OUR FIRST DAUGHTER

On August 12, 1961, our first daughter, Dianne Marie, arrived. She had dark hair and blue eyes and tipped the scales at 61b. 6 oz. This particular birth was a happy one, but yet it left some sad memories. Before I went to the hospital that day, I said good-bye to my two younger sisters who were so much a part of me. They were leaving to pursue a career in Western Canada. This was an everlasting commitment that still exists today, for they have made their homes in Calgary and Prince George.

Dianne was a healthy child, and caused very little trouble. I did not teach that year, so I enjoyed being home with the children.

Late that fall, Joe and I had wood to put in the basement before the snow arrived. At nine o’clock in the morning, Dianne went to sleep in her crib. We put in wood all day while Dianne slept. I kept checking her to see if she was all right. Each time she was sleeping comfortably. She never woke until six o’clock, when all the wood was stored in the basement.

Dianne was an active little girl and enjoyed the outdoors and the animals. We had one lamb that lost its mother, and had to be fed milk with a bottle and a nipple. Dianne would stand outside the wire fence with the bottle, while the lamb would gurgle down the milk. Later the lamb became so tame, that when Dianne appeared, he would be there to greet her. Some children, who were watching the episode changed the words of Mary. Had A Little Lamb to:

Dianne loves her little lamb Its fleece is white as bread. Everywhere that Dianne goes, Her lamb walks ahead.

Dianne’s love of animals lured her into the barn to help with the chores. She was often called upon to drive the tractor to transport large loads of hay

60