“Life is too short to wake up with regrets…So love the people who treat you right….Forget about the ones who don’t…..Believe everything happens for a reason. If you get a second chance, grab it with both hands. If it changes your life, let it….Nobody said life would be easy, they just promised it would be worth it.”

As friends of Janet, we wanted to write something about how special she was and how special our memories of her still are. When we stumbled upon the above quotation, we knew immediately that “grabbing life by both hands” was the perfect way to characterize her.

Janet always tried to live her life well and it shocked everyone when she was stricken with a life-altering stroke at the age of 56. She lay in a coma for more than six weeks. She showed no signs of regaining consciousness and her doctors told her husband, Ted, that it was highly unlikely she would survive.

But, those doctors didn’t know Janet.

In a few weeks, Janet opened her eyes and was wide awake….ready to grab life with both hands. The doctors had other ideas and told her and Ted that she would probably never walk or talk again.

But, those doctors didn’t know Janet.

Janet entered the Houston Rehabilitation Institute and spent two months regaining her strength and coordination. Belying what the doctors predicted, Janet walked and talked and she and Ted soon moved from Conroe to San Saba to be closer to family. Janet’s son, Brad, lived in Copperas Cove; her middle son, Randy, was serving as a minister in San Marcos; and Janet’s youngest daughter, Suzanne, was teaching school in Brownwood. Janet and Ted purchased some land, established a new home and Janet proceeded to embrace her second chance.

Although Janet and Ted didn’t know anyone when they came here, the community opened their arms to them. They joined the Methodist Church where Janet sang in the choir and volunteered to help in many activities. She also joined the Eastern Star, the Garden Club, the Extension Club and the Red Hats. She loved San Saba and told Ted she’d never lived anywhere with such warm and welcoming people.

Janet passed away in January 2008.

We all wanted to do something worthy to commemorate her extraordinary life. On Saturday, October 10, we gathered at the Mill Pond while Pastor Robin Pearcy conducted a beautiful ceremony consecrating a Red Oak tree planted in Janet’s memory. Pastor Robin encouraged us to remember that “as this tree grows and spreads its beautiful limbs and shades the ground with its colorful leaves, we will indeed be reminded of the love which Janet spread in her life on Earth.”

Fran Hulgan concluded the ceremony by singing "Hymn of Promise" in memory of her friend.

We are so grateful that God gave Janet a second chance and that she chose to spend it with us.