Category Archives: Daniel

Daniel, Project 365

Serendipity?

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We went out to dinner to celebrate Daniel’s new job at our favorite Thai restaurant about 20 minutes away. It is well worth the drive — they make the best Panang Beef, Cashew Chicken, Phad See Ew, and Phad Thai in the area (our favorite dishes). As an added bonus, they make delicious fresh spring rolls (which Kathy really enjoys).

Kathy, David, Sarah and I had speculated at some length as to whether Daniel would prefer to have dinner at Chili Thai or Red Robin, but in the end we all agreed that he would choose Chili Thai (and of course, he fully realized our expectations). However, as so often happens, this simply raised another question: what would Daniel order?

It is always fun to celebrate the blessings that God brings into our lives, especially at Chili Thai.

It is always fun to celebrate the blessings that God brings into our lives, especially at Chili Thai.

Traditionally, Daniel prefers Phad See Ew, with its broad noodles and sweet, smoky flavor. But ever since he traveled to Thailand last summer, he has been favoring Phad Thai. Sure enough, when we got to the restaurant, he was very conflicted.

“Should I order the Phad See Ew, or the Phad Thai?” he agonized, an expression of real pain on his face. Clearly, the idea of not having one of the two was very distressing to him.

“One or the other,” I reproved. “I’m only paying for one.” My generosity has its limits, after all.

Ultimately Daniel decided to go with the Phad See Ew, and hoped to trade with David and Sarah (who invariably set their faces like flint against anything that is not Phad Thai).

But when our meal arrived, we were shocked and surprised (and somewhat delighted) to receive an extra plate of Phad Thai. The waiter apologized and began to take it away, but I can recognize serendipity when I see it. Sometimes the hand of God moves, and it seemed obvious to me that God wanted to honor Daniel with an extra order of Phad Thai.

Daniel had already shared some of his Phad See Ew with everyone at the table, so I don’t think any of us begrudged him the extra helping. I can imagine God chuckling to Himself, and nudging one of the angels. “Just wait ’til you see his face, when he realizes he doesn’t have to choose between Phad Thai and Phad See Ew.”

Sometimes the best way to make a choice between two good options is to choose both.

Sometimes the best way to make a choice between two good options is to choose both.

I did end up paying for the extra order, but I don’t begrudge the restaurant or picking up the tab for God’s generosity to Daniel. God has certainly picked up the tab for me, many times more than once. :)

Congratulations on the new job, Daniel!

Project 365, Day 91
Tim

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Give that Boy a Job

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Tim and Daniel have been working on an employment letter for a possible job. We got word that the new Chick-Fil-A coming to our town was getting ready to hire employees. Not only that, but the hiring manager contacted homeschool groups in the community specifically looking to find interested homeschoolers. Interesting. Of course, I’m biased and think homeschoolers are certainly hard workers, creative, and trust-worthy. Not only that, but they also often have flexible schedules.

This is one of my very favorite homeschooling girls in the whole wide world!

This is one of my very favorite homeschooling girls in the whole wide world!

After a few rewrites, Daniel sent an email to the hiring manager. He heard back from him immediately and set up an appointment for today, Monday morning. How exciting! We helped Daniel pick out a snazzy tie, gathered around him to pray for a favorable impression and good interview, and sent him off (breakfast in hand).

Mom, a picture now? I'm trying to take my oatmeal and go. :)

Mom, a picture now? I’m trying to take my oatmeal and go. :)

After a little while Daniel came back home. Before he came inside David said, “He got the job!” Tim quickly told him, “No, he won’t hear back for several days. Don’t pressure him.”

Meanwhile Daniel came through the door with a goofy grin on his face. “I got the job!” he said.

We looked at each other. “Haha, funny Dan. So when will they get back to you?”

“Um no,” he laughed, “really, I got the job already.”

“What??!!” Cheers erupted from the family.

Sarah said, “I thought that was your I’m Just Joking face.” Ha.

The interview went well. They hired Daniel. The store opens the day after his 18th birthday next month, and he starts training in a week. Such excitement!!

The official employee folder!

The official employee folder!

