Being a Lenz and all that entails?

What got me thinking was watching Jeremy and Jennifer's two littles, Kambry and Korbin interact with Jasper last night at a softball game. It was fun to watch them play, love, and help with their little cousin. The extra squeeze Korbin gave Jasper when hugging him made me smile.

Shelly Amber Lenz is my God given name and what this means is I come from large group of people that hale from Hartley, TX by way of Iowa, USA. My grandparents were born in Pomeroy, IA and moved to Texas in the 70’s. They had 12 children, one of them being my father Charles Paul Lenz, named after my Grandma’s brother. 

My Dad is the fifth oldest of the group. He loves telling us stories from his childhood in Iowa. You can hear the happiness in his voice when he recalls all the mischief he and his siblings use to get into on “the farm in Iowa.” This same mischief followed them to Hartley, TX. I remember seeing a clip from the Dalhart Texan Newspaper that announced the arrival of the Lenz family to Hartley. That may sound weird to you, but at the time the Lenz children were half the Hartley School population. Ha! That was a joke. Sort of. I honestly do not know why the Dalhart Texan felt that this was a newspaper worthy story, but the picture exists. I’ve heard many stories of “we use to do this” and “this one time,” these are not my stories to share and honestly some people reading may have been witness or accomplices to said stories. You may be shaking your head or smiling as you think back on them. Either way I suspect you won’t forget them.

At a young age I knew my family was different.

I am one of 26 grandchildren. 26!! Ages vary and to protect the innocent I shall not reveal their identities. My cousins are more like siblings. We spent most of our childhood together. These friendships as adults are the same. We enjoy each other’s company. We make a point to get together and we look forward to our children having the same cousin friendships we have. This is not something that happened by accident, we are a product of our environment.

Sunday breakfasts after church, nightly summer games of bloody murder/sardines/hide-and-seek, golf carts trips around the block, jumping on the trampoline pleading for our Dad’s to put it up on its side and let if fall so we go flying in the air. We had a rectangular trampoline, no child safety net like you see now. We survived. What is more astonishing is that we all survived a game of Spoons, things really got western when we played Spoons. Some of these memories are lost on my younger cousins as they did not exist yet, but they have special times with those their age.

Our family gatherings are an event I often think should be televised. The key is to remember it is a marathon not a sprint. I think back to the first Christmas after my Grandpa Lenz passed away. There were tables lined up in the garage and at every corner of these tables was some sort of game being played. I am not sure where the love of card games comes from, but when there is a group of Lenz’s sitting at a table someone is going to suggest a card game. I loved playing Mexican Train Dominoes or Phase 10 with my Grandpa, that old man would make me believe that he had the worst hand of his life and play the “poor Grandpa” card and whip everyone’s ass with a huge grin on his face.

All of these memories and many more are because my Dad and his brothers and sisters knew #1, the importance of family and spending time together, but #2 they enjoyed each other’s company! Things in that perspective have not changed. As I type they are about to finish up a trip on an Alaskan cruise. Every brother and sister were invited to attend and I am sure it was one heck of a time. I have no doubt they tried to fix each other’s problems, solve the world’s problems and then walk away from every conversation knowing they were right.

The “Outlaws” of the family would be the group my Mother falls in. The ones that willingly signed up to be part of the Lenz family. They are the brave ones. The ones that walked into the belly of the beast and came out the other side. I know that’s dramatic, but we as a group are overwhelming and intimidating. It’s the equivalent of being the new kid at school. You get asked personal questions, it’s loud with kids screaming and running around, some want to be your friend immediately, some ignore you completely, and all the while worrying about where you are going to sit at lunch. I tip my hat to you Outlaws.

As a grown adult, I see flaws in this wonderful family. Thank goodness, right? This rosy picture I was painting had to be too good to be true. In no way are we the example of a well-functioning, problem free tribe. There are demons to be slayed and internal battles to overcome for each and every one of us. No family is picture perfect. None, despite what FaceBook may lead you to believe.

Lenz family definition as I see it: A group of highly dysfunctional, yet loyal know-it-all’s, that stick up for their own all the while being compassionately loud with opinions, selfless when called to help and pitch in, and fierce hard workers who do not expect a free handout, but wipe the sweat from their brow after a job well done.

I’ve heard all my life “oh you’re a Lenz” and being back in Dalhart has magnified it ten-fold. It was mentioned recently (and this is not the first time) that as a Lenz I’d be able to help float a keg. It wasn’t said in a way to be degrading, more “those Lenz’s know how to have a good time” and we do. Even more recently I introduced myself to someone and he asked which Lenz I belong to and how that tied to Teddy Lenz. I explained Ted was my Grandpa and this gentleman use to run grain truck with him. I sometimes struggle with the beer guzzling comments vs. the hard working family comments. I guess we are both? The beer drinking good time folk after a hard day’s work? I have to remind myself, yes we can be both.

Being a Lenz and what it entails? I have absolutely no idea. I do know this. We accept the flaws that each one of us carries. We celebrate each other’s accomplishments. We gather to share a meal and be thankful. We forgive each other no matter the difference (it may take some longer than others). We count our blessings and each other.

As I started to type this I felt overwhelmed because it was important to me to convey my feelings correctly. Also, I didn’t want to disappoint any family that may read this post. I am still that little girl that wants to make everyone happy and do it right for the family. I cannot imagine being in any other tribe. My dysfunction is part of the grand master Lenz plan and I am very proud of that.

-Have a happy day friends.