Dear ones,
Time marches on! But as our student pastor said in his sermon at the Advent service last Wednesday, history belongs to God. So it is that 'His story' which we hear anew especially at this season is the basic foundation of all history, the promise of the past, the fulfillment in Jesus' birth, and the hope for the future. Praise God!
December is chock full of so many fun things. We started it by driving up to Decorah to hear an 800-voice choir sing the Messiah. Mark was one of the soloists, so that added to the excitement and thrill. We drove back there on the 4th, to hear Mark's senior voice recital - he did a good job. He has studied and practiced hard and has noticeably improved his voice (and his stage presence). Dawn drove over from Osage (where she thoroughly enjoys teaching third graders) for both those performances so we had a chance to visit with her, too. They will both be here for the holidays.
Sunday Jene went with us to see and hear "Cocoa and Carols" presented by the Old Gold Singers, the University swing choir. It was colorful, bright, cheerful and musically enjoyable. This Saturday is the Christmas smorgasbord for our Norse club. That's always fun - lutefisk and lefse, krumkaka and sandbakkels, søt suppe - doesn't all that sound delicious?!
We are looking forward to having my 2 sisters and their families and my folks here for Christmas. So I've added leaves to the table, and rented a couple of play pens. After vacationing together we have found out it is better for everyone if the little ones have a definite place to nap.
Our younger 2 are growing up and away. Arik is 15, looking forward to his next birthday and wheels, of some kind, of his own. He also thinks he will be the biggest one in the family and he very well may be. He is a sophomore, so is beginning to think about college and/or career. Jene is a giggly 13-yr. old, in 8th grade and very aware of boys. She is a cheer leader, takes piano lessons, is in church choir and sr. catechism class. So she doesn't lack for things to do.
I've done some fun things this year - went with the folks, my 2 sisters and their kids, out to Denver in May to visit my brother and his family - three days out, three days there, three days back was some trip. That's such a pretty place - they can see the mountains out their living room window.
In July, we went up to Windom for my class reunion. I enjoyed it in spite of the ambivalent feelings it gave me. To see people who were part of your life such a long time ago, is both fun and a little eerie. We also went to Decorah in July for the Nordic Fest. Big crowds, much visiting.
Vince is on the downward side of the hill as far as his studying. He gets his specialty degree in May, has written and defended his thesis, and will advance from instructor to assistant professor. The students have learned if they don't want a "picky" dentist checking their work, they ask someone else. They likewise have learned he will see that they get it done right. He will be happy to be done with the classwork for awhile, but I'm sure he will always be studying something.
I even studied some this fall. Well, I didn't study much but I went to an 8-week sourse in Genealogy. You should see Vince try to be interested when I tell him about finding the death of 7 great-grand-parents in the Jackson Co. Minn court house and the 8th one in the Court House at Windom. You either really like that stuff or you really don't. And I don't know very many married couples who both really do.
Better get this to the printer and in the mail.
Merry Christmas!
Verla Williams
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Friday, March 25, 2011
1977
Hi!
Sitting here in our family room, I look out at the snow-covered hills across the valley, and watch the neighbor's sheep peacefully grazing in the pasture. Once in a while a car drives across the road on the ridge, silhouetted against the horizon. Our house is about 3 miles from Iowa City on the northeast side, situated on almost two acres of land. That's only one of the changes our family has had this past year.
Living in the country instead of on main street "2 blocks from anything" is a big change. Arik and Jené having to ride the school bus instead of their bikes is a big change. Vince being an instructor in the Dental College instead of being a family practioner is a big change. However, he teaches in the Family Practice Dept., helping the Sr. dental students learn the ins-&-outs, and the ups-&-downs of being family practioners themselves.
Having Mark and Dawn feel like they're coming to visit instead of coming home is a big change. I suppose Decorah still will be their 'home' for a long time. In fact, Mark is at Luther this year, a sophomore, so he really feels he's home. Dawn is a Sr. at UNI, with only her practice-teaching left before she graduates. She is so excited about starting her teaching career.
Having Vince doing his homework most every evening because he's a student (parttime) again is a change. He is working toward his master's degree, a specialty in Fixed Prosthetics (Crown & Bridge). Having to check the yellow pages and then the city map most every time I need a different service is a big change - but I suppose if we live here as long as we lived in Decorah, I'll know my way around here, too.
Being able to go to all of Iowa's home football games instead of just the homecoming one is a big change. Being able to attend concerts by the Stradivari Quartet at the drop of a hat is a big change. I imagine even that will grow commonplace.
But not all things change - Arik and Jené are much the same - oh, a year older and some days a year smarter. Arik is in 8th grade at Central Jr. High, a drummer in the Band; in Jr. Hi church choir and Jr. Confirmation; all that plus riding his motor cycle fills his days. Jené is in 6th grade, a violinist in the Orchestra, and in church choir. They are fortunate that a couple of other families in this area have kids their ages.
The move and all it entailed has seemed to occupy most of our time this past year. Jené was thrilled when 2 days after we moved we drove into Des Moines for the Donny and Marie show - it was good! Then the first part of August we stayed a weekend at Okoboji for Vince's 20-yr. Dental Class Reunion. That was fun! And toward the end of August, we drove up to Windom to help my folks celebrate their 50th Wedding Anniversary - we had a really good time!
We've just enjoyed having Mark and Dawn share Thanksgiving with us. My sister Pam and her husband were here too - they live in Grinnell, now. Dawn and Mark will be here for Christmas, as well as my folks, my sisters and their families, and Vince's mom. Doesn't that sound like fun!
We wish for you all of Christmas' blessings!
Merry Christmas,
Sitting here in our family room, I look out at the snow-covered hills across the valley, and watch the neighbor's sheep peacefully grazing in the pasture. Once in a while a car drives across the road on the ridge, silhouetted against the horizon. Our house is about 3 miles from Iowa City on the northeast side, situated on almost two acres of land. That's only one of the changes our family has had this past year.
Living in the country instead of on main street "2 blocks from anything" is a big change. Arik and Jené having to ride the school bus instead of their bikes is a big change. Vince being an instructor in the Dental College instead of being a family practioner is a big change. However, he teaches in the Family Practice Dept., helping the Sr. dental students learn the ins-&-outs, and the ups-&-downs of being family practioners themselves.
Having Mark and Dawn feel like they're coming to visit instead of coming home is a big change. I suppose Decorah still will be their 'home' for a long time. In fact, Mark is at Luther this year, a sophomore, so he really feels he's home. Dawn is a Sr. at UNI, with only her practice-teaching left before she graduates. She is so excited about starting her teaching career.
