The Event ~ The Loss of an Artist Friend

Audrey Towater, 86, who spent more than 30 years painting scenes of real life including school classrooms, government, businesses and sporting events, died April 13.

I got to know Audrey quite well during  the 13 years I worked at the Chamber of Commerce.  She and I shared lunch several times, and she invited me to special art events in her home. 

In 1993 she painted our family portrait around my infamous dining room table.  She also gave one of her unique paintings to Alexis for her high school graduation.   Her eye for detail and faces was incredible as she enjoyed painting crowds of faces in real life settings.  She painted with her fingers, and to this day I remain amazed at how she could create such detail with her fingers! 

Audrey was  unique and somewhat excentric, but all who knew her knew she was kind, giving and repsected in the community.   I was blessed to call her my friend. 

By the 1980s she was well known both locally and nationally. Her pieces are part of private collections at the University of Nebraska, the Nebraska State Capitol, the Capitol Archives of the United States, the Denver Broncos Coaches Building in Denver, the U.S. Olympic Headquarters in Colorado Springs, the New York Stock Exchange and Cheyenne Frontier Days Museum in Cheyenne, Wyo., to name a few.

Towater was recognized for her art and had her work featured in many newspapers, magazines and advertisements.  Her piece titled “A Nation in Shock,” which followed the assassination attempt of Ronald Reagan, is now displayed in the Ronald Reagan Library in Simi Valley, California.  Towater was painting for Congresswoman Virginia Smith in Washington, D.C., in one of the hearing rooms, and went in early to begin painting the background before anyone had arrived.

She was waiting for the members to arrive.  Then  president was shot, so no member ever arrived that day. So she packed up with an incomplete painting, went back to Nebraska, ended up giving the painting to the president.”  The piece about that fateful day showed the Capitol building through a window of a room containing nothing but empty black chairs.

She was a very unique artist.  Her vibrance in her life and in her artwork probably most accurately reflects who she was.
She will be missed. 

The Event - Easter

Easter is a joyous celebration in the lives of Christian believers.   A celebration of the life of our Lord and Savior.  Like other Christian holidays, it has rapidly gotten lost in the commercialism for retail to harvest big bucks from the consumer.  It won't surprise me if  certain movements will  insist on taking the cross out of Easter as they have already insisted on removing the nativity from Christmas, prayer from schools, the 10 Commandments from public display.  

On Easter Sunday, Christians celebrate the resurrection of the Lord, Jesus Christ.  Jesus came back to life, or was raised from the dead, three days after his death on the cross. As part of the Easter season, the death of Jesus Christ by crusifixion is commemorated on Good Friday,  always the Friday just before Easter. Through his death, burial, and resurrection, Jesus paid the penalty for sin, thus purchasing for all who believe in him, eternal life in Christ Jesus.

The biblical account of Jesus' death on the cross,  his burial and his resurrection or raising from the dead, can be found in the pages of the Bible in Matthew 27:27-28:8; Mark 15:16-16:19; Luke 23:26-24:35; and John 19:16-20:30.

As a family, we have always attended a sunrise service, usually at 6 or 7 a.m.,  shared breakfast with our church family in the church fellowship hall, and shared the rest of the day with family over a ham dinner.  This year will be no different.  

However, on Saturday we will enjoy the opportunity to attend "The Thorn"  with Cash and Annie.  This is a  dramatic portrayal of the passion of Jesus featuring live dance, music, acrobatics and special effects  A very huge and dynamic presentation.in Denver. 

Picture taken from cruise ship in February.  What an awesome God we serve!
  

My prayer is that all of my family and friends will know the joy of Easter in their heart, soul and mind.

The Event ~ Meal Time at Janel's

In early March Tim and I made another trip to Eagle, NE where Janel and Tim live with their seven robust children ~ my seven robust grandchildren.  ROBUST:  having or exibiting strength or vigorous health; rough; strongly formed.   Yep, robust is a good word to describe them.  The occasion was Joshua's confirmation.  It was good to be there and share this special day with him.

But there is something about going to Janel's house that ~ despite the hectic activity and anything but calming ~ is a feel of a healthy heartwarming home filled with love, exuberance and cherished family time.  Specifically:  meal time.  Amidst all the activity Janel releases her stress in the kitchen.  She is a darn good cook and her children and her husband know it, love it, enjoy it.  High on her priority list is sit down together family meals ~ whether it be breakfast, snacks, lunch or dinner.  It is together time. 

