December 16, 1987
Dear __________
On a Saturday about 3 weeks ago, we stood in a cold, wet rain eagerly waiting for a glimpse of the King of Norway as he drove through the streets of Decorah. The thought has struck me: do we wait as eagerly now as, we approach the celebration of the birth of the King of Kings! May your Celebration be especially meaningful to you (and to us) this joyful season.
Just a brief summary of where our kids are: well, come to think of it, it will be brief. They are all still where they were last year. Maybe by next year there will be a couple of changes. We visited Dawn and Bob and Heather in Charleston, S.C. last March, and we made a short trip to L.A. to see Arik this fall. It's fun to be able to see them in your mind instead of just imagining what their homes are like, etc. We have been to Mark and Amy's a couple of times at Champaign, and see Jené oftener - she's the closest and is enjoying her college work.
Guess August was both the saddest and the "gladdest" month. Vince's brother Lyle died from lunq cancer - he had fouqht it bravely for 2 1/2 years. Fortunately, we had been to Salt Lake in July to see Lyle and Exene, and Linda and family and had some good visits. We flew out for his memorial service August 17-18.
And then the following weekend drove to Windom to help my folks celebrate their 60th Wedding Anniversary. We made it a Blakey reunion and all of the folks' descendants were there, includinq 15 qrandchildren, and 8 great-grandchildren. We spent most of Saturday together visiting and eating, and eating and visiting. On Sunday, we filled 4 pews at morning worship, and at noon nearly filled an upper room of a restaurant where Dad treated us to dinner. In the afternoon, the folks greeted 160 friends and relatives at an Open House. My only reqret is that the weekend went too fast, and the time for visiting was too short. Next time we will have to add another day. Shall we plan it for their 65th or 70th? It really was such fun!
Merry Christmas,
Verla Williams
Showing posts with label Lyle. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lyle. Show all posts
Monday, April 4, 2011
Saturday, April 2, 2011
1985
4 December 1985
As you turned your calendar to December, did you stop to wonder where the year has gone? I did. And I looked back to see. Each sheet is marked up with birthdays to remember, things to do, places to go, and even money spent. Each month has a lot of repetitions: circle meeting, Norse Club, reading group, postage - $4.40; 22nd - call Mom; go quilt. And each month has some things different: a concert, or a play, or an opera (we drove to Champaign, IL, twice to see Mark perform - The Merry Widow, and The Magic Flute), or a football game (how about them Rose Bowl Hawks?)
There've been some interesting trips:
Feb - a dental meeting in Chicago; and Vince flew to Edmonton, Can. to lecture at a 2-day meeting.
Mar - a dental meeting in Las Vegas - that was . . . interesting. Especially so because Arik drove up from LA to see us, and we also saw both Spence, and his son Steve, and Lyle and Exene (Vince's brothers).
Apr - Mom, Sharon, her daughter Jessica and I flew to DC to visit Dawn, Bob and Heather - both Mom and Heather were quite the sight-seeing troopers!
May - 2 short jaunts - a day to Des Moines, and one to Decorah. Vince had a fishing trip to N. Minn.
June - Vince had a week of fishing in Canada; and we spent part of a week checking out lakes in Mn. We think we might like a lake cabin. Went home via Windom, for a short visit with my brother Gordon and Shirley.
July - Dawn and Heather flew out to visit us - Dawn timed it for her H.S. reunion at Nordic Fest time, so another trip to Decorah.
Aug - Heard the Statler Brothers at a little county fair not far from here.
Sept - Decorah for a day, and Windom for several.
Oct - a trip to Mpls. (Vince went to a continuing ed. course) I took Sharon to the Mn. Historical research building and taught her how to read census films. How exciting!
Nov - one of our trips to Champaign; also Thanksgiving Day in Pekin, IL with Amy and Mark at her folks.
Dawn and Bob are still in DC but are looking for a new duty assignment next spring. They are coming next week for a 10-day visit. We are anxious to see Heather (well, Dawn and Bob, too) - sounds like she keeps her mom busy - running and climbing.
Mark and Amy are still in Champaign, still going to school.
Arik is still in LA (Sherman Oaks) and planning on going back to school, out there.
