The Cohrs Family
Contact
  • Home
  • Writings
    • Trinity-St. John Lutheran School
    • Bible Study on Luther Movie
    • BLOG >
      • 2008 >
        • September
        • October
        • November
        • December
      • 2009 >
        • January
        • February
        • March
        • April
        • May
        • June
        • July
        • August
        • September
        • October
        • November
        • December
      • 2010 >
        • January
        • February
        • March
        • April
        • May
        • June
        • July
        • August
        • September
        • October
        • November
        • December
      • 2011 >
        • January
        • February
        • March
        • April
        • May
        • June
        • July
        • August
        • September
        • October
        • November
        • December
      • 2012 >
        • January
        • February
        • March
        • April
        • May
        • June
        • July
        • August
        • September
        • October
        • November
        • December
      • 2013 >
        • January
        • February
        • March
        • April
        • May
        • June
        • July
        • August
        • September
        • October
        • November
        • December
      • 2014 >
        • January
        • February
        • March
        • April
        • May
        • June
    • Sermons >
      • Celebration of Life - Chuckie Miller-Taylor
      • “What is your name?”
      • Reformation Day – Oct. 31, 2010
      • Reformation Day – Nov. 3, 2013
      • Here’s Your Sign
      • Arrrr – Where be your treasure, Mate?
      • God Calms Your Storms
      • Invocation
      • Why?
      • LHM and You
      • Beautiful Feet
      • Chapel - LHM
    • Publications >
      • Concordia University - Forester
      • Issues in Christian Education
      • LHM - Project Connect
      • Lutheran Centger for Religious Liberty
      • Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod School Ministry
      • Lutheran Education Association >
        • Shaping the Future - Fall 2015
        • Shaping the Future - Spring 2018
        • Shaping the Future - Winter 2020
        • Shaping the Future - Winter 2021
        • Shaping the Future - Spring 2022
        • Monograph
        • Shaping the Future Plus - 2017
      • The Lutheran Layman
      • The Lutheran Layman - Oct. 2013
      • Lutheran Laymen's League - "By Kids...For Kids" >
        • Lesson 1 - Thai Culture
        • Lesson 2 - Thai History
        • Lesson 3 - Thai Religions
        • Lesson 4 - Lutheran Mission Work
        • Bibliography
      • Lutheran Laymen's League - Bible Studies >
        • The Spirit of Power
        • The Power of the Breath of Life
        • The Power of Eternal Life
        • The Power to Pray
        • The Power to Encourage
        • The Power to Give
      • Michigan District - LCMS
      • Michigan In Touch >
        • Avoiding Staff Infection
        • Teams
        • Calm Waters
    • Devotional Thoughts >
      • Sauerkraut Seeds
      • Who is Fit to Lead in the Church?
      • To Encourage Workers
      • Happy Easter, Bunny
      • I Love to Tell the Story
      • I Am Not Ashamed
      • Foolish Sheep
      • Why?
      • What does it Matter?
      • “I Have Something For You”
      • Opening Day
      • Super Bowl XXXIX
      • Don't Worry
      • My Father’s Hands
      • “The Less Traveled Road”
      • Mother's Day
      • Partings
      • Stress
      • Surprise!
    • Daily Devotion - Lutheran Hour Ministries
    • Special Devotions >
      • Water
      • Office Personnel Devotion
      • 1966
      • Words of Eternal Life
      • Body of Christ
      • Pre-Convention Anxiety
    • Christ the King Lutheran School >
      • Faculty Devotion – Why Do You Teach?
      • Advent – the time of waiting
      • Advent – the time of preparation
      • Advent – Time for Preparation
