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The Wedding Dress

20 Jul

SUNDAY MEMORIES

Judy Wills

JUDY

 

 

On May 30, 1937, my parents married. Daddy was 44½ years old, mother was 24 years old. Daddy was six months younger than his mother-in-law. I remember mother telling me once that, after she and daddy had been dating a while, she showed Granny a picture of daddy, and Granny’s response was, “Why he’s a OLD MAN!” However, that didn’t deter my parents from marrying. Thank goodness!! And Granny came to love daddy as her son-in-law. They got along quite well.

I honestly don’t remember whether or not Granny made mother’s wedding dress. I know that Granny was a great seamstress, as was mother. Perhaps it was a joint effort. I do know that it had big, puffy sleeves and a straight skirt. She looked very elegant in it. What later surprised me, was that the skirt was full enough to allow a hoop or many crinolines under it. It may have looked straight on mother, but it was very full skirt!

J mom

 

Mother’s sister, my Aunt Jessie, took the dress after the wedding, layered it with white tissue paper, and kept it in a cedar chest. It rested there all the years between mother and dad’s wedding and mine.

When my wedding was approaching, I told mother that I would like to wear her wedding dress – with a few alterations. I really didn’t like those big, puffy sleeves. Really made my skinny arms look even skinnier. There was a lady in our church who was a professional seamstress, and we engaged her to “remake” the dress. She removed the sleeves, essentially making it a sleeveless dress. I say essentially, because mother and I shopped around and found some gorgeous Belgian lace. She made a complete dress out of it to fit over mother’s dress. It had the long sleeves, and even a bit of a train in the back. I thought it was beautiful!

j

 

 

It was while the dress was being “remade” that we discovered how full the skirt was. In my day, the “in thing” was hoop skirts or lots of crinolines. As I look back, I realize how elegant the straight skirt looked, but I wanted that full skirt – and that’s what I got!

 

But I guess the important thing is that I was able to wear my mother’s wedding dress. It always held a special place in my heart. And I think I was able to honor both my parents by wearing that special dress.

 

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The Classic

13 Jul

SUNDAY MEMORIES

Judy Wills

JUDY

 

I’ve mentioned before how my brother was always fascinated with model airplanes. How he would build them, fly them, fix them up and fly them again. He was really good with his hands.

Another thing he liked to do – as I remember – was to work on car engines. I remember a time, after we began to become friends instead of just picking-at-each-other siblings, that he bought an OLD car and brought it home to work on. I believe he totally removed the engine and other parts and re-worked them. I’m proud to say that I helped him with that a bit – I actually HELPED him! When it was back together, he painted that car a gorgeous turquoise.

When Fred and I met, he was a sophomore at the University of New Mexico (UNM). He lived on campus and so didn’t need a vehicle. He also didn’t have his driver’s license. So if we went anywhere, I was the driver.

It didn’t take him long to remedy that situation – at least in that he obtained his driver’s license. However, he still didn’t have a car. He either walked or took the bus. Albuquerque had a good public transportation system.

Long about Springtime of 1960, he purchased his first car – a 1957 Chevrolet Belaire V8. He paid a grand total of $1,100 for it. It was a soft green, four-door, bench seats, automatic transmission.  It was a beauty! It didn’t have air conditioning, but in Albuquerque’s climate, we didn’t need it. He was so proud of that car.

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In 1960, we, and my parents, drove in that car to Englewood, California for Christmas with my brother Bill, and his wife, DiVoran. We discovered that Bill was working on another car. Fred helped him put the engine back together and everything back in place. We had a grand time with them there. We took in Disneyland

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and Knotts Berry Farm.

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Great memories. We had a wonderful Christmas dinner at Bill and DiVoran’s little house, along withher parents.

 
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On New Year’s Eve, we drove to Pasadena, to spend some time with Fred’s Aunt Eleanor and Uncle Bob. One of Fred’s cousins and his friends, took two picnic benches and some bedrolls, and set them up on the sidewalk at the starting point for the 1961 Rose Parade, scheduled for the following day. They slept on the benches to keep our spots. After the parade, we went back to their house and had a lovely lunch, then we headed out, back to Albuquerque.

