Travels with Alz Heimer: April 2011

1962-I was 14 and trying to look like Jackie Kennedy

My cousin, Laurie and me about 1958

See mom standing in the doorway with her fox around her shoulders?

Nancy, Sarah, Bill and myself

Holidays were a special part of growing up for our family. We had grandparents who lived in the same town and lots of cousins. We all went to the Episcopal church, some of us even sang in the choir. The first 12 years of my life were all that one thinks of when you talk of growing up in the 50's. The moms were homemakers and in our part of the world the dads wore suits and went to work in Chicago on the train.

We would go to meet dad often as he was coming home-mom with her crew in tow would wait at the train and I remember thinking all the dads looked alike but mine was special--so young and handsome.

I was 12 years old the year I wanted to understand why we went to church--I began to read the Book of Common Prayer and wanted to read the Bible. I decided to ask Father Tilden just how to go about doing that. One day I mustered up all my nerve and went to his office

to talk with him. He was a big man who was a bit intimidating. Well, he told me that day that I could read the Bible if I wanted to but that the Old Testament was just a collection of fairy tales.

This was really the beginning of a slide away from God instead of a drawing unto Him. If the Bible were not completely true then how could we trust our lives to the God of the Bible.

This very summer of talking with the minister I was often crewing in sailboat races with a young man who was about 20 years old and a beatnik. These were pre hippie days. He did not believe in God at all and he would talk and talk while we were sailing filling my young mind with his view of the world.

And impressed I was. As I considered all he said I decided that he was right and that there was no God. I know I made my parents upset because I then did not want to go to church or pray at the dinner table--after all, we non-conformists must remain true to our beliefs.

Tom (the sailor) had introduced me to protest folk music-Joan Baez, Leadbelly-and I loved it. It struck a cord within me..a sad and distant cord.

I was different than most of the kids in high school and I often tried to proselytize others about there being no God. I began to be interested in philosophy and that became my minor in college along with a major in English.

One summer during this time I was walking in the woods here in Onekama where we have a cottage and I noticed some carving on a tree up ahead of me. What I read on that tree never left my mind until the day I came to Christ in full surrender, "the way of the transgressor is hard."

I did not know it was from the Bible but the word of God is alive and active and sharper than any two ed

ged sword. It pierced my heart--and I didn't even know why.

In philosophy class I met my husband to be, Doug. His ideas were similar to mine and we could talk for hours - we fell in love and married in the summer of 1969. Mom insisted on a church wedding even though I very much did not want one. I suppose my wedding was not much fun for my mother or the rest of my family.
Our first son was born prematurely and only lived for a day. The law was that if a child lived for more than a hour he had to have a burial, so while I remained in the hospital Doug took our first born son wrapped in a blanket - put him on the seat next to him in the truck and headed out to the funeral home for a casket. We had no relatives nearby and no friends. We had just moved to Arkansas from Illinois--we were all alone.

Even though we did not even acknowledge the existence of God, He was merciful and within the next 8 years we had 4 children. Three boys and a girl.

Satan had been after me for most of my life--there were so many times when I could have died (and death without Christ is eternity in hell)because of foolish things I was doing-like riding on motorcycles to Chicago w/o my parents knowledge, driving recklessly and generally just being stupid.

During my teen years I spent many hours wondering about and wanting to know why I was here--what did my life mean. What did anyt

hing mean.

Satan was always at my heels but Jesus was keeping me for Himself. The summer I was 27 I took the 2 boys and drove to the cottage from Arkansas-Doug had to work and I wanted to be in a happy place. One night when the boys were asleep I walked into the kitchen to get something to eat-suddenly my eyes were riveted on the large sharp knife sitting on the counter. I felt a presence pushing me to take the knife and to go upstairs and take my sons lifes and then to take my own.This is how Satan works-he hits us in our weak areas. Mine was my love for my children. I have experienced the power of darkness and it is real--but God is greater and has overcome the world.

I stood there for what seemed like eternity resisting this profound presence of evil. For the next week I could hardly go into the kitchen and see that knife--but I know now that the Holy Spirit protected me from the one who wants to destroy. God is so good. He will save all who call upon His name.

In 1979 we were living in Missouri with our 4 children. I had to drive a particular route once a week that took me past a huge billboard that had these words on it-" for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16

The living word of God began to break down all my barriers and even though I was never once witnessed to by any Christian--Jesus did all the witnessing and He drew me with His cords of love. Doug came to salvation in January of 1980 and I was gloriously saved on Easter Sunday 1980 when I was 31 years old. I have now been saved for 31 years.

The way of the transgressor had indeed been hard, but God looked into the heart of a young girl who was searching for the truth and He showed her the way --"come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28

First we stopped to wish mom and dad a happy 67th anniversary

Dad was a little tired Friday morning but he knew that it was their anniversary

She is still pretty

We then went into LaGrange to see Lena and Adam. Saturday morning was Lena's midwife appointment in Geneva. So after that we decided to head over to Little Traveler. Little Traveler is a shopping place all in an extended old house with little shops of all kinds and restaraunts. We all remember many many fun times there with mom as it was one of her favorite places to go. Wish you could have been with us, Mom!!

This is the old hospital in Geneva where Doug was born. It has been added on to and is now little upscale shops.

On Sunday we all got together in Valparaiso, Indiana. Alex was in from Montana for a wedding with his family. We were able to all meet and get a family picture. This is our oldest grandchild, Steve.