Janet's Blog

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 ...

From the rising of the sun to its setting,  the name of the Lord is to be praised.  Psalm 113:3 Scotts Bluff was spectacular tonight as the haloed, golden sun set in the west, in the midst of a blushing sky. The cloudless sky had been hazy all day, because the prevailing west winds nudged the smoke from the Colorado fires into western Nebraska's atmosphere.  When I'm outside, enjoying God's creation, it's easy to forget that our world is still in the grips of turmoil. In the last few months, we have experienced numerous pandemic restrictions, and some of us have contracted Covid, or even lost a loved one due to this new Corona virus. Small businesses are struggling; a significant number of workers have lost their jobs. Schools have been disrupted, forcing teachers and students to find different ways to teach and learn. Travel has been drastically curtailed. Social distancing has become the new norm. Over 50% of Nebraska is in the grips of a serious drought, threatening ...

We like to think that we are civilized people, here in the US in the 21st century. For the most part, we have been living busy, predictable lives. We work hard, and we play harder. Until just a few months ago, every minute of nearly every day has been scheduled, and we have been stressed by our ceaseless and, in our opinion, decidedly worthwhile activities. Now, our stress is caused by something different: the uncertainty of these unexpected, unparalleled times. So many things have changed in just a short time: our job and school situations, our limited ability to travel or gather freely, our inability to seek services and products we once took for granted, and our sense of freedom and personal safety. Was it really only four months ago that our biggest concerns revolved around our families' activities and favorite sports teams?  Now, we have been coerced to stay close to home and cooperate with new rules that have been totally foreign for most of us, until now. We don't like t...

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...

Here we are at home, socially isolated to prevent the spread of COVID-19, that new coronavirus that suddenly appeared in China a couple of months ago. Never in my lifetime have I ever experienced this kind of reaction to a virus. It seems as though the whole world is quarantined.  Except for Levi's therapy and an occasional trip to the grocery store, we are staying home most of the time this week, and into the near future. We are not really quarantined, since none of us are sick, but the kids and I are isolating ourselves at home to help prevent the spread of this new, nasty virus. Bill is going to work as usual, with some recently added COVID-19 protocol, in an effort to provided essential TV and internet services to the homebound people who need it now, more than ever.  Yesterday, when I took Levi to the hospital for his appointment, we had to don face masks because I drove to an appointment in Fort Collins last week; since then, at least one health care worker the...