Today is Father's Day. I miss my dad, Joe Prescott, and Marilyn's dad, Jerry Stowers, and seeing Candi's dad, Howard Eddings. I miss my Grandpas Ted Prescott and Sherman Grissom also.
Had a very, nice quiet day today. I didn't go to fellowship because I really didn't want to climb the six sets of stairs to the auditorium. We watched an old Gaither video. Marilyn made lunch and babied me all day.
Murphy and Nicole came over for dinner and we talked for a while and looked at Romans 6.
I haven't been doing much since we returned from Hong Kong on Thursday evening. I'm only using one crutch around the apartment, exercising my leg, taking my pills, watching live World Cup matches, reading, staying up with fantasy baseball and relaxing.
The staples won't come out for another 2-3 weeks. That slows me down, what with the bandages and all. But, as Dr Kong promised, the knee is not painful ... just the muscles which were detached and reattached. I am very pleased. We go to Beijing on Wednesday to see him and find out what he thinks.
I was thinking some of my brother, David, today. He would have been 59. I wonder ...
I really missed not being able to go to Barbara's memorial service. I reckon it's no big deal to her now. ;-) But I still would have liked to be with family under the circumstances.
Marilyn and I will have our 13th anniversary on Tuesday, the 22d. She is an absolute doll. I love her very much ... more all the time.
If I didn't know who was orchestrating all life events, the things which have happened these last 14-15 years would easily overwhelm me. The news during the past week about a grandson (#14) from Dan and Danielle in November (shopping soon for Christmas flights) and another grandchild (#15) from Tim and Allyson in February are such rich blessings. Other family circumstances, outside of my control, continue to tear at my heart. Yet I will not despair. He has continually proven himself faithful in all things. I trust him.
Later y'all,
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Monday, 7 June 2010
Well, last week was ... let's see:
Working with my classes to help them study for final exams;
Proctored two other finals, in addition to giving my own;
Hurrying to grade finals and have all academic grades, behavior grades and comments finished by 1700hrs on Friday evening;
Completely packing up my classroom so that the painters can re-paint without ruining anything;
High school graduation Friday evening (invited to sit at the Pollocks' table for dinner and then the ceremony until 9 or so);
Told my brother, Tim, happy 50th birthday on Skype on Saturday morning;
Talked to my brother-in-law, Jeff, about Barbara, my sister-in-law. The doctors stopped trying to intervene a month ago. Failing rapidly. As she leaned on him, he passed the last thing we would hear from her in this life, one word at a time: "I am living testimony that God's grace is sufficient for all things.";
Passed the good/bad news on to Dan and Craig;
Went to our last faculty meeting until 2pm;
Fellowship Sunday morning, met Nicodemus (you had to be there), watched little girls dance for the Lord, took the Lord's Supper;
Ate lunch at ShaGuoLi (the Rib place) with four of my favorite ladies: Holly Hendricks (college classmate heading back to Texas) and Jodi Chee (Cambodia) have been my two favorite Middle School recruiters (that means 5th grade teachers), Molly Neumann (taking a year away from teaching to study Chinese full-time) is the girl next door (to my classroom) and my beautiful wife, Marilyn (my personal favorite);
Met with two of our local "kids" to talk about important matters relating to assemblying together and seeking wisdom from the Lord;
Woke up this morning to an e-mail that Barbara had entered into Jesus' presence during the night - Praise His Holy Name! ;
Plus odds and ends ...
Got to leave now and pickup tickets for Wednesday's flight to Hong Kong for my knee surgery;
Later ...
Working with my classes to help them study for final exams;
Proctored two other finals, in addition to giving my own;
Hurrying to grade finals and have all academic grades, behavior grades and comments finished by 1700hrs on Friday evening;
Completely packing up my classroom so that the painters can re-paint without ruining anything;
High school graduation Friday evening (invited to sit at the Pollocks' table for dinner and then the ceremony until 9 or so);
Told my brother, Tim, happy 50th birthday on Skype on Saturday morning;
Talked to my brother-in-law, Jeff, about Barbara, my sister-in-law. The doctors stopped trying to intervene a month ago. Failing rapidly. As she leaned on him, he passed the last thing we would hear from her in this life, one word at a time: "I am living testimony that God's grace is sufficient for all things.";
Passed the good/bad news on to Dan and Craig;
Went to our last faculty meeting until 2pm;
Fellowship Sunday morning, met Nicodemus (you had to be there), watched little girls dance for the Lord, took the Lord's Supper;
Ate lunch at ShaGuoLi (the Rib place) with four of my favorite ladies: Holly Hendricks (college classmate heading back to Texas) and Jodi Chee (Cambodia) have been my two favorite Middle School recruiters (that means 5th grade teachers), Molly Neumann (taking a year away from teaching to study Chinese full-time) is the girl next door (to my classroom) and my beautiful wife, Marilyn (my personal favorite);
Met with two of our local "kids" to talk about important matters relating to assemblying together and seeking wisdom from the Lord;
Woke up this morning to an e-mail that Barbara had entered into Jesus' presence during the night - Praise His Holy Name! ;
Plus odds and ends ...
