Dear family and friends,
Happy
Holidays! I apologize in advance if this letter doesn’t make sense, it is my
first time writing anything. I’m only 7 months old and I just moved indoors
recently. I’m one of five kittens born on April 29th. Then my Mom
had 4 more kittens 4 months later. Ben and Reagan seem really annoyed by all of
us kittens but the kids, my friends, seem to love us and play with us every
day. I love them! Let me tell you about this family that has given me a home
this year….
Jackson: He’s the oldest. Still not a
teenager, but the oldest. He is 8th grade and is taking 3 high
school credit courses. He did cross country again this season running a
personal best several times. He also did basketball and track throughout the
year. He is really into the NBA and his favorite team is the Celtics. I guess
they are good this year. His Bears, Hawkeyes, and Royals….not so good. Jackson
loves to help his siblings and loves to create things on the computer like his
own jersey and shoe designs and whatever else he can think of. He does NOT like
me sleeping with him and playing with his toes. He keeps his door closed.
Abby: This one…..this one is non-stop. A good
example is how she just received her 6th grade math book (despite
being in 5th grade) and was told to “look through it a little”. She
spent the first part of Thanksgiving doing problems from the first 5-10 pages.
And loved it! She loves to learn and loves school and her friends. She also
started volleyball this year and it almost replaced softball as her main love.
Her softball team had a phenomenal season and Abby did something a little
crazy….she switched to the left-side to bat. Her coaches say this had to happen
because she is fast as lightning. It worked as one tournament she got up to bat
14 times and got on base 14 times. And she was never caught stealing all
summer/fall. Abby is a leader and loves to keep the little kids busy. And me
busy too. And her parents!
Quinn: If you thought I was crazy and
playful, you should meet Quinn. He turned 7 this summer, but already posts his
own videos to Youtube. He is quite the actor and has a natural sense of humor.
He has really started to love to read and is doing basketball again this winter
after playing baseball this summer. His favorite things are his brother, his
neighbor friends, the IPad, and being full of drama. Some say the middle child
gets ignored (I can’t relate b/c I was the runt and almost died but I got
bottle-fed and hourly attention by this crew to keep me alive and growing!),
but Quinn does not let anyone ignore him. He is a boy of 1000 expressions and
seems to have a new one each day. He loves school and loves animals and loves
me….a little too much at times!
Sullivan:
Sully is five now and has started all-day school by being in Kindergarten. This
means he gets to join his Dad each morning in his office for breakfast. This
means his father gets to clean up after 4 kids each morning before he meets
with dozens of middle school kids. He does not seem to enjoy this family time!
Sully is learning to read and loves to do math. He follows his brother
everywhere he goes and if they aren’t laughing, they are arguing. His parents
continue to say that his blue eyes, dimples, and Hanks hair are going to drive
the ladies nuts someday. I sort of get this because he drives me nuts somedays.
And I think he does this to his parents too. But no one can resist his smile….
Claire:
She’s the “runt” of the family just like me! But I guess this is because she is
much younger than the others, unlike me. She is playful like me and runs around
the house whenever she is home. Her “2nd home” is Courtney’s when
she goes to daycare each day while her litter-mates go to school. She is
getting to be one of the older kids at daycare and loves to be a helper and a
“Mom” to the babies that Courtney takes care of. Claire has developed quite a
sense of humor and may be the smartest Barry yet as she can already count to 20
and she is only 3 years old! She is ready to start preschool next year and
wants to be just like the older kids. She loves me and loves all the cats. She
talks about how “cute” we are all the time. Her parents say how cute she is all
the time too, so I think that is where she gets it. But it really depends on
her hair as she can definitely have some bad hair days! Someone needs to lick
her hair down!
Now,
time for the Mom and Dad of this odd litter. Reagan is the mother and the
leader. She does everything from working a full time schedule caring for people
to making dinner to fixing a toilet to painting the house to building a wall.
She is crazy good at most everything she does. She helped get a lot of repairs
done around the house as they say they hope to move next year. Not sure if I
get to go to, but I hope so! Reagan works at Unity Point in Indianola and
continues to love the people she works with, her patients, and the short travel
to work. She is very caring and loving to all, including me. About the only
thing she wasn’t able to do was catch my mom to get her fixed. So, I may have
more siblings again soon! As for the Dad, Ben, he continues to be an odd Tom
Cat. He is at school a lot where he works as a school counselor. Much like a
Tom Cat, he is around really only first thing in the morning and late in the
evening. He is in charge of getting the 5 kids to practice, games, and
religious education. He seems to be happy and had a big birthday this past
year, #40. He went to Las Vegas with Reagan and his brothers. Not sure what
happened there, because I guess that information stays there. He hates me saying
this, but he was honored this year with the Iowa Middle School Counselor of the
Year award. He says this isn’t a big deal, but it sounds like it is. I have
heard him say that this award is really for the whole counseling team and
teachers as he is blessed to work with so many caring adults. But he doesn’t
get a big head, because his fantasy teams are still crappy, he lost his money
in Vegas, and hit a deer a few weeks ago….so he stays humble. Most of the time.
This
family is quite a family. They are so busy and so much fun. A lot of laughing
happens in this house and it is always filled with joy. And even though this is
my first Christmas, I listen a lot and I have learned what this season is all
about: JOY. My short life story is a little similar to Jesus and his story. I
was born in not the best location and had 5 or 7 “Wisemen” greet me and bring
me gifts. I was meek and humble and thought not to live, but I had people come
to me and help where they could. In return, I gave them love and joy. And they
eventually took me into their home and hearts and allowed joy and love to be
exchanged back and forth. I am a part of their life and they are a part of
mine. Jesus birth, life, and death is all about taking Him into your life and
home and spreading joy and love to all. That to me is what Christmas is all
about. Not just taking in Jesus for yourself, but spreading his love and joy
around to others, especially those in need. I try to do that and many animals
try to do that. Probably why cat videos are still the most watched videos on
Youtube! So, take time this Christmas to truly spread joy and love and keep it
going in 2018. Our world can always use more joy and love. Happy Holidays to
everyone and may it be joy and love-filled!
Merry Christmas and God Bless this Holiday season!
The Barrys (Ben, Reagan, Jackson, Abigail, Quinn,
Sullivan, Claire) and so many cats and kittens that just keep showing up. No
dog as Avus passed away on the final day of the 2016-17 school year. She was an
amazing and loving dog that our kids and our family will never forget.
10980 Cleveland Trail, Norwalk, IA 50211, 515-480-3939
(R) or 515-306-1415 (B)
