The upside of 2020

Despite a pandemic that saw life around us change, not everything in 2020 was bad.

Advocate-Messenger employees share a personal glimpse of the hope they experienced in 2020 and offer a wish for the new year.

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One of the biggest signs of hope for me was being able to attend in-person classes at Wayne State College. With all the uncertainty in the world, it was a huge relief to know that colleges were taking one of the first steps to give some sense of normalcy to their students.

Wish for 2021: I wish for a year full of prosperity and lots of time spent with loved ones!

- Erin Schwager

In 2020, I found hope in my faith that God's plan is greater than any challenge we face. In a year full of sadness and struggle, he

placed someone in my life who has brought so much joy to the simplest things. Someone who helped me slow down a bit, taught me new hobbies and watched more sunsets with me than Netflix.

My wish for 2021 is that the vaccine puts an end to the pandemic, and even as our lives start to go back to "normal" and we get caught up in the rush, we don't forget to take the time to enjoy the simple things. I hope we never take our health for granted and that we hug our loved ones a little tighter.

- Jenna Hemenway

Shortly before the pandemic began,I received an email notifying me of an offer for a promotion in the residence life department. After spending three quarters of the year as a resident assistant, I knew I loved the job. However, I wanted to advance in the department and become a community coordinator so I could directly manage RAs, complete administrative duties and handle high level incidents.

When I received the email with the offer, I was ecstatic to finish the year as an RA and begin the next year as a CC.

However, the following week, while we were on spring break, it was announced that the remainder of the semester would be completed remotely. While this was disappointing, I held out hope that we would return to in-person courses in the fall and I would begin my new role as the CC of Bowen Hall. While there were moments where it looked grim, it was announced that we would return to campus in the fall. Once back, I was able to fulfill the position that I anticipated and I had the opportunity to work with amazing staff members, who are present in the picture.

While there were times of uncertainty, having individuals who relied on me for instructions and guidance helped give me hope in 2020. Quite honestly, if I did not have the opportunity to work with such a great bunch, finding motivation and success would have been difficult to acquire.

As I look ahead to 2021, I wish for understanding among diverse groups.

While we may have different beliefs and ideals, we can all come together and find common ground and work towards success

together.

- Travis Rudloff

Family and friends are always present when you most need them. This year, as time drifted to a slower pace, conversation took center stage, building stronger bonds and offering new views. In March, when visitors were no longer allowed inside the care center, I started visiting dad at his room window, and we visited via cell phone. I was ecstatic in July, on my birthday, when visitors were finally allowed, but the celebration was short-lived. As I write this, I'm sitting next to Dad's bed, praying for a miracle to save his life. Through it all, I have never lost hope, thanks to the love of family and friends who have stood by and been a sounding board.

In the new year, my wish is for a return to normal, where family and friends can continue to gather and grow in the spirit of hope and love.

- LuAnn Schindler

When I moved out of my parents' Omaha house in 2003, owning my own home was the furthest thing from my mind.

I was 18 years old and ready to enter the next phase of my life. That started with living in an on-campus dorm and attending classes at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

After two years of living at UNL's Abel Hall, I moved off campus to an apartment in Lincoln, not knowing I would be calling apartments home for the next 15 years.

Since I graduated from the university in 2007, I have rented apartments in the communities of:

-Hickman, which is located south of Lincoln;

-Blair, which is situated north of Omaha; and

-Sheldon, Iowa, which is located in the far northwest corner of that state.

This past July, my wife, Christina, and I moved back to Nebraska from Iowa, as we decided to purchase our first house and live in Bloomfield.

Of course, we never thought we would move to our new home during a global disease outbreak in 2020; however, relocating to Nebraska has been the best choice for us.

Hazel, our 1-year-old daughter, has been such a wonderful blessing for us and moving to Bloomfield has provided us with a solid support system of family.

Plus, my parents are more than willing to drive from Omaha to Bloomfield to visit us now and then, and we travel to see them when we can, too.

Our new house has provided us hope for the future as we raise Hazel in a small, quiet community surrounded by relatives who are at the ready to help us out when needed.

As we enter 2021, I wish for Hazel, Christina and me – as well as our loved ones – to stay happy, healthy and safe as the COVID-19 pandemic hopefully concludes this spring, if not sooner.

- Mark Mahoney

As we reflect on 2020, hopefulness is not our first thought, at least it wasn't for me. But it should be.

Even in the midst of desperation, hope is there if we only open our eyes and hearts.

My hope lives in progeny. Our family was blessed with the birth of our fourth great-grandchild just before Thanksgiving – hope for the future. I will love watching what he, his sister, brother and cousins become.

Watching my dad lose himself to the throes of Alzheimer's dementia during 2020 was heartbreaking, but yet the nurturing father came out at times, giving his family a glimmer of hope. On a day I dreaded, as I waited for the care center staff to pick him up – and it seemed to come so quickly – I sat with him, searching for the words to explain the move, how much he was loved and what a wonderful father and husband he was.

He made it easy. The dad in him came through and he made it all better! His understanding on that day eased my mind, as he willingly left the house with a wave and his signature grin.

Little did we know that it would be the last time we would wrap our arms around him. Six months later, on Sept. 23, he left this earthly life.

As we sat near the Crawford Valley Church, that he had joined 75 years earlier, to celebrate his life on a beautiful fall day, a combine gathered in a crop in the distance, so fitting for my farmer dad, and another sign of hope.

Then, the next day, another trial began. My husband of nearly 50 years became ill and 10 days later, we heard the doctor utter the dreaded word, "cancer."

Treatment has begun and again, we saw a sign of hope, just as the kings did more than 2,000 years ago when they followed the Christmas Star.

On a cloudy Dec. 21 evening, we stood together at our front door and were treated to a view of the Christmas kiss, as Jupiter and Saturn converged in the western sky.Whether it was an astrological phenomenon or a devine signal, hope was shining bright.

I wish for an end to the coronavirus pandemic in 2021, as well as hope and huge doses of love and health for my family and yours.

- Sandy Schroth