Janette Oke (30 page)

Happier news soon followed. Lorne and Deb had delivered their fourth child. Finally there was an Oke grandson for Edward! The details that followed were even more unexpected. Deb had gotten up in the night and made her way to the bathroom. She became alarmed when she realized she was already in active labor, and called out for Lorne.

Immediately he dialed the prearranged baby-sitter for the girls, and then, at Deb's insistence, also placed a 9–1-1 call. The operator instructed him to have Deb lie on the bathroom floor so he could check on her progress. It was then that he discovered the head had already crowned.

He struggled for some minutes, trying to juggle the telephone, follow the instructions of the emergency operator, shoo the girls away from the scene, and calm Deb as best he could. The ambulance was on its way, but the baby had no intention of waiting. With no hands to spare, Lorne passed the telephone to Deb, and she relayed the instructions being given.

Connor Edward was born in his very own home, with his daddy serving as doctor and nurse. Lorne carefully followed each of the instructions that Deb passed along, catching his new baby in his hands and checking to be sure he was safe.

“Is he breathing?” the operator asked.

Deb affirmed that he was.

“Wrap him up,” she instructed.

Lorne hastened to do this.

“How's the mother?” the woman questioned next.

Deb could only retort, “I
am
the mother.”

Apparently her conversation was so controlled that the operator couldn't imagine that the woman to whom she was speaking was delivering and coaching
at the same time.
When the ambulance arrived, Connor was already cozy against his mommy.

In commemoration of the amazing event, the couple hung a framed copy of the front-page newspaper story on the. wall above where the birth had occurred.

Of course, Janette breathed a heartfelt prayer of thanks that it had ended safely for all. And she joined in the laughter later when Marvin teased Lorne that he had taken his new “doctorate” education a little too literally, and suggested they name the baby “John.”

Lavon and Monica arrived in time to spend a few days helping to paint the farmhouse. The weathered gray was covered over with a fresh coat of white, and the trim boasted its original dark green. At last the finishing touches were falling into place, and campers began to arrive for the reunion.

On the opening day, in July 1998, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held to which the community was invited. Amy Loov, a local teenager who had been named after Amy Steeves, cut the ribbon. The simple ceremony included a prayer of dedication. The weekend that followed was the first of many family reunions. Over one hundred family members gathered to celebrate the occasion.

Today the little farmhouse rests contentedly, facing the road with a welcome expression. It will be maintained for many years to come. There are periodic guests, and, of course, family members drop by to check on it regularly. And the museum, tearoom, and craft shop are open during the summer.

Periodically through the year, the family descends en masse upon the property. And at Christmastime, those who live locally have a pre-Christmas family dinner. Throughout the year, any of the family who wishes a retreat can take full advantage of the site for camping. Their children can enjoy the playground equipment, the trampoline, and the playhouse.

Terry and Barbara have also returned to the Hoadley area and built their home on the adjoining wooded quarter of the Steeves' farm, overlooking its fields and farmland. Now Janette's grandchildren can share in the hopeful expectation of going to “Grandma Steeves' place” and seeing all their cousins (there is little distinction between the first cousins and the second cousins). In fact, Alex once commented, “You know that
other
grandma, Scott's grandma? She's really nice!” Even the grandmas are freely shared. There is still a heartfelt welcome for all, with many exciting activities to share, and even a Rook game at the ready for anyone who cares to pull up a chair.

The little house, the simple prairie homestead, and the family ties are still intact. The treasure of a homeplace has been preserved for the next generation. The family's goals for this have been accomplished. The heritage continues.

Chapter Forty-one

Europe

In the summer of 2000, a wonderful family adventure was planned. Fred Steeves, a distant relative and professional travel tour director from Eastern Canada, had taken on the planning of a “Steeves Family Heritage Tour” to Europe—and, most notably, to the small town of Munsingen, Germany, from which Heinrich and Rachel Stief had originated. Janette became interested immediately, and forwarded the information to each of her children and their spouses. Her suggestion was that all ten adults make the trip together. The response was unanimous, and plans were put into action.

