Virginia home

1510 N. Dinwiddie St.,

Sterling, VA 22170

This is the house I grew up in.  I lived here my whole life until I was 19.  My mom and dad sold this house while I was on the mission when they built the Provo house.  I sometimes wonder what the place looks like now.  A lot of good memories!

Growing up, I used to think the window on the right of the home was huge.  When I look at that "huge" window, I just think of the discipline Darin and Dale got from Dad one day as they got into major trouble.  I know Dad loved us, but Darin and Dale did their best this one time to try my dad's patience and long suffering.  They had skipped school one day.  I don't remember who's idea it was or why they skipped, but I just know that they did.  I think I was only like 10 years old, but I can still remember pretty vividly what occurred as a result of their mischief.  If I was only about 10, then Darin was like 14 or 15 and Dale would have been 16 or 17.  Apparently, they had an idea to go with a few friends that day and came up with the bright idea of stealing some stuff out of a house near ours.  Somehow, they got caught.  I don't know by whom or how, but they did and were brought home by the cops.  Someday, I'll have to ask Darin and Dale the actualities of why, how and what happened.  But, I just remember my dad getting home that night early from work just steaming and very upset.  The next thing I know, my dad says in a very stern voice, "Dennis and Don, go to your room."  He then pulls out a big board and shuts the curtains to the "huge" window.  For the next 20 minutes or so, all I hear is "whack, whack, whack."  That's right, Dale and Darin were getting the beating of their lives across their rear ends.  That was the one and only time I recall my dad "correcting" his children.  The sounds of "whack, whack, whack" still ring vividly in my memory even after all these years.  I'm pretty sure in our society today, "correcting" our children like this is pretty much not tolerated or accepted.  If only we could do the same. (haha)