MY MEANINGFUL MEMORIES - Part 7

During our whole year of being engaged, hubby studied very hard and we wrote lots of love letters, which I still have of course! I kept quite busy working for the Pathologist at the Children's Hospital in Winnipeg. We did what we had to do and we were happy!

In my spare time I coordinated all the wedding preparations for our big day on July 2, 1966!  As was done in those days, the bride’s parents paid the bills, except for several expenses that were totally the groom's responsibility.

We had invited around 200 guests - dear family and friends from church and community.  The above is a family photo. The weather on our wedding day was stifling hot and it poured all day, apparently all across the country, according to comments, a dear old friend, Onkel Jonathan Otto made at the ceremonies. We didn't care!!  To us it meant that there would be showers of blessing from above throughout our marriage! Of course, we were right!

We could not take any outdoor photos and therefore had to get all dressed up the following day to take pictures in the beautiful Winnipeg Assiniboine Park.

The long weekend was the only days off we had.  It was busy, busy, busy – but we were married! My uncle had performed the wedding ceremony and an excellent program followed.

There was beautiful music and we received a special edition of a Bible as a gift from our church. Children from the Sunday School class I taught with my friend made special presentations!

So many people participated in this meaningful and fun program - almost a talent show for the youngsters. They had worked so hard and we felt so honored!

The food was catered and very tasty  - at least I hope so - I was too preoccupied with more important things than food! The youth group did the honors of being waiters and waitresses for one of their former youth president's wedding - that would be hubby.  The women's ministry group served coffee and delicious, low-calorie (yeah, right!!)  Torten  and Cakes of all kinds, after the program.

It wasn't just an adult only event - everyone brought their children. In those years the bride and groom still opened all the gifts right after the program for everyone to see and admire.  Corning Ware dishes and crystal vases to last a lifetime! I still have the originals.

The children would crowd around the head table and play with the boxes, the wrapping paper and the ribbons! They were boisterous and  had fun! What a sense of family and belonging we had in that German Baptist Mission Church of Winnipeg! We still enjoy our visits and keeping in touch with loved ones there.

After all the THANK YOU speeches by the parents and the couple, the wedding that started in the early afternoon came to a close. Nobody ran off quickly and everyone helped the family with the clean-up.  Dishes were still done by hand way back then. There was church the next day you know!! I think it was way after midnight by the time all was cleaned up and we finally got home.

Most couples would head off the next day for their honeymoon.  We were different, however. On Tuesday after our wedding, hubby started summer courses at the University of Manitoba for six weeks and I just kept working.  My boss was pleased! At the wedding he had announced that if my parents had more like me, he would hire them on the spot. Wouldn't you know it, he hired my younger sister! I think I still did the honors of training her for my position.

In the middle of August, we did leave on what we considered our honeymoon, a couple of weeks prior to school opening at the Seminary in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Our trip  down on the Greyhound bus was lots of fun.  We took all our belongings in two steamer trunks and several boxes  and suitcases right on the bus with us. Our kids still have the steamer trunks....

We didn’t own a car yet. Why, our parents didn't even own a car yet! Sioux Falls was a lovely, interesting place. ‘Small town living’ was such a treat!  Gorgeous old, old trees, so different from the ones we had in Canada!  A lovely waterfall in the center of town!  A slower pace of life! Life in student housing, long row houses which looked like former army base housing, was a new experience. Great neighbors!

Fun fact - In 1966 a McDonald's hamburger was only 15 cents! 

We had a marvelous time and being married was such a joy. It felt good to leave home and start our own family unit! We made new friends easily and quickly settled into a church family as well.

Seminary started for hubby after the long week-end in September and I took a few babysitting opportunities, just to keep busy, because otherwise I had no visa to work in the States. We went home to be with family for Christmas and the first school year just flew by!


..................more later

MY MEANINGFUL MEMORIES - Part 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6