      • Advent - Traditions
      • Ash Wednesday
      • Can Anything Good Come From …
      • Come to the Banquet
      • Do You Love Me?
      • Follow Me
      • Follow Me to My Father’s House
      • Give God His Due
      • Greetings from Paradise
      • He Healed Many
      • His Heart Could Have Stopped
      • How Can This Be?
      • It Rained
      • Memorial Day
      • My 1951 Ford
      • Reject Jesus?
      • Snow
      • Stop Doubting and Believe
      • Sugar Cookies
      • The Beatitudes
      • The Computer
      • The Greatest Commandment
      • The Honeymoon is Over
      • The Muckraker
      • The Power of a Word
      • The Rainbow
      • The Shepherds Returned
      • The Sunshine
      • The Witness
      • Valentine’s Day
      • What Do You Fear?
      • What Is Your Favorite Food?
      • Who is Jesus?
      • Who is the Boss!
      • Why a Lutheran School?
      • You Will Be Free
      • Your Sins are Forgiven
    • Our Savior Lutheran School >
      • All Saint's Day
      • Anxiety
      • Can I Afford a Lutheran School?
      • Change
      • Election Day
      • Give God His Due
      • Grandpa
      • Heart
      • Hope
      • I can’t believe it!
      • I'm Busy
      • I ‘m Going Out to Fish
      • It is almost Spring
      • Let the Children Come to Me
      • Light of the World
      • Living Water
      • Lutheran Schools – Just for Lutherans?
      • March Madness
      • My 1951 Ford
      • ​My People
      • New Beginnings
      • Our House
      • Report Card Time
      • Thanks-Living
      • The Christmas Gift
      • The Cold Front
      • The Dream
      • The First Day of School
      • The Flag and the Castle
      • The Power Went Out
      • ​This is a Test
      • Tiny Town
      • To Soar Like Eagles
      • We are at War
      • What Do You Want for Christmas?
      • Why Not?
    • PMT Devotions >
      • 2001 >
        • October
        • November
        • December
      • 2002 >
        • January
        • February
        • March
        • April
        • May
        • June
        • July
        • August
        • September
        • October
        • November
        • December
      • 2003 >
        • Issues in Christian Education
        • January
        • February
        • March
        • April
        • May
        • June
        • July
        • August
        • September
        • October
        • November
        • December
      • 2004 >
        • January
        • February
        • March
        • April
        • May
    • Zion Lutheran Church
    • Opa's Stories >
      • Bunny and Rich - Our First Date
      • Carol and Rich - Our First Date
      • The Squirrel in the Toilet
      • Bunny's Easter Lamb Cake
      • Christmas Traditions
      • The Christmas Angel
      • Childhood Homes
      • The Fall - The Dream - The Gift
      • My Father's Jobs
      • My Name
      • Goldfinger
      • Downtown
      • Rock Around the Clock
      • Sauerkraut Seeds
  • Family History
    • Ancestry DNA
    • Family Homes of Rich Cohrs >
      • Family Homes of Bunny Cohrs
    • Family Trees
    • Cohrs - O - Gram
    • Christmas Letter
    • Marjorie Colburn Tree
    • Bunny's Homecoming
    • Carol - A Gift From God
  • Recipes
    • Air Fryer Recipes >
      • Chicken Tenders - No Breading
      • French Fries
    • Appetizers >
      • Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts
      • Aunt Chuckie's Meatballs
      • Sweet and Sour Meatballs
    • Cooking For Phonics
    • The Cookie Jar >
      • Prairie Preschool - Bunny Cohrs, Teacher
      • Grades 1 & 2 - Rosanna Stellhorn, Teacher
      • Grades 3 & 4 - Danny Magelitz, Teacher
      • Grades 5 & 6 - Deitt Schneider, Teacher
      • Grades 7 & 8- Richard Cohrs, Teacher and Principal
    • Bunny's Recipe Scrapbook
    • Family Favorites >
      • Ann's Stuffed Pepper Soup
      • Apple Crisp
      • Aunt Cindy's Bailey's Recipe
