More from Family
Escape winter on the Postcard Jar Friends Cruise to the Western Caribbean
Dreaming of beautiful beaches, turquoise waters, and vibrant island cultures? Or do you simply want a break from the bleak mid-winter next January? Look no further! We're thrilled to announce our next Postcard Jar Friends Cruise to the captivating Western Caribbean in...
Things to do in Door County, Wisconsin
Our daughter, Meghan, and I first had the idea to take a father-daughter trip last spring. Because I came into Ann and Meghan's lives when Meghan was in high school, she and I have never really had time to do something just the two of us. After all, Ann and I were...
Prayers for healthcare workers, including our daughter, the nurse
Healthcare workers need our prayers. I woke up before my alarm at 5:20 a.m. this morning. Maybe it was a mother’s intuition. Maybe it was an anxious heart. Two states away in Oklahoma, our daughter Meghan should have been waking up in her one-bedroom apartment and...
Our daughter, Meghan, is done with nursing school and we’re celebrating!
It has been a big week for our family. Our only daughter, Meghan, finished a 14-month accelerated nursing program at The University of Oklahoma and is now a nurse. Meghan earned her bachelor's degree in Foreign Language and Literature - Spanish at the University of...
So much to celebrate including weddings, graduations, and Ann’s 50th birthday
Like many of you, I'm sure, we've spent much of this spring celebrating graduations, birthdays, grand openings, engagements, and weddings. Our schedules have been fast paced and we've felt so blessed to have so many things to celebrate with friends and family. Thought...
Yes, our marriage survived a 5,000 mile road trip
When we returned from our 5,000 mile road trip through the Southeast, we told you that we'd be locking ourselves into our house in Nebraska so we could write all about it. And, with the exception of a seven course whole-hog Valentine's Day dinner at The Pioneer Woman...
A guest post from Ann’s brother about his unplanned stop Sequoia National Park
[well]This is a guest post, written by Ann's younger brother, Robert Shrewsbury. Robb and his family live in Minneapolis, Minnesota.[/well] By Robert Shrewsbury On a recent business trip to Fresno, California, I had a meeting canceled and found myself with some extra...
Remembering my dad
On a cold day in November of 2000, exactly five months to the day after he was diagnosed, my dad, Robert Forrest Shrewsbury, lost his battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 51. While my dad had a fulfilling life, it makes me sad to think that he never got to see or do...
Our moms loved The Pioneer Woman Mercantile but we couldn’t get them on that swinging bridge
Both my mom and my mother-in-law are big fans of Ree Drummond and The Pioneer Woman cooking show on Food Network. We'd been to Ree's new Mercantile store and restaurant in Pawhuska twice this year, and when we returned home from our last trip, we could tell that both...
We brought our moms to Pawhuska!
That's right. It's only been a few weeks since we were in Pawhuska, Oklahoma, to judge the National Indian Taco Championships, but we're back in town, this time with our moms, Carol Johnstone and Gayle Teget. Having been to Pawhuska twice already this year, we got the...
A perfect fall day with family
Today was one of those cool, cloudy days when it starts to really feel like fall in Nebraska. The trees are starting to change colors and the corn fields are almost ready for harvest this time of year. Now that Steve has a more flexible schedule, we thought it might...
Happy 50th anniversary, Mom and Dad
Fifty years ago today, something pretty special happened -- my mom and dad got married. I feel pretty lucky to have had them both as my parents and we are so excited for them to celebrate 50 years together. Over the years they have been a great example of what it...
On the road again
When I decided to leave my full-time job as a middle school principal this spring, one of the things Ann and I wanted to do in this interim stage was spend more time with our families. For years, our jobs have dictated when we could travel and how much time we could...
A Teshhamitroy family vacation
That's right -- Teshhamitroy. It's our new family name for the week and includes the first two letters of all of our last names. We are taking our daughter, Meghan, and four college students on a family vacation to ... wait for it ... Branson, Missouri! Steve and I...
2nd Annual Sine Die Adventure – Destination: Nashville, Tennessee
https://postcardjar.com/surprise-were-going-to-___________/Several years ago, our family of three started taking annual "Sine Die Adventures." [Read more about how the name came about here.] The first year, I had no idea where we were going until we got to the airport and was thrilled to travel to Chicago and essentially,...
Traveling with my mom and the lessons I learned
Note: This guest post was written by our daughter, Meghan Shrewsbury in 2017. Meghan is now a cardiac ICU nurse in Tulsa, Oklahoma. By Meghan Shrewsbury I think I was born to travel. My first trip traveling with my mom (aside from the one through the birth canal)...
Great gifts for a 48-year-old traveler
When special gift-giving events like birthdays come around, my family is constantly asking what they can get me. And I must admit, I'm not the easiest person to shop for. I typically don't have very many good ideas to give my husband or daughter, but usually can come...
Following our hearts to St. Kitts
Two years ago, I had never even heard of St. Kitts. Then, in August 2015, two incredible young men from this small island in the Caribbean stepped into our lives and into our hearts. We met Michael and Josiah their first week in Crete when they came to our church one...
Rediscovering Historic Stillwater, MN
For me, Stillwater is one of those places that will always take me back to my childhood and ignite fond memories. Every day I spent there as a child was filled with fun and relaxation. We'd fish off the back deck of my grandparent's houseboat, slowly boat over to a...
Thanks, Paul and Connor!
Last summer, my brother and nephew took a father/son trip to Italy and did lots of sightseeing, exploring, and even took an Italian cooking class. While their schedules were busy, we really appreciated them taking time out to find postcards to send to us, even when it...
Thanks, Meghan!
Our daughter, Meghan, turned 21 a few weeks ago. Sadly, her birthday fell on Labor Day when friends and family were busy with outdoor barbecues and many bars and restaurants were closed for the holiday. Despite reaching the legal drinking age, she wasn't really...
Thanks again, mom!
My mom has been doing a lot of traveling this year and her most recent trip was to North Carolina to visit her younger brother, Bill, and his family. She had visited my Uncle Bill last fall and had a great time, so I wasn't surprised she wanted to go back. However, I...
Our Inaugural Sine Die Adventure: Chicago
Our first ever Sine Die Adventure was to Chicago in 2012. Our daughter, Meghan, and I planned the trip for Ann and she had no idea where we were going until moments before we boarded our plane. Ann had traveled about 45,000 miles (literally) by car for her job that...
Thanks, Mom.
We received our first postcards from a reader this week from none other than my mom, Carol. She had a fantastic time in Mason City, Iowa, the boyhood home of Meredith Willson who wrote one of our families' all-time favorite musicals -- The Music Man. The next time you...
Inspiring the next step on your journey