"Human inheritance is both blessing and curse. And in religious inheritance this paradox is acute…. What curses do we need to shed, in the process of growing up? What can we hold to as blessing? " Kathleen Norris, Amazing Grace: A Vocabulary of Faith The discovery of Mennonite history was exciting and welcome. But … Continue reading Bk 4. 6 — How I got to the GTU
Author: lorettawillems
Bk 4. 5 Mennonite
Note: The following piece continues the extended essay, “How I became a Mennonite,” which began in the June 15 post. It is the story of the revolution in my family that occurred when my mother ‘went forward’ at a revival service at the Lodi Mennonite Brethren Church in Lodi, California. I had just turned thirteen … Continue reading Bk 4. 5 Mennonite
Bk 4.3 After the Revival – Me
Note: The following piece continues the extended essay, "How I became a Mennonite," which began in the June 15 post. It is the story of the revolution in my family that occurred when my mother 'went forward' at a revival service at the Lodi Mennonite Brethren Church in Lodi, California. I had just turned thirteen … Continue reading Bk 4.3 After the Revival – Me
Bk. 4.3: After the Revival – Mom
Note: The following piece continues the extended personal essay, "How I became a Mennonite," which tells the story of the revolution in my family when my mother 'went forward' at a revival service at the Lodi Mennonite Brethren Church when I was thirteen. Why did my mother answer the evangelist’s invitation to “come forward” that … Continue reading Bk. 4.3: After the Revival – Mom
Bk 4. 2: After the Revival – Dad
NOTE: The following piece continues the story begun in my last post: "How I became a Mennonite." When my father looked through the window in the door that led into the sanctuary of the Lodi Mennonite Brethren church that late winter morning in 1951 and saw my mother kneeling at the front pew he knew … Continue reading Bk 4. 2: After the Revival – Dad
Bk 4. 1: How I became a Mennonite
NOTE: The following piece takes up where my last post ended. It continues the story I told in Child Bride, my second book, which is about my parents and my childhood. What follows is the beginning of my story, the story of a person with her own journey, a private journey. ~ ~ I was … Continue reading Bk 4. 1: How I became a Mennonite
Agnes Young Willems: In Memorium
Mom is about twelve in this school photo. It is the earliest picture I have of her. May 30, 2021 My mother, Agnes Young Willems, was born 100 years ago today. She was born on a homestead in southwest Saskatchewan not far from the Montana border. Her parents, Adam and Margaret Armbruster Young, were both … Continue reading Agnes Young Willems: In Memorium
Phoenix, Arizona: March 1958-59
Easter 1959 Beni & ReneeThis photo was taken one week after Beni's first birthday. It is March, the month that my daughter Benith was born. Every year at this time, no matter where I have lived, memory turns to Phoenix 1958. March was cool that year, cool for Phoenix I should add, sunny and almost … Continue reading Phoenix, Arizona: March 1958-59
Japan: 1956
HOKUSAI (1760-1849) Japan’s mountains receive abundant snow, but Tokyo is a coastal city. Winter brought cold rain, grey sky, damp air. It looked cold, and it felt cold. People on the streets walked huddled inside their coats, cheeks and hands red and chapped. Shops were open and unheated. The only source of heat in traditional … Continue reading Japan: 1956
Bk 3. 9: The Log House in Monroe 1960-1961
It was Laura who first took us to Monroe. It was one of the places on a tour she gave us of the small towns north of Seattle. It was a beautiful little town then, with nice well-kept homes along its two major intersecting streets: Main Street, which went out to the Stephens’ Pass highway, … Continue reading Bk 3. 9: The Log House in Monroe 1960-1961
