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The house on Dukes Street was a busy house. All three of our children were born when we lived there, Richard in 1958 (on Marty�s 26th Birthday), Ronald in 1959, and Audrey (later renamed Mickelina after me) in 1961. In January 1959 we took in the first of our 24 foster children. We tried to adopt our very first foster child, Joey, but the State of New Jersey would not let us. They said we were a young couple with our own children and could have more. The couple they gave Joey to were older with no children. We also tried to adopt a Korean orphan we were supporting through the World Vision Mission. But again we were told no. The Korean government thought at 10 years old Lee was too old to adjust to a new country. So we thought adoption was not an option as far as we were concerned. Marty and I decided we would just care for the foster children as needed. In 1963 we moved into a newly built house at 26 John Street, Kearny. As the children grew up, the foster children came and went. Marty and I again got active in church, teaching Sunday school etc. I also held many offices in the PTA (Parent Teacher Association) in grammar and high schools. Our vacations were now �camping trips�. We started out with a 9 feet by 12 feet tent and later added a tent trailer. The boys slept in the tent and the girls in the tent trailer. We went to our church camp in Spofford Lake, New Hampshire, for many years. Each one of my children worked on the staff when they were 16 years old. The children did very well in school and were active in many activities in school and church. When our last foster child left in September 1974, I asked that we not be given any more children. My children were now all teenagers and I thought it was about time they each had their own room. Through the years I worked here and there. So I earned my "40 quarters" from Social Security. Marty worked in the Post Office for 31 years. By the time he retired, we were ready for the next chapter in our life together.
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