12 December 1983
Here it is the same date that I composed my epistle last year. As with all of you and with every year, it has had its ups and downs.
The Nursing Home where Vince's mom lived called us as we got home last Christmas Day, with news that she was not doing well. She lingered until the following Wednesday dying the evening of December 29. Her funeral was the Monday after New Year's in Decorah. We have missed her.
Mark and Amy had an impressive simple wedding ceremony in front of our Christmas tree on January 8. They moved to Chicago the next day. Mark has had some parts in a couple of plays, has been delivering singing telegrams, and auditioning here and there. Amy got a job in her field (her major is in Mass Communications). Their ceremony in Amy's home church in Macomb, Ill., was April 30. She was and is a beautiful bride!
Dawn and Bob arrived back from Japan on March 1; their service affirming their Japanese vows was in our church on March 5. Bob's present navy assignment is at the Pentagon - they are living in Alexandria, Va. Needless to say, we have visited both Chicago and Washington D.C. this past year.
We went in to see Mark in both of his performances in June and in September, and also visited them when we were in for a dental meeting in February. We stopped there for a weekend in early June as we headed east to D.C. Spent 4 days with Dawn and Bob, seeing a lot but not nearly everything. We even got good enough to take the metro by ourselves so gave our tour guide a break. That is a fascinating place to visit! Then before heading home, drove with Dawn and Bob up to northern Penn. to see Bob's land. He has about 90 acres, mostly timber and rough land. Penn. is a beautiful state. On our way back to Iowa we drove through the area my great-great- grandfather left to immigrate to Iowa in 1838. Interesting!
July found me trekking back to Washington - Sharon, Pam and I flew out - that's the way to go. Bob's fellow workers could envision his mother-in-law coming to visit, but also her 2 sisters? We had a good time; ready to go again.
The rest of the year has been more or less quiet. Jené is in her senior year of high school. She plans to go to UNI next fall. Arik started at the University here this fall. He's trying a variety of courses - likes music and biology. Is there such a thing as a musical biologist? a biological musician? Vince has kept busy at school - so easy to keep occupied with students and patients, but he also tries to do some research and writing. He likes the variety. I am finishing my year as ALCW president. That has made a few extra meetings, etc.
Pam and Bob and their 2 boys moved to Mankato, Mn. this fall - we plan to go up there after Christmas. Jené however goes to Wash. D.C. between Christmas and New Year's for a high school choir festival.
Weather allowing, Mark and Amy, Dawn and Bob will be joining us for Christmas - that will be fun!
Verla Williams
Showing posts with label Bob Bergan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bob Bergan. Show all posts
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Sunday, March 20, 2011
1972
Hey there!
Life has been full and exciting since I last sat down to compose such an epistle as this. With the sounds of tires spinning in the cold snow, Christmas carols from the radio or the stereo, Rudolph or the Grinch sounding forth from the TV and children's voices: "You know what I want, Mom?" or "I only want this, Mom," we move rapidly on towards that day of all days when our Savior and Lord was born. As we celebrate His birth again this year, may we each receive Him anew each day, and as we anxiously await His second coming, may we each day be prepared for its glory and its finality.
As we watch our children grow and mature, I'm not sure if they are keeping us young or helping us age - a little of both, I presume. Dawn is a sophomore, a cheerleader, in the band and in the chorus, in Youth Choir and Hi League at Church. She was confirmed last May. The boys are beginning to call at the door, but she still tells her dad he is her favorite.
Mark is a freshman, in band and chorus, Jr. Hi League and Confirmation Choir. He will be confirmed in the spring (I suppose). He went out for Cross Country, and will for Track - likes football and basketball but is too small, I guess. He has a morning paper route which makes him early to bed and early to rise, and a man of his own means.
Arik is in third grade, in Cub Scouts, and Children's Choir. He is taking piano lessons - likes to play but hates to practice.
Jené is in first grade, and likes school. She now reads me her bedtime stories.
There have been some changes and some additions around here. Vince has moved his dental office uptown where he is renting space. He has a nice 2-chair office and likes it. In nice weather, he rides his motorcycle (now has a Harley Davidson) or his bicycle. Now that it is colder he walks and carries his noon lunch with him.
