Category Archives: Remembering

Young Love (#124)

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Friday, November 28, 1969

If we thought yesterday was busy, today was double that. Nate and I still had to secure our marriage license from City Hall. And the large room in the basement of the church still needed to be set up and decorated for the reception. The bridesmaids needed to practice their song together, since they had only been practicing as individuals till now.

Nate needed to chat with Pastor Sweeting, and I needed to touch base with the mothers of our child-participants to be sure they would be at the rehearsal tonight. Were their clothes in order? Did they understand their roles? Was there any reluctance among them?

And then there was my bridal gown.

Bridal gowns.I began pursuing that as soon as the store opened. It left me speechless to be told it was “on its way” rather than already hanging at the shop. “Just after lunch,” they said.

Nate and I needed to wrap our thank-you gifts for those participating in the wedding and reception (30 of them). A mountain of groom’s cake boxes had to be transported to the church, and someone had to make several more trips to the airport.

Marriage licenseBut first things first. Nate and I headed for Chicago’s Loop and the Office of Records to get our marriage license. Although it was a very nondescript office, being there was a highlight for us. We went right out and celebrated by making a 25-cent strip of photos to memorialize the moment.

The pictures would go into our “ENGAGEMENT TO WEDDING” scrapbook. Soon I would finish that one and switch to the one called “WEDDING THROUGH HONEYMOON.”

IMG_5374On our way back to Wilmette we stopped at the church to drop off a load of decorations and the boxes of wedding programs. We were excited to see that tables and chairs were already being put into place for the reception the next day.

 

FullSizeRender(5)When we walked in at home, we were greeted by the sweet sound of bridesmaids rehearsing their number. It was impressive how good they sounded, and I was so glad they were willing to sing during the ceremony. Their song, “Thanks Be to God,” was one of my very favorites. (l. to r. Glo, Jan, Mary)

From that point on, we began to divide and conquer. Mom, Aunt Joyce, and most of the others headed for the church to begin decorating, and Nate left to run groom-errands with his brother. When he kissed me goodbye he said, “I’ll see you at the church! Six o’clock!”

I headed for the bridal shop, silently praying my gown would be waiting for me. Traffic was horrendous, and it took me over an hour to make the 25 minute drive. When I walked in they must have recognized me by the anxiety on my face. After talking to them so often in the last few days, I didn’t even bother to give my name.

“I sure hope it’s ready!” I said, with a frantic urgency that was no act.

“Are you Miss Johnson?”

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“Anxiety in a [woman’s] heart weighs [her] down, but a good word makes [her] glad.” (Proverbs 12:25)

Young Love (#123)

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Thursday, November 27, 1969

Helen C.It was Thanksgiving, and the wedding count-down stood at 2 days. We all had much to be thankful for, starting with knowing we didn’t have to cook a big turkey dinner. Our whole bunch had been invited to the home of Helen Carlstone, a lifelong friend of both Mom’s and Aunt Joyce’s.

We knew we would fill her Chicago home to capacity, but that didn’t bother her. “We’ll make it work!” she said. So as she and her family focused on preparing a mid-afternoon, multi-course meal, the rest of us turned back to wedding stuff.

 

JulieAunt Joyce took on the bridesmaids’ headpieces. Though she didn’t have much to work with, she created wide, pink velvet ribbons the girls could drape over their heads with a knot in the middle. She had 7 of them finished in no time, and they would be simple enough to work with any hairdo. (Left: Bridesmaid Julie models.)

Nate appeared at noon, excited that he’d gotten a look at our wedding bands during his overnight stay with his family. His father, owner of a jewelry store, had ordered them for us, passing along a nice discount. “I can’t wait till we have them on,” Nate whispered.

After an elegant Thanksgiving dinner, we all pushed back from the table(s) completely satisfied. Helen had warmly welcomed Nate’s parents and brother to her dinner, too, after which we all readied to attend the Moody Church Thanksgiving concert.

But first, we “kids” headed to the basement to do battle with the Carlstone’s ever-popular ping-pong table. Several lively games of Round Robin helped to work off a bit of our pumpkin pie, and it was refreshing to do something physical for a change.

