Remission

The summer of 1994 was miserable but it is one we are thankful for as we feel, *scientifically, saved Mom’s life.  We know that it was God’s plan all along to allow Mom additional time on earth so she could help raise her children, watch my sister and I participate in sports, graduate from college, marry our college sweethearts, meet 4 of her grandchildren and live life to its fullest! 

Mom really knew how to live!  She was a dedicated wife, mother, friend, confidant, co-worker, employee, just to name a few.  Mom truly was a cheerleader for many people.  Many people turned to Mom because she had such a gift of always finding the positives in any situation. Sure, she would occasionally get angry but she always kept in mind the big picture.  She was always so thankful for the many blessings and during the hardships she would remain positive.  

On top of her full time job at Community Hospital, Mom was Dad’s number one helper on the farm.  During harvest, Mom drove the combine.  She would go to work during the very early hours of the morning so she could get in a half to a full day of work before she would head out to the farm to work until late evening/night.  I remember talking to Mom on the phone at 4:30-5:00 in the morning as we were both driving to work for the day.  She really enjoyed harvest and driving the combine.  

Mom was employed at Community Hospital for 33 years.  She knew the “ins and outs” of her job.  She started at the hospital in 1979, just shortly after Dad and Mom were married.  In December 1981 Rochelle was born.  Mom took a short maternity leave and returned to work…for 1 day.  She couldn’t stand being away from her newborn baby so she decided to be a stay at home mom.  Twenty three months later, I was born and shortly thereafter, Mom received a call from her former boss.  Mom was offered her job back at the hospital.  At that point, Mom knew she better take her job back because she knew if she turned it down this opportunity could be gone forever.  

Mom had quite the social network!  It seemed like everywhere we went she knew somebody!  She was a friend to everyone and a stranger to no one!  Mom was a soundboard for her family and friends.  She was great at giving advice and challenging others to stay positive.  I would talk to Mom on the phone daily about work, kids, family, and life in general.  Rochelle would talk to Mom daily as well.  Mom always talked to us and we would easily spend an hour or more a day just talking.  Mom would also help cheer on Dad during the very hot, dry summers.  I always tried being strong for Mom but I can remember her reassuring us as she was going through cancer treatments during 2010-2012.  I remember being extremely angry when she was diagnosed in March 2012.  She told me it was okay to be mad but we have to pray hard.  I feel bad for imposing my sad/mad/angry/worried feelings on her but knowing Mom, she was happy to comfort me.  Mom always knew what to say to make sure we were not worrying about her.   

The seventeen years when Mom was in remission, we made some lifetime memories.  We were busy with high school sports.  We had the most amazing support system.  Mom and Dad never missed one game during our high school careers.  It was always so much fun on game day seeing our biggest fans in the stands wearing their Republican Valley Mustangs gear!  

Rochelle was very active in USA Track and Field.  Rochelle’s success in track took us on many adventures—we traveled to Houston, Minneapolis, Wisconsin to the regional and national meets.  We met actor Chris Farley in the small airport in Wisconsin.  He was traveling back to California from a weekend visit with his mother.  The new movie 3 Ninjas had just been released.  We contemplated asking him for a picture.  Dad was drinking some coffee as we were waiting for our flight.  Right before we saw Chris Farley walking through the airport Dad spilled the coffee on his lap.  He stopped at nothing to get a picture of Rochelle and I with Chris.  Dad found a small camera bag, slung it around his forearm, attempted to keep the bag over his stain and took a picture of us.  I remember laughing so hard at Dad because all he wanted was for us to get a picture and not even a coffee stain on the crotch of his pants was going to stop him.

Our USA Track and Field days were pre-9/11.  We had gotten sunburned sitting out during the hot track meets.   We decided to purchase one of those large umbrellas so we could have some shelter from the sun during the track meets.  Grandma Nettie made a bag/cover so we could travel with the umbrella.  When we were in Texas, Mom had to go through extra security so they could check out what was in the large bag she had over her shoulder.  It really looked like she was traveling with a bazooka.  In fact, I remember saying that out loud in the airport.  I remember getting “shushed” but thankfully it was pre-911 otherwise I probably would have been taken down!

Rochelle graduated from high school in 2000.  We were really sad to see her leave but we were excited for her new adventures during her college years at Doane.   Having a daughter in college and a daughter in high school posed some scheduling issues.  Mom and Dad did their best to continue to make it to all of my activities as well as a vast majority of Rochelle’s college volleyball games and indoor/outdoor track meets.  

