Because so much has changed since I last regularly posted, I thought it best I introduce the main characters in my story. This is just to provide a brief introduction to each of the most important people in my life so that when I mention someone it's a little clearer who the heck I am talking about.
First, there's Luke. That's my husband. He is a 32 year old electrician. Yes, I am well aware of the age gap and I'll be the first to admit that I was not comfortable with it at first. However, he somehow manages to be one of the oldest person I have ever interacted with. Talking to him, no one would ever guess his age. Most people in our circle assume us to be the same age or him to be older. Being raised by an older mother and grandmother contributed I'm sure, but that barely tells the story. I affectionately call him a "Bible dork". This is a man who spends hours listening to apologetics and discussions on the intricacies of the Bible. He thinks deeply about things, is calm, and probably the most consistent person I have known in my life.
Next is Samantha. She's technically the oldest. Samantha is 21 and lives about 45 minutes away. Honestly, she has been the most difficult of the children. There's a lot there but I'll summarize with the fact that she has a lot of mental health problems and issues with addiction. There were plenty of days I didn't think we would ever even get to 18, but here we are now. She tends to make impulsive decisions and was under guardianship until just a couple of months ago. I still see her regularly and talk to her even more.
Then we have Jenny. She has always functioned as the oldest. Seriously, even Samantha will say Jenny has always been her big sister. Jenny is 19. She has a husband, Will. He is an amazing guy and exactly the type of man I would have wanted for my daughter. In October 2024, Jenny got the same stomach virus that the other kids were passing around and it triggered the onset of chronic health issues. She says she now sees all the ologies and we are still working for a definitive diagnosis but know it is autoimmune in nature. Even with her struggles, she is a fighter! She still finished high school and tech school in Early Childhood Education. She works with Will (that's how they met) and we all work to support her in being able to do what she wants to do while still accommodating her health issues. Because her health requires a lot of extra support, Jenny and Will live here with us as they save for a house and look for something near their support system.
Nicci is next. She is 18 and about to graduate from the Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics. OSSM is a boarding school for super smart kids. She has been there since the beginning of her Junior year so she occupies a space something like Schrodinger's cat where she both lives here and doesn't. After graduation, Nicci will be moving to San Antonio to attend Trinity University as a Biochemistry major before pursuing her doctorate in Pharmacology. It's hard to think about her being so far away, but it's also exciting to watch her soar.
Houston is the oldest of the boys at 16. He is a great student as all the kids are and is about to finish his Sophomore year in high school. He is active in the choir. He is also very active in the church he attends and will even be leading some Sunday School lessons and preparing to be able to preach over the summer. He plans to join the Army after graduation and wants to pursue a career in law enforcement. Being from a blue family, I support this fully but also know the risks in pursing this path. He is outgoing and energetic. You never really know what he's going to say which is part of what makes him fun.
Elli is the youngest of the girls at 14. We are at the end of her Freshman year. She is the girl of the girls. She loves purple, pink, unicorns, and big bows. She is currently having some health struggles of her own, likely related to the incident when she was a baby, but she never lets it stop her. She is active in the choir, loves reading, and crafting. She has a huge heart and loves her friends and family deeply. Elli talks about attending tech school in her Junior year to pursue Early Childhood Education and vacillates between wanting to be a teacher or a therapist when she grows up.
Rex is 13 and in 7th grade. He is active in band and choir. He is the quiet one of the bunch. He loves gaming and being outside which is an odd contrast but somehow works for him. He was the youngest for a long time and will tell you to this day he still doesn't want a little brother.
Finally, we have Denny. He's 6 and in Kindergarten. He is very bright and also a bit of a trouble-maker. His teacher this year has been letting him work on advanced skills so he already reads and does math at a 2nd grade or higher level. He is independent and funny. I think in part because his siblings were all so much older than him, he really seems very grown for his age and I often say he has been a teenager since birth.
So there you have it, a brief introduction to the 8 people who are the biggest part of my life. I'm certain you'll come to know them all better over the course of my writing, but at least now when I say a name, you'll have some idea of who I am talking about.
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