Iris Meets Her Baby Brother

Kathy and Carl finally had their baby last weekend! His name is Oliver Owen. Oliver took much longer than expected coming, so Iris and Curious George had time to join us for our morning devotional time. In fact, they were so good that we all went to Tim Horton’s for some breakfast. “Timmy Bits” are Iris’ favorite, and she’s pretty much a two-fisted eater! After what seemed like pretty close to an eternity (you know… a few hours),  Iris had her first touch of her very own baby brother! She responded exactly the same way my son Aaron responded to his baby brother a generation ago. Iris plopped right down and wanted to hold him! I suspect that’s also the way most every toddler responds to “his/her” new baby! “I wanna hold ‘im and hug him! Well, I wasn’t trying to make him cry! He has a nose just like mine! He has a tongue too, just like me! He has eyes just like me too! See how they sparkle!Why can’t I touch his eyes? I can touch his ears? Can I touch his hair? He’s so cute. You did good, Mom. I think he’s a keeper! Let’s give Grandma a turn.She can hold him for a little bit. Okay, Grandpa! Now it’s your turn. I’ll help you Grandpa. Did you see his hair? I think he’s the cutest thing around since me! Do you suppose we should give Dad and Mom a turn too? Life is going to be just fine, especially as long as I’m still in the middle!” Goodnight, sweet little Oliver! We’re so glad you’ve come to join our family! Well, I guess it’s time to go home. Oliver’s getting awfully sleepy. May you sleep in heavenly peace!

“The name Oliver refers of course to olives, a symbol of peace (olive branches) and prosperity (olive trees).” “The biblical olive tree symbolizes fruitfulness and beauty and dignity. ‘Extending an olive branch’ signifies an offer of peace.”

“But I am like an olive tree
flourishing in the house of God;
I trust in God’s unfailing love
for ever and ever.
 For what you have done I will always praise you
in the presence of your faithful people.
And I will hope in your name,
for your name is good.”

 Psalm 52: 8-9

 

Rise Up, My Love (52): When Do the Birds Sing?

Song of Solomon 2:12 “The time of the singing of birds is come.”  Singing birds speak of the joy, hope, and the blessed anticipation of fruitfulness. The king calls his beloved forth with a second blessing…not only the delight of flowers, but the joy of singing.  Flowers signify art; birds express music. Flowers adorn the ground with beauty; birds fill the sky with song.  Both flowers and birds are used as examples by our Lord of the Father’s special care. “Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them.  Are ye not much better than they?” (Matthew 6:26). Our heavenly bridegroom bids us follow him, not only because he has overcome the barriers of our past, but because he will provide for our every need in the present.  The flowers are arrayed more beautifully than Solomon; the birds are fed from the Father’s hand.  “Having food and raiment let us be therewith content (I Timothy 6:8). What need have we of more? And yet, our Lord promises more—not more physically, but more spiritually—the hope of fruitfulness! This song of songs sings of the song of birds…but of what do the birds sing? When is the time of the singing of birds? It is not really in the summer.  In the summer, birds are too busy caring for their young.  Oh, in the north woods one can be awakened from sleep with the predawn praise of gold finches or the alarm clock racket of the crows, and one can be soothed in the evening by the haunting melody of the vesper thrush, but during the day, the robins are hard at work pulling up worms to fill the mouths of their hungry babies, and in the evening the swallows are busily swooping across the lakes in search of insects to take back to their nests. No, the time of singing is not in the summer. The time of singing is not in the fall.  In the autumn there is an urgency about bird calls…a shrillness…a warning.  As the flocks of migratory birds darken the sky, it is the sound of calling each other on that can be heard.  It is not the time of singing, it is the time of military mustering and marching as they flee before the winter winds. The time of singing is not in the winter.  In the time of snows, most birds fly away to warmer refuges, leaving only a hollow silence and the wailing wind in their wake.  In the snowy regions of North America, the only voices heard often in the winter are the screeching jays, the rat-a-tat-tat of the nuthatch hammering his way down a tree in search of grubs, or the plaintive cries of the chickadees and chirping calls of sparrows. The birds fluff out their feathers and tuck their heads under their wings, shivering against the cold much like the hurried commuter, who pulls his collar up around his neck while filling his gas tank and tenses against the storm. No, neither man nor bird feels like singing in the grip of winter’s blast! The time of the singing of the birds is not even early spring.  In early spring, the geese arrive and sit silently on our frozen lake, waiting for one of the warm springs under the surface to melt its way up and meet the sun warming its way down until at last there is a pool of open water again.  One by one, the flocks of birds pass through…the purple martins, the grosbeaks, the Baltimore orioles. Soon the birds return in pairs to stay…those who nested in the area last summer: the pair of great blue herons to the cat tails on the lake, the cardinals into the willow which overhangs our waterfront, the robins to their nest over the “Welcome” sign by our front door, and the grebes and wood ducks…the geese   and swans return to the water’s marshy edge to nest. In late winter and early spring, the birds return and recuperate. The time of the singing of birds is late spring, after “the rain is over and gone,” and the reason the birds sing is for joy of love. “The time of the singing of birds” is the time of serenading…the time of proclaiming true love…the time of proposals.  Most birds mate for life, and in the spring, young birds sing to woo and win their mates.  Hopefully, already mated birds sing for joy, praising God for their wonderful mate and nest!  Hopefully, already married people do the same! The time of the singing of birds is perhaps the time of greatest exuberance and freedom. Warmth, beauty, love, joy, excited anticipation! “Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.”  Come with me and enter into the joy of the resurrection life.  Come away with me and fill your eyes with beauty and your ears with music. Come away with me to the promise of love and our future fruitfulness together.  Leave behind everything that would tie you down, and come away with me!  Oh, how our hearts should overflow with love and our lips overflow with song in praise of the altogether lovely One who has called us to come away with him!

