Friday, September 3, 2010

We have a lot of kids in here

 A glimpse into the daily routine at the Institute Building.  It sounds exhausting to me!

3 October 1984 - We spent the last two Saturdays over at the Topeka Stake Center with Haskell's two volleyball teams.  We give them breakfast here at the institute building and then buy their lunch at Burger King after the games.  We took 1st and 2nd place in the Stake Tournament and will play in another tournament on October 20.  The kids really have enjoyed it, and they are looking forward to basketball season, both a girls' team and a boys' team.

It could be a late night - they've just started!


Group activity on the keyboard

 4 November 1985 - It's after 10:00 right now, and we should be closed, but they're watching football on TV.  There are also kids working a puzzle, playing the keyboard, playing Asteroids, and playing pool.  Two boys just came in and asked me to get them some pop.  We sell 25 cent pop and candy bars.  Since pop is 50 cents in the dorm, we have a big business.  It brings a lot of kids in, and I guess that's what we're supposed to do.


Asteroids expert
31 January 1986 - It is 4:30 in the afternoon, and we have a lot of kids in here.  There's always somebody playing asteroids and somebody waiting to play Asteroids.  There are also some kids playing pool, and somebody playing the keyboard.  Several come over and watch TV every afternoon -- "Benson," "The Jeffersons," "Three's Company."  Some of the girls come over earlier and watch their soap operas.  I have to get out so I won't get hooked on them.  They do look interesting!

 The kids are watching Johnny Lingo.  I can just about recite it because I've seen it so often.  I still enjoy it.  Of course, I had hoped that someone would turn to the "Wheel of Fortune."  I still like game shows.  I don't watch them anymore than I did when I taught school.

I wonder how many pounds of popcorn she popped in three years . . .
 16 February 1986 - Church is over, and I'm a little bit ahead on popping corn, so I'll write awhile.  I'm over in a corner, so maybe everybody will go to Lou when they need something.  There's a video on that I really enjoy - "Man From Snowy River."  I've seen different parts of it at least two dozen times, and I still enjoy it.  Well, I've already had to pop more corn and sell pop and candy.  Lou must have found a better corner.  He's probably in playing pool or Asteroids.  I'm afraid the way we keep the Sabbath Day holy leaves something  to be desired!  These kids have come a long way, but we still need to work on our Sunday evenings.  They're just better off in here than in other things they find to do.

Skating like a pro

I get by with a little help from my friends!

2 March 1987 - Friday evening we took eleven of our kids over to Manhattan to the Stake Young Adult party.  They played games at the institute and then went ice skating.  Some had never skated before.  They really had fun.  Jeff said he rode two hours just to get his "butt" wet.  It kind of bothered those kids who are really good at several sports to be such novices at ice skating.

". . . and they did fellowship one with another . . . and did have great joy."  
Helaman 6:4