That next summer – June 20, 1961 – 53 years ago – we loaded up that car and, following our wedding – headed to Fort Worth, Texas, where Fred was to study at the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

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While it was a smooth ride, we really wished for an air conditioned car! Texas climate is NOT the same as New Mexico!!

We drove that un-air-conditioned car for several years before trading it in on another, newer vehicle. As we look back on those times, Fred continues to say that he wishes he had kept that car. It is now considered a CLASSIC. Of course, we were dirt poor at the time, and couldn’t possibly keep that car and have another one. And we couldn’t possibly know that, that particular car would turn into a CLASSIC.

But it’s fun to look back and remember those times.

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Something to Live By

6 Jul

SUNDAY MEMORIES

Judy Wills

JUDY

 

Recently, we met a friend at a famous barbeque eatery. It has become one of our favorite places to eat. Unfortunately, it takes us about 45 minutes to get there from our house, so we don’t go there very often. It is a favorite of the locals, and you must get there just as they open the doors, or you wait in a long line outside!

It’s a fairly rustic place, with just a few booths, but mostly picnic-type tables with benches. Some of the seating is outside, but under cover. But the food is really worth the wait, and definitely the place to go if you like BBQ.

While we were eating and visiting with each other, I noticed a plaque on the wall. There are a LOT of plaques on the wall, and other rustic decorations, but this one really caught my eye. It goes like this:

smilr copy

Isn’t that neat? There really isn’t anything “Christian” about it, but I think it says a lot about life perspective. I think it would help keep us in the right frame of mind to be upbeat and positive about how we live each day. Nothing droopy about anything on that list.

So………S M I L E and give thanks – for everything!

God is good.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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An Amazing Surprise~Part 2

29 Jun

SUNDAY MEMORIES

 Judy Wills

JUDY

A few years after we arrived in Virginia, as Christmas was approaching, the wives of the officers were invited to help make up cookie bags for the enlisted personnel who were stationed at that Air Force Base, but would be alone and working over the holiday – unable to go to their respective homes.  We were asked to bake about six dozen cookies (or more), and then bring them to a certain place on a certain day, and a bunch of women would make an assortment and bag them up.  That was something I enjoyed doing, so I set to work.

When the appointed day and time arrived, I went to the assigned place.  As we were working (I didn’t know anyone else there – we were just a bunch of wives working together), one of the women looked at me and said, “Judy, are you by chance from Albuquerque?”  A bit startled, I told her yes.  And then she proceeded to ask if I had gone to Highland High School in Albuquerque.  Again I said yes.

 

 

Then I asked her what her name was.  When she told me her maiden name, I literally had a jaw-dropping moment!  This woman had not only grown up in Albuquerque, but she had lived just across the street from our elementary school.  And, as I recall, I had been in her house.  I had actually known her at some point in my life.  She was two years ahead of me in school.

SURPRISE!!  Amazing!!

After we finished up, I ran home and dug out my old high school year books, and then my brothers year books (he had entrusted me with his books – he had graduated three years before me).  And there she was.

My questions were:   after all these years and worlds apart, HOW did she recognize me?  And how, after all these years, did we wind up stationed at the same AF base?  Fred was in the Weather Wing there, and her husband was commander of one of the flying units, so we had no other connection together.  But it was fun while it lasted.

 

I do SO enjoy these kinds of happenings!!

 

 

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An Amazing Surprise~Part1

22 Jun

SUNDAY MEMORIES

Judy Wills

JUDY

 

 

Back in 1967, as we were about to embark on our first venture to Germany, we were contacted by our military “sponsor” from there. He had been assigned to us to help us transition into a different culture. When we told him that we would be stopping in Albuquerque on our way, he told us to enjoy it – because that was his hometown as well. Hmmmmm………..did we know him?

In case you weren’t aware – it’s a loooong flight from the U.S. East coast to Germany. I was seven months pregnant with our first child, and we were exhausted when we arrived in Frankfurt. It was about 5:30 a.m., and our sponsor apologized that it was just him – but they had a small child, and didn’t want to wake him just to come pick us up and drive back to Wiesbaden. He told us to check into the hotel, rest, take a shower if we wanted, and they would see us about 6:00 p.m. for a tour of Wiesbaden, and then dinner. We were asleep before our heads hit the pillow!

