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“Our story” began at the beginning of the school term 1970-1971, our junior year at LMH. Most of us did not know each other when we were assigned to the rooms on North Second of the Ladies dorm in Graybill Hall.
There are twelve of us, JEAN (LEHMAN) SHOWALTER, LUANNE (EBERSOLE) HORST, SUE GINGRICH) MARTIN, DEB (WEAVER) WEAVER, JEAN (LANDIS) SENSENIG, MIRIAM (RISSER) ZEHR, CHARLENE (LEHMAN) HARNISH, MARYANN (GOOD) HOOVER, NAOMI (MARTIN) MILLER, BETTY LOU (HORNING) EBERLY, ANITA FREY, and KAREN (HOOVER) COPENHAVER – which includes one day student, that formed a strong bond of friendship that continues after 55 years. During our last two years of school at LMH, we learned to trust and appreciate each other through studying, praying, singing, serving, working, spending weekends together, and also participating in shenanigans that brought consequences from Miss Hoover, our dorm matron.
We wanted to continue relating to each after our graduation in June, 1972. Initially, we got together on special weekends, eventually attending our weddings, and picnics with our growing families. We connected many years through hand-written circle letters, until we adapted to the convenience of e-mail, and more recently by group texts.
Through the years, our individual “ministries” have included nursing, teaching, pastoring, mentoring, secretarial work, painting, farming, and business owners. Our families collectively number 32 children and 103 grandchildren. One of us lives in Indiana, one in Ohio, and ten of us are in Pennsylvania.
When we turned 50, we renewed our purpose to stay connected and planned three-day getaways every two years. These are great times of visiting new areas, shopping, talking, singing, and praying together. And now that we’re 70, our goal is to get together annually.
We feel so blessed to have been given this wonderful gift of friendship starting at LMH. Through the years our spiritual bond has been a source of strength and hope. We have experienced the Lord’s care and protection through the hard times we faced over the years. Our prayer is that we will remain faithful to God until He calls us home!
