Janet's Blog

I have been blessed to have six aunts; my dad's three sisters, his two brothers' wives, and my mom's only sister, Aunt Ellen.  All have been an important part of my entire life, to some degree or another. Aunt Ellen is gone now, after an extended illness and a brief stint in a much-hated nursing home.  Since she never married, she was always present for every holiday and family celebration.  For that reason, I may have known her a little better than some of my other aunts. Aunt Ellen was my godmother when I was baptized at the age of three months. When I was three or four, Ellen painted my fingernails pink.  When I was a little older, she often transported Dan and Laura and me from Grandma's and Grandpa's house in Bloomfield, back to Lincoln, where Mom and Dad picked us up and took us the rest of the way home to Fairbury.  She always attended our Christmas programs.  She played cards and Scrabble with us, bought pearls for Laura and me, and ga...

Forty years ago, Mom was graduating from Concordia Teachers College with a degree in Elementary Education. Bill was graduating from Milford with an associate's degree in Electronic Engineering. And, we were all in the midst of last minute preparations for a wedding. Christmas festivities became somewhat incidental that year. Finals were our first priorities, then wedding activities kicked into high gear. Grandma Vawser and Aunt Marilyn pitched in to sew Laura's candlelighter's dress that cloudy afternoon.  Mom just hadn't had time until then.  Bill and I ignored the custom that the bride and groom should not see each other on the day of the wedding until the bride walked down the aisle.  We ran a few errands together throughout the day, and greeted out of town guests as they arrived at the house. Bill and I didn't stop to think that our future anniversary celebrations would forever be overshadowed by Christmas.  We were thrilled that the church was beautifu...