Celebrating my Father Who Would Have Been 101 Years Old Today...

James Burton Groves was born on a home- stead near Ryegate, Montana, not far from Billings, MT on October 26, 1913.

His mother, Amanda Sofia Isaacs (originally Isaacson of Norwegian descent) had grown up in Forest City, IA but decided to become a homesteader in MT when she was in her mid twenties.  She met my Grandfather, William Floyd Groves, there as he had gone to MT to work in the harvest.  He had been born and reared on a homestead near North Platte, NE.   

Bill & Amanda's wedding photo - November 28, 1910.

Grandma Amanda had traveled to WI for the birth of their first son, Vernon.  But because there were no complications with that birth, she gave birth to my father in MT.  The family would continue to live in MT for the necessary five years in order to own their homestead.  At the end of five years, they sold their land and the one room house in which they had lived.  They moved to Minneapolis, MN for a short period of time and then to a farm near Viroqua, WI.   My father's life continued in WI until 2006 when at the age of 92, he died.

These Three Call Me Mom...

When my husband and I married, I had two more years of undergrad school and he had at least three years of seminary to complete before we would add children to our family.  We agreed to wait five years before having our babies.  And so it was though I longed to be a mother and at times begged my husband to agree to a change in our plans.  He could not be convinced and I knew he was choosing wisely, but still I counted the months until we could have a baby.

John Groves Worden, June 12, 1971

I know that I am very blessed.  Not all women are able to conceive when they want but when the agreed upon time arrived, I became pregnant and our first son was born the day after I turned in my keys and completed my third year as a librarian in a middle school in Racine, WI.  I was thrilled.  He was perfect and the deep desire of my heart was being fulfilled.

James William Worden, September 4, 1973

Our first church was in Loomis, NE and that was where our second son arrived two years after his brother.
Again, I was thrilled.  He, too, was perfect and he was another answer for the deep desire of my heart.

Our second church was in Brooklyn, NY.  

Sarah Joy Worden, December 10, 1976

From a town of 320 people in rural NE to a borough of 3.2 million in NYC, we were adjusting to major culture shock and busy toddlers when we learned baby number 3 was on the way.  I was secretly hoping for a girl this time and again, the deep desire of my heart was fulfilled.  The church we served was bilingual - English and Norwegian.  My husband was the English speaking pastor and another man from Norway served the Norwegian congregation.  I have some Norwegian blood in my veins from both my father and mother so relished the opportunity to learn more about my heritage while we lived there.  Some kind ladies of the church loaned costumes to my daughter and me for an annual Syttende Mai (Seventeenth of May) Parade and we took advantage of those bunads for a portrait when Sarah was 18 months old.

Easter Week 2014...

France in late March, 2012

With Easter approaching and spring already here, I decided my blog could not sit idle with the last post created as 2013 drew to an end.  In order to brighten my blog and align it with the season, I searched my photos and found a number of photos displaying the pastel beauty of spring.  I share photos here with captions to note date and location.

A flower market in Paris, France - a stop-over on a European tour in late March, 2012.

I had the privilege of sharing a European music tour with a son, his singer-composer wife and their nearly 2 year old son, 2 years ago.  That little guy and I were best buddies during that month and as we explored each stop, I captured the surroundings with my camera.  My blogging began with a short post on March 17, 2012.  There are 33 entries with the label, Europe Tour, Spring 2012.

French Park

Can't remember where this was taken.

Same French park as above.

Slowed for a moment as I snapped a shot in France.

This French city was wrapped around a park which followed the river which ran through the city.

Another view of the Paris flower market.

 Before I close this update, I want to share some links which provide scripture with insights related to "The Seven Last Words of Jesus" as he was being crucified.  These messages will give the biblical record of Jesus' statements from the cross.  The author of these entries is Mark D. Roberts.  Mark's entries started on Sunday, April 13th and will continue each day through Saturday.  These will provide rich biblical commentary about Jesus as he hung on the cross.  Reading these provides a way to be informed and engaged as Easter week unfolds.

1. The First Word:  Luke 23:34 
   Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.”
2. The Second Word:   Luke 23:43 
   And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
3. The Third Word:  John 19:26  
   When Jesus saw his mother standing there beside the disciple he loved, he said to her, “Dear woman, here is your son.”
4. The Fourth Word:  Mark 15:34    Then at three o’clock Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”
5. The Fifth Word - will be available on Thursday, April 17at The High Calling Daily Reflection website.

I am pleased to provide photos which display the breathtaking beauty of spring tulips, pansies and other early blooms, but I am even more eager to share scriptures about what is celebrated each Easter.  This is the event most important to Christians.  Jesus came to earth, lived a perfect life and died in order to be the one, true, perfect sacrifice for sin.  His death paid the penalty I and all others deserve for our sin.  But through faith in him, we can confess our sin and be forgiven.  This is what makes Easter such a wonderful event to celebrate.  Salvation is free for humans but it cost Jesus his life.  He overcame death and rose from the grave and lives today - the only religious leader who can make that claim.  How I love this Jesus.  I hope and pray you do too.

John 3:16

New Living Translation (NLT)

¹⁶ “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.