Jené is still at UNI, second year. She will be taking off the next semester and spending it in Norway. So she is quite excited about that. Actually, we are too; she will be living with us. Vince was granted a developmental leave from the University, and will be doing research with a professor at the University of Oslo. We leave on Jan. 6, will be in Oslo until middle of May, and then hope to travel to Germany, Switzerland, and Great Britain before heading back here on June 12. It should be quite an adventure.
May Jesus, whose birth we celebrate, fill you with His peace throughout this season and the year to come.
P.S. Our address until 15 May in case you want to write or come to visit:
c/o Prof. Jon Gjønnes
Otto Ruges Veien 84A
1345 Østerås Norway
As you turned your calendar to December, did you stop to wonder where the year has gone? I did. And I looked back to see. Each sheet is marked up with birthdays to remember, things to do, places to go, and even money spent. Each month has a lot of repetitions: circle meeting, Norse Club, reading group, postage - $4.40; 22nd - call Mom; go quilt. And each month has some things different: a concert, or a play, or an opera (we drove to Champaign, IL, twice to see Mark perform - The Merry Widow, and The Magic Flute), or a football game (how about them Rose Bowl Hawks?)
There've been some interesting trips:
Feb - a dental meeting in Chicago; and Vince flew to Edmonton, Can. to lecture at a 2-day meeting.
Mar - a dental meeting in Las Vegas - that was . . . interesting. Especially so because Arik drove up from LA to see us, and we also saw both Spence, and his son Steve, and Lyle and Exene (Vince's brothers).
Apr - Mom, Sharon, her daughter Jessica and I flew to DC to visit Dawn, Bob and Heather - both Mom and Heather were quite the sight-seeing troopers!
May - 2 short jaunts - a day to Des Moines, and one to Decorah. Vince had a fishing trip to N. Minn.
June - Vince had a week of fishing in Canada; and we spent part of a week checking out lakes in Mn. We think we might like a lake cabin. Went home via Windom, for a short visit with my brother Gordon and Shirley.
July - Dawn and Heather flew out to visit us - Dawn timed it for her H.S. reunion at Nordic Fest time, so another trip to Decorah.
Aug - Heard the Statler Brothers at a little county fair not far from here.
Sept - Decorah for a day, and Windom for several.
Oct - a trip to Mpls. (Vince went to a continuing ed. course) I took Sharon to the Mn. Historical research building and taught her how to read census films. How exciting!
Nov - one of our trips to Champaign; also Thanksgiving Day in Pekin, IL with Amy and Mark at her folks.
Dawn and Bob are still in DC but are looking for a new duty assignment next spring. They are coming next week for a 10-day visit. We are anxious to see Heather (well, Dawn and Bob, too) - sounds like she keeps her mom busy - running and climbing.
Mark and Amy are still in Champaign, still going to school.
Arik is still in LA (Sherman Oaks) and planning on going back to school, out there.
Jené is still at UNI, second year. She will be taking off the next semester and spending it in Norway. So she is quite excited about that. Actually, we are too; she will be living with us. Vince was granted a developmental leave from the University, and will be doing research with a professor at the University of Oslo. We leave on Jan. 6, will be in Oslo until middle of May, and then hope to travel to Germany, Switzerland, and Great Britain before heading back here on June 12. It should be quite an adventure.
May Jesus, whose birth we celebrate, fill you with His peace throughout this season and the year to come.
P.S. Our address until 15 May in case you want to write or come to visit:
c/o Prof. Jon Gjønnes
Otto Ruges Veien 84A
1345 Østerås Norway
Friday, April 1, 2011
1984
16 December 1984
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
This letter is being written as we drive along the Interstate between Champaign, Ill. and Iowa City. We spent the weekend with Mark and Amy. They are both back in school at the University of Illinois - Amy working on a master's and Mark on his doctorate. (We did enjoy seeing Mark in several shows during their stay in Chicago, but for several reasons they decided to make the move.)
Dawn and Bob were here for Thanksgiving, bringing little Heather Marie. It was the first time Vince had seen his granddaughter (I had been out to Alexandria in Sept. when she and Dawn came home from the hospital). Mark and Amy came to meet her, too, as did my folks. Jené was home so the only one of the immediate family who hasn't met her is Arik. It was a fun week!
