Dear Friends and Family,
Greetings from the Mentink family! As I look back over this last year, I am so thankful for all the ways the Lord provided for us. The drought made farming/homesteading look a little different this year, but we have made it through with plenty. We also had a lot of time together as a family, which is something we really enjoy!
Since Dad left his job last fall, he’s had more time to be at home here with us and to work more around the farm. He’s been doing electrical work, which gives him flexibility in his schedule. In fact, he and Mom got to take a three-day trip (just the two of them!) to Lake of the Ozarks. They hadn’t been away overnight without us kids since Alena was little (20 years!). Other highlights of the year for Mom and Dad were the birth of Josiah (#9) this fall, taking family day trips, and daily life on the farm. “In 2022 we watched the Lord provide in many ways.” Mom says, “Through the blessings, trials, and unknown circumstances, we learned to trust and seek wisdom even more, grew closer as a family, and were reminded to hold things with an open hand.”
Alena (21) was busy this year working on getting her second book published, along with marketing her first book, keeping up her website, and running around to different bookish, author events. She is still here at home, and is a real blessing in all she does – washing dishes, helping little ones, and cooking.
Kailey (18): As I work my way through my senior year of high school (homeschool) I’m trying to make “big girl” decisions, but haven’t had much progress. Something new I started this year was reselling thrift store items on Mercari. In my free time, I’ve rode Queen down nearby country roads and worked on my YouTube channel.
Caleb (16) has been helping Dad with his electrical business some this year, and has been growing a YouTube channel as well. YouTube seems to have this problem with him, though, and has given him multiple “hand slaps” and strikes. On a brighter note, Caleb got his driver’s license this summer. Hooray!
Aiden (14) really got tall this year, and has passed Dad in height. He has been doing a lot of woodworking and creating cool things in his little work area in the basement. Aiden really enjoys reading, especially adventure or mystery books. We have a lot of books, but I think he might be running out of options.
Annika (8) is a lot like me in the way that she loves horses, and loves riding them. She also likes sledding – she and Asher have gone sledding a couple times in the last few weeks, even though we haven’t gotten more than an inch of snow at a time. Annika likes holding Josiah and has been a great help in the weeks following his birth!
Asher (7): Asher’s favorite thing to do is help Dad, and he has learned a lot through doing that. He and the other younger kids have built “cabins” out in the trees behind the house, with some help from Aiden. Their cabins are built with boards, are sturdy, and have second floors – when I was little we built stick forts.
Abigail (5) is very sweet and caring, and she laughs easily. Depending on the day, she either plays very girlish games with Lillian, or goes with her older brothers and Annika to have wild, fun adventures. She says to tell you that she wishes you all a merry Christmas.
Lillian (2½) has a fun personality and loves animals, especially her favorite cat, Peanut. Young though she is, she has a very particular dress style. Either she has to be wearing a “horsey shirt” with jeans (only jeans that go over her boots though), or a dress and her pink cowgirl boots. Like most of her sisters, she also loves riding Queen.
Josiah (about 1½ months): Josiah is the latest addition, bringing our family unit to 11 (9 kids + Dad and Mom). He was born on October 27th and is very healthy. What a blessing! There are always arms willing to hold him, so he hardly ever gets set down.
Doesn’t time pass by fast? I blinked and the last few years were just gone. Life happens so quickly. One moment I’m holding my baby sister in my arms, the next she only lets me refer to her as a “big kid” (Lillian). I’m reminded that we only have a short time here, and we need to make the most of it. This season is a good time to reflect on our lives, I think, and to do some truth-searching. At the end of my life, what will really matter? Definitely not money or position or things. My only hope is Jesus; in Him I have this amazing expectation of a bright future with Him. Jesus is the reason for Christmas, reminding us that we cannot do enough good things to make up for our sins. Only by trusting in Jesus and committing our lives to Him can we truly be free. What an incredible hope!
Merry Christmas and happy 2023!
Kailey for the Mentink family