Thank you to all of those who heard my Facebook request to pray for Daniel this morning. Thank you to cousin Samuel for sharing your experience and impression of working at Chick-Fil-A in Virginia. Thank you to Tim for helping Daniel draft an interview letter and go through interview questions.

Bring on the chicken sandwiches!!

Project 365 – Day 89
Kathy

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Dan and My Van

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Daniel doesn’t currently have a job. He’s put in lots of applications and has some leads going, but right now he’s unemployed. Which is difficult when you have bills to pay. And you like to drive a car to school and not take the bus.

Such a cheerful worker!

Such a cheerful worker!

We are a very easy going family in many ways. We aren’t overly scheduled or structured. I’m afraid Tim and I are just too relaxed, easy-going, fun, (lazy?) to run our lives and the home in a austere or overly orderly manner. That means things are often a bit of a mess, we’ll drop work for ministry and fun, we miss appointments (not on purpose), and we get behind in projects at times.

We can't all live the life of ease and luxury like Marco.

We can’t all live the life of ease and luxury like Marco.

We try to encourage the children to be servant-leaders and to invest in our family and the lives of others. When the older kids were home (ie before college) and managing busy schedules, we often set aside “Bless the Family” time on weekends. We asked the children to spend some intentional time working on a project or cleaning chore that blessed the home in some tangible way before they went off with friends or to work.

As Daniel finds himself without work and funds, I want to encourage him. I want him to be a diligent hard worker. If he can’t work outside the home, than he can labor for me. He can put some of his available time and energy into blessing the family.

A few weeks ago, I told Daniel he had to get some side jobs in order to use my van that week. Or at least TRY to get some work. Within minutes of posting on FB, he had a yard work job. And that job led to another project. Yesterday I had a LONG meeting up in Auburn. Tim and the kids were all off at the Duckabush for a CIT meeting. Before I left for my appointment, I wrote down a list of things Daniel needed to do (before Monday morning) if he wanted to use my van.

A few chores

A few chores

Of course, I forgot to tell anyone that I made that list. Heh heh. Around 9:45 pm I remembered. A quick call in to Tim set Daniel to work. When I arrived home at midnight, the chores were all crossed off and the place looked neat and tidy. [Kudos to David for doing all the dishes and cleaning the kitchen as well while Daniel worked on other things.]

Today Tim asked Daniel (who wanted to take a car to pick up friends and go to an Ultimate Frisbee Game), “What can you do that will make us glad for you to be off using the van? And not in a, ‘Dan, you need to get out of here you’re causing trouble!’ sort of way.” LOL! “What can you do to help around the house that will show that you are a blessing and a joy to have around?”

My Van - getting all freshened up.

My Van – getting all freshened up.

I love how Tim crafts things in ways that empowers the children and gives them the opportunity to earn respect. I tend to “mother” and nag and make lists. Ahem. Well, I am a mother, so I guess that’s somewhat expected. Tim’s approach, however, let Daniel “own” the work and be a part of the decision making process, even if it was only regarding a small thing. Daniel still needed some ideas, but he had sovereignty and control of what work he did.

Nothing like vacuumed seats.

Nothing like vacuumed seats.

Parenting teens is hard work! Teaching and training and discipling them is hard work! In my mind they are still my little ones.

2004 - sweet faces!

2004 – sweet faces!

Letting them go and make their own decisions is hard work! Only by God’s grace and strength!

Project 365 – Day 75
Kathy

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Another Busy Saturday

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Today the sun was shining brightly, and we all thoroughly enjoyed the day. Daniel went out longboarding with a friend for hours. Tim and David walked Sarah to her afternoon meeting; I met them on the way back, sneaking in a little walk myself. We ran errands, organized, did laundry and dishes, and completed a huge collection of random To Do’s.

Sarah sorted and organized shoes WHILE talking on the phone.

Sarah sorted and organized shoes WHILE talking on the phone.


I think we filled this white board 3 times with small odd jobs.

I think we filled this white board 3 times with small odd jobs.

The kids all went to church for youth group activities, while Tim and I planned some silly activities for tomorrow’s Sunday School class on Exodus 16. How many different recipes are there for manna? I wonder how the Israelites would have done on Top Chef or Chopped? Hee hee hee.

