APRIL MEMORIES

SOMETIMES WHEN WE LOOK BACK ON OUR LIVES, WE TEND TO FOCUS ON THE LACK WE HAD OR THE STRESS WE WERE EXPERIENCING.  BUT AT THE TIME OF THIS MEMORY, LIFE WAS GOOD.  VERY GOOD!  AND I THINK OF THOSE EARLY YEARS WITH FONDNESS AND A JOYFUL HEART FOR THE SIMPLE BLESSINGS THAT BROUGHT SO MUCH HAPPINESS.

 By the time Easter 1973 rolled around, life was pretty well-

established for the Nichols Family.  We’d been in the Welch Court house in Arvada,

 Colorado, almost two years, the grass and trees were in their second season, the

 cast-off furniture had been recovered, and I had made drapes out of window

 coverings Beth had sent my way.   So, even though we had only the basics, we

 weren’t shabby by any means.  Ross hadn’t decided to return to school yet.  So,

 we had a pleasant routine of sending Ross off to work in the morning, doing the

 housework, then I spent available time, that wasn’t needed for my Church calling,

 sewing while Harold and Brice played with blocks, wooden puzzles, simple toys, and

 pretty much entertained themselves before and after their naps. 

 When Ross came home in the evening, we had supper and later spent time

 together out in the yard if it was good weather or in the house playing games

 with each other. 

   

I made Easter outfits for Harold and Brice and a jersey dress

 for myself.  Brice’s was a pale orange short one piece knit suit that had tabs on

 the shoulders through which I threaded a tie made from orange and white cotton

 knit. I tied it with a sailor’s knot in front.  The total for fabric and notions was

 $0.40. For Harold I made a pair of grey slacks, $0.35 and a sport coat

 of grey/white seersucker with a red kerchief print lining.  It cost

 about $1.00 for the supplies.  My dress was a 70’s print jersey of purple, green,

 orange, and white.  The fabric was on sale at Target for $0.66/yd, so it

 priced out at $3.00 for zipper and all.  We were pretty stylin’ as we hopped down

 the Bunny Lane in the Easter Parade. 

I look back at those days as pleasant and productive both.  There are lots of good

 memories from that period of time and slides down the basement as proof.