Arik moved to Calif. in September - he is living in N. Hollywood, working for a moving company - establishing residency, I think. He will be flying in tomorrow night to spend the holidays here. He didn't take his car so plans to drive it back there this time.
Jené is in her first year at Univ. of Northern Iowa at Cedar Falls. It is 1ess than a 2-hour drive but she has been home only a couple of times, besides Thanksgiving. It sounds like she is enjoying college!
We have had some fun trips this year - besides our 3 or 4 trips into Chicago. We went to Dallas last March for a dental meeting - had supper one evening with my niece, Lez, her husband and family. Another niece, Lisa and her husband were there, too. They both live in Dallas suburbs. Another afternoon we visited fast and furiously with Eleanor Bynoe. She has now gotten her master's from South Western Baptist Seminary, Ft. Worth, and at present is seeking a job. It was interesting to hear her appreciation of Pres. Reagan's action in Grenada: "The support from the U.S. is our security!"
In July we drove out to Salt Lake City to visit Lyle and Exene (Vince's bro. and wife) and Linda (Vince's niece) and Steve and their boys. It had been years since we had been there. We drove home via Denver and spent July 4 with my brother Gordon and his family. Met a nephew-in-law, and a grand niece and nephew, too - it had been awhile since we'd seen them, too.
The following weeek was spent at a lake in Mn. with my 2 sisters and their families. Dawn and Bob flew in to join us for that week - a good time was had by all (in spite of Mn.'s state bird, the mosquito). We drove to Windom from the lake to attend my high school class reunion. It is always fun to compare notes at those affairs.
The annual Nordic Fest in Decorah, my trip to Wash., D.C. in Sept. and a weekend to Windom in October completed our travels for the year. We were hoping the Hawks would give us a trip to the Rose Bowl, but their last couple of games were disappointing. They are going to the Freedom Bowl at Anaheim, but the day after Christmas doesn't work out well.
Weather permitting, we will be in Mankato for Christmas Eve and Day. If today's weather keeps up, it would be no problem - it is 60, bright and sunshiny! We have had a couple slight snowfalls, nothing lasting so far.
Though we pray for "peace on earth, good will to men," Christ only promises us His peace within, available in the midst of any earthly circumstance. May that peace be ours this Christmas!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
This letter is being written as we drive along the Interstate between Champaign, Ill. and Iowa City. We spent the weekend with Mark and Amy. They are both back in school at the University of Illinois - Amy working on a master's and Mark on his doctorate. (We did enjoy seeing Mark in several shows during their stay in Chicago, but for several reasons they decided to make the move.)
Dawn and Bob were here for Thanksgiving, bringing little Heather Marie. It was the first time Vince had seen his granddaughter (I had been out to Alexandria in Sept. when she and Dawn came home from the hospital). Mark and Amy came to meet her, too, as did my folks. Jené was home so the only one of the immediate family who hasn't met her is Arik. It was a fun week!
Arik moved to Calif. in September - he is living in N. Hollywood, working for a moving company - establishing residency, I think. He will be flying in tomorrow night to spend the holidays here. He didn't take his car so plans to drive it back there this time.
Jené is in her first year at Univ. of Northern Iowa at Cedar Falls. It is 1ess than a 2-hour drive but she has been home only a couple of times, besides Thanksgiving. It sounds like she is enjoying college!
We have had some fun trips this year - besides our 3 or 4 trips into Chicago. We went to Dallas last March for a dental meeting - had supper one evening with my niece, Lez, her husband and family. Another niece, Lisa and her husband were there, too. They both live in Dallas suburbs. Another afternoon we visited fast and furiously with Eleanor Bynoe. She has now gotten her master's from South Western Baptist Seminary, Ft. Worth, and at present is seeking a job. It was interesting to hear her appreciation of Pres. Reagan's action in Grenada: "The support from the U.S. is our security!"
In July we drove out to Salt Lake City to visit Lyle and Exene (Vince's bro. and wife) and Linda (Vince's niece) and Steve and their boys. It had been years since we had been there. We drove home via Denver and spent July 4 with my brother Gordon and his family. Met a nephew-in-law, and a grand niece and nephew, too - it had been awhile since we'd seen them, too.
