Spring 2024
Blaine and I have been married 22 years. He works at a university as a photographer. He can – and does – fix anything for us, from cars to the house and everything in between.
Liberty Skye is 21, strong and independent. She has an associate’s degree in business accounting and works at her local grain elevator driving semi, mixing fertilizer, and proving herself to be entirely capable. She stayed in South Dakota when we moved back to Missouri. She has a horse named Cherokee and drives a big pickup. She has me confident of my parenting skills thus far, because she’s turned out to be pretty great.
Eden Rayne is 19, strong willed and determined. She has the strength to move mountains and a song in her heart – and on her lips. She and her husband Kevin married in fall 2023, and they make their home about 30 miles from us. They met in prison… Eden and Kevin are both correctional officers. They gave us our first grand baby, a little boy named Falcon.
Sterling Blaine is 17, kind, and helpful. Working with wood is his passion, and he spends every spare minute planning and executing his projects. You’ll always find a knife in his pocket – or six. He loves to hunt, trap, and fish. This boy is prepared. He works for a neighbor in his shop, fixing small engines and learning the trade.
Ruby Alexandra is 16, fiery, quiet, and stubborn. She loves cooking, flowers, and books and all things beautiful. She makes most of our meals around here. Ruby loves the babies and loves making things pretty.
Charlotte Serenity is 14, and my talker. She will spare no detail in her conversations and loves her family and friends fiercely. She’s following her father’s footsteps with photography, writing is her passion, and drawing pictures brings her joy. This girl takes everything seriously.
Pierce Allan is 13, and lives up to his name: “the rock”. He works hard, plays hard, and likes to have his own way. He’s loyal and passionate about everything he does. He helps with the littles with a happy heart, and is Sterling’s right hand man with projects outside.
Elliot Adelaide is 10, going on 16. She loves babies, schoolwork, books, and being big. She aspires to be any age she hasn’t been yet. She loves to read and challenge herself to goals she sets.
Stellan Wyatt is 8, and a love. He loves his bike, hammer, bow and arrows, tools, books, and matchbox cars. He’s determined to keep up with his siblings – and he does.
Creed James is 4, and the master mess maker around here. He’s mastered his bike without training wheels this year. As biggest toddler yet, I’d have expected him to have no fear, but Creed is definitely also the careful one. He’s delightful.
Lachlan Hyde, aka Lach, Lacher, and occasionally even Lockie-poo, is 3 and the caboose on this train. He’s the baby and he knows it. He’s the man of many faces, serious about his business, even if it’s making someone laugh. Ask him to wiggle his eyebrows, I dare you.