With Love, From Bro Jacob

Bro. Jacob writes:

Ok, It’s been a long time since I’ve been on here, so I’ll try to make this count.

First of all, I really miss all of my friends from the Wisconsin region. If any of you read this blog, I just want you to know, I’ve been thinking about you a lot and missing the wonderful times of fellowship and laughter that we shared.

I still think about Joe, almost every day. I had a really hard time with his death (and I wasn’t even family). I can’t imagine what those of you who are family or who spent time with him every week must have felt. I know that Joe was far from perfect, but he was a friend. Sometimes, Joe did things that grieved me in my soul, and I let him know so more than a few occasions, as many of you recall. That’s what friends do. No, like the old commercial says, friends don’t let friends drink and drive (not that Joe ever tried to do that), but more importantly, friends don’t stand idly by and do nothing while their friends endanger their souls. Joe understood that I wouldn’t have been his friend if I said nothing at all. I loved him, and it was like loosing a brother, when he died. I only wish I'd been more of a brother to him after we moved to Montana and talked to him more often. I will always miss our long talks.

Still, all of you are like family to me. Addie (my long lost Athsmatic sister), Joleesa, Jenna (at least you don't have to worry about me being over-protective of you now), Jessa, Bro. & Sis. Nowling, Sister Morgan and the rest of the Morgan Clan (what games and laughs we've shared in that home), Brother & Sister Aviles, the Cozeys and of course Christy and Laticia (you two are great). I miss you all so very much. You can’t spend as much time together as we did and not miss each other when you’re not able to be together anymore. Thanks for all the adventures and the memories that go with them!

(Thank you, Addie and Cathy for the Christmas/New Year’s message that you left on my cell-phone. It really made me smile. I love you guys.)

Yes, Montana is beautiful and there are a lot of things we’ve gotten to do since we’ve been here, but mountains and adventure can never take the place of one’s friends. We miss you. You are all welcome to come and see us any time, and we’ll make sure that it will be an experience you will never forget. PLEEEESE come and see us!

To my family from Alaska, I can’t wait to see you guys again. Hopefully, it will work out for us to go to AK for a week (and hopefully you’ll all be there, when we do.) I miss you guys a bunch, too. Micah, you dog, I envy you. I can’t believe you’re staying in Yorktown, Virginia! You know how much I want to go there. I dare say that if it were me, I wouldn’t leave there until I’d frequented every historic location in the county—some of you reading know that I’m a big history buff. I’m still planning on renting jet skis, this summer for a trip to Wild Horse Island, so you’d better be planning on going with me.

Jeremy and Darren, if you are reading this, you are a couple of serious bums if you think that you’re going to stay in Vernon, BC while your folks come to visit. You two mean a lot to me, even though we haven’t gotten to talk for a long time. I often think about you and wonder what you’re doing. Unbeknownst to you, I even have pictures of you from last summer. LOL. Darren, you stud, you. Weren’t you in a movie or something, or haven’t you signed that contract with Paramount Studios yet?

Well, life with four children is quite an experience. Let me tell you. I wouldn’t trade it for the world. Each one has their own character and individuality, but they are all a lot like Rebekah and I. I’m very proud of them. Elijah is really turning into a little man, and he has learned a lot in that last year about being an obedient and responsible son. Josiah is learning early, which is a HUGE blessing. Alana is bubbly and adorable, which is a nice sugar coating on the “terrible twos,” which for her just means that she likes to haul off and whack one of her siblings from time to time and occasionally thinks that their worlds should revolve around her.

I just had a battle of wills with Josiah, and he lost. He threw some of his serial on the floor this morning, and I made him pick it all up after I spanked him. He tried to walk away several time and got spanked again and then was returned to his mess to finish picking it up. About 45 minutes later, he had pretty much finished the job. I think he’ll think twice before doing that again.

Spring is here, and boy are we glad. I couldn’t take much more of the winter colds and flus out here. Even though we only got to go sledding once this winter, Spring is a welcome sight. It means that we can finally get the children out of the house and let them burn off some of the energy with which they have been driving their mother and I crazy!

Caleb and Mandi, we’re looking forward to another trip out to see you for a few days. We had a lot of fun when we were there and want to be a blessing to you both, as well as to Paul and Anthony and Kirby and Nancy. We love you all very much and your absence has left a big hole in our local church as well as our in hearts because we don’t get to see you every week. Tell Anthony that I’ve been thinking about him a lot and I sure hope that we get to spend more time with him in the future. He reminds me of a friend of mine from Arkansas. I’m so glad that the Lord answered all of our prayers and that his aunt is doing better.

Tammy and Sam, we miss you just as much. Our children had gotten so close to you, and I don’t think they’ll ever forget you, but if you stay away for too long, you get what you get. Tam, you are a great friend and you and your family have always felt like family to me. You will always have a special place in my heart, along with your sisters and brothers (especially Kevin, whose just lucky that he’s so likeable because if he wasn’t nobody would be able to stand him. He’d better make good on his deal, this summer too. There’s a rumor going around about camp this year. *smile*) Seriously, though, it broke my heart when the two of you moved away. I hope that it hasn’t hurt our friendship any that it was hard for me to happy in your leaving. You know how much I get attached to people, especially people like the two of you who have meant so much to us and to our children.

Becky, you can tell James that I forgive him. Forgiving is easy. Forgetting may take some time. Still, I wouldn’t kick you out of my house.

Sam, work just isn’t the same without you around. Even Katherine has said so, multiple times. Besides, they’ll be no one to take pictures of Elijah and I when we go hiking in Glacier this Spring. I may never see our silhouette in an issue of the Big Fork Eagle, ever again. You’re a goofy man, Sam. But you sure are hard to forget and easy to love.

Gracie, you're one of a kind. I can't believe you're all grown up, now. I don't mind telling you that it makes me awefully nervous, when I remember the two-year-old little girl you once were and then look at your pictures now. Then, I look at my own two-year-old little girl and understand why your parents are looking more and more distinguished by their gray hair. *sinking back in seat with a groan*. I've already told Rebekah that we are NOT having any more girls. They are adorable, to be sure, but they grow up to be w-- www-- *swallowing lump in throat* --women (no, I did not just say that about my daughters). You should well understand that you will always be your daddy's little girl (at least, in his eyes).

Speaking of which, tell your mom and dad that I love and miss them. They're awefully special people, to me, and I often lament the fact that we don't live closer so that I can enjoy their company, along with the rest of my family. I'm not sure about their influence, but I've always enjoyed their company. ...(By the way, I'll be praying for you about the whole Polar Express thing. I hope it hasn't traumatized you too much.)

Brother Chris, if you or Sis. Tammy are reading this, we miss the two of you, as well. Of course, we miss you parents more. Your momma sure can cook. I often long for that incredible tomato gravy that she made us the last time we were there. They're good people, and we love them dearly. Bro. Chris, thanks for commenting on my post a while back. How's the Kung-Fu fighting coming along? Didn't you almost hurt yourself last time. I've still got the picture of the two us, short, chubby, bald men looking like a couple of Kung-Fu chickens. You take care of yourself and your family. We love you.

Well, I’d better get going. We’ve got revival next week and lots to do between now and then.

Bro. Ray and Sis. Tammy, I’m really looking forward to seeing the two of you. I hope you don’t mind if we spend some time together while you’re here. I’m sure that there will be plenty that you want to see and you’ll want to visit with others, as well.

God bless you all, and I’ll try to write again, soon.

---Brother Jacob.