The following weeek was spent at a lake in Mn. with my 2 sisters and their families. Dawn and Bob flew in to join us for that week - a good time was had by all (in spite of Mn.'s state bird, the mosquito). We drove to Windom from the lake to attend my high school class reunion. It is always fun to compare notes at those affairs.
The annual Nordic Fest in Decorah, my trip to Wash., D.C. in Sept. and a weekend to Windom in October completed our travels for the year. We were hoping the Hawks would give us a trip to the Rose Bowl, but their last couple of games were disappointing. They are going to the Freedom Bowl at Anaheim, but the day after Christmas doesn't work out well.
Weather permitting, we will be in Mankato for Christmas Eve and Day. If today's weather keeps up, it would be no problem - it is 60, bright and sunshiny! We have had a couple slight snowfalls, nothing lasting so far.
Though we pray for "peace on earth, good will to men," Christ only promises us His peace within, available in the midst of any earthly circumstance. May that peace be ours this Christmas!
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
1981
Wednesday, 16 December 1981
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Hey, this has been a good year! We have been able to do a lot of fun things, most of them having to do with getting together with family, relatives, and friends.
1. Vince's high school class reunion at Decorah - it is interesting to say the least to see these friends from long ago, some who are seen every once in awhile, some every five years, and in the case of one classmate the first time since graduation.
2. Vince's Johnson Cousin family reunion in Decorah during the Nordic Fest - quite often a relationship like that meets only at funerals. In my family history project, I tried to collect at least the names of all the descendants of Gus Johnson - that was fun, too!
3. A couple of weddings in Decorah - Robyn Thorsten's in July and Joelle Monhardt's in August.
4. An anniversary or two - our 25th we celebrated a couple of times. On the first of Sept. (the actual date) we met the Wangnesses and the Christensons from Decorah at Independence and had dinner together, with much enjoyable conversation. The three men all have September birthdays so it was two celebrations.
On Labor Day weekend, Dawn hosted a celebration here, with my folks and sisters and families. Bob brought a beautiful cake, Dalen brought a beautiful centerpiece; Dawn and Mark sang - the song from Fiddler on the Roof, "Do You Love Me?" All fun!
In September also, the golden wedding anniversary of Vince's uncle and aunt, Bill and Mabel Johnson at Decorah.
5. The usual vacation - this time back to the Brainerd area for a week.
6. Vince's week fishing - this time he and Dalen floating the Madison (I think) in Nontana with Lyle and Steve (Lyle's son-in-law.)
7. A couple of trips to Grinnell - the first to help Joshua celebrate his first birthday, and Ryan his third; the second for Memorial Day. That was when Vince was fishing so it was the kids and I (Pam says that was the first time she had seen me overeat!)
8. Visits - first from my LBI rommate, Annie and her daughter. We talked a mile a minute, I'm sure - we had to, she only stayed over night. The second - Lyle for a weekend while on a business trip out this way.
9. Some exciting 'cultural' events - Leontyne Price, the opera singer, and Ella Fitzgerald, the jazz singer were here at Hancher within a week of each other. Such talent! Then Mark was stand-in for one of the leads in the University production of the opera, Magic Flute. The lead didn't get sick so Mark didn't perform, but he was in the chorus so we went to see it. He had the lead in Oklahoma! put on by Iowa City Community Theater - that was fun. I only went 4 times. Now he has a supporting role in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum - we are going to see that on New Year's Eve. That is also by the Community Theater.
There have been some things that weren't fun - the funeral of Paul Strand, our Decorah friend, neighbor and lawyer, whose plane went down over Texas and wasn't found for 6 weeks. We think often of the void in the lives of Joyce and the five kids.
Vince had surgery in October - gall stones. He is back to work full time and doing well. The difficult part was the diagnosing. They didn't show on xray or sonar scan, or any of the tests, so the doctors were hesitant to perform surgery. He felt lousy off and on for a couple of years, and is glad it is behind him.
That's about the year - a couple of business trips for Vince to Chicago and Des Moines, a speaking engagement at Decorah, and oh, showing the Museum and Decorah to a Norwegian family who were here at the U. for six months or so - I guess that's it.
Oh, how could I forget - six home Football Games! HOW ABOUT THEM HAWKS!?!
