This afternoon we had a rare and golden opportunity
to spend a little time visiting with
one of our oldest family friends,
Stan Larson.
Our families met when Dad was pastoring the
First Missionary Church in Dodge City, KS.
Since I have a resident expert on that time period in house
(I was, after all, only about 7 or 8 at the time)
I asked mother for a few details on how our friendship with the Larson family began.
Here is her remembrance:
We met Stan and Jan Larson and family (Carl, Kathleen and Jean) when they moved to Dodge City, KS, from Waconia, MN. Stan had been a teacher at Crown College (a Christian & Missionary Alliance Bible College) for some years, and felt the need for a change. They packed up and headed for SW Kansas where he began teaching at Dodge City Junior College (JUCO). The 1st Sunday they were in town, they visited our Missionary Church (where Jay was pastoring) for a Sunday Evening service. We were quite delighted to meet this family with 3 children close in ages to our 3….and providentially, we had purchased a big watermelon from a man going door to door before we headed out to Church that evening. So, we eagerly invited them to join us after the service for this delicious treat! They came, we became fast friends….Stan introduced us as a family to C. S. Lewis and the Chronicles of Narnia and Tolkien’s Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. They became great favorites of ours, and only cemented our families’ friendship. After we left Dodge City for British Colombia, Canada, they too left Dodge and took up residence again in Minnesota.  And where did WE end up when we left B.C.? Back in Minnesota! So we have resumed and kept that friendship going. We are so thankful for God’s bringing them into all of our lives!
My memories of the Larson family
include
late night hide and go seek in the neighborhood
ice cream with Jan Larson’s delicious chocolate sauce
board games
Lord of the Rings trivia
Stan’s amazing vegetable garden
bunny rabbits
(lots and lots of bunny rabbits…)
Brink, the Boxer
two canoes and 3 paddles
and so many more good memories of fellowship.
We met Stan at the Biltmore Plaza and enjoyed a lovely dinner at
the Cheesecake Factory.
Jake and Geneva
Meg and Laurent
Mom and Paul
(I say smile! He gives me the lip curl… contrary is his middle name.)
Jeff and Stan!
Lime and club soda!
Sourdough and Honey-Wheat!
Light through Bottles!
Southwest egg rolls and salsa!
Chicken Quesadillas and triple dip!
Cold spring rolls (?) I think…
They looked tasty!
Sweet Potato Fries – Oh MY!
Outside the restaurant before leaving…
the kids had run off to look at Vera Bradley and Border Books, so they missed out on the last photo-op. 🙂
Some gorgeous sun-set light…
which we would not have seen had we not walked all the way to the east side of the Biltmore looking with Stan for his car.
Which he did find, right where he left it. 🙂
More beauty, and a fitting end to a wonderful afternoon
of renewing friendship.
Pauline Holston
21 Feb 2011Oh my! What a wonderful day….and so many memories to recall! Thanks for recording this with your wonderful photos, Daughter!
Katie Troyer
21 Feb 2011The food pictures makes me hungry.
Sheryl
21 Feb 2011Sounds like a wonderful time was had by all. We were also blessed to be a part of those Dodge City days. The pictures of the food look delightful and I bet it was.
Linda
22 Feb 2011There is nothing I love more than reconnecting with an old friend. Especially as an MK, you come to accept that every goodbye may be your last one with that person, so it is an incredible gift to see someone from your past that you never thought you’d see again. So glad you got to spend time with your friend!