Poor Daniel. He’s been suffering since Tim, David and Sarah started exercising and went off sugar. Once a constant staple, now there’s no more ice cream in the house. There was an old container of sherbert in the freezer which Daniel managed to make last a good couple of weeks. Today I decided to spoil him and buy some cookies and cream at the store.

Look at that happy face.

Look at that happy face.

I don’t think Tim was prepared to watch Daniel savor that ice cream while he went without. Uh oh.

"You won't share with dear old dad?"

“You won’t share with dear old dad?”


Please??!!

Please??!!

Daniel is a resourceful and thoughtful son. He quickly found something for Tim to eat instead of sugar-laden ice cream.

Enjoy your lettuce, Dad!

Enjoy your lettuce, Dad!

Not sure a leaf of lettuce is quite the same treat as a bowl of ice cream. But you can’t say Daniel didn’t try to help. LOL!

Project 365 – Day 59
Kathy

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Camp Kids Come Home

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This year the middle school and high school winter camps were the same weekend. Stop and read that again. The Same Weekend. As in, the same weekend.

Note to the church youth leaders -

I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!! You are the best ever. Thank you for loving my (occasionally? often?) moody, goofy, beloved children. Thank you for playing crazy games with them. Thank you for modeling a Christ-centered life before them. Thank you for listening to them and rebuking them and leading them. Thank you for being serious at times and wild and messy at other times.

Thank you for scheduling things so all three of my children went to camp at the same time.

I wish I could pay you each a million dollars each. Or at least bring you a basket of apples

Buying apples on the way to pick up the kids.

I should have bought this whole basket of apples and the flowers.

I was gone on Friday when Daniel, David and Sarah were dropped off at church. Normally I follow them around and take pictures of the groups of eager students and all the piles of sleeping bags and suitcases. Thankfully one of the other moms snapped a quick shot in the parking lot and forwarded it to me.

A forwarded picture, however, can only capture so much. My little mama’s heart wanted to be there when the kids came home. Normally I’m more than willing to let Tim run and pick up the children from church events or have Daniel drive everyone. But I missed those rascals. I’m not ready for an empty house. A weekend was long enough (well, almost). I knew they would be coming home, tired and wearing their camp shirts, surrounded by their friends. I wanted to hug them and take pictures of them and stand around with other moms and dads, eager to have their weary (and potentially 3 days unshowered) kids home.

My sweetie - picking out some fresh tomatoes for dinner.

My sweetie – picking out some fresh tomatoes for dinner.

Tim was very kind and took me off on a little date to buy some fruits and veggies on our way to pick up the children at church. I love that man! He is so kind and patient with me, especially when I am sentimental and silly at times.

Shopping for fruits and veggies with my sweetie makes me happy.

Shopping for fruits and veggies with my sweetie makes me happy.

And there they were. Just as I expected. Tired and sweet. Thankful to be picked up. Suitcases full of dirty clothes. Ragged plastic bags holding sleeping bags. Vans of leaders and teens. Parents emerging from waiting cars. Lots of hugs.

David and Zachary - too tired to stand up.

David and Zachary – too tired to stand up.

Love these two kids!

Love these two kids!

Daniel and Jordan - glad to be home!

Daniel and Jordan – glad to be home!

Beautiful middle school girls!

Beautiful middle school girls!

At home Daniel went for a walk – needed some alone time. David and Sarah ate supper, started laundry, took showers. We listened to stories, looked at their camp journals, and listened some more.

My sweet Sarah

My sweet Sarah

Later Rachel called and had a LONG talk with David and Sarah while they unpacked and settled down for the night. I love hearing their voices as they connect with their big sister. Then Daniel got on the computer and Joshua popped online. The boys went on to have a LONG conversation. Oh my word, my heart is full to the brim. To see my older children pour into their younger siblings. To trust that they give godly counsel and encouragement. To know that they want them to love the Lord and serve Him. To know that they want to hear the details and know what questions to ask.

Blessings Abundant.
Welcome home, Camp Kids. Sleep well.

Project 365 – Day 53
Kathy

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