Retirement – Part 2 (1966 - 1975)
The Minnich family moved in. It was our joy and privilege to worship and visit with them. We lived in our home in the country over five years. We were busy and happy. I mentioned working in a rest home. After that I did a bit of home nursing, then registered at the local hospital as a sitter. When people had family members who required constant care and were not financially able to employ a registered nurse, a sitter was called. I followed that for some time. I loved nursing and found my opportunities to witness for the Lord.
We had continued our nursing home visitation through the years, and did much visiting the sick in their homes. One day when visiting Mrs. L.S. Houston, our former District Superintendent’s widow, I had a strange impression that we would someday own that house and live there. When I arrived home I told Bro. Bolender. We just left it. The Houston’s had no direct descendants, but a nephew had been very concerned about their welfare; as they grew older he had assisted them in obtaining their comfortable cottage home. On occasional visits with the lonely widow she had repeated these facts to us, adding that at her death the property would go to Arthur, but that he would sell the property. As I thought of these facts and my earlier impression made a deeper groove, together we spoke of future changes, and again we slipped the idea into our secret compartments of “Hands off until God directs.”
Months later we were visiting relatives in Ohio near Arthur’s home. After a private agreement I called by phone, introducing myself. I told him his aunt had informed us that their house was willed to him and that he would sell it. I asked that he give us first consideration unless he had other priorities, adding it might not be wise to mention my call to his aunt as it might be an emotional strain. Mr. Houston was very polite but made no comments or commitments. We were completely at ease, for we were not trying to force any doors open; all was in God’s hand. Not many weeks passed until a phone message informed us that Sister Houston had died suddenly. A member of our church was appointed as administrator; this was common knowledge. Very soon after the funeral we were surprised by an early knock at our door. A near neighbor entered seemingly excited. She told us that her cousin had gone to ask about purchasing the Houston property, but the administrator had told her that the Bolenders’ had first chance. Her buried business was to tell us that if we sold they wanted first consideration. These dear people had been very close friends for over 30 years and had helped us through many trying problems.
We were overwhelmed, but controlled our emotions and told her we could make no commitments until we made investigations. After she left, together we had a business session. Mr. Bolender had already decided his price on our place. Then we figured our small savings and how much we could pay monthly on a loan. We were both receiving Social Security. We figured what we could pay for the town property and drove in to meet Mr. Houston and the administrator. They were both at the house packing and disposing of furniture that the former owner had willed or given otherwise to friends or the nephew. We inquired about the price of the property. When he stated the price we exchanged glances and I, without proper thought, remarked to my husband that we had better go. Mr. Houston quickly asked, “Is it more than you expected?” We both assured him we were both perfectly satisfied and would be ready in a day or so to close the deal, cash down. We did not tell him that his price was considerably less than we had figured we could, by carefully managing, pay by getting a small loan, which we were positive we could do. Our buyers had been just as diligent with their business as we had and were ready to pay us in cash. In less than a week the double transaction had finished. It seemed like a miracle, for not a word had we uttered to anyone except the casual phone call to Mr. Houston.
Once again God had proven his promise, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.” This had been our motto for over 52 years. We later learned that eight other parties had tried to buy the property, most of them as business deals. We were the second parties to own it; it was much like new.
We had continued our nursing home visitation through the years, and did much visiting the sick in their homes. One day when visiting Mrs. L.S. Houston, our former District Superintendent’s widow, I had a strange impression that we would someday own that house and live there. When I arrived home I told Bro. Bolender. We just left it. The Houston’s had no direct descendants, but a nephew had been very concerned about their welfare; as they grew older he had assisted them in obtaining their comfortable cottage home. On occasional visits with the lonely widow she had repeated these facts to us, adding that at her death the property would go to Arthur, but that he would sell the property. As I thought of these facts and my earlier impression made a deeper groove, together we spoke of future changes, and again we slipped the idea into our secret compartments of “Hands off until God directs.”
Months later we were visiting relatives in Ohio near Arthur’s home. After a private agreement I called by phone, introducing myself. I told him his aunt had informed us that their house was willed to him and that he would sell it. I asked that he give us first consideration unless he had other priorities, adding it might not be wise to mention my call to his aunt as it might be an emotional strain. Mr. Houston was very polite but made no comments or commitments. We were completely at ease, for we were not trying to force any doors open; all was in God’s hand. Not many weeks passed until a phone message informed us that Sister Houston had died suddenly. A member of our church was appointed as administrator; this was common knowledge. Very soon after the funeral we were surprised by an early knock at our door. A near neighbor entered seemingly excited. She told us that her cousin had gone to ask about purchasing the Houston property, but the administrator had told her that the Bolenders’ had first chance. Her buried business was to tell us that if we sold they wanted first consideration. These dear people had been very close friends for over 30 years and had helped us through many trying problems.
We were overwhelmed, but controlled our emotions and told her we could make no commitments until we made investigations. After she left, together we had a business session. Mr. Bolender had already decided his price on our place. Then we figured our small savings and how much we could pay monthly on a loan. We were both receiving Social Security. We figured what we could pay for the town property and drove in to meet Mr. Houston and the administrator. They were both at the house packing and disposing of furniture that the former owner had willed or given otherwise to friends or the nephew. We inquired about the price of the property. When he stated the price we exchanged glances and I, without proper thought, remarked to my husband that we had better go. Mr. Houston quickly asked, “Is it more than you expected?” We both assured him we were both perfectly satisfied and would be ready in a day or so to close the deal, cash down. We did not tell him that his price was considerably less than we had figured we could, by carefully managing, pay by getting a small loan, which we were positive we could do. Our buyers had been just as diligent with their business as we had and were ready to pay us in cash. In less than a week the double transaction had finished. It seemed like a miracle, for not a word had we uttered to anyone except the casual phone call to Mr. Houston.
Once again God had proven his promise, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.” This had been our motto for over 52 years. We later learned that eight other parties had tried to buy the property, most of them as business deals. We were the second parties to own it; it was much like new.
We had so enjoyed the time on the little farmette. Our lives had been full and happy with the building improvement, a few cows and calves, two gardens, and my practical nursing. The months of involvement with supply pastoring at Shepherdsville, along with the continuing weekly services at the rest homes hardly seemed like retirement. We were now both past seventy and Bro. Bolender was having occasional breast pains. Surely God had planned and directed this whole change. We never felt more in the will of God than when we moved into our home on Lexington Avenue in Elizabethtown, Ky.