The Love Story of Ed & Janet

"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God."

I John 4:7

(NKJV)

Graphic Design by Zach Smith

"The Love Story of Ed & Janet"

"This year marks the 46th anniversary of the day my husband and I wed, followed by a stop by the seminary, six children, and now twelve and waiting on the 13th grandchild. We’re used to being an anomaly asked, “are all of them are yours?” and “are you Catholic?”  

All I wanted was to get married, live in a pretty house, and have children.  Sensing that I would never leave their house if I didn’t get out at the “appropriate” age, my parents wanted the best for me. That meant going away to college at age 18.

The liberal home I left and the liberal college I attended shook this lovingly sheltered girl.  I groped for a place to belong. School was NOT my thing and never had been.   I could do a lot of stuff, even serious things, especially if they were fast, planned, and fun. My idea of a good time was a big day followed by a big night cheering the team on and then a day off reading and staying in my room. Hardly an employer’s “dream-come-true” girl, a future job as a career woman was more of a nightmare to me.

During my first week in a co-ed dorm, (a girl’s floor and a boy’s floor made up our dorm  “family”),  the resident advisor of each group met with the new students in a common area of the big, blocky building we called home.

The tall, dark, and handsome senior class resident advisor from the boy’s floor stood in the center of the room to address the gathering and my heart leapt.  A strong sense of responsibility and care radiated from his long curls to the end of his bellbottoms; he sported a cigarette—that was “okay” then. He looked like a college version of the Mark Spitz poster attached to my dorm room wall with putty.

Raised in a proper Southern home, I couldn’t just begin talking to this man, I needed an introduction.  I asked girls I had just met that week about him and was told “he likes poetry and dancing.”  So far, so good.  No one knew him to introduce me, though.  

With boldness that must have come from God above, I marched up to him at the next meeting and introduced myself.  He responded with what I later discovered was just as uncharacteristic a move as I had just made by saying, “I noticed you last week since you’re so pretty.”  I then said, “Do you have a girlfriend?”  His response, “Not exclusively, do you have a boyfriend?”  I responded, “Not exclusively,” then, “I’ll be right back.”

I raced to find my newest in-the-know girlfriend and asked her what “not exclusively” meant.  Her response?  “Go for it!”

I went for it.

And we lived happily ever after.

The end – AND …

…to be continued."

Bio:  Janet Fehskens has led workshops at national Lutherans for Life conventions and has published articles and poetry in Living, Gentle Spirit, and local newspapers. She has spoken at the Ft. Wayne Seminary, high schools, camps, and women’s functions.  She served as president of the local Lutherans for Life chapter in St. Paul, MN, and has led several women’s ministries in parishes throughout the country.

Both Janet and Ed are avid readers.  Ed keeps up with current events, but will watch sci-fi with Janet while she does handwork after the sun has gone down.  Her favorite medium is primitive folk-art.  She also loves taking photos during their travels.

Janet homeschooled their six children for four years, and began working part-time (away from home) when their youngest child began school.  She completed eleven years of administrative work in NYS colleges while she and Ed lived in and near Buffalo, NY.  Now adults, these children are parents of their 12+ grandchildren (#13 is due in February!).

Janet and Ed are now retired. They enjoy traveling and being “on call” for their children and their families, who are within driving distance, while simply praising God for His amazing grace as they enjoy time spent with their favorite people – all grown up. 

Janet and Ed, thank you both SO much for sharing your amazing life and love story with us here!  You are two very special people, and we are so grateful to God that you are a part of our lives!  May He bless you with many, many more happy, healthy years together serving Him side-by-side!

In case you missed them, you can read previous Love Story Posts by clicking these links:

The Love Story of David & Wanda
The Love Story of Michael & Karen
The Love Story of Kevin & Cheryl
The Love Story of Tom & Mary
The Love Story of Michael & Jordan
The Love Story of Ed & Sherry