From MorMor's Journal -1987-PRAYERS

Written some time around 1987
Prayer - Real or Memorized.
My folks never taught me "Now I lay me down to sleep..."  We were taught to pray but our prayers were our own.  I'm not saying they were never memorized.  In spite of the fact that my prayer list included many missionaries, the list was memorized.
Now I have children of my own.  We also never taught them "Now I lay me down to sleep..."  But their prayers are memorized as well. 
When and how do we stop the rote and begin actually talking to God?  We tried to impress on them at an early age that prayer is talking to God.  And that God loves them and is interested in all their activities and concerns.  Talking to Him is like talking to a loving parent. 
It must have registered because when Kirsten had a short bout with nightmares, she prayed about it.  But somehow, the bedtime prayer has become... "Thank you Father for this nice day.  Help me not to have any nightmares or bad dreams.  Thank you that you love me and care for me.  Amen."
The only variation comes when we urge them to include a missionary, or a prayer of thanks for someone special, etc.
The memorized prayer has not been an easy thing to discourage.  Mealtime is similar with the very appropriate prayer, "Thank you God for giving me this food that tastes so good.  Help me to grow big and strong and do the things I should."
The time has come in our home to stop the rote prayers.  Why?  Just recently at the table, Kirsten, our 8-year-old prayed, "Thank you God for this day.  Help me not to have any nightmares or bad dreams..."  I believe I interrupted her here, insisting that my cooking was not that bad, and suggesting she think about what she's saying. 
After a few such mix-ups, it's clear that we've outgrown memorized prayers and need to learn to talk to our loving Father.  It won't happen overnight, but perhaps we can avoid future nightmares at mealtimes. 

From MorMor's Journal - December 24, 1987

 Einar is on night shift so he's resting.  Rachel is resting with him - she's catching a cold so isn't feeling too well.  
It's not quite 4 pm and I'm ready for Christmas - or at least as ready as I'll ever get.  
The house is spic and span (except for our bedroom), the room is ready for Tim & Mabel and the gifts are wrapped, groceries bought, goodies baked, etc.
The girls are looking forward to opening gifts tonight before Einar goes to work.
Rachel asked me yesterday if Tim and Mabel would "Drive here or airplane."
I said I thought they would drive.  
"Aw," she said, "I wish they'd airplane.  It's faster."
Kirsten has been singing along with Bony M's "Feliz Navidad."  Her version - "At least Mommy died."

From MorMor's Journal - Manitoba Trip

 I'm not sure if we were taken to the airport by Auntie Liv, or picked up by her... but she did one or the other.

 On our way.

 Grandma & Grandpa's house in Nipawin.

 Grandma & Grandpa Koop

 It's good to be here.

 A story from Grandma?  I'm not sure if that's what's happening, but the girls are enjoying time with her.

 A restaurant meal with Grandpa & Grandma.  I'm not sure of the order of these pictures.  This may be on the way home from the airport.

 Grandma's lap was always ready for Rachel, and she loved being babied by Grandma.  Who wouldn't!

 A favorite spot for pictures.  Grandma & Grandpa always had beautiful flowers.

 More pictures.

 With Uncle Tim & Aunt Mabel, Kelsey & Jennifer.

 Posing in the flower garden with Jennifer.

 

 A favorite activity is picking low bush blueberries with Grandpa & Grandma.  And of course, a picnic in the blueberry patch.

 

 All dressed up - must be heading out to church.

 Grandpa in his workshop - a fun place for the girls to get creative.

 Grandma writing in her daily journal.

 A trip to Nipawin also requires a family picnic at the Nipawin Park.

 Auntie Sue is here with Paul & Kevin.

 A trip to Nipawin Bible College where Uncle Dan worked.  Testing out the desks.

 In Grandpa's workshop.

 At Gordon & Lois's place.

 Roy & Diane's cabin at their country place.

 Carmen showing the girls how to use stilts.

 Trying them out.  I'm not sure how successful this venture was.

Some excerpts from my letter to Einar:
We've been busy.  I've been here 5 days and already we've had supper at all three brothers places.  Today we were at Gordon & Lois's.  Their kids are all so creative.  Glynis does a lot of counted cross-stitch and she gave Kirsten everything she needs to do a small project.
Roy & Diane just bought an eighty acre farm.  The farm has a very nice cabin on it, but it's not big enough for them to really live in it.  Carrie took Kirsten for a long walk on their farm and they had a nice time.  Rachel has made a new friend - Lady, their dog. I think if Rachel had a suitcase big enough, she'd take her home with us.
Tomorrow Eunice & Richard will come.  Sue will stay until they go on Wednesday or Thursday.  Then Tim & Mabel will come for the weekend.  It will be nice for the girls to have Jennifer & Kelsey here.
The girls miss you.  It looks like Rachel has a cold now, so today it didn't take much to make her cry.  She doesn't like having to share Grandpa with Kevin.  She spends a lot of time with Grandma, but if we're taking two vehicles, she thinks she should always go with Grandpa in the truck.  I'm sure he doesn't mind!
Between playing with Kevin, doing needlework and reading her books, Kirsten hasn't had time to be bored.  And of course, last week they were at DVBS every morning.  I think she made a few friends.  The both sure enjoyed that.

From MorMor's Journal - Kirsten's Baptism

I don't have a journal entry for this, but I do have a pretty clear memory.  We were rather surprised when Kirsten asked to be baptised.  We didn't often have baptisms in church, and I didn't think it had been talked about much.  And she wasn't 8 yet. So I casually asked her why she wanted to be baptised. 

"Because I want everyone to know that I love Jesus," was the gist of her answer. 

We couldn't argue with that, but also knew that many people would think she was far too young to know what she was doing.  So we told her that she would have to tell Pastor Purdie that she wanted to be baptised.  I thought she would forget (after all there were friends and fun things to do at church) or be a bit intimidated about talking to the Pastor about it.  Not that they were ever intimidated by Pastor Purdie.  The Purdies were Papa and Nana to the girls, and to many other kids.

The very next Sunday she told him her desire.  Well, it had to go before the elders.  And she would have to be interviewed by one of them.  That was okay with her. 

Later on Doug Muir told us about the interview and how he was blown away by her clear understanding of what she believed and why she wanted to be baptised. 

So on June 15, 1987, just after her 8th birthday, Pastor Purdie baptised her.