6:00 p.m. arrived, and we were making our way down the sidewalk toward him and his family. I saw a smiling woman and a small boy. As we got closer, she called out “Judy Lites!!”   Now, remember….I was VERY pregnant (pregnancy fog)….I was still suffering from jet-lag (more fog)…so when I heard my maiden name shouted out like that, I looked up and said “who are you?” When she gave me her name, I realized that she and I had been in Rainbow Girls together in Albuquerque! As a matter of fact, she was one of my installing officers when I was installed as Worthy Advisor back in 1959, right after my high school graduation.

SURPRISE!! Amazing!!

We went on to have a nice relationship for the remaining two years they were in Wiesbaden. And it turned out that Fred and Don had been in several math classes together and the University of New Mexico.

We have lost track of them now, but it was a great time to renew friendships at a time when we needed it most.

I do SO enjoy these kinds of happenings!!

Rainbow girls

 

 

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Another Father’s Day

15 Jun

SUNDAY MEMORIES

Judy Wills

JUDY

Here we are with another Father’s Day dawning upon us. It just doesn’t seem like Fathers get the same acknowledgment as Mothers do. Seems a bit unequal to me – since it takes two to tango. But Mothers traditionally – and Biblically – are the ones who nurture in the family, while Fathers are bread-winners and head of the household.

And so, because I am so very proud of my Father and what he accomplished in his life, I would like to add another connection in his life.

For many years, I have heard of B.B. McKinney. He’s rather well known in Baptist circles. According to his history (from Google), he wrote over 149 hymns, composed the music for 114 others, and arranged more than 100 more. While not as prolific as Fanny Crosby (1800 hymns) he was still quite talented. He was heavily involved with Texas Baptists and Southern Baptist music. Except for the current up-coming generation, if you ask if they know who B.B. McKinney was, they can usually tell you he wrote a lot of the hymns in our hymnbooks. He was born in 1886 in Louisiana. (Daddy was born in 1892)

The main connection I know of with Daddy and him, is that my Father was born in Louisiana, as well. Daddy and B.B. McKinney both attended Louisiana College in Pineville, Louisiana. Daddy also was involved with Texas Baptists, since he was the Associate Sunday School Secretary for Texas from 1926 until 1945, when he moved us to New Mexico, where he became the New Mexico Sunday School Secretary. He was in that position until 1961, when he retired. I always knew that Daddy knew B.B. McKinney, but didn’t know just what that connection was. I distinctly remember seeing Daddy approach Mother at church, and with a stricken look on his face, tell her that B.B. had been killed in a car wreck (1952).

It wasn’t until recently that a cousin of ours sent via FaceBook a picture he had found in the “Pine Knot” yearbook from Louisiana college. It was a picture of a male quartet from Louisiana College. The four (plus the director) in the picture, were B.B. McKinney, my Father (W.J. Lites), and his brother (E.O. Lites). They had been in a college quartet together all those years ago! There isn’t a date on the picture, and the best we can figure, it was probably somewhere around 1913 or 1914. (Daddy’s college education was interrupted by World War 1)

So that’s the connection. Daddy had many accomplishment in his life, but this was one that I had not expected, but was proud to see.

The Quartette - Louisiana College

 

 

 

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Her First Phrase

1 Jun

SUNDAY MEMORIES

Judy Wills

 

                   JUDY

 

 

 

Our oldest daughter, Karen, was born in Germany, just two months after we arrived in country. We, of course, doted on her. The German lady who was the church nursery worker doted on her, as well. On our last trip in Europe before heading back stateside, Frau Katie stayed with Karen while we were gone. They both had such a good time together, that we weren’t missed at all.

As Karen was learning to speak/talk, we discovered that she was not only speaking English, but she had some German words mixed in there as well! Apparently Frau Katie was speaking to her in German! That was quite a revelation.

I really don’t remember Karen’s “first word” the way many children do. But I do remember her first phrase. Here’s how it came about:

My Mother came to visit us in Germany, while Karen was just 22 months old – a good time to be learning to speak. We squired Mom around as much of Europe as we could in the time she was with us, and usually took Karen with us. We had a great time together. As we would be driving along, Karen and Mom – in the back seat together – would be “conversing” together. And every now and then I would hear Mom say, “Karen, look at that flag!” We would be passing a building or house that was sporting a flag of some type, and Mom was pointing it out to her.

