Advancing Toward Summer

We've had quite the busy time since Easter. 

But we are thankful we have the health to deal with it.

Phoebe's Easter outfit. She made this skirt by hand!

Amos and Lanaya's Easter picture. Always a cute couple!

They were having supper with friends and got an adorable picture with the friends' baby.

And Phillip and I flew to Orlando to be there for Jon's graduation from Advance. They are going fully online after this year, so there will possibly not be another in-person graduation ceremony.

It was a late flight because of weather in Atlanta. We were supposed to land in Orlando by midnight, but instead got there at 3 am. Absolutely no one was there to help with car rental, but we finally looked clueless and tired enough that a taxi rolled down his window and reluctantly said he'd drive us to our hotel 15 miles away. The carless situation worked out since either my parents or Jonathan were around to pick us up for whatever was needed.

Trying on cowboy hats at Boot Barn. 

Nana and Aupa with Jonathan at Kissimmee Christian Church Sunday morning. They drove many hours from Jennings, LA to be there and I was glad to see them.

And it's so sweet that the McFerrins and Gradys (faithful friends from Jacksonville) drove down to be there for the graduation too. 

Jonathan has been staying overnight at the Gradys in Georgia while driving to and from Florida, and he has spent his Thanksgivings at the McFerrins. 

Ann McFerrin caught this picture and sent it to us.

Jonathan was the Student of Distinction (because of grades, I think; that boy got the highest score they gave in every class the past two years!). 

So he got to address his class. We were all glad to get to hear him speak and he truly did an awesome job.

Jim Book, the founder of Advance Ministry Training.

Jonathan's class being goofy. They look like the dwarves from the original Snow White. 😆

Phillip and I flew home without incident. Then Jonathan left the next day to drive back home with all his stuff stuffed into his car. I always thank God profusely for safety once he's home. It's such a long way to drive!

Phoebe and I went to our church's Women's Banquet together. 

They always have such a good meal ~ and lots of good fellowship.

The next day Uncle Earl and Aunt Pat, Aunt Anita and Mimi and Papa came over for supper. Mimi made the main course (a delicious chicken casserole). And the others also brought delicious foods with them.

We always have such fun talking with all of them.

Phillip had to fly to San Antonio for a work trip the next day. While he was gone, the kids and I made a trip to St. Louis to visit the art museum and the zoo. If there is a climbable tree, Jon will climb it.

The boys and I spent the morning at the museum, had lunch with Phoebe at their cafe (where I spilt my soup!), and then went to the zoo for the afternoon.

Phoebe wanted to spend all day at the art museum, so she got her fill.

Phillip's flight back from San Antonio was detained so that he ended up spending the night in Chicago and flew home a day later than he was supposed to. Ah well. We're not sure if flying has changed since we were young, or if we're suddenly doing it wrong. There always seems to be some kind of troubles.

We are all home now and glad to be together. 

We have one week of school left! Jonathan is planning to supply preach at two churches in Jamestown, MO this summer. Harrison has at least three camps to attend this year. Jonathan is also recruiting him to do some of the children's sermons at the churches he'll be preaching at. Phoebe is going to have her graduation party in a couple of weeks (May 31st from 2-5 at the church ~ everyone invited!). And she'll be working, going to CIY and moving to Linn in August. We also want to visit the art museum in Chicago and go to a Shakespeare play in St. Louis. 

It's been wonderfully sunny! So I've been walking down the lanes for exercise, getting a little burnt and watching the tractors who are finally able to get into the fields.

I can't believe we get to see these skies every day.

The Brightest Darkest Day by Phillip Gore

It was the darkest day.

And when they had crucified Him, they divided up His garments among themselves by casting lots.

Matthew 27:35

And they crucified Him, and divided up His garments among themselves, casting lots for them to decide what each man should take.

Mark 15:24

When they came to the place called The Skull, there they crucified Him and the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left.

Luke 23:33

There they crucified Him, and with Him two other men, one on either side, and Jesus in between.

John 19:18

They crucified Him. 

They crucified Him. 

They crucified Him. 

They crucified Him. 

It was the darkest day.

Each of the Gospel writers simply state that "they crucified him.” In the first century, crucifixion was so commonplace that descriptions were not necessary—everyone knew the horrors of death by crucifixion. Thank God, in our century we have no experiential knowledge of crucifixion.