Got to leave now and pickup tickets for Wednesday's flight to Hong Kong for my knee surgery;
Later ...
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Leavers
Marilyn and I attended a ceremony this evening for staff leaving our school. I am always amazed at how fluid the population of staff and students is in an international school. I am even more amazed at how the Lord brings in new staff which almost always melds effectively with the remaining staff. Perhaps He has a plan or something ... you think?
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Spring Trip May 2010
27 seventh graders, 6 teachers, 5 cities, 6 days and nights, 4 bus rides (4-6 hours each), 2 ferry rides, one 13-1/2 hr overnight train ... what a blast!
The kids were great. No one was really late for anything. There were no complaints, although it rained for the first two days.
Going up Taishan (allegedly 4,085 steps) a couple of our students saw a very old woman struggling with a large bag. They offered to carry it up the mountain for her. As they waited at the top, they saw her begin the last (and the steepest) 400 steps. They left the bag with me (full of nothing but empty water bottles she was collecting for money) and went down to help her finish her climb. She stopped every 5-10 steps and sat down. They would let her rest for a minute and then help her to her feet ... although she could not stand up straight. When she got to the top, she thanked them and then sat down and started singing. Here's a picture of them on the last few steps.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Saturday, 16 August 2008
Well, my summer life is almost over. Break out the white shirts and ties. Yesterday saw the first of three days of teacher meetings (Fri, Mon, Tue). Wednesday is the first day of school and, as I begin this sixth year here, I'm actually surprised about how excited I am. (I am excited every year ... but I expected it to get routine over time.) I passed one of my 7th grade boys in the neighborhood this afternoon and when I reminded him there were only four days of summer remaining, he just groaned. ;-)
My darlin' Marilyn is doing much, much better. It is a problem for her when she laughs and smiles, which she does a lot, but they'll remove the stitches Tuesday and in 2-3 months put in the permanent (we hope) implant.
The Olympics are, of course, a huge deal here. (Can anyone spell, "duh"?) We saw two soccer games on a single ticket a few days ago. I prefer to watch it on television where I can flip through 4-6 channels at any given time showing some kind of event. (You have to remember who owns everything.) It's much like the US or any other country broadcasting it: if that country has no chance in an event, you don't get to see it. However, the Chinese team is so large (remember the opening ceremony), that we get to see many, many things ... many more things than I ever got to see on US television broadcasts.
One of our friends is an Olympic volunteer, one of tens of thousands in half a dozen cities. Now, imagine, a few million American people (mostly college students) applying to be Olympic volunteers ... unpaid being a key issue, mind you. Incredible. They are excited, helpful, polite, educated and smiling ALL of the time.
The little controversies you hear of singers, "squinting" basketball teams, rather youthful athletes ... I don't get excited about them. They're par for the course in every major event of this type because we live in a fallen world. But I absolutely loved the perfectly-choreographed 2,008 drummers and the joy on their faces. I admired the older man running around the lip of the stadium to light the torch and the mind that thunk that one up. (Boy, has London got a big job to impress us in 2012.)
I got excited about the 17 year old Chinese boy lifting weights for a gold medal, the Ethiopian girl who won the 10,000 meters yesterday and the look on the American girl's face who suddenly realized she came in 3rd for bronze. There is something about the summer Olympics that should cause everyone to set differences aside.
In the 10,000 meters, I watched the Ethiopian girl lapping several other girls. As she stood near the finish line, I could see them continue to run. Why? Because their race wasn't over. Her race was over but they still had one, or even, two laps to complete before they could stop. As some of them finally reached their personal finish line, I could see them look at their wristwatches ... evaluating their race. Of course, most all of them had the glory of Olympic medals in mind earlier, but there was only going to be one winner. Yet they didn't quit, they didn't slow down and walk in ... they ran ... to the end! Be it so for you and me.
