Journey to Explore Kansas

It has been so long since I blogged and trying to get back into blogging about our journey's and other things going on. Since the hubby retired we have been enjoying just hanging out and not being rushed to do anything. We are hoping the weather gets better and we can go on more drives and Journeys to See History and Find Ancestors but for now we are getting out when the weather permits and driving some back roads through Kansas.

In December 2018 we went to see the Marais des Cygnes Massacre site. It is back off the road and looks like you are going into a farm but when you get there it is nice. It tells you about what happened here with signs all along the way.  We enjoyed the history site. The pictures below are a few of the signs there as well as the house and plaque. The ravine picture is looking down to where the massacre happened.

What better way to start the new year than going for a ride. Jan 1 2019 we went for a ride and made this Interesting find, the Gerth Cabin in Greeley KS. Valentin Gerth came from Germany and was one of the first settlers in now Greeley KS. There is evidence  that 11 slaves that John Brown rescued from MO hid under the cabin.  He and his family lived in Greeley until he died in 1913 and is buried in the Greeley Cemetery. If you would like to read about this man and cabin you can go to

http://kansastransportation.blogspot.com/2016/02/the-secrets-of-southeast-kansas-gerth.html

This last weekend we had Spring like weather so we took advantage of it, especially since we had been in due to weather for a week almost, and hit the back roads. We didn't have anywhere in particular that we were headed to but just driving.  We went back roads and ran into the Kansas Oil Museum in El Dorado KS. I also love old buildings and courthouses and  El Dorado is Butler County Kansas County Seat and has a very cool Courthouse. Pictures from there.

The courthouse was constructed in 1909 and was designed by George P Washburn and Sons. In 2002 it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. The Oil Museum shows the history of  20th-century oil industry as well as Butler County KS. On their website it says the museum also serves as the Butler County KS Historical society with a research library. Their webpage is 

http://www.kansasoilmuseum.org

That is it for now. Hoping the weather will get better again and we will go out and enjoy it. 

Veteran's Day We Honor and Thank You

WWI Museum trench warfare

 We on this day and everyday want to remember and thank the men and women who have served in the Armed Forces to keep us safe and free.   Our family has had someone who has  served in all the wars starting with the Rev. War.  It is a honor for me to pay tribute and thank them for their sacrifice.
Here are a few of the men from our family that has served.  

THANK YOU TO ALL WHO HAVE AND ARE SERVING IN THE MILITARY!

William Capp WWI

Noel L Forbes WWII

Raymond Leroy Wilder  Killed WWII

James M Forbes

Michael Forbes

J Ted Jester

Jack Jester

Jack Jester

Terril Bilyeu

The Cross Not The End Only The Beginning Praise The Lord and a poem

As I praise and give thanks for the sacrifice of Christ on the cross I realize that this is the beginning of not just our gift of love and eternal life, but  also the begininng of an abundant life in Christ. It is the gift of love, peace, comfort in all things we face in life. It is being adopted into the family of God joint heirs with Jesus.  We have forgiveness and an advocate or intercessor through Christ. Our hope is in and through Christ and Christ willingly went to the cross so that we could have all this. HE LOVES US and all we have to do is believe and accept his gift.

We have a friend in whom we can trust and believe and not be afraid. We have peace and understanding through Christ.



 John 14:27 KJV










We have blessed assurance and faith that in our acceptance of Christ that God has us and we are in his perfect plan. We might not understand everything but we can know it will  be alright.


The one thing we know that God is always in control and that we can trust Him no matter what. He holds our hand and guides us through if we turn to him.







Just like the lighthouse pictured here God is our light to guide us in good times and the storms of life. His light always shines bright and as long as we keep our eyes on the light we will not stray or get lost. I see the lighthouse and I remember that though storms in life come along God is with us lighting our way all we have to do is rely on Him. A verse I like says to not be afraid or discouraged in fact it is a command and one I think of when storms come my way.
Joshua 1:9  NIV "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”


Here is a poem I wrote awhile back I will share again with you. I hope it will lift you up

My Life’s Light

I will trust you where ever you lead me
I will trust you in both the calm and stormy seas
I will follow the path you set before me
I will lean on your love and hope you give me freely
For you are the light that guides my path along my way
You are my guide through each and every day
Like the captain on the sea I will look to the light
Always keeping that beam in my sight.
For you my Lord, are my light
On whom I will keep my sight

By Deb Forbes July 2009
copyright 2009

God is our Light and here is my verse to memorize this week

John 8:12 KJV  "Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."

