A manse was built and we moved into it Warren’s last year in seminary. It was so exciting and wonderful. The congregation was so supportive all during our school years. They saw how hard Warren worked and how sincere he was. As Warren followed fire engines on campus – now he followed moving vans and he really did find new members doing this. He visited people in their home and knew everyone’s names, every child and most of their phone numbers. They were so good to us as the manse was being built in letting us pick our colors and appliances. You can imagine how thrilled we were to move from small quarters on campus into a lovely new home. I remember the day we moved in the area that looked like prairie, with so few homes on Lawn Avenue, but it didn’t take long for many to go up.

Our lives became very active in Western Springs. The congregation had a house warming party and we received so many useful things, and we bought a sofa and chairs from Odie Boyd’s furniture store (a member in our church). We made such close good friends in our church – Evie and Vic Meyer, Betty and Skip Detrick, Mary and Roy Hubble, Donna and George Slezak. Friends that we still keep in touch with.

As the church was built we could watch its progress daily. We became close to the crew of Bob Kramer and the day the church was dedicated, the choir (I was a member) sang “Santus” and tears were rolling down our cheeks when the key was handed to Warren.

Days come and go, events take place, children grow, love deepens. We just took it all for granted. Our lives were so full and busy. Sue arrived. Peter took her to school for his show and tell in Kindergarten. I remember the teacher had all of the children in a circle and they were so excited to see this little newborn baby. She was such a good baby. Of course she had three mothers with Judy and Anne always ready to hold her. She was always taken care of at any church function, and the teenage girls loved her.