As we drove to church, Nate leaned over and said, “Just before we ate, did you see Helen reach into the oven and pull out the turkey pan with her bare hands? She must have hands of asbestos!”

RoasterI assured him that the bird was probably just keeping warm in a very low oven, but he didn’t believe me. “Right out of the oven!” he said. “I’ll never forget it.” And he didn’t, referring to Helen’s wonder-hands many times after that.

The concert was a time of rest as we focused on God through heart-stirring music about him. When I looked down the row, though, Mom was sketching something on her bulletin – the front of the church and where she thought each member of the wedding party should stand. In less than 48 hours, we’d all be in those places.

Back in Wilmette, we dove into Phase Two of gift-opening, this time with Nate’s family and our California people on hand. Aunt Joyce recorded each gift and giver in a book, as Nate and I opened and opened. As she wrote on page after page, both of us were powerfully impacted (for the first time) that our little apartment was about to be lavishly equipped.

Grand openingWe unwrapped dishes, silverware, glasses, blankets, sheets, kitchen utensils, pots, pans, small appliances, fondue pots, crystal, silver, absolutely everything our presently-sparse little nest could possibly need…. and then-some.

It was a mystery why neither of us had made the connection between sending out invitations and piles of gift-boxes arriving at the door. Why hadn’t we put that together? Whatever the reason, on this night, after a blessed Thanksgiving Day, opening so many gifts made a dramatic impression on both of us. We just couldn’t get over it.

“My heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.” (Psalm 28:7)

Young Love (#122)

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Wednesday, November 26, 1969

The pace was quickening as Nate and I headed for our wedding day. Driving 40 miles each way to school seemed silly for the half day of classes before Thanksgiving break began, but my carpool buddies and I made the trip.

During the morning, Principal Scarce visited my classroom, wishing me (and the first graders) a happy holiday break. He stayed to chat for a few minutes, and I sensed he was feeling bad about limiting Nate’s and my honeymoon days.

“After you return to school,” he said, “my wife and I want to have you and your new husband over for dinner some night. We’ll invite the other teachers, too, and we’ll celebrate your marriage.”

Apparently he’d forgiven me for my part in ditching the teacher training meetings earlier, which meant more to me than his invitation. But I thanked him and said Nate and I would look forward to that occasion.

00000015When I walked in the door of our apartment, Nate greeted me wearing a WILD pair of psychedelic pants. “How do you like these?” he said, turning around.

“Uh…. maybe for the rehearsal dinner?” I said, thinking of his parents and the new suit.

“In today’s mail,” he said. “From your sister!”

The pants were full of 1960’s wisdom: Flower Power, Hang Loose, Gimme Some Skin. It was Mary’s colorful way of joining in on all the happiness of these special days. And she used two of her many talents to send Nate’s gift: her shopping expertise and her generosity.

Before we left for Wilmette, I made a long distance call to the bridal shop to make sure my gown had arrived. “Friday for sure,” they said. I was stunned. That was cutting it pretty close, but I was powerless to speed things up. I reminded them my wedding was Saturday, and with profuse apologies, they told me not to worry.

Grabbing our double-packed bags, we headed for the stairs but not without stopping at the front door first. “Just think,” Nate said. “The next time we come to this door, I’ll be carrying you across the threshold…. as my wife!”

A thrilling thought – that called for putting the suitcases down and sharing a few kisses in that special place. Nate held me extra-tight, and I knew what he was thinking. That threshold-moment was a moment he’d dreamed about far longer than I had, waiting patiently through nearly 3 years. And it was almost here.

Wrapped in his arms there, I was very thankful he’d been so patient.

After we arrived at my parents’ home, the celebrating began in earnest. My California relatives were there, and I had the special joy of introducing my man to all of them. It was especially lovely to watch Aunt Joyce connect with him. Though they’d never met, she’d been praying enough to already feel close.

IMG_5337After we all shared dinner, Nate and I began opening gifts that had come in response to the wedding invitations. (Right: Aunt Agnes folds wrapping paper) When it came time for Nate to say goodbye in order to spend the night with his parents and brother at a nearby Holiday Inn, we’d hardly made a dent in the pile. We were being engulfed by love.

“Love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God.” (1 John 4:7)