Life in our first home on the farm near Oak Lake

We started our life together in this 2 room part of this large stone house around the first of Nov
1943. We didn't need much furniture. I believe it was when we got furniture from my parents,
We had the round Oak dining table mother had bought from T Eaton company, they most likely
paid around $20 for it. Max's dad went to a sale & bought 4 chairs painted orange & black. Max was very up set over not given a chance to pick his own furniture. His dad was used to the old German way of handling all the purchases while his son was in his home. Max wasn't given a wage but we were given some chickens & a milk cow. After his father got a few things he wanted us to have, Max & I had a talk, I suggested we have a talk with him as Max wanted to rent so we would have our own income I had made my own living since High School. Max didn't want the orange chairs so I told him I would refinish those chairs so I spent hours chipping that paint off, repainted them a cream with blue trim.

Max's eldest brother was engaged to marry Edith Hart, I think they were married Nov at her parents home. It was a small wedding as just familys members of both sides, I think my brother in law Rev Ernie Siggelkow married them. Max's one brother Charlie was still home also two sisters. Louise & Eileen. We got a second hand bed from My folks. Max sister Louise was engaged to Gilbert Asken. That spring a wedding was planned on the lawn, it was a cool wet spring. His mother had many Tomato plants, flowers also more vegetables to be transplanted when it warmed up. She had those large window seats where we both had plants to put out. Gilbert & Louise were married around the middle of June, a beautiful lawn wedding.
Max's dad could see Max wasn't pleased with his purchases for us. He just wouldn't have a talk with his father. One day my father in law asked me " what was wrong," I told him Max wanted to rent the farm also buy his own thing, make his own decisions. I had this talk with my father in law without any of the family present. I for prayed what to say, I told him Max wanted to get his share(rent) to pay his own bills. He said "I have always handled his money as well as Elmer's." I then told him I had always made & spent the money I earned for my needs and this is what Max and I would like to be able to do." His dad said "Max has never had to handle his own money "I answered as nice as I could "well it is time he learned to do that." This plan worked for us for His father took it in the right spirit so when ever he wanted to talk about money matters he would come to me asking if I would talk to him for he said Max will do it if you ask him.

Now I understood what Max's mother told me when we were married, "Max has one fault he will get sulky & won't talk if he is upset." Only once that I remember Max became silent & wouldn't talk to me. I finally I went out to the barn & asked him what was wrong, I got the silent answer I kept talking asking questions but utter silents was my answer. I kept on talking smiling saying "I will not stop talking to you so if you want me to quit this talking. First," I am sorry if I have done some thing to hurt you, I will never leave you for I love you, so when you get tired of listening to me, please tell me what is wrong." He never said what was wrong but he smiled, so that was the end of it, I just gave a loving remark then quit talking. He never did that again, I guess he had learned how to shut me up.

Yes we did have disagreements during our life together but we were able to talk them out, of course I am a woman of many words & Max is a man of few words. I came from a family of talkers I guess he learned I have to get it off my chest. Because we love one another & really know our Lord, this is the only way to have a good marriage. We started our family devotions
with reading the bible together & having a time of prayer each day. We found out the way to a happy life is to pray together which we did all our life.