Bye, y'all!
I love you guys,
In His Name,
Mark/Dad/Grandpa
My darlin' Marilyn is doing much, much better. It is a problem for her when she laughs and smiles, which she does a lot, but they'll remove the stitches Tuesday and in 2-3 months put in the permanent (we hope) implant.
The Olympics are, of course, a huge deal here. (Can anyone spell, "duh"?) We saw two soccer games on a single ticket a few days ago. I prefer to watch it on television where I can flip through 4-6 channels at any given time showing some kind of event. (You have to remember who owns everything.) It's much like the US or any other country broadcasting it: if that country has no chance in an event, you don't get to see it. However, the Chinese team is so large (remember the opening ceremony), that we get to see many, many things ... many more things than I ever got to see on US television broadcasts.
One of our friends is an Olympic volunteer, one of tens of thousands in half a dozen cities. Now, imagine, a few million American people (mostly college students) applying to be Olympic volunteers ... unpaid being a key issue, mind you. Incredible. They are excited, helpful, polite, educated and smiling ALL of the time.
The little controversies you hear of singers, "squinting" basketball teams, rather youthful athletes ... I don't get excited about them. They're par for the course in every major event of this type because we live in a fallen world. But I absolutely loved the perfectly-choreographed 2,008 drummers and the joy on their faces. I admired the older man running around the lip of the stadium to light the torch and the mind that thunk that one up. (Boy, has London got a big job to impress us in 2012.)
I got excited about the 17 year old Chinese boy lifting weights for a gold medal, the Ethiopian girl who won the 10,000 meters yesterday and the look on the American girl's face who suddenly realized she came in 3rd for bronze. There is something about the summer Olympics that should cause everyone to set differences aside.
In the 10,000 meters, I watched the Ethiopian girl lapping several other girls. As she stood near the finish line, I could see them continue to run. Why? Because their race wasn't over. Her race was over but they still had one, or even, two laps to complete before they could stop. As some of them finally reached their personal finish line, I could see them look at their wristwatches ... evaluating their race. Of course, most all of them had the glory of Olympic medals in mind earlier, but there was only going to be one winner. Yet they didn't quit, they didn't slow down and walk in ... they ran ... to the end! Be it so for you and me.
Bye, y'all!
I love you guys,
In His Name,
Mark/Dad/Grandpa
Saturday, July 12, 2008
13 July 2008
Marilyn is feeling a little better following her "unfortunate altercation" with the bathroom countertop and floor. Her lips are healing nicely (hopefully no more pureed chicken stew) and the bridge of her nose is yellowing a little as the bruise goes away. She is still sore and her face hurts when she tries to apply creams and stuff. But she claims to have had no hot flashes since the fall. Marilyn's hoping it's not just a temporary thing. (She'll have to tell you if the whole thing was worth it.) She hasn't been out of the apartment for five days ... we'll have to do something about that.
The sky is blue here for two days in a row. I'm sure the powers-that-be will take all of the credit for it.
I'm looking forward to visiting the U.S. in December. Other than seeing those of you we can, I really don't miss anything else. I'm not really excited about being inundated with Christmas decorations and music in stores and malls.
I'm also looking forward to the new school year and the kids I'll have in class. I'm especially looking forward to teaching His Word to them. Next week, assuming Marilyn is better, I'll spend time in the classroom re-assembling it after the crews painted everything. I like deciding on the posters and such that I'll make and put on the walls. Then there'll be a trip to the plant market for half a dozen hanging plants and to the furniture market to buy a sofa (something really gaudy) for the kids to lounge on.
The Lord is, as always, very good to us. With the exception of her "unfortunate altercation", we are healthy and the summer is becoming a relaxing time.
A young woman attorney asked me at English Corner on Friday night what my life goals were ... did I want a lot of money, to travel, etc? I told her that there were different categories:
a) to be the best man, husband, father, grandfather (#12 enroute) and friend possible;
b) to be content with life and the things that happen;
c) to do the things that, when I see my Jesus face-to-face, will bring a smile to His face and allow Him to say, "Well done, my good and faithful servant".
I explained that much of my life was spent chasing other things, spending my energies with other attitudes, and selfishness. Now, I try to keep my eyes on Heaven as I anticipate that at anytime I will see Him. I also explained that I am not perfect and make many mistakes on any given day but that He loves me and forgives me and only wants (and offers) the best for my life ... now and after death. She was very attentive ... pray for her, her English name is Sunny.
