Lake Alexander

Over the last few days we have watched our lake slowly emerge from up under the ice. . .


We waited to see if we could hear the "groaning" that many say happens when the ice begins to move and crack, but alas, nothing.


We were also told that sometimes the ice will sink right before your eyes, and so we all watched carefully to see if we could catch that phenomenon~


We missed it!

We woke to a surprise this morning~the ice was gone!


Did we really spend months walking and ice-skating on this lake? I laugh at how quickly it seems impossible to believe we really did that.

With the soaring temperatures of 75 degrees it has been a marvelous day of playing outside. I even have a few brave children that donned swimsuits and waded in the water. I shook my head and laughed at how earnestly we are ready to embrace Spring!

Papa Johnston

Dad and Mom visiting us on Camano Island, WA 2002

Arthur P. Johnston
(August 3, 1922 - February 25, 2009)

Arthur P. Johnston, Ph.D., age 86, a resident of Windsor Park Manor in Carol Stream, died Wednesday, February 25, at Windsor's Johnson Health Care Center in Carol Stream. He was born August 3, 1922 in St. Paul, MN.

Art's career was entirely devoted to evangelism while planting churches and founding an association of churches as a missionary in France, President of St. Paul Bible College in Minnesota (currently Crown College), Professor at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, IL, and Founder and President of Tyndale Theological Seminary in the Netherlands. Art was an ordained minister in the Christian and Missionary Alliance. He also served on the board of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, was actively involved in his local churches which included the Wheaton Evangelical Free Church, College Church in Wheaton, Simpson Memorial Church and North Suburban Evangelical Free Church. He was also the President of the Wheaton College Alumni Association.

He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Muriel; his children, Beverly Elna (Marc-Olivier) Demaurex of Lausanne, Switzerland, Stephen Arthur (Joy) Johnston of Paris, France, Carole Noelle (Jeffrey) Seume of Wassenaar, Netherlands, Thomas Paul (Raschelle) Johnston of Liberty, MO and James Andrew (Lisa) Johnston of Corcoran, MN; his grandchildren, Laurelle Bordas, Aveline Bussy and Rosemarie Bourgeois, Emily Andersen, Philip Johnston and Stefanie Wessner, Peter, David, Mark, Christina and Caroline Seume, Katherine Hunter, and Jonathan and Joshua Johnston, and Claire, Julia, Sarah and Andrew Johnston; his great-grandchildren, Iphigenie, Augustin and Maxence; and his sister, Ruth Neighbor.

He was preceded in death by his brother, Rodney.

A memorial visitation will be held on Wednesday, March 4, from 4-9 P.M. at Hultgren Funeral Home, 304 N. Main St., in Wheaton. A memorial service will be held on Thursday, March 5, at 11:00 A.M. at College Church in Wheaton, 332 E. Seminary Ave., in Wheaton. Interment is private at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood, IL.

In lieu of flowers memorial gifts may be directed to the Arthur and Muriel Johnston Fund at Tyndale Theological Seminary, PO Box 242, Wheaton, IL 60187.

I have wanted to get this out for all our overseas friends who wanted more information about Dad Johnston's graduation to heaven. I hope this suffices!

We miss you Papa~

He is Risen!

HE IS RISEN INDEED!

THE POWER OF THE CROSS

Oh, to see the dawn
Of the darkest day:
Christ on the road to Calvary.
Tried by sinful men,
Torn and beaten, then
Nailed to a cross of wood.

This, the pow'r of the cross:
Christ became sin for us;
Took the blame, bore the wrath—
We stand forgiven at the cross.

Oh, to see the pain
Written on Your face,
Bearing the awesome weight of sin.
Ev'ry bitter thought,
Ev'ry evil deed
Crowning Your bloodstained brow.

Now the daylight flees;
Now the ground beneath
Quakes as its Maker bows His head.
Curtain torn in two,
Dead are raised to life;
"Finished!" the vict'ry cry.

Oh, to see my name
Written in the wounds,
For through Your suffering I am free.
Death is crushed to death;
Life is mine to live,
Won through Your selfless love.

This, the pow'r of the cross:
Son of God—slain for us.
What a love! What a cost!
We stand forgiven at the cross.

Stuart Townend and Keith Getty

Books~

One of my favorite pastimes is reading to my children. Yesterday I started reading a beautiful book on the history of Oklahoma to them, which they are enjoying. Did you know that Oklahoma has 67 Indian tribes represented in their state?

The other book I started is my all-time favorite childrens' book. I heard it first read out loud to me in fifth grade, and from then on have re-read it many, many times. The book is titled, "Where the Red Fern Grows" and is written by Wilson Rawls. Also set in Oklahoma, this poignant story shows a beautiful and sacrificial relationship between a boy "Billy" and his Redbone Coonhound hunting dogs "Old Dan and Little Ann."


The only problem reading this book is that I am choked up with almost every paragraph! It's hard to read when I am having to clear my throat at regular intervals.

What are your favorite childrens' books?

April Fool's Day

Jim was wakened this morning with water dripping on his face~by a sponge, squeezed gently by an oldest child

The children woke up early, went outside and tried to scare us through the sliding glass door in our bedroom. Egads.

Julia just made cookies for Papa King. ONE, however, is filled with red chili pepper and tobasco sauce, stuffed discreetly in the middle of a lovely looking chocolate chip cookie. We can't wait to see them today and continue the April fool's tradition.


I THINK the greatest laugh is from the Lord as He showered us with snow all night. It is a beautiful gift~


We parked at the top of the driveway, just so we wouldn't be stuck today as we head down to my folks.


I couldn't resist a walk through the neighborhood today, snapping pictures before the wind blew the snow off the trees.


So intricately beautiful.