The Last of the Cedar Chest, with one exception

Well, we come to the bottom of the chest and there is one more scrapbook and some year books. Nothing too exciting, but they hold wonderful memories of college days so long ago--yet many memories still vivid in my mind's eye.

My college years are all recorded in the pages of this red album. They were wonderful years, so full of music, rich fellowship, beach parties, trips to the Blue Onion for a hamburger, gathering around the piano in the lounge singing, standing in meal line knitting argyle socks while we were waiting, and hosts of other great memories.

The picture above has my train ticket for my first train ride without parents along. (and I do not know why these words are underlined!)

A photographer came each year to take a picture of the whole student body out on the side lawn. His camera started at the left and slowly rotated to the right to get in the whole group. This picture was rolled up in a tube for the last 58 years!

We were a small student body, with only 50 in our freshman class.

You can tell from the size of our yearbooks that our school was small. Dear Westmont College was not very old in 1950. Today the campus has grown as well as the student body size. I had an interesting college career. My freshman year was at Westmont, my sophomore year was spent at home at Multnomah College, my junior year was back at Westmont with my freshman brother along. After my junior year I thought I was tired of school, so I took a job in a hospital for a semester. That was the best thing I ever did--After six months of bedpans, changing beds, bathing people, I knew I needed a degree!! So I went to Lewis and Clark College and graduated from there in December of 1954 with a degree in Psychology and a minor in education.

And on the bottom of the cedar chest was the tattered old picture below-

me about 15 months. (love the old tan shoes!)

So the old cedar chest is gone and all of this stuff has been stored in a large plastic box. There is one more scrap book that came out of the chest which I am going to save for another blog as I am going to share some of the things it holds between the covers. It is my after college book.

"Life at best is very brief, like the falling of a leaf......."

My Posts

Starting this blog in January, was done on a whim. I didn't consider what I would write about. I did not feel led to write devotionals--there are so many excellent sites in blog land for that. And so.........for lack of anything else to write about, I just began to share about my family and all I hold dear, and my life, past and present with all of you.
It was never my intention to portray myself other than who I am. I find that as I share some of my life's stories, in reading some of the lovely comments that are left, I fear that people are giving me far more credit than I deserve. Whatever good has come from my life, has been because of the Lord and His graciousness to me and my family. Despite my many mistakes in parenting, in grand parenting, in being a daughter, sister, aunt, niece and friend, God has loved me through the mistakes and shown His mercy and compassion to me and my family. We are who we are because of Him and His leading and guidance.

Please, as I post in future posts, keep in mind that any good that has come from my life or my life's experiences, is truly only because of God's faithfulness to me. I want Him to have the glory in all the areas of my life.

In closing, I am so thankful for all that I have experienced in my life because of the love of God to me. I was blessed with loving parents, certainly not perfect, but wonderful in my eyes. My extended family are all so good to me. Over the years they have loved all of my kids and added so much depth to their lives. My two professions brought many of life's richest experiences to me and I deeply loved each occupation. My children were gifts from God in a time when single women were not allowed to adopt. My foster children came and went, providing many of life's hardest trials, but the kids with whom I am still in contact bring much contentment to my heart......and the crowning glory of my old age, is the privilege of being a Grammy. Oh! how I have loved that role!

And so, I share with you about all of these things, not to make me look good, but to share a journey that has had many twists and turns in it, yet a happy, fulfilling life. God has been good. As I take some of my walks down memory lane, as I sorted through the cedar chest, as I remember about the children when they were young, I am just reminded over and over again, of the faithfulness of our God to me and mine.

This was a bit of a long ramble, so I shall close until next time.

Blessings

meet two of my "girls"

These are two of my "girls". Linda, on the left is the 1st foster child I ever had and Tammy, on the right is the 27th....... and the last foster child I had! This was an historic picture, for this is the first time these two ever met!! (It was taken last night, as Linda had stopped by to pick up something which she had forgotten from the week-end and Tammy was just finishing up some work for me.)


Let me explain. Linda came in 1960, as a senior in high school, and by 1965 or 66, she had received an LPN degree, married and moved to California with her children and we only saw one another occasionally over many years, but were in contact by phone and letter. For the last 20 years or so, she has come to Portland more frequently as she has a son and his family living here. When she came for visits, the two of us would always meet for lunch someplace, but
while Tammy was still in the home, I guess Linda was never at the house.

Then in the last twenty years Linda usually spends a week-end with me when she visits, but. of course, Tammy works and has her own place---so, anyway, each had always known of the other, but last night was the first time they had met face to face. (They were both at Mother's funeral, but didn't meet)

Linda went on to get very specialized training in brain wave testing, and enjoyed a wonderful career in that field. She is enjoying her first year of retirement and is loving every minute of it.
Only ten years younger than me, we were reminiscing this past week-end over our years together. She said as a teenager, the ten years seemed a huge difference, but now we are older, it makes us contemporaries.