(*The first picture was used by permission of my friend, Dan A.)

The Armstrong Archives (52): Which Field of Medicine…and Where?

July 25, 1978  It’s going to be a magnificent day, so I thought housework should be done as quickly as possible so the boys and I can enjoy being outside. They’re still asleep, but Alan has already left for work. He gets all his meals free this month and has to leave so early that we don’t try waking the kids up for a family breakfast as is our usual custom. Alan really likes anesthesiology; in fact, he is considering it as one serious option for a residency program. We spend most of our thought time trying to figure out what he ought to do for the next how-many-ever years, remembering that “the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord,” and greatly desiring that this will be true of us. My role is to pray and be ready to accept anything…and be a bounce board. As wife and mother, nothing will change too drastically no matter where we go or what he does. However, there is really a vast difference in the quality of life between the various fields of medicine. So, what are our values, priorities, etc.?!! The ends of the spectrum are roughly G.P—surgeon, and practicing in Dafter—missionary to anywhere. Obviously, where we practice will have some influence on what type of preparation Alan needs. We would love to live in the Soo, but we don’t want to be selfish either, and there are certainly places where doctors and Christians are more scarce than they are at home.

Well, anyway, that’s our current thought problem. In the flesh, there is nothing I would enjoy more than building a little house back at the McKiddies’ farm and rearing a bunch of kids and a big garden, enjoying the relative peace and security of the quiet North and the friendship of family and the lovely people there. However, that might not be the most useful investment of my time. Both of us love being together and enjoying family. Alan chafes a little under the saddle of such long hours and such a consuming career of service, but he is prepared to do it. If he is going to work time and a half or better for the rest of his life, though, it should be doing what is both satisfying and as interesting as possible, and he doesn’t really know what his greatest interest is yet. None of this would bother us were it not the season to be applying for residencies. But, ‘tis the season! We enjoyed a lovely week. Friday we went on a double date to Windsor with Keith VanOsterhout and Marji Barber. Keith has just changed radically since he started dating Marji…I like t think it’s the influence of a good woman! He just floats around and is becoming much more sociable and happy! Anyway, Saturday night he proposed to her, and Sunday night he came over to tell us all about it and get some advice (advice?!), and Monday Marji called to tell us a second-by-second report. It is so much fun to be in on such a special happening. Plus we get to do some “remember-whening” to ourselves and realize how much we’ve grown since we were anticipating marriage. We are just extremely happy to be married and want to thank all four of you again for all your faithful years of parenting! Saturday was a Sunday school picnic. Alan’s still a bit sore from playing ball but just loved the chance for some good, hard exercise. Aaron and Michael really ate up the chance to play with all the other kids. Jim Watson, our teacher, teasingly observed [while watching Michael chasing and kicking a big ball], “I think Michael must already be saved, he’s just happy all the time.” He is too, almost always. Michael is so winsome that Aaron has taken a bit of a turn towards being jealous, especially since Michael is starting to walk and is right at a good age for getting attention. We are trying extra hard to notice and appreciate Aaron. Big brothers have an awful lot expected of them!