Even on school days, the children and mom and dad are at the breakfast table together.  Dinner is family time.  This is an experience that is nearly becoming a lost art in homes across the country.  But it is kept alive in the Andreasen home. 

Another practice in the Andreasen house is the red "You are Special" plate or the white "Celebrate" plate.  These plates are only used on special occasions only by the special celebrant.  Breakfast in bed is served on it every morning an Andreasen celebrates a birthday ~ child or mom or dad.  It gets used for birthday dinners, confirmations, first communions, and other days that are found to be special in the lives of one  of the Andreasens.  Certainly a tradition that will be a cherished memory as these children grow up and start traditions in their own homes.

Janel has a special way of making a special day very special in the lives of her children.  And she has a special way of making meal time a family time. 

She doesn't cut any corners when cooking for her family.  Eating at her house is an event ~ a very filling event!

The Event ~ Going Gently Through the Years

Years and years ago I heard a song sung at an anniversary celebration in our church in Bayard.  The song just spoke to me with its words ~ the message was so simple.   I have kept a copy of that song in my Bible ever since. 

I requested the song be sung at the confirmations of my daughter Alexis and my son Cash; again in church on graduation day for each of them.  All the grandchildren and great grandchildren that were present at my parents 50th wedding anniversary sang it together to them (after a quick 15 minute practice).    Actually, we didn't do a very good job, but it was the thought that counts.   It's a song I request to be sung at my own funeral - take note kids!

The song is titled "Go Gently Through the Years".  Now as I am writing this, I see the words and music are written by a lady whose last name is Rutledge.  Is this a coincidence or what???  Cash will be marrying a Rutledge  in two months!  The person who sang it at the above confirmations and graduations will also be singing at their wedding. 

1.  Go gently through the years, but go with strength.  Don't be ashamed of tears, of anger or of fears.  For they'r a part of you and you're alive.
2.  Go firmly through the night, but go in peace.  Know for yourself what's right, keep all your goals in sight.  For they're a part of you and you're alive.
3.  Walk bravely through each day, and go with God.  Show that you know the way, in things you do and say.  For they're a part of you and you're alive.
4.  Walk daily with your Lord, and walk in faith.  Meet Him in prayer each day, and He'll show you the way.  For He's a part of you and love you so.

The melody and the words are close to my heart and speak a truth that should be lived daily.  Blessings!

The Event - In Your New Home

I was rearranging the basement last weekend trying to get things back in order since the basement remodel job completed a month ago.  In the process, I bought two new heavy duty shelving units to help organize the stuff we need to keep in storage - like suitcases, ice cream maker, canning kettle, extra blankets, paint supplies, Christmas decor totes, etc. 

I came across a box of paraphernalia I still need to keep and go through - children's object lessons from my days as Sunday School Superintendent dating as far back as the late 70's and 80's when we still lived in Bayard and used again as Superintendent at Emmanuel Church in Scottsbluff. 

Anyway, on the top of all that stuff was a guest book and a card ~ from the  party Tim's parents hosted for us when we made that difficult move off the farm to the little house in the city (Scottsbluff).  They surprised us with a "we wish you well as you leave the farm and enter a new phase in your life" party.  The date was November 9, 1986.  They even had napkins printed for the occasion.

The napkins were imprinted with "I AM THE LORD, YOUR REDEEMER WHO LEADS YOU IN THE WAY YOU SHOULD GO."  Isaiah 48:17  followed by  "Best Wishes for the Strickers   November 9, 1986" 

Then the guest book held signatures of those present.  It brought tears to my eyes to remember back to that time, and the people who were so dear to us and cared enough to share with us in this traumatic relocation.  And then to realize that several of the people whose signatures appeared are no longer living here on earth.

The card also spoke to me, so much so, that I can't bring myself to toss it even now. 

A Wish for you in Your New Home
Every home where love abides and friendship is a guest
Is surely home sweet home and there the heart can rest.
May your new home be blessed with laughter and love
And all of the hppiness you're dreaming of.
May it always be filled with contentment and rest
And may friendship be always a favorite guest.

Best wishes from your friends in Bayard

This verse can apply to my home regardless whether it is old or new, regardless how long we have lived in a home.  It should apply to every home everywhere, but, alas, it doesn't.  But I can claim this message and again thank my friends for being a part of it ~ back then in 1986 and today as well.

