Of course, I love presents of ALL kinds, but I was especially excited by this gift! I feel extra special LOVED when my family helps me around the house and take on on big projects for (and with me). I so appreciate Daniel’s generosity of his time and finances, and also his sensitivity in knowing I have longed to brighten up the front yard for years.

Tim’s mom bought me some beautiful flowers, Daniel prepped the land, and Tim planted the flowers with the best organic products from the reviewbrewery website.

It’s been interesting figuring out when and how Daniel likes to tackle yard work. I have really learned that a gift is one that is given – not nagged or fussed out of a person. There have been times over the past month when I thought, “This would be the perfect day for yard work.” And Daniel was busy with school or work at Chick-Fil-A or even his own relaxing. I had to learn patience. And I got the opportunity to get out in the yard and enjoy some of the labor myself. Tim was very kind to step in and help me get the wilting plants into the ground – it has been one HOT and DRY summer.

Meanwhile, Daniel continues to work on additional improvements. And he’s not reluctant to spend some of his own money. He bought us a large broom for sweeping up the driveway. He surprised me with a new welcome mat.

And today he went out and purchased 7 bags of topsoil for the flower beds.

Thank you, Daniel! I feel very loved!

He also pulls up naughty trees that are trying to infiltrate the yard.

He also pulls up naughty trees that are trying to infiltrate the yard.

Project 365 – Day 188
Kathy

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Blessed Daniel

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For the past several years, our church has celebrated graduating seniors with a special dinner and an opportunity for their parents (or in some cases, guardians) to bless them.

Three years ago, Joshua was eligible, but Kathy and I were celebrating our 20th wedding anniversary in Turks and Caicos. So we sent an email blessing and one of our friends read it to Joshua. They did a good job reading it (or so I hear) and so it is possible that Joshua felt significantly blessed, but I suspect that the whole experience was diminished somewhat by the fact that we weren’t on hand to actually do it ourselves (sorry, Joshua).

Last year we had the opportunity to give a blessing to Rachel, but at the time we weren’t posting many blog entries, so (as impactful as it might have been at the time) it is almost as if it didn’t happen (sorry, Rachel). As everyone knows, if a tree falls in the forest but the event is not chronicled in our family blog, it didn’t happen (and in fact, there is serious doubt cast on the existence of either the tree or the forest).

This year it was Daniel’s turn. He will soon be finishing his Low Voltage Electrician and Fire Safety Systems course at Clover Park Technical College, and so we are declaring him a high school graduate (with a little extra on the side). It was very fun for me (and hopefully not too painful for Daniel) to publicly reflect on some of his strengths and to ask God for His blessing in a few areas. My nephew Timothy and his wife and son, and my parents were also able to attend, which made it a bit more solemn (while at the same time, more festive).

This time we were all able to rally around Daniel and honor him.

This time we were all able to rally around Daniel and honor him.

As I wrote his blessing, one thing really stood out to me — Daniel is an Evangelist. He really cares about the people that God puts in his path — and he doesn’t make the (often unconscious) mistake of judging people’s worthiness. When I look at a lost person, I often look at them in a human, strategic way, determining whether they are ‘likely’ to accept the gospel or not. If I think that they can’t understand the gospel, or are hardened against it, or have some other moral handicap that will probably quench the gospel’s effectiveness, I am very unlikely to care about them or to tell them about Jesus. This is clearly not reflective of God’s heart, but I tend to think that way.

But not Daniel. His first ‘solo’ attempt at street evangelism paired him with a young man who didn’t speak more than a few words of English. Last Fall, Daniel spent several hours befriending a homeless man so he could give him a Bible. He is routinely embroiled in the strangest arguments about spiritual matters with the most unlikely young men in his class at Clover Park. Daniel is not ‘strategic’ but simply obeys the leading of the Spirit and lives out the gospel to a lost world.

I’m very proud of Daniel. I blessed him tonight in several areas with confidence and hope — knowing that Daniel loves God deeply and knowing God’s expressed plan from Philippians 1:6:

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

Congratulations, Daniel!

Project 365, Day 146
Tim

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Rachel’s Return, Learning to Drive & a Homeschool Dance

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Rachel is home!!! We’ve been anticipating her return for weeks. Our texts have mostly consisted of, “See you soon!” and “Only one more paper/final before you come home!” And a few, “Don’t Panic, the semester is almost over!” Or even, “Yikes, almost a sophomore!!”

