Category Archives: Children

Newlywed Love (#46)

Posted on by

March 22, 1970

News of Mary’s pregnancy spread fast, and Mom was beside herself with glee. She wrote in her diary…

Mom's joyGuess what ——- WE’RE TO BE GRANDPARENTS!!!! Praise the Lord! WONDERFUL NEWS! Mary told us as she ironed in her bedroom. Happy! Happy!

In a letter to Nate and me she wrote…

Isn’t this delightful news? Isn’t God good?

Mom's letter

Grandparents soonSome might say, “Who wants to bring a child into today’s tangled world?” But the world is an exciting, challenging place. It’s great to be alive and involved. “A little child shall lead them.” Perhaps Bervin and Mary’s little child. “All things are possible to those who believe.” I may not have quoted that accurately, but the truth of that saying is in Holy Writ. *

Then she challenged Nate and I to lead for Christ, too, and wrote…

But we don’t have to wait for that child. You kids have the same potential, plus youth and “every good thing.” So get on with the job. With Christ – everything! Without Christ – everything the world can offer, but terminally.

Mom was waxing eloquent, and I could tell her heart was soaring. For her, children were the best thing earthly life had to offer.

After all of Mom’s rejoicing over this good news about a new little relative on the way, Nate and I decided to talk about children, squaring off with the question of whether or not we would want to have any, and if so, when.

We didn’t get very far, though. With the rest of law school, the bar exam, and military service stretching out ahead of us (as well as unnumbered decisions), the only thing to conclude was that having children any time soon wouldn’t be good.

M and N.That was fine with us. We were content just to be a couple and weren’t ready for anything or anyone to rearrange that. Becoming an aunt and uncle would offer the chance to play with a baby regularly and delight in the phenomenon of children without the responsibility.

And it was interesting to see that Mom’s happiness over her coming grandchild spilled over onto her other new relative, too. She concluded her letter with this…

Just think! We have a new son-in-law in [the family] too — Nathan. He has kindled himself warmly into our hearts. We love you, Nate!

It was all good news. And while we waited for the new baby to start the next generation in our extended family, Nate and I decided we’d better do our best to accept Mom’s challenge, to “live up to our potential with our youth and (as she put it) every good thing.”

* Jesus said…. “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” (Mark 9:23)

Happy 4th of July!

Posted on by

~~~~~~ HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY! ~~~~~~

Holiday greetings from all of my grandchildren to all of you blog readers.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Here are my dual-citizenship grands celebrating in England:

Dual-citizens

Jonathan (5 months), Thomas (7), Evelyn (7), Lizzie (2), Nicholas (8), Andrew (4)

~~~~~~~~~~~~

And celebrating in Iowa:

Happy 4th of July

Emerald (4)

~~~~~~~~~~~~

And celebrating in Florida:

Beach festivities

Nelson (1½), Skylar (8), Autumn (5), Isaac (3), Micah (7)

~~~~~~ LET FREEDOM RING!  ~~~~~~

Newlywed Love (#40)

Posted on by

March 12, 1970

Nate loved to touch soft things – a newborn’s cheek, a silk scarf, a kitten’s fur. He also loved touching ear lobes, mine in particular. Often as we talked he’d reach over and gently brush my ear without even realizing he was doing it.

Pussy willowsAs a little boy, Nate had discovered pussy willow branches and told me he’d been fascinated by their soft grey buds (or “catkins”) in early spring. His Uncle Bob had interested him further by telling him if he put some catkins into a saucer of milk, each one would grow into a little kitty.

Of course the young Nathan tried it, but all he learned was not to believe everything that came out of Uncle Bob’s mouth.

I knew of Nate’s interest in pussy willows and one day in March decided to buy a single branch, just for him. The long stem was loaded with fluffy buds, each one super-soft.

Pussy willow catkinsThe next morning, he was still asleep when I left for school, having burned the midnight oil over law books the previous night. Before I left, I set out a box of cereal, bowl, spoon, and some milk, placing the pussy willow branch across the bowl as a special surprise.

When I returned from a day of teaching, I found a sweet note he’d written that made reference to John and Cathy’s cat, Jeanette. He had taped a few pussy willow buds to the card:

“Are these little Jeanette’s paws? How did these little pussycat feet get in Big Bear’s porridge? Hmmm?”

NoteApparently a couple of the soft catkins had dropped into his bowl before he’d seen it that morning, prompting his comment.

I loved knowing my busy husband took time out to write me a silly note, acknowledging my gift. And I was pleased he was gentle enough to enjoy touching soft things. Maybe that was because he had told me the softest thing in all the world, even softer than a pussy willow bud…. was me.

“Pursue…. gentleness.” (1 Timothy 6:11)