Tim Lost on the Bus

Marina, California, about 1982:

Disclaimer: Do not let your child do this in today's scary world. Back in the 1980s it was a much safer environment.


Tim is very smart - When he was about 11 years old, he could solve the Rubik's cube in about two minutes. One day he wanted to go by himself on the city bus to Ft. Ord to swim in their swimming pool. We had driven past the pool many times and discovered it was only the second bus stop after entering the base. Tim assured me that he knew where to get off the bus, that he would be fine. I felt he was right.


I gave Tim the money for the bus and he set out. He boarded the bus with no problem, but then as it drove through the base, it was confusing for Tim where he was supposed to get off.


He stayed on the bus for about eight miles, all the way to the Monterey Mall. He knew he'd missed the pool stop, and recognized the mall, so he decided to get off. He walked into a toy store and asked to use the phone to call home. He was smart. He did the right thing. I drove to the mall and picked him up.

Sometimes we don't know we're lost, we're just a little confused at the time, and then after a little while more, we know for sure we are lost. At that point, we need to stop and ask for help. It's okay to ask for help. When we do, we will get it.

Happy Birthday Sarah!

Marina, California, 12 January 1979:

Sarah was expected long before she was due to be born. One night in 1977 while I was asleep, I had a dream that I saw a beautiful girl about 16 years old. She had long blond hair and was dressed in white. I knew her name was Sarah. In my dream, she was knocking. The sound woke me up! Once awake, I thought about my dream and felt that she was waiting to be born to our family.

Just before Christmas 1977, I found out I was pregnant. We figured the baby was the Sarah of my dream, so I made a Christmas stocking, with the her name on it, and hung it on the fireplace by our other stockings.

My parents came to celebrate Christmas with us that year. We had not told them I was pregnant. They walked into our home, and as we were giving them a tour of the house, we got to the family room. Mom looked at the stockings, read the names, and then read "Sarah." She said, "Sarah, who's Sarah?" Then, her eyes lit up in recognition that she knew I was pregnant.

About two months later I had a miscarriage. I was not upset about it. I remembered my dream and knew Sarah would come when her time was right.

A few months after that I again found out I was pregnant. This time I was due Christmas 1978. Christmas came and went but no baby came. On New Year's Eve the doctor said he'd give me a tax deduction if I wanted to have the baby before the end of the year. I told him I'd wait until Sarah was ready.

Finally, on 12 January 1979 I went into labor. This was during the time we had no car, so I phoned my visiting teacher who was on standby. She drove Tom and me to the hospital. The doctor checked me out, told the nurse to call him when my time for delivery neared, and he headed home.

Before the doctor made it home, the nurse was calling him to come back. I asked the nurse for something for the pain. She said, I was going to be done in ten minutes and to just hang on. She was right. Sarah was born about ten minutes later.

We named her Sarah Elizabeth Werle after both of our great-grandmothers: Sarah Werle and Sarah McQuire. The Elizabeth was my grandmother's name, Elizabeth Olive (Smith) McQuire.

By the time Sarah came along I had learned to cherish every minute because babies grow so fast. So there were days I just sat for hours holding her for a long, long time. It was a precious time and she was a precious baby.

The Sequel: About 1995 when Sarah was 16, I went with our ward Young Women to the temple to help them perform baptisms for the dead. As I was there I happened to glance up as Sarah approached the font. She was dressed in white. Her blond hair was long and straight. Then, I remembered my dream. The young woman I saw in my dream looked just like Sarah did that day at the temple. Dreams really do come true. It's true.

Merry Christmas 2009!

Greetings from the Straits of Magellan (on the southern tip of South America).

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given . . . his name is Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace."

On this wonderful day that we celebrate the Savior's birth, may you find happiness, love, and peace.

Merry Christmas. I love you!

The Grinch That Stole Christmas

Beaverton, Oregon, about 1988-1990:

Twas the week before Christmas and all through the land,
Every creature was stirring to try their hand
At sneaking and peeking and discovering the place
Where gifts were hidden for the Chrismas date.

Success eluded them but they were so smart
So smart they found it - what joy to their heart!
They unwrapped each gift, and found with delight
The thing that brought such an excite.

They ooohed and awwwed but suppressed regret
Then came the task of concealing their secret
They wrapped up the gifts and put them back
To conceal their deceit and judgmental lack.

All of a sudden, to their horror they heard
Mother had discovered their treason so dear.
She railed and ranted and said their whole name
As they dropped and shook their heads in shame.

Mother said since they'd ruined the Christmas surprise,
she'd return ALL the gifts,
Not a few
Each and every present from their view!

The children cried and pleaded and begged
But Mother stood her ground to assure they obeyed.
When Christmas arrived, the children discovered
Their treasured gifts had been recovered
Their treasured gifts were under the tree
The children cheered in relief and glee.

The grinch had appeared for a time so rare,
But never again were there groans of dispair.
Never again did the children plunder
Never again did they have to wonder
If Christmas would bring the grinch or glee
Christmas would forver be a wonder to see.

So who was the grinch that stole Christmas past
The kids who sneaked and were part of the cast,
Or the angry mom who squawked in deplore
And said she was taking their presents to the store?

Santa Knew Tim!

Marina, California, about 1976:

When Tim was about five, we took the children to visit Santa Claus at the Monterey Macy's store. We stood in the line, patiently waiting our turn. When it was Tim's turn, Santa turned to him and said, "Hi Tim!"

Huh???? We couldn't figure it out. How did Santa know Tim's name? Well, we reasoned, Santa did know every child's name, so why were we so surprised? Then, we remembered this Santa was just one of Santa's helpers - so maybe he knew Tim.

Santa smiled, spoke a little bit to Tim, and as he did so, we realized he was our bishop, filling in as a Santa's helper that season.

Yes We Went Camping

California's Gold Country, 1985

Can you believe it? I actually have evidence that we went camping. WE, as in you and me. I know you don't think I was there because I'm not in the photo. Right? Wrong. Who do you think is taking the picture?


We had fun that trip. We went to the Gold Country, hunted for the Werle homestead and mine, panned for gold, and searched the Catholic church records and found your father's ancestors in the baptism registry.

The Best Dressed List

Marina, California, about 1978:


Check out the photo. Notice the matching vests for the guys, and Amy's dress and my skirt, are all made from the SAME fabric. I'm sure you're really impressed that we look so good. I'm sure you'd be double impressed to discover I made the vests, dress, and skirt! You've got to admit, we were one sharp looking family. I was so pleased. Good thing everyone was too young to complain. Your dad? He was a good sport.


It gives new meaning to the scripture to become as a little child: You do what your mother tells you to do. After all, she's the one helping you to look so good.