Young Love (#58)

Posted on January 2, 2017 by Margaret

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!

July 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!)

July 13, 1969 – Dear Nate. I’ve been trying to make arrangements to fly to Manhattan, Kansas, for your graduation on the 25^th, 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 (#57)

Posted on January 1, 2017 by Margaret

My life in Chicago was easy compared to what Nate was experiencing in the Army. He was suffering through some hard days (and nights) of living in the field, stripped of every comfort. He was exhausted, dirty, hungry, and longing for his fiancée. Meanwhile, I was happily shopping for a wedding gown and helping my parents sort through mountains of creature comforts they no longer needed. It was the story of two extremes.

July 12, 1969 – Dearest Meg. Thanks for the sweetest card I’ve ever seen! That picture of Meg with a trace of a shiner is so cute! I could hug, kiss, and squeeze you for a week! Down here I am really tired. We’ve been up every morning between 4:00 and 5:00 and been kept busy till midnight or 1:00 AM every night. Today we ran a reconnaissance patrol – 27 men, 27 rifles and a radio, etc. We walked about 15 miles in the heat, and my underwear and clothes were soaked! I’ve had to wear the same clothes for 5 days. No showers. This is rough, but it makes a person appreciate civilian life. Every man owes this to the U.S. When I think of what some men have sacrificed, my little suffering is microscopic.

July 12, 1969 – Dear Nate. My life is so different here than yours at Ft. Riley. I’ve been helping Mom and Dad sort through a lifetime of belongings. You’re operating with nothing, and they have too much. But… there’s an up-side. Since they have to get rid of so much, let’s think seriously about taking some of it. Dad’s father made some really nice glass-front book cases back in the late 1800’s. (Remember, Dad was born in 1899!) Those might be nice for all your law books.

July 12, 1969 – Dearest Meg. Thank you for your last fabulous letter! I could hug and kiss you forever! My love grows daily, and I am so excited about our engagement. You are the most fabulous woman in the world! I love you! And I also say, just wait until November 29! Love and kisses! I think of you every minute – every minute!!! I think about things you’ve said and done and your and my prayers, and your body. I realize again how magnificent you are and how fortunate I am. I’ll love you forever!

July 13, 1969 – Dear Nate, my Loved One. I just returned from shopping for a wedding gown! But before I tell you about it, I want to thank you for all your letters filled with so many words of love. I appreciate every penned word. And I love you very much! Getting ready for our wedding is the most fun I’ve ever had, for lots of reasons. Nov. 29 can’t come fast enough for me! Today I tried on all kinds of gowns and about drooled over their beauty. I’m not ready to decide, because I want to look some more, and of course I have to run the prices past Dad. But I did decide a few things. I want an off-white dress made of heavy satin. It’s a very rich-looking fabric. I don’t mean in money but in thickness and quality, you know, sort of like a “rich” pastry. I’ve also decided on a high collar with lace of some kind. I hope to get a long train that will drag 3-4 feet behind the dress, and a floor-length veil. I’m going to pitch in for the extra costs of some of this. Dad will probably say I can’t, but I’m going to try. And I don’t want a veil over my face, because when I walk down the aisle, I don’t want anything obstructing my view!

“In the day of prosperity, be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider: God has made the one as well as the other.” (Ecclesiastes 7:14)

Young Love (#56)

Posted on December 31, 2016 by Margaret

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!

July 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.

July 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.

July 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.