Bill’s Honeywell District won several awards. As well as prizes for the home, we had a couple of trips to islands off the South Carolina coast. To Wild Dunes and Kiawa. No expense was spared by Honeywell - eating gourmet, having my hair done, side trips to see the sites, etc. When the tour guide whispered in my ear that I could have my hair done, I felt a little bit insulted. But we took advantage of these things.

Then in 1982, we were awarded a trip to Bermuda. It was beautiful. When we came into the hotel from one of our excursions, the staff was setting up snacks and drinks. When we exclaimed, “Oh, coffee time”, we were told, “No! it’s tea time!”

Lifting a big suitcase on the way home, I hurt my side so much the doctor said I was close to having a hernia. That side has bothered me ever since.

I could spent a lot of time telling about the children’s many activities but, I guess, that’s for them to tell.

While Bill was busy traveling to various sites to fix computers for Honeywell, I was doing various jobs at church through the years. Also, a couple of years during the ‘70s, I taught school in Stantonsburg , NC. Then in about ‘78 I worked as an aid in Elm City. Speaking of life’s blessings, the teaching job came just as Jeanie left for college and the job in ‘78 was when Jeff was ready for college.

My church jobs were almost always teaching children in Sunday School and Bible School which I enjoyed - also singing in the choir.

In about 1980, our dear friend‘s, Emma Lanier, family organized a senior citizen’s group to meet on Tuesday mornings. I dived in head first to help Mrs. Lanier with this organization; she was the hostess. When she wasn’t even able to her hostess job, somehow the hostess job was mine. I never really wanted to do it but wanted to do it for her.

Also, in the late ‘70s Mrs. Lanier organized a bible study (Friendship Bible Coffee) at her house that was very meaningful. During the time of the Bible Study, the GYN found a lump in my breast and wanted me to see a surgeon. The precious friends in the study prayed for me regularly. The surgeon said not to worry. When I attended the revival afterwards, I had the strongest urging to get up and tell that I was no longer concerned about cancer after my friends prayed. I pushed the urging away thinking I would cry and be embarrassed. Later, I thought OK, OK I’ll tell them no matter what. In the choir the next night, I was so surprised when the visiting pastor asked if anyone had anything to be thankful for. This opened up an easy way for me to tell about my “cure”! Each person has felt God’s presence in their own way but I felt certain the “urging” came from God.

Probably, though, the most meaningful Bible study (First Place) was led by a nurse in the church. It worked with a complete person - Bible study, eating right, drinking enough water and exercise. We formed the habit of daily devotions (which I had done off and on through the years). The weight did come off! Quite a while after the study started, she asked if we felt we now had a better spirit - disposition. Yes, there was a difference after putting these principles to work.

I am not a person that has all the answers by any means. Oswald Chambers says that problems of the spirit can’t be solved by planning or deep thought. They are solved by obeying God. God tells us to forgive, to return good for bad, etc. It is hard but that’s an answer that means a lot to me.

I should tell more about my experiences in the class room. The first year after Bill and I were married, I taught second grade. This was when Frances taught me to drive. I remember very little about that year (1954-’55) but I was expecting David by October. I had to drive that old “cranky” Dodge and was very nauseous to begin with. I was taking something for nausea which, of all things, made me drowsy; the children told their parents that Mrs. Myers certainly was tired!

As I think back, I remember having the children tell about their summer or sing if they wanted to. Cute little Spencer sang, “Jimmy Cracked Corn” and seemed so happy. Yet, when it was time to be firm and get down to work, he started crying. In desperation, I was on my way to the office to ask advise or transfer him to another teacher. I just happened to tell another teacher in the hall, she said she taught those children piano and they needed a lot of hugs or they felt you were angry with them. That was just what I needed to know.

At recess, playing kick-ball, one little boy kicked the ball then ran after it! My funny-bone kicked in so hard, the children looked at me in surprise.

Then in 1973-’75, I got the job to teach third/fourth grade. It seemed that each year the central office emphasized a certain area of study for teachers to do. That year we used a lot of games to teach - which I think is a good idea.

