Dear friends and family (and those who are both),
Need I even mention that this year has been crazy? It’s been crazy for everyone – perhaps crazy-busy, crazy-lonely, crazy-as-always, with a few exceptions of crazy-fun (?). But it certainly has been a unique year. If anyone had told me that this year we would have to wear masks to the bank, stay six feet away from people for fear they give you a deadly virus, that . . . anyway, I would have thought they were crazy.
But such glum talk has wasted enough of this precious small space I have to fill with all sorts of stuff about our family – a paper of only 8.5 x 11 inches, double sides, with 3/4 inch margins . . . I guess I’d better get going before I’m out! As usual, I want to go through all the individuals in our family (10 in all!), but I think it would be helpful (more humorous than helpful) to add in a few lessons we’ve learned this year, as well as some highlights.
Dad: As the oldest of the family, Dad turned 45 this year! He’s spent a lot of this year putting siding and brick on our house (getting closer to completion), traveling to pick up equipment, and working around the farm. Highlights: “Being able to work from home a lot this year, and seeing my family more.” Lesson(s): “I don’t want to do home exterior construction when I grow up… We have a lot of good friends, and I’m thankful for that… Wearing a mask is not fun.”
Mom: At 39 and going strong, Mom has been busy since March with the latest member of the family, Lillian (of course, she was busy before that too). In her words, “After my eighth child, I’ve learned that there’s always more efficiency to be gained.” Along with that is the normal gardening, cooking, and farm chores. Highlights: “#1 is definitely having Cory home a lot this year.” Lesson(s): “To not worry, but to seek the Lord’s wisdom in all things.” and “It’s good to always have a good supply of toilet paper.” (Thankfully not a lesson learned!)
Alena: (19) After working for three years on writing it, Alena is happy to say that her book is finally in the publishing process, and will hopefully soon be a book in her hands! Highlights: “Reading, writing, weeding, washing dishes, picking up Kailey’s junk (editor omission), and cleaning.” Lesson(s): “I’m not as young as I once was, and sledding is hard on the muscles.”
Kailey (author, 16): I’ve taken on much of the haying (cutting, baling, moving bales) this year, which I really enjoy – especially in the tractors that have air conditioning! Also, I’ve been creating videos with Caleb and playing working a lot with my horses. Highlights: Getting my driver’s license. Seeing old friends and making new ones. Lesson(s): “It isn’t good to hit stuff with a tractor… but if you do (think ‘bumblebee nests’) it’s good to be in a cabbed tractor.”
Caleb (14): Caleb has passed the whole family in height this year, standing at six feet (in two pairs of socks, as he humbly admits). He’s often found cracking jokes or throwing himself around (acting for videos, usually). Highlights: “Turning fourteen, butchering chickens, throwing knives”. Lesson(s): “Turning fourteen, butchering chickens, throwing knives . . . and throwing hay bales.”
Aiden (12): The fix-it man! Already, Aiden has a genius mind for fixing broken and/or creating better designs, including kitchen items, toys, and garden tillers. Highlights: “Traveling with Dad, getting braces (not a fun highlight), camping at Timberlake Ranch Camp this fall.” Lesson(s): “When you hurry with your work, it often gets tangled.” (fencing experience), and “It’s good to remember to shut the gate so that the cows and sheep stay in.”
Annika (6): Annika has been a big helper to Mom with our newest little sister, Lillian, and is becoming quite handy cooking in the kitchen and cleaning the house. Highlights: “Playing with Lillian, cooking with Mom, playing in the snow, playing with Asher, and riding Ace.” Lesson(s): “To not run on the ice.” and “Doing school and learning to read.”
Asher (5): Asher always has a smile to share. This year he has traveled with Dad and Aiden to Iowa, Kansas, South Dakota, Minnesota, and Missouri to buy farm equipment. They are the only ones willing to be in a vehicle that long! Highlights: “Traveling, milking with Dad, sledding.” Lesson(s): “I learned to be quiet when milking Saucy, because she’s kinda sensitive.” “When we were driving to Minnesota, I learned that some tractors can pull two gravity wagons.”
Abigail (3): Working hard to keep up with her big siblings, Abby has learned to run fast and pull some funny facial expressions. Very caring in nature, she always has a multitude of prayer requests and thanksgivings for her friends during our daily family prayer time every morning. Highlights: Milking the cow with Mom or Dad, and getting rides on Ace the horse.” Lesson(s): “ABC’s and shapes.” “Riding Ace.”
Lillian (9 months): Lillian is our latest addition to the family, which brings the number up to ten (8 kids + Mom and Dad). Lillian likes Mama best, with Alena and Dad as close seconds. Highlights: Being born into this fun family! Lesson(s): Waving hello and bye. Squealing makes people laugh, but growling matches with big brother Caleb really make people laugh… Mama is the best person ever. (Highlights and lessons content is my closest translation.)
Just thinking back on 2020 can bring feelings of stress. It has been a hard year for many, but when you are feeling down, just remember that there is hope – the hope that we are celebrating this season. Jesus came to earth as one of us – only, unlike us, he was perfect, and he became the perfect sacrifice to cleanse us of our imperfect sin. If only we believe and give our life over to him, we can be saved from ourselves and look forward to eternity with Him, where there with be no coronavirus, no flawed leaders, no health problems, and no worry. In Jesus, we have hope of a life with Him, the next to come. We are only pilgrims passing through. Oops, that’s Thanksgiving. Merry Christmas, folks.
And I’ve run out of paper. Next year 8.5 x 14 might be good.
Kailey for the Mentink Family