      • Aunt Judy's Italian Beef
      • Aunt Melinda's Spaghetti Sauce
      • Bacon and Egg Muffin
      • Banana Bread
      • Becky's Crock Pot Fajitas
      • Boston Cream Pie (Rich's Birthday Cake)
      • Carol's Crock Pot Baked Beans
      • Cherry Delight
      • Chex Mix
      • Chicken Piccata Pasta (from Leigh Frirth)
      • Chuckie's Vegetable Medley
      • Lo Cal Chicken Parmesan
      • Mom Conrad's Hamburger Casserole
      • Dad Williams Standing Rib Roast
      • Double Berry German Puff Pancake
      • French Onion Burger
      • Marinated Cucumber, Onion, and Tomato Salad
      • Mary Hahn German Chocolate Cream Pie
      • Green Bean Casserole >
        • Hash Brown Shepherd's Pie
      • Hobo Dinner Foil Meal
      • Ken Klaus Pretzels
      • Lasagna
      • Old Fashioned Meat Loaf
      • One Pan Sausage and Veggies
      • Penne and Smoked Sausage Casserole
      • Rich's Beef Stroganoff
      • Rich’s Roasted French Onion Potatoes
      • Sage Turkey Stuffing
      • Sausage, Peppers and Onions
      • Sheel Pan ltalian Susoge Pepper Bake
      • Shepherd's Pie
      • Sloppy Joes
      • Slow Cooker Chicken Fajitas
      • Stuffed Green Peppers
      • Teriyaki Chicken
      • Texas Sheet Cake (Carol's Aunt Eileen)
      • Tuna Boats - Tuna Salad with Cornichons
      • X-Tra Special Cheesecake
    • Christmas Cookies >
      • BonBon Cookies
      • Chocolate Cookie Mice
      • Cranberry Nut Cookies
      • Grandma Cohrs Sugar Cookies
      • Holly Cookies
      • Kolachies
      • Old Fashioned Oatmeal Cookies
      • Oatmeal Cookies
      • Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies
      • Peppermint Pinwheels
      • Pfeffernussen
      • Russian Tea Cakes / Snow Balls
      • Snickerdoodles
      • Spritz Cookies
      • Sugar Cookies
  • Family Photos
    • Albert Cohrs
    • Anna Weidler
    • Lyman Collburn
    • Hazel Kingsland
    • Richard Frederick Cohrs >
      • PFC Cohrs
      • Kids Was Kids
    • Marjorie Colburn
    • Richard Paul Cohrs >
      • Randall Jay Cohrs
      • Daniel Lyman Cohrs
      • Three Brothers
      • Minister of the Gospel - Commissioned
      • Rich's 70th Birthday Party
    • Harry and Ruth Conrad
    • Edilberto and Marilynn Angulo >
      • Lynn's Memories
    • Arlene (Bunny) Conrad >
      • Siblings
      • Minister of the Gospel - Commissioned
    • Glen and Donna Williams >
      • The Family Scrapbook >
        • Animated Family Scrapbook
      • In His Own Words
      • The Smile of My Life
      • Obituary
    • Carol Williams (Bacon) >
      • Sisters
    • Wedding - Bunny and Rich
    • Wedding - Carol and Rich
  • Vacation Photos
    • European Vacation >
      • Florstadt and Surrounding Area
      • Trier, Luxemburg, Belgium, Netherlands
      • Worms, Neuschwanstein, Dachau
      • France
      • Rothenburg
    • Bunny and Rich's Hawaii Vacation - Scrapbook - 2002
    • Alaska - Rich 2002
    • Bunny and Rich - Florida - 2004
    • Carol's European Vacation
    • Israel - 2004 >
      • November 3, 2004: Chicago - Europe
      • November 4, 2004: Europe - Israel - Tel Aviv
      • November 5, 2004: Jerusalem - Bethlehem - Herodium
      • November 6, 2004: Jerusalem - Mt of Olives - Gethsemane
      • November 7, 2004: Jerusalem - Masada
      • November 8, 2004: Jerusalem - The Old City
      • November 9, 2004: Tiberias - Jericho / Bet Shean
      • November 10, 2004: Tiberias, the Sea of Galilee and Capernaum
      • November 11, 2004: Cana / Nazareth / Caesarea / Megiddo
    • Carol and Rich Hawaii Vacation
    • Joshua Tree National Park - 2008
    • Raven Cliff Salls, SC - 2009
    • Brattonsville, SC - 2009
    • Niagara Falls - 2009
    • Marco Island/Everglades - 2010
    • Key West - January 2011
    • Alaska Trip - August, 2011 >
      • Day 1
      • Day 2
      • Day 3
      • Day 4
      • Day 5
      • Day 6
      • Day 7
      • Day 8
      • Day 9
      • Day 10
      • Day 11