1. There were several types of crosses used: X, T, Stake and the traditional style that we see in most paintings and movies. Jesus’ cross was most likely this last style as there was room above his head for a sign.
2. Jesus’ “hands” were nailed to the crossbeam with 5-7 inch-long metal spikes. It is possible that he was also tied to prevent the nails from ripping through the hand. It is possible that the language could include the wrist area, which would not rip. If it was through the wrist area, the median nerve would be severed causing severe pain through the arms and shoulders.
3. It has been suggested that a spike driven at the appropriate angle in the right area of the hand would not rip out.
4. The cross would be lifted into the air and slipped into a hole deep enough to keep it and its victim upright for the duration. The jarring of this action, would have potentially jolted Jesus’ shoulders out of joint.
5. Once in place the feet would be nailed to the cross as well. There are a number of ways this could have been done and probably was done at different times in history. Through the side of each foot and into the crossbeam. One nail through both feet and into a little platform as is often portrayed. Or each foot nailed individually right into the front of the upright section of the cross.
6. The wounds Jesus had already experienced would be exposed to the rough-hewn cross increasing his agony.
7. It is commonly believed that suffocation was the ultimate cause of death. The position you are in supposedly makes it very difficult to breath (particularly exhale) because you have to push yourself up to do so. However, this is based on WWII prisoners who were strung up by their hands which is a different position. 
8. More recent evidence suggests that people hung as you would have been on a cross may have trouble breathing but would not die of asphyxiation. They would however die of shock.
9. It's no wonder that the word "excruciating" literally means “out of the cross.”

All of that is poured into those three little words, “They crucified Him.” It was the darkest day. 

And we have said nothing of:

1. The Betrayal of Judas, the Denials of Peter or the Abandonment of the Apostles.
2. Being shuffled back and forth between Annus, Caiaphas, the Sanhedrin, Pilate and Herod Antipas.
3. Trial after trial. One kangaroo court as unjust as the next.
4. Being mocked, beaten with fists, beard pulled out, crowned with thorns, the horrors of the Roman lash.
5. Being Condemned by the crowds and forced to carry a cross.

It was the darkest day. The sky would go black, the Father would turn from the Son, causing Jesus to cry out: 

with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”

Matthew 27:46b

It was the darkest day. But why? What was out there in the darkness? The answer is sad but simple. Sin. Our sin. The unfathomable overwhelming multitude of our sin.

1. We betrayed, denied and abandoned him.
2. We mocked, beat and lashed him.
3. We condemned him and nailed him to a cross.
4. We crucified him.

It’s good to stare into that abyss. Only when we understand the depths to which we have sunk, can we begin to comprehend the glorious heights of God’s grace. As the Apostle Paul writes:

He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

2 Corinthians 5:21

We have no experiential knowledge of crucifixion. We adorn our churches with crosses carved from fine woods or fashioned with stained glass. We wear them in gold and silver around our necks. What was once a symbol of unrelenting condemnation and judgement was transformed by the death of Jesus into a symbol of love, grace and forgiveness. Just as His death transforms us from condemned sinners into forgiven saints. 

A trade only God could make. Our sin for His righteousness.

When Jewelers show diamonds, they always place them against the darkest background they have - usually black velvet. They do this for a reason. A black background does not reflect light, so all of the light reflecting back to the eye will be coming from the shimmering jewel. The bleak, black background highlights and draws attention to the diamond in the center.

Against the brutal backdrop of the crucifixion our Lord shines brighter than any diamond. His loving kindness and grace pierced the darkness of the day and pierces the darkness of our souls. From the cross:

1. Jesus prayed “Father, forgive them.” He prays the same for us, lost in our sin.
2. Jesus promised “You will be with me in paradise.” He promises the same to us, in spite of our sin.
3. Jesus proclaimed “It is finished.” He proclaims the same for us, in regard to our sin.

His prayer, His promise and His proclamation all fulfilled because he paid the price for our sins, offering us salvation from the eternal, righteous, judgment of God.

It was the darkest day. 

It was the brightest darkest day. 

It was Good Friday.

(preached by Phillip at the Community Good Friday Service.)

Phoebe Turns 19

 

We had such a lovely warm day for Phoebe's birthday.

I sent this picture of Phoebe and the cake platter to the neighbor who was there to help with her home birth. We had planned a home birth, but Phoebe came so quickly that the midwives were not going to arrive in time. So the neighbor lady, Dawn, came over to help. She and her husband went to Disney later that year and bought Phoebe a pretty ceramic Micky Mouse platter that has seen lots of use.

We had a simple chocolate cake after lunch with Mimi and Papa. 

And then Phoebe had her friends over for a picnic in the back yard that evening. That's why we were so thankful for the beautiful warm day! 

She wanted white cake with white frosting, a vanilla custard filling and blueberries. 

A windy picnic on the freshly mowed lawn 

(first lawn mowing of the year by Harrison!).

We had juices and fruit and mint leaves and Ginger Ale so the girls could make fruity drinks.

And Silas kept Harrison company. 

Phillip and Papa looking dapper.

It's been too wet to get in the fields. This purple flower called henbit grows in the uncultivated fields and gives off a beautiful purple sheen.

Up close it doesn't look like it'd make such a stark purple color, but if you get enough of it together, I guess it sure does.

Look at that sky. 

We got a new oven last week. I was so sad to lose the vintage oven that has been in this house since the '70s. But it broke, and upon examination, it was not safe. Parts would have been too expensive, etc. But this new oven works wonderfully, even if it's not vintage. We got it just in time to bake Phoebe's birthday cakes.

We are coming to the end of the school year. Phoebe's finishing up books; her senior year will soon be over. We're working on her graduation next. 

Harrison is getting his driver's permit soon, so he'll be studying for that. 