Do have a merry, merry Christmas - "for unto to you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, who is CHRIST THE LORD!"
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Hey, this has been a good year! We have been able to do a lot of fun things, most of them having to do with getting together with family, relatives, and friends.
1. Vince's high school class reunion at Decorah - it is interesting to say the least to see these friends from long ago, some who are seen every once in awhile, some every five years, and in the case of one classmate the first time since graduation.
2. Vince's Johnson Cousin family reunion in Decorah during the Nordic Fest - quite often a relationship like that meets only at funerals. In my family history project, I tried to collect at least the names of all the descendants of Gus Johnson - that was fun, too!
3. A couple of weddings in Decorah - Robyn Thorsten's in July and Joelle Monhardt's in August.
4. An anniversary or two - our 25th we celebrated a couple of times. On the first of Sept. (the actual date) we met the Wangnesses and the Christensons from Decorah at Independence and had dinner together, with much enjoyable conversation. The three men all have September birthdays so it was two celebrations.
On Labor Day weekend, Dawn hosted a celebration here, with my folks and sisters and families. Bob brought a beautiful cake, Dalen brought a beautiful centerpiece; Dawn and Mark sang - the song from Fiddler on the Roof, "Do You Love Me?" All fun!
In September also, the golden wedding anniversary of Vince's uncle and aunt, Bill and Mabel Johnson at Decorah.
5. The usual vacation - this time back to the Brainerd area for a week.
6. Vince's week fishing - this time he and Dalen floating the Madison (I think) in Nontana with Lyle and Steve (Lyle's son-in-law.)
7. A couple of trips to Grinnell - the first to help Joshua celebrate his first birthday, and Ryan his third; the second for Memorial Day. That was when Vince was fishing so it was the kids and I (Pam says that was the first time she had seen me overeat!)
8. Visits - first from my LBI rommate, Annie and her daughter. We talked a mile a minute, I'm sure - we had to, she only stayed over night. The second - Lyle for a weekend while on a business trip out this way.
9. Some exciting 'cultural' events - Leontyne Price, the opera singer, and Ella Fitzgerald, the jazz singer were here at Hancher within a week of each other. Such talent! Then Mark was stand-in for one of the leads in the University production of the opera, Magic Flute. The lead didn't get sick so Mark didn't perform, but he was in the chorus so we went to see it. He had the lead in Oklahoma! put on by Iowa City Community Theater - that was fun. I only went 4 times. Now he has a supporting role in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum - we are going to see that on New Year's Eve. That is also by the Community Theater.
There have been some things that weren't fun - the funeral of Paul Strand, our Decorah friend, neighbor and lawyer, whose plane went down over Texas and wasn't found for 6 weeks. We think often of the void in the lives of Joyce and the five kids.
Vince had surgery in October - gall stones. He is back to work full time and doing well. The difficult part was the diagnosing. They didn't show on xray or sonar scan, or any of the tests, so the doctors were hesitant to perform surgery. He felt lousy off and on for a couple of years, and is glad it is behind him.
That's about the year - a couple of business trips for Vince to Chicago and Des Moines, a speaking engagement at Decorah, and oh, showing the Museum and Decorah to a Norwegian family who were here at the U. for six months or so - I guess that's it.
Oh, how could I forget - six home Football Games! HOW ABOUT THEM HAWKS!?!
Do have a merry, merry Christmas - "for unto to you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, who is CHRIST THE LORD!"
Monday, March 14, 2011
1966
This comes with some second thoughts this year. I've read articles, and some of these sarcastic, about the annual Christmas "brag sheet" and I began to wonder if I should send out a beautiful Christmas card instead. As you can see, I decided on the annual letter (because I owe so many anyway) and hope it isn't a brag sheet but just a grateful chronicle of some of our happenings.
I'm not sure everything will be listed in the order of their importance but this first one certainly is. Our fourth child (and second daughter) was born June 2 and is by now a healthy and happy six-month-old. She is good now (after the colicky spell) and so enjoyed by the other three. Her baptism was the weekend after the Fourth of July when my aunt and uncle, Bruce and Ella Graves and cousin Elaine and my brother Gordon and his wife Shirley were down to be her godparents and sponsors. We had a real nice weekend! Pam, my littlest - well, my youngest sister came along and stayed on with us for three weeks. Then Elaine came back to spend part of her vacation (?) with us. They both got used to me, saying, "Give the baby her bottle," before they went back home. Elaine even lengthened all the hems on Dawn's dresses so they were ready for school. That's the kind of company to have, huh?!