    • Israel - 2012 >
      • Jerusalem
      • Jerusalem
      • Mount of Olives
      • Ain Karem - Nazareth - Bet Shemesh
      • Bethlehem
      • Bet Guvrin-Maresha - Beit She'an - Caesarea Maritima
      • Caesarea Philippi - Camel Rides - Cana
      • Dead Sea - Golan Heights - Jacob's Well
      • Jericho - Jordan River - Korazim
      • Masada - Mt. Carmel - Qumran
      • Sea of Galilee - Mount of Beatitudes - Tabgha - Capernaum
      • Tel Dan - Valley of Elah
      • Special Pictures - Sheep and Goats
    • Germany Trip - September 2014 >
      • Day 1: Munich and Oberammergau
      • Day 2: Innsbruck and Neuschwanstein
      • Day 3: Eagle's Nest and Ettal Monastery
      • Day 4: Dachau and Oberammergau
      • Day 5: Augsburg
      • Day 6: Erfurt
      • Day 7 - 10: Erfurt Hospital
      • Day 11 - 12: Berlin and Flight Home
    • California Trip - January, 2015
    • Aruba - 2017
    • Great American Eclipse
    • Washington DC
    • Las Vegas - 2018
    • New York, New York - 2018
    • Pensacola Beach
    • July 4, 2019
    • Kentucy - August 2019
    • New Englamd - 2021
    • Niagara Falls State Park - September 2022
    • Washington DC
    • Charleston SC - October 2022
    • Pittsburgh - February 2024 >
      • Carnegie Science Center Miniature Railroad & Village®
      • Duquesne Incline
      • Pennsylvania Trolley Museum
      • Western Pennsylvania Model Pailroad Museum
    • Great American Eclipse 2024
    • Aruba - 2024
    • New Yory - 2025
  • Special Photos & Videos
    • On the Radio - Sirius XM 60's Gold >
      • On the Radio - Lutheran Hour - Action In Ministry
      • On the Radio - Lutheran Hour - Action In Ministry
    • Videos >
      • 75th Birthday Video
      • Train Set
      • TV Time
      • Home Videos
    • Jiminy Cricket
    • Dead Tree
    • Engraved Paver
    • Coca-Cola
    • Heidelberg Painting
    • Katrina
    • Wall of Crosses
    • Christmas 2003
    • Olympic Torch Relay Run - St. Louis, MO - 2004
    • Blood Moon
    • Super Blood Wolf Moon
  • Bucket List
    • Transportation >
      • Trains >
        • Alaska Railroad
        • Amtrak
        • Big Boy
        • El Train - Chicago
        • Manitou and Pikes Peak Railway
        • National Museum of Transportation
        • Roaring Camp Steam Locomotive
        • Royal Gorge Railroad
      • Planes >
        • Airports
        • B-25J
        • Memphis Belle
        • PT-13 Stearman
        • Space Shuttle Enterprise
        • Air Zoo Aerospace & Science Museum - Kalamazoo, MI
        • Combat Air Museum
        • Dover DE, Beach and Aircraft Museum
        • Final SWA Flight - FNT
        • Historic Aircraft Restoration Museum
        • Cape Canaveral / Kennedy Space Center - Florida
        • NASA Johnson Space Center
        • National Naval Aviation Museum - Pensacola Beach, Florida
        • Pima Air & Space Museum
        • Smartt Field - St. Charles County Regional Airfield
        • Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
        • Southwest Airlines - Special Aircraft
        • Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center
        • USAF C-40C
        • USS Yorktown - aircraft
        • Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum
      • Automobiles >
        • Convertible
        • Shelby Cobra
        • Car Show
        • The Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum
      • Ships >
        • Queen Mary
        • Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship
        • Tall Ship - Bay City, Michigan
        • USS Yorktown
        • USS Laffy
    • PGA Championship
    • American Pickers
    • Aruba Vacation
    • An Inauguration
    • Become a Lord and a Lady
    • Graceland
    • The Henry Ford
    • Visiting all 50 States
    • Writing and Publishing a Book
  • Cohrs Fund
  • LEA Award - 2022
  • S.M.R.L.H.
  • Books
    • Three Score and Ten
    • Calm Waters
    • The Stones Shout His Praise
    • Welcome to the Family