Tammy came to me at age nine and she was a handful!! But we hung in there, and today she is my helper girlie! She has the gift of helps and is a willing hand whenever I need some thing done. It works for both of us, for she knows my fussiness, so she is my perfect "hired" help, and she, in turn, is able to earn a little extra money each month.

Tammy is gifted with children, works with the high school youth at her church, and for her "real" work .....where else?.......in a day care center! She does quite a bit of baby sitting on the side and seems always in demand from someone needing her help. (She trained at North West Nanny Institute out of high school)

So there you have it--the first and the last. I have had a fulfilling life and these two "girls" have been a huge part of that busy, busy life with all of its ups and downs.

Happy Birthday, Elliot!

My dearest Grandson,

Today you are fifteen! How can that be?
It was only "yesterday" that I held you in my arms for the first time
and whispered in your ear,
"You and I are going to be great friends!"
...and we are.

The joy you have brought into my life cannot be measured.

So many memories....

...your first birthday

......Christmas festivities every year with all the family

........a calendar full of fun each December

......wonderful plays and activities all over Portland during the Christmas season.

......going every year on the Max train to downtown Portland to go to Santa's Toyland on the tenth floor of Meier and Frank....

...wonderful OMSI activities during the holidays

...spending every Christmas Eve over night at my house to wake up
to stockings and brunch.

....Easter egg hunts in my back yard

...playing restaurant on the back deck

....loving playing dress up

...the little two year old who would call for me very early in the morning, "Grandma, I hear the birdies, its time to get up". Then when Gram tried for a few more snoozes, here would come the plaintive little voice, "Grandma, do you love me?" and that brought me right up and out of my warm bed to come get you.

....the wonderful times we had at the Children's Museum---you up in the firemen's loft and refusing to come down to me....oh my! Lots of memories.

....all of our trips to OMSI and the marvelous learning that went on each time we visited, which was usually every time you came to came to see me.

...trips to the beach and you making a fort in the sand, long walks, chasing the waves, running from them-- such memories!

....driving Uncle Bill's boat on the Columbia River--do you remember????

....me driving down to pick you and Molly up each Wednesday after school, going to the Stayton Library to work on homework, check out books, read to you, going for Subway Sandwiches for supper, then taking you home to put you two to bed while your folks were at their fellowship group. I loved those years!

...play dates with the cousins, with the Shoman boys, with Jimmy Glisan,
swimming at Nick's...so many fun times when you visited.

....the fun you had at Imagination Station over and over again

...getting your first pair of roller blades--thump, bump, fall, get up......

....bowling fun so many times

Our wonderful Disney Cruise...and you insisting on going to the top deck for breakfast by yourself--so you could "meet" people....and coming back with the announcement that you had breakfast with a nice family from Canada, or someone from New York...you were quite the "schmoozer", getting to know lots of people on that trip--and we cannot forget how you loved the crab cakes and even got the recipe (for 500) from the head cook!!


I could fill this blog with the hundreds of memories we have made together--many you have forgotten, I'm sure...but always alive and vivid in my mind.

...appointing yourself our waiter for dinner--one of my ear rings and all

....getting all duded up and having a "cuppa" with me

...attending the Missions Conference with Aunt Colleen and Uncle Bert Elliot....and meeting the Auca Indian who speared Jim Elliot, for whom you were named...

....practicing golf at the pro shop

...always army stuff all over the floor for your battles..

....building Legos---some new sets, but many having been your Dad's

I love you, sweet child. You have always held a special place in my heart. Your avid curiosity about things around you, your love of Civil War history, your early interests in vacuums, and trains--your quirky little obsessions have all made you the unique special person you are.

...always the engineer of the trains, both real and imaginary

...riding on Samtrack at OMSI--
Do you remember you cried when Samtrack closed down?

....going to Hood River to ride Thomas the Train Engine and meet all of his crew

wonderful memories, wonderful experiences, wonderful child!

May the Lord bless you and keep you as you begin this next year of your precious life.

This is a year of new beginnings,
starting high school,
taking charge of your ADHD and leaving off all meds
getting your driving permit possibly,
harder classes in school,
and hopefully,
a time of strengthening your walk with the Lord.

Happy Birthday, My Special Grandson.
I love, love, love you!

Gram

Cousin Bob, the Builder

Life shouldn't be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body--but rather, to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly shouting...

"W0W! What a ride! Thank you Lord!!!!"

This was on the program for the celebration of Cousin's Bob's life on Saturday.

He was:

a Christian, foremost

a perfectionist

a contractor

a builder

an outdoorsman

a hunter

a fisherman

a boater

a hiker

a water skier

a traveler

a prayer warrior

a Bible student

a mentor

a beloved husband

a wonderful father

a doting grandpa

a friend

a man who did not know a stranger

He was loved.

On Monday, September 8, at age 79, his life, as we knew it, ended.

...but don't you just love the top paragraph which was on the inside of his program??

That was Bob. He lived every minute of every day to the fullest!