August 1, 1978  First, I’d better beg your indulgence for writing with Michael on my lap, because he’s contesting my exclusive use of the keyboard. gk [doubtless from Michael]We’ve had quite a busy week, highlighted by our high school’s ten-year reunion. It was really fun to see all the kids again—many of whom seemed to have changed very little—and all of the various reproductions thereof. I was surprised to see that most of us have just continued to grow along the same lines…a bit fuller (the adult frame physically, emotionally, and spiritually), but really very few radical changes in character or personality.

I took the boys to the Belle Isle Children’s Zoo with a friend and her little girl. It is a zoo built on the themes of Mother Goose rhymes and full of baby animals. Aaron has always loved animals, and Michael was absolutely in his glory with the baby goats that attempted to eat the plastic seat of his stroller. They have a special area where you can buy baby bottles full of milk to feed the baby goats. We got three bottles, which lasted just second because the kids were right ready for a morning snack. I always thought it was a joke to think the billy goats ate clothing, but they went right after Aaron’s shirt! Our neighbor Bill came for dinner one night just before his wife and daughter returned from visiting the grandparents in Scotland. They’ve been our neighbors ever since we moved in, and Aaron has gotten to be such good friends with their nine-year-old daughter that I’ve had several people ask about his “sister.” They’re moving to Texas next month, which will be quite a loss for us, and even more so since Bill has recently become an avid student of the Scriptures. He comes from a Lutheran/Jehovah Witness background and is just now trying to figure out what the Bible really says. He’s forever asking questions and bringing up verses concerning doctrines that Alan and I have accepted for years without studying recently, such as the trinity, deity of Christ, eschatology, etc. It has been really exciting to study, search, and review with him, and it also strengthens our own knowledge. [Eventually, their whole family came to Christ. We have continued our friendship to this day. Bill is now a biochemistry professor in Tennessee, and the Lord eventually blessed them with three other children, much to Janice’s great delight! She had feared that Cheryl Ann would be an only child!]

One day Alan and I attended a “Financial Planning Seminar” which was simply excellent. It dealt with insurance, wills, credit, debt, etc. from the Biblical perspective. Of course one day barely scratched the surface, but it really gave us some helpful insights in so many areas where we had had questions—why term insurance, how to avoid probate, why have a will, should everything be joint—just ask us, we’re experts. HA! HA! One of the most exciting aspects was their emphasis on budgeting and how to do it. We’re working on that now and will meet with an ex-economics professor who’s working with the organization on Friday. Well, the boys are hot to get outside. It’s a gorgeous, cloudless morning. [I couldn’t find a picture from that time, so I’m using this one of Aaron with two of his sons from July, 2012 when they were just about the same ages as Aaron and Michael were in 1978! :)] Alan’s doing radiology this month and has the best hours he will have in his entire medical career, I’m sure: 8:30-4:30 Monday through Friday with no weekends. As for the ongoing guessing game of what he’ll do next year…after spending the weekend in the Soo and seeing their grave need for family practitioners, today he is back to considering being a family practice doctor. We already have a Christian friend who has expressed interest in going into such a practice with him, so who knows, maybe this will settle it. He’s so good with people (my very blind and prejudiced opinion I realize), that I think he would be well suited to primary care work. Who knows? Hopefully, we will by next April anyway!

Fan Fare

If you’re looking for a way to cool down your hot toddler, you might like fanfare.    I think Kathy read about it online somewhere, and it’s a great hit with Iris. Stick your fan under a blanket and turn in on!  It makes a small wind tunnel.What Iris instinctively tries to do is try to grab at the covers…but what she’s supposed to do is crawl underneath and revel in the breeze. Iris really wanted me to come play with herbecause it’s S.O.  M.U.C.H.  F.U.N.!! Kathy manned the fan to keep Iris safe, and I joined in the fun. Lots of room for rolling about! She wanted Kathy to play with us too, but Kathy had her hands full! However, Iris and I were as cool as cucumbers and loved the refreshing wind!

