It was late and I was at Liz’s bedside. It was dark. A quiet moment. Her eyes were more closed than open, but she noticed me. ‘Why did you come back?’ she asked. ‘To give you the blessing,’ I said. And I did, the one that I say most nights to the three kids, one […]
How to bless (and curse) the children Read More »
‘Daddy, Daddy!’ It’s Jon. He’s really excited. He’s harvested his potatoes. ‘Look at this one. It’s as big as the ones you see on the shelves in the store!’ He stands at the edge of his garden and holds up a potato. I wouldn’t say it’s huge. But it’s not small either. Not like the
Jon, my son, Mister Potato Head Read More »
It was early morning and you were crying. We were all in a mad rash heading out the door for school. ‘What’s the matter?’ I asked. ‘I’m not telling you,’ you said. And I thought that was fine, either way, telling me or not. Some things aren’t always meant to be shared at moment’s notice. But my dear Liz, just
Almighty Dad and our tears in his bottle Read More »
The pressure is on for me to tell Hannah, our youngest, about the Birds and the Bees. It all started with Sexy Lady. No, Justin Bieber. Okay, all I can remember is Jon, in his eloquence and wisdom, was talking about the difference between women and ladies. This is how the discussion goes on the drive home
Women, ladies and Sexy Lady. Hannah, don’t ask. Read More »
It’s bedtime. The issue of Catholics and Protestants comes up, like we just dropped into the 16th century. That moves to Mennonites. The kids want to know what Mennonites are all about. We have a Mennonite name and heritage. (You know Friese, Frieselandt, Froese etc.) I figure it’s a good time to share some family pride (in
We’re Mennonite. Which way to Switzerland? Read More »
Jon: Where’s the cat? Me: I don’t know. He’s on one of his long absences. Jon: At his girlfriend’s? Me: Probably Jon: Why doesn’t his girlfriend ever come here? Enough said. +++ The rabbits, meanwhile, have deliverd seven. Liz sold one to her friend at school; another is being taken by a colleague of My
The cat and his girlfriend – ‘We need our space.’ Read More »
The other time that we almost lost Jon, (see https://thomasfroese.com/the-day-we-almost-lost-jon/ for the first time), he was running from a girl at school. As fast as possible. (This is not unusual for my son, a young man who tends to be pursued by the girls. https://thomasfroese.com/too-young-to-marry/ and https://thomasfroese.com/jons-pre-marital-woes-continue/ ) But during this partiuclar chase he crashed head-first into
The day we almost lost Jon II (or The bravest boy on this side of the Atlantic) Read More »
We lose things in our family. Swimming goggles. Socks. Our patience with each other. We’ve almost lost Jon twice. The first time was at our Ugandan university home, which is generally safe except for the snakes and wild monkeys and irritating birds that tend to hang around such institutions of higher learning. ‘So, where is
The day we almost lost Jon Read More »
