Janette Oke (26 page)

Chapter Thirty-six

Farm

One day a realtor friend in Didsbury phoned.

“Janette, you've just got to see this house. I walked in the front door, and I felt that Laura Ingalls Wilder must have just walked out the back,” she raved. Since Janette loved old houses, she quickly agreed to see it.

One could see that the little farmhouse had been a beautiful place at one time. Now it stood deserted and empty, even though there were still reminders that it had been home to a family. The children had grown, and the elderly farmer had been stricken with cancer. The family had urged their parents to move to town where it would be more convenient for them. Reluctantly, they had agreed.

“But I don't even know how to pack for a move,” the old man had objected.

“Then don't,” the kids had answered. “We'll just take what you need as you need it.” And so the house still held some furniture—even some medicine in the washroom cabinet. Garments hung on pegs in the closet, and old, worn neckties draped on a hanger beside them.

However, the house showed signs of wear and neglect. Janette knew that if something were not done soon, it would begin to crumble. “Someone should save it,” she mused, feeling sad at the thought of it falling apart.

She and Edward had often talked of her having a place to go to do her writing, a quiet atmosphere with no interruptions. They looked at the property and saw the potential, and in the end purchased the quarter section of farmland along with the little broken-down house.

They didn't quite realize what a big job they had undertaken. Though it was obvious that the house had never had electricity, water, sewer, or natural gas connections, each step taken seemed to uncover additional work needed. They began renovations by moving the house off to the side, putting a full basement under it, gutting the interior, and basically starting over. Because Janette wanted to stay as close as possible to the original structure, they preserved all the heavy woodwork, numbering it and laying it aside. Then they started to rebuild.

Janette herself took on the job of general contractor and brought in the tradesmen as they were needed. It turned out to be a great deal of work, and she vowed never to take on such a task again.

In August of 1987, an extended family reunion was planned at the Mountain View campus. Since everyone was interested in “Janette's farmhouse,” she led several little tours out to see the project. Already the place was beginning to take shape, but there was still a long way to go.

Ashley and Nate were eighteen months now and really enjoyed being together. At two months, Amanda was still too young to know what all the fussing was about, but she seemed to enjoy the attention. Even someone who was a stranger to her could coax her to smile or coo. The reunion over, the family hugged and laughed and said good-byes and returned to their homes.

On the morning of September 10, Edward answered the phone. Janette could tell by the look on his face that the news was not good. Setting the receiver back in its cradle, he was not even able to share with her concerning the call before the phone rang again. This call confirmed the tragic news. Edward hung up the receiver from the second call, turned to an anxious Janette, and pulled her close. “Amanda is gone,” he said in a choked voice.

She would not believe him. She did not want to believe him. She could not possibly believe him. There had to be some mistake. They had seen Amanda such a short time ago, and she had been healthy and whole. She had not been sick. What could possibly have happened?

“Crib death. Barbara found her this morning.”

The tears that followed were not for her own loss, but for Barbara. She could only imagine the horror of the scene, and she began to fervently pray for her grief-stricken daughter-in-law.

“God, wipe away the memory of what she found,” she prayed over and over. “Leave her with beautiful memories of her precious baby girl.”

“We've got to go,” she declared with urgency.

It was a three-hour trip from Didsbury to Edmonton. Edward made a few brief phone calls to make some arrangements for his college responsibilities while Janette got ready to go.

What a long, long drive it was. They were so anxious to get to Terry and Barb; and try as she would, Janette could not make herself stop hoping that there had been a dreadful mistake and that they would find Amanda alive and well—not really
dead
.

But it was true. A tearful son and a distraught daughter-in-law met them at the door. Little Ashley had been taken to the neighbor's home earlier.

Terry had gone to work at the usual time, they explained through their tears. Barbara had gradually become aware that two-and-a-half-month-old Amanda was sleeping later than usual. She went to the bedroom and, sensing something terribly wrong, slipped her hand under the blanket to touch Amanda's little leg. She was horrified to find her baby cold and stiff.

Quickly she pulled her from the bassinet and ran to the phone to call Terry. “Come home,” she cried, “I can't get Amanda to breathe!”

Terry tried to calm her enough to have her call 9–1-1. The person who took the call kept Barbara on the phone while the Emergency Unit sped to her aid. They took over immediately, calling both her doctor and the pastor after finding the telephone numbers in her purse. When they were able to convince Barbara that she should give them the baby, they diverted her attention by drawing her into the kitchen and asking her to make tea.

It was obvious that little Amanda was beyond help. The doctor later told Barbara that the wee baby must have passed away shortly after she was put to bed the night before. He had given Barbara medication, but she still seemed to be in shock when Edward and Janette arrived. She tried to be brave.

“We can't cry,” she warned them all. “They're bringing Ashley home.”

The funeral service was held in Calgary at the church where Terry and Barbara had stood to say their wedding vows. Terry read a poem that he had written the night after Amanda died as he looked at the empty cradle and then out at the star-strewn sky. Barbara sang to her baby one last time. And in answer to Terry and Barb's request, Janette wrote a tribute that was read by the pastor.

Amanda

So tiny! So fragile! And yet in two-and-a-half short months, you changed our world so much.

You responded to Mommy as soon as you were placed in her arms and learned over the weeks to enjoy the songs that she sang to you with love in her voice.

