Life in Boyd, Knox and Holt Counties has not been the same since their way of life was disrupted on March 13. 2019, when the Bomb Cyclone occurred. That's the date the Spencer Dam was destroyed and four bridges on the Niobrara River damaged. Many roads were washed out and homes and property destroyed plus the pipe line carrying rural water across the river from Holt County into Boyd County was ripped out, leaving five hundred local people and two thousand people county wide without running water.

In Lynch thirteen businesses were affected, sixty homes received water damage, and residents in thirty-one homes had to be rescued from the flood waters. Being it hit in the midst of calving season, farmers and ranchers also suffered a large loss of livestock.

The towns of Lynch and Spencer and most of Boyd County in northern Nebraska were without drinkable water for over six months. As if all the damage caused by the great flood wasn't bad enough, several more floods occurred during the summer months when the Ponca Creek overran its banks and caused more flooding in Lynch. Many of the roads are still impassable and may not be repaired until next year.

However, life goes on and people do the best they can with what they have available to help friends and neighbors. Many have discovered different and novel ideas and ways, sometimes better than the old ones, in trying to accomplish what needs to be done.

For example, Janis Purviance, was determine to add new scenes to the 2019 Christmas Land Display despite damage caused by the flooding. While working on her new displays for the coming Christmas, which grows bigger and more colorful every Christmas season, she was wondering what to do with all the empty plastic, drinking, water bottles that had piled up since the flood. One day while trimming tree branches, she had a brain storm. She decorated the tree with Christmas lights and the crushed water bottles.

Janis has learned from experience that she needs to do her painting earlier during the summer months when its warmer. So this year she began working on the new cut outs from plywood in July and did her painting. Some of the new designs that included and gracing the colorful scenery include a scene of animated penguins in front of an igloo added to last year's penguins display, and two large Christmas ornaments with classic designs, and four medium snowflakes, plus two giant displays of the words “Love” and “Hope”.

Last year's butterfly made from teeth off an old hay rake has been transformed into a beautiful angel. Disney characters and gingerbread people were added last year and the year before that was Charlie Brown and Friends, and toy soldiers. In 2018 a military scene wasdesignedforherbyherfavorite son-in-law. With a smile, Janis says, “Yep, the pattern was designed for me by my favorite son-in-law.” (Janis only has one son-in-law.)

Starting in the early part of October Janis began cutting cedar trees from the pasture. Harvesting the cedar trees serves a double purpose. She uses them for the basis of many of her decorations plus, it also thins out the many cedar trees that are taking over the pastures. If he's in a good mood, Janis can talk her husband into helping her collect the trees. This year he worked with her for four days. Last year she decorated 47 trees. As of this writing, Janis says, “Depending on whether it snows or not, we may have more trees or not as many.”

Next comes the setting up of the trees, and then dragging out the many display figures, tubs of lights, and stringing out the extension cords. Janis says over the years she has learned that it's easier to set the scene and the extension cords at the same time.

Janis received a wonderful addition to her Christmas display last year when an older couple donated their family's cutouts of an organ and organist playing Silent Night and choir boys singing and a Mr. and Mrs. Snowman.

Last year the displays had outgrown her garden and extended into the orchard. So she decorated the fruit trees with lights, also. She admits she was not very happy with the results and doesn't plan to do again.

Christmas season opens at the Les and Janis Purviance farm when the family gathers for their Thanksgiving dinner. Later they bundle up to go outside and tour the many, many Christmas scenes

Janis has designed, cut out and painted. After the grandchildren have oohed and aah ed, climbed and played on the many displays, they have the honor of officially opening Christmas Land by placing the baby Jesus in the crib.

Past year's viewers have traveled from as far away as Omaha, Norfolk, Creighton, Hartington, the state of South Dakota, and surrounding towns as well as local residents to visit Purviance's Christmas Land.

There is NO charge to visit Purviance's Christmas Land and its many displays. Janis says, “This is our gift to the people who come to share the Christmas Spirit with us. Only the ones that come get the gift. You have to make an effort to come. It's a free gift, but you have to come to receive it.”

Christmas Land will be open every night starting Friday, December 13, until December 31th. Janis will keep the lights on later if a person calls 569-3737 and requests it. In case of bad weather, tune in to radio station KBRX to find out if Christmas Land will be open.

The Directions to Santa Land have been changed due to road work being done on that road. The new directions are to go to Monowi and go 3 miles south to 894 Road, and take a right, go 1 mile around the curve to Velvet Road, then take a left and go 1 mile to the John Deere green mailbox. Follow the Santa hats marking the road.