TRICK or TREATING 1964

On Halloween 1964 I was allowed to go "trick or treating" with the neighbor kids Merry and Mark who were two years older than me. The rule was to stay on 91st Street Circle, but we decided the "treats" were better on the other side of busy 90th Street.

After crossing 90th Street in the dark the first home owner we came to eagerly led us into his garage. He told us for a "treat" he was giving us fresh fish he had caught that very morning. Being excited about “fresh” fish we were each given six or more frozen fish. The fish wrappers were stamped, "June 1962,” but this made no difference to us, we were only in grades 3 thru 5!

We were proud of our fish, but kept getting farther from home and finally were lost. It started raining, thundering and lightning and being very scared we started running and shouting. Adults came out of their homes to see what the commotion was all about and yelled at us. We were so scared we threw our thawing fish all over their lawns, which only made the adults yell louder! Running down the street we met Dad who was driving around trying to find us! After a reprimand he drove us home. Dad and Mom were upset that anyone would give me two-year-old frozen fish and the next day Dad went to see the man and gave him some words.

After Halloween (1964) my friend Merry and I got into more trouble. In her basement we found a wall box with pop bottle tops sticking out of it. There were purple caps, red caps, orange caps, and yellow caps, but we thought they were grape, strawberry, orange and lemon soda bottle tops. When Merry’s dad found us pulling on the tops, he was very upset, because the tops were old fashioned, live electrical fuses!

VBS - Vacation Bible School

In the 1960's - during two weeks in June - from nine a.m. until noon - mornings were spent at Missouri Synod Lutheran Vacation Bible School.

 All the children would enter the sanctuary by two's singing “Onward Christian Soldiers” while following the Christian and American flags.

In the sanctuary we would sing, pray and listen to a sermonette and a mission story. Then in our classrooms we would work on crafts and listen to Bible stories.

 It was so wonderful to be there! And so wonderful to be a part of it all!

Buffy the Kitten - My Nurse

In 1968, due to orthopedic surgery, I was completely bed-ridden for two months so was allowed to adopt a kitten!

Since a friend's cat had kittens I chose an orange kitten named Buffy to be my companion, actually Buffy chose me! As soon as I sat on my friend's floor to inspect the kittens, Buffy, an nine week old crawled right into my lap and would not leave. So actually Buffy chose me!

Buffy had an uncanny sense about my needs for he stayed by my side 24 hours a day. Every morning, at exactly 7:00 a.m., he would awaken me by first meowing, then by sitting on my stomach, then by sitting on my chest, then by patting my nose, and finally by sitting on my face! Quickly I learned to wake up before this last step!

God was so good and kind to give me such a loving companion!

My Horse Friends

A major facet in my youth was horses. Our Lutheran church friends from Germany, two elderly brothers Karl and Ernie Wolff, owned Hillside Stables in Omaha, Nebraska. When I was three years old the family went to see the horses and I rode an older mare.

Hillside Stables had many interesting and impressive horses such as:
Golden Centaur - an elegant palomino with arched neck, large dark eyes; white, wavy tail and mane and a high tail carriage.
 Pepper - the black, classic Morgan;
two thoroughbreds ridden by seventy-year old twin sisters;
Snow King - a white 30-year old retired circus horse;
Private Eye - a handsome, dark chestnut Saddlebred with green-hazel eyes;
and my champion Appaloosa - Spottum Bottum.

Point of interest: at Hillside Stables, in the 1960’s, feed, hay and board in a box stall with use of tack room and all facilities was one dollar a day; and horse rental was $1.25 an hour!

In Omaha, Hillside was located on a huge property bordered by the Papio Creek on the south and west, by Dodge Street on the north, and by the Interstate on the east. There were 3 large pastures to ride in, and a tree nursery too! It was a true pleasure to be at Hillside!

A Jewish friend, Elisse, owned a beautiful palomino named Golden Banner. Since she was Jewish she kept God’s Ten Commandments including keeping holy Saturday - the seventh-day Sabbath. The Fourth Commandment says that cattle (domestic animals) should not work on Sabbath.
Exodus 20:8-11. So on Sabbath Elisse would only turn Banner out to pasture and then give him a good rub-down; she never rode Banner on the seventh-day Sabbath.

