When I first met Lyle, who became my sister’s husband, I went for a walk with them in the beautiful woods in our pasture. There were flowers in the woods that we called “Johnny Jump-Ups.” Well, my sister’s first boyfriend had been Johnny, so, what did I do but pick a bouquet of Johnny Jump Up’s, and made a big deal out of presenting them to her, while Lyle was still there. (I think that is the most disgusted I ever saw my sister!
This didn’t stop the romance however, and the day came that Lyle and Myrna were to be married in our home. I was 6 or 7 at the time, and got to be the gift bearer, which made me feel very important. (Even though, anything breakable was carried by my mother!) This didn’t even surprise me, with my mischievous nature, and clumsiness besides!
It was a beautiful wedding, at least I thought so. My mother splurged on several packages of pink and white crepe paper, and decorated our house, and the tables. She made escalloped chicken, a wedding cake, pie, and I’m not sure what else. All the wedding guests were there for the meal also.
The guest consisted of our family, Lyle’s family, and the pastor and his wife.
This was all so exciting while it was happening, and then-----I began to realize that Myrna wouldn’t be home on the weekends anymore! Suddenly I was very sad.
The next day, I really didn’t want to go to school, but there was nothing wrong with me, so I knew there was no use begging to stay home. At school, I couldn’t eat my lunch, and sat and cried most of the day. By afternoon recess time, I just sat at my desk and cried, and dear MissThayer, gathered me up in her lap and questioned me about the tears. She reasoned with me, stating that she was sure my sister was happy! Didn’t I want my sister to be happy if I loved her so much? Of course, I did want her to be happy, but that little conversation got me over the hump, and I soon accepted the way things were.
That first summer, Myrna asked me to spend a week with her and Lyle! I was so excited! I would have my sister back for a while. Never having been away from my parents before, there had been no anticipation of what that would be like.
The very first day, shortly after Myrna and Lyle picked me up; it was chore time on their farm. I didn’t like the dark, empty house, so I played outside while they milked the cows.
It had rained, and, being a fairly normal child, I entertained myself by playing in a mud puddle. Well, there I was, with mud all over my hands, and afraid to go in the house alone. I looked around, and there was a little white building where they were carrying the milk, to put in the little tank. The wind mill was pumping cold water over the milk cans to cool it so it would not spoil before the milkman picked it up the next day.
I walked over to that little white building and started to pull my hands down the side of the building to clean the mud off. A “little” dirt didn’t bother me much, but this was really thick on my hands.
Much to my surprise, Lyle was looking out of the barn door, and yelled at me at the top of his voice. I was so frightened, and cried and cried, and wanted to go home! I was told that was impossible. Myrna sat with me that night until I drifted off to sleep. They had a radio, which I’d never heard of before that time. I hated the mournful music that it was playing.
Well, somehow, I made it through that week, and that vacation was probably farther than what I expected, than any vacation I have ever gone on since. After that, I was content to just go visit with my parents for a part of a day at a time. It was probably 2 years or more before I went away from my home to stay for a night. It is strange to think back over the trauma that I felt at that time.
If you died today, are you absolutely certain that you would go to heaven? You can be! TRUST JESUS NOW
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