Arik who is now 2 1/2 is full of it. He is such a tease and doesn't mind being teased back. He is a favorite with everyone (except his mom at times) - enjoys his uncle Spence and still talks about his uncle Lyle's visit here; Grandpa & Grandma Blakey would come to visit with him every day if he could manage it. Just lately he has been enthralled with Pastor Kappelmann, only he calls him master.
Mark is in third grade this year and still likes school. He talks most about football and baseball and basketball, so I would guess his favorite subjects are phys ed and recess. Dawn is a busy one - is in 4th grade and this year goes to a different school than Mark. She is in Girl Scouts, and is taking piano lessons. Both Dawn and Mark do a lot of reading and so with a little time for just playing or watching TV cartoons, their days go by quickly.
Vince's routine and schedule is pretty much the same. I don't think his practice has changed much in the last year, except that he is a little farther behind. His dental hygenist doesn't work every [day] part time anymore. He took a post-graduate course in Endo at Iowa City (three days [in] the middle of November) and also took in the lectures during Homecoming - Oct. 21-22. (I went along for the parade and the game). Sthe[?] State Meeting in Des Moines and the District meetings both spring and fall also help him to keep up with the new. He is considering going to Chicago in February, for the Midwinter Meeting.
Vince hasn't done much hunting, and didn't do as much fishing as he would like to (naturally) though he did go on the annual excursion to Canada. Our vacation was spent on the farm with my folks. The kids especially loved it and Vince and I appreciated the relaxation. Of course, I was still getting up at six with Jené, Mom and Dad probably had to take a vacation after we left.
I've been the lucky one this year. Our living room, dining room, and kitchen needed redecoration. The paper was dirty, torn and colored upon. We decided to panel the walls, paint the kitchen cupboards and refrigerator, get new kitchen floor covering, and install a dishwasher. I have certainly enjoyed that! It was a messy two weeks or month, but we were lucky enough to get it done just before the baby was born. (In fact, three hours before she made her grand entrance into this world, Vince and I were hanging dining room curtains without a suspicion that this was the day).
This coming year promises to be a more involved one - Vince is still teaching in the Bethel Bible Series, and singing in the church choir. I am going to be chairman for the Hospital Auxiliary Unit, Circle Bible Study leader and captain of the bowling team. I still have two units to take in Bethel so will try to finish that up this year, too.
If you are ever in this vicinity, stop in and see us. We love having company.
May you have a blessed Christmas and a worthwile year to come.
Sincerely,
Vince and Verla
Dawn, Mark, Arik, and Jené
I'm not sure everything will be listed in the order of their importance but this first one certainly is. Our fourth child (and second daughter) was born June 2 and is by now a healthy and happy six-month-old. She is good now (after the colicky spell) and so enjoyed by the other three. Her baptism was the weekend after the Fourth of July when my aunt and uncle, Bruce and Ella Graves and cousin Elaine and my brother Gordon and his wife Shirley were down to be her godparents and sponsors. We had a real nice weekend! Pam, my littlest - well, my youngest sister came along and stayed on with us for three weeks. Then Elaine came back to spend part of her vacation (?) with us. They both got used to me, saying, "Give the baby her bottle," before they went back home. Elaine even lengthened all the hems on Dawn's dresses so they were ready for school. That's the kind of company to have, huh?!
Arik who is now 2 1/2 is full of it. He is such a tease and doesn't mind being teased back. He is a favorite with everyone (except his mom at times) - enjoys his uncle Spence and still talks about his uncle Lyle's visit here; Grandpa & Grandma Blakey would come to visit with him every day if he could manage it. Just lately he has been enthralled with Pastor Kappelmann, only he calls him master.
Mark is in third grade this year and still likes school. He talks most about football and baseball and basketball, so I would guess his favorite subjects are phys ed and recess. Dawn is a busy one - is in 4th grade and this year goes to a different school than Mark. She is in Girl Scouts, and is taking piano lessons. Both Dawn and Mark do a lot of reading and so with a little time for just playing or watching TV cartoons, their days go by quickly.