 How to Redirect Feminine Ire (i.e. How to Stop Getting Nagged) 2-5-2013

There was a man I once knew who had married a wonderful woman. That woman, however, for him had become, over time, an insufferable, nagging shrew. For this unfortunate gentleman there appeared to be no end to her persistent reminders of tasks unfinished, jobs forsaken or failed promises. More than once I marveled at the sandpaper texture of her voice, as she used it to knock the rough edges off the man ("cretin" was a word I heard once) she had married. Unsavory innuendos and harsh threats had become for her second nature, and she seemed to take special relish in pointing out this poor chap's every flaw to anyone within earshot. On more than one occasion, the miserable bloke confided to me the situation had grown intolerable, but he was at a total loss to know what to do to regain the sweet bride he had married.
 
So what caused this wonderful, sweet woman to turn into a God-awful shrew?
 
As the man was desperate to find some answers, we set about to determine the problem. There was for him most definitely a listening issue, and he was quick to admit it. When I asked him how their conversations went -- particularly when she was requesting something -- he had to confess his attentiveness was less than what it should be. He cited numerous examples where, in an effort to get her to the point, he would rush her along, glossing over most of what she said, eager to be free of this unwanted intrusion. The problem here (you can probably see it already) was that he half-heard most of what his wife was saying, mis-heard the rest, and soon forgot most all of it 15 minutes later.
 
Can I get an "Amen," brother?
 
Now if that dear, sweet woman in your life has some nagging tendencies (i.e. she's an overachiever when it comes to asking for something), there's a way to fix it. In fact, there is a guaranteed cure!
 
It will involve time and effort, but the rewards are worth the effort -- if you take the time -- that is.
 
It's really very simple. Here you go: listen closely, resist the urge to rebut on every other point, and check (better yet, slay) your ego at the door.
 
Listening involves a few easy steps:
 
1. Look at her. Maintain eye contact. Let nothing distract you. I repeat: let nothing distract you.
2. Do not judge, dismiss, belittle. Let her speak and finish what she has to say.
3. Restate what she says or asks. Be clear on what is being said or requested.
4. Follow through with what you said you would do.
 
Once you put your ego in check and you're listening, really listening, (i.e. not just giving her your best impersonation of listening), you may find what she had to say was, well, something worth listening to in the first place.
 
And, if not, at least with some practice, you'll only have to hear it once.

The Adventure 2-12-2013

When I was dating my wife I decided I wanted to impress her, so I made reservations at the best restaurant in town. Not being from the area, I went online to investigate the comments, ratings and recommendations made about this establishment. After so doing, I was confident I had made the right decision. Calling for reservations seemed to confirm my pick, as it was nearly impossible to find a time I could reserve a table for two. I had the lady write my reservation down, securing the most romantic table in the place.
 
It was only after I had made the reservation that I remembered to see if she was even available that day. Well, as luck would have it, she was. I told her we were going to dinner, and she should dress up. As for the destination, that would be a surprise.
 
When the day came for the big date, I washed and vacuumed the car, picked up my suit from the cleaners, and spit polished my shoes. I was feeling a little bit like James Bond heading to the casino, when I pulled up in front of her building.
 
She looked stunning as she met me. I did manage to tell her that -- always a good thing.
 
I opened her car door, and we headed to the restaurant.
 
Or so I thought.
 
As it had been awhile since making the reservation, and because I didn't look at the map before I left, I totally forgot how to get there. I knew the general direction and some key landmarks, but that was about it.
 
In other words, I was lost.
 
When we passed the same intersection the third time, she asked where we were headed. Being a man on a mission, I was not going to admit we were lost, so I told her we were on an "adventure."
 
Well, we did make the dinner reservations; she was impressed, and she eventually became my wife.
 
Since then, we have had many big adventures. Sometimes they start with a wrong turn and a fresh discovery along the road. Sometimes they begin when I turn the controls over to her, and I just go along for the ride. Yes, many a serendipitous discovery has resulted from our adventures.
 
The best part of the adventure is the time we spend together -- talking, laughing, learning more about each other. As we do this, we find out just how good a partner each of us is for the other.
 
That has been our greatest discovery, knowing that wherever we are is where the adventure begins.
 
The rest of the story: She did buy me a GPS for a wedding present.

