2025 in Postcards

This year was a roller coaster ride. On the downside, we had a lot of sickness, a few tragic losses, on the upside, some beautiful new babies, some amazing times, and strengthening of the spine events as well. Going into the New Year, my motto is to try to be to follow God’s path for my life and be proactive rather than reactive as much as possible. I realize this is not always possible, this year more than any other one has revealed the old adage, “Make plans and God laughs” with Him rearranging life to His own standards rather than mine. I am trying to listen more, speak less, and reflect on what made life a celebration and what made me stronger.

New Year’s in Fulton Missouri

2025 started off with a bang!

For Christmas last year, I got Keith a trip to Fulton, Missouri. The first of January, we stayed at the amazing Loganberry Inn and celebrated with high tea. Touring the Churchill Museum, we ate at Beks, went through the Auto World Museum, and ended up antiquing and stepped back in time at Crane’s Farm Store.

Fun in Florida

We rounded out January heading south with my mom, Lora Disque. We took her to see my sister at the fun Villages, then we went to the Florida Fly Wheelers. Before picking mom up and heading home, we missed a huge snowstorm that hit Alabama and parts north, we visited with cousin and friends, Roger and Sandi and saw an amazing Burrowing Owl that resides in their neighborhood.

February for Volleyball, friends and Davenport

We followed our granddaughter Lilly to the Quad Cities for her traveling volleyball tournament. A stop in Davenport we visited with our longtime friend Dan and his family. The bridges and beauty of the Quad Cities captivated us.

We pursued our hobby. I visited my friend Annie Jansen and learned how to make no knead bread.

My first book, Farm Girl Adventures with House of Honor was released in early February.

I was on a high!

Benjamin Harris and Indy

Janna Seiz and I traveled to Indy for the Indianapolis Media Marketplace. This is a wonderful event where writers meet with destinations. We had dinner with other writing friends, and I caught up with my cousin Carrie Steinweg of Chicago Foodie Sisters. She and I made plans. We are forging ahead with Unique Eats & Eateries of Illinois for Reedy Press. A first for me, and a 2nd for the talented Carrie!

Janna and I got a little history at the Benjamin Harrison house and burial place. We both love history.

Nashville then busted!

House of Honor was at the Nashville Book Festival and there I had my book release and met the publishers and other authors.

Keith and I celebrated our 45th anniversary in Tennessee with friends at the amazing Loveless Cafe. On March 9th, life as I knew it took a turn.

March 9^th, I was preparing for a colonoscopy the next day. After starting the preparation, I began to feel nauseous, blacked out, hit my head and ended up hitching a ride in an ambulance to Springfield Memorial Hospital’s Emergency Room.  My daughter Carrie accompanied me.  Late that evening in the emergency room we said a sigh of relief when the doctor said, “Nothing is broken” “But” he added, “We found a tumor on your left kidney.” 

I had kidney cancer and had my left kidney removed in May. Lots of doctor appointments and cancellations were my future from March until mid-June. On June 3^rd, at my follow-up visit with my surgeon, Dr. Schwartz shared the pathology report. It was a fast-growing cancerous tumor, but Dr. Schwartz said they got it all.

While I wrote local stories and what I could, life stopped for four months, and I reflected on faith, family and health.

A few reprieves

In April before my surgery, I took a quick trip to Iowa’s Homestead Amana for the grand opening of the wonderful Homestead Folk Art Museum.

In late April, my cousin Mike’s son Matt got married in the Chicago area. My mom, and sister Debbie were able to celebrate with family before I was grounded.

In early May, we headed with friends to the Billy Clock Museum in Spillville, Wisconsin, beautiful.

Surgery

May 19th, Dr. Schwartz removed my left kidney, and I was home recuperating for six weeks. Cards, flowers, dinners and more flowed my way. Love surrounded me and it still makes me tear up thinking of the care so many sent my way.

My grandson even serenaded me with the guitar. Melt my heart.

Keith and I and the cats took daily walks to regain strength. I missed my grandson’s 8th grade graduation, but my friend and fellow co-author Jane Aumann came and stayed with me. I will always remember her kindness.

At my June follow up, Dr. Schwartz told me they had got all the cancer. I think I needed to ring a bell.

