Daughter Lovina Pens the Column Sharing About Enjoying Family and Special Challenges

It’s Thursday morning. Daniel just left for work at 3:45. I feel so lucky that I get to stay home where it’s cozy while he goes out to work and provides for us. It’s 6 am now and I just got done feeding Brooklyn and rocking her back to sleep. I made a pot of coffee and let our house dog ‘Red’ outside. We live in Dustin and Loretta’s pole barn until we are able to get a place of our own.

It’s still dark outside but the snow makes it seem bright. I sat in the recliner by the heater and ended up dozing off. Mom and Dad got me this ‘Lazy Boy’ recliner for my birthday when I turned 16 and apparently, they call it a ‘Lazy Boy’ for a reason. It’s because it’ll turn you into one. Just ask my husband. Just joking! It’s just past 7 and Brooklyn is up. She woke up really happy. She’s full of energy today and talking as loud as she can in baby words. I rolled her bassinet in the kitchen beside me while I did the dishes.

I laid Brooklyn on the table on her stomach in front of me so she could do some tummy time while I eat lunch. She was really cooing to me the entire time. I think most babies are Mamma babies but Brooklyn is definitely a Daddy’s girl. She prefers her dad even though I’m the one who spends all day with her. Maybe that’s why she prefers her dad, she’s probably tired of me haha.

Last week our horse we bought just a couple months ago died unexpectedly. This is the second horse we bought. The first one also died a couple months after we bought her from a condition she was born with but none of us knew about it until the vet checked her out. It’s very disappointing but everything happens for a reason, and we just have to trust in God. We have one horse which sometimes isn’t enough when you use your horse for your transportation but I’m just grateful we have him! His name is Buddy and he has been with us from the start. Buddy is a Bay/Red Halflinger. He was gifted to Daniel from his family a long time ago. He is the slow but steady type. It takes forever to get somewhere but he will get us there and that’s all that matters. We hook the sled up behind him and take rides when it snows. He’s the perfect horse for it. He doesn’t spook and when we get too rowdy and fall off, he stops on his own.

Me and Daniel want to save up to buy a handicap buggy. My sister Loretta and my cousin Steven have one. Kevin is in the process of getting his. The buggy has a lift that lifts you and the scooter into the buggy, and it makes things a lot easier! Alot of people don’t realize I have the same handicap as 3 of my siblings. I tried to hide it for a long time because I think part of me was embarrassed but not anymore. The four of us are happy and our handicaps haven’t changed that. 

The other day me and Daniel played tag with my scooter and my electric wheelchair. We accidentally rearranged the furniture in the house. Yes, we are adults, but we just aren’t as adulty as the adultier adults. Daniel likes to drive my scooter for fun and he uses it to give Brooklyn rides to put her to sleep. I want to get a sign that says “Not handicapped, just lazy” to hang on the scooter for when he drives it. One day he decided to play a “day in the life of a handicapped person” and he done everything from a scooter for a while. Don’t ask me why, he must’ve been bored. He was complaining how inconvenient it is and I had to remind him that this was optional and he didn’t have to do it. It was funny to watch him struggle while making lunch and try to park in front of a table to eat. We both had a good laugh about it.

Daniel, Brooklyn and I are going to the chiropractor today and going grocery shopping after. A friend of our family, Jodi, is taking us. Jodi’s husband was killed in the same accident as my sister Susan’s late husband Mose. It’s hard to believe that it was 5 years ago. My sympathy goes to anyone who’s lost a loved one. Grief isn’t an easy thing. 

Tomorrow Daniel and I are going to bake and decorate Christmas cookies. Or at least we are going to attempt to. I can’t imagine what his will look like but I’ll give him an A for effort. I’m just teasing, and I better stop or the next time I wake him up through the night to kill a spider he’s just going to go back to sleep. Anyways, I better set down the pencil and pick up the broom so I can get some work done today. 

God bless you all and Merry Christmas!

12 thoughts on “Daughter Lovina Pens the Column Sharing About Enjoying Family and Special Challenges”

  1. Hi Lovina! Love your filling in for your Mom today! You are one busy young lady! Love reading Mom’s writing, too, as well as your siblings filling in.
    Take care+blessings to all of you+your family. ✝️🙏🤗

  2. I’ll share some of my friend’s words because he puts feelings into words much better than I:
    “Each December 25th, we offer prayerful words, sing psalms, and give homage to the Christ Child. In our own way, we petition Him for peace on earth, goodwill toward men, and ask that He help us earn our entrance to His Father’s House. Because of our Creator’s love, we are all different, and we are all the same. Christmas is the ideal time to humbly ask the Child Jesus for an abundance of His blessings. (Tell Santa to take a break. Eat the cookies, drink the milk, and give the reindeer a break.) Jesus always comes first. With all our imperfection, weakness, transgression, and blemish, we hope to love and be loved.
    Think about it, regardless of the gift we give one another, each gift is presented with love. The most enduring, heartfelt Christmas present one can give or receive is the gift of love. Love is the only thing we’ll take with us.
    I’ll close with this:
    May the gift of each day bring you laughter, love, good health, and good fortune.
    May heaven’s angels guide you every step of the way,
    May the good Lord keep you close to Him forever,
    And may you always take time to convey your love and appreciation to all the good people who touch your life.
    Merry Christmas, Everyone!

    Koch’s Choice December 2025.

  3. Merry Christmas! I enjoyed your column. You did a great job! May the Lord bless your family. Brooklyn sounds adorable. Take care.

  4. You are an excellent writer !!!! I enjoyed this column very much. I love that you and your husband can bring out that inner child that we all have in us !!!! You do not have to adult all the time !!!! Stay playful and have fun with each other. God Bless you and your family.

  5. What a wonderful and cheery column. I had to laugh when I read about your playing tag with a scooter and wheelchair. You have such a positive attitude! You are a model for others. Thank you for sharing.

  6. I appreciate you! your beautiful inside and out with a great personality and sense of humor. My eldest daughter is 20 and her name is Brooklyn:) The chiropractor is great I have not been in awhile but probably need to go. I am a neurodivergent mom of many and my Brian wiring effects my whole nervous system. Anyway blessings to you and Yah bless!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *