Ruth - Maternity Pics

Post by Joanna Adams Photography.

A little blast from the past....A letter my Grandpa wrote to my Grandma from the Phillipines while he was fighting in World War II. . . February 5th 1945. The interpretation is below as it can be a little difficult to read. So much sweetness here.

Feb 5-1945

                                                                                              Phillipines

Dearest Sweetheart,

            Hi-Annie, recieved your lovely letter dated Jan 4, and gee[,] Honey, really was swell hearing from you again. I know that my mail don't come through as it should, as if + when I do get all of my back mail, why[,] it will be impossible to answer it all, as I only heard once from home, + twice from you[,] Darling. Gosh[,] Ann, person really does appreciate a letter alot (illegible) here at the front lines, being I have [a] few minutes I try awful hard to write an interesting letter for [a] change, ha. ha. and as it seems[,] Honey[,] that is almost impossible.

            So[,] you recieved some of my letters I wrote aboard ship, according to your letter[,] Honey. If it was a short one, ha. as that is about all the time person had, and also to[o] uncomfortable aboard ship to do any writing, [I] will tell you all about it someday in the near future.

            Gee[,] Honey, that dream you had about me, really was [a] good one[.] I certainly do hope that it will never come true[,] Sugar, as if I were home on a furlough + and week done passed and I didn't come to see you, why[,] there must be something wrong with me somewhere. I'd like to see the person that will stop me from seeing you, I'd even walk all the way out to your place, and as for me working at the store, well[,] Darling[,] not me, because I am going to take life easy whenever I am on a furlough, no work whatsoever[,] Honey, and as for the other part of your dream, well really don't know what to say[,] ha[.]

            Certainly is swell to hear that you are still in best of health as yet honey, and as for myself[,] I really can't complain about my health, and as for taking it rather easy these days? Annie, that is a question that remains unanswered.

            So, you do attend a dance now and then[?] Gosh[,] Honey[,] am glad to hear it, and do hope you do enjoy yourself, and perhaps in the near future I will be able to take you to a dance myself.

            Say[,] if you ever happen to see Frank Malson again, or have got his address, send it to me[,] please[.] I'll kindly surprise him with a few lines, + also give him my best regards, if you see him.

             Say[,] Annie, did you ever recieve that xmas present from me, that Alma sent to you from me, as you haven't mentioned it as yet in your letters, I certainly do hope so.

            Well[,] Darling[,] as for excitement around here, Is about the same as usual, really nothing to worry about to speak of. Although it is impossible to give you facts about what takes place here at the front lines, but it certainly is pretty hot at times and gosh[,] plenty of fleas too, hardly seems possible, that there would be so many fleas at one place[,] but the Japs were rather dirty and that is the reason for it, but they are checking it though now, so it won't be so bad later on, and as for meals, are getting hot meals now, as it is possible now for them to bring it to us, and really is a treat for a  person, but as for sleeping, the good old mother earth is my bed. It has been over two months now since I had my cloths off to sleep, although that don't mean I am still wearing the seem pair[,] Honey[,] ha[,] ha[,] oh[,] yes, we do wash them whenever possible + also get new cloths, throw the old ones away. Is quite an adventure for me, if + when I am home I can tell you story after story [about] what took place here, but at times though, [a] person's nerves really are bad, this so called battle nerves gets [a] person at times, especially  some guys, as for myself[,] doesn't bother me.

            I suppose you are following the news pretty close on this operation here, and I guess it won't be long, and the operation will be closed, and then I am going to (illegible) out this rotation as person don't receive any information person could believe, but what person does hear, + if it is true, (illegible) it really does sound good. + I imagine, you'll have to reserve that date for me, Honey, 4th [of] July date[,] eh? So[,] you keep your fingers crossed[,] Darling, and I'll be seeing you in the near future.

            I really must close now, Annie, and please do let me hear from you again real soon, + oh[,] yes[,] and what is (illegible) address, + how (illegible) (illegible) like the Army, by now[?] So[,] good-night, and sweet dreams to you Sweetheart.

                                               

                                                 all my love + kisses

                                                            Harold

                                 P.S also my best regards to your folks.

                                                                          x x x x x  

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My Grandma...

There are a lot of things about my Grandma that I'm going to miss. When I was a tot, it was going to her house and eating coughdrops-I thought they were candy...I'm going to miss the stories-stories of chasing coyotes off with a pitchfork at 5 years of age, stories of her sod house and dirt floor--stories I should have listened to closer. I'm going to miss her humor-she was so funny and didn't even know it. Everytime I went to a dance she'd ask, "Aren't there any nice boys there?" When I finally found that nice boy, she could never get his name Elliot right and chose to call him Italiano. She could say anything and get away with it--she often commented on people's weight and size loud enough that they could hear. She told me when I was pregnant that I was huge and asked, "Aren't you afraid you are going to have a monster child?" I'm eavesdropped on her conversations to herself-"that Joanna is a nice girl but she sure is messy?"

I'm going to miss the more serious times-I often heard my Grandma praying for family outloud. I loved to see her open up her huge Bible and carefully read each line.

But time, time has passed and caught up to her as it will all of us. One day we're just a kid, the next we're raising kids, and then we're watching those kids raise more kids. The time we have is borrowed and the bodies were spending it in are too.

II Corinthians,

"For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved we have a building of God, an house not made with hands eternal in the heavens. . . For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life."

I have peace--a peace that my Grandma is loving her new house, spending time with her husband and Jesus. I know I will see her again.

Engaged

Eeeeek!!! I'm so excited I'm trying to contain myself...