Once in college, Rochelle’s track career continued.  We traveled to Johnson City, Tennessee, Vancouver, and Louisville, Kentucky.  We met a lot of people along the way and to this day, Dad has stayed in contact with some of them.  In March 2002, I stayed home alone while Mom and Dad traveled to Tennessee for the indoor national track meet.  I remember receiving a call that they met a nice couple on the airplane and they were invited to their home “up in the mountains” for breakfast the following day.  I was worried sick about my parents, thinking they were going to never been seen again!  I’m a bit of a worry wart and a pessimist by nature.  Needless to say, I was relieved when I heard from them following their adventures in the Smoky Mountains with Doug and Barb Harrel.  I believe we cross paths with certain people for certain reasons!  Ms. Barbara is a breast cancer survivor and she and Mom connected on many levels.  

The following year, I traveled to Johnson City for the indoor national meet.  We arranged another meeting with Doug and Barb.  In fact, we stayed one night with them in their quaint cottage in the mountains.  It was an amazing experience and I am forever grateful for Mom and Dad’s gift of talking to others yet trusting their gut instincts.  To this day, I can talk to anybody about anything and I feel like I have a very strong intuition.  

Life got a little easier in terms of schedules when I decided to join the Doane College Volleyball Team.  Mom and Dad made it to almost every game, wearing their Doane Tigers gear!  Many long hours were spent driving from Indianola to Doane and beyond.  Unfortunately our closest game to Indianola was when we played the Hastings Broncos.  Once again, Mom would get to work during the early hours so she could leave by noon or 1:00 to make our games.  She and Dad wouldn’t get home until well after midnight.  I remember getting emails the next day saying, “…our heads hit the pillow at 2:30 a.m.”  Mom and Dad were back to work the following day, not missing a beat!  They ended up going through at least 2 suburbans during our college years.  During the height of the volleyball season, the suburban was in the shop every 2 weeks getting oil changes due to the amount of miles traveled! 

As I was typing this entry, I got side tracked by going through old photo albums.  It brought back a lot of memories from our childhood and early adulthood.  

I found a newspaper article that was published in the school newspaper, The Doane Owl from fall 2004.  Below are portions taken from the article.  I couldn’t stop smiling as I was reading it.  I found myself taken back to the “good ole’ days.”

Schmidt Sisters Make Their Mark

“Game point!  This one’s for the championship!” the two girls yelled loudly from their backyard.  She serves, she scores and the imaginary crowd goes wild.  The girls trade high fives for a game well played.  

For senior Rochelle Schmidt and sophomore Kirby Schmidt, this scenario had been a dream since the 4^th grade.  The two girls began playing at this very young age, attending camps that the area high school hosted.  It was at the junior high level the girls began to play competitively.  This competitiveness has been the driving force ever since.  “They always had ambition to play college ball, the girls’ mother, Nancy Schmidt said. “They have always been so focused and knew to set goals of what they wanted to do.”

The closeness in age between Rochelle and Kirby allowed the two girls to compete together for most of their sports careers.  Their strength as a duo has been more than rewarding “When you are siblings you tend to compete,” Nancy said. “But because of Rochelle being right handed and Kirby being left handed they both have been able to play.  One never had to be in the shadow of the other.  I think they complement each other.”

Rochelle and Kirby left their mark in high school volleyball, winning two state championships together followed by Kirby winning the next two consecutive years, accumulating four state championship titles.  Despite this colorful volleyball record, the recruitment of Rochelle to Doane College surprisingly was not to play volleyball.  Rochelle’s first love, track is what got Doane interested.  She had tripled jumped in the state track meet and was awarded a scholarship to jump at Doane.  “Track is why I originally came to Doane” Rochelle said.  I was able to get two scholarships for playing both sports.”  Two years later, Kirby followed in her sister’s footsteps.  “I came to Doane mostly because of Rochelle,” Kirby said “I also like the program and the size of the school.  I also like the atmosphere but mostly I thought it would be fun to play volleyball two more years with Rochelle.”

Playing together for so many years the girls have come to learn each other’s playing styles.  “We have a lot of background together, said Rochelle.  “We both know how to play to win.  We know when to critique each other and we know what the other thinks.”  Both girls feel their parents have been the biggest impact on their careers.  “They are our role models” Kirby said.  “They have always been there.  They didn’t push us to play, just supported our decisions.”  Rochelle recalls one year alone their parents put over 18,000 miles on the car traveling to games.  “You can probably count on one hand the number of games we’ve missed in the last four years,” father Les Schmidt said.  “It has been a great experience.  A lot of late night driving but it has been worth it.”

Coach Cindy Meyer has noticed the support Kirby and Rochelle have and feel it has added to the success these girls have had.  “They are super athletes with great attitudes and very, very competitive.” Meyer said.  “They are also very family-oriented and come from an awesome background.  They have very supportive parents.”  

…The girls have come a long way since the days of back yard ball and invisible crowds but those days are what set the path to stardom.”