Vince's routine and schedule is pretty much the same. I don't think his practice has changed much in the last year, except that he is a little farther behind. His dental hygenist doesn't work every [day] part time anymore. He took a post-graduate course in Endo at Iowa City (three days [in] the middle of November) and also took in the lectures during Homecoming - Oct. 21-22. (I went along for the parade and the game). Sthe[?] State Meeting in Des Moines and the District meetings both spring and fall also help him to keep up with the new. He is considering going to Chicago in February, for the Midwinter Meeting.
Vince hasn't done much hunting, and didn't do as much fishing as he would like to (naturally) though he did go on the annual excursion to Canada. Our vacation was spent on the farm with my folks. The kids especially loved it and Vince and I appreciated the relaxation. Of course, I was still getting up at six with Jené, Mom and Dad probably had to take a vacation after we left.
I've been the lucky one this year. Our living room, dining room, and kitchen needed redecoration. The paper was dirty, torn and colored upon. We decided to panel the walls, paint the kitchen cupboards and refrigerator, get new kitchen floor covering, and install a dishwasher. I have certainly enjoyed that! It was a messy two weeks or month, but we were lucky enough to get it done just before the baby was born. (In fact, three hours before she made her grand entrance into this world, Vince and I were hanging dining room curtains without a suspicion that this was the day).
This coming year promises to be a more involved one - Vince is still teaching in the Bethel Bible Series, and singing in the church choir. I am going to be chairman for the Hospital Auxiliary Unit, Circle Bible Study leader and captain of the bowling team. I still have two units to take in Bethel so will try to finish that up this year, too.
If you are ever in this vicinity, stop in and see us. We love having company.
May you have a blessed Christmas and a worthwile year to come.
Sincerely,
Vince and Verla
Dawn, Mark, Arik, and Jené
Friday, March 11, 2011
1963
December 9, 1963
Hi!
Looking back at last year's letter, I see that I wrote that on the same date. What a rut! Or maybe it is just that I'm so well organized.
Dawn and Mark are so excited about so many things this time of the year. It's just fun to listen to them bubble, and tiresome at times answering all the questions. Dawn is in first year primary at school, learning how to read, do her numbers, and print. She is doing just fine. Her big excitement at the moment is the school Christmas program which the Grandmas and Mamas are invited to observe - she sings a solo; she has a sweet voice and quite a bit of musical ability - all inherited from her Daddy. Mark's excitement seems to be new every day. Today it is that we are going to put together our "Christmas train" which holds our Christmas cards, but it is so hard to wait until Dawn gets home from school. Tomorrow it will be something else.
Next Sunday is our Sunday School Christmas services at church. The Primary Dept. is again part of the morning worship service, and I for one will be relieved when it is over. The 100 students have really learned their songs this year, though, so I'm hoping that they sing them on Sunday. Mark's is in the afternoon.
Being principal of the Primary Dept. of S.S. and Devotional Leader in my Circle has been the extent of my activities at church this year. This is Vince's third and last year as a Trustee. It has been a busy year for him, too. The church bought new pews and floor covering and, with a project like that in progress there is always extra things to be done.
We have been on the go some this year, too. The last week of June and the first week of July we locked the office doors, and drove out to Salt Lake City to visit Vince's brother, Lyle and family. We had such a nice time and saw so many interesting things. While there, Vince and Lyle drove to south Utah for a fishing trip up in the mountains. It was so cold they slept in every bit of clothes they had with them, but they came home with about 30 nice trout. On our way home, we took the long way and drove through the Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks. We stayed in Jackson, Wyoming one night and in Cody, Wyo. another night. Beautiful country!
I spent a week this last summer visiting my folks at Windom. It was such fun to go gadding every day and visit with so many old (of long standing) friends that I just don't get a chance to see on our short weekend jaunts. Think Mom and I just about wore Dawn and Mark out, but every day they were game to go visit someone else.
