New Beginnings

Our week ends with a New Beginnings Activity for the girls. It seemed appropriate to name this entry the same. 2016 so far has brought more new beginnings than we anticipated. We are stretching, growing, grieving, blessed and praying.

This year started out with shocking news. Our dear neighbor Ted died of a heart attack on January 1.  This man had become a part of our family over the last eight years, a mentor for Smiley and Cowboy, and a friend to Hubby and I. We have grieved hard for his loss. At times Smiley comes up missing for several hours. We have found him at Ted's house spending time with Peggy (Ted's wife) and their grandchildren. Smiley is considered by them as family and therefor is playing with cousins.

Peggy shared with me how she and Ted felt like our boy had a special sense to just know when they needed his help. I am grateful for the talents and blessings Smiley has been given. He has been a help to this family for many years now and has learned many life lessons from them. Ted was helping our boy to grow into a great man and for that I am so thankful.

On January 14th Hubby's brother was seen at the local clinic. He had not been feeling well for a few days and his sweet wife encouraged him to seek help. To our shock and grief he passed away right their at the clinic of a heart attack. His funeral was on Smiley's birthday. With Smiley's approval we celebrated his special day a few days later.

He was thrilled to get an orange icing cake, babyback ribs and mashed potatoes. Put good food in front of this boy and he is happy. Due to the timing of funerals and the general hazey feeling we had been having his birthday presents came a bit later. It did make for exciting trips to the post office and hopes of something wonderful coming. Finally Smiley received his packages of leather works and he was thrilled.

We grieve for these two men who had important places in our lives. The emptiness left behind at times is overwhelmingly sad. We miss them. We pray for their wives as they grieve the loss of companion and best friend.

Last Sunday, Cowboy got a call from a friend whom he had spent most of the weekend with. This friend was invited to leave his family. Hubby and I invited him to join ours. My how we have prayed for this young man and his family as they go through some mighty challenges.

Our flock has grown by one.  We don't know what the future has for this young man but we hope and pray for his continued success in school and preparations for summer and soon college. We see the vital necessity of example and how our family will influence this young man. It has not yet been a week that he has been in our home and are hearts are tender towards him.

Sunshine said yesterday she hopes he stays with us as she likes having him as a brother. She now has five brothers. I am thankful for her accepting spirit of change. We understand not all teen girls would want almost half a dozen brothers whizzing, bumping, running and occasionally smelly-ing through their days.

January has been full. Homeschooling, jobs, church activities, music lessons, play practices, high school, college, 4-H, Scouts, family and life continue to move(drag) us forward each day.  We have felt overwhelmed with so much in four short weeks, and we have felt blessed.  We know that our lives will continue to be full of activity and growth. How could it not with nine of us in our home and Chickadee off to adulthood? We know our dear neighbor and brother are loved, that they love us, and that that love doesn't stop because of death. We are blessed to be able to open our doors and provide a home and family to another.

Only two days left in the month and we have plans to rearrange boy rooms, buy more food and watch the girls as they participate in their New Beginnings Activity.  February is coming. Valentine's cookies! The love month...ooohh la laaa:)