The tour would consist of two weeks in Europe aboard a bus filled with Steeves family relatives. Arrangements had been made to meet with the mayor of Munsingen, and to be shown the pertinent local sites by the town historian. In addition to this, there would also be sightseeing in other locations in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

The extended group left in mid-July from Halifax, Nova Scotia. Many of the Steeves family relatives were still living in the Maritime provinces, though included in the tour were members from across Canada and the United States, and from as far away as Australia. Janette, Edward, Terry, and Barbara flew ahead and were waiting in Frankfurt, Germany, for the rest of the family to arrive.

The first real stop would be in Munsingen for an official welcome by the city. Unfortunately, one of the first German words the group became familiar with was
Stau
, meaning “traffic jam.” For all of its acclaimed speed, the Autobahn proved treacherously slow for the anxious tourists. Long after they were due in Munsingen, the Steeves' tour bus descended upon the town—to find that the welcoming ceremony had been cancelled. It was a truly disappointing turn of events.

But the lovely little village of Munsingen was just what they had hoped it would be. Their accommodations were in a charming bed-and-breakfast inn, the Gasthoff Herrman, whose owner-chef served marvelous gourmet meals. And immediately they felt welcomed by the townspeople.

In the evening, a service was held at the Martinskirche, the very church that the Stiefs would have attended. Janette read the Scripture, while Herbert Steves led in prayer as well as led the hymns that were sung together. Reverend Sigmund Fischer oversaw the service, and then gave a brief tour and history of the church building. Some of the family were brave enough to climb high into the bell tower for a bird's-eye view of the village.

It was an amazing thing to stand inside the ancient church and imagine the thousands of people who had stood in that very spot to pray and to worship through the hundreds of years of the church's existence. And to picture Heinrich and Rachel there was more amazing still.

Bright and early the next morning, Rolf Deigendesch, the town historian, met with them by an original fountain to introduce his wife, Heike, and his daughter who would conduct the group on a guided walking tour. With stilted English, she pointed out each site and gave a brief history of it. Through the narrow, stone-paved streets the family strolled, eyeing the well-kept buildings, amazed at the antiquity of it all. There was so much in the town that suggested medieval inhabitants, yet modern updates were blended alongside. She even pointed out the town lot where the Stief house had stood until recently when it had been demolished.

The tour ended at the museum, where they could observe a splendid collection of period pieces and be introduced to the general history of the area. Their guide had done a marvelous job of acquainting them with the hometown of Heinrich and Rachel Stief.

The days in Munsingen were far too brief to thoroughly explore the town. A family history presentation by Herb Steves, and a few more wonderful meals, and the visit to Munsingen was over. None felt they had
really
gotten to know the village. Janette was drawn to return someday when she might have more time to rest there and to properly acquaint herself with the area.

What followed was a whirlwind of sightseeing in the other locations in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland: exploring castles, taking in the splendid scenery, the ancient churches, and the breathtaking mountains. It was all very wonderful. But Janette and her family knew they were taking home with them far more than the memories of lovely sights. They were each just a little more grounded, a little more aware of their family roots. And they understood a little more of how God had guided the family so long ago, assuring them that He would continue to do so tomorrow and in all the days to come.

They had also been delighted to find that their traveling companions—many of whom they had not previously met—shared a spiritual commitment. Everyone took part in impromptu Sunday services aboard the bus, sharing in prayer, devotions, and song.

Chapter Forty-Two

Rewards of Faithfulness

As I have written the history of my mother, I have tried to give an overall picture, not focusing only on her life achievements, but also on how she came to be who she is. It has been my intention that her readers understand the ties that she shares with the lifestyle of her characters. Her own “story” has prompted so much of her ability to communicate not only the pioneer-type lifestyle but also the blessings, burdens, and emotions that go along with it. But there is more to Janette than this simple background. She has clearly excelled professionally, and I'd be overlooking so much if I didn't take the opportunity to share this side of her as well.

