Category Archives: Children

Young Love (#52)

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marys-noteAfter Nate’s and my engagement weekend, well wishes began to come to us (like Mary’s note, right). It was frustrating to be going through those happy days without Nate next to me, but if we wanted to get married in November, this was our only choice. I forwarded every note or congratulatory card I received, and Nate did the same for me.

aunt-joyce-and-meAunt Joyce from California, my wise mentor, sent a loving letter and a gift: “Dear Margee. We want you to know how happy and thrilled we all are for you and Nate, and we know you have given prayerful consideration to your decision before the Lord. We’re anxious to meet him and already love him, because you do!” Her letter was accompanied by the red and white checked Betty Crocker cook book I still use 47 years later.

 

Meanwhile, Nate’s and my letters continued to fly back and forth.

July 7, 1969 – Dearest Meg. Thank you for your honesty in our discussion over the weekend about your old boyfriend. I am happy to the highest degree that you now realize the danger of being with him, whether to play tennis, eat a meal, or go to a movie. And I’m thrilled that you think of him less and less. I know it was hard for you to bring this up again and talk honestly about it. I love you more for doing it. And I completely trust you. I will love you forever!

July 7, 1969 – Dear Nate. To my wonderful fiancé! Mary and Bervin are really excited that we are engaged. When I showed them my ring, Mary ran for her camera and took a bunch of close up pictures. Bervin told me he was thrilled you asked him to stand up for you in the wedding. Tommy was really surprised that his sister had gotten engaged, and when he saw the ring, he spit out his cookie. And Aunt Agnes? Well, she begged to try it on, so I let her. Everyone wishes you were with me so they could congratulate you too…. and so do I!

July 7, 1969 – Dearest Meg. I’m looking forward to our time together at the Moody camp, sharing experiences. And I also want to talk deeply with your parents at some point. I know it seems wrong to them that I’m not there with you now. Do you think I ought to write them a letter? I would really love to.

July 8, 1969 – Dear Nate. If you follow through on a letter to my parents, it would help them better understand your required absence during these days. And they would love you more easily after that. Mom is coming around nicely, getting more enthusiastic. When I told her we were talking about names for our children, that helped. She has always loved kids, the more the better.

July 8, 1969 – Dearest Meg. Time is flying by. Due to torrential rains this morning, no PT test today. Free time in the PX cafeteria instead. This Saturday we have Vietnamese orientation until 8 PM. The next two weeks we’ll be mainly in the field on war games and tactical exercises. And soon it’ll be 25 July and graduation when I’ll be with you again. I’m going to work on that letter to your parents as soon as I get the chance.

July 8, 1969 – Dear Nate. I have an appointment to see wedding gowns at Marshall Fields in a few days. I’m going to have to work fast to get everything done by November. And that means choosing invitations, thank you notes, china, silverware, and linens without you at my side. I’ll just have to hope your tastes are similar to mine.

July 8, 1969 – Dearest Meg. Let’s engrave our initials and the wedding date inside our wedding bands: MAJ to WNN – 11-29-69, and WNN to MAJ – 11-29-69. Then we can each add a special verse or can use the same one. We’ll talk about this when you come. How about Matthew 19:6? “They are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.”

cook-book“My God will supply every need of yours.” (Philippians 4:19)

Young Love (#44)

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As Nate thought about how he was going to propose, I was finishing up the school year in Chicago, mourning the loss of my sweet students. Trying not to think about never seeing them again, I focused more on my planned move to Champaign before the next school year began.

the-folksNate and I were writing to each other multiple times each day, sharing wedding ideas and making plans, and I barely noticed that I hadn’t clued in my parents on most of it — never considering how they might want to do things.

June 26, 1969 – Dear Nate. Today another teacher and I took our 40 kindergarteners to a nearby fire station (on foot) and had a blast. The kids got to see a fireman slide down the pole, blow the sirens, and pull out the hook ‘n ladder truck. It was very successful and seemed to energize the kids, but we were both exhausted when we got back to school.

June 27, 1969 – Dearest Meg, future wife. I’m writing at 2:00 AM after cleaning my field gear (tent, shovel, pack) and cleaning the latrine. Oh, this Army… At least they’ve let me keep my hair long. I know you like it that way. I’ve been thinking what a great Guide Jesus Christ is. He’s the only one with infallible advice for Meg and me.

June 27, 1969 – Dear Wonderful Nate. Your favorite kindergartener, little JoAnn, found an old jelly bean in the doll dishes today when we were doing a final clean-up of the classroom. She got so excited! It was filthy, but I didn’t have the heart to take it away from her — she ate it. I reminded the children about your visit and that you were the one who had hidden all the jelly beans. They all remembered you, which made me very happy. By the way, I wrote again to both school boards down state, Champaign and Urbana. No responses yet, but I’m not discouraged.

June 27, 1969 – Dearest Meg. I got a letter from my mother today. She said she got a look at your ring before my father mailed it, and she thinks you will be very pleased. She also wrote this: “I want to write Margaret and tell her how happy we are to have her in the family, and I also want to write her mother to show our approval of your engagement.” This all makes me really glad.

novemberJune 27, 1969 – Dear Nate. A little bad news here. I went to my folks’ place for dinner yesterday to talk about wedding stuff, since Mom is beginning to make waves about a November wedding. Our discussion didn’t go well. Mom thinks it would be better for me to stay in Chicago until you graduate from law school, teaching one more year here. She wants us to get married next summer. I tried my best not to get really angry at that bizarre suggestion. Apparently I hadn’t told them I was already looking for a job in Champaign and was planning to move there this August, two months from now. It doesn’t help that my brother will also be making a move that same month, from Wheaton College to American University in Washington DC. He’s very excited about leaving, as am I, and I think Mom is feeling “blue” because her kids will all be gone. It was a touchy conversation, but she isn’t on board at all. I’m not sure where to go from here. I wonder what she’ll say when I appear with a ring?

“Let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger.” (James 1:19)