All of this is because of Christ going to the cross to die for us so that we can live. So the cross was not the end but the beginning for all of us who believe. Thank you Jesus.

Easter Poem and My Thoughts The Veil Is Torn repost

That Fateful Day

The cross was just a cross on that day
The nails, so ordinary could have been used in other ways.
But they became an important part of so much more,
When they were used, that day, to crucify our Lord.

In the garden where Christ prayed.

The soldiers came and took him after he had been betrayed.
Pilot asked the crowd what should be done with Christ live or die!
The crowd they cried crucify, crucify.
Then Christ, his clothes from him were stripped
And with the cat of nine tails his skin was ripped.
The whip it tore his flesh and from these stripes he bled
Then a crown of thorns was thrust on his head.
He was made to carry that cross to Golgotha hill
Where his blood for us he did spill.
Those nails were pounded through his feet and hands
Then the cross was dropped in the ground and the thump could be heard by all where they did stand.
But Christ, his resolve, never waivered while he hung there.
He never asked the angels to get him down, the torture for us he did bear.
He suffered the pain, knowing for all of us this was done
From his birth he came to die for us because he was the chosen one.
Chosen to save us from our sins, so we, who deserved to die, could live.
He gladly suffered all he did and went to the cross that day, his life he did freely give.

So remember that day and all the Lord’s suffering and pain

Remember it was done so our eternal life we could gain.
Ask forgiveness today and Give your heart to the Lord.
And when your work is done and life is no more,
The Lord will take you to heaven with him to live for evermore.


 By Deb Forbes
Copyright 2008




I have all week been thinking and reading about Christ's crucifixion and the one thing that has really stuck in my mind is the veil being torn. That isn't making light of the sacrifice Jesus made for us to take away our sins, suffering death so that we didn't have to.  It is just that it is another wonderful amazing gift that was given to us when Jesus died on the cross.

Matt. 27: 45-54 NIV


⁴⁵ From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. ⁴⁶ About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli,^[c] lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).^[d]
47 When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling Elijah.”
⁴⁸ Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. ⁴⁹ The rest said, “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.”
⁵⁰ And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.
⁵¹ At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split ⁵² and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. ⁵³ They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and^[e] went into the holy city and appeared to many people.
⁵⁴ When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”




The veil was up in front of the Holy of Most Holy in the temple the place that kept the ark of the covenant and it would be God's Most Holy Dwelling place. The veil or curtain would separate the people from God and only the priests could take the sacrifices to God for the people. 


Ex. 26: 31-34 KJV
³¹ And thou shalt make a vail of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen of cunning work: with cherubims shall it be made:
³² And thou shalt hang it upon four pillars of shittim wood overlaid with gold: their hooks shall be of gold, upon the four sockets of silver.
³³ And thou shalt hang up the vail under the taches, that thou mayest bring in thither within the vail the ark of the testimony: and the vail shall divide unto you between the holy place and the most holy.
³⁴ And thou shalt put the mercy seat upon the ark of the testimony in the most holy place.


When Christ died on the cross his sacrifice for us tore this veil or curtain from top to bottom and made it so that we would now through Christ not only have forgiveness for our sins, but the old sacrifices were no longer necessary, Christ was that sacrifice and now we have access to God through Christ Jesus. Christ was the sacrifice for our sins, he became or intercessor to God, he gave his life so we might live. Hallelujah Praise God. He took our sins and punishment, He who didn't deserve to die, died so that we can live. The veil was torn a symbol that the only sacrifice needed for atonement for our sins had been made. All we have to do is accept this gift of forgiveness and atonement and love from God who sent his Son for us. 


1 Peter 2: 24  NIV ²⁴ “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”


1 Tim. 2:5 NIV ⁵ For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus,


When you take time today and this weekend to reflect on Christ and His crucifixion think about how he came knowing he would die for us. He chose to be the sacrifice, taking our punishment and death because he loved us that much. Think also about the veil being torn from top to bottom opening up to the Holy of Most Holy places and think how that not only proved that Jesus was the Son of God but also made through Him a way for us to God. Happy Easter and Good Friday to everyone.

