It is an exciting time of year.   Soon blossoms will invade the midwest and color will once again prevail in yards, gardens and parks.  One of my favorite late spring flowers is the Columbine.  There are wild versions that grow in woodlands throughout this region as well as many varieties that are more domesticated.  They are hearty and seem to come up easily once planted in the right places, yet their blooms are delicate and tender.

I liken these colorful flowers to people who are creative, crafty and artsy!  These plants come up in groups and together display an amazing "concert" of pastel pinks, purples, and blues.  Their backdrop is often a leafy floor surrounded by semi-shaded ferns or mossy rocks, but their performance is unique and perfect, making them a hit in every garden and a joy to behold.  Sensitive and subtle, they come to life when the sun's spotlight hits them!  They gain my sincere lauds and applauds each year bringing a reason for a smile to even the most stressful days.

My uncle Lindell, my mom's sister's husband When I first had a web site several years ago - before experiments, technology problems, and lightening strikes - I had posted a "hall of fame" page and penned some thoughts about a few very special people in my life.  Unfortunately I lost many of those pages and so have begun to re-incorporate the pictures and thoughts again here.

One of the dear people who had quite an impact on my life was my uncle Lindell.  This precious man is a pastor and for years has quietly ministered life and the love of Jesus in a little country church outside of Fredericktown, Missouri.

I was brought up in church and spent a lot of time there.  I learned much about the Bible, but more importantly I began to learn about a relationship with God.  I have discovered that many individuals grow up knowing "about" God, but fewer come to truly know God!  

Uncle Lindell seemed to always know God.  I could sense by his actions and kindness, in those days-and now, that he did.  I suppose that is what drew me to "corner" him on most any given Sunday afternoon when the family was together and quiz him endlessly about the truths of my heavenly Father!  It was through these question and answer sessions that my faith blossomed and became all the more rich!  His taking time to confirm my desires for truth and and understanding of the character of God grounded me all the more and became a part of my faith heritage.

Thank you, uncle Lindell...for those hours of sharing and caring.  Your example has brought me to a richer relationship with the God who first so loved me.  In my heart's hall of fame your portrait will ever stand!

This outstanding stained glass window is inside the Presbyterian Church in Potosi Missouri.  It depicts Jesus in the garden just before He was about to make the walk to the cross (Via Delarosa) that would ultimately pay for yours and my sins.

Not just a story...a reality! 

It lives today and continues to offer us eternal promises for any who will simply accept. 

The offer ends at death - or when Jesus returns as promised.  

We do not know the appointed time for either our death or when He will finally come again.  

Don't wait to embrace this amazing grace. Ask Him to forgive you and accept the great gift of salvation. Jesus paid a great price for each of us...and will indeed return.  

It could be today.

"Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.  I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statures, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances."  Ezekiel 36: 26, 27

If you would like a new start - and a new heart, simply ask God.  His Son, Jesus bought you freedom when He came from heaven, lived and died, taking our sin to a cruel cross.  He died there, carrying the weight of the sin of humanity from beginning to end.  It is ours for the asking - complete with the assurance of eternal promise.  He asks for no monetary payment, but desires our love and faithfulness in obedience.  

The invitation is standing:  Walk out of darkness into His marvelous light.  Leave the old and put on the new!  Allow the spring-time of His presence to flood your heart.  Don't wait another season or another day.  Embrace new life.

"Come, Thou Fount of every blessing, tune my heart to sing Thy grace;

Streams of mercy, never ceasing, call for songs of loudest praise.

Teach me some melodious sonnet, sung by flaming tongues above;

Praise his name, I'm fixed upon it, name of God's redeeming love."

Traditional American melody from John Wyeth's Repository of Sacred Music, 1813

Text by Robert Robinson, adapted by Maragret Clarkson

Bollinger County.  Much of mine and my husband's heritage comes from this rule Missouri area.  Remnants of early settlements, mills, iron bridges, fishing holes, fields littered with arrowheads and flint pieces, skeletons of barns and out buildings now abandoned and used to store left-over farming equipment and plows, foundations, spring houses, cemeteries, daffodils and oak trees.  It is a visual history book with lots of told - and untold stories.  I love discovering answers to mysteries of the past - especially if it relates to my own family!  

I am all the more excited about the heritage we have as Christians.  Each of us have physical roots that meander all the way back to creation!  But the best part of that "mystery" has been recorded and revealed to us through the written word - inspired and guarded for centuries, yet available this day for all who will read the powerful promises and truths cradled inside!  It is a book of hidden treasure, where-in we find a deed passed on to us of the assurance of our eternal home!  In these marvelous words lie the true story of the ages that when received is far better than discovering a vault of priceless silver and gold!  

This heritage is for real - and for-ever - and it is for US who will simply accept it!

"Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past, but now is manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according  to the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, leading to obedience of faith..."  Romans 16:25, 26

This photo was taken in Caledonia, Missouri at a quaint and delightful old country store.  It is truly like walking back into time!  How it takes you to a simpler and different time.  I can't help but miss so many things about that memory of an era when life seemed slower and somehow more innocent. Maybe it was good that man had not yet come up with newer technology and was still in wonder about many things that have since been discovered and re-discovered?  I "dunno".  But I DO know how fun it is to visit this warm reminder of a time gone by.  If you ever want a nice day trip.....head south on highway 21 til you get to Caledonia, about 30 minutes south of Potosi.  You will pass through rolling fields and farms before you enter a tiny town complete with a church, country store, and a couple of little places to grab lunch - all within one short stretch of a country mile.  Take a drive - and a walk back to simple times!