I’m not a firm disciplinarian. Finally, I came across a good idea. Bill helped me take a poster-board, put each child’s name and make a little slit under the name for a small flag. If they were “good citizens” their flag stayed up.

When each child learned the multiplication table, I brought a pack of cheese and crackers to them from the lounge. That was a BIG deal and they studied. At the same time, I know that cramming is not a good idea; after “knowing his table”, one little boy didn’t know them.

Then there were the trips! The two other fourth grades took the children to Raleigh to the capitol. Although I was fairly new in North Carolina, the other teachers would tell me to lead the way - even which direction to head home. Of course, I knew we had to go east; I think we did drive about a half an hour out of the way. I thought we would never get home.

Then again, when I worked as an aid in 1978, the other three teachers planned a trip to the zoo. I dreaded it so much. These teachers did a good job of teaching lessons but the children were unruly in the lunchroom, playground, etc. I think you should teach the whole child.

Anyway, as I said, I dreaded it so much that Bill took off work to go with me. My trick was taking a bag of candy, telling the children I controlled that if they were near enough to hear me when I blew my whistle, they would have a treat. That worked fairly well.

I should tell about our Christmas bulletin board. At Christmas on one half of the board I made a tree with a blue and green garland and had the children decorate gifts to put under the tree. The title was “We Give Because We Love”. On the other half I displayed a manger scene titled “God Loves Us and Gave His Son”. One little third grade boy said he liked the bulletin board, then asked, “But who is the baby?”!! Believe it or not, we could refer to our faith AND salute the flag mentioning God.

In teaching, I did try to do a good job but my heart was always with home. I much prefer to be home; to me being home is “real life”.

1979 on our 25^th wedding anniversary, Nancy was still at home. Jeanie had called her that they were surprising us by having lunch and a gift. Nancy was keeping us busy in the back yard; I think Bill was mowing the lawn. I think David came from work and Jeff from college.

The gift was a big set of green and white dishes. A nice surprise!

1994 on our 40^th wedding anniversary, Jeanie and Nancy and families had invited us to Chi-Chi’s Restaurant to celebrate. Kristen, who decorated cakes beautifully, had made a very special cake.

As Bill and I were getting ready to go, we received a phone call from brother Tom that daddy’s doctor wanted to see us the next day. We tried to call Jeanie and Nancy but they had already left for Raleigh. We told our neighbor, Martha Smith, our change of plans and left for Columbia. Of course, when we didn’t show up at the restaurant and didn’t answer the phone, they called Martha. I understand that Kristen, after making that cake, was very upset. She should have been after all of that.

Bill made us a table that expands to 12’          He made this hutch where my
                                                                          wedding plates are displayed

He made this cobbler’s bench                   He dug the hole for the deep and
                                                                shallow ends, built the deck and fence.

He built this little red barn
For David and Jeff’s ponies

Bill built us a nice couch and chair, we couldn't find a good picture of these. He added onto the house two bedrooms, bath, utility room and screened back porch. Also, he expanded our bedroom and den inclucing a fireplace.

Nancy, Charlotte Kee, Jeanie & Cathy Kee                   Nancy
              WV at Bill’s sister’s, Jane Kee                       Running a marathon
                                                                                      in Charlotte, NC , 1978

      Bill’s family                                           Jeff
        Olive, Bill’s mother (Olive), Frances            In Air Force uniform
Mary, Bill & Jane (in back row)                                    

Drawing by Nancy, age 8, of David’s first car (Model A Ford that he rebuilt)

David & Ruth Ann Myers                   Jeff & Sheila Myers

      David & Jeanie McDaniel                        Tommy & Nancy Wall

      Frank & Elsie Harrell                         Susan, Dean & Bet Strickland
Caring Elm City church friends            “Bet” always kept us informed about
                                                                Elm City news wherever we lived.

       & Special Mint Hill, NC friend               Sister-in-law, Jane & Carlyle Kee
             & Peggy Thomas and Mary Ellen                             Good Friends

Jane painted “free-hand” deigns on my cushions.