I was born and raised in Stillwater, Oklahoma. My father, Norbert R. Mahnken, was a history professor at Oklahoma State University. He arrived in 1945 and stayed there the rest of his life. In 1953 he and my grandfather, Fred W. Mahnken, who was a builder, built our home at 920 W. Cantwell St.

We lived there 16 years, all of my childhood. I remember 920 as a big house and big yard. Of course, as I look at it now, it was very small. My father kept a white fence with red rose bushes along it. It was lovely. He was able to walk to and from the campus every day. We could ride our bikes anywhere on campus, and because the campus barns were nearby we sometimes had horses or sheep coming through the yard when some ag student left the gates unlatched.

We had wonderful neighbors, some of whom belonged to our church, Zion Lutheran. We built forts, clubhouses, had a wonderful sand pile. The neighborhood basketball court was our driveway.

Best of all, we had our family. My younger brother, Robert, who many of you met in Albuquerque, my mother and my dad. We went to church, my mother did LWML, my father was an elder and substitute organist. We did family vacations and golfing together. We were a happy and blessed family unit in our little house at 920. That’s where we came home to — where we were together.

On a trip to an OSU basketball game last week my husband and I drove by 920. I had heard it was due to be bulldozed to make room for the campus expansion. Sure enough, all there was at 920 was an empty lot.

Made me sad. I’m glad I have good memories of it as a home and not just a house. As Christians we know even if our earthly house and home fades away, our heavenly house will be, above all, a home where we will be together as a family!

“In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also” (John, 14:2-3).

Patti