1964

December 9, 1964

Greetings!

Another year has gone since I last sat at my typewriter and crystallized my thoughts to you - many of you who only hear from us at this time of year. It has been a full year, as they all are to everybody, but somehow I haven't felt the rush, rush, rush, I have before. And I think it's because I have finally convinced myself that I don't have to get everything done today. The work will still be here to do tomorrow; and if tomorrow doesn't come, then it is of even less consequence that I get it done today. Maybe that's just a good cover-up for my procrastination.

Our most momentous event of the year, I'm sure, was the birth of another son Arik Michael, on March 19. I don't know which of us enjoys him the most. Dawn and Mark think he is just the most special, an opinion which will soon come to an end. Arik is beginning to crawl, slide, push himself backwards and rollover to get into the delightful looking magazines, books, toys and anything left in his reach. With my new philosophy, I have probably held and rocked him more than I did the other two; and with his ready smile for his Daddy every time he sees Vince, he too has immensely enjoyed him. Arik knows he can get a smile and word of praise for his "hands-above-his-head-so-big," his "patty-cake," "nice-mommy-pat on my face" and his sing-songy "ah, ah, aaaah."

Because of our new-born, I have not had any job or office in any organization this year, but support Circle, ALCW [American Lutheran Church Women], Hospital Unit only by my presence. Vince is more involved - he is taking the Bethel Bible Series at church which takes six to ten hours of studying here at home besides the two-hour meeting each week. He really enjoys it, though. And with his monthly Lions meeting and Dental Study Club meetings he is gone as much as he cares to be. Dawn has started Brownies and likes it. She is in second grade, or it should be called second year primary. Her teacher seems to be real good and impresses on those 7-year olders quite a lot of our current events which at first surprised me. The day Dawn brought home a booklet on Dr. Paul Carlson sadly explaining to us that he was a missionary in Africa killed by the Simbas is one example. Mark is in first year primary and is probably giving his teacher gray hairs. He is such an active livewire. I have said many times that he never learned to walk - he runs, skips or hops or jumps. He likes school and has several new friends and playmates - so his world is widening.

Vince's trip to Canada this fall wasn't too productive as far as the fish were concerned. Now he is looking forward to this weekend and the deer hunting season hoping for a little more success. Next weekend he takes off for Minneapolis to attend a refresher course on Periodontia at the University of Minnesota. That should round out his year of meetings. He went to Oelwein and Dubuque district meetings and the Des Moines state meeting. This is the first year since we moved back to Iowa that I didn't go along to the State meeting, but I just felt too indispensable to my six-week-old son.

My mother graciously took all three of the kids for a week this summer. They really enjoy visiting the farm (though every so often they show themselves off as "dumb city kids.") And mom was even willing to keep the baby longer though we didn't let her. Oh yes, Vince and I spent that week at Gull Lake near Brainerd. I'm not a fisherwoman but Vince can't say that I didn't try. Up at six or so every morning and out baiting those hooks (I actually used artificial lures - no squirmy worms) till 9 or 10 o'clock. Then some napping, sun bathing, swimming until late afternoon when out we went again until dark. It was very poor fishing, too hot. Mom came down a weekend in October so that Vince and I could go to the Iowa homecoming. Iowa lost but it was an interesting game to watch - a lot of passing and funbles or interceptions. We anticipate being in Windom for Christmas Day and the weekend, if the weather is good.

May we all hear the voice of Jesus as He comes to us this Christmas season.

Sincerely,