Besides trips to the Mississippi for fishing, and of course, to the local trout streams Vince took a long weekend the first weekend in October and with three other fishing enthusiasts drove up to Kenora, Canada. Then they boated about thirty miles further into the wilds and fished for three days and came back with quite a bit of northern pike. Vince caught the biggest one - the way I hear it is that he caught four that together weighed 37 pounds, the biggest one was 11 1/2 pounds. He hasn't done too well at pheasant hunting this fall, but he again has a deer license so next weekend he hopes to get a deer. We again went to the State Dental Convention in Des Moines last spring, the Dental District Meeting in Dubuque in September, Homecoming at Iowa City in October, plus Vince spent a couple of days at the Minnesota University taking in a dental seminar.
We are thankful to God for His bountiful blessings another year - we have had no serious illinesses or accidents. Business has been good - in fact Vince has hired a dental hygenist to help him take care of the many patients he has. Now we are looking forward to the birth of our third child - expected about the end of March. Time will tell if we will go to the Midwinter Meeting in Chicago in February, or at least if I will be able to go.
May the Christ who laid in the Cradle, the Christ who died on the Cross, the Christ who wore the Crown of Victory over death fill you with His joy and peace.
Sincerely,
Hi!
Looking back at last year's letter, I see that I wrote that on the same date. What a rut! Or maybe it is just that I'm so well organized.
Dawn and Mark are so excited about so many things this time of the year. It's just fun to listen to them bubble, and tiresome at times answering all the questions. Dawn is in first year primary at school, learning how to read, do her numbers, and print. She is doing just fine. Her big excitement at the moment is the school Christmas program which the Grandmas and Mamas are invited to observe - she sings a solo; she has a sweet voice and quite a bit of musical ability - all inherited from her Daddy. Mark's excitement seems to be new every day. Today it is that we are going to put together our "Christmas train" which holds our Christmas cards, but it is so hard to wait until Dawn gets home from school. Tomorrow it will be something else.
Next Sunday is our Sunday School Christmas services at church. The Primary Dept. is again part of the morning worship service, and I for one will be relieved when it is over. The 100 students have really learned their songs this year, though, so I'm hoping that they sing them on Sunday. Mark's is in the afternoon.
Being principal of the Primary Dept. of S.S. and Devotional Leader in my Circle has been the extent of my activities at church this year. This is Vince's third and last year as a Trustee. It has been a busy year for him, too. The church bought new pews and floor covering and, with a project like that in progress there is always extra things to be done.
We have been on the go some this year, too. The last week of June and the first week of July we locked the office doors, and drove out to Salt Lake City to visit Vince's brother, Lyle and family. We had such a nice time and saw so many interesting things. While there, Vince and Lyle drove to south Utah for a fishing trip up in the mountains. It was so cold they slept in every bit of clothes they had with them, but they came home with about 30 nice trout. On our way home, we took the long way and drove through the Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks. We stayed in Jackson, Wyoming one night and in Cody, Wyo. another night. Beautiful country!
I spent a week this last summer visiting my folks at Windom. It was such fun to go gadding every day and visit with so many old (of long standing) friends that I just don't get a chance to see on our short weekend jaunts. Think Mom and I just about wore Dawn and Mark out, but every day they were game to go visit someone else.
Besides trips to the Mississippi for fishing, and of course, to the local trout streams Vince took a long weekend the first weekend in October and with three other fishing enthusiasts drove up to Kenora, Canada. Then they boated about thirty miles further into the wilds and fished for three days and came back with quite a bit of northern pike. Vince caught the biggest one - the way I hear it is that he caught four that together weighed 37 pounds, the biggest one was 11 1/2 pounds. He hasn't done too well at pheasant hunting this fall, but he again has a deer license so next weekend he hopes to get a deer. We again went to the State Dental Convention in Des Moines last spring, the Dental District Meeting in Dubuque in September, Homecoming at Iowa City in October, plus Vince spent a couple of days at the Minnesota University taking in a dental seminar.
We are thankful to God for His bountiful blessings another year - we have had no serious illinesses or accidents. Business has been good - in fact Vince has hired a dental hygenist to help him take care of the many patients he has. Now we are looking forward to the birth of our third child - expected about the end of March. Time will tell if we will go to the Midwinter Meeting in Chicago in February, or at least if I will be able to go.
May the Christ who laid in the Cradle, the Christ who died on the Cross, the Christ who wore the Crown of Victory over death fill you with His joy and peace.
Sincerely,
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