Author Archives: Ellen

The Resurrection and the Life ~ Hymn

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The Resurrection And The Life

I Am, saith Christ our glorious head,
(May we attention give)
The resurrection of the dead,
The life of all that live.

By faith in me, the soul receives
New life, though dead before;
And he that in my name believes,
Shall live, to die no more.

The sinner, sleeping in his grave,
Shall at my voice awake;
And when I once begin to save,
My work I ne’er forsake.

Fulfill thy promise, gracious Lord,
On us assembled here,
Put forth thy Spirit with the word,
And cause the dead to hear.

Preserve the pow’r of faith alive,
In those who love thy name;
For sin and Satan daily strive
To quench the sacred flame.

Thy pow’r and mercy first prevailed
From death to set us free;
And often since our life had failed,
If not renewed by thee.

To thee we look, to thee we bow;
To thee, for help, we call;
Our life and resurrection thou,
Our hope, our joy, our all.

John Newton
ht: Olney Hymns

John 11:25-26 (ESV)25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

Boxed In…

It’s called Simple Box but there is nothing simple about loading a box container. There are sections of the box designated for medium, heavy, light and very light weight. The boxes will be lifted at a tilt to load and unload off a truck so the weight and the tie downs are crucial for a successful journey and delivery.

We weighed every box and item that went into this moving container. In the middle shot Andrew is weighing the box spring that would be the last item put in the container in the very light section.

Monday was our only forecast this week of a full sunny day so we called all hands on deck and worked from morning to night to get all 6100 pounds in and secured.

We all had very sore muscles and tired legs and arms but were thankful for a job completed well and with love remaining amongst the workers! We couldn’t have done it without our helpers. Tuesday was a light day of work for me as my body needed recovery time. Friday is staging day here. It will be interesting to see the results of that.

Hope all is well with all of you.

Tea and Tulips

We had a great escape on Saturday running away from the storms and catching some blue skies. There was lots of wind that whipped our hair around. I’ll fill in the blanks about our tea and tulip time gradually this week. Lots to do around here and my brain is too tired for too many words. The men folk got a lot accomplished while we played. God bless them. Tomorrow is another big day in the packing world. Hope all of you are doing well.

Before the Throne of God Above ~ Hymn

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Before the Throne of God Above

Before the throne of God above
I have a strong, a perfect plea
A great high Priest whose Name is Love
Who ever lives and pleads for me
My name is graven on His hands
My name is written on His heart
I know that while in heaven He stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart
No tongue can bid me thence depart

When Satan tempts me to despair
And tells me of the guilt within
Upward I look and see Him there
Who made an end to all my sin
Because the sinless Savior died
My sinful soul is counted free
For God the just is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me
To look on Him and pardon me

Behold Him there the risen Lamb
My perfect spotless righteousness
The great unchangeable I am
The King of glory and of grace
One with Himself I cannot die
My soul is purchased by His blood
My life is hid with Christ on high
With Christ my Savior and my God!
With Christ my Savior and my God!

One with Himself I cannot die
My soul is purchased by His blood
My life is hid with Christ on high
With Christ my Savior and my God!
With Christ my Savior and my God!’

Words: Charitie Lees Smith (1841–1923)

Before and After…

So now all of our appliances in our kitchen are matchy matchy. Our real estate agent was happy.

We had our first container dropped off to fill and wouldn’t you know we are now going to have a weather event on Saturday so we will have to delay filling it. Lots of rain and wind is in the forecast for Saturday. The containers are water tight but if the doors are open while there is a lot of moisture, that moisture will get trapped inside. Oye. We’ve been selling items we can’t use anymore on Offer Up and have had some good results. I’m happy to put a little cash in my pocket instead of just dropping everything off at Goodwill. We’ve been working from morning to night packing and I am having little free time to blog or visit blogs.

Tomorrow while the guys work hard my daughter, DIL and sister are heading north for tea at a Camomile Farm. Looking forward to getting away from boxes for a few hours.

How is Spring shaping up in your corner of the world?

One for the Books!

A couple weeks before Addy’s first birthday party we had a little photo shoot. Turns out it was a good idea since Addy was busy with her guests, presents and cake on her party day.

We had a nice sunshiny day for our photos.

