From the Home Place

November 26, 2025

Well, that beautiful fall has come to an end. It’s 11 degrees at 4:30 this morning. Breezy, snow flurries, and 37 for a high today. I sure wish I had a wood stove!

I’m just a little excited this morning, my “adopted” little brother should be here tomorrow about one o’clock in the afternoon. Jowell isn’t really any blood relative; he’s just the guy that I adopted as my little brother way back when. We have known each other for fourteen years now, but our hearts are so welded together that you would think we grew up together.

Seldom do two men have so much in common: We both have a beautiful wife who has been our girlfriend for years and years; we both enjoy hunting and fishing; we both have the same work ethic; we both have great children and amazing grandchildren; we both are elk-aholics!

The only problem is that we live over seven-hours apart. As such, Jowell is going to make the long drive to Lusk so that we can spend time together, hopefully hunting elk! If all works well, we are planning on finding a little puddle of elk so that we can both harvest a cow. As of right now it looks like we are headed sixty-plus miles to the north-west of here, pitching a tent and both of us learning to breathe again.

By breathing again, I mean that we have both had a very busy year up to now, and we just need to spend some time together, allowing our hearts to speak to each other, enjoying time in nature and sharing plenty of laughs. We always find plenty to laugh about when we are together. I’ve always said that a person’s best friends are those that you have shared two emotions with: you have laughed together, and you have cried together, we have done plenty of both!

I’m fourteen years the senior, and so much wiser (cough, cough), so it’s always up to me to find us a spot to spend time together. This time we will be way out in the middle of nowhere Wyoming, during the coldest weather we have had so far this winter, dodging snowflakes, eating sandwiches and cold meals, trying to stay somewhat warm, and just plain enjoying life together.

I guess you could say we are much like David and Jonathan from the Bible. In 1 Samuel 18:3 we read, “Then Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself.” Though they were not really related, their hearts were fully connected! Do you have such a person in your life? Stats tell us that most women have 2-3 such women in their lives, while men have less than 1.5 soul mates. I am so blessed to know several men who I would consider fill the “.5” space in my life , but I know exactly who is my “1”.

Like David and Jonathan, Jowell and I both love the Lord Jesus, so we will spend plenty of time in prayer and chewing on the Scriptures. We will tap into the wisdom each man possesses and talk about our struggles and about our joys. For four days, we will once again share life together.

So again, I ask you, who is it that is so special to you that your heart aches when you are far apart? Who is it that laughs and cries with you? Who is it that causes your heart to leap with joy when you do get to be around them? Who is your “adopted” sibling? Don’t you reckon it’s about time that you tell them so?

Perhaps this Thanksgiving week would be a good time for a long phone call? Tell that person of their value in your life, laugh with them, and yes if needed, cry with them. Allow God to reenergize that special connection!

Spending time with my “adopted” sibling with you, Neal