Thank you, heavenly father, for sending the refreshing wind of the Holy Spirit to comfort us when we’re hot and tired! Iris is such a picture of me! I may instinctively try to help control circumstances, and I pretty much always wish for a friend to join me, but what God really wants for me is to “climb under the cover” of his wings and just revel in the comfort of his love, cooled and restored by the ministry of his Holy Spirit blowing like a gentle wind over my soul.Are you enjoying the presence of God’s Holy Spirit in your life? Have you become a child by faith in Christ and a part of the spiritual “kingdom of God”? Are you “under the covers” of his love and reveling in his care?  When Nicodemus sought out Jesus one night long ago, “Jesus answered him, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.’ Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?’ Jesus answered, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, You must be born again. The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you don not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.'” (John 3:3-8 ESV)

Someone New is Coming!

Kathy is now past her due date. I don’t how soon young Mr. J. will arrive,  but Kathy’s more than ready, and so are Iris and George! Iris is crazy about Curious George, and what’s not to love? She also loves going to the park and playing with her doting family, who all adore her. 🙂 As you might imagine, I’m just dying to go play with her and meet her new baby brother! So bring on the fun! And, if you don’t hear from me very regularly for a while… you’ll know why!

“How excellent is your loving kindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of your wings” (Psalm 36:7).

(Kathryn let me use her 3 pictures of Iris and Curious George)

Autumn Arising

It is officially autumn again, and I am so thankful to be alive to experience it! God painted another study in pastels just before the sun rose this morning. I ran outside with my camera and noticed the waning moon still high in the sky. Abby’s fur was beaded with dew and his warm breath reminded me that Alan and I would no longer be swimming around the lake. Tonight we’ll kayak.Like the sun arising, so autumn is arising—not only on our lake, but in my heart! I will turn 63 next week…that’s definitely the fall of life. It’s the time when we start falling too…slowing down, our vigor abating like a waning moon… and inevitably we’re deteriorating. Alan and I have way too many friends who are sick and struggling with illness right now. I stopped to pray and waited until the last whispers of pink surrendered to blue. I love our lake. It’s so peaceful. But, there’s always something happening, too! Usually the great blue herons are pretty tolerant of the mallards, but not this morning! In fact, the waterfowl are all skiddish…I think practicing up for their migration. Brightly colored wood ducks fed among the lily pads…but at a safe distance.  Lemon-colored bur marigolds brightened the marshy water’s edge…right beneath my feet. 🙂The last of the loose strife delighted my eyes. I could have lingered forever! Ah, but Abby had been patiently waiting all this time for his morning walk. It was a perfect misty, moisty morning today…so like early autumn! A robin was bursting with song high up in the top of a dead ash tree, and a little downy woodpecker worked tirelessly drilling out grubs near the top of an old snag above the swamp. Deer crossed the lane behind us after they thought we were gone,and Canada geese grazed peacefully in the grassy field. All was well. All is well.Except maybe for the bee on this goldenrod. He appeared to be too cold to move. Here and there the road was sprinkled with  bright purple asters and cheery white flea bane. Even some delicate blue flax were still blooming…well past their summer blush.

I marveled at God’s creative genius in the sunrise and the waning moon, the waking lake and woods, the birds and bees and flowers and trees…but there was a little wistful sadness in my heart until I came upon these cherry-red rose hips. I know wild roses burst into glory when June is bustin’ out all over, but they are still beautiful and fruitful in the fall. After all, you can’t make rose hip tea until autumn. So, even though autumn is arising in my life, I can be fruitful in ways that I couldn’t before. Autumn is a beautiful time, and I’m so glad to be alive to enjoy another autumn!

