Winter, Part 2

The Beard

Last summer, Mike decided to “let it all hang out” and let his beard grow.  Sort of a Fu Manchu/Van Dyke/hockey guy look but very salt and pepper looking.  Most of our boys came to our home after Mike grew the beard.  In mid-January, Mike got overzealous with his beard trimming and cut a big gap in it.  Caught up in the momentum, he decided to shave it all off-- beard, mustache, everything.  After all, he had been clean-shaven for over 25 years.  No big deal, right?  Kim did not like the clean look at all and told him it made his face look fatter.  Alex made fun of him for having a double-chin.  The boys really freaked out and told him they didn’t recognize him. “Who IS this guy?”  Funny, Mike has gone almost his entire life without a beard but the boys only knew him with a beard.  It became very clear to us how much they have enjoyed the familiarity and predictability of the past several months and how unsettling it is even when minor change occurs in our new family.  Oh yes, the beard is now back.  This time fuller and grayer than before.  For the boys, “Pop” is “back to normal.”

 

Baseball

Baseball practices are in full swing and games start next week.  Steven will be playing Varsity (as a pinch runner) and Varsity B.   Alex and Deundrea will be playing Junior High ball.  Looks like Alex will play short, second and pitcher, while Deundrea and Steven will play outfield.  Did I mention how fast those two are???  Both could be running track but chose baseball instead.  While they are not great hitters, if they get on base, they are virtually unstoppable.  For Alex, this year is his first year playing “school ball.”  Gone are the great days at Bill Bond Park in Pensacola and Coosa League in Gadsden.  The baselines are expanded from 60 and 70 feet to 90 feet.  The back edge of the infield is a long way back.  Base hits will not come easy. Homeruns are out of the question (at least until he gets a lot stronger).  A major transition!  We’ll miss the excitement and camaraderie of little league but like the idea of his practicing and playing games right after school at the school field (logistics are a major challenge these days).  And, we do have great school spirit at Westbrook. 

 

Alex, Andrew and Haley

Alex really loves life at the Ranch and at Westbrook.  He is able to cross the invisible class line (their making) and fits in well with the “ranch kids” (their term) and with the “rich kids” (“ranch kids’” term) at school.  He is a true leader (he’s broken up more than a couple of arguments and fights) and continues to make straight “A’s” on his report card.  He loves to play pick-up basketball in our driveway, at school and at the ranch gym whenever he has a spare moment.  Basketball is a great “social-leveler.”  It doesn’t hurt that he’s good at it.   He will most likely end up playing high school basketball next year (he’ll be in 8th grade—hope he grows a lot before then).   Alex is a committed Christian and he shares his faith daily through his example.

 

Andrew and Haley continue to do well in school.  Haley just learned she “made the cut” and was one of 25 students (from a couple of hundred applicants) accepted into the education major program at Auburn.  Andrew is on the downhill side of his second year of law school at Cumberland in Birmingham.  He is actively looking for lucrative (my term) summer employment in Birmingham or Pensacola.  They both come to the ranch when they have “off weekends” and enjoy being with the boys.  The boys love them and get very excited when they announce their plans to visit.  Most of them call Haley “their sister.” 

 

David Woods, Rick Davis and Big Time Politics

Many of you know Mike’s childhood friend, David Woods.  David’s dad, Charles, was a great inspiration to Mike in his formative years.  Mike worked his first political campaign in the 6th grade hanging “Charles Woods for Lt. Governor” signs.  Still think he should have won.  David has decided to run for Congress for the 2nd District of Alabama (Dothan to Prattville).  We think he will win.  David has been an outstanding family, church and business leader.  David, Donna and their kids, David, Drew and Dana are like family to us.  David has helped inspire Mike in his spiritual journey and theyregularly encourage each other in their Christian walk.  We are proud of David and know that he will be an outstanding Congressman. He will bring Christian character and sound business judgment to a government that badly needs both. 

 

Rick Davis was a fraternity brother at Alabama and “running buddy” when Mike lived in Washington.  If you haven’t heard the “Hey butt head” story, ask Mike or Rick (It had to do with Mike calling Rick when he moved to D.C., Rick’s dad answering the phone sounding a lot like Rick, Mike’s warm greeting to him, and the embarrassment that followed.).  Rick is THE national campaign manager for John McCain.  Despite anything you may have may have read or heard in the media, Rick is a consummate professional, a dedicated conservative Republican and a winner.  McCain has to be a smart guy to have picked Rick as his closest advisor.  If McCain wins, Rick deserves (and will get) great credit.  He has hung with McCain since the late 90’s and has remained loyal through many trials and tribulations in two presidential campaigns. He and Karen have been great friends to us over the years and we wish him the very best.   Who knows, maybe the boys can get to go visit the White House!

 

Winding Up

I know this has been a long entry but there’s a lot to tell (and so much more…).  Very rarely do we have the luxury of getting to sit down, reflect and write (this entry was written in installments, mostly this Monday morning after the kids got on the bus).  When we do, it is usually for “contact sheet” behavioral reports on the boys.  But, since so many of you are a part of ourministry, we do want to continue to share some of the happenings and some of the emotions that we experience at our home and Big Oak Ranch. 

 

Many of you have encouraged us to keep sharing with you and have continuously lifted us up in your thoughts and prayers.  We appreciate you!  We are pretty isolated/consumed in our life here and you cannot imagine how much we enjoy hearing from you.  Keep the emails and letters coming! 

 

The prayers and encouragement of our friends and family, along with the unwavering truth of God’s Word, give us the strength and desire to keep going each day.  Thanks! 

 

Mike, Kim, Alex, Andrew, Haley, Steven, Nic, Steven, Bryan, Jordan, Deundrea, Aaron