ARLA HOCK FORD

Profile Updated: August 30, 2020
ARLA HOCK
ARLA HOCK

Now

ARLA HOCK

Yearbook

Yes! Attending Reunion
Residing In: North Bend, OR USA
Spouse/Partner: Craig Ford, IHS 1969
Homepage: craigandarla.com
Occupation: Christian counselor,
Children: Ryan, 1977, married 2003, daughter Feb 2010, second dtr April 2012, lives near Orlando. He flies Jumbo More…jet for Alaska Air. He gets mistaken for Noah Wylie in airports. Ryan was strong willed child to raise, thought we would pull our hairs out...oops, looks like Craig did!
Darren, born 1980, married 2006, first grandson, Easton, born June 2009. He got full custody and they live with us joyfully. His dtr, Ava, born 2016, now 3. Funny, hilarious, gifted guy, hard worker, generous to a fault, tons of friends, crazy about his kids. Great dad, construction contractor.
Ruthie, born 1987, when I was 35, and boys were 10 and 7. She worked as massage therapist at uppy guppy golf resort, Bandon Dunes, on Oregon coast. Married 2011 to long time BF. Fresh baby girl, Sia (one who brings hope), born April 2019. She is most wonderful daughter, brings her Dobermans over for long walks with her momma. Coolest friend I could ever have, down to earth, funny, boundaried, clear-thinker, no drama, artistic.
I have loved being a mother to these young people.
What have you been up to since graduation?

Craig and I have been married 49 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 are over...until grandkids?
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 14 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. 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!

School memories?

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 "late 60'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. 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 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.

If you could live anywhere, where would it be?

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.

What is the greatest thing you've done? Getting married & having children can not be your answer!

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 ring side 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.

ARLA's Latest Interactions

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ARLA HOCK FORD posted a message.
Aug 16, 2022 at 5:05 PM

Mike! Lovely to have this friendly reminder on my email that you get to join the land of the 70 year olds! Welcome, friend! It is sort of a kick in the pants to be so old is it not? This is first decade that has carried some emotional charge for me! I have loved each new decade opportunities and awareness an milestones, but 7-0? Yikes...Freaking YIKES! All to say. happy birthday! You were a valued friend during my HS years. I still think of you with fondness and respect and care! Hope you are well and enjoying the season!

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Jun 08, 2022 at 10:19 AM
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Apr 12, 2022 at 2:14 PM
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Feb 14, 2021 at 4:08 PM

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Aug 30, 2020 at 9:11 PM

Posted on: Aug 30, 2020 at 3:03 PM

I don't know if this is forum for ideas or suggestions, but since our reunion got cancelled and we were really planning our Iowa vacation around this, I am wishing there was a way to have each of us be encouraged to write down some things they would have shared at the reunion. After attending Craig's (Ford IHS 1969)reunion last summer, I was really looking forward to hearing how my classmates were enjoying their late 60's! The main shocking thing we learned was that almost everyone was retired and pretty darn happy about it, while we are working full-time and loving it and can't imagine retiring! We are blessed with 6 grandkids under 11yo, 2 granddaughters live in FL and we are not allowed to see for 8 years for (we are guessing) power/control/fear reasons, 11yo only grandson lives with his dad with us, and 3 little girls, aged 3.5, 1.5 and six months. We have nothing like the perfect family we had envisioned, but we dearly treasure the parenting journey and precious relationships we do have. I would love it if you post to the group or to my page, answering all the questions I would have likely asked if I got to spend a few minutes with you. I have many good memories of many meaningful relationships I had at Indianola. I would love to know how your lives unfolded, good, bad, and ugly. God bless. Hugs, Air hugs! Arla

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Apr 04, 2020 at 11:45 PM
ARLA HOCK FORD posted a message.
Apr 04, 2020 at 11:34 PM

Love that this site reminds us of birthdays! So I now have chance to wish you a wonderful blessed day commemorating your arrival on this earth. Great day! Its pretty wild to think that all of our classmates are so old now isn't it? We got to go to Craig's 50th last year and enjoyed seeing many and hated finding out the we missed seeing some. We have strongly considered coming back for 1970 reunion too? are you? Would love to see you and hear how your life has unfolded. I have fond memories of getting to know you better via the Porters and being slightly jealous of your longstanding friendships and comfortable connection. blessings, Arla

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Feb 23, 2020 at 8:30 PM
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Dec 01, 2019 at 9:32 PM
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Jun 02, 2019 at 11:27 PM
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Jun 02, 2019 at 11:26 PM
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Jun 02, 2019 at 11:10 PM
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Jun 02, 2019 at 10:54 PM
ARLA HOCK FORD posted a message.
Jun 07, 2018 at 3:59 PM

Well, jeepers, I am supposed to pay attention and use my recaller to remember your birthday... but that was not in the cards or clouds for you yesterday... but today it is!!!
so happy birthday, only one day late, which might be my best showing ever?!! I love you friend, You have been an amazing blessing of encouragement and kind acceptance for only about 50 years!!! You and Murray were especially instrumental in my coming to know Jesus as my Lord and Savior 36 years ago! Thank you Thank you Thank you! whew! Saved by His love and your prayer and care! Hope to see you again soon. tight tight hugs, Arla

ARLA HOCK FORD posted a message.
Jun 01, 2018 at 8:37 PM

Sue! Happy Birthday...I hope you get to do something totally fun that blesses you! You are such a dear steady friend. I was thankful for you 50 years ago when I moved to Indianola and I am thankful for you now. My granddaughter, Ava, 18 months, loves your family picture hanging on my refrigerator. You guys done good! precious.
Much love for another great year. Hope to see you at 50th reunion. We might try to make it back next year for Craig's 50th. I will look you up then.

ARLA HOCK FORD posted a message on MARY LAVIN's Profile. New comment added.
May 06, 2018 at 4:29 PM

Posted on: May 05, 2018 at 10:49 AM

Mary, I love that this site reminds me of your birthday! So please enjoy turning 66?! You did such a good job writing your summary of IHS memories...you brought back memories for me too! Guess we were the newbies in our junior year. We survived! and so glad you survived that brutal car accident! Happy retirement-doubt we will ever retire. Hope to come back for the reunion in 2020...and hope to see you there/then!

ARLA HOCK FORD added a comment on Profile.
Apr 12, 2018 at 2:17 PM
ARLA HOCK FORD posted a message.
May 25, 2017 at 9:15 AM

Sue! happy Birthday! Bet your folks were over the moon to get a little girl baby after those two big brothers! And what a blessing you were to them! You made them proud! I hope we can get together this summer! Craig and i are coming back with 2 of our adult kids and 8 yo grandson June 15th. We re bringing my mom's ashes (is this too gruesome for a birthday greeting? smile) back to honor her wishes and share celebration of her life with my brother and his family. I would dearly love to get together with you. We will see Deb Ford and others.
541-404-8203 Hate to tell you this, but you need to update your profile here, cuz your family
has contributed more members to the planet! love and hugs, Arla

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Apr 05, 2017 at 4:21 PM
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Sep 21, 2015 at 12:41 AM
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Posted: Dec 17, 2013 at 12:06 AM
In Florida visiting granddaughters, 3 and 7 mos.
Posted: Dec 17, 2013 at 12:06 AM
Our daughter, Ruthie, with husband, Jeremy, after her successful buck hunt.