ARLA HOCK FORD

Craig and I have been married 53 years in May, (5-30-71). We graduated from Simpson together in 1973. We worked as houseparents at a boys home. Craig went to U of Missouri to earn Masters in Social Work in 1976. In 1982 we found out that Jesus is alive! He rocked our world. I had no idea how knowing and loving Jesus would change our lives. He took me out of depression and worry and gave me new hope, purpose and meaning. We attended Dan Berry's church in Winterset for awhile. Fun memories.
We have lived in North Bend, OR since 1984. We love the Oregon coast, even though it is far from Iowa family/friends. Our children were into sports so we are still recovering from years of bleacher butt, traveling long distances to basketball, baseball, volleyball, soccer, & football games. Ruthie was southwest Oregon soccer player of the year, but she did not want to play in college because she saw how the college baseball coach "owned" her brother, Darren, who played college ball, so our spectator years were over...until grandkids?! now add dance, golf, tennis to the mix!
So now we have taken up dancing, primarily swing and ballroom. We dance several times per week, which keeps us smiling and sweating and groaning from muscle aches and pains. Last week we attended workshop on Charleston and aerials (tiny jumps, I promise!). We started 19 years ago when Craig could not think what to get me for my birthday...He prayed and believes he heard "Ballroom dance lessons." He claims he said, "Get behind me, Satan!" because he always claimed to have no rhythm and 2 left feet and did not want to take up dancing! But he signed us up anyway with classes thru our community college. So by our son's wedding, we could foxtrot, waltz and swing a bit. I think we do 25 dances now. Other hobbies are grandkids and white water rafting, snow skiing. Actually I prefer driving the "take-out rig" to navigating the rapids. We have a greenhouse for gardening.
Craig and I operate Christian Counseling Services, a small, home-based office where we provide professional therapy for couples, individuals, and families for variety of issues from depression, anxiety, sexual abuse survivors, domestic violence, parenting, adoption, grief, and a few others! We work together as a team with majority of clients. We both love what we do and trust each other in how sessions progress. We do some public speaking and workshops for family communication. I write a weekly column titled Relationships for our newspaper, which can feel like a drudge assignment always hanging over my head. It makes me grateful for Mrs Beimer's and Mrs. Cloud's attention to grammar! My family members have been gracious to allow me to include them in my writing and disclosure. Gutsy group!

I remember moving to Indianola at the beginning of our junior year. I did not know a soul. Carrying my lunch tray out of Mama Baxendale's line, I approached the first table, "May I sit here?" "No." Second table--the same. At the third table, my request was answered, "Do you have to?" I took that as a "yes" and sat down. I sat there every day for the rest of the year. Looking back, these and many life lessons from high school, equipped me to be more kind, welcoming, and accepting of others. I enjoy the perspective of life from my "early 70's" seeing how God put ingredients in our lives to teach us, mold us, prepare us and equip us with what we need for the journey. Oh dear, was I supposed to share funny memories?!ha I do have many delightful memories of those 2 high school years at IHS. Some of my favorites: trying to co-write a funny play about Miles Standish and Priscilla with Mike Porter, Gary Coleman, Phil Richter, and maybe Dave Kragscow? Hearing hairy tales from classmates during Mrs. Cozad's sewing class. Goofy speeches in Mrs Cloud's class and being absolutely mortified when she wrote a critique of my speech telling me to not say "cunt." My life flashed before me as I wondered with humiliation if I had some sort of Tourette's disorder...Then I realized she wanted me to properly pronounce "couldn't" rather than abbreviate it with my imperfect diction. I also remember sweet sweet girls consoling me when I needed it, Shirley Hood, Elaine Kenoyer, Mary Lavin, Mary Godby, Paula Godwin and many more. I was so bewildered and traumatized by mean girls then. I hope to connect with some of those people too and to maybe hear their perspective and motivation and life pattern. Mary Lavin, I want to talk to you. You were my next door locker mate and I still think of you fondly. You were so brave after that horrible car accident. You are a success story, girl! Sue Cackler and Janet Harrison were my dearest friends in IHS and they continue to be genuine, kind, caring friends to this day. I was blessed.

I am living the dream of planetary location, just this side of heaven, two miles from the Oregon coast. I could probably be happy many places with my husband and family. A tiny bit warmer in summer would be nice, but I can drive a few miles inland to find a balmy evening. Iowa is so beautiful every time we travel back.

We have provided mental health counseling to individuals, couples and families for 32 years. We have been privileged to be a tiny cog in all God's gears toward helping people walk in health --body, soul, and spirit. This gives us ringside seats to the miraculous, to growth, to healing, and to love. Sometimes we weep with joy over breakthroughs and healings. I wrote a weekly newspaper column for 15 years which means I have amassed a stack of thoughts and ideas and insights and memories toward a memoir.