Category Archives: Remembering

Young Love (#58)

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Day by day, Nate and I were moving closer to the married life we so longed for. Both of us were reading marriage books about how to keep love alive, how to solve conflicts, how to build each other up every day, and how to have a great sex life. One thing that popped up in all the books was that marriage might be challenging in ways we didn’t anticipate. But both of us were eager to get started!

July 12, 1969 – Dearest Meg. I am really looking forward to the talks with Pastor Sweeting. I admire him very much. I read an article he wrote, and it had many keen insights. He’ll be a good spiritual mentor for us. Any time, day or night, will be a convenient time to talk with Pastor Sweeting. I know there is a lot going on up there, far away from Army life here. How is everybody doing – your parents, Tom, Mary and Berv, Aunt Agnes, and your parents? I hope the Lord is keeping them all in good health. And – you too! I love Meg Johnson!

cake-toppersJuly 12, 1969 – Dear Nate. Here are some wedding details. You asked about a cake. It can’t be ordered until we get the guest list to near-accuracy, so we can determine size. Then we can look in a cake catalog. Bakeries are charging $10 for the tiny bride and groom to set on top, which seems like a waste! Maybe we can make them. I would also really like to pay for the material and notions to make all the bridesmaids dresses. There will be 7 girls: my sister, 3 cousins, my best friend from childhood, my college roommate, and the girl who introduced you and me! I’m thinking dark royal blue or maybe deep burgundy for the gowns.

July 13, 1969 – Dearest Meg, my love, my fiancé, my bride. Two weeks from now I will see Meg, and this camp will be over. I love you! I re-read 1 Corinthians 13 tonight – it is short but so spiritually satisfying. I will love you like that forever and forever…

July 12, 1969 – Dear Nate. The church camp is in full swing now at maximum capacity, about 60 campers. I’m driving a few kids up there Sunday night for the next session, so I’ll ask the director if you and I will need to make any preparations for our counseling weeks. When I hear about all the fun they’re having, I can’t wait for us to get there! I’m praying it’ll be a profitable 20 days or so. They’re studying the book of 1 John, so I’m beginning to look it over.

July 12, 1969 – Dearest Meg. I’ve been thinking about all the prayer, Bible study, church life, and witness we’ll be having in our marriage. The Lord has been very good to us. We must never forget him or his commandments. I’m grateful. And I’m also overjoyed that your parents have accepted our engagement, that they like the ring, and that they want to plan and be a part of the wedding. It makes me feel very, very good! And those good feelings for them are strengthening. (Your family is soon to be my family, also!)

propeller-planeJuly 13, 1969 – Dear Nate. I’ve been trying to make arrangements to fly to Manhattan, Kansas, for your graduation on the 25th, but there’s no way, except to wait in the Kansas City airport for 5 night-time hours. So I think I’m coming via Greyhound. Only $19. I’ll be on the bus overnight with a transfer at 6:30 AM. Then I’ll arrive in Manhattan at 10:00 AM. I’ll take a cab from the airport to the base. And if that’s not early enough to watch you graduate, I’ll come the day before and pay for a motel. I don’t want to miss it!

“There is an appointed time for everything.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

Young Love (#56)

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While Nate was excelling as an Army cadet in Kansas, I was immersing myself in the mechanics of planning a wedding. Mom and Dad were making preparations to move from a large home to one half its size, wondering what to do with a lifetime of accumulated “stuff.” It seemed like big changes were bearing down on all of us.

July 11, 1969 – Dear Nate, my Love. I spent this whole day in the stores, mostly looking at silver, china, and crystal, drawing sketches so I will remember names, and writing down descriptions and prices. I’m trying to narrow it down before mailing you my suggestions. It’s so much fun! But I desperately need you with me when we actually register at Fields and Carsons. We can do it in August. I’ve also been looking at sample wedding invitations. I think it would be nice to go formal with raised script on ivory colored paper. And I’m glad Dad is going to pay for them!

wedding-check-listJuly 11, 1969 – Dearest Meg. I love you for your loyalty, faith, happiness, beauty, and intelligence. You are the perfect life partner for me. A lot of the guys here ask when I’m getting married. When I say “29 November,” I feel the warmth of your kisses, even though we’re hundreds of miles apart. I’m enclosing a list of things we’ve talked about, so we can make decisions together after my graduation.