Religious Liberty in Public School

Public elementary school, District 66 in Omaha, Nebraska, had many memorable, spiritual moments!

 In sixth grade we discussed the Biblical Flood, the long lives of pre-Flood people, why Pilgrim women did not wear make-up, and how our weekdays received their names from paganism.

In grades 1 through 12 our class sang songs based on the Old Testament and this in Public School!

 However, when I checked out a Bible from the school library the principal promptly reprimanded me, saying Bible reading was for the home!

In sixth grade all the students explained different aspects of their religion (Protestant, Catholic, Jewish, Atheist). From these discussions the varied backgrounds understood each other better. We were taught everyone has the right to believe as they wish despite anyone's opinion to the contrary.

We were taught to believe in religious freedom, freedom of the press, freedom to assemble peacefully, and liberty of conscience.

A Shelter from the Storm

In 1968, when I was thirteen years old, Mom and Dad went to a party in another town about thirty minutes away.

 While they were gone a tornado was sighted, and a city-wide tornado warning was issued.

 Dad phoned me at home, “Deb, are you alright?!” I replied, “I'm pretty scared.” Dad’s immediate response was, “I'll be right home!” Dad arrived and took me back to the party with him. How great was Dad's love for me.

So will Jesus come back for us at Earth's darkest hour. How great is God’s love for us!

 If for no other future plans than this, the Lord is teaching me total dependence and faith on Him.

"For Thou hast been a stronghold to the poor...a shelter from the storm...." Isaiah 25:4 [RSV]

The Truth About Grandma!

"Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are of God..." 1 John 4:1 [RSV]

As a Christian I fully believe in the Trinity of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The Hebrew word for “Trinity” is Elohim, and in Genesis 1:26 is translated "Us." God is interested in everything that affects us, for the Trinity deeply loves each one of us.

When Adam and Eve believed Satan’s first lie, "you will never die," (Genesis 3:4, 5), the world was cast into sin and confusion that grows worse every year. Satan lied in direct opposition to God's truth - "if you eat it [a sin] you will die" (Genesis 2:17). Since that first lie almost everyone believes that when you die you keep on living.

It was this teaching and the popular 1960's television comedy, Bewitched, that almost caused my spiritual ruin. Bewitched piqued interest in other schoolgirls, and at slumber parties we would attempt levitation and seances.

We did not know the Bible truth that would protect us from danger. “The living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing.” (See: Ecclesiastes 9:5-6 and 10; Psalm 115:17; Psalm 146:4; Job 7:9-10; Job 14:21; and Isaiah 8:19-20.)

On May 21, 1963 at 10:15 p.m. I sensed something "bad" in the house. Trying to alert my parents to danger by shaking their bed; I was confused when they did not respond. Crawling back into bed, I was startled when Grandma, who lived three hours away, walked through my bedroom door. She was filmy-white. Slowly she glided towards me.

"Grandma, why are you here?" I asked innocently. Never speaking she came to me, her face changing into a demonic glare while gesturing to choke me. "Jesus help me!" I screamed, while throwing the covers over my head. Moments later the ghost was gone. The clock read 10:25 p.m. I cried out to Mom in the next room, she came immediately.

The next morning the nursing home called with the news that this same grandmother had died the night before at 10:20 p.m.

"Grandma was in my room last night,” I told the family, “she was see-through white." Mom was unnerved, but said, “Such things are impossible. Grandma is in Heaven. When people die they go to Heaven."

For years I wondered what Grandma had wanted from me. Was she really trying to kill me, or just wanted me to follow her to heaven? These thoughts haunted me for years.

In 1975 SDA pastor Dr. Charles Felton explained to me, "the living know that they will die, but the dead do not know anything," Ecclesiastes 9:5,6,10. He explained it was the devil whom I had seen - the devil had been confusing me and wanting me to follow him (the devil.)

I was so happy to finally know the truth about "Grandma!"

The Christmas Tree Song

In first grade, before Christmas break, we were taught the German song, "O, Tannenbaum" (Oh, Christmas Tree).

