From A Ring of Endless Light by Madeleine L’Engle p. 20
If thou could’st empty all thyself of self,
Like to a shell dishabited,
Then might He find thee on the ocean shelf,
And say, “This is not dead,”
And fill thee with Himself instead.
But thou art all replete with very thou
And hast such shrewd activity,
That when He comes He says, “This is enow
Unto itself—‘twere better let it be,
It is so small and full, there is no room for Me.”
--Sir Thomas Browne
Vicky: “As for me, I felt replete with very me, full of confusions and questions for which there were no answers.”
Monday, June 6, 2011
Journal Excerpt: April 11-June 29, 1985
April 11—[We had no TV, so we went to a time share presentation where they offered a portable TV—a tiny, huge-battery-operated, portable TV—for listening to their spiel.] Went to Bremer Hof—got portable TV! Ate at McDonald’s in Great Bend.
Before we left, Kaley [nine years old] was reading the instructions to Bremer Hof and the details about the free TV. She read: No strings attached. “Does that mean there’s no cord on the TV?” she asked.
***************************************************
Alicia said she was hungry and I told her we were going to Aunt Lois’ for supper. “Oh, thank you, Lord,” she breathed emphatically.
***************************************************
Grandma Iversen was eating French toast with us. Alicia asked her if she ever made French toast. Grandma said, “Yes, when Aunt Peg was a little girl, when Aunt Madolin was a little girl…” and on down the line. I said, “t sounds like hard work, doesn’t it?” Alicia said, “Yes, did you sweat?”
****************************************************
April 22—Ryan has started lifting his arms begging me to pick him up.
****************************************************
April 25—Ryan—11 months old. He has started putting the telephone to his ear and chattering.
May 1985
Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 12—Alicia was drawing a picture in church. She’d look up at me then look down and draw an eye. She’d study my face some more and draw another eye. After studying my face several more times, she completed the drawing with eyes, ears, nose, etc. I was moved—“She’s doing a portrait of me on Mother’s Day.”
“Look, Mom.” She held up the picture. “It’s a monster.”
****************************************************
Saturday, May 25—Ryan’s First Birthday! Ryan woke up on his birthday playing peek-a-boo.
Sunday, May 26—Ryan’s birthday celebration at Brigg’s
May 28—Ryan started climbing all the stairs
May 30—Ryan fell down the stairs
June 1985
June 4-5—15th Anniversary—PTL! Overnight at Turner’s cottage; Kathleen Murphy with kids
June 5--$210 from Charlie PTL!!!
[Backdrop of this story: We had made plans for some time to go to Ohio to Shari’s Smith’s graduation. The kids were so excited—a road trip to their cousins’! But as time came closer we realized that we had NO money to make the trip—as in NO money. We couldn’t bear to tell the kids that we might not be able to go, it would break their hearts. So, the evening before we were to go, we packed our suitcases, prayed with them and tucked them in bed filled with the exquisite anticipation that is a delicious part of childhood. Doug and I prayed—we couldn’t even imagine the sadness of having the kids wake up the next day to the news that we couldn’t take the trip. Then a knock came at the door; it was Charlie. He handed us an envelope with $210 in it (cash, not a check) and said that God had told him to do this some time ago, but he hadn’t gotten around to it. Charlie had no idea that we needed money that very moment for this trip—but God did. It’s hard to find the right words to express the wonder of this.]
June 6—Left for Ohio at 6:30am. Perfect trip PTL!
June 11—Todd’s 6th grade graduation
June 13—Class Picnics:
Todd—El Ranch de Paz –take 2 pkg. hot dog “roles” (TDH)
Kaley—Mrs. Wright’s
June 15—Ryan walked! [I still remember that his brother and sisters were standing around and we were all laughing and crying as Ryan took his first steps.]
June 20—Kaley’s last game—1 hit
June 21—Todd’s last game—2 hits
June 26-29—Castle Inn—PTL!!!
****************************************************
Alicia riding in the car: “Mom, isn’t it neat that we can have a baby.”
Alicia’s mispronunciations:
Nickname = rickname
Canker sore = tanker sore
Before we left, Kaley [nine years old] was reading the instructions to Bremer Hof and the details about the free TV. She read: No strings attached. “Does that mean there’s no cord on the TV?” she asked.
***************************************************
Alicia said she was hungry and I told her we were going to Aunt Lois’ for supper. “Oh, thank you, Lord,” she breathed emphatically.
***************************************************
Grandma Iversen was eating French toast with us. Alicia asked her if she ever made French toast. Grandma said, “Yes, when Aunt Peg was a little girl, when Aunt Madolin was a little girl…” and on down the line. I said, “t sounds like hard work, doesn’t it?” Alicia said, “Yes, did you sweat?”
****************************************************
April 22—Ryan has started lifting his arms begging me to pick him up.
****************************************************
April 25—Ryan—11 months old. He has started putting the telephone to his ear and chattering.
May 1985
Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 12—Alicia was drawing a picture in church. She’d look up at me then look down and draw an eye. She’d study my face some more and draw another eye. After studying my face several more times, she completed the drawing with eyes, ears, nose, etc. I was moved—“She’s doing a portrait of me on Mother’s Day.”
“Look, Mom.” She held up the picture. “It’s a monster.”
****************************************************
Saturday, May 25—Ryan’s First Birthday! Ryan woke up on his birthday playing peek-a-boo.
Sunday, May 26—Ryan’s birthday celebration at Brigg’s
May 28—Ryan started climbing all the stairs
May 30—Ryan fell down the stairs
June 1985
June 4-5—15th Anniversary—PTL! Overnight at Turner’s cottage; Kathleen Murphy with kids
June 5--$210 from Charlie PTL!!!