Jonathan, Part 3

1 I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart;
I will tell of all your wonders.
2 I will be glad and rejoice in you;

I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.

Psalm 9:1,2

As I continue with Jon's story, the verse above so speaks to me. To understand why I am writing Jonathan's story, you should probably read Jonathan, Part 1 and Jonathan, part 2. It just gives a little more continuity to the story, and the reason I chose to share it.

The high school years were upon us in the blink of an eye, it seems. They were such busy, fun-filled years and passed all too quickly!! He continued with his music, was in sports, was very social, and it was a wonderful time for me also. I remember the sadness in his senior year when they played their last basketball game. I felt like my social life was over. I went to every game, made friends with many of the parents, participated in the after game fun at a local pizza parlor...and now it was over. We did have fun during those years!

He begins his freshman year at Portland Christian High School where he would remain all four years. It was a wonderful choice for him. He met and made friends immediately and his violin opened all kinds of doors.

By sophomore years he was developing an interest in the ladies and had a couple of school dates. He was in his second year of basketball, seriously taking his violin lessons now from the concert master of the Portland Symphony, and was a busy, busy young man, with a mother who was equally busy driving him to all of his commitments!!

Junior year came and so did the driving permit!! Of all my kids, he was the only one I taught to drive. It was just too nerve wracking, so others taught the girls! He decided to play football, much to my dismay. Contact sports were supposed to be out for him because of his Rheumatoid Arthritis, but he did it and aside from being knocked out one game, he survived....and so did I!! His junior year was to be the last time he ever had a flare-up of his arthritis, for which I was so thankful....and he came through the eight years of the disease, with no crippling to any of his joints!! A wonderful answer to prayer!

The summer before his senior year, Jon traveled to Europe with the Continentals Orchestra which was a Christian ministry orchestra. That was a wonderful experience for him. By senior year, he was driving on his own, used my car just about any time I wasn't using it, and enjoyed a full, action packed year. He was studying conducting under Norman Lehman, who was the assistant symphony conductor of the Portland Symphony. In looking back, the year was just packed!

Basket ball shot at the state play offs. Jon was an average player, but his coach told the team that he kept him on all four years because he was such an "encourager". What a nice compliment!

The mighty football player. I held my breath all of that fall!

.....and the crowning event of his whole high school experience, Fiddler on the Roof!! What a great performance that was. Jonathan was the Fiddler, and he also played Moto the Tailor.
During his senior year, he was part of a young man's singing ensemble which was a talented bunch of ten boys. Their music was marvelous.

The summer after graduation he again traveled with the Continentals across the USA and to Europe. They had an afternoon concert in East Berlin and I think that was the experience of his young life--crossing "check point Charlie", leaving their passports there, being searched, etc. He said they kissed the tarmac when they flew into New York later that week.

And so high school ended with plans to attend Mount Hood Community College in the fall with a "free ride" with his violin.

More treasures from the cedar chest

My first post about the cedar chest featured lots of baby clothing worn by my brother and me. Tonight as I was getting some of the stuff ready for this trip down memory lane, I realized that I was a scrapbooker before the activity was so popular!!

Bear with me as I take you down the lane of over fifty years ago and share with you some of my books.

My first album was started when I was about eight years old. It was a photo album only. As I was looking at it, I was thinking I must have thought I had really "arrived" with the white ink!

This is my high school album....and that was a scrapbook!! I never threw away one ticket stub, one napkin, or anything that could go in that book. I had pictures mixed in with the keepables, so I think it classifies as a true scrapbook. Can you imagine what fun it would have been to have had stickers, colored pens, and all the bling we have for today's scrapbooking??

This page holds a rock from the cove in Seaside, Oregon where I knew a lot of kids from visiting there with my best friend at their cottage. The rock was to commemorate a good beach party!
Roller skating was another favorite past time when we visited Seaside. The Rink was right on the turnaround, where five stories of condos stand today. At sixteen, we thought that roller rink would always be there. We had no idea how popular beach front property was to become! (if you click on the picture, you can see the rink, right there on the beach front)

Here's a page of pictures. I wonder what we would have done with a digital camera?? Oh! Wow!

And no high school scrapbook would be complete without a picture of the football team!
So...........Let me introduce you to the football team of

Beaverton Union High School in 1946!

This group would change with each year, but they never failed to capture the hearts and dreams of all of the girls for all four years of high school!

The year books were well-loved, well-signed, and well-read. For those of you who are familiar with the Beaverton area, there were only 300 students in the high school in that year of 1946. We had all of the students from Aloha, Bethany, Bonny Slope, Sylvan and Cedar Mill as we were the only high school between Portland and Hillsboro.

I will close with a penmanship certificate which we all worked for during the grade school years. I think this was my last one. Its interesting that I started cursive writing as a first grader and never learn to print. When I started teaching I had to learn to print properly.

Until the next, and last installment of the cedar chest, I hope you enjoyed this little bit of history and the ragged old scrap books