 That same week Dad flocked our Christmas tree snow-white, he did this in the garage.

Deciding to be helpful I rode my tricycle around and around Dad and the tree, shouting and singing at the top of my lungs, "O, Tannenbaum."

 Unfortunately, I never could get the German words right. My version was: “O Ton in Bomb, O Ton in Bomb, may Gooch in Diner Bladder Split!”

What we put our parents through!!

The Elevator

Jeremy, an eight year old friend of ours, came to visit for a weekend. He is fond of fossils so we took him to the University museum to see their collection.

Jeremy had never been to a museum before and was very excited and kept us on the go for about two hours. When it was time to go up to the second level Debra suggested we take the freight elevator as her bad leg was aching. Jeremy seemed frightened by the elevator, let alone ride on it.

He asked, "Don't you know what this is, Debbie?" She assured him she knew what an elevator was. "Don't you know what kind of an elevator it is, Debbie?" "Yes, Jeremy, it is an Otis elevator. Now please get on," Debra replied.

Jeremy entered cautiously. The elevator slowly ascended. Unexpectedly its rear door opened and closed. Jeremy squealed and began bouncing around.

"Jeremy! Do you have to go to the bathroom?," Debra exclaimed.

"No!," he cried, obviously frightened by the elevator. "But when is it going to happen?"

"When is what going to happen, Jeremy?," Debra answered.

"You know, it!," he screamed.

"Jeremy," Debra said trying to remain calm, "I don't know what you are talking about. The main door will open any moment."

When we reached the second level the main door opened and Jeremy rushed out, skidded on the freshly waxed floor, and fell down panting.

"Jeremy!," she called, obviously concerned for his physical and mental state of being. "What is wrong?"

"Debbie! Don't you know? Can't you read the signs? It says fright elevator!"

Muffling her laughter she explained, "Jeremy, the sign says freight elevator."

"Oh," he replied, "let's go see some more fossils."

Early Childhood Training

Respect for God, the Bible, our elders, the United States and the U.S. flag were paramount in my training.

 I was taught proper respect and handling of the Bible and the Church Hymnal. No literature could be placed on top of the Holy Bible; and only the Bible could be placed on top of religious literature.

The Ten Commandments were taught early and my parents required me to be quiet and respectful in church, and to keep my feet off the church pew.

 All this seemed to be the norm for the families of my childhood Lutheran church congregation.

Vacation Bible School

In the 1960's my church had Vacation Bible School during two weeks in June, from nine a.m. until noon. All the children would enter the sanctuary by two's singing “Onward Christian Soldiers” while following the Christian and American flags. In the sanctuary we would sing, pray and listen to a sermonette and a mission story. Then in our classrooms we would work on crafts and listen to Bible stories.

Animal Friends

In 1968, due to orthopedic surgery, I was completely bed-ridden for two months and was allowed to have a kitten for company. Since a friend's cat had kittens we chose an orange kitten named Buffy to be my companion!

Buffy had an uncanny sense about my needs for he stayed by my side 24/7. Every morning, at exactly 7:00 a.m., he would awaken me by first meowing, then by sitting on my stomach, then sitting on my chest, then by patting my nose, and finally by sitting on my face! Quickly I learned to wake up before this last step! Buffy was my companion for 17 years.

In elementary school, while waiting for the school bus, the neighbor's huge Saint Bernard, Humphrey, waited with me. He also met me at the bus stop after school acting as a deterrent to anyone wishing me harm.

Part of my final grade in high school zoology was caring for two baby garter snakes at home. They were a trial. One afternoon, before Mom's bridge party, the snakes escaped their terrarium, but were found - after the party!

In 1965 Dad purchased a two-year-old Appaloosa gelding named Spottum Bottum. Later that year I showed Spottum in the nationally known Ak-Sar-Ben Livestock Show where we placed sixth out of 42 in Junior Western Pleasure. Spottum won numerous trophies, but his main purpose was being my friend.

As a child I took Mark 16:15 literally and preached “the gospel to every creature," which included the horses, cats and dogs at Hillside Stables. My main love of horses was riding through nature singing and talking to God.