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Mom’s time with us came and went far too quickly, and she returned to New Mexico. We had another year of our tour in Germany, and we returned to our routine. And as we would drive here and there, we would hear Karen say, “Look at that flag!” as she saw flags on buildings, just like when her “Oma” was with us. Gave us quite a chuckle to hear her say that, with the same inflection that Mother had given the phrase.

And that is what Karen’s first phrase was. What a fun memory that is!

 

 

 

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A Memorial Day Tribute

25 May

SUNDAY MEMORIES

Judy Wills

JUDY

Growing up, I only had a small nodding acquaintance with the military. I knew that my Dad had served in World War 1 as a medic, because he refused to carry a weapon. And my Mother worked in accounting at Kirtland AFB in town. She would occasionally bring home some of those young airmen that she worked with. They were usually quite homesick, and she was attached to them. But that was my only connection with the military.

Until I met Fred.

He was in Albuquerque to attend the University of New Mexico (UNM) (a story in itself), but his family was far away in Japan. I learned that his Dad was a military chaplain, and that they had traveled the world.

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About the time Fred and I married and moved to Fort Worth, Texas, his family moved to Bossier City, Louisiana (Barksdale AFB) – near Shreveport – just about a four-hour drive for us. We visited them as often as we could on weekends. That was my first real taste of the military life – staying in their quarters on base.

But it wasn’t until Fred actually went into the Air Force that I came to know about true military life – we began to live it, ourselves. I began to see how dedicated men and women were to serving and protecting their country. I began to see how this country that I love so much could possibly be speaking German – or Japanese – if it weren’t for those who were willing to give their lives for our freedom through both World Wars.

I became fiercely patriotic. And I also became fiercely proud of my husband, his father, my brother, and our father – for the contributions they all made to our freedoms.
When Fred’s Dad died, the military funeral was absolutely breath-taking.

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The flag was folded and presented, with a salute.

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We have that folded flag in a case. It is a constant reminder to us of what the military life means to the men and women of our armed forces. I know that not all military personnel are as dedicated to this country – but I could probably venture a guess that at least 95% of them are willing to give up their lives to protect our freedoms.

Have you ever visited the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington Cemetery in D.C.?

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Seeing it, and the Marine guard, is one of the most moving and emotional experiences for me. I’m so glad that this country honors it’s military as it does. It shows that we still have “heart” and love of country. And I am so grateful that God has allowed me to live in this free country.

May God bless the U.S.A.

 

Psalm 147:7
Sing to the Lord with grateful praise

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Be Still and Know

18 May

SUNDAY MEMORIES

 Judy Wills

JUDY

 

I’ve written before about my bout with cancer.  I seem to document my life with “before cancer” and then “after cancer.”  That’s probably not the best way to do it, but things just look different after cancer.

After I had been diagnosed – but before surgery and treatment – there was a minister/evangelist who came to our church for a weekend service.  He was not only a preacher, but also a musician.  Great voice…wonderful message.

I had known of the scripture – Psalm 46:10 (Be still and know that I am God) for many years.  But this BE STILLman performed a song that really touched me.  He used those words, but he inserted a couple of words that touched me deeply.  He sang “Be still – my child – and know that I am God.”  It certainly made that verse very personal to me.  It reminded me, again, that I am, indeed, a child of God’s, and that He loves me greatly.  I had known all that, ever since I had given Him my heart, but sometimes I just needed to be reminded of it.  God certainly got my attention with my diagnosis!

It was such a simple thing – just the addition of those two words in that song – but it meant so much to me at that time of my life.  And it’s something that I’ve never forgotten.  Nor do I want to.

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Flowers and Gardens

14 May

SUNDAY MEMORIES

Judy Wills

JUDY

One of our favorite things to do at Disney is go to EPCOT for the Flower and Garden Festival every year.  They do such wonderful things with flowers and topiary.  I have known what topiary is for quite a while now, but when our son-in-law asked what it was, I told him that I couldn’t describe it, but there it is, right in front of you!  The shapes and designs that Disney artists make with wire and vines is simply amazing!

I’m not going to write much about this event, but I do want to post some of those amazing and beautiful pictures – just in case you aren’t able to see them for yourselves while attending this Festival.  Each year Disney adds some topiary they have been working on, and the theme is new each year, as well.

So, with that in mind…………ENJOY!

 

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