Telling the Truth

connecting the dots of my life

Category: Marriage

January 21, 2016

Storm Warnings and PTSD

Empty_supermarket_shelves_before_Hurricane_Sandy,_Montgomery,_NY

sky darkens
clouds thicken
squirrels panic
birds gorge
breath freezes
cold bites
wind gusts
grocery shelves empty

Storm warnings. Do you know the signs of what’s coming when the storm is called PTSD? I’m surrounded by people living with PTSD every day. Each of us is affected by PTSD even though we may not personally have this disorder.

I’ve never been in the military or hunted down and terrorized in open warfare. Yet I live with PTSD connected to early childhood and teenage trauma at home. It began erupting Read the rest of this entry »

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January 20, 2016

Going to Seminary | Part 12

Wedding Pic edited, FRASER_S_0011

I’m looking at a 58-page single-spaced paper completed in summer 1974. Authors: D and Elouise. Title: A Biblical View of Women.

Immediate thoughts:

  • I can’t believe we did this!
  • I’m so glad we did this!
  • I will never do anything like this again—not for any amount of money!

Read the rest of this entry »

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January 15, 2016

Going to Seminary | Part 11

women-arriving-at-the-tomb-by-artist-he-qi

Women Arriving at the Tomb, by Artist He Qi

It’s spring 1974, nearly the end of my first year in seminary. The role of women at home, in faith communities and in society is a hot topic Read the rest of this entry »

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January 8, 2016

Going to Seminary | Part 10

Cherish Children

In 1973 I arrived at seminary with an empty bucket. Indeed, when I married D I was already lugging it around. I thought marrying D would more than fill my empty bucket. I needed to be cherished. Read the rest of this entry »

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January 7, 2016

“Cherish is the word I use….”

Cherish image, happy_married_couple

I, Elouise, take you, D….
To love, honor and cherish….

Cherish is the word I use
To complain as in
You don’t have a clue
How to cherish me Read the rest of this entry »

9 Comments
December 22, 2015

Going to Seminary | Photos 1973-74

1973 Christmas Altadena opening presents

I’m so nostalgic today I can scarcely bear it! It’s a good feeling, though. The kind I get from looking at old photos. Here are several Read the rest of this entry »

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December 17, 2015

Christmas at Longwood | Photos #2 of 2

P1120044

It’s gray and cloudy outside. A perfect day for a colorful peek at Longwood’s annual Christmas extravaganza! Read the rest of this entry »

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December 16, 2015

Going to Seminary | Part 8

Nora Ephron quote

By fall 1974 the number of women enrolled in Fuller Seminary’s three schools (Theology, Psychology, and World Mission) had grown to about 50. Male students numbered well over 500.

The Ph.D. event I attended highlighted what was missing at the seminary: Read the rest of this entry »

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December 15, 2015

Going to Seminary | Part 7

1973 Sep Altadena Family Pic 2

Altadena, California style, Sept 1973. Dresses by Elouise; D’s tie by a friend.

Nothing like the experience I describe in Part 5 and Part 6 ever happened again. Going to seminary, and to Fuller Seminary in particular, was the most wonderful thing I could have done at that time of my life.

Nonetheless, this post is also about hard stuff. Read the rest of this entry »

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December 14, 2015

Christmas at Longwood | Photos #1

P1110996

Christmas at Longwood is always spectacular. This year we began our walk outside, about an hour before the sun dropped below the horizon. The bird house above was for the birds, of course! Read the rest of this entry »

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