#baker graham

"Chelsea, a word?"

"Not now, Baker, can't you see I'm working out?"

"But that is not more important than your relationship with the Watcher."

"Ugh."

"I'm concerned about you in that area. You've been making some questionable choices lately, your clothes so revealing, all the time you're spending with the other teens from school instead of at home, where your place is, wanting to spend so much money on going to university when sure you'll be a stay-at-home mother... I am concerned that you're not listening to the Watcher's teachings as you ought."

"Are you fucking kidding me?"

"The swearing, too! Chelsea, have you forgotten everything we learned about faith from our mother? She died to bring more children into the world, like the Watcher commands!"

"First of all, leave mom out of this. Because I'm pretty sure she wouldn't like all the bullshit that's coming out of your mouth. Second of all, you're not dad, you're my older brother, and just because you're four years older than I am, doesn't mean that you know what I want out of my life, or know better than I do. You've brought it up, you can pat yourself on the back now that you've done your duty, and leave me the fuck alone. I have teen things to do now that I finally don't have to be a mom, while you were off the hook because you're a boy. So don't tell me you're concerned about me now, when you didn't do a fucking thing to help me then."

From Mark Graham's Simstagram

Now that Baker knows that he'll stay in Strangerville for the foreseeable future, he's also getting more involved in our little home church. Even though he's only twenty, he's deeply committed to his faith and our church, spreading the word of the Watcher to his fellow soldiers, mentoring his siblings (especially Chelsea), and counseling the King family! I'm incredibly proud to have raised such a strong, Watcher-fearing young man who's showing all of the qualities of an excellent leader, and I'm sure that when the time comes, his wife and children will be fortunate to have such a strong, level-headed head of the family!

From Mark Graham's Simstagram

The day we've all been anxiously waiting for is here - Baker has finished his basic training and has been promoted to Private Fourth Class! We were all so nervous about losing him - the military sends its recruits where it wants, with little regard to where they want to go - but news finally came, and he'll be staying in Strangerville for the foreseeable future! I'm so relieved that even though my oldest boy is spreading his wings, he'll be doing that from the safety of his home, and he's so involved in our little home church that it would've been a shame to see him go! His superiors are very pleased with him, he has done very well in training, and even though I might be a little biased, I've never seen a finer young recruit in my life - and I've seen a lot of them!

From Daisy King's Simstagram

Big news need to be shared in person, so I invited my dear friends, the Grahams, to our trailer to tell them about the newest blessing my husband Henry and I will be welcoming into our lives soon! Mark, Baker, Chelsea, and Riker were of course happy for us, and even little Sharon who's just a toddler was looking forward to seeing the new baby! Baker even took the time to specifically pray for our new baby, isn't that wonderful? Having sweet fellowship with the Grahams has been such a joy ever since we arrived in Strangerville, and I'm so happy that we have re-connected after they had to move away from Newcrest so suddenly!

From Baker Graham's Prayer Journal

I also like spending time with my fellow recruits. They're not the most Watcher-fearing bunch, generally speaking, but they're good people, and I hope that they'll join us at the Strangerville home church eventually. They occasionally drag me along to the local bar, and while I don't really enjoy those outings (and of course, never drink), it's important to spend time with one's colleagues, especially in a tiny military town like Strangerville where everyone knows everyone.

It's a bit disconcerting though how much time Henry King spends at the bar. Nobody in my family goes here, so I hadn't realized before, but every time I'm here, he's already here. And I know he's a married man who should be a pillar of the community, and my superior to boot, but I can't help but disapprove of his habits! Why, I've had to drag him home in the middle of the night twice already, with his wife Daisy worried sick when he finally got home!

From Mark Graham's Simstagram

Life here in Strangerville goes on without the Evans family, but things are rather lonely. Reynold Evans was the heart of the Strangerville Home Church, and without him, we all feel lost and disoriented. I've never wanted to be a church leader - not even a home church leader, I've always been content to leave that to the Johnsons and Sawyers and Culvers - but Reynold was my friend and this is his legacy.

There's only two families left, us Grahams and the little King family, even though our friend Henry King is absent more often than I'd like on Sundays. My oldest son Baker has been trying to get some of the other recruits who are with him in basic training to join us for church and bible study, but he's had no luck so far, and I really miss our sweet fellowship with the Evans! They supported us so much when we came to Strangerville sad and grieving, but now it is our turn to be supportive, both to them from afar and to the other families here in Strangerville!

"So dad... I've thought about it and I've prayed about it and I think I want to enlist in the military after I'm done with school, the way you did."

"I'm sure you'll do well! Maybe you'll even outrank me one day, become an officer!"

"Outrank you? Never!"

"Don't be so sure, I'm just a lowly Warrant Officer, after all! But seriously... I'm proud of you, son. I've really seen you grow since your mother died, and I'm sure she's proud of you, too."

"Thank you, dad. I really... that really means a lot to me, you saying that. Especially about mom. I miss her so much."

From Mark Graham's Simstagram

It was Baker's birthday - he's a young adult now, and I couldn't be prouder of my oldest son! We had a little family celebration with a cake I baked for him (that turned out surprisingly well), and he called all his friends in Newcrest who couldn't come but would've loved to be there!

But the most important news is that he is a military man like I am now! He's started basic training and is doing so well, I couldn't be any prouder of him. Of course, we don't know where he'll be sent when he is done with basic, because that is how things are with the military, but our hope is that he can stay right here in Strangerville with us!