The boys are each sleeping in what used to be an operatory downstairs. The waiting room will be a den - we are waiting for carpenters to put in a door. Dawn now has her own room and enjoys the solitude away from a noisy little "sis." Jené also has her own room with its purple shag rug and lilac walls. Those are the changes - now for the additions:
Ebony came to live with us last January. Sometimes she's man's best friend and sometimes man's worst nuisance. I'11 be glad when she gets over chewing - boots, mittens, stocking caps, pencils, ballpoint pens, magazine racks, woodwork, you name it. The kids have enjoyed her, especially Mark.
Last May, my sister Pam got married so we have a new brother-in-law, Bob Bergan. She still works at Luther, he is employed by Western Electric.
And when school started this fall, Peggy came to live with us. She is Jene's roommate, a junior at Luther and from Anguilla (the island we were at in 1969).
Another addition - to our church - a new pastor, Paul Christensen, a man of unending energy. He'll probably shake First Lutheran down to its very foundations.
My parents for the most part are quite well, I was home for a couple of days in the middle of a week a couple of weeks ago - without any of the children along. What a visit we had!
Vince's folks had to give up their apartment last summer and are now living at the Aase Haugen Home, about five miles outside of Decorah. Some days they are fairly content out there, some days not.
Life has been full and exciting since I last sat down to compose such an epistle as this. With the sounds of tires spinning in the cold snow, Christmas carols from the radio or the stereo, Rudolph or the Grinch sounding forth from the TV and children's voices: "You know what I want, Mom?" or "I only want this, Mom," we move rapidly on towards that day of all days when our Savior and Lord was born. As we celebrate His birth again this year, may we each receive Him anew each day, and as we anxiously await His second coming, may we each day be prepared for its glory and its finality.
As we watch our children grow and mature, I'm not sure if they are keeping us young or helping us age - a little of both, I presume. Dawn is a sophomore, a cheerleader, in the band and in the chorus, in Youth Choir and Hi League at Church. She was confirmed last May. The boys are beginning to call at the door, but she still tells her dad he is her favorite.
Mark is a freshman, in band and chorus, Jr. Hi League and Confirmation Choir. He will be confirmed in the spring (I suppose). He went out for Cross Country, and will for Track - likes football and basketball but is too small, I guess. He has a morning paper route which makes him early to bed and early to rise, and a man of his own means.
Arik is in third grade, in Cub Scouts, and Children's Choir. He is taking piano lessons - likes to play but hates to practice.
Jené is in first grade, and likes school. She now reads me her bedtime stories.
There have been some changes and some additions around here. Vince has moved his dental office uptown where he is renting space. He has a nice 2-chair office and likes it. In nice weather, he rides his motorcycle (now has a Harley Davidson) or his bicycle. Now that it is colder he walks and carries his noon lunch with him.
The boys are each sleeping in what used to be an operatory downstairs. The waiting room will be a den - we are waiting for carpenters to put in a door. Dawn now has her own room and enjoys the solitude away from a noisy little "sis." Jené also has her own room with its purple shag rug and lilac walls. Those are the changes - now for the additions:
Ebony came to live with us last January. Sometimes she's man's best friend and sometimes man's worst nuisance. I'11 be glad when she gets over chewing - boots, mittens, stocking caps, pencils, ballpoint pens, magazine racks, woodwork, you name it. The kids have enjoyed her, especially Mark.
Last May, my sister Pam got married so we have a new brother-in-law, Bob Bergan. She still works at Luther, he is employed by Western Electric.
And when school started this fall, Peggy came to live with us. She is Jene's roommate, a junior at Luther and from Anguilla (the island we were at in 1969).
Another addition - to our church - a new pastor, Paul Christensen, a man of unending energy. He'll probably shake First Lutheran down to its very foundations.
My parents for the most part are quite well, I was home for a couple of days in the middle of a week a couple of weeks ago - without any of the children along. What a visit we had!
Vince's folks had to give up their apartment last summer and are now living at the Aase Haugen Home, about five miles outside of Decorah. Some days they are fairly content out there, some days not.
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