This is but a small glance at a very cherished event in my history book.  This needed to be preserved in my blog book.

The Event ~ The Caribbean Cruise

The long-anticipated cruise that I surprised Tim with was awesome.  We thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it.  We met some wonderful friends, the weather was great, the food fantastic, the fellowship amazing, the snorkeling awesome, the beaches relaxing.

This is the ship tendered at CocoCay Island.  We took tender boats the short distance to the island.  The other two islands we stopped at we docked.

I loved snorkeling.  What a magnificent underwater world!

                    Tim and I enjoyed riding the tidal waves several hundred feet out from the beach.

Sharing the breakfast table with new and different friends every day always provided good fellowship.

We enjoyed relaxing on the beaches and on the deck.  I think I enjoyed the sunbathing more than Tim.

I enjoyed the peach and rum drinks served on the decks.

I was just gutsy enough to try surfing the wave on the top deck of the ship.  Twice, in fact.  I don't think there were too many 61 year old grandma's that did this!  Both pictures below are me on the wave!

The dining rooms were magnificent!

The views from the islands were picturesque

The coffee was always on ~ along with the cookies, chocolate brownies,

ice cream, rum squares, pizza, sandwiches, decadent desserts, and lots more. . . .

This was between meals!

The staff on ship were delightful, pleasant and lots of fun.  We had the same waiter each nite and shared the dinner table with the same people.  Pictured below are new friends Jolie and Arthur Huntington from Maryland, our waiter  ~ Marcos, and Jack who also shared our table. 

Almost every staff person we met freely shared their faith in Jesus, and were very excited to have our Christian group of about 300 on board.  They talked very openly about their faith once they knew we were Christians.   What a blessing to visit with them. 

We met life friends Jack and Lori Gould and bonded with them and just hung out together alot.  We met them on Sunday morning before the cruise when Jack asked to share our breakfast table in the complimentary but crowded breakfast area of the hotel.  By the time breakfast was over, we had already shared so much and found so much in common.  We enjoyed their company and they just added to the pleasure of our cruise.    They are from Ontario, Canada, and we are already planning to see them again someday.  They are an awesome couple that we had so much fun with. 

Lori and I enjoying the crystal clear waters of the Caribbean Sea.

What was most amazing and a highlight of the entire cruise were the magnificent sunrises and sunsets.  Tim and I got up early enough on several mornings just to walk around the deck and enjoy the amazing sunrise.  In the evening we would gather on the deck again to watch the sunset dip below the sea. 

The sunrise and the sunset is an event that only the hand of our awesome God can place upon the horizon.

We enjoyed a few seminars from Christian speakers as part of our Christian Couples of Promise group.  We listened to Kevin Lehman, who wrote "The Birth Order Book";  Phil Calloway, a Christian comedian; and Steve Green, a contemporary Christian singer.  Sharing that time of inspiration with 300 other cruisers was also a highlight of the trip.  We were able to share prayer together at every meal, which one usually doesn't do with strangers on a vacation.  But our new friends were not strangers ~  they were friends and brothers and sisters in Christ.

Yes, it was a wonderful way to celebrate reaching the milestone of our 40th anniversary!  Thank you, God, my family, my husband for 40 years of a blessed marriage!

The Event ~ The Holy Land

We arrived in cloudy Orlando, Florida on Thursday,  February 10. On Friday, we went to "The Holy Land Experience."   We spent seven hours enjoying the dramatization of Jerusalem, biblical stories, the Crucifixion and raising of Jesus, the "Scriptorium" which was a museum of the history of the Bible from its very beginning.  Quite interesting, as the real documents were there, fragments from the earliest words inscribed on papyrus paper and rock, down through the volumes of the many transcriptions through the ages. 

It was a very relaxing and inspirational day, and reminded us again that Christ died  a horrific death for us, that we might live eternally in heaven.  

We entered the empty tomb where the sign reads "He is not here ~ He is risen"   Indeed, Christ has risen and will come again to gather all His believers to join him in heaven someday.

We enjoyed a communion with "Jesus" around the table with many other people, a trip back to the Ark of the Covenant during the days of Moses, and many other Biblical dramatizations.  It was a very rewarding event and inspirational day and a place we would recommend to anyone to take time to visit.