Having Vince doing his homework most every evening because he's a student (parttime) again is a change. He is working toward his master's degree, a specialty in Fixed Prosthetics (Crown & Bridge). Having to check the yellow pages and then the city map most every time I need a different service is a big change - but I suppose if we live here as long as we lived in Decorah, I'll know my way around here, too.
Being able to go to all of Iowa's home football games instead of just the homecoming one is a big change. Being able to attend concerts by the Stradivari Quartet at the drop of a hat is a big change. I imagine even that will grow commonplace.
But not all things change - Arik and Jené are much the same - oh, a year older and some days a year smarter. Arik is in 8th grade at Central Jr. High, a drummer in the Band; in Jr. Hi church choir and Jr. Confirmation; all that plus riding his motor cycle fills his days. Jené is in 6th grade, a violinist in the Orchestra, and in church choir. They are fortunate that a couple of other families in this area have kids their ages.
The move and all it entailed has seemed to occupy most of our time this past year. Jené was thrilled when 2 days after we moved we drove into Des Moines for the Donny and Marie show - it was good! Then the first part of August we stayed a weekend at Okoboji for Vince's 20-yr. Dental Class Reunion. That was fun! And toward the end of August, we drove up to Windom to help my folks celebrate their 50th Wedding Anniversary - we had a really good time!
We've just enjoyed having Mark and Dawn share Thanksgiving with us. My sister Pam and her husband were here too - they live in Grinnell, now. Dawn and Mark will be here for Christmas, as well as my folks, my sisters and their families, and Vince's mom. Doesn't that sound like fun!
We wish for you all of Christmas' blessings!
Merry Christmas,
Thursday, March 24, 2011
1976
Verla Williams, Christmas Letter (1976). Image courtesy of Mark D. Williams.
As I'm sitting here, gathering thoughts, they (the thoughts) don't seem to [?] into words; and my mind wanders from one month to another remembering the year that is almost history. (And I feel melancholy. Is it the sorrows that stand out, or my increasing years or is it that I'm wishing I could visit with you face to face?)
February is the month I remember Vince's 86 yr. old dad passed away. I remember the concern in his face as he told Vince he was dying and asked him to take care of his mother. And I remember the peace in his face as he said the 23rd Psalm and the Lord's Prayer with the pastor.
May was graduation month - Mark graduated from high school and made his plans for college. He is presently attending Iowa State Univ. at Ames. He entered with computer science in mind but this quarter is taking some music courses and is happier. Thinking of college, Dawn is in her junior year at the University of Northern Iowa at Cedar Falls, and well on her way to becoming a kindergarten teacher. She is a Resident Assistant so is kept busy.
June is a fun month to remember. After Vince had enjoyed his Canadian fishing trip, Jené and I took my almost annual trip to visit my folks, and many relatives and friends we don't see on our infrequent weekend jaunts. We also had a visit from Peggy - it had been two years since she graduated from Luther and left us. What a lot of catching up we did - she is happily busy at the Missionary Radio Station in Puerto Rico.
Vince began a new experience in September which he thoroughly enjoys; he is teaching one day a week at the University Dental College in Iowa City. (Nothing like having someone at each of Iowa's universities.) The driving is the hardest part - 280 miles round trip - especially on Iowa winter roads. But he relishes the challenge of sharing his knowledge and experiences with Sr. dental students - our dentists of tomorrow.
The rest of the family: Arik is in 7th grade, in band (a drummer) and planning on going out for track this spring. He is getting sick of his morning paper route, but it enabled him to buy a motorcycle which he really likes. Think ihe will be the family mechanic. Jené is in 5th grade, Girl Scouts, takes piano and now thinks she is going to learn the violin. Both sing in Church Choir. Vince's mom is still at the Eastern Star Home, still in the wheelchair and misses Walter terribly. I consider myself God's oil can for this conglomerate, and I enjoy it!
The merriest of Christmases to you!
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
1975
Dear friends,
MERRY CHRISTMAS! Oh - I bet you thought we can cross Verla off our list - she's not going to get her cards done this year. I read "Family Circus" in yesterday's paper and had second thoughts again. So, if you I don't like Christmas letters, just throw this away. I like getting them!
For the very first time, I tried making lefse and fatigmann last week. Guess our trip to Norway this past summer has inspired me. Yes, Vince and I and my sister & her husband, Sharon and Dalen, visited the 'land of our ancestors' the first two weeks in August. We had a really good time - the scenery was beautiful and the weather agreeable as well. We didn't know of any living relatives but we tramped a few cemeteries and found some stones with family names. We even found a couple of farms we believe to be old homesteads. We stayed in mission hotels, a Baptist school and even a private home and met some nice people. Vince's ability to speak some Norwegian stood us in good stead. Now we are starting our 'vacation savings fund' over - I've always thought it would be fun to visit Hawaii, but now I'd like to go back to Norway; or maybe to England and Germany to visit the ancestral homes of the other side of my family. Oh, well - I'm dreaming!
For several years I was able to tell you about the increases to our family - now it has started to decrease. Dawn graduated from High School in May - attended Luther College summer session, and then in Aug. moved to Cedar Falls, Ia., where she is enrolled in the University of Northern Iowa; she is aiming to be a kindergarten teacher - thoroughly loves those little 5-year-olds. She is enjoying college life. With the two summers she went to Luther, plus credits from exams, etc. she will be a second semester sophomore when she starts again in January. She plans to work this coming summer, but will still finish college in three years. It saves her money, she says.
Mark is a senior in High School, active in chorus, band, Cross Country. He is not sure where he will go to college, and has been getting publicity from a lot of them. He likes music, but he also likes math and computers, and I guess what he decides to do will affect where he decides to go.
Arik is in sixth grade and nearing 12 years. He started in band this year, and on the drums at that! Practicing gets a little noisy, especially since his bedroom is off our kitchen. His morning paper route keeps him in spending money, besides saving for a motorcycle. (Like father - like son. Oh, Vince sold his Harley and bought a new Yamaha, somewhat smaller than the Harley. He just got it before it got cold so he hasn't ridden it much).
Jene is 9 1/2 and in fourth grade. She started piano this year and so far likes it. She even practices without being reminded. Girl Scouts and church choir are her extracurricular activities.
There has been some sadness this year - Vince's good friend from dental school being killed in an airplane accident last February in Florida; my cousin's (who lived in Golden Valley, Mn.) death from cancer just last month.
Our parents are all well - Vince's folks will be here Christmas Eve. Lillie's hip has not healed properly and she is still in a wheelchair. We will be going up to my folks the day after Christmas for the weekend.