Amusing Stories for Tough Times

What with tornadoes, and severe thunderstorms for the past 5 weekends in Nebraska, I thought I'd tell some true, amusing stories.

As a small child I talked incessantly. Nothing my parents said or did made a difference! Finally Dad said, "you learn more when you are quiet than when you are talking." His method worked!

When I was young, the family went to the opening of Omaha Crossroads Mall. Two ladies were giving samples of what looked like lemonade. The tiny sample tasted very sweet, but not like lemonade, being thirsty I left my parents’ side and got back in line. When it was again my turn the ladies recognized me and asked those around if I was their daughter, but everyone said, "no." Then an announcement was made that I was lost and Mom and Dad came over to see what trouble I was in. Turns out the “lemonade” was oral polio vaccine!

My parents wanted me to accompany them to Crossroads Mall instead of letting me stay home with my full-length leg cast and crutches. Being tired, I sat down and mumbled loudly about walking with crutches and a heavy plaster cast. After a few minutes I noticed a group of people staring at me! After an awkward silence an elderly gentleman gave me a fifty-cent piece and the group walked away! What must they have thought!

In third grade my school had an Easter Queen contest. Judging was based on the originality of the Easter hats the girls would create, and they could have their mother's help. Mom and I took a small lampshade, added two long strips of heavy, pointed cardboard, and covered the whole creation with cotton balls! The result was a rabbit head!

 At the contest all the other girls wore straw hats with plastic flowers glued on, but I wore my rabbit’s head hat. Walking on stage to the tune of "Easter Parade" each girl was greeted with applause, but I was greeted with giggles. However, the judges awarded me the title of "Easter Parade Queen" for having the most original hat!

Kidnapping

In 1972, my boyfriend, a leading high school actor, encouraged me to try out for a play. Haughtily he challenged, "I realize you are shy and do not have my acting ability, and therefore will not land a part, but at least try-out; it might do you some good.” Accepting his challenge, I was chosen for a non-speaking role in a citywide production.

One evening, after dress rehearsal, a fellow actor, a big, muscular man in his late-fifties, forcibly kidnapped me in the parking lot badly bruising my ribs. He was serious! This was not in fun!

At the time I was 17 years old, weighed 100 pounds, with a 20-inch waist, and did not have the strength to fight him off! Being powerless to escape I continually cried out, "Take me to my car at once!" However he drove to his apartment going through rough sections of town; I was too afraid of the area to escape.

Tenaciously I hung on to my status of virgin and kept it.

Praying to Jesus for help and protection He answered my prayer of faith and I only spoke the words God gave me.

After two hours of being alone with this man in his apartment he drove me back to my car commenting how he had "special plans” for me that night, but was strongly restrained from carrying them out. Praise God for His watch care and love!

Freedom of Opinion - Public School

Public elementary school, District 66 in Omaha, Nebraska, had many memorable, spiritual moments! For instance in two different grades our teachers treated us to Uncle Arthur’s Bedtime Stories and Your Story Hour records. In sixth grade we discussed Noah's Flood, the long lives of pre-Flood people, the people of Hunza, why Pilgrim women did not wear make-up, and how our weekdays received their names from paganism.

In Glee Club and school choir, grades 1 through 12, we sang songs based on the Old Testament and this in Public School! However, when I checked out a Bible from the school library the principal promptly reprimanded me, saying Bible reading was for the home!


In Elementary School my class had four Jewish students and three of them were in the top five students! The reason for this, I believe, was their home life, which I witnessed first hand, even on Yom Kippur! In the Jewish home television was only for special events. After meals the dining room was used for study, the living room was for quiet play, and the bedroom was used only for sleeping. The parents were present, either in the dining room or living room, at all times to encourage, teach, and supervise.


In sixth grade all the students explained different aspects of their religions (Protestant, Catholic, Jewish, Atheist). From these discussions the varied backgrounds understood each other better. We were taught everyone has the right to believe as they wish despite anyone's opinion to the contrary. We were taught to believe in religious freedom, freedom of the press, and freedom to assemble peacefully.

