4th of July- 2025

 

Some very cute critters for 4th of July this year.

Some great face painting at our church--thanks Arla!

We watched the fireworks at the Springfield Country Club 

from our church parking lot across the street.

They were great and we wondered why 

we have only gone to see them the last 2 years.

Thanks Prince of Peace Lutheran Church for hosting!

Spotting some red, white and blue

 for this season in the house.

Many of the these decorations

 I have had for over 30 years.

 

This early summer I found this copper bucket, 

added spindles for fillers and hand-sewn flags 

and stars that I purchased for $2 each. 

Love them all together.

Olde Glory and friends.

Vintage postcards have now met

 the 100 year old mark.

The carport refresh has a red, white 

and blue spruce up.

Didn't use to do much decorating for 4th of July

 in the early years.

Then son-in-law Daniel joined the family.

 He has a July birthday and is slightly obsessed 

with 4th of July things.

He has a special birthday this year 

and we will be hanging for a few days with our family. 

So, thought I would pull out all the stops 

and celebrate this fine young man.

 I give thanks for our God and country 

that we may at all times give Him glory.

Amen

Worship into the Week- Listen

 

Worship into the Week- 1 Kings 19:9b-21

The LORD Speaks to Elijah

A synopsis of this section shares the interaction 

between God and Elijah.

Elijah's encounter with God at Mount Horeb, 

where he experiences God's presence in a still,

 small voice after powerful interactions with nature.

God then tells Elijah to anoint a new king of Aram, 

who will serve as the new king of Israel.

God then commissions Elijah to anoint 

a new king of Aram, 

who will serve as the new king of ram.

These dreams also suggest that God 

desires Elisha as the prophetic successor of Elijah.

Elijah finds Elisha plowing and anoints him 

by casting his cloak over him, 

symbolizing his call to ministry.

We see in this section God's provision 

for His prophets, even in moments 

of discouragement and transition, 

and the call to discipleship and service.

God has a time of renewal for Elijah,

 with the commissioning of him with new tasks, 

and the calling of Elisha to succeed Elijah in ministry.

The story also helps us to see the importance 

of listening to God's

 voice and direction.

It is the best plan.

Supplies:

Visual Faith Ministry Printable

vcy-graphics-only-june-2025

Magazine cutouts

Distress Ink

Colored Pencils, 

Vintage Postage Stamps

Calendar Journaling- June 2025

 

Calendar Journaling- June 2025

Small squares with a big impact 

for remembering take-aways.

Telling the Story of God's 

Faithfulness in my life.

4 Colored pencils and a .05 Micron pen

with my devotional book-

Jesus Reigns in Me! by Sarah Hornsby

Looking for the light every day.

Worship into the Week- Chosen

 Worship into the Week- Isaiah 65: 1-9

Judgment and Final Salvation

The Lord was waiting for the nation

 to call on Him for help.

But, no one was looking.

The rebellious people followed their own

 evil paths and crooked schemes.

They worshipped idols in sacred gardens

and burned incense on pagan altars.

At night they worshipped the dead in graveyards.

They ate pigs and other forbidden foods.

 Yet, they thought themselves holier than others.

It was a sad scenario and God says

 He will not stand silent.

He vows to repay them in full for their sins.

Yet, there is mercy.

God declares that he won't destroy them all.

Good grapes are found with the bad ones.

So He will preserve a remnant of Israel,

and of Judah to possess the land.

He will choose who will live there and

inherit the land.

There is good news here for the faithful

 of God's long-suffering patience, 

despite the disobedience and evil actions.

There is also the foreshadowing of judgment on those

who continue evil ways and an offer of hope

 for the faithful remnant.

Supplies:

Visual Faith Printable

vcy-graphics-only-june-2025

Magazine cutouts

Watercolors

Colored Pencil

Distress inks

Jonah is Six!

 

Jonah is Six!

Long legs and wonderful smile!

A 

Brothers are willing helpers. 

But Jonah can read his own cards.

Papa Chuck can do fun things 

with Apps on his phone.

Time for learning some music.

Arranging up.

New books and colored pencils.

A book, stickers, a game and LEGOs.

That looks like fun.

Auntie Victoria aways has the greatest cards.

Time for a new scooter.

 They get hard wear.

Very fancy cupcakes for the birthday boy.

A hug for this sweet boy 

growing up too fast from his biggest brother.

Blessings to you as enter this new year!

We love you!

Worship into the Week- Wisdom Calls

 

Worship into the Week- 

Wisdom Calls

Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31

The invitation of wisdom opens this reading.

There is a call to travelers in the midst of life.

The later section shares wisdom 

as the eternal nature of the pre-incarnate Christ.

It is Trinitarian in scope.

The Son of God is begotten, 

who was at the creation of the world.

He is also eternal with God the Father. 

On Trinity Sunday we think about the Triune nature

 of God as both one and three.

Wisdom calls us to divine community (like the Trinity),

to delight with our Creator.

Giving thanks for this great invitation.

Supplies:

Visual Faith Graphic Printable

vcy-graphics-only-june-2025

Neocolor water-soluble wax pastels 

Magazine cutouts

Stamps and Ink

The Turning Point Suffragist Memorial

The Turning Point Suffragist Memorial

 is located in Occoquan Park in Lorton, Virginia.

 

The Suffragists Picketing the White House in 1917

It took 72 years to pass and ratify the 19^thAmendment 

and more than 100 years to fully honor the millions

 who fought for women to have a voice in their government. 

I became aware of the story of the Suffragists 

while working on a Graduate degree

 at Concordia University, Chicago in 2013.

I had never heard about the story.

I live about 5 miles from this Memorial 

and the story that took place at the Lorton Workhouse.

A tribute to Mary Church Terrell

National Association of Colored Women

Purple, Gold and White

The Colors of the Suffragist Movement

This is what the memorial site looks like in Lorton.

There are story boards that tell the story 

and I am including them here. 

You may be able to read the story

 if you can't get to Lorton, Virginia.