Peggy, our Anguillan daughter, is in Puerto Rico, in training to be a radio missionary. She is happy in her new work. I wish we were close enough to hear a broadcast - I'm just assuming that sooner or later her bell-like singing voice will be going out on radio waves. I can almost hear her. . .
"Go tell it on the mountains,
Over the hills and everywhere.
Go tell it on the mountains,
That Jesus Christ is born!"
Again, Merry Christmas!
Vince, Verla, Dawn, Mark, Arik and Jené
MERRY CHRISTMAS! Oh - I bet you thought we can cross Verla off our list - she's not going to get her cards done this year. I read "Family Circus" in yesterday's paper and had second thoughts again. So, if you I don't like Christmas letters, just throw this away. I like getting them!
For the very first time, I tried making lefse and fatigmann last week. Guess our trip to Norway this past summer has inspired me. Yes, Vince and I and my sister & her husband, Sharon and Dalen, visited the 'land of our ancestors' the first two weeks in August. We had a really good time - the scenery was beautiful and the weather agreeable as well. We didn't know of any living relatives but we tramped a few cemeteries and found some stones with family names. We even found a couple of farms we believe to be old homesteads. We stayed in mission hotels, a Baptist school and even a private home and met some nice people. Vince's ability to speak some Norwegian stood us in good stead. Now we are starting our 'vacation savings fund' over - I've always thought it would be fun to visit Hawaii, but now I'd like to go back to Norway; or maybe to England and Germany to visit the ancestral homes of the other side of my family. Oh, well - I'm dreaming!
For several years I was able to tell you about the increases to our family - now it has started to decrease. Dawn graduated from High School in May - attended Luther College summer session, and then in Aug. moved to Cedar Falls, Ia., where she is enrolled in the University of Northern Iowa; she is aiming to be a kindergarten teacher - thoroughly loves those little 5-year-olds. She is enjoying college life. With the two summers she went to Luther, plus credits from exams, etc. she will be a second semester sophomore when she starts again in January. She plans to work this coming summer, but will still finish college in three years. It saves her money, she says.
Mark is a senior in High School, active in chorus, band, Cross Country. He is not sure where he will go to college, and has been getting publicity from a lot of them. He likes music, but he also likes math and computers, and I guess what he decides to do will affect where he decides to go.
Arik is in sixth grade and nearing 12 years. He started in band this year, and on the drums at that! Practicing gets a little noisy, especially since his bedroom is off our kitchen. His morning paper route keeps him in spending money, besides saving for a motorcycle. (Like father - like son. Oh, Vince sold his Harley and bought a new Yamaha, somewhat smaller than the Harley. He just got it before it got cold so he hasn't ridden it much).
Jene is 9 1/2 and in fourth grade. She started piano this year and so far likes it. She even practices without being reminded. Girl Scouts and church choir are her extracurricular activities.
There has been some sadness this year - Vince's good friend from dental school being killed in an airplane accident last February in Florida; my cousin's (who lived in Golden Valley, Mn.) death from cancer just last month.
Our parents are all well - Vince's folks will be here Christmas Eve. Lillie's hip has not healed properly and she is still in a wheelchair. We will be going up to my folks the day after Christmas for the weekend.
Peggy, our Anguillan daughter, is in Puerto Rico, in training to be a radio missionary. She is happy in her new work. I wish we were close enough to hear a broadcast - I'm just assuming that sooner or later her bell-like singing voice will be going out on radio waves. I can almost hear her. . .
Over the hills and everywhere.
Go tell it on the mountains,
That Jesus Christ is born!"
Again, Merry Christmas!
Vince, Verla, Dawn, Mark, Arik and Jené
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
1974
Dear friend,
The disappointment I feel when I open a card without some note of news from the sender prods me to again dig out my typewriter and set down this discourse.
Looking back over our oversized calendar, this has been a year of much activity - I hope some of it meaningful. There have been several highlights:
In January, our family (we took the kids out of school) spent 2 weeks in southern Texas, basking in the sun, running on the beach, a trip across the border to Mexico and visiting old (of long standing) friends from when Vince was stationed in Harlingen. That was fun!
May was interesting - we helped Vince's folks celebrate their 60th Wedding Anniversary by having a small open house here for their friends and relatives. (Things have been up and down for them thru-out the year. They moved in November from the Retirement Center to the Eastern Star Retirement Home. Lillie fell about a week ago and broke her leg, so right now she is in the hospital.)
Also in May, Peggy graduated from Luther College. We had another Open House to honor her, and such a crew of friends and faculty that came to wish her well. Right now she is back at home in Anguilla, but anticipates coming back sometime.
In July, we went to Windom for a weekend for my class reunion - the 25th (could it be?) I really enjoyed that - seeing some classmates I hadn't seen for years and years. Another week was spent at Windom during July, helping Mom with the chores while Dad was in the hospital for a short stay. It was kind of fun again - feeding the hogs, the chickens, the sheep, etc. You can take the girl off the farm but you never quite get the farm out of the girl.
Vince had his usual trips - dental meetings, etc. He spent a week in N. Minn. in June, catching the big ones, mostly northerns. And the Labor Day weekend in Canada trying for more. He spent this past Friday and Saturday at the university of Minnesota attending a dental short course. Really good, he said.
An exciting and rewarding experience was ours in September when we were the host family for two visiting Japanese Christians, a venture of the Iowa District of the ALC. Our communication was painstakingly slow as we understood no Japanese, and they spoke little English. The night one of them asked to be shown the conveniences of my "kitchen room and my basement" was a real event. To explain the workings of our appliances, particularly the water softener, was as educational for me as for them.
The kids have been involved and busy - Dawn, a senior and Mark, a junior especially so. Mark was a member of the State Champion Cross Country team, and was thrilled. Both of them had parts in the Sr. High Drama Dept. production of Fiddler on the Roof and after 8 or 10 weeks of rehearsals, the entire cast did a terrific job. Dawn was one of the daughters, and Mark played the tailor.
Arik is in fifth grade and Jené in third and each busy in their own activities. Arik spent a night in the hospital after a hard bump on the head, but no dire consequences. Jené just keeps bubbling around, teasing everyone and earning their displeasure more often than not.
So we come again to the Advent season with its busy preparations. It's good I know that Christmas will come whether or not I get my cookies baked, my gifts wrapped or my cards sent. My, (and everyone's) preparedness comes from opening the heart's door to the Christ knocking there, whether it be the Christ born in the manger or the Christ wearing the victory crown coming to be with us forever.