I knew that sooner or later Elliot would probably be popping the question and I totally thought that I'd be able to figure out exactly when it was happening but boy was I ever wrong.

Elliot talked to my Dad about two weeks ago and asked for permission to marry me which by the way he granted excitedly!! He gathered up my two sisters and after much consensus picked out a ring and apparently received counsel that you should get down on one knee, not two, while proposing. Anyway, Elliot kept all of this a secret from me which is extremely difficult to do in our family!

He suggested a walk tonight, which is not terribly out of the ordinary and didn't strike me as odd (especially considering that he is leaving to work in Wyoming for a week :) I did find it strange he was wearing so many coats (apparently he was trying to hide the ring) and I wasn't even going to wear one myself but decided to grab his green carhartt coat. The playground where Elliot and I used to go to church together is about 1 mile walk from our house. I thought Elliot was a little bit quieter than normal but it didn't strike me as odd. When we got to the playground, I thought we'd probably swing together for a while or something. We were both standing there and he said, "Wow, and to think twelve years ago I'd never guessed." Then he got down on one knee and I pretty much freaked out! I was like "oh honey." or something like that...then he said something about the rest of my life and started to dig in his coat pocket, he pulled out the ring and asked "will you marry me" and I said yes again for like the 5th time...hehee :) The ring wouldn't quite fit on my finger because it was cold but after much effort we managed to cram it on.

Anyway..I can't wait to marry Elliot. He is everything I could have every hoped for and dreamed of and more!! God truly does leave the best to those who leave the choice up to Him. We're thinking an October wedding :)

Unclaimed Rib

This totally made me laugh :)

Lines from an Unclaimed Rib
Oh, unknown man whose rib I am,
Why don't you come for me?
A lonely, homesick rib I am,
That would with others be!
I want to wed—
There now, it's said!
(I won't deny and fib)—
I want my man to come at once and claim
His rib!

Some men have thought that I was theirs,
But only for a bit;
We found out soon it wouldn't do;
We didn't seem to fit.
There's just one place,
The only space
I'll fit—(I will not fib)
I want that man to come at once and claim
His rib!

Oh, don't you sometimes feel a lack,
A new rib needed there?
It's I! Do come and get me soon
Before I have gray hair!
Come get me dear!
I'm homesick here;
I want—(and I'll not fib)—
I want my man to come at once and claim
His rib!
– The Independent, Volume 69

Elliot & Me

Meet my boyfriend. . . .Elliot. :)







I thought I'd give you all the extended version of how Elliot and me met and fell in love. . .

I'm going to start in about 1998, 1999, sometime around then. . . It's all pretty foggy. . I was close to 8 years old. Elliot and I used to go to church together. All that I really remember about him then was what I remember about all boys that age. I love to make fun of him and do recall calling him Alien on more than one occasion and making fun of his ears (btw, Elliot I think now that your ears just great :)) Rumor has it I used to beat Elliot up, but he doesn't remember any of it. .

Enough of that. .

The church split sometime around 2000 and I didn't see anything of Elliot after that and didn't think anything of him either. .

Until. . .

Almost exactly 1 year ago. I "happened" to be browsing on my friend's (Naomi Holter) facebook wall. I don't believe in "happen-stance," but I believe God has a plan. I thought, "why not?" and added him as a friend. . .I was slightly surprised when he added me too and browsed his profile. I thought it was cool that he liked Alaska.

Elliot commented on a few status updates of mine and chatted with me once on facebook. . I still didn't find it strange or didn't waste time thinking about it. .

It all changed the day Elliot posted an extremely cheesy pick up line on one of my facebook status'. I had just gotten a cell phone and posted on my facebook, "let me know if you want my number, and I'll message it to you." Mostly because I did not want my number on facebook for all to see. . . Elliot replied, "I lost my number can I have yours." I was totally confused and kind of concerned that someone could actually their number, but my brothers enlightened me (as they do a lot).

So. . I thought. . why not? and I messaged them all, including Elliot, my number. A couple of weeks went by without hearing anything from Elliot. .


I was casually mentioning it to my friend Aimee one night and we were on Facebook. She was like, "well. . I'll talk to him." I was trying to restrain her from doing such a ridiculous thing and told her that she'd probably scare him off forever. . . Well, she didn't. He was slightly disturbed to be contacted by a random stranger, but he sent me a text that night, "I lost my number. . can I have yours?" and some other texts too, but nothing major.

"So I'm a very blunt individual most of the time and if I want to know something I just ask, sooo, I wanted to ask about us talking with each other and make sure that this is only just as friends and nothing more." . . This was part of his message sent January. . .At this point I honestly can tell you I didn't really care about relationships. . It seemed like they never ended well so what was the point in putting energy and time into them, so I didn't think about it a whole lot.

We continued to text and talk for a few more months and quickly realized that we had a lot in common. Our second phone conversation was 1.5 hours long (now I would consider this short :P).

To make a long story relatively short. . Elliot suggested meeting up in Spokane for "lunch.". . . I must say I was slightly nervous. I brought a couple of friends with me mostly for company along the road trip.
My time with Elliot in Spokane was great!!! We really hit it off and I knew after that that I was definitely interested in being more than just friends.

Elliot called me the next day and told me that his was interested in being more than friends. We both agreed he would need to meet the family first and ask my dad to officially start dating. . .

The next couple of months before his visit went incredibly slow and I couldn't wait to see him again. . . Hours and hours on the phone. . I remember one bill reflecting 1000 hours in 2 weeks.

Elliot's visit the end of September was absolutely amazing--bear hunting, getting lost in the woods, talking into the wee hours of the morning, fishing. There are no words to describe it. . . all I can come up with is I love you Elliot!!! :)