Letters to Miriam

Dear Miriam and Alex,

If we still lived in Knoxville, I would definitely come and visit you often. For now, we can only pray for you daily. Each time we see Alex' email it gives us much encouragement and hope. Thank God for Alex's faith in God; it is an encouragement and allows us to learn faith hope and love.

Do you remember when you visited us in Vancouver in 2004? Miriam gave me a watch. I think of you every morning when I put on my watch and I pray for you. In 1988 when you came to Knoxville Warren was only one year old. We came to your house every week for aerobics. Then you moved to Westmoreland and often invited us for BBQ dinner. You would take me to new restaurants as a treat and never let me pay.

We remember when Howie was born. Kids grow so fast. Both of your sons are smart, polite, kind and love God. You raised them with good values; they are two outstanding young men. When Howie left for college, he told his mom that he would never leave God....this touched my heart.Such a God-loving son must be blessed by God.

We had a period of good fellowship until you moved to Huntsville in 2000. Sometimes we still conversed by phone but you never let me make the long distance calls because you didn't want me to spend money. You are always considerate of others.Even though my English is poor, you were always patient with me.Mrs Huang stayed with you and you always told me how Alex loved his mother-in-law and both your sons honored their grandmother. You told me how Alex loved you and the boys and is a very good husband, but I know you love them even more. You washed and ironed Alex's shirts. Your house was always neat. You are such a good daughter, wife mother and friend. You often took care of us when we were sick and were always concerned about us. We thank God for friends like you and Alex.

You told me that Alex has a meeting in Seattle in 2013 and that you would visit at that time. We still look forward to your visit in 2013. Although both of our families have had hardships this year, we have also experienced God's Grace. We continue to lean on God.We often pray for Alex knowing that he is busy and tired with working and caring for you and the boys. It cannot be easy but we see his steadfast faithfulness and it is an encouragement.

Let us pray for each other.

May God Bless You

Love, Doris and Frank

Hi ‘te Miriam my feisty cousin ,

 

Its me Dennis. It's been so long. But I have to tell you that a part of you is in me.  I’d really like for you to know your stay in Wack Wack  was a very important part of my life. You stayed long enough to teach me to learn to love making music. Along with confidence and sticking to what you believe.

 

I feel you, somehow I’ve felt paralyzed all my life. Only my daughter and wife is saving me. I would not know what to do should something happen to them.

I have to try to become a new person for Dana and Ann . I have to forget old habits and learn from experience. It takes time and practice. Just like a baby learning to walk again. Just like learning the piano. It takes practice, practice , practice.

I used to watch you play the keyboards/piano. I’ve watched when you practice playing piano just for the sake of it, putting in the hours ( but still seeking perfection) and playing lovely as ever...however,  I wait for those special times you play with such passion and emotion , I just knew that not only will there be no mistakes but you were somewhat in a different place.  You would close your eyes sometimes and just keep playing, and the notes just keep coming out right, as if it were not you playing the piano but the piano playing you  . You did not seem to be playing to win anymore, you seemed to be playing as if you had already won....anyway I told myself ‘practice’ if you want to play like that.

I stopped playing the piano after the music left Wack Wack. It really was a sad time. Never touched a keyboard since, always wondering the what if. But my daughter rekindled the interest. I envied the joy you must feel in giving that much, being able to play like that.  I wanted to share that with Dana. 

 It was awkward at first. I had forgotten all the pieces and I never really learned to read...

So I practiced and practiced.

 

Now we  (Ann, Dana and I) spend more quality time on the keyboards, concentrating on the love for the sound and the loving to play will follow.  Now I can say I can play. We have fun side by side making our own music. Dana can read a bit (though formal training is still a must someday).  I’ve learned, and the hard work was worth it.

 

Now I understand where and when  you were during those times you seemed ‘somewhere else’. Sometimes it’s as if you were not the one playing . Dare I say the Holy Spirit takes over sometimes. I guess we can do that with anything we do....but practice, practice, practice...

 

You didn’t just teach me music ‘te Miriam, it was much more and it became a part of me I like. I’ll forever thank you for that. Now I’ll pass it on to my daughter. You have a lot of people who love you very much ‘te Miriam. Keep practicing!

Love always,

Dennis