Merry Christmas!
Vince, Verla, Dawn, Mark, Arik & Jené
The disappointment I feel when I open a card without some note of news from the sender prods me to again dig out my typewriter and set down this discourse.
Looking back over our oversized calendar, this has been a year of much activity - I hope some of it meaningful. There have been several highlights:
In January, our family (we took the kids out of school) spent 2 weeks in southern Texas, basking in the sun, running on the beach, a trip across the border to Mexico and visiting old (of long standing) friends from when Vince was stationed in Harlingen. That was fun!
May was interesting - we helped Vince's folks celebrate their 60th Wedding Anniversary by having a small open house here for their friends and relatives. (Things have been up and down for them thru-out the year. They moved in November from the Retirement Center to the Eastern Star Retirement Home. Lillie fell about a week ago and broke her leg, so right now she is in the hospital.)
Also in May, Peggy graduated from Luther College. We had another Open House to honor her, and such a crew of friends and faculty that came to wish her well. Right now she is back at home in Anguilla, but anticipates coming back sometime.
In July, we went to Windom for a weekend for my class reunion - the 25th (could it be?) I really enjoyed that - seeing some classmates I hadn't seen for years and years. Another week was spent at Windom during July, helping Mom with the chores while Dad was in the hospital for a short stay. It was kind of fun again - feeding the hogs, the chickens, the sheep, etc. You can take the girl off the farm but you never quite get the farm out of the girl.
Vince had his usual trips - dental meetings, etc. He spent a week in N. Minn. in June, catching the big ones, mostly northerns. And the Labor Day weekend in Canada trying for more. He spent this past Friday and Saturday at the university of Minnesota attending a dental short course. Really good, he said.
An exciting and rewarding experience was ours in September when we were the host family for two visiting Japanese Christians, a venture of the Iowa District of the ALC. Our communication was painstakingly slow as we understood no Japanese, and they spoke little English. The night one of them asked to be shown the conveniences of my "kitchen room and my basement" was a real event. To explain the workings of our appliances, particularly the water softener, was as educational for me as for them.
The kids have been involved and busy - Dawn, a senior and Mark, a junior especially so. Mark was a member of the State Champion Cross Country team, and was thrilled. Both of them had parts in the Sr. High Drama Dept. production of Fiddler on the Roof and after 8 or 10 weeks of rehearsals, the entire cast did a terrific job. Dawn was one of the daughters, and Mark played the tailor.
Arik is in fifth grade and Jené in third and each busy in their own activities. Arik spent a night in the hospital after a hard bump on the head, but no dire consequences. Jené just keeps bubbling around, teasing everyone and earning their displeasure more often than not.
So we come again to the Advent season with its busy preparations. It's good I know that Christmas will come whether or not I get my cookies baked, my gifts wrapped or my cards sent. My, (and everyone's) preparedness comes from opening the heart's door to the Christ knocking there, whether it be the Christ born in the manger or the Christ wearing the victory crown coming to be with us forever.
Merry Christmas!
Vince, Verla, Dawn, Mark, Arik & Jené
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.
Friday, March 18, 2011
1970
Monday afternoon
December 7, 1970
Today as I sit before my typewriter preparing to write our annual Christmas letter I look at the date and see that it is "Remember Pearl Harbor" Day. And it reminds me as we enter Advent season and approach Christmas, our slogan should be to remember Jesus Christ. Remember He whose birth we celebrate; Remember Him - the greatest of all gifts! And as we give our gifts and receive others' gifts, to do so in His Spirit of Love. Merry Christmas!
We don't have a big trip to a lovely island or a far-off paradise to tell you about this year. Our travels last summer were only as far as Brainerd for a two-week stay at a cottage on a lake. We have been spending the past year traveling - in our area - sharing our slides and experiences of the previous summer. In fact, we still, have a couple of engagements to fill in the next two months. Each time we show them and tell about Anguilla it is almost like going back again. Our summer's experiences on the island have followed us in a peculiar way. Luther College has granted to Eleanor (Peggy) Bynoe, an Anguillan, a scholarship; and so she is enrolled as a freshman at the College. Several organizations and individuals have helped contribute to her support. We are trying to be her family away from home - so we see her quite often. She shares with us her good news as well as her bad. Peggy is quite a singer and has been doing some solo work when her studies permit. She will be with us this Thursday to sing for our ALCW Christmas party.
Each year brings some gladness, some sorrow, it seems. My younger brother, Averland, passed away last March - he had suffered with lung cancer for about a year - and we grieve our loss at his death. But we are comforted by being able to be with him some of his last three weeks (as he was hospitalized in Minneapolis) and by knowing that he died in peace, realizing that Jesus Christ is the Forgiver of all sins and the Giver of eternal life.
Otherwise, we are pretty much the same. We see Vince's oldest brother, Spence, and his family, every once in a while. Steve was confirmed in October, so we were to Mason City to help him observe that. Vince was one of Steve's sponsors at Baptism. Lyle, Vince's other brother, was here for a visit Memorial Day weekend and it was so good to visit with him again. Thinking of my brother being gone now, it seems more important to get together with one's family - we just never know about tomorrow. Vince's folks are much the same. They still live in the apartment down the block from us and get along as well as we can expect. We try to get to Windom to visit my folks, but the trips are short and sweet and not as often as we'd (I'd) like. It is fun when we are all there - and we plan to be again during the Holidays.
Our children are growing up faster than we would like to admit - Dawn is a teenager now and in eighth grade. She is involved in so many things - piano, flute, Girl Scouts, 2nd year confirmation. And she is beginning to notice that maybe boys aren't all nuisances. Mark is almost as busy but he has dropped Boy Scouts. He started on the trombone, so he also quit the piano. But he was manager for the 7th grade football team, and is now on the 7th grade basketball team, and in 1st year confirmation. Arik is 6 and in the first grade. He is so enthused since he now can read. Jené is 4 and anxiously waiting for next year so she can go to kindergarten. She goes to Wednesday Church School so she doesn't feel completely left out. She still checks at Mayo every 6 months, and is doing fine.
I am still principal of the Wed. Church School, have been Bible Study leader in my circle, and served on the nominating committee for ALCW (I think that is almost as bad as being president). Vince is resting a year from Sr. Choir but is still teaching 10th grade boys in the Hi School Bible Dept. They have a really, going department. He belongs to the Lions, and to Symra, a local literary society, and with his dental groups keeps busy. His latest excitement is his motorcycle. He bought a Honda 350 this fall and really enjoys it. He is the envy of all the neighborhood kids and they have all had rides. He stlll hunts and fishes and both Mark and Arik like to go along. In fact, we all go fishing. You should have seen Jené's face when we were out fishing once while on vacation. She was pulling in one bluegill after another and having a ball. And if you ask her yet, "Who is the best fisherman of all?" she will answer, "Me!"