 

 

articleJuly 11, 1969 – Dear Nate. President Nixon is talking about bringing the troops home from Viet Nam and ending the war (article enclosed). That makes me so happy, because then there will be NO chance you’ll have to go over there. I’m lying in the sun today, trying to get a tan, and the pen is slipping out of my hand because of all the suntan cream I’ve used. But I am a happy girl, so lucky to be in love with you. Zapo!

July 12, 1969 – Dearest Meg. The pace is picking up here. In two days we’ll practice small unit tactics until midnight. I’m a squad leader. There are 4 squad leaders in a platoon and each has charge of 11 men. Friday we’re staying up all night and going back to the barracks on Saturday at 8:00 PM. I’m writing you in my pup tent. I love you, future wife.

July 12, 1969 – Dear Nate. My friend Connie has been educating me about the “rhythm” method of birth control. She says I must have a 6 month chart with all the pertinent details written down. There’s only a little more than 4 months before we’re married, so I’d better start my chart. I’m not very confident about all this, but “the pill” everybody is talking about may not be the right thing for us, either. It wouldn’t be good to get p.g. right away, though, because I just want to be with you first, just the two of us, for a nice long time. I should find out what’s proper for a marriage medical exam with a doctor. Maybe I could get some advice at an appointment.

July 12, 1969 – Dearest Meg. I’m looking forward to our time together at camp. But first I want to talk to both of your parents, with and without you present. I really love and respect your parents and want them to be able to ask me any questions they want. I know I can be as honest with Meg’s folks as I can be with her, though perhaps with different vocabulary.

wedding-veilJuly 12, 1969 – Dear Nate. I’m so excited about trying on wedding gowns! And I want a floor-length veil, too, although it will cost more money. Dad and I are going to have to sit down and talk about expenses. I want to know what I’m allowed to spend.

“Your adornment must not be merely external… let it be the hidden person of the heart… which is precious in the sight of God.” (1 Peter 3:3-4)

Young Love (#55)

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As the days passed, Nate’s and my separation seemed to be taking a greater toll on us – although the old adage that absence makes the heart grow fonder was definitely true. Despite the distance and no way to talk on the phone, we were passionate about our love for each other and couldn’t wait to be together.

But God has a knack for using difficult experiences to produce spiritual fruit, and that was certainly happening with Nate.

good-words

July 10, 1969 – Dearest Meg. I want you to know I’ve been thinking about my priorities. Christ comes first, then Meg and our family, and last, myself. Christ is everything to me, and this Army camp impresses this more firmly than any sermon I’ve heard. Experience is Christ’s best advocate, and tutor for prayer. The wonder of prayer – peace of mind through a personal relationship with Christ.

July 10, 1969 – Dear Nate. I went home tonight to see if I could help Mom do some packing before next month’s move. Instead of packing she was hosting a gigantic party for the entire neighborhood (50 people), and at the last minute, Dad had had to leave for an emergency meeting. Tommy, Mary, and Bervin all had other commitments, so she had no help. But she wanted to be a strong witness for Christ before moving away. I arrived just before the guests, and she was grateful. Then I stayed, watching Mom pass out Bibles to each family. She stood up and told them about her love for the Lord and his role in her daily life. They might have expected hors d’oeuvres and cocktails, but they got strawberry shortcake and religion instead. She was, by the way, very happy to grab my hand and show off my engagement ring to all her guests.

July 10, 1969 – Dearest Meg. I wish I was there to help you with all the wedding planning, but I will be soon! Prayer has been a comfort in coping with our separation. I’m anxious to try conversational prayer with you. Our regular prayer times mean so much. Every time I pray, I thank God for our engagement, and each time I mention that, I get a warm feeling of certainty that the Lord wants us to be married (and probably have 4 kidlets – Karen Meg, Brown Bear, Kenneth Hamilton, and Fort Riley Nyman).

the-nyman-children

July 10, 1969 – Dear Nate. What do you think of our family photo? And on a more serious note, what do you think about having a couple of my X-kindergarteners in our wedding? We need a flower girl and a ring bearer, and I love the idea of having children in the ceremony. My only reservation is that there may be jealousy if word gets around that I’ve chosen some and not others. What do you think?

July 11, 1969 – Dearest Meg. We spent all morning (4:00 AM to 1:00 PM) on the daylight map course – using prominent terrain features and pace-counting to locate our points. The exercise was graded; my partner and I found all our points, so we did well. Tonight from 6:00 to midnight we have the night map course using a lensatic compass. But I am thinking of you constantly. I thank the Lord there are only 14 training days left, 9 days in the field. But the days go quickly with thoughts of you.

“God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.” (2 Corinthians 9:8)