I’ve never had the pleasure of raising a boy. I love all the boys in my life immensely. But, I didn’t have to do all the things boy moms do like go to the ER every other week or follow along behind them catching everything that falls. I was treated to Teddy Bear Teas and “Let’s Put on a Show!” That was my mom life. Don’t get me wrong…dealing with girls’ hormones while you’re dealing with your own can be a trip. And don’t get me started about girl drama. But, I admire Boy Moms. They earn their crowns in an entirely different way. This little guy is as sweet as they come and his younger sister was a peach…my kind of energy. I guess I’m just a girl mom.

I met my uncle and his youngest granddaughter and her family over at the farm yesterday. First, let me tell you….when my fully vaccinated uncle got out of that truck and we hugged? Ohhhhhh, I wanted to cry, it felt so good and so….normal! They weren’t there five minutes till we got the barn unlocked and they set to emptying out the loft of assorted Model A parts and forge blowers and pumps and lawn mowers and windows. They filled several blue plastic barrels and half the gooseneck trailer. Then we started in the house, then the cellar…both upstairs and down. The house is beginning to get that hollow sound of vacancy. It’s a little eerie…a little sad…just so, different.

While they were in the barn, they came across a couple of black snakes. And Katie was digging through a box of books when she uncovered a mouse nest with two tiny little baby mice…not an inch long. I hope mama mouse got back to them in time. In all the time I have been at this farm, I’ve seen one garter snake and a fellow driving up the road stopped and killed a copperhead out front. Granted…I never necessarily went looking for them either!

I had already gone through a lot of the stuff in the house and staging it so it would be easier to get to. They picked and chose those things they wanted to take home with them. And all too soon, they were climbing back into the truck to head home. Uncle Bud is in his 80’s now and….my oh my…he is the spitting image of my PopPop. Well…what I imagine my PopPop would have looked like at his age. He passed away when he was only 71.

By the time I got home, and got the truck emptied of yet another full load, I was exhausted and hurt all over. I made hamburgers and a little potato and macaroni salads, took a hot shower, and I was D.O.N.E! I am not doing anything except knit today…period.

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“We love because he first loved us.”

1 John 4:19 ESV