I graduated from highschool, in May 1978, from Casper Wyoming! Shortly after graduation, my family moved to Sulphur Springs Texas, where I lived for about 6 months before joining the US Navy. I decided I would let the Navy pay me to go to school and become a Dental Technician. I was asked by several people before I left, "Why are you joining the Navy?" My reply was, " I don't really know, I just know it is what I am supposed to do." I was not a saved Christian at that time, but knew that God wanted something of me.
I attended dental school in San Diego, CA. From there I went to my first duty station, in late June of 1979, which was Guam. Shortly after arriving on Guam, I met Mark in the barracks swimming pool. I was needing to go out and look for a car to buy, so he graciously offered to take me. I went to my room to change, and shortly he knocked on my door. The first thing I remember vividly was, "Wow! He is so tall! He didin't look that tall in the water!"
I picked out the car I wanted, and after signing the papers, the sales man shook my hand, and then Mark's and said "Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Olson!" (my maiden name). We never did tell the poor man his mistake, and still brings us laughs to this day! We married February 16, 1980, 7 months after that fateful day at the Toyota dealership!
Two of our children, Bryan and Michelle, were born while we lived on Guam. Sarah was born in New Jersey. I got out of the Navy in December of 1980, one month before Bryan was born. I have been a stay at home mom ever since. It has not been easy, and at times we wondered where our next meal would come from, but the Lord is faithful to provide for his faithful people!
One of the best places we ever lived was in Misawa, Japan. To me, this place was totally opposite to everything I had ever known. We lived in town with the Japanese for 9 months before we could get base housing. I tell you, paying bills was very interesting. Some of them we had to take to the company. I remember the first time I had to go pay the water bill! I was lucky to find the building. All I could do is hold the bill in front of me, and show it to a person behind some counter, all they could do is point. After showing it to 3 people, I finally found my way to the back of the building, and up an elevator to the third floor! The best thing for a shy person like me was just to laugh at myself, and learn to enjoy!
I tell you, we couldn't read or speak one word of Japanese. We had to learn to drive offesnsively and on the left side of the road. But even when we got lost, we found the Japanese people more than willing to help a foreigner in need, even if it was only through pointing! We never learned to speak enough Japanese to be able to have a conversation, but we did learn enough to be polite!
Here is a picture of our family dressed up in Japanese style dress!
Here are the places we have lived. (in order)Guam, June of 1979 - June of 1982
Eatontown, New Jersey, June of 1982 - December of 1985
Yorktown, Virginia, December of 1985 - November of 1989
Misawa Japan, January of 1990 - December of 1992
Charleston, South Carolina, January of 1993 - June of 1993
Corpus Christi, Texas, June of 1993 - December of 1995
Kentucky - December of 1995 to present!
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