The First

This week we’ll continue introductions.  As we share our family with you please realize, we’re all flawed just like you.  We have days when we get it all right, and days that we just can’t catch a break.  There are days when we cry and pitch fits.  Maybe it’s different for you, but at my house, we all make mistakes.  We do emphasize trying to be “better” than you were the day before.  

So, let me introduce you to the firstborn here at Five Sons Farm, Nicholas Harland Jones.  Everyone calls him, “Nick”.  I took Harland from my grandfather.  To me, carrying on the names of good men has always felt like a way to pass on some previous strength to the new generation.  So, this will be a snapshot in time of who he is (subject to change daily).  When I think of Nick, I think of strength.  The kid is mentally and physically strong.  He’s a level headed, smart and tough kid.  Nick’s always helpful with his younger brothers.  I wonder if that’s just part of being the oldest?  And he didn’t get it from either of us, but he’s a “cool kid” too. 

Nick’s had grit since he was small and he thinks that he has to be the best at everything.  When he’s not, you start to see those flaws.  Nick wrapped up his first wrestling season a couple of months ago.  If you know the sport, then you know that season one is completely brutal.  The grit helped him with his wins and his losses.  It was really great for him. He got to feel the sting of defeat, which made him appreciate the wins.  Nick learned what it meant to truly strive for something you want, and the cost when you didn’t.  I saw him break mentally in matches and experience “burnout”.  Even when he’d get pinned, he tried so hard, and we were proud.  Most of the time, at the end of matches, Nick was on the podium.  Though he’s on to other things, we notice daily the “growth” that took place.   

Now switch gears with me.  Let me give you an example of how Nick can be sneaky.  Yesterday we were shooting clay pigeons and cardboard boxes with bb-guns and I walked away for a moment.  The kid literally ran and poked two holes in the bullseye on a box.  A light investigation led to a confession and a sincere apology.  Sometimes, if it’s late, Courtney will go check on the boys.  If he hasn’t looked at a clock and thinks it’s late, he’ll pretend he’s asleep until she’s gone.  I imagine that someday I’ll catch him sneaking back in the house before sunup.  Pray for him.  Let me reiterate, we’re not perfect.  During this partial school year, Nick was chosen twice to have art displayed in a local show.  Nick was a class “Leader of the month” twice, and is supposed to wear glasses but dodges them like the plague.  He’s tried soccer, baseball, and wrestling.  Now, he’s learning piano.  The motivation you ask?  Another boy in his class is very talented so Nick wants to be better.  

Courtney says, “He’s an old soul, and he’s always been like a little adult”.   She also says he’s intuitive, understands complex ideas, and takes things well.  I think she meant how he handles life loss.  Within recent months he’s lost his great grandmother and one of our family pets (my dog Maggie).  Generally, he’s a good kid and you just enjoy being around him.  At this point, Griffin would like it documented that his older brother is, “weird, mean and smelly”.  You’ll all meet Griffin later.  Keep in mind, that line is from a seven-year-old who thinks it’s hilarious to train his four year old brother to constantly say the word “butt”.  

If you’re reading this and know him, we would love to hear your personal story about Nick and I’m sure the rest of our tribe would too.  

Thanks for coming back, where it’s Farming. Done Right.

Nick