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,
Verla Williams
Showing posts with label Verla. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Verla. Show all posts
Friday, March 11, 2011
Thursday, March 10, 2011
1962
December 9, 1962
Hi!
We are echoing the words of so many, "Where has this year gone?" As I write this Vince is out hunting - hoping to get a couple of pheasants. Next weekend he is going to try for a deer, being lucky enough to get one of the 10,000 deer licenses that are issued in Iowa. We've had a couple of pheasant dinners this fall, plus a few squirrel dinners, and quite a bit of trout through the summer. Vince likes to excuse his many hunting or fishing excursions with, "I've got to furnish meat for the table." (It all tastes good!)
As the weather finally turns cold, we remember with pleasure our vacation trip to Texas last February. Leaving Iowa in a blizzard (it took us 2 1/2 days to get to the Missouri Border) and coming back to Decorah in a blizzard, the week we spent in Harlingen with temperatures every day of 88 and 90 was really a treat. The kids even played in the Gulf of Mexico; and Vince got one of the worst sunburns he can remember, on an afternoon fishing trip. We enjoyed so much seeing quite a few of those we knew when Vince was stationed there, and especially enjoyed the hospitality of the Daniel family - Pastor, Margaret, Becca & Dave.
Another memorable week was spent along with a family from Decorah at a cabin on the Mississippi near Cass Lake and Bemidji, Minnesota, the middle part of August. It was a poor time of the year for fishing, though the men tried early and late every day; but it was really relaxing for the womenfolk to have nothing to do but see that the meals were made and the children watched. Our schedule was so different - breakfast at ten in the morning, dinner or lunch at 2 or 3 in the afternoon, and supper about 9:30 or 10 in the evening. But even that was fun!
The rest of the year has been spent in busyness in home, church and community. Vince has been Chairman of the Board of Trustees at church, and so has been real concerned with the business end of the church. Starting this fall, I'm principal of the Primary Dept. of Sunday School. We have 12 teachers, 12 substitutes and about 100 students in our department. Next, Sunday we are giving our Christmas presentation as a part of the second morning worship service. I hope it sounds better than it did at practice today.
About once a month or so, we try to get up to Windom, Minnesota, to see Grandma & Grandpa Blakey. The kids really have fun on the farm. Mark was out helping Grandma pick eggs one day. How was he to know he wasn't supposed to drop them in the basket. And then to climb the elevator into the hay loft - that is really an adventure. And if Grandpa wonders where the corn disappears to - Mark has been feeding the pigs. They're hungry! Poor Grandpa - he has to keep an eye on them - these city kids just aren't used to things on a farm!
Vince and I went to the State Dental Convention in Des Moines, the Dental District Meeting in Dubuque, Homecoming at Iowa City; we also spent a weekend in Des Moines in November with Art & Marge Cahalan, an exciting weekend considering Mark needed three stitches in his upper lip - he fell against the door. Now we are planning, weather permitting, to attend the Midwinter Meeting in Chicago in February. We really appreciate living in the same town as Grandpa and Grandma Williams, and their willingness to stay with the kids on these weekends. Needless to say, the kids really enjoy it - Grandpa always has some licorice in a pocket.
Why mamas get gray? On July 4, Mark fell out of the car as I was turning into our driveway - luckily he had sense enough to grab hold of the arm rest and hang on till I got the car stopped. And I really aged on August 27. Dawn had her 5th birthday on August 26, and the next day tripped gaily off to kindergarten. She enjoys it so much. Mark started Sunday School in September so he too says he "is getting big." They have their Christmas program next Sunday afternoon, so we have been learning the little songs and finger plays that they will be using. Dawn found out today that she will be an angel and is quite thrilled. Mark will be in the little "choir."
May Christ, the light of the World, whose birth we are remembering fill you with His joy and peace now and throughout the year to come.
Sincerely,
Hi!
We are echoing the words of so many, "Where has this year gone?" As I write this Vince is out hunting - hoping to get a couple of pheasants. Next weekend he is going to try for a deer, being lucky enough to get one of the 10,000 deer licenses that are issued in Iowa. We've had a couple of pheasant dinners this fall, plus a few squirrel dinners, and quite a bit of trout through the summer. Vince likes to excuse his many hunting or fishing excursions with, "I've got to furnish meat for the table." (It all tastes good!)
As the weather finally turns cold, we remember with pleasure our vacation trip to Texas last February. Leaving Iowa in a blizzard (it took us 2 1/2 days to get to the Missouri Border) and coming back to Decorah in a blizzard, the week we spent in Harlingen with temperatures every day of 88 and 90 was really a treat. The kids even played in the Gulf of Mexico; and Vince got one of the worst sunburns he can remember, on an afternoon fishing trip. We enjoyed so much seeing quite a few of those we knew when Vince was stationed there, and especially enjoyed the hospitality of the Daniel family - Pastor, Margaret, Becca & Dave.
Another memorable week was spent along with a family from Decorah at a cabin on the Mississippi near Cass Lake and Bemidji, Minnesota, the middle part of August. It was a poor time of the year for fishing, though the men tried early and late every day; but it was really relaxing for the womenfolk to have nothing to do but see that the meals were made and the children watched. Our schedule was so different - breakfast at ten in the morning, dinner or lunch at 2 or 3 in the afternoon, and supper about 9:30 or 10 in the evening. But even that was fun!
The rest of the year has been spent in busyness in home, church and community. Vince has been Chairman of the Board of Trustees at church, and so has been real concerned with the business end of the church. Starting this fall, I'm principal of the Primary Dept. of Sunday School. We have 12 teachers, 12 substitutes and about 100 students in our department. Next, Sunday we are giving our Christmas presentation as a part of the second morning worship service. I hope it sounds better than it did at practice today.
About once a month or so, we try to get up to Windom, Minnesota, to see Grandma & Grandpa Blakey. The kids really have fun on the farm. Mark was out helping Grandma pick eggs one day. How was he to know he wasn't supposed to drop them in the basket. And then to climb the elevator into the hay loft - that is really an adventure. And if Grandpa wonders where the corn disappears to - Mark has been feeding the pigs. They're hungry! Poor Grandpa - he has to keep an eye on them - these city kids just aren't used to things on a farm!
Vince and I went to the State Dental Convention in Des Moines, the Dental District Meeting in Dubuque, Homecoming at Iowa City; we also spent a weekend in Des Moines in November with Art & Marge Cahalan, an exciting weekend considering Mark needed three stitches in his upper lip - he fell against the door. Now we are planning, weather permitting, to attend the Midwinter Meeting in Chicago in February. We really appreciate living in the same town as Grandpa and Grandma Williams, and their willingness to stay with the kids on these weekends. Needless to say, the kids really enjoy it - Grandpa always has some licorice in a pocket.
Why mamas get gray? On July 4, Mark fell out of the car as I was turning into our driveway - luckily he had sense enough to grab hold of the arm rest and hang on till I got the car stopped. And I really aged on August 27. Dawn had her 5th birthday on August 26, and the next day tripped gaily off to kindergarten. She enjoys it so much. Mark started Sunday School in September so he too says he "is getting big." They have their Christmas program next Sunday afternoon, so we have been learning the little songs and finger plays that they will be using. Dawn found out today that she will be an angel and is quite thrilled. Mark will be in the little "choir."
May Christ, the light of the World, whose birth we are remembering fill you with His joy and peace now and throughout the year to come.
Sincerely,
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