Some years ago, when she was very young, Ashley began to realize that Grandma not only wrote books but that she was also “famous.” While dining out together, Ashley whispered tersely, “Grandma, I don't think those people over there know who you are. Let's tell them you're the Janette Oke who writes all those books.”

After assuring her granddaughter that “those people” would probably not be interested, Mom couldn't help but be amused at the child's grappling with fame. It is a somewhat intangible idea, even for grown-ups.

In July 1992 my mother was surprised at the 15th Annual Gold Medallion Book Awards banquet by being given the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association's President's Award. It states:

In recognition of your contribution
to Christian writing
and leadership in creating Christian fiction,
and the outstanding achievement of
selling more than
TEN MILLION COPIES
of your books.

When you began writing you set a goal:

“ … anything that happens in my
writing will be God's doing.”
So much has happened, and we thank you
for your faithfulness to that goal
which has resulted in such wonderful accomplishment.

The plaque bears the names of Bruce Ryskamp, President, and Doug Ross, Executive Director, and is dated June 27, 1992.

The award came because Mom's books opened wide the Christian fiction market. She shares much credit with Carol Johnson, the Bethany House Publishers editor whose enthusiasm for Mom's first novel convinced the editorial board to publish it—this at a time when very little in fiction was being offered at Christian bookstores.

My mother has been granted many other awards as well. She received the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association's Gold Medallion Book Award for
Love's Long Journey
in 1983. In 1985 she won ECPA's Award of Merit for fiction for
Love's Unending Legacy
, and has been a finalist on six other occasions.

She has earned Gold Book Awards for selling over 500,000 copies of a single title for eight of her novels, in addition to a platinum award when
Love Comes Softly
passed one million. There have been eleven Angel Awards, and a Christian Booksellers Association Life Impact Award in 1999.

Bethel College, Mountain View Bible College, the Rocky Mountain College Alumni Association, and the city of Calgary have also honored her. And in 2000, she won the Christy Award for Best American Fiction, which she shared with coauthor T. Davis Bunn for
The Meeting Place
.

Mom has been featured in many magazines, spoken in many and varied settings, and had her books published in German, Norwegian, Dutch, Spanish, Finnish, French, Polish, Indonesian, Icelandic, Korean, Danish, and Portuguese. There's even been a musical produced of
When Calls the Heart
, with text by David Ludrum and music by Orpha Galloway.

I have always been proud of my mother. She has been to me an excellent partner for conversation (usually late into the night), an example of faithfulness, and the ultimate role model of self-discipline and hard work.

Her commonplace roles as daughter, sister, wife, mother, and grandmother are shared by thousands of women. But is she extraordinary? Of course. In the same way that all Christians are if we're willing to be everything that God intends us to be—whether or not it happens to be in the spotlight. We don't have to be a Janette Oke, a Joan of Arc, or a Billy Graham to be used of God.

I know my mother well enough to say that she takes no glory for her writing. In fact, she is almost embarrassed by “the fuss” made over her. When she showed me a beautiful plaque that was given to her, she sighed at how inadequate she felt for the honor.

I treasure her even more because she has come from “common folk” and was not branded throughout her life as “extraordinary.” Talent does not make a great person. It is a gift—a responsibility—that God gives us, whether in writing or music or organization or hospitality or instruction—and the list goes on and on. The only way to greatness is complete surrender to the God who wants our devotion—this I have learned from my mother.

It's a paradox that the first step to God's type of “success” is to give up, and to realize that we on our own cannot accomplish anything that lasts through time. But it is not so incredible when we realize that our God accomplished one of His greatest works when He made Jesus vulnerable and helpless, an infant born to a poor family.

God uses best what He can use
completely
—no matter what the building material is.