We spent most of Friday getting things ready for Rachel’s return – moving David out of Rachel’s room, cleaning out dressers, going through old clothes, taking apart the bunk bed, and cleaning the house. At some point during the day, Tim got a cell phone update on Rachel’s flight, saying the flight wasn’t due until 10 pm. We had expected her at 9 pm, so this was quite a delay. Still, we didn’t think much of it as it seems airlines are free to change itineraries without permission these days. We had a lovely dinner with our nephew Timothy, his wife Sunny, and baby John. Around 8:30 pm I decided to input Rachel’s flight in my phone flight tracker. At that point the info said her flight was coming in 8 minutes early and would be there at 8:37.

WHAT??!! I hurried to check it again, tried to find the notification that said she wasn’t due until 10 pm, and had a moment of panic. Just as we were rushing to grab shoes, say a hasty goodbye to Tim and Sunny, I got a text from Rachel saying she had landed.

UH OH! We’re a good 45 minutes (when there’s NO TRAFFIC) from the airport. Time to hustle!! David and Sarah jumped into the car with me while Tim stayed home to finish putting together the bed we had bought that afternoon to put in Rachel room. Poor Rachel had to wait for us – no glory for the returning college student!

Now, I should say, to our credit Tim managed to secure Rachel a first class seat on her flight from Dallas to Seattle. Hee hee! Surprise!! Yay for frequent flier miles!! So, although she FELT like we had forgotten her, we were just given wrong info. LOL. And, her dad spoiled her with a surprise First Class seat for the long flight home. A warm cloth to wash hands, a lovely meal, ice cream served in a glass bowl, and room to stretch out. Luxuries these days!

Many hugs and kisses and excited greetings!!

Saturday was our first full day together. Rachel’s friend Jenny came over for a visit. Daniel took the girls driving – time for Rachel to start learning how to drive a stick shift.

Love these three!

Love these three!

Daniel takes Rachel off for a drive.

Daniel takes Rachel off for a drive.

Look closely at that window!

Look closely at that window!

Later that evening the three younger kids went off to the Homeschool dance. Rachel stayed home and worked with Tim. They planted tomato plants and some lettuce for me, and even surprised me with three window boxes full of flowers. They had a lovely time while the rest of us kicked up our heels and did a little swing dancing.

So beautiful!

Looking sharp!

Beautiful Sarah!!

Beautiful Sarah!!

Okay, the kids danced, I worked behind the scenes in the kitchen and helped with the cleaning.

David is a good dancer.

David is a good dancer.

By the end of the evening, Daniel was done swing dancing and decided to pull out a board game. Gotta love a resourceful kid who knows how to make the most of a good party.

Teaching Alex how to play DC Comics.

Teaching Alex how to play DC Comics.

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I think they ended up with a full table of people playing DC Comics, including the wonderful caterer, Duncan Cross. None of them seemed to mind that they had to use a phone as a light for the table while the room was dim for the dance crowd.

It was a great party!
So glad to have Rachel home!

Here’s to the beginning of a great summer!
Project 365 – Day 136
Kathy

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“To My Dearest Mother…”

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Wednesday morning I came downstairs; the living room blinds were still shut and blankets were strewn about the room (half on the couch, half draped on the floor – remnants of our family movie time the night before). Tim was already gone to his early, early guy prayer time. The children were all asleep, happily snuggled under blankets and oblivious that the sun was trying to peek through the clouds. I was hurrying to gather some breakfast and finish getting ready for my morning meeting when I walked past my computer desk.

Clue Number One

Clue Number One

What??

I looked closer. There on top of my keyboard was a note, written in bright red sharpie, from one of those precious, sleeping children. Daniel has been working steadily at Chick-Fil-A since they opened 2 weeks ago. He often closes the store, cleaning and working until late, and doesn’t get home until we’re all in bed.

I guess this night he brought home a little treat for his mama.

Clue Number 2

Clue Number 2

The notes continued into the kitchen – the second one was taped across the doors of the fridge.

I have to admit it, I LOVE gifts. It’s one of my love languages. Quality time is probably at the very top, but surprises and presents and gifts (big and small) is definitely next on my Makes Me Smile list. Of course, I also love it when Tim works on a project around the house or the yard. And I need hugs and compliments too. So basically I’m greedy and like all of the 5 Love Languages.

And I DEFINITELY love celebrations and morning treats.

Clue Number 3

Clue Number 3

Just when I feel weary and busy with the every day routine of life, the Lord comes alongside me and blesses me anew. Without a doubt, my amazing, kind, generous, thoughtful, fun, crazy, family is the greatest blessing.

Thank you, Daniel, for MAKING my morning!!!!! I Love you.

P.S. They were delicious!

Project 365 – Day 126
Kathy

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