1977 and 1978, the Lost Years

Spring of 1977 was a busy time. We were trying to get the Orient Grocery Store bought and financed. Lanny was finishing his obligation to Zenith Corp in Sioux City. We had our Hubbard house on the market, trying to get it sold. We had meetings with the bankers and Mr Christy, the seller of the store. We were packing up the Hubbard house and looking for a rental in Orient -- and there weren‘t any! We couldn’t buy another hosue until the Hubbard house sold as we needed the equity to finance a purchase.

Christmas at Gramma's. 

It think this was Christmas of 1978 because I seem to have a maternity top on.  Although, you wouldn't have thought I would be wearing a maternity top yet.  Nor sitting on the stairs in a room of a bunch of children smoking!  My goodness!  how times have changed.  I wish I knew who that was in Grampa's chair, behind Kent.  Anyone know that gal? 

 

This is marked "Christmas on the Farm". 

There's the big time cowboy talking on the phone getting to round up a bean bag or two! 

 This photo is marked Yankton, SD zoo.  Erica, 5 years old.  That dates this photo to 1978.  I wish this cute little girl would turn around so we could see her face -- although her little derriere and long legs and curly hair are cute!



We were writing proposed business plans (oh yeah? Never done this before!) for the grocery store the bank and the FHA (Farmers Home Administration who would underwrite the bank loan to buy the grocery store). We were soliciting the Small Business Administration for help and assistance in starting our small business. And I was still caring daily for my three young children, one of whom was an over active little blond bomb shell. 

Christmas again!  We only seem to have had time to take photos at Christmas time! 

No wonder I have, like 6 photos for the years of 1977 and 1978! It is falling into place! How did we get every accomplished and moved to Orient and didn't leave any children behind!  Okay, I think I am now going to forgive myself for not having more photos from these two years! Hope you all do too!
　
　

　

　
　

Erica, Kristy and Kerry.

At Gramma Hof's.  Didn't you love her house? 

　
　
Orient!  <3  I loved being closer to family. 20 miles to Prescott or 30 to Afton. That was awesome! I liked starting up the store and learning my way around Orient and getting my children established in the school and with babysitters and preschools. I really liked being on committees and volunteering. We had good years and slow years in the grocery store but we always ate good! Also, our employer always let one of us off to attend school functions, art shows, athletic events, and tend to sick children, so that was a major bonus.    The down side was no Health Insurance nor paid vacations.  (Oh! if I had only known about Medicaid! : ) 

Dad and I worked 7 - 6 pm, 6 days a week and 8 - noon on Sundays (sometimes Sundays were our biggest days!) These were good days of physical activity, family activities, learning new skills, meeting new people, stretching and learning (city counsel, school board, starting a library, Preschool treasurer).

Lanny, all dressed up for Smyser's 2nd wedding. 

I sure did like Ellen, his second wife. 

They were married at the Little Brown Church in the Vale.

Then, sometime around Thanksgiving or Christmas, I found I was falling asleep every time I sat down. I thought, well, we are working hard but then after some thought and counting on my fingers, we were jubilant to figure out that we were “with child!” Yes, I was pregnant and although as regular as clockwork, I didn’t really know when this happened or when the baby was due. I hadn’t counted calendar days for two or three months. But that didn’t matter, a baby will come when a baby is ready. And we were ready for a baby!