Jonathan graduates from Advance, and Phillip and I get to go for that weekend (along with my parents and some friends from Jacksonville). 

Lanaya Elizabeth has lots of knitting patterns and projects in the works. I get a glance at those every once in a while. Plus I'm making her headscarf pattern right now, so I get to look at her pretty modeling picture when I follow the instructions. :-)

Phillip is gaining strength by working on house projects. He's amazed at the difference of what his body can or cannot do after 5-6 months of being down. He's pretty much able to eat whatever he wants without inner troubles. He's been at work about 5 weeks now, and that's all going very well. Could we really be on the other side of this whole thing? 

Sewing Projects and Celebrations

 

How happy sunshine makes the world!

We had some snow and rain this week, but a warm front has melted it all, and I don't expect we'll get any more snow this year. Yay for Spring!

I took the kids to Fulton to visit the Churchill Museum a couple of weeks ago. It was a cold but neat little trip. There are several paintings that Churchill painted in a little gallery there. There's a piece of the Berlin Wall set up on the grounds (Harrison didn't like that they cut figures out of it.... to make it more of a sculpture, I guess). The museum is on the campus of Westminster College. The president of that college really wanted Winston Churchill to visit his campus and make a speech. The president had a friend in the White House who got a letter in front of President Truman asking Churchill to come visit. Truman added a postscript to the letter saying he hoped Churchill could come, and if he did, he'd introduce him. 

Well, from that humble invitation (Westminster College in Fulton is by no means a huge institution), Winston Churchill visited Missouri and gave his famous "Iron Curtain" speech. Years later, Ronald Reagan visited that campus and also gave a speech dedicating the Berlin Wall sculpture, and Phillip and his mom were in the crowd to listen! 

Another neat feature at the museum is St. Mary's Church that was shipped over from London in 1965. It was built somewhere in the 1200's. It was burned twice: once in the Great Fire of London and once when the Germans bombed it during WWII. They are currently restoring it, so it's off limits, but the docent offered to take us in there as long as we wouldn't be in the way of anyone working. 

I wish I could have spent a whole lot more time in there! But I didn't want to take up too much of the docent's time. He didn't offer much in the way of a tour, but he answered in detail every question I asked, which made me think he had a whole lot more to share if I could just keep asking questions. Shakespeare had been to that church several times. Unfortunately, nothing but a stone staircase remain from the time he would have been inside the church. So while it would be neat to say that we were inside a church that Shakespeare was also within..... I really can't say that. (Although that sets one to thinking ~ does a building embody the same building even if just about every physical part of it has been replaced and that building has also moved locations?) Perhaps I can say that we were nearby a stone staircase which Shakespeare was also nearby. I will definitely go back and get a full tour of that church one day. Maybe go for some kind of service where I can hear them play the massive organ.

Phoebe and I are in nursery together one Sunday a month. Love these little ones!

Paul celebrated his 88th birthday. We went over for lunch and cake. 

Paul is a generous, hardworking man. I admire him greatly. He picks up Harrison anytime we call so H can ride his bike around town. Harrison will be learning how to drive this year! That's unbelievable. But for now, bike riding is his only solo transportation. 

Phoebe and I worked on the last piece of the quilt this past month ~ the binding. She machine sewed it onto the front side, and we hand-stitched it onto the back. I love the hand-stitching part of quilting. It's so satisfying.

Completed! 

She said she's gonna break it in so it's ready for her baby one day. I really enjoyed all of this project!

Harrison is doing Biology for science this year. He will be dissecting four different things over the next term. Right here he's dissecting a sheep brain. I have to say..... it's pretty cool. Last term they had him do a blood kit to find his blood type. Again, how cool is that? He and I have the same blood type.

  Home Science Tools has just about everything you need for homeschool science, and the prices seem reasonable. 

Lanaya Elizabeth sent me a picture of her trying to entertain a baby to keep her from crawling up the stairs at church. She's also been helping in nursery at her church. 

Jonathan went with a friend to visit an Arboretum there in Florida. 

Those sunny pictures..... So jealous. Not that I want that hot weather all the time. He gets jealous of our snow pictures, so.... it just goes to show that you just have to be happy with what you're given. 

Jonathan interviewed at the same church in Boise that Liz and Amos are at. And he found out this week that he was accepted into their year-long residency program. Hurrah! So it looks like he'll be heading to Boise toward the end of August. 

Most of our current cats. 

I believe we have seven right now. Unless we lost some in the cold a few weeks ago, and I just don't realize it yet.

This cat is the craziest looking thing. We call him Rochester and he's so fluffy! He looks like a scraggly pirate. 

And Phillip is back at work this week. His first day back was Friday, and he really got through the day quite well. It's been 5 1/2 months since the beginning of all this pancreatic stuff. He took a turn for the better in February. He had those stents removed in January, and then had a pretty bad week of pains and sleeping and not eating much. And after that week, he just started doing better and better. He now can eat just about anything without it bothering him. He is feeling stronger and has more energy. He lost about 65 pounds and a lot of muscle mass. That will take some time to get back. But we seem to be at the other end of the tunnel, and for that, we thank God!