“They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, ‘The LORD is upright; he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him’.” (Psalm 92:14-15 NIV)

The Romance of Northern Europe (6): Cruising Fjords in the Baltic Sea

One of my favorite joys in cruising is just that: cruising! Cruising through the fjords along the coast of Norway was especially enchanting. We weren’t in rugged mountain areas like we’ve seen in New Zealand and Alaska but lollygagged through gentler fjords filled with islands and dotted with homes. On this particular cruise of Northern Europe, we only had two days “At Sea” where we traveled throughout the day without ever reaching a port. On those days, we were filled with fresh sea breezes from the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same…until the sun set in lilac and golden splendor.Alan and I spent a lot of time walking & soaking up the views during days at sea.Our captain gave great commentary and would tell people just where to look and what they might be seeing that would be of special interest. I probably should have kept a journal with notes so I could give you more details on what we saw. But, alas, my eyes were so full of wonder at all thefascinating townsand remote, romantic islands, that I failed to retain much specific information to share, although I hope you’re able to enjoy my “Impressions of Norway.” I will say that cruising through the Baltic Sea— especially through the fjords of Norway—was an experience I’ll always treasure. It’s an adventure I would happily repeat. But, if I ever get to go again, I’d like to sail up the northern coast of Norway to some of the more wild, remote fjords. “From the rising of the sun to the going down of the same the LORD’s name is to be praised” (Psalm 113:3).

Art Prize 2013: Life as Art

Grand Rapids is aglow with all things Art Prize at the moment.Everyone is enjoying and being enriched by contemplating art work. Thursday night Alan and I went down to the Amway Grand to admire our friend, Anna Donahue,’s painting depicting the plight of homeless children. We also attended a celebration for the artists at the Cgynus 27 (27th floor). That evening we strolled around downtown and then stopped in at the BOB  to see another friend’s entry, which highlights the agony of children who have died needlessly over the years through war, disease, injustice and neglect. And then, on Saturday night Alan and I helped host a party at the GRAM (Grand Rapids Art Museum) for medical students who are interested in doing their psychiatric residency at Pine Rest  and psychiatry residents who may be interested in working at  Pine Rest when they finish their training. The food is always great, and there are lots of appetizers and snacky items plus desserts for people who are coming in and out while visiting Art Prize.Because families are invited, the organizers include a special candy bar for kids. Alan and I took a short break to enjoy some of the art prize entries at the GRAM. I never cease being amazed at the creativity and detail!  Some of the pieces are whimsical or have only subtle meanings that might not be obvious to the casual observer, but many entries are making very clear statements on subjects about which the artists feel deep passion. Being Grand Rapids, there is a lovely sprinkling of artwork on biblical themes, and I find these very inspiring, but there’s a tremendous range of ideas, mediums, and themes…so there’s plenty for everyone, no matter what your taste.

My daughter Kathy is overdue with their second baby this morning. She is a very creative person, but with an 18-month-old toddler and the second child on the verge of appearing, she doesn’t have the time to express her creativity often through writing, even though she dearly loves to write. But, she finds ways!My daughter-in-law Carlie, homeschooling their four, has the same problem! She’d love to be painting…but when? However, she takes pictures and arranges flowers to set in her windows. They create tiny bits of great beauty!  My daughter-in-law Grace, now in South Korea, struggles too. In the midst of life’s challenges, how do we express the creativity that is so deep within us? I think Kathy spoke into this issue beautifully in her blog the other day: “Sometimes I think the people I know who have taken a good look at their lives, have come to terms with both the good and the bad of it and learned to craft their own happiness and create art in the details—those are the really successful artists of the world. Life itself can be art, you know? I don’t want to be too rigid in my definitions…” Amen, dear daughter! Life is art! As Oscar Wilde expressed it so poignantly: “Life has been your art. You have set yourself to music. Your days are your sonnets.” I also like this thought from Roy Adzak: “Good art is not what it looks like, but what it does to us.” Whether I’m busily preparing dinner for Alan, or cleaning house, or spending times with loved ones, or writing this blog,  I long for my life to be like beautiful art that draws people to Jesus!

“That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in him,  according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.                                   (2 Thessalonians 1:12)

(*Pictures of Kathy and Carlie are self-portraits. Carlie took the picture of her blue vase and goldenrod. Michael took the picture of Grace and the kids.)

