Family
As has been our family
custom for many years, we had our full family together at Pinebrook in the
Poconos in the summer. We had thought that 2023 would be the last year to have
all 7 grandchildren, but Aryon got a summer job working there so we were
blessed to have them all together this past summer as well. Below is a picture
of all of them.
For a few months all of
them were 1x years old – Asher turned 10 in July and Aryon did not turn 20
until October. Aryon is now in his second year of college, Tiernan is a senior
in high school (he once again took a missions trip to Japan to help take care
of a group of younger students while their parents, who are missionaries, had a
week of meetings), and Ilyanna is in 9th grade. In PA, the four boys
are in grades 9, 7, 7, and 5 this year. We’ve enrolled Ethan in a
dual-enrollment program at Liberty University Online Academy where he will
graduate in 2028 with a high school diploma as well as a full associates’
degree. We’re planning on doing the same with all the younger boys as well.
Ethan is led in his
coursework by Kim, and I handle the three younger boys – with the exception of
Isaiah and Caleb taking Spanish (led by Kim as she knows that language and I do
not) and Asher’s literature class where Donna has a chance to get involved. All
of them are straight A students. It keeps me busy every day as I sit in my
recliner and there is a constant stream of boys coming through my room.
Medical
While I’ve been dealing
with various medical issues over the years, 2024 was a memorable one. I’ve had
a diabetic ulcer on the bottom of my right foot for several years. Over the
Christmas holidays last year, I developed a case of COVID. It was not a bad
case, but the extra level of infection got into my foot. I went into the
hospital on January 2nd and didn’t come home for an entire month.
And when I did come home it was after a partial foot amputation. The surgeon
did an excellent job of closing the wound back up, but having only a partial
foot has been a definite challenge (see picture below).
I can
get around pretty well, but only with the use of a cane. People see me as
pretty normal as I have a “toe-filler” prosthesis and wear a regular shoe. But
navigating stairs is difficult and I am constantly in danger of falling. I have
other medical issues, but this one overshadows all of them. At home I spend
most of my time in a recliner as I want to avoid any further injury to that
foot. Getting old is not for the faint of heart.
I’ve
had to give up all outdoor activities. It’s good to have several growing
grandsons around to pick up tasks like grass mowing, taking the trash cans up
to the corner each week, and even smaller things like walking up to get the
mail each day.
On the
plus side, I can now relate easily to other older member of the church who have
canes or who have issues like Alzheimer’s, Parkinsons, or any of the other
infirmities that come with getting older.
Genealogy
While a
large portion of my day is consumed by overseeing the schooling of our
grandsons, I’m still quite involved in genealogy – mostly for others. As an
example, just this week I was able to introduce two men in our church to each
other as being third cousins (i.e. sharing a great-great-grandfather) that they
had not been aware of.
A lot
of my investigation is for people in our church (where I am related to about
2/3 of them) or to some of our new neighbors, I’m also enjoying my
relationships with others in the Pierpont/Russell lines with whom I have
established relationships in the past. I am now the official historian of the
Pierpont Family Association due to the passing of Bob Kraft, but with my driving
being restricted due to my foot, I may not be able to go to our annual meetings.
While many of these relatives are not like me and they have different views on
life (including their political persuasion during the past election season), I enjoy
the challenge of not being in a political “echo chamber” and having my views be
challenged.
Putting Christ in Christmas
This
time of year is one where I focus on sharing my Christian values with those
around me. For those reading this who share those values, may the joy of Christ
encourage you. Any of those who may not share those values, know that we love
you anyway. Christ is the basis for our family’s outlook and we will always
encourage others to see His love through us.
Merry Christmas!
Alan & Donna
Thanks!
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