Janet's Blog

It had been years--decades, really--since I last worked on a paint by number project. I hadn't planned to do one now, but I wanted inexpensive turtle artwork, in just the right colors, for my updated primary bathroom. I checked on Amazon, and found that the artwork I liked the best was more than $200. I didn't want to spend that much on a bathroom turtle, no matter how much I liked it, but the less expensive options were too small for my space, or too subdued, or just plain ugly. Then, I came across a paint by number option that I truly loved. I thought about it for a few days. I could have painted my own turtle without much difficulty but, during the holiday season, that would have required more brain power than I had left after shopping, making travel plans, and organizing a myriad of activities, including our 50th anniversary celebration. So, I decided to try this paint by number. Almost done I ordered the kit from Amazon, and waited impatiently for it to arrive. I opened it...

For many people, Memorial Day is just a day for family gatherings or camping, or maybe a free day to catch up with yard work. Some people make the rounds of area cemeteries where loved ones have been laid to rest. Others may attend a special Memorial Day Observance to remember all US military members who have fallen in battle. I've done all of these, at one time or another. This Memorial Day will be different for me, though, because my Dad's death and burial are still very recent. When she was presented with the American flag at the end of Dad's graveside service on May 5th, Mom thanked the officer.   Dad was an Army veteran, stationed mostly at Fort Benning, Georgia, during the Korean War. He was active in his local American Legion, even serving as commander at one time. He always participated in the Memorial Day service at the Fairbury Cemetery. Not too many years ago, we were privileged to attend a Memorial Day service in Fairbury. Dad took part in Fairbury's Memoria...

A few days ago, Bill handed me a red box of chocolate covered cherries, wished me an early "Happy Valentine's Day," and pointed out that they were dark chocolate. Bill knows I've loved chocolate covered cherries ever since my grandpa started sharing his with me. You see, Grandpa was a rural letter carrier at a time when his patrons always left  small Christmas gifts in their mailboxes for their letter carrier. Since chocolate covered cherries were consistently available at Christmas time, and relatively cheap besides, Grandpa invariably ended up with several boxes. While he appreciated the thoughtfulness behind the gifts, he really didn't like chocolate covered cherries at all. So, his three grandkids benefited from his unappreciated windfall. Today, as I stumbled into the kitchen to take my morning meds, Bill handed me a large red gift bag with a shiny red bow on it. Once again, he uttered those appropriate words, "Happy Valentine's Day!" I thought...

For a child is born to us, a son is given to us... And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. It's December, the beginning of "birthday season" for our family. Two December birthdays down--Will and Evie--and four January birthdays to go--Ruthie, Lydia, Erin, and Tobin. But this week, we are focusing on that one birthday that changed the world--the birth of Jesus, our Savior. The house is (mostly) clean, the trees are decorated, the nativity scenes are in place, the shopping is done, and the gifts are wrapped. Now, we wait for Erin's family to arrive from Wisconsin, for Christmas Eve practice to commence, for cookies to be baked. And then, the celebration will begin! As we wait, it's a good time to reflect on the past year, which has been another hard one, in many ways. But it has brought us many blessings, as well. Levi, a senior this year, has put forth a lot of effort, and is on the honor roll for this semester. H...

No doubt about it, 2020 was a year to remember--and, for many of us, a year we would rather forget. We were broadsided with the sudden pandemic and all of the restrictions that have come with it. At the beginning of the year, we were hoping to see more clearly, with 20/20 vision, as prompted by the year itself. Then, when we began to see some things much more clearly than we expected, it was natural for us to long for better days and, in fact, a better year.  No one expected so many instantaneous rules: Wear your mask; stay 6 feet apart; stay home; stay away from other people; don't go out to eat;  disinfect all surfaces, but don't hoard toilet paper and cleaning supplies; wash your hands; don't touch your face; stay away from funerals and weddings; get your vaccination. In a year when we were hoping for clearer vision, we got to see our innate selfishness and lack of concern for others, our "my way or the highway" mentalities. Unfortunately, 2020 showed us the s...

It seems like such a long time ago, when the celebration of Christmas was new to me, and so exciting, and sparkly, and holy. And yet, in some ways, it just seems like a short time ago, when I posed in my red velveteen skirt in front of Grandma's tinsel-covered Christmas tree in Bloomfield, my newest doll in one arm, with my other hand resting possessively on the handlebars of my new (to me), light blue tricycle. Little Danny had something new to ride, too, a rocking horse, possibly made by Grandpa in his basement workshop. His left hand was poised on the horse, ready to ride into the sunset, sixgun pointing at some invisible villain. He was even dressed for the job, just like every other little boy who lived in the late 1950's. This is the only Christmas picture I have from my childhood. Black and white photos, like this one, were only taken on special occasions and, even then, we weren't guaranteed a good picture, since we had to wait and see what developed, weeks later, w...