Rise Up, My Love (51): Transcendent Beauty

Song of Solomon 2:12 “The flowers appear on the earth…” And here, I would be remiss if I did not make one small digression from this text to explore a subject so prominent in the minds of all brides…all women, young and old: beauty.  The flowers that appear in the springtime of our souls are those of supernatural, spiritual beauty…that which is given to us by him, and not that of our own contrivance.  The beauties which spring up from the Lord’s hand and fill the earth with glory, enveloping the rocks, taking root in lightning-struck trees, and billowing over rusty threshing machines…the beauties which turn tombstones into monuments of flowering grandeur and attract seekers from miles around…these beauties, which exceed Solomon’s in all his glory, are not physical; they are spiritual in nature. Natural beauty is ephemeral. “All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away” (I Peter 1:24). God does not want his bride to be overly concerned with outward beauty.  Yes, of course all women want to be beautiful, and our heavenly lover addresses us as “fair one.”  But, he wants to array us in something even more beautiful than that which Solomon—in all his glory—chose for his bride.  Christ wants his bride to be adorned with the beauties and graces that only his Holy Spirit can produce in the fertile ground of the heart.  In the seed of his Word he says to wives, “whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price” (I Peter 3:3-4). Beloved sisters the world around, may we all receive this seed of truth into our hearts and allow it to spring up into flowers of inner beauty which will never fade…no matter how old we become on the outside.  No, God does not tell us to neglect our outward appearance.  In fact, we should be good stewards of all the Lord has given us, and in Proverbs 31:22 the virtuous woman is commended for making herself beautiful clothing of silk and purple.  But, there is a deeper, eternal beauty which comes from within the heart…a loveliness and fruitfulness which comes only from abiding in Christ.  May we allow him to produce in us the beauty of a meek and quiet spirit, which will radiate out of our lives with glowing luminescence. May each of us “let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

The Armstrong Archives (51): Michael’s a Walker

Thursday, July 6, 1978 [Aaron is now 21 months and Michael 9 months]  Hi! Alan just left to take a friend to work so he can borrow their car to get to the hospital tomorrow. Last night our car broke down on the way home from prayer meeting. Alan thinks it’s the fuel pump, but nobody knows for sure. It stopped “deader than a door nail,” and we had to have to towed to a garage. Thankfully, some of our friends saw us and stopped to help…the wife helped me keep the kids content, and they even drove us home at 11:30 pm! [Praise God for good friends!]

Earlier this evening we all enjoyed an open-air band concert on campus. Michael sat on the edge of his stroller for nearly fifteen minutes. Of course, he loved the clapping best and thought it was all for him! He has five teeth now as of Tuesday and has learned to wave a little. He takes seriously going for little walks with anyone who will hold his hands!

Aaron was not at all pleased to come back to Detroit and be parted from his grandparents…and worst of all—Daddy, who’s back at work now, studying anesthesiology at St. John’s.

July 13, 1978  Hi! [Family letter to both parents, which I started doing at this time and continued for years]

It occurred to me that the fastest, most efficient way to get out the local news is to type it while Michael takes his morning nap. Since his birth, I haven’t gotten into a good routine for trying to write two letters in one sitting without the kids giving out on me. However, Aaron is sitting at Alan’s typewriter (minus the ribbon) and having a ball. So, if this works, I may try it again.

As of yesterday Michael has taken his first steps—all two of them. He is quite careful but not in the least timid. I suppose having soft floors makes falling not too frightening. Anyway, when he wants to transfer from one support to another, if it’s almost within reach he’ll go for it, and with increasing success. He has also been pretty crabby the last few days and has started waking several times a night…a sure sign that tooth #6 will make an appearance in a couple of weeks. Michael is now awake, and Aaron is tired of typing, looking for some lunch, so I may be just about through. Tuesday we went on a picnic to Windsor. It was a breezy 80° day—just perfect for watching the impressive Detroit skyline from the quiet serenity of Assumption Park, which is just across the river [in Ontario, Canada]. We never cease to marvel at the safety and slow pace in Windsor. The colors at Jackson Park are breathtaking too. Acres of roses of every color and variety. I took a picture to send you (if it ever turns out).               [Couldn’t find a copy, but here’s a picture from 2013.]

Aaron told me very solemnly the other day, “When I get to be a great big boy, I’m going to go to kindergarten. Then Daddy and I can go to school together.” My Dad is getting to be a pretty important person around here!

Hi Mom and Dad, [on the back of above “family” letter]

This letter is intended for both you two and the Armstrong parents. I discovered that 9/10^th of everything I had to say to you about what we’re doing I was also writing to them and my correspondence batting average is getting poorer as time goes by. What do you think? Would you be offended by my writing one news sheet for both of you and xeroxing it like this? BE HONEST! Is that sickeningly impersonal?

