myopic pilgrim

In short, there isn’t one, at least none that I sensed even though I was there for the birth of my first son. Despite being told it would be a mystical experience, I didn’t receive any spiritual revelations. Full disclosure: I didn’t cut the umbilical cord. Perhaps that’s where the magic is. Read the rest of this entry »

We got home yesterday afternoon. We should have picked up Susan’s Percocet on the way home, but as of this morning she has her pain meds. Susan’s mom is here until Thursday. People are bringing us meals six times in the next two weeks.

Thanks again everyone for thinking of us and praying. We’ll make photos available soon as we can.

Susan and I haven’t picked a name for the baby yet. I don’t think there are any Filipino names left on the table. And by Filipino, I mean Spanish names, of course (goodbye and paalom, Emilio). We have biblical names that sound too biblical for a pastor’s son (Josiah, Jeremiah, etc.), at least to my ears. We also have a few ideas that aren’t already taken by the children of friends (my cousin’s newborn is apparently named Jackson).

This much we know. Our son’s last name is Skinner and his middle name is Robert.

Our conversation turned to easier decisions. Susan is White with a mixture of German, Irish and other stuff. I’m mostly Filipino and basically a quarter Black. So, what do our sons mark as their nationality—Caucasian, Asian, Slovenian? Read the rest of this entry »

Have I mentioned that my wife is pregnant? That’s right, the planets have aligned again for us. We’re in the second trimester which means that the probability of carrying the baby to term has gone way up. Susan has a good feeling about it which may mean nothing, but I think it means something.

In case you end up playing that game this Thanksgiving where you’re asked to share something you’re thankful for, here are the top 5 things I, as a good Christian, am thankful for.

I am thankful:

1. That we live in a Christian nation.
2. That our President is a Christian defending Christian values (not the value of taking care of widows, orphans, and foreigners in our land, the other ones. The good ones).
3. That God wants to give me the desires of my heart. (Dear Santa God, I desire a 13 inch, 2 gigabyte MacBook).
4. That I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.
5. That Halloween and its pagan traditions are behind us and we can look forward to the pure Christian holiday of Christmas.

I am, however, truly thankful for my smoking hot wife.