Back to life

My first outing was the Pawnee Prairie Days the last day in May to watch the River Rambler’s retirement performance. The Bourne family as always touched my heart as we watched Marc play his last gig and listened to the amazing Rylie play. Marla has been a bestie for more years than I can say.

Slowly I added in activities like the Ladage tractor drive.

My first travel show was Red Power Round Up in Sedalia, Missouri. Lori Parkin, Calvin Elder and others were at this fun show.

Andy Goleman set up a fun family get together, in Springfield. My sister-in-law Terri shared Jessup family history.

The Divernon Block Party brought Linda Spanberger to town, and we celebrated with Debbie Ladage

We have all been friends since working at the Shaad Shack and going to Lincoln Land as my granddaughter says, “Back in the day”.

Sandi Kessinger and I met up. Sandi shared a kidney with a friend years ago and she gave me some sage advice, plus we enjoyed catching up. We worked together and have been friends for decades.

Summer stretch

Cousin Carrie came to town, and we started working on our Unique Eats & Eateries book in earnest. What fun!

Thanks to Visit Springfield for helping coordinate some extraordinary meals!

Annie Jansen, my travel buddy and I headed south to Southernmost Illinois for dining fun in late July. Thank you, Carol, from Southernmost for setting up this wonderful trip!

Working with the Virden community, Bernie Gietl and other talented artists created an amazing mural depicting drag racing history. The mural is especially timely since Route 66 celebrates 100 years this year!

Late August daughter Allie organized a fun trip to Hannibal, Missouri with my sister.

Daughter Carrie and I went to a concert at the Illinois State fair.

August wrapped with a fun train/tractor event at Monticello, Illinois at the train museum.

The biggie show was the Half Century 2025. Held at Rantoul, Illinois, the next show is scheduled for 2027.

Fall 2025

Tractor shows dominated the end of summer.

Keith and I enjoyed our Christmas gift from the kids, an Allison Krause concert at the Devon in Decatur, Illinois.

Annie Jansen and I set out for an epic three stop Indiana adventure. We stopped in Anderson

(Madison County), Richmond, and wrapped in Shipshewana. It was an ag trip of a lifetime. Thank you to the Madison, Richmond and Shipshewana CVB’s for hosting us!

I went to a Pow Wow, barn tour and more! What a great way to ring in the fall.

Keith had his last harvest. He retired from farming this year.

Friends and family went to the Kentucky Headhunters concert at Dannenberg’s. Daughter Allie hammed it up with Fred Young after the concert.

One of the last shows of fall is Prairieland in Jacksonville, Illinois where we caught up with the Elliotts! It was great to see Jane, Kent and Beth.

Fall to winter

One of the last trips of the year was to Pillow and Paddock, an amazing B&B in LaGrange KY. It was a trip that came at just the right time after receiving some sad family health news.

The kids had got me a UTV ride in Grafton, Illinois, and daughter Carrie went with me in late fall. It was such fun, we enjoyed the weather, the ride and being together. Our guide Jim was fascinating.

Keith and I went to Pinckneyville Illinois fall fest at the American Thresherman’s Reunion.

I enjoyed friend Gwen Montgomery’s art show.

In late October we took a long overdue visit to the Dan Blaney Antique Snowmobile Museum with Tim and Roxie Seifert.

After this fun tour, and a visit with John Fredrickson, we headed to Middlebury and Shipshewana just as they were transitioning from fall to winter decor. While in Shipshewana, we had dinner at the Essenhaus with the wonderful Yecks!

The end of fall we celebrated a milestone birthday for mom.

My art and literature loving granddaughter went to a poetry/art reading with me.

November was my first ever sighting of the Northern Lights right outside my mom’s street.

Linda came down to celebrate Thanksgiving, and we all gathered at my mom’s. As part of Trinity Travels, Trinity Lutheran’s travels we headed to the amazing Concordia Seminary in St. Louis.

We wrapped the holiday celebrations with a trip to Chatham to see the lights, Shelbyville to see the Festival of Trees in the amazing Chataqua building, and downtown Springfield with the fun Doziers!

Thank you for humoring me as I walked through 2025. It was filled with joy and sorrow, love and tears, but sustained with God’s faithfulness and a stronger connection that will continue into 2026. May God bless you and yours in the New Year and you have many amazing adventures as we turn the page on this new year.