[Backdrop of this story: We had made plans for some time to go to Ohio to Shari’s Smith’s graduation. The kids were so excited—a road trip to their cousins’! But as time came closer we realized that we had NO money to make the trip—as in NO money. We couldn’t bear to tell the kids that we might not be able to go, it would break their hearts. So, the evening before we were to go, we packed our suitcases, prayed with them and tucked them in bed filled with the exquisite anticipation that is a delicious part of childhood. Doug and I prayed—we couldn’t even imagine the sadness of having the kids wake up the next day to the news that we couldn’t take the trip. Then a knock came at the door; it was Charlie. He handed us an envelope with $210 in it (cash, not a check) and said that God had told him to do this some time ago, but he hadn’t gotten around to it. Charlie had no idea that we needed money that very moment for this trip—but God did. It’s hard to find the right words to express the wonder of this.]
June 6—Left for Ohio at 6:30am. Perfect trip PTL!
June 11—Todd’s 6th grade graduation
June 13—Class Picnics:
Todd—El Ranch de Paz –take 2 pkg. hot dog “roles” (TDH)
Kaley—Mrs. Wright’s
June 15—Ryan walked! [I still remember that his brother and sisters were standing around and we were all laughing and crying as Ryan took his first steps.]
June 20—Kaley’s last game—1 hit
June 21—Todd’s last game—2 hits
June 26-29—Castle Inn—PTL!!!
****************************************************
Alicia riding in the car: “Mom, isn’t it neat that we can have a baby.”
Alicia’s mispronunciations:
Nickname = rickname
Canker sore = tanker sore
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Journal Excerpt:: April 1-9, 1985
--Alicia had some catsup on her plate and some applesauce. She said, "When you eat catsup and applesauce together it's like a fire in your stomach."
--When I came home from the grocery store, Alicia ran to me and said, "Mom, Kaley antagonized me!"
********************************************
April 1--To the Pepper Mill with family
April 1--To the Pepper Mill with family
April 4-- Otsiningo with family, Jeremy, and Scott Baker
*********************************************
April 8--Alicia's 4th Birthday
Kite Theme
--spray painted foam kites to hang on doors
--paper kites with toothpick frames with names printed for small cups with raisins and peanuts
--gave out Fun Pads and punch balloons for prizes
--played Magic Carpet (musical chairs), drop clothespins in canning jar (Tami), throw jar lids on soda bottle (Todd), throw buttons in egg carton (Kaley)
--ate brownies in the shape of a kite frosted in blue with licorice string, Rice Krispie treats (made by Tami), grape juice with Ginger Ale and ice cream
Guests and gifts:
Mindy--Play Doh
Mandy--coloring book $4.04
Johnny Covert--Simon Chipmunk
Jennifer and Eric--pony necklace, two books
Kim Webber--birthday bear made by Sue
Aaron--comb and brush set, two books
Also:
Briggs--books and tape
Grandma Iversen--$20
Grandpa and Grandma Hill--car seat
Tami--finger paints
Pony and Play Doh
***********************************
Tuesday, April 9 --Spring Baskets
***********************************
--Alicia was not wanting to go to bed alone even though she has an assortment of dolls and stuffed animals on her bed. "I want someone real to go to bed with," she cried.
Tuesday, April 9 --Spring Baskets
***********************************
--Alicia was not wanting to go to bed alone even though she has an assortment of dolls and stuffed animals on her bed. "I want someone real to go to bed with," she cried.
Journal Excerpt: March 1985
February 25--Ryan 9 months old
***********************************
March 1--First day of March--PTL!! Doug and I went for a nice walk--52 degrees
************************************
March 5--Todd's first pay check [Delivering Pennysaver]--$12.08!!
************************************
March 6--Tami--shop with Grandma
March 8--Tami overnight--Mrs. K
March 9--Tami's 15th Birthday
************************************
Friday, March 15: Language Arts
Tami:
First--Dramatic Interpretation
First--Creative Writing
Todd:
First--Dramatic Interpretation
Third--Creative Writing
Kaley:
Fourth--Spelling
Tami to Nelson's; Todd to Christensen's; Kaley to Lois'
*****************************
Saturday, March 16
Slept in--seemed good.
Swim party: Tami, Kelcy, Jacob
******************************
Ryan says "MaMaMa"
Alicia as she's getting ready for her nap (she had taken a bath earlier): "Mom, after my nap will my body be clean?"
****************************
March 19: Tami cut Kaley's hair
****************************
March 29: Tami--Fine Arts -- Tie for 2nd with Beth Hershberger
***********************************
March 1--First day of March--PTL!! Doug and I went for a nice walk--52 degrees
************************************
March 5--Todd's first pay check [Delivering Pennysaver]--$12.08!!
************************************
March 6--Tami--shop with Grandma
March 8--Tami overnight--Mrs. K
March 9--Tami's 15th Birthday
************************************
Friday, March 15: Language Arts
Tami:
First--Dramatic Interpretation
First--Creative Writing
Todd:
First--Dramatic Interpretation
Third--Creative Writing
Kaley:
Fourth--Spelling
Tami to Nelson's; Todd to Christensen's; Kaley to Lois'
*****************************
Saturday, March 16
Slept in--seemed good.
Swim party: Tami, Kelcy, Jacob
******************************
Ryan says "MaMaMa"
Alicia as she's getting ready for her nap (she had taken a bath earlier): "Mom, after my nap will my body be clean?"
****************************
March 19: Tami cut Kaley's hair
****************************
March 29: Tami--Fine Arts -- Tie for 2nd with Beth Hershberger
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