Cats and Rabies Scare

While growing up there were many animal friends in our home: a red, longhaired Dachshund called Cricket; two green and yellow parakeets, both named Petie; a tank of fish; and an assortment of cats.

 Our cats included a heavy-muscled, gray-tabby named Tiger who “loved” to be dressed in doll clothes and wheeled around the cul-de-sac; Bootsy a long-haired black cat with tuxedo markings; and Buffy a elegant, twelve pound, long-hair, orange cat that lived to be seventeen years old.

In elementary school a stray cat bit me. Thinking I would be punished for touching a stray cat, I tried to hide my red, swollen hand from Mom. But Mom noticed the sore hand and questioned me as to the cause. Quickly officials began searching for the cat, and I was kept home from school and outdoor play. This made me irritable, which worried Mom and Dad even more, as they suspected rabies, which is deadly.

The local news told of a little girl who would have to undergo painful rabies shots unless a certain cat was found. (At this time rabies shots were deadly if one did not have rabies; but if they had rabies, but did not get the shot, they would die.) I began praying for the little girl little knowing she was me! The next day the officials located the cat and it was positively identified – the cat did not have rabies and I did not have to undergo shots. Praise God!!

God's Protection in Disasters

God has protected me from many things including natural disasters.

In Alaska, in 1967, we were traveling with Uncle Morris in a motor home. On our way from Fairbanks to Anchorage we planned to camp overnight at a lake but for some reason pulled up camp and drove through the night. The next morning we learned earthquake tremors had struck Fairbanks! The Lord protected.

My hometown of Omaha has been struck by killer tornadoes numerous times. While living in that city my family home never suffered damage and always we were hours away when the storms hit. Often I wondered what future plans the Lord had for me seeing He sheltered me so many times.

In 1998 the Lord urged me to go to the crawl space due to a fast moving, severe thunderstorm headed for my home. The winds were blowing at 108 mph! Tornado sirens began blaring. While trying to remain calm I made myself comfortable on the dirt crawl space floor. While praying, a peace came over me and sensing the protection of Heavenly angels I fell asleep during the worst of the storm. Later my husband came home and the storm was over! It was just like resurrection morning! I fell asleep with the assurance of God's peace and the next thing someone was calling to awaken me.

"Great peace have they which love Thy law: and nothing shall offend them." Psalms 119:165 [KJV]

Pop Bottle Tops

After Halloween in 1964 my friend, Merry, and I got into more trouble

. In her basement we found a wall box with pop bottle tops sticking out of it. There were purple tops, red tops and orange tops, and we thought they were grape, strawberry, and orange soda bottle tops. I tried to get the pop bottles out of the box, and when Merry’s dad found us pulling on the tops, he was very upset -- the tops were old fashioned, live electrical fuses!!!

 Praise God for His protection!!!

Halloween 1964

On Halloween 1964 I was allowed to go "trick or treating" with the neighbor kids Merry and Mark who were two years older than me. The rule was to stay on our Circle, but we decided the "treats" were better on the east side of busy 90th Street.

After crossing 90th Street in the dark the first homeowner eagerly led us into his garage. He told us for a "treat" he was giving us fresh fish he had caught that very morning. Being excited about “fresh” fish we were each given six or more frozen fish. The fish wrappers were stamped, "June 1962,” but this made no difference to us, we were only in elementary school.

We were proud of our fish, but kept getting farther from home and finally were lost. It started raining, thundering and lightening and being very scared we started running and shouting. Adults came out of their houses to see what the commotion was all about and began yelling at us. We were so scared we threw our thawing fish all over their lawns, which only made the adults yell louder!

Running down the street we met Dad who was driving around trying to find us! After a reprimand he drove us home. Dad and Mom were upset that anyone would give me two-year-old frozen fish and the next day Dad went to see the man and gave him some words.

Saved from a Tornado

In 1968, when I was thirteen, Mom and Dad went to a party in another town. While they were gone a tornado warning was issued. Dad phoned, “Deb, are you alright?” I replied, “I'm pretty scared.” Dad’s immediate response was, “I'll be right home!” Dad arrived and took me back to the party with him. How great was Dad's love for me. So will Jesus come back for us at Earth's darkest hour. How great is God’s love for us!