As ever,
Vince and Verla,
Dawn, Mark, Arik and Jené
December 7, 1970
Today as I sit before my typewriter preparing to write our annual Christmas letter I look at the date and see that it is "Remember Pearl Harbor" Day. And it reminds me as we enter Advent season and approach Christmas, our slogan should be to remember Jesus Christ. Remember He whose birth we celebrate; Remember Him - the greatest of all gifts! And as we give our gifts and receive others' gifts, to do so in His Spirit of Love. Merry Christmas!
We don't have a big trip to a lovely island or a far-off paradise to tell you about this year. Our travels last summer were only as far as Brainerd for a two-week stay at a cottage on a lake. We have been spending the past year traveling - in our area - sharing our slides and experiences of the previous summer. In fact, we still, have a couple of engagements to fill in the next two months. Each time we show them and tell about Anguilla it is almost like going back again. Our summer's experiences on the island have followed us in a peculiar way. Luther College has granted to Eleanor (Peggy) Bynoe, an Anguillan, a scholarship; and so she is enrolled as a freshman at the College. Several organizations and individuals have helped contribute to her support. We are trying to be her family away from home - so we see her quite often. She shares with us her good news as well as her bad. Peggy is quite a singer and has been doing some solo work when her studies permit. She will be with us this Thursday to sing for our ALCW Christmas party.
Each year brings some gladness, some sorrow, it seems. My younger brother, Averland, passed away last March - he had suffered with lung cancer for about a year - and we grieve our loss at his death. But we are comforted by being able to be with him some of his last three weeks (as he was hospitalized in Minneapolis) and by knowing that he died in peace, realizing that Jesus Christ is the Forgiver of all sins and the Giver of eternal life.
Otherwise, we are pretty much the same. We see Vince's oldest brother, Spence, and his family, every once in a while. Steve was confirmed in October, so we were to Mason City to help him observe that. Vince was one of Steve's sponsors at Baptism. Lyle, Vince's other brother, was here for a visit Memorial Day weekend and it was so good to visit with him again. Thinking of my brother being gone now, it seems more important to get together with one's family - we just never know about tomorrow. Vince's folks are much the same. They still live in the apartment down the block from us and get along as well as we can expect. We try to get to Windom to visit my folks, but the trips are short and sweet and not as often as we'd (I'd) like. It is fun when we are all there - and we plan to be again during the Holidays.
Our children are growing up faster than we would like to admit - Dawn is a teenager now and in eighth grade. She is involved in so many things - piano, flute, Girl Scouts, 2nd year confirmation. And she is beginning to notice that maybe boys aren't all nuisances. Mark is almost as busy but he has dropped Boy Scouts. He started on the trombone, so he also quit the piano. But he was manager for the 7th grade football team, and is now on the 7th grade basketball team, and in 1st year confirmation. Arik is 6 and in the first grade. He is so enthused since he now can read. Jené is 4 and anxiously waiting for next year so she can go to kindergarten. She goes to Wednesday Church School so she doesn't feel completely left out. She still checks at Mayo every 6 months, and is doing fine.
I am still principal of the Wed. Church School, have been Bible Study leader in my circle, and served on the nominating committee for ALCW (I think that is almost as bad as being president). Vince is resting a year from Sr. Choir but is still teaching 10th grade boys in the Hi School Bible Dept. They have a really, going department. He belongs to the Lions, and to Symra, a local literary society, and with his dental groups keeps busy. His latest excitement is his motorcycle. He bought a Honda 350 this fall and really enjoys it. He is the envy of all the neighborhood kids and they have all had rides. He stlll hunts and fishes and both Mark and Arik like to go along. In fact, we all go fishing. You should have seen Jené's face when we were out fishing once while on vacation. She was pulling in one bluegill after another and having a ball. And if you ask her yet, "Who is the best fisherman of all?" she will answer, "Me!"
As ever,
Vince and Verla,
Dawn, Mark, Arik and Jené
Thursday, March 17, 2011
1969
Christmas, 1969
SEASON'S GREETINGS!
It's this time again! It is our wish that this Christmas may be filled with hope, peace and love as you contemplate and celebrate Christ's birth.
We have had an eventful busy year and one which we will always remember. At this time last year we mentioned that we had not gone on the Holy Land Tour (which was a year ago November) but we were still planning on "a trip." Now that trip is history.
Early in the year we made application to World Brotherhood Exchange (WBE), an organization which places volunteer workers in areas of need, to find if there was a need somewhere for a dentist. WBE told us that Anguilla had no dentist and put us in contact with Dr. Tom Nicholson, a dentist in Puerto Rico who represents the Christian Dentists Society; this Society brings together places of need and volunteer dentists throughout the Caribbean area. Through him and through the British Government, arrangements were made for us to go to Anquilla. To us greenhorns who hadn't traveled much, making our plans, getting the shots, the passports, the place tickets, all was very exciting. We drove to Miami leaving Decorah the morning of June 3. It was such fun to visit the Schulkes (he is a college buddy of Vince's) in Orlando and the Barbers in Miami. Pastor Barber serves the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in North Miami. Helene was Parish Worker at Decorah Lutheran when I was secretary at First Lutheran. We had a good visit. We really appreciated their help-they kept our car, took us to the airport and saw that we got on the right flight. And in just a little over two hours we were landing in San Juan, P.R. There Dr. Nicholson met us - you should have seen the look on his face when he saw our 10 pieces of luggage - he had rented a Falcon to haul us to the motel. The next day we flew to St. Thomas and then to Anguilla - just a week after leaving Decorah. For nine weeks we were guests of the Anguillans, Vince doing as much dentistry as he could. Some of the mouths were in an unbelievable state of decay and disease. But not hav[ing] any dentist for so long, and then when in 1968 the Christian Dentists Society started putting volunteer dentists there, it would only be for short term - 10 days or 2 weeks - the amount of work to be done outdistanced the time that anyone person could spend.
Anguilla is a very small island, the northernmost of the Leeward Islands. It has been a very neglected island, though Britain is trying to rectify that now, and so the majority of the people live without running water or electricity. It was a different kind of life than we have known and very good for us. We were very fortunate - the hotel where we stayed had running water (once in a while even hot), indoor bathrooms, and electricity for a couple hours every evening. The children, all 4 of them, really enjoyed the swimming and since that was about all there was for them to do, we tried to go to the Sea every day. Mark kept count - we missed 7 days out of the 63. The water is crystal clear and the sandy beaches so fine and white and clean. The people were very kind, helpful and friendly - they didn't seem to mind at all that we were white.