Regrets  2-19-2013

If I asked if you had any regrets you might recall an instance of too many libations, words spoken in anger to a loved one, a less-than-inspired performance on the job, or any combination thereof. For a good many of us our teenage years are when momentary lapses in common sense and sound judgment led to events that have stayed with us for the rest of our lives.
 
The things we do that lead to regret are often a mixed bag. How about the thrill of flying down the open road coupled with the regret of getting a speeding ticket? The regret was magnified tenfold when we faced dad or mom, as they opened up the next car insurance bill. To be sure, we wrestled with the consequences of our actions, at least until another dumb challenge found us gunning it through an intersection once the light turned green.
 
 
Some of us carry regrets linked to drinking. We didn't start out trying to get blind, falling-down drunk, but we got there soon enough. And what about that peculiar mental state when we felt bionic, indestructible and possessed of exceptionally good looks? You know, ten feet tall, bullet-proof, and God's gift to the ladies. For a time, in our minds at least, we were all these things. To those around us, however, we were somehow less than suave, debonair and entirely charming. This hit home when we were reminded by those true friends we had who wondered if we really intended to make a consistent fool of ourselves.
 
Regret is characterized by feelings of sadness, repentance or disappointment over something that has happened or been done. For me there was one regret I had that went far beyond mere feelings; it manifested itself as a dark shadow hanging over me. It was something I kept hidden, something I never told others, for fear to speak it would bring condemnation.
 
Perhaps you too have such a regret -- something you lug round that rises to the surface at inopportune times -- like at three in the morning when sleep eludes you.
 
There came a time in my life when I had to face down my regret. I spoke it aloud to a friend, putting it out there. To my surprise I wasn't condemned or even banished for my longstanding offense. In fact, the man I spoke my regret to found it interesting I even regretted that specific deed. He told me what I did was nothing to regret. In fact, he had done the same thing.
 
Was that ever a freeing revelation!
 
I have found that since that discussion I no longer spring awake at three in the morning with feelings of sadness, repentance or disappointment.
 
Instead, now at three in the morning all I'm doing is keeping my wife up with my snoring. Perhaps there will come a time when I regret that.
 
But not yet.

Changes  2-26-2013

There is an old adage that goes this way: "The only people who like change are wet babies." True as that may be, I believe all of us welcome change to some degree. Permit me to explain: those of us who happen to be driving an older car with high mileage would welcome the chance to drive a newer car with lower mileage. Those of us who shelved dreams as we became adults (art, travel, music, sports, drama) might give a lot to recapture some of those pursuits in earnest now. For some of us, a change, a permanent change, from the jobs (and the pay) that mark our lives as moderately, but not wildly, successful, would be a pleasant surprise. And then there are some of us who would embrace a change of the most basic sort: a new body -- one that's not fallen prey to overeating, under-exercising, and the deceptive lure of the television set.
 
I make the case it is not change we rebel against; rather, it is the way change occurs. A change thrust upon us without any input is bound to generate some real pushback. Just think back to when you determined your child's bedtime. You dictated to him or her that 8 p.m. was bedtime, and there was likely zero discussion. Your child resisted because they had no input. They resisted, but they lost.
 
A change in something seen as traditional will probably meet resistance too. Just think about the reception you'd receive if, instead of the time-honored Thanksgiving turkey with all the trimmings, your family would sate their howling appetites with grilled hot dogs and beans. The family may like grilled hot dogs and beans, but you changed a tradition that was important to the family, and that was a no-no.
 
Men, we face changes in our lives every day. Our children grow. Our job duties fluctuate. Our health declines. Our buddies die. The man who can deal with life's changes in a reasonable way will have a considerable advantage over the man who can't.
 
When I think of it, I may not have wanted my young son to leave that August day for first grade; I may not have wanted my daughter to spend the night away from home on her first sleepover, but looking back, there really is no other way for life to move forward. It's called change and because of it we're the family we are today.
 
Maybe here, once again, we can learn something from our ancient brethren across the pond, the Greeks. It was Heraclitus who is said to have said, "Nothing endures but change."
 
So as you can see, it's all good. Just be sure to enjoy it while you can, tomorrow it may change.

Proudly powered by Weebly