Life on the Illinois Prairie

Wendy shares more stories about her 40 year friendship with her best friend.

Jim Hilgenberg shares insights into the functions of the Coles County Emergency Management Agency and also explains the importance of volunteers.

Wendy shares her feelings about chosen family replacing blood family. She discusses her 40 year friendship and loss of her best friend.

Wendy wraps up the series by explaining about the repercussions within her nuclear family after finding her voice.

Wendy shares some more of her writings that relate to Mike Ahmed from her perspective in 1993.

Wendy updates about both of her parents and their pending court cases. She also shares about a 15 year relationship she had with a man 25 years her senior.

Wendy shares the outcome for her parents after her mother abandons Wendy's dying father, to pursue her ex son-in-law, Mike.

Wendy nears the end of her mother's journal, but it is far from the end of the story. The financial repercussions from the much-anticipated trip with Mike to Dallas, are causing problems for Wendy's mother.

Wendy reads more from her mother's journal as her excitement builds in anticipation of her trip to Texas with Mike. Early journal entries are read showing the contrast in her mother's attitude.

Wendy nears the end of her mother's journal, but it is far from the end of the story.

Wendy reads more from her mother's journal as her excitement builds in anticipation of her trip to Texas with Mike.

Wendy explores early aspects of the life of Zeniar Kizer Edwards, her mother's cousin, who left Wendy's mother money. She reads more journal entries which reveal her mother's fantasy world and plans for possible travel with, Mike, the "love of her life".

Wendy shares more revealing entries from her mother's journals. She examines her mother's increasing frustration with her situation, while being oblivious that she created it.

Wendy shares more revealing entries from her mother's journal. Her mother is emboldened by her recent financial windfall.

Wendy shares more from her mother's journal. She is able to piece together elements of her mother's increasingly erratic behavior.

Wendy delves into her mother's journal to reveal several ironies and how inherited money caused her mother to become more delusional.

Wendy reminisces about the good times with her mother before inherited money and an ex-husband brought chaos to her family.

Wendy shares more about how inherited money and the return of her ex-husband affected the lives of her parents and her family.

Wendy discusses her relationship growing up the only girl in a family with five brothers.

Mick shares the difficulties and ultimate rewards with adoptions that he and his wife, Julie, experienced while expanding their family.

Meteorologist Adam Sherwinski shares about how he became interested in meteorology. He talks about how his childhood experiences with storms sparked his interest in studying meteorology.

Patty Biggers gives insights about being an admin for two very popular pages. She explains how just three people manage busy pages, one with over 250,000 members!

Wendy and Stacy discuss the challenges of writing and self-publishing a book. They also share their feelings about getting pets spayed or neutered and the importance of adopting, not shopping.

April Walk, owner of Coyote Creek Tack & Stables, Sigel, Illinois, discusses her trail riding business and the many aspects of being in the horse business. She shares her experience with boarding the world famous Budweiser Clydesdale horses, as well as her joy of camping and trail riding in her down time.

Brian Lau, shares the challenges and rewards of being in the agro-tourism business. His faith in God is instrumental to Brian. He tells how farmers like him have to be willing to new, progressive ideas to keep the farm profitable.