The Blog... I'm back on here to do a much needed update...:)
2023 is here.
We have been blessed with so much so today I'd like to take a bit of time to share some of those blessings on the family blog.
Dave and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary last month!
We had big plans in our heads for many years for our 25th! (At least I did)
We always thought by this time in our lives we'd have had reached the one where we'd be able to leave the kids a bit better for longer.
Because we were married in dead of Lancaster County winter something fun and tropical for an anniversary getaway is what I had in mind!
This would take planning!
Truth be told here... We honestly both thought it was our 24th! One morning on our run (a few weeks before) I started to count the years in my head! I did it like five times and still kept coming up with 25!
Seriously! It's been a year!
Oh well rather then rush into something big we did a fun/fancy dinner out and decided to wait until later to do our anniversary getaway...:)
We do still Love each other and I'm so grateful for our 25 years together!
Dave's very large buck he shot off the farm.. This one was called "Brutess"
Justin&Lexie...
Justin and Lexie are a highlight around here! They are so in love! Watching them blossom in these early years is such a treasure!
They are busy managing a few short term rental properties they have. Justin is full time at Horizon Structures where he is a partner and Lex has a fun photography business going on that she enjoys.
They keep the social life hopping to and we get to enjoy them some to when they come to visit!
Young Love is the best and having a married child is a true gift!
Jordan...
Jordan is learning all about life past the teenage stage...:)
He has a new truck that he is so grateful for! The small car he had served him well but he out grew it long ago with his hunting hobby! The car is perfect for Jenika now!
He is still hauling sheds in his shed truck. He is so good at what he does and he is great with his customers to!
He is healthy and thriving! We are so grateful! His infusion still goes in weekly but we have become accustomed to it and we are grateful he is well!
The farm in Maryland gets so much of Jordan's attention. Its his favorite place to be. (I'll share a bit about the farm at the end of this update)
He hunts. A lot. As much as his job and time allow...:)
Jenika... She is a blast! She is driving with her permit!
She has friends here almost every weekday and we have come to love her girlfriends so much! Jen is a wonderful loyal friend!
She is doing a fun internship at a Country Store.
She is taking voice lessons at school.
She took on a large commitment when she decided to rent a little cabin from Papa Daudy and fix it up to do short term rental! Right now she is in the process of ripping out old carpet and painting the whole thing! Her friends are helping her and its been interesting to watch her take charge of this project...:)
Jenika does so well in school. Her teachers love her and her bubbly personality is such a big part of her classroom!
I do not know how my baby girl got to be 16 so quickly! I just love her so much! She adds so much spice to our home with her make up and all the fun girl accessories! Her friends and the laughter! It a treasure! Her friends raid the fridge and eat all the good food we have...:)
We thank God for Jen! She has a huge heart and knows just what she wants...:)
Javon...
He is thriving!
14 years old!
His personality fits here so well!
He has moved into a bigger room and loves it! (he took Jen's room and she took Justin's)
Javon still has his steel plate business and does well!
He loves that he has cousins near by! They do a lot of outdoor time around here together! They trap and hunt.
He has gotten really good on his duck calls! He blows those things all the time around here! Only rule is its either outdoors or in his room with the door closed...:)
He loves when Jordan takes him duck and goose hunting!!
He loves to hunt deer with Justin!
His brothers are his favorite! He spends time at Justin and Lex's house and its great!
He's more introverted and he would often like to just skip school. His most favorite thing ever is when Jordan sneaks him out early to goose hunt!...:)
Dave and I...
Dave has slowed his travels down. It has been nice to not have him pack those bags or get those plane tickets so much. I love it that he is here more. The kids are more independent now and often doing there own thing. I found myself alone more and more. Maybe I will be traveling with him more if he ever picks his trips back up again but for now its nice to have a necessary slight time out...
He did do an HSA event in Nashville this weekend and he got to see his sister Maryanna that lives there!
Today-Tuesday he has a group of guys at the farm duck hunting. Next weekend he is speaking at an event in Florida. I plan to join for this one...:) Only two short days but who can turn down Florida in winter!?
The farm is also Dave's most favorite place to be.
I got me myself a few beautiful birds for Christmas! They are a real pleasure! They fit right in around here! I'm able to just keep the cage door open and they are in and out as they please. We are still working on them being more friendly and sociable but they act like they own the place when I spy on them from a distance. (when we get to close they scurry back to the cage)
Houseplants and my tower garden are winter hobbies. Also we have done a few puzzles over Christmas break. The games get left set out on the table and during these winter months they get played often if someone is around to play. If not Dave and I play alone...:)
One more quick interesting thing that took place here recently... story.... Maybe 8 years ago or so Dave and Justin went with a Spring Garden group on a mission trip to Nicaragua. Dave connected with a guy there about his age. He worked along side him all week and Dave said "He worked like a mule!" He had a family and struggled to send his girls to school. He was a hard worker and very determined. He loved the Lord and was very involved in the church there. Dave made a comment to him at some point that "if you ever make it to the US I'll give you a job" Well I guess this guy pledged in his heart to do just that one day! We had been sponsoring his girls schooling and such ever since that year so his family had it better then most there but I guess he still wanted to come! Well he got creative and made it here.
He is staying here in the guest corner for now. He speaks very little English. He loves the American food and just loves my cooking! Everything to him is "Delicious"...:) We are not sure what God had in mind in all of this but for now he is helping with odd jobs and working some out of the shop (although its our slower season) Also he is freezing here!!! He wears layers and keeps his room smothering hot and we laugh because we are having a very mild January!...:) He has music talent and often comes down to play the piano. We gave him Justin's guitar and he is very good on both! Often I know the tune but cannot understand his words. The story is still playing out and I'm not sure how long he will be here. Jordan dropped him off at Walmart and told him to call when he's done! He was scared and completely overwhelmed! He was brave and spent a few hours there...:) We really have no idea what we have here! We are so very BLESSED! He wants to work and send money back to his family. He loves the church services we have taken him to! Today a Spanish speaking church leader spoke into his life and prayed for him and he was so emotional. I cannot imagine how lonely he must be. We are all adjusting....
This is his beautiful family...
Update complete for today...
This farm... In Maryland. One hour and forty minutes and we can be at this quiet priceless sanctuary of wildlife and water all around! Our whole family has come alive over this purchase last summer! The boys hunt all the things and we see so much fun and potential here... The fishing is awesome to and Javon never knew he had all this love for nature inside himself until this place came into his life! A true gift we don't take for granted!
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