Walking for 8 years

Then

Now

Sept 28, 2017 marks 8 years of being out of my wheelchair and walking. I praise God everyday for what he has done for me. I am very thankful and never want to forget to acknowledge and thank God for what He has done. Once again I want to share my post from that day I started to walk again.

I was blessed that God trusted me enough to use me in the way He did when I was in the wheelchair and blessed me more when He told me to walk and has given me back my ability to walk and do what I can for Him.

My prayer is that God will continue to use me and that I can be the vessel His light can shine through.


Sept. 28, 2009 Mike and I went to Shawnee Mission Park to go on one of our walk and rolls. Mike was at the back of the van getting my wheel chair out and once again the Holy Spirit prompted me and said one word which was walk and I walked down to the back of the van and said to Mike I'm going to walk and took off. I walked only about 100 yards that day but for someone in a wheelchair for all those years that was a big step. I walked by myself down the path and back up the hill to the street that the van was parked on. When I reached the top of the hill I raised my hands, like Sylvester Stallone did in Rocky, and shouted yes, yes, yes thank you Lord. I then walked back to the van. This is a picture of that first walk. 
I had never in all those years of being sick and in the wheelchair asked God to heal me or let me walk again so I was surprised when I was prompted to walk. If I had not listened to that prompting though and then followed that one word WALK I would of missed out on a healing and blessing. It would have been easy for me to ignore that prompting or think that it couldn't be done because I can't walk I am in a wheelchair, but I followed the prompt and God blessed me for my obedience. My muscles in my legs were there at that moment I took my first step which is all God after 9 years of my neuromuscular disease and my wheelchair. The next walk a couple of days later was for 1/4 of a mile, then the next a mile and soon I was able to go hiking off the paved trail for over a mile. 
Each day brings new firsts and I continue to Walk with God both spiritually and physically.

The Veil Is Torn My Thoughts and Poem on Easter

That Fateful Day

The cross was just a cross on that day
The nails, so ordinary could have been used in other ways.
But they became an important part of so much more,
When they were used, that day, to crucify our Lord.

In the garden where Christ prayed.

The soldiers came and took him after he had been betrayed.
Pilot asked the crowd what should be done with Christ live or die!
The crowd they cried crucify, crucify.
Then Christ, his clothes from him were stripped
And with the cat of nine tails his skin was ripped.
The whip it tore his flesh and from these stripes he bled
Then a crown of thorns was thrust on his head.
He was made to carry that cross to Golgotha hill
Where his blood for us he did spill.
Those nails were pounded through his feet and hands
Then the cross was dropped in the ground and the thump could be heard by all where they did stand.
But Christ, his resolve, never waivered while he hung there.
He never asked the angels to get him down, the torture for us he did bear.
He suffered the pain, knowing for all of us this was done
From his birth he came to die for us because he was the chosen one.
Chosen to save us from our sins, so we, who deserved to die, could live.
He gladly suffered all he did and went to the cross that day, his life he did freely give.

So remember that day and all the Lord’s suffering and pain

Remember it was done so our eternal life we could gain.
Ask forgiveness today and Give your heart to the Lord.
And when your work is done and life is no more,
The Lord will take you to heaven with him to live for evermore.


 By Deb Forbes
Copyright 2008




I have all week been thinking and reading about Christ's crucifixion and the one thing that has really stuck in my mind is the veil being torn. That isn't making light of the sacrifice Jesus made for us to take away our sins, suffering death so that we didn't have to.  It is just that it is another wonderful amazing gift that was given to us when Jesus died on the cross.

Matt. 27: 45-54 NIV


⁴⁵ From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. ⁴⁶ About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli,^[c] lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).^[d]
47 When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling Elijah.”
⁴⁸ Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. ⁴⁹ The rest said, “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.”
⁵⁰ And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.
⁵¹ At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split ⁵² and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. ⁵³ They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and^[e] went into the holy city and appeared to many people.
⁵⁴ When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”




The veil was up in front of the Holy of Most Holy in the temple the place that kept the ark of the covenant and it would be God's Most Holy Dwelling place. The veil or curtain would separate the people from God and only the priests could take the sacrifices to God for the people. 


Ex. 26: 31-34 KJV
³¹ And thou shalt make a vail of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen of cunning work: with cherubims shall it be made:
³² And thou shalt hang it upon four pillars of shittim wood overlaid with gold: their hooks shall be of gold, upon the four sockets of silver.
³³ And thou shalt hang up the vail under the taches, that thou mayest bring in thither within the vail the ark of the testimony: and the vail shall divide unto you between the holy place and the most holy.
³⁴ And thou shalt put the mercy seat upon the ark of the testimony in the most holy place.


