Christ is Risen!

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 

which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again

 unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."

{1 Peter 1:3}

"Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth,
which was crucified:
He is risen; He is not here:
behold the place where they laid him."
{Mark 16:6}

"Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith;
 who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross,
despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."

{Hebrews 12:2}

Visiting the Steamboat Arabia Museum

One of the paddlewheels of the Arabia

The steamboat Arabia was built in 1853, and sailed down the Missouri river loaded with 220 tons of household goods. It would sell its goods to trade posts along the route north. However, along its river route it hit a tree trunk and sank within minutes.

Several years ago, five men tracked the location of its burial and uncovered its treasures through months of very hard work. They have recovered the items that sank on the Arabia and restored them for display - in a fantastic museum that we enjoyed touring a few weeks ago.

The owners and excavators are frequently at the museum and we enjoyed meeting Mr. David Hawley

The restoration lab is still in daily use as the team continues to restore recovered items 

There were not many highly valuable goods on the Arabia; pictured is the jewelry

This "store" was overflowing with household and kitchen wares that were on the Arabia;
we felt like we were walking back in time to a pioneer trade post

Snapshots from our Winter Vacation

Our family normally takes a family trip each winter while our dairy animals are dry. However, this year we decided to take some educational and fun day trips to local museums. We visited the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential museum in Abilene, Kansas, which was very educational.

Gifts from the Eisenhower estate

Rachael really wanted to give a speech from this bullet-proof podium...but no one would listen!

In front of Eisenhower's boyhood home

We also enjoyed an afternoon of ice skating together

The National World War I Museum

A super-jumbo-sized pizza with 49 slices....

Since we all had been exercising "heavily," the pizza quickly disappeared!

Ice cream treats

"Glory ye in his holy name:
let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD. Seek the LORD, and his strength: seek his face evermore."
{Psalm 105:3-4}

Road Adventures

We are becoming well acquainted with our wonderful country non-maintained roads out here in Holton! Last week we were very grateful for God's protection when our truck slid off a culvert, one tire off the edge.

All that was needed for the rescue was Dad and a good strong ratchet strap!

Actually, a road grader was more in order and did the trick of the operational rescue. We are very thankful the passengers were safe, and no harm was done to our truck!