By MYRNA FAUSKA
Happy 2019, everyone. Having spent most of my life in the previous century, I am amazed that I am still alive and was able to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I on Nov. 11. I imagine our grandparents and great0grandparents felt much the same as they looked back on the events of the early 19th century that their parents had talked about having experienced. So much technology has been developed in the past 100 years that it is mind-boggling, and our descendants will be even more astounded as they look back on how primitive we early 21st century people were.
No matter how much time passes, we still honor the birthday of a baby born more than 2,000 years ago, and the neighbors enjoyed being with family and friends to celebrate the birth of our Savior. Next door, Steve Schumann and his mom Ruth had Christmas dinner with Mike and Vickie Schumann and family in Reedsburg, while Deb Wood and Bryana enjoyed their meal with Neilan and Dar Petersen, Deb’s sister and spouse.
On Christmas Eve, I went to St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kendall to see the Marty children perform in the Sunday school Christmas pageant. The next day, my husband Dave and I attended the service at Grace Lutheran Church in Elroy and stayed for the community dinner afterward.
Jim and Mary Parkhurst enjoyed the community Christmas dinner at Grace Lutheran on the 25th. The day after Christmas is Boxing Day in England and Second Christmas in Germany, and on that day Randy Parkhurst came from Orfordville, Wis., to spend a few days with his parents.
Kurt and Catherine Garvens came from Hollandale, Wis., on Christmas Day and joined his parents Ron and Arlene, who picked up the Parkhursts to go to Elroy and dine with neighbors and friends atGrace.
Layla, Brett and Mya were a part of the St. John’s Sunday school program on the 24th, and although Mya is only 3 years old and not in Sunday school yet, she sang with the group and did a great job. On Christmas Day, Chip and Mary and the kids were at his parents Bob and Karen’s home in Tomah to celebrate with the Marty siblings. On Friday evening, they joined the Vlasak and Zellmer side of the family at The Ranch in Johnnycake Hollow.
Lynette Vlasak and Sally Dana attended the program at St. John’s on Christmas Eve, and the next day, they celebrated at dinner with Allan and Heather Vlasak and Lowell and Arlys Zellmer at The Ranch. The Second Christmas was spent with lunch at the Sparta Family Restaurant with Wilmer and Deanna Holak. On Friday morning, there was a birthday party at the Kendall Public Library for Eileen Richie, and that night, the Zellmer offspring had arrived in Johnnycake Hollow, along with Mariane Weidenbach of Viroqua, for a multigenerational celebration. Members of the Zellmer and the Vlasak families continued to enjoy the holiday on Saturday at The Ranch.
On Sunday afternoon, the St. John’s Church Council members and their spouses were invited to a Christmas party at the home of Pastor Larry and Cheryl Neitzel, and Allan and Heather Vlasak were among those who attended.
Thus ends the last of 2018, and we pray your celebration of the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ was a blessed occasion and that you will keep Him in your heart all through the new year. We also hope that 2019 will bring you many joys and blessings whether or not your New Year’s resolutions come true. I’ve learned that my resolution every year lately has been not to make any, and that takes care of that. God will continue to take care of me anyway, and that’s all that is important. My He also take good care of you this year.