It was just a year ago when I flew to Wisconsin to welcome WilliamTyler to the world. He weighed four and a half pounds the last time I held him. I never dreamed that a whole year would go by without another chance to hold him again. Will doesn't look so tiny in this picture. Closeups can be deceiving . But when his Mom, Erin, held him, his size--or lack of it--was evident. I'm not alone. Social distancing has wreaked havoc with in-person relationships for almost everyone. Often, we speak to other people through our masks, from six feet away. Or, we rely on modern technology to communicate through Facetime and Zoom.  I have been so thankful for the ability to use Zoom for Levi's parent/teacher conferences and my grandkids' piano and dance recitals, and even for worship services last spring. I get to Facetime with Erin and Will regularly, so I can see how he is growing, and listen to him talk, and observe his wobbly walking. I would have loved to wish Will a "Happy ...

When life seems dreary, extra lighting helps. On an overcast day, we turn on extra lights in the house, and light the fireplace. During a tedious year, like this one has been, colorful Christmas lights have the potential to lift spirits. When I was a little girl, it was great fun to climb into the car just to look at the Christmas lights as Dad toured the town. Back then, lights were vibrant blue or brilliant red, or multicolored, twinkling strings that vied for our attention. The best displays were those that covered the eaves and every tree in someone's snowy yard, or even a whole neighborhood. Some yards boasted spotlighted, wooden cutouts of Santa and his sleigh, or intricately painted nativity scenes, but there was no front yard animation then, no accompanying music, and no oversized, blow-up figures.  This year, the Christmas lights in my neighborhood have been amazing! In their efforts to counteract the dullness of our current Covid season, many of my neighbors put up their ...

My four local grandkids ate lunch with me on Tuesday, as they usually do while their mother, Meagan, is working at the church. After I put all the fixings for tacos on the table, I encouraged everyone to wash their hands before sitting down at the table. Since Levi didn't have school this week, he joined us for lunch, too. When I asked for a volunteer to say the prayer, two-year-old Ari waved both hands in the air while grinning from ear to ear, and shouting, "Me!" As everyone else bowed their heads, Ari folded his hands, bowed his own head, squeezed his eyes shut, and said these words, very clearly: "Thank you for this food. Amen." Then he opened his eyes and beamed at everyone gathered around the table. This Thanksgiving is going to be very hard for many people. We are missing loved ones who usually join us for dinner. Some of us are sick with Covid, or still recovering, or concerned about friends and loved ones who are sick or even in the hospital. Some of us...

It's been 50 years since the first Earth Day burst onto the scene. 50 years! I remember the first one, because all of the students at Fairbury High School were allowed to wear jeans to school that day (!) and we were dismissed for the afternoon, assigned in groups of three or four to pick up trash in a particular part of town. I was with two or three other Freshman girls, working along Highway 136, just a couple of blocks from where my folks live now. It was a gorgeous, sunny, spring day, a perfect day to walk and talk to our friends as we worked, interrupted only when a passing motorist stopped to ask for directions to Highway 72. (As I recall, Carla, the most outgoing one of our group, informed him that we had no idea where to find Highway 72, since none of us were old enough to drive.) The trash we picked up that day was a little different from the trash I pick up when I walk in Gering now, five decades later. There were plenty of candy wrappers then, and way too many ciga...

I love Easter, and everything it brings. I love dying Easter Eggs with my grandkids. I love to watch them find hidden eggs outdoors on Easter morning, or inside when the weather doesn't cooperate. I love gathering with our extended family to celebrate with an elaborate meal and fancy china. I really love gathering with my church family to worship together, to celebrate Jesus' resurrection. I love to hear the sound of a full congregation, lifting voices together in harmonious praise of our glorious God, who took our punishment, and then rose again on the day we commemorate as Easter Sunday. None of those things will happen this year. Because of our COVID-19 social distancing guidlines, we will be forced to celebrate Easter differently than we ever have before. Levi, Victoria, and I may dye a few eggs, if they want to. We plan to hide some candy-filled eggs in our yard on Friday, before the predicted snow arrives this weekend, and watch from a safe distance while the grandki...

It’s December again-- time to celebrate the birth of a Baby, Jesus, who came to Earth so long ago to save us all from our sins. I was blessed to be in Wisconsin for a few days, staying with Erin and Reed, and another new baby, William (Will) Langdon Tyler, who made his appearance a little early, on December 7. He was just 18 inches long, and 4 pounds 14 ounces, when he was born, but he is strong and healthy. Erin will be able to stay home with him for the next semester and summer, while she teaches just two online courses for the University of Wisconsin, Whitewater, and continues to teach piano lessons at home. Reed has some paternity leave from his job at Edgewater College, so he is able to be home, too, with Erin and the  baby. It has been a year of blessings for our whole family. Meagan and Andy are doing a great job of raising their four kids. The three oldest are excelling with their homeschooling studies, and little Ari just enjoys life, exploring anythi...