This is Addy’s Great Uncle Scott’s chair from when he was a little guy.

Fast forward to the party day and of course our little 1 year old must have sensed the excitement of the day and refused to take a nap on her own so we had to work out some sleep time creatively.

The guests arrived and kept Addy entertained.

She opened her presents with flair.

She enjoyed the Happy Birthday song and mooshed her cupcake covered with yogurt frosting.

Oops, a fair amount was rubbed into her hair. I didn’t take photos of the Baked Potato bar which had many yummy toppings. We were asked to bring a t-shirt or something like it to tie-dye for a party favor. I didn’t take photos of the tie dying, either, but the results were great and something fun to remember Addy’s 1st birthday with.

Meanwhile back at this old house we continue with the selling, packing and staging. Our first shipping container arrives on Thursday. Yikes! We’re finding some things that are bringing back some great memories. If you don’t hear anything new from me you will know I’m knee deep in boxes.

Easter Monday Update

Saturday was a multitasking day at this old house. The girls prepared Russian Easter Bread, our sweet cheese spread, packed boxes, took photos and paintings off the walls. Dear gathered up items we wanted to sell and Josh took over my phone and managed the photos and listings for us and responded to the inquiries and we sold several items, cha ching! We were exhausted at the end of the day but were satisfied with the successful results of working together.

On Easter morning we were texted this collage of Addy’s first experience with bubbles.

We celebrated our risen savior at the 8 am service and it was glorious!

Our peeps gathered at 11:00 am for our Easter meal together. Yummy.

Our phones alerted us to a text coming in and we saw our little Easter bunny from across the mountains who was zonked out after attending Easter service with her parents.

We missed these three at our celebration but are always happy to get photos via text!

Hope you all had a joyful Easter weekend.

Christ is Risen ~ Happy Easter 2018

Christ Is Risen!

Truly He is Risen!

Khristos voskrese!    Voistinu voskrese!

Blessings to all on this Glorious Easter Day!

One of my favorite Easter hymns growing up was Low in the Grave He lay. You just have to hear it sung in a church full of Russian Baptists! (In Russian of course) This song is sung with emotion and joy that can’t be missed.

Low in the Grave He Lay

Low in the grave He lay, Jesus my Savior,
Waiting the coming day, Jesus my Lord!

Refrain

Up from the grave He arose,
With a mighty triumph o’er His foes,
He arose a Victor from the dark domain,
And He lives forever, with His saints to reign.
He arose! He arose!
Hallelujah! Christ arose!

Vainly they watch His bed, Jesus my Savior;
Vainly they seal the dead, Jesus my Lord!

Refrain

Death cannot keep its Prey, Jesus my Savior;
He tore the bars away, Jesus my Lord!

Up from the grave He arose,
With a mighty triumph o’er His foes,
He arose a Victor from the dark domain,
And He lives forever, with His saints to reign.
He arose! He arose!
Hallelujah! Christ arose!

Words & Music:  Ro­bert Low­ry, 1874.

We are going to an early Easter service celebrating the resurrection of Jesus and then having an early Easter lunch here at this old house. The last Easter supper here. 🙂

Happy Easter everyone!

That Man of Calvary

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Fairest of all the earth beside,
Chiefest of all unto Thy bride,
Fullness divine in Thee I see,
Beautiful Man of Calvary!

Refrain

That Man of Calvary
Has won my heart from me,
And died to set me free,
Blest Man of Calvary!

Granting the sinner life and peace,
Granting the captive sweet release,
Shedding His blood to make us free,
Merciful Man of Calvary!

Refrain

Giving the gifts obtained for men,
Pouring out love beyond our ken,
Giving us spotless purity,
Bountiful Man of Calvary!

Refrain

Comfort of all my earthly way,
Jesus I’ll meet Thee some sweet day;
Center of glory Thee I’ll see,
Wonderful Man of Calvary!

Refrain

Words: Mannie P. Ferguson, 1904

Good Friday, the only way to the Resurrection and our gift of forgiveness and peace with God! Praying you all have that peace today…

Click over to the Mennonite Girls Can Cook blog for more reflections on Good Friday.

Maundy Thursday 2018

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Excerpts from John chapter 13…

It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.

Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God;  so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist.  After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them.  “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am.  Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.  I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”