How are plans for the Japanese people coming? Yoko told me that most Japanese people do not give things away to whomever admires them today, though older, more formal people will. The country is adopting more and more western traditions (somewhat unfortunately [my addition]). Does Mr. Materna still have the doll he admired from someone’s collection? It’s certainly none of my business, but I think he could return it if he wanted to.

What became of Sea Sat? Was it launched? [My brother Rob worked for Lockheed and helped develop this project, which launched on June 28, 1978, and was the first Earth-orbiting satellite with mechanisms for remotely sensing oceanic activity.]

July 19, 1978  Michael is on my knee competing for the keys, so this may turn out to be slightly less than top quality work! This has not been his morning. Tooth #6 finally broke the surface yesterday. This morning he helped me clean off the table…in one fell swoop. I was putting away the bibs in the bathroom, and I gather he was trying to use the edge of the tablecloth as a support to lift himself to a stand. Anyway, remains of eggs, bacon, toast, and juice, plates and silverware all landed in a heap on the floor, and the crowning touch was the last of Aaron’s milk on his head. He was most offended.

As of yesterday, we also consider him to be a toddler, so I’m trying to eliminate “Mikey” from my vocabulary and give him his more distinguished, proper name. (As you may have guessed, he just got demoted to playing on the floor.) [The earlier typing in this letter was very poor, due to Michael’s interference. This doesn’t happen on computers, but it used to happen with my old-fashioned typewriter, which is part of the reason I’ve had to transcribe rather than scan all these old letters!] He is taking a few 5-6 step runs and getting better at it every day.

Aaron is really starting to participate in all the ends and outs of housework with real enthusiasm and helpfulness. It strains my brain to try to think of tasks simple enough for him, but sometimes he surprises me with his abilities. Saturday he actually used a paring knife to slice potatoes for potato salad. That morning we went to great lengths to pack the perfect picnic: baked beans, deviled eggs…the works. By the time Alan got off work, black clouds were rolling in on our cloudless, 80° morning. Undaunted, we took off for the park. It just poured, but we found a little shelter and had a rather intimate three-family picnic! Aaron got four playmates out of the deal, and it turned out fine. In fact, he’s been telling everybody he sees about our rainy day picnic.

I suppose you aren’t as thrilled about Aaron’s potty training as we are…but we tucked away the potty chair until baby brother is ready for it. Aaron hasn’t had an accident all week, can pull down (and sometimes back up) his own shorts, and WONDER OF WONDERS, has even been volunteering information about when he needs to do a poot. (Excuse me, he now often corrects me to say “B.M.”)

Thursday night Alan took me to an India-Indian restaurant for dinner, which was a really unique experience. It was so authentically foreign that it made us both feel uneasy. I as impressed to realize just how western we both are! Here I thought we were the picture of cosmopolitanism, but the food burned our mouths out (not to mention our not being able to recognize what it was), the music was eerie, and the atmosphere was stifling. It is kind of hard to describe, but I was really surprised that we both had such a distinct reaction.

Aunt Mary babysat that night and brought Aaron some pop and potato chips, neither of which he ever gets at our table. The next morning he was after me for some more, so I explained why I didn’t serve him such delicious tasting treats (which he made me admit that I liked). He thought about it for awhile and then asked, “Mama, when you were a ‘gril’ (girl), what did Aunt Mary give you for a treat?”

Sunday Alan and I taught the 3-5-year-old class and let Aaron come too (much to his teacher’s dismay, who says he is “the smartest little guy I ever saw”). I shouldn’t brag on him, should I? She just didn’t want to have to promote him! Monday we went to Windsor for a picnic and almost lost our soccer ball in the river until a lady fished it out with the strap of her binoculars.  Tuesday we had a short date to Greek Town. Michael’s crying…

We may come home late next Saturday night (July 29^th) for our class reunion. It’s still really up in the air as we try to weigh realistically cost vs. value.  Brenda Benedict, Larry Hembroff, and lots of dear, dear friends will be there, so it’s a tough decision. If we come, we’ll stay in Dafter and expect that you’ll be busy the whole time with the Japanese people. That won’t hurt our feelings a bit since we’ll get to see you lots in just two more weeks. We’ll be sure to call and say Hi if we do come, though!

What’s up, Dad? I hope all the right commodities!

Love, Us