We arrived back in Miami the 9th of August and spent some time sightseeing on the way back to Decorah. We not only saw both the Barbers and Schulkes again but also visited with Vince's cousins - Doc and Myrtle Svendsen in Sanford. We stopped at Canton, Ohio, too and visited with Dr. Frank Mitchell and his family. We hadn't seen them since Air Force days together in Texas - and such a chattering time we had.
Decorah looked real good to us when we arrived back on August 20. School started the 27th, so the kids were right back into the swing of things. Dawn is in 7th grade, and my, don't they grow up in a hurry when they get to Junior High? She is doing fine - keeping up her flute and her piano, Girl Scouts, Church Choir, Confirmation Instruction. Mark is in 6th grade and keeping just as busy. He takes piano and is also learning to play the trombone; and will go from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts this March. Arik started kindergarten and loves every minute of it. Jené goes to Wednesday Church School (of which her mommy is principal). Vince teaches Sr. High School Bible Dept. again this year, is on some committee for the District Dental Society. He has showed our slides on Anguilla several places and we have more scheduled in January, February, April and even next September. And so the days get pretty well filled with things to do and places to go.
Jené went through the Urology Dept. of the Mayo Clinic in October to check out a recurring kidney infection. It was found she has a congenital abnormal left kidney, divided into two sections. She was put on medicine hoping to control the infection without having to go through surgery. When she was back for a 6-week check just before Thanksgiving, her doctor was real satisfied and very hopeful that she will outgrow her difficulty. We will have her checked again in 3 months. She had a growth removed (a plugged-up gland) from near her eye last spring; but other than that we have been well.
So much for the Williams' year
Sincerely,
Vince, Verla, Dawn, Mark, Arik and Jené
SEASON'S GREETINGS!
It's this time again! It is our wish that this Christmas may be filled with hope, peace and love as you contemplate and celebrate Christ's birth.
We have had an eventful busy year and one which we will always remember. At this time last year we mentioned that we had not gone on the Holy Land Tour (which was a year ago November) but we were still planning on "a trip." Now that trip is history.
Early in the year we made application to World Brotherhood Exchange (WBE), an organization which places volunteer workers in areas of need, to find if there was a need somewhere for a dentist. WBE told us that Anguilla had no dentist and put us in contact with Dr. Tom Nicholson, a dentist in Puerto Rico who represents the Christian Dentists Society; this Society brings together places of need and volunteer dentists throughout the Caribbean area. Through him and through the British Government, arrangements were made for us to go to Anquilla. To us greenhorns who hadn't traveled much, making our plans, getting the shots, the passports, the place tickets, all was very exciting. We drove to Miami leaving Decorah the morning of June 3. It was such fun to visit the Schulkes (he is a college buddy of Vince's) in Orlando and the Barbers in Miami. Pastor Barber serves the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in North Miami. Helene was Parish Worker at Decorah Lutheran when I was secretary at First Lutheran. We had a good visit. We really appreciated their help-they kept our car, took us to the airport and saw that we got on the right flight. And in just a little over two hours we were landing in San Juan, P.R. There Dr. Nicholson met us - you should have seen the look on his face when he saw our 10 pieces of luggage - he had rented a Falcon to haul us to the motel. The next day we flew to St. Thomas and then to Anguilla - just a week after leaving Decorah. For nine weeks we were guests of the Anguillans, Vince doing as much dentistry as he could. Some of the mouths were in an unbelievable state of decay and disease. But not hav[ing] any dentist for so long, and then when in 1968 the Christian Dentists Society started putting volunteer dentists there, it would only be for short term - 10 days or 2 weeks - the amount of work to be done outdistanced the time that anyone person could spend.
Anguilla is a very small island, the northernmost of the Leeward Islands. It has been a very neglected island, though Britain is trying to rectify that now, and so the majority of the people live without running water or electricity. It was a different kind of life than we have known and very good for us. We were very fortunate - the hotel where we stayed had running water (once in a while even hot), indoor bathrooms, and electricity for a couple hours every evening. The children, all 4 of them, really enjoyed the swimming and since that was about all there was for them to do, we tried to go to the Sea every day. Mark kept count - we missed 7 days out of the 63. The water is crystal clear and the sandy beaches so fine and white and clean. The people were very kind, helpful and friendly - they didn't seem to mind at all that we were white.
We arrived back in Miami the 9th of August and spent some time sightseeing on the way back to Decorah. We not only saw both the Barbers and Schulkes again but also visited with Vince's cousins - Doc and Myrtle Svendsen in Sanford. We stopped at Canton, Ohio, too and visited with Dr. Frank Mitchell and his family. We hadn't seen them since Air Force days together in Texas - and such a chattering time we had.
Decorah looked real good to us when we arrived back on August 20. School started the 27th, so the kids were right back into the swing of things. Dawn is in 7th grade, and my, don't they grow up in a hurry when they get to Junior High? She is doing fine - keeping up her flute and her piano, Girl Scouts, Church Choir, Confirmation Instruction. Mark is in 6th grade and keeping just as busy. He takes piano and is also learning to play the trombone; and will go from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts this March. Arik started kindergarten and loves every minute of it. Jené goes to Wednesday Church School (of which her mommy is principal). Vince teaches Sr. High School Bible Dept. again this year, is on some committee for the District Dental Society. He has showed our slides on Anguilla several places and we have more scheduled in January, February, April and even next September. And so the days get pretty well filled with things to do and places to go.
Jené went through the Urology Dept. of the Mayo Clinic in October to check out a recurring kidney infection. It was found she has a congenital abnormal left kidney, divided into two sections. She was put on medicine hoping to control the infection without having to go through surgery. When she was back for a 6-week check just before Thanksgiving, her doctor was real satisfied and very hopeful that she will outgrow her difficulty. We will have her checked again in 3 months. She had a growth removed (a plugged-up gland) from near her eye last spring; but other than that we have been well.
So much for the Williams' year
Sincerely,
Vince, Verla, Dawn, Mark, Arik and Jené
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
1968
Merry, Merry, Merry, Merry, Merry Christmas to you, you, you, you! That's our greeting to you in the voice of Jene as she sits on the davenport, sings and bounces her head!
