Sweethearts Forever Book
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SWEETHEARTS FOREVER A Story of Love, Passion and Commitment James Arthur Lake & Nancy Carroll (Williams) Lake We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the LORD, and his might and the wonders that he has done. He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children, that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children, so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments and that they should not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation whose heart was not steadfast, whose spirit was not faithful to God. Psalm 78:4- 8 (ESV) To our daughter, Karen Kristine (Lake) Fake and son, Peter William Lake and to our seven grandchildren: Amber Lynn Fake, Kyle Scott Fake, Wyatt Andrew Fake, Kenna Mae Fake, James Truett Lake, Charlece Rose Lake, and Samuel Jefferson Lake. Please allow this family history to encourage you, learn life lessons through our story and draw you into the loving presence of God. CONTENTS Introduction – Passing on the Legacy ....................................................7 PART ONE: CHILDHOOD 1 James Arthur Lake .......................................................................... 10 2 Nancy Carroll (Williams) Lake ......................................................... 17 PART TWO: HIGHER EDUCATION 3 Boston University ............................................................................ 26 4 Franklin County Public Hospital ...................................................... 27 School of Nursing PART THREE: 7 ½ YEARS 5 Dating and Engagement .................................................................. 30 PART FOUR: SWEETHEARTS JOINED 6 Marriage .......................................................................................... 32 7 Honeymoon ..................................................................................... 33 PHOTOS ........................................................................................ 34 - 46 PART FIVE: 20 IN 26 8 Sweethearts on the Move ................................................................ 48 PART SIX: SWEETHEART’S SALVATION 9 James Arthur Lake .......................................................................... 76 10 Nancy Carroll (Williams) Lake ......................................................... 78 PART SEVEN: NORTHBOUND 11 Called Back Home ........................................................................... 84 12 The Gideons International ............................................................... 88 PART EIGHT: PROTECTED 13 Angel Encounters ............................................................................ 92 PART NINE: VALENTINE’S DAY CARDS 14 Sweethearts Forever Notes ............................................................. 96 PART TEN: THE LAST WORD 15 Final Thoughts ............................................................................... 100 16 The Blessing .................................................................................. 103 Appendix A Father & Grandfather Lake Sayings ....................................................... 104 Appendix B Military Biography – James A. Lake, Colonel (Retired), United States Army ....................................................106 Appendix C Nancy’s Favorite Prayer as a Little Girl .................................................. 108 Appendix D Kenya Testimonies .................................................................................. 109 INTRODUCTION Passing on the Legacy Tell your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children to another generation. Joel 1:3 (ESV) Through generations upon generations, family remains the most critical unit in society. We strongly believe this to be true and find it most important to document our family history of those before us and for our family members who will come after us. It is to leave a legacy of history for others (mostly family members) to reflect upon, learn from and just have as a resource to say this is who James Arthur Lake and Nancy Carroll (Williams) Lake are in the course of history during their brief time on earth. The format for this documentary is straight forward set chronologically enveloped with significant milestones in our lives. You will find this is a mixture in writing of the both of us, blended as usual which has been our theme throughout our lives since our marriage. The title, Sweethearts Forever, is a signature of Jim’s father and mother, George and Phyllis Lake, as they addressed each other in letters and notes throughout their lives. Such are the impact of these words, that my older brother, Roy Lake and wife, Jo- Ann, embraced them as their own. We have done likewise, as Sweethearts Forever reflect truly who we are to each other. The subtitle, A Story of Love, Passion and Commitment, is important in the context of our lives. We have an incredible love for each other, love of God and others around us. This is not to elevate or be self- serving, but it is the depth of who we are as a couple. The passion is for life itself knowing that we are created for a special purpose for this time on earth. We do not know of a time that we did not strive to complete tasks with passion. Many times we never got them right but together we rejoiced in the victories and the ability to stay focused in those activities and events in our lives. The aspect of commitment is so integral to our lives. We will approach 50 years of marriage on June 10, 2017 with absolute trust, honor and like-minded in all aspects of what we do. We certainly had disagreements, but we always resolved them respectfully. We cannot remember in all the years of being together any fighting, screaming, abusing physically or mentally each other. It has been the love and respect for each other endeavoring to 7 honor and hold up each other that is a mark of our marriage. We have become one in the sense of committing to the Lord Jesus Christ, to each other, to our families and members of the body of Christ. In these three traits of love, passion and commitment, you will find in the readings to come that we are both quite different in our human characteristics. Frankly, it is amazing that God put together two to make one with the vast differences in personalities. Hopefully, you will be encouraged and learn life lessons by what we have experienced. Therefore, let us begin. 8 PART ONE CHILDHOOD For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. Psalm 139:13 (ESV) 9 CHAPTER 1 James Arthur Lake My parents, George Vincent Lake and Phyllis Mae (Winter) Lake, married on July 27, 1935 at Phyllis’ home on 589 Pequoig Avenue in Athol, Massachusetts. Roy Vincent Lake was the first child born of George and Phyllis on August 27, 1938. Jim, as I was called by my parents, was born on April 22, 1945 at the Gardner hospital in Gardner, Massachusetts. My parents lived on 195 Orange Street, Athol for a time until the family moved to 799 South Main Street, Athol in 1939 where they remained for the rest of their lives. Had I been a girl, Mom and Dad would have named me Janet. For whatever the reason, it is a name that I never much liked even to this day. This would be the home where I would be raised, loved and cared for until my departure to college. My environment was one of respect and responsibility as exhibited by my parents. Dad was born on April 8, 1914 in East Providence, Rhode Island. He was outgoing and would engage with anyone talking at great lengths. It seems that the tradition has been carried on by his youngest son. Dad was good with his hands, mechanically minded, and readily able to fix anything around the house. He worked at the L.S. Starrett Company for 42 years, starting out in Department 2 (milling and grinding) moving to Departments 31 and 7 as a foreman. At one time, Dad supervised 95 women and loved the social interaction with people. It was a stressful job being a foreman but, from feedback I received in later years, he was either loved or strongly disliked by the women that worked for him. His standards were high, and he did not tolerate half jobs. I remember he would get emotionally and physically sick when he would have to lay people off when work was slow. He really cared for people. Dad and Mom were soul mates; they incredibly loved each other and were a wonderful model to follow as I watched their love affair over 50 years of marriage. My brother, Roy, and I never heard Mom and Dad fight or degrade each other. There would be disagreements, but we never remember them having heated arguments. What respect they had for each other. After their daily dinner blessing, they would always say to each other “sweethearts forever.” From time to time Dad would write religious poetry and sayings. Several writing gems were discovered from my Grandfather George Washington Lake (see Appendix A for sayings). Perhaps, one of the most meaningful expressions from Dad to me was in the content of a letter sent to me after going on active duty with the United States Army in 10 1967. He said, “So my son, in whom I am well pleased…more power to you… also, when it seems that your efforts are worthless, they somehow shine thru.” Dad was diagnosed with Type 1 insulin dependent diabetes in his mid-forties. He did remarkably well through the years in managing his health but in the end, it would be the