1959 – Ordination took place in Waukesha with Rev. Aubrey Young. So many friends and family attended. It was quite an experience and I remember driving back to Chicago at night as the children loved watching the stars. One summer Mike and Florence Adams let us move into their home while they were on vacation. We took care of their cat, Sabrina, met the neighbors and had a taste of how nice our future would be when we could move there. We lived in Fowler Hall for two years and then moved into the Belden Apartments where we had a nice apartment on the first floor. We even had a swing in the yard.

We made so many good friends those years and I’m still in touch with many. We did get close to those living on our floor in Fowler – Meryl and Ron Gustafson and their children Clark, Brad and Gayle. There was one man who didn’t have a winter coat and would borrow one that was available at the time. At the end of the month we would all eat together in the hall bringing any food we had to share. Money was scarce for all of us.

Shortly after we were at McCormich we took the children for a ride on the El train. It was hot and the windows were open. Peter became so congested and it was the beginning of his asthma problems. One day after a miserable night with him I called a pediatrician someone had recommended and she said, “Oh my dear you must make a steam tent in your bathroom.” I started to cry saying, “but we share the bathroom with nineteen people.” She had me bring him in and we got him on medication. This went on all during our time in the city. I had something for him when he started getting bad but if that didn’t do it I was told to bring him in. He was limited to different foods as he grew but he still battles allergies today.