The Event ~ Circle Tour

Here we are in cloudy, cold southern Florida, anticipating setting sail tomarrow for the Caribbean.  We have a rental car for a couple days, equipped with GPS, THANK GOD!  However, even GPS doesn't eliminate the inevitable "Circle Tour"!    Only my kids will understand that!

The "Circle Tour" is something we always do, unplanned, of course, when Tim is driving in a foreign place.  The earliest "Circle Tour" I can remember was December 1981 going through Baton Rouge, Louisiana, going down a one-way street the wrong way, getting lost, circling around, and ending up where we started before finding our way again.  I'm sure there must have been earlier "Circle Tours" prior to that, especially since we were driving in foreign California on our honeymoon! 

However, the "Circle Tour" has since become a sore spot with Tim, but he still does it anyway.  I thought he was finally learning to take my ribbing in jest,  but last night he threatened to throw me overboard from ship if I blogged about this event!

Last nite driving back to the hotel from Al Capone's dinner theatre at 10:30 p.m., he mis-communicated with the GPS and suddenly did a two-wheelie into a strip-mall parking lot thinking that was his next turn!  I thought he was going to roll the car!  So after a pleasant circle tour of the parking lot and around McDonald's drive-thru, we did get back on track.  Tim seems to be infatuated with parking lots as we somehow "Circle Tour" in and out of those on almost every foreign excursion!

I laughed so hard as I chanted "circle tour, circle tour".  Then last night in bed, I just started laughing out loud.  He asked what was so funny.  I said "your circle tour".  I got into one of those laughing spells that I couldn't quit, and he sort of laughed too!  But that's when he threatened to throw me overboard ~when I said I was going to blog about the event! 

By the way, that was his second circle tour of the day.  I think now he may finally have GPS figured out.  But today we are headed up north about 60 miles, so can we go a day in foreign territory without the infamous circle tour?  Hm-m-m-m!  Stay tuned!    Yes, the "Circle Tour" is an unannounced and surprising event that has become a tradition when touring with Tim!

I just hope he stays away  from the captain's wheel on the ship!  Bon voyage!

The Event ~ 64 Years Together!

Happy Anniversary today to my dear mother and father-in-law.  Today they are celebrating their 64th wedding anniversary.  They are one among few couples who actually reach that milestone.  We celebrate with them in this joyous occasion. 

Last night we had them as diinner guests while Tim and Janel and four of the grandkids were here, along with Annie and Cash present.  At their age, that is the best present we can give them ~ dinner with their family, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.   I was amiss in not taking a picture last night because that was indeed a special event.   But here is a recent picture of them. 

Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad Stricker! 

God has certainly blessed you through the years.  Your faith has kept you strong, even through the trials we know you experienced along the way.  We treasure the time we have been able to spend with you.   My children and grandchildren adore you.  You have been such a big and important part of their lives.  You were there throughout their school years, attending nearly every special event they were involved in, from music to sports.  You never forgot a birthday, a valentines day, or any other special event in their lives.  Your hospitality has been enjoyed over and over again, as we shared your table many times over chicken noodle soup and butter balls or your special fried chicken.  Your special gift was your patience in always making cookies with the little kids ~ my kids thirty years ago or the grandkids today ~ and playing games with them.   

I cannot forget that you have loved me like your daughter from the very beginning when I married your son.  I love you!

The Event ~ The Mohawk

We have enjoyed having our nearly four-year old grandson Joe with us for the past ten days.  He is certainly a joy to have around.  He is very articulate in his mannerisms and activity ~ he likes to organize, and he likes to "write" very articulately! 

Joe decided he wanted a hair cut like his Uncle Cash - skinned!  So, Cash gave him a mohawk haircut with the help of Annie.  It was a fun event.  Later, cash trimmed it up some more, shaping an N in the back. 

When Tim and Janel and three of his siblings came a few days ago to get him, he kept his cap on for about the first 30 minutes, keeping his secret just a little longer.  When he took it off, the looks of his family were entertainment enough.  His dad says he'll finish the job at home.  But we all really liked it.  Cash tells me I would have never allowed that 25 years ago on him.  He is absolutely right.  25 years ago, it would have been sinful!!

Joe is so darned cute no matter what his hairstyle.  We all enjoyed this little fun event.  And so did Joe.