Another year has come and gone and all too quickly. We seem to be as busy as always, only with a few different jobs. I'm principal of the Wednesday Church School this year, and so every Wednesday morning, Arik, Jene and I rush off to church. (Jené stays in the nursery with another little girl whose mother teaches.) We have two dozen energetic and eager three and four year olds who are busy learning Christmas songs. Our group is not in a Christmas program or service but we have invited our mothers to come next Wednesday to our birthday party for Jesus, so we will sing for them then.
Dawn is in sixth grade and Mark is in fifth grade - both of them enjoy school. Mark has started playing basketball. He had a game the other night during the half of the sophomore game. He loves sports and bemoans the fact that he is so small. Maybe his interest in music will win out-he likes piano and does real well. Dawn is getting to be real good at the piano. She is in sixth grade band, but I don't hear her practicing her flute very often. Both of them are in Scouts and in the church choir - too much doing too much of the time! Arik, 4, and Jené, 2, keep busy just keeping busy! Mark and Dawn were asked to sing at the Birthday Party for the Retirement Center last week. Arik and Jené sang with them - at least they stood up there and pretended. All four are real hams and love to perform!
And of course, Vince is like us and the rest of the world - busy, too. He isn't teaching Bethel this year, but he is teaching in the High School Bible Department and enjoys it. The principal is terrific! Vince has 10th grade boys and sometimes wonders if he gets to them at all. He sings in the choir yet, and with his practice and his dental meetings, etc., fishing and hunting some, his time is occupied. His mother is not too well and so we've tried to do what we can to be of help to his folks.
We thought, and perhaps with some envy, of the Bethel teachers and the marvelous tour they took in November. We had originally signed up to go on the Holy Land Tour, but when the final definite decision had to be made, we were faced with new challenges and so withdrew. By next year perhaps I will be able to tell you about "our trip" which we will, by then, have taken.
Our trips this year have been short and sweet - Vince took two jaunts to Canada for some fishing, one week in June (when I took the kids and went to visit my folks on the farm) and the other over Labor Day weekend. I had told him he couldn't go in September because he wouldn't be home for our anniversary; in his absence he sent me a dozen roses! We spent a week at Heruth's cottage on Gull Lake in August and really enjoyed a leisurely rest. Dawn, Mark and Arik had such fun! (Jené stayed with Grandpa and Grandma Blakey.) My sister, Sharon, was married the end of June so we were to Windom for that. Pam, my other sister, and I were both in the wedding party as was my brother Averland. My other brother was an usher, Vince was the soloist, Dawn was a gift runner.
Pam moved to Decorah about ten days before the wedding and started working at Luther College - it is fun to have her here. She has a small apartment on the West Side, but drops in every once in a while. She is handy when we need a sitter.
To get back to our trips - we attended the annual State Meeting in Des Moines, and the annual homecoming football game in Iowa City. We enjoyed visiting with the Dresslhaus', home from Venezuela this summer and hope to see them again before they go back. We looked for the Cahalans from Des Moines but missed them (or they missed us). Would it ever be fun to have the Mitchells from Ohio, The Thomas' from Massachusetts or the Daniels' from Houston come this way. We haven't seen them in a long, long time!
Our family has really grown this year - no, no new little ones, but we did acquire a new brother-in-law. And Vince's two nieces were both married this year: Linda in early spring, and Lanita this fall, so you see we have two new nephews-in-law.
May Christ's Peace be yours this Christmas!
As ever,
Another year has come and gone and all too quickly. We seem to be as busy as always, only with a few different jobs. I'm principal of the Wednesday Church School this year, and so every Wednesday morning, Arik, Jene and I rush off to church. (Jené stays in the nursery with another little girl whose mother teaches.) We have two dozen energetic and eager three and four year olds who are busy learning Christmas songs. Our group is not in a Christmas program or service but we have invited our mothers to come next Wednesday to our birthday party for Jesus, so we will sing for them then.
Dawn is in sixth grade and Mark is in fifth grade - both of them enjoy school. Mark has started playing basketball. He had a game the other night during the half of the sophomore game. He loves sports and bemoans the fact that he is so small. Maybe his interest in music will win out-he likes piano and does real well. Dawn is getting to be real good at the piano. She is in sixth grade band, but I don't hear her practicing her flute very often. Both of them are in Scouts and in the church choir - too much doing too much of the time! Arik, 4, and Jené, 2, keep busy just keeping busy! Mark and Dawn were asked to sing at the Birthday Party for the Retirement Center last week. Arik and Jené sang with them - at least they stood up there and pretended. All four are real hams and love to perform!
And of course, Vince is like us and the rest of the world - busy, too. He isn't teaching Bethel this year, but he is teaching in the High School Bible Department and enjoys it. The principal is terrific! Vince has 10th grade boys and sometimes wonders if he gets to them at all. He sings in the choir yet, and with his practice and his dental meetings, etc., fishing and hunting some, his time is occupied. His mother is not too well and so we've tried to do what we can to be of help to his folks.
We thought, and perhaps with some envy, of the Bethel teachers and the marvelous tour they took in November. We had originally signed up to go on the Holy Land Tour, but when the final definite decision had to be made, we were faced with new challenges and so withdrew. By next year perhaps I will be able to tell you about "our trip" which we will, by then, have taken.
Our trips this year have been short and sweet - Vince took two jaunts to Canada for some fishing, one week in June (when I took the kids and went to visit my folks on the farm) and the other over Labor Day weekend. I had told him he couldn't go in September because he wouldn't be home for our anniversary; in his absence he sent me a dozen roses! We spent a week at Heruth's cottage on Gull Lake in August and really enjoyed a leisurely rest. Dawn, Mark and Arik had such fun! (Jené stayed with Grandpa and Grandma Blakey.) My sister, Sharon, was married the end of June so we were to Windom for that. Pam, my other sister, and I were both in the wedding party as was my brother Averland. My other brother was an usher, Vince was the soloist, Dawn was a gift runner.
Pam moved to Decorah about ten days before the wedding and started working at Luther College - it is fun to have her here. She has a small apartment on the West Side, but drops in every once in a while. She is handy when we need a sitter.
To get back to our trips - we attended the annual State Meeting in Des Moines, and the annual homecoming football game in Iowa City. We enjoyed visiting with the Dresslhaus', home from Venezuela this summer and hope to see them again before they go back. We looked for the Cahalans from Des Moines but missed them (or they missed us). Would it ever be fun to have the Mitchells from Ohio, The Thomas' from Massachusetts or the Daniels' from Houston come this way. We haven't seen them in a long, long time!