You made your daddy proud with your sturdy, fast-growing little body and your refusal to sit down when you could see so much more by standing on your strong little legs.

And you brought such pleasure and joy to your big sister Ashley as she shared her toys and pushed you in your Jolly-Jumper.

You learned to smile and make your baby sounds so early, your little face crinkling up so completely your eyes would be forced to shut. Your grandmothers loved it.

You endured, good-naturedly, the many impromptu hugs and kisses bestowed upon you by loving, yet sometimes not so gentle, big sister and cousin Nate.

You cooed and gurgled and smiled your way right into each one of our hearts.

Your grandparents proudly discussed you. Your gentle disposition. Your quick responsiveness. Your strong little body.

Such a beautiful baby!

Such a sweetly responsive little “punkin.”

Such a treasure from heaven!

We are all so glad that God sent you to us. We were not prepared to return you to Him so soon. We wanted to keep you—to watch you grow and mature and become all that He wanted you to be.

But I guess He thought that you are perfect just the way you are—that you had, in such a short time, completed your mission here. You brought love and happiness and joy into our hearts and homes.

We love you. We miss you. But even your “going” accomplished much, for it has drawn us even closer to God and to one another.

It has reminded us again that life here on earth is so fragile—so temporary, and that we should spend time building relationships, not empires, that we should learn to treasure moments and memories, not things, that we should concern ourselves with attaining spiritual growth, not worldly gain.

And heaven? Heaven is a much dearer place—for among all of its treasures, God has added another little jewel. You, our dear little Amanda.

We know that you are not alone. We know that you will be well cared for. Be patient, sweetheart. The days pass quickly. It will not seem very long until your family, one by one, will join you in a far better world than the one we leave behind.

It was so hard to say good-bye to one so small—so precious. And then there was poor little Ashley. Over the weeks that followed she nearly broke her grandma's heart. Being much too young to understand about death, she continued to ask for Manny over and over. Then she began to have nightmares and could not sleep. There were so many times when Janette would have given almost anything to be able to place that little baby sister back into Ashley's arms.

“Remember how often you said that you felt God allowed you to lose Brian so that you would understand and be able to comfort others,” Lavon reminded Janette. “Well, I'm sure you never guessed it would be someone in your own family.”

It turned out that the work at the farmhouse was good for Janette, though she often longed to just forget the whole project. But once begun, the work had to go on. Workers were coming and going, and she was needed to coordinate the action. The project was right in the middle of the heavy tasks and had to be completed before winter set in. And, too, Janette had another manuscript deadline coming very close, and she really needed the little house for writing.

It was therapeutic for her to keep her mind active with something. The last draft of the manuscript needed to be finished by the first part of December, and she finally dismissed the last crew, deciding that the remaining renovations of the house could wait. For the time being it was usable. The manuscript was sent off to Bethany in time to meet the proposed deadline, but it certainly had been a struggle.

Barbara had begun to pray that she would be expecting again by Christmastime. The family was pleased for her when she made her announcement. But things did not go well from the beginning. Shortly after Christmas, she miscarried. How difficult it was for her to lose two babies in such a short time.

The following January, Janette left for Indiana. Another grandchild had arrived. Jessica Brianne had chosen a Saturday to be born, conveniently scheduling her birth around her daddy's hectic class schedule. She was born in the evening, with Marvin's mother and sister waiting nearby and ready to hold her. Janette arrived late Sunday evening, with Jessica and her mommy already at home to greet her.

With the grandchildren growing, Janette began to treasure the little stories of their antics and accomplishments. This visit with Laurel and Marvin was her introduction to baby Jessica as well as a time of enjoying and discovering Nate. Although he was not yet two, Marvin had noticed one day that he could recognize all his letters and was remembering many words by sight. So when Janette arrived she came with a small set of homemade flash cards. She had included all the really important words, which he had soon mastered: Jesus, Grandma, Grandpa, Mommy, Daddy, Nate, Ashley, baby, and McDonalds. And one very special card said “Jessica”—the new little sister they were all just beginning to get to know.

In the summer of 1988, Edward, Janette, and their boys embarked on a business venture together known as
Oke Grove Publishing
. They had purchased a newspaper in the nearby town of Innisfail, with Terry to manage it on their behalf. Edward was also very involved, helping with the computer work with which he had become adept. Eventually Barbara became a full-time employee as well.

Ashley, being the only grandchild close enough to make frequent trips to see her grandparents, loved the opportunity of visiting on her own. She of course loved her own parents dearly and was always glad to see them after a few days at Grandpa and Grandma's, but after the initial welcoming, she was quite content to let them go and leave her again, should they be so inclined. She was a good girl for Grandpa and Grandma and a great source of enjoyment. She talked early and clearly and brought many chuckles.

Janette began a memory book in which she wrote many of the accomplishments and cute sayings of her grandchildren. Day by day the pages were filled with more and more little items of interest. Though she continued to be very busy with writing and other responsibilities, she took special delight in watching her grandchildren grow and change.

On one occasion Ashley and Grandma were just returning from a trip to the farm, one of Ashley's favorite outings, and as they wound their way through the streets to get to Grandma's house, the sun suddenly shone directly into the front seat and into Ashley's eyes.

“Gramma, will you make the sun go back?” she asked, turning to Janette.