When Christ died on the cross his sacrifice for us tore this veil or curtain from top to bottom and made it so that we would now through Christ not only have forgiveness for our sins, but the old sacrifices were no longer necessary, Christ was that sacrifice and now we have access to God through Christ Jesus. Christ was the sacrifice for our sins, he became or intercessor to God, he gave his life so we might live. Hallelujah Praise God. He took our sins and punishment, He who didn't deserve to die, died so that we can live. The veil was torn a symbol that the only sacrifice needed for atonement for our sins had been made. All we have to do is accept this gift of forgiveness and atonement and love from God who sent his Son for us. 


1 Peter 2: 24  NIV ²⁴ “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”


1 Tim. 2:5 NIV ⁵ For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus,


When you take time today and this weekend to reflect on Christ and His crucifixion think about how he came knowing he would die for us. He chose to be the sacrifice, taking our punishment and death because he loved us that much. Think also about the veil being torn from top to bottom opening up to the Holy of Most Holy places and think how that not only proved that Jesus was the Son of God but also made through Him a way for us to God. Happy Easter and Good Friday to everyone.

Our Journey To See History and Drive Historic RT 66

Up before sunrise headed out at 4:50 am for our Journey to See History. Look at the beautiful sunrise that we watched as the sun came up while we drove east.

Yesterday we finished driving the Historic RT 66 through Missouri. We went from St Clair MO to St James MO all the way on historic RT 66. We found some interesting sites along the way. We have now driven all of MO and KS on RT 66 so next we will start in OK.

Pictures in ST Clair MO on RT 66.

                                           Old bus stop at St Clair MO on rt 66 now a shop

                     Driving west on RT 66 you see the sign for Meramec Cavern as well as a little                                                  further along the barn with the cave advertisement on it.

                                                             

                                                            RT 66 Stanton MO

                                      Jesse James Was Museum along RT 66 in Stanton MO

                                   
                             

                                     Old Motel now abandoned along RT 66 in Stanton MO

                                                        Stanton MO along RT 66

                                                     Old resteraunt on RT 66 in Stanton MO

                  Old Wagon Wheel Motel along RT 66 in Cuba MO still in operation today

                                     Old Wagon Wheel Motel along RT 66 in Cuba MO

                                       Old Wagon Wheel Motel along RT 66 in Cuba MO

                                        Old Wagon Wheel Motel along RT 66 in Cuba MO

                                      Old Wagon Wheel Motel along RT 66 in Cuba MO

                                                     Shelly's RT 66 cafe Cuba MO 

                                   Old filling station now The Fourway restaurant Cuba MO RT66

                                    World's largest rocking chair Fanning MO along historic RT66

                      We decided to go see the old courthouses and the new one in Rolla MO 

                               1857 Dillon House and 1st Phelps County Courthouse Rolla MO.

                          Old Courthouse now Phelps County Historical Museum Rolla MO

On our way to St Clair we came across the town of Washington MO. It is a very interesting place with all the old brick buildings and river front park. We will be going back sometime soon to explore the shops and walk the main street. Here are some of the pictures we took as we drove through the town.

           Headed down to the river at Washington MO building straight ahead is and antique shop

                                                Part of downtown Washington MO

          River front park at Washington MO it was beautiful and peaceful. Lewis and Clark stopped                                                                                 here

                                  Looking back at city from the river park at Washington MO

                                                   Old train depot at Washington MO

                                                         Old homes of Washington MO

So many unique  shops to explore and to walk down the main street will be fun when we go back. Think a picnic at the river front park will be a good idea too.

We always like to make a big circle instead of going back the way we went so when we got to St James MO we jumped on I 44 and headed west to get to exit 1 and take it to KS where we could get on US 69 and head north. We saw a lot of pretty country by going the back roads, which is what we like to do is where you can see the beautiful and unusual sights so that is why we get off the interstate when we can. We went a total of 644 miles left home at 4:50 am and back home at 6:30 pm

We have always wanted to drive historic RT 66 but since at this time we can not drive it all at once we are breaking it up and driving what we can. Oklahoma Historic RT 66 here we come next time we feel nostalgic we shall drive and see what you have to offer us on our Journey To See History.