There is no greater gift than the love shared by a family.
–a plaque that hangs in our home
I’ve written in a journal since 2002. I realized on that day, May 8, 2002, that I needed to write things down to eventually share with our children and grandchildren. Our third grandchild, Grace Ellen McCully, was born on that day and life seemed to be passing like a fast-moving train. For what it’s worth my journal is a gift to our children, Jenny, Julie and Andy, and also to our nine grandchildren, Ben, Chad, Grace, Ella, Rachel, Drew, Sam, Jamison and Camille. I have not made daily entries, only occasional ones. With this gift of Porch Swing I’ll go back before 2002 and add some things that I’ve always thought I might want to write about.
Our family began April 6, 1968, our wedding date. Martin Luther King, Jr. had been assassinated and there were riots in Chicago. The Illinois National Guard was activated. Stan was a guardsman so he reported for duty being one of the first ones to report. Sgt. Satchwell said, “Aren’t you getting married today? Leave.” He did and we got married at the Carlock Mennonite Church. It was somewhat of a stressful morning! Cake or no cake? Photographer or no photographer? Who would be the best man? We went to Colorado Springs, Colorado on our honeymoon. Beautiful country! Loved being outdoors!
The years that followed were busy, busy years. We started out living in Dean Yoder’s farm house near Danvers. From there we lived in Jacob’s little house on 150 near Normal. (The house is no longer there.) We moved to a little house, 707 Samantha, in Normal close to the ISU campus. Jennifer Sue was born July 2, 1971. I think we moved about every year until we bought the apartment house in Carlock, We lived upstairs and remodeled the downstairs into another two bedroom apartment. We moved downstairs, of course! Julie Kay was born July 16, 1974. We heard about a beautiful, older house in Carlock for sale, 202 W Franklin. We quickly bought it. Andrew Glenn was born December 3, 1978. We loved this home, but our hearts were yearning for the country. Stan’s health issues were heightening. He bought some sheep in 1975, but they were in the country so he was gone a lot. Stan heard of a house to rent in the country (Blakeneys) so we sold our beautiful home and moved to the country. We loved the peacefulness in the country and our sheep were there. Having health issues can rob you of calm and peace. We enjoyed just being a family–keeping up with the kids’ activities, traveling to sheep shows and sales all over the country. As fate would have it (or, I believe, God’s hand at work), Blakeney’s son wanted to live on the farm. Therefore the five of us and 150 head of sheep needed a new home. Stan had helped a neighbor, Marvin Smith, with sheep problems in the past. Marvin came to see Stan and offered his place as a place for our sheep since it was a sheep farm. He also offered an apartment in the basement of his home until we could find some place to move. We met with Marvin and his wife, Grady, and moved to the Smith farm. Our intention and, I’m sure, the Smith’s was to be there the summer, but we stayed for seven years! Most of our things were stored in Marvin’s childhood home which stood unlivable on the farm. The four of us became great friends, having coffee every Friday or Saturday night discussing work to be done on the farm, sheep and life. In fact, our relationship grew into more than friendship. Marvin and Stan became more like father and son. In 1996 we purchased an acre from Marvin and Grady and built our present home. After Grady passed away Marvin lived on the farm, he and Stan sharing great adventures. In 2006 Marvin left the farm to live with his daughter, Emily, in Florida. Jenny, Mark, Ben, Chad and Rachel moved into Marvin and Grady’s home as caretakers. We were saddened to hear of Marvin’s death in 2011. His memory lives on here on the farm; in the barn, in the garden, in the orchard, in the lane, in the walnut grove, by the pond, everywhere. Jenny and Mark now are buying Marvin and Grady’s house and a few acres. We cherish them being close by.
God provided for us in many ways; ability to earn a living not being the least. We were married during spring break my freshman year at Illinois State University. Since childhood I wanted to become a teacher so I stuck with it. I finished school earning a Bachelor of Arts in Education in 1971, the spring before Jenny was born. In the beginning of our marriage Stan worked at Kaiser Fertilizer. When we lived on Samantha Street, Stan worked at Firestone for awhile but he was offered a deputy sheriff’s job serving under my Uncle John King. He retired from the department even though he had advanced to detective. He loved it and was good at it, but maybe it was too much stress. Raising sheep was something Stan loved and was skilled at doing. People still call him today asking for advice. For him, this was the best job! I was doing the best job, too, being Mom to Jenny, Julie and Andy. Having health insurance was a problem so I began searching for a teaching job. I had babysat and substitute taught at different times. My teaching job just kind of fell in my lap. As I look back I can see God working in many different areas of our lives. I began working part-time for School District #140 at Congerville Elementary as a learning center teacher. I advanced with a few more hours being learning center teacher, lunchroom lady, first grade aide. In 1988 I began teaching third grade, a lifelong dream come true. I went back to Illinois State University and earned a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction in 1993. Teaching during the day, going to school at night and living in the small apartment was challenging. When I saw Grady she used to crack me up by asking, “What are you reading?” Health issues continued to follow us making our lives stressful. I realized that I did not LOVE teaching any more so I retired after twenty-eight years (counting my substituting and aide work) in 2012. Again, a job fell in my lap! I now work part-time (12 hours per week) at the Hudson Area Public Library. My main responsibility is Story Time for three and four year old children. The sheep have been sold to a former student of mine. We miss seeing the sheep in the pasture, but we are calmed just by living in the peaceful country.