Later y'all,
In His Name
Dad/Mark/Grandpa
The sky is blue here for two days in a row. I'm sure the powers-that-be will take all of the credit for it.
I'm looking forward to visiting the U.S. in December. Other than seeing those of you we can, I really don't miss anything else. I'm not really excited about being inundated with Christmas decorations and music in stores and malls.
I'm also looking forward to the new school year and the kids I'll have in class. I'm especially looking forward to teaching His Word to them. Next week, assuming Marilyn is better, I'll spend time in the classroom re-assembling it after the crews painted everything. I like deciding on the posters and such that I'll make and put on the walls. Then there'll be a trip to the plant market for half a dozen hanging plants and to the furniture market to buy a sofa (something really gaudy) for the kids to lounge on.
The Lord is, as always, very good to us. With the exception of her "unfortunate altercation", we are healthy and the summer is becoming a relaxing time.
A young woman attorney asked me at English Corner on Friday night what my life goals were ... did I want a lot of money, to travel, etc? I told her that there were different categories:
a) to be the best man, husband, father, grandfather (#12 enroute) and friend possible;
b) to be content with life and the things that happen;
c) to do the things that, when I see my Jesus face-to-face, will bring a smile to His face and allow Him to say, "Well done, my good and faithful servant".
I explained that much of my life was spent chasing other things, spending my energies with other attitudes, and selfishness. Now, I try to keep my eyes on Heaven as I anticipate that at anytime I will see Him. I also explained that I am not perfect and make many mistakes on any given day but that He loves me and forgives me and only wants (and offers) the best for my life ... now and after death. She was very attentive ... pray for her, her English name is Sunny.
Later y'all,
In His Name
Dad/Mark/Grandpa
Thursday, July 10, 2008
10 July 2008
This has been an odd sort of week.
We went to Ikea in Beijing with other families on Monday. That's an all-day ordeal, considering the 5 hour round trip and that it claims to be the 2nd biggest Ikea in the world.
Tuesday was pretty lazy. Nothing going on. As I predicted, the gas meter guy showed up at about 7:30pm, read the meter and I paid him cash. It rained all day and we stayed in.
Yesterday was going pretty lazy, too. Marilyn had been feeling a little more tired than usual and had taken a nap. I was on the laptop watching a video with headphones when she tapped me on the shoulder. She had gone to the bathroom, leaned on the counter and then had awakened on the floor staring up at the door knob. She doesn't remember anything. She had cut the inside of her upper and lower lips with her teeth(?), had hurt her nose and put a dent on her forehead at the hairline. She wouldn't go to the doctor and spent the next 3 hours throwing up and suffering diarrhea while I held on to her in case she felt like passing out again. She then slept for a little while, worried about how bad she might look and at 8:30 went to bed until around 6am. She's still pretty banged up today. Her neck and shoulders hurt. Her nose, lips and forehead are very tender.
This evening she told me she doesn't need to be "watched" anymore. She made some rice and we had a little dinner together. She is in the living room looking for some "chick flick" for us to watch together. Oh joy!
Later y'all,
In His Name,
Mark/Dad/Grandpa
We went to Ikea in Beijing with other families on Monday. That's an all-day ordeal, considering the 5 hour round trip and that it claims to be the 2nd biggest Ikea in the world.
Tuesday was pretty lazy. Nothing going on. As I predicted, the gas meter guy showed up at about 7:30pm, read the meter and I paid him cash. It rained all day and we stayed in.
Yesterday was going pretty lazy, too. Marilyn had been feeling a little more tired than usual and had taken a nap. I was on the laptop watching a video with headphones when she tapped me on the shoulder. She had gone to the bathroom, leaned on the counter and then had awakened on the floor staring up at the door knob. She doesn't remember anything. She had cut the inside of her upper and lower lips with her teeth(?), had hurt her nose and put a dent on her forehead at the hairline. She wouldn't go to the doctor and spent the next 3 hours throwing up and suffering diarrhea while I held on to her in case she felt like passing out again. She then slept for a little while, worried about how bad she might look and at 8:30 went to bed until around 6am. She's still pretty banged up today. Her neck and shoulders hurt. Her nose, lips and forehead are very tender.
This evening she told me she doesn't need to be "watched" anymore. She made some rice and we had a little dinner together. She is in the living room looking for some "chick flick" for us to watch together. Oh joy!
Later y'all,
In His Name,
Mark/Dad/Grandpa
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