Our family has really grown this year - no, no new little ones, but we did acquire a new brother-in-law. And Vince's two nieces were both married this year: Linda in early spring, and Lanita this fall, so you see we have two new nephews-in-law.
May Christ's Peace be yours this Christmas!
As ever,
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
1967
Mark and Dawn (Mom supervised) made their gifts to their homeroom teachers tonight. The hardest part was trying to ignore all the help they were getting from Arik and Jené. Saturday morning we made and decorated cookies. This year I had three decorators - will it be all four by next year? One of these nights will be giftwrapping and then I think the tree will go up over the weekend. We don't dare put it up too early. And so the tasks get done and the days go by. Christmas will soon be here. Have we hurried and scurried too much? Are we too tired to appreciate Christmas? Did we miss its real significance? I pray not.
I suppose we notice most that another year has passed by looking at our children. Dawn is ten and in the fifth grade. She thoroughly enjoys school. With church choir, piano lessons and girl scouts, she is kept busy enough. Oh yes, she started on the flute this year. The fifth and sixth grade band had their first concert last week, and it was surprisingly good. The director is very informal and kept making funny remarks in his announcements. He must make band fun for the kids.
Mark is eight and in fourth grade. He started taking piano lessons this fall and is coming right along. He is in Cub Scouts too, so is on the go. He hates to miss school - the other week when he was sick during the night and knew he wouldn't be feeling well the next day, said, "I wish tomorrow was Saturday." It wasn't!
Arik is three and started church school this fall. His class meets on Wednesday morning because of space problems on Sunday morning. He is an active, energetic, teasing little boy who loves to go get a haircut because the barber gives him a Tootsie Roll, and to go to the bank with Daddy because the teller gives him a sucker. And he never forgets! He keeps the whole house in a dither most of the time till we get to the point where we look forward to bedtime, his bedtime.
And then there is the baby - no, not a baby any longer. She is a year and a half, and is beginning to talk in sentences, at least to mimic our sentences. Jené has progressed in the past year from crawling to walking, to climbing and running. She is more often on top of the table than she is walking on the floor. She loves books and sits on the davenport for long times looking at them; lately it is has been the Christmas catalog with its pretty doll babies. Her sweet smile at times, and her quick "Don't" at other times show us she is developing her own independency - it doesn't take long!
I suppose if you would look at Vince and me you could see the passage of time, too; Vince with his balding pate and me with my strands of gray!
Vince has taken two fishing trips to Canada - one last spring with his brother Spence and one this fall with three other Decorah fellows. Fishing was real good both times, so they all had a delightful time. We also went to the State Dental Convention in May at Des Moines, and to the ten-year reunion of Vince's class at Lake Okoboji in August. Mom came down and stayed with the kids while we were in Des Moines. And for the reunion we took Mark, Arik, and Dawn with us and left Jené with Mom.
Our vacation was a real "mom-vacation." We spent two weeks in July at a cottage on Gull Lake near Brainerd. Mark and Dawn went swimming every day and thoroughly enjoyed the convenience of the lake. We got so we ate only two meals a day, one of which was breakfast usually prepared by Vince. Mark and Dawn usually did dishes once a day, so I really felt like I was a lady of Leisure. Oh yes, my Mom had Arik and Jene for those two weeks, and she was the one in need of a vacation by the time we came back to pick them up.
Vince's folks haven't felt too good through the past year and we've tried to be as much help to them as possible. It must be difficult to grow old and have to admit that we can't do as much as we once did and would still like to do.
(Forgive the typographical errors - I'm going to have to take this old typewriter in for repairs. It keeps using the wrong keys.)
It is our prayer that we may realize anew that it is the Christ whose birth we celebrate now who will come again to take us to be with Him eternally.
I suppose we notice most that another year has passed by looking at our children. Dawn is ten and in the fifth grade. She thoroughly enjoys school. With church choir, piano lessons and girl scouts, she is kept busy enough. Oh yes, she started on the flute this year. The fifth and sixth grade band had their first concert last week, and it was surprisingly good. The director is very informal and kept making funny remarks in his announcements. He must make band fun for the kids.
Mark is eight and in fourth grade. He started taking piano lessons this fall and is coming right along. He is in Cub Scouts too, so is on the go. He hates to miss school - the other week when he was sick during the night and knew he wouldn't be feeling well the next day, said, "I wish tomorrow was Saturday." It wasn't!
Arik is three and started church school this fall. His class meets on Wednesday morning because of space problems on Sunday morning. He is an active, energetic, teasing little boy who loves to go get a haircut because the barber gives him a Tootsie Roll, and to go to the bank with Daddy because the teller gives him a sucker. And he never forgets! He keeps the whole house in a dither most of the time till we get to the point where we look forward to bedtime, his bedtime.
And then there is the baby - no, not a baby any longer. She is a year and a half, and is beginning to talk in sentences, at least to mimic our sentences. Jené has progressed in the past year from crawling to walking, to climbing and running. She is more often on top of the table than she is walking on the floor. She loves books and sits on the davenport for long times looking at them; lately it is has been the Christmas catalog with its pretty doll babies. Her sweet smile at times, and her quick "Don't" at other times show us she is developing her own independency - it doesn't take long!
I suppose if you would look at Vince and me you could see the passage of time, too; Vince with his balding pate and me with my strands of gray!
Vince has taken two fishing trips to Canada - one last spring with his brother Spence and one this fall with three other Decorah fellows. Fishing was real good both times, so they all had a delightful time. We also went to the State Dental Convention in May at Des Moines, and to the ten-year reunion of Vince's class at Lake Okoboji in August. Mom came down and stayed with the kids while we were in Des Moines. And for the reunion we took Mark, Arik, and Dawn with us and left Jené with Mom.
Our vacation was a real "mom-vacation." We spent two weeks in July at a cottage on Gull Lake near Brainerd. Mark and Dawn went swimming every day and thoroughly enjoyed the convenience of the lake. We got so we ate only two meals a day, one of which was breakfast usually prepared by Vince. Mark and Dawn usually did dishes once a day, so I really felt like I was a lady of Leisure. Oh yes, my Mom had Arik and Jene for those two weeks, and she was the one in need of a vacation by the time we came back to pick them up.
Vince's folks haven't felt too good through the past year and we've tried to be as much help to them as possible. It must be difficult to grow old and have to admit that we can't do as much as we once did and would still like to do.
(Forgive the typographical errors - I'm going to have to take this old typewriter in for repairs. It keeps using the wrong keys.)
It is our prayer that we may realize anew that it is the Christ whose birth we celebrate now who will come again to take us to be with Him eternally.
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