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Mary Jane Q Cross

 Hello one and all!

After a few weeks of technical difficulties and problems with blogger,

we are officially up and posting again!

Because of the delay we're going to try to catch up within the next few days so stay tuned!
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http://maryjaneqcross.com/

 The Eckersons invited the families from church to come and hear the Christian artist Mary Jane Q. Cross as she explains how she creates her phenomenal artwork. Mrs. Cross is special though, she is not merely an artist, she is a testimony to the Sovereignty of God. You can see her artwork and read her testimony from herself here on her website:
Mary Jane Q Cross

  For your benefit I'll give a quick summary: 

Mrs. Cross has always been an marvelous painter, her testimony to God came about 18 years ago when she was struck by lightning while camping with her husband. The lighting strike gave her a devastating permanent right sided tremor. Suddenly her flourishing portrait, biblical murals career, and classical workshop teaching career, came to an abrupt end.  Devastated she cried out to God wondering why He would allow this to happen. She wondered if the Lord was telling her that her artist days were over and prayed that the Lord would give her guidance and direction for the future. The Lord answered her prayer by telling her that it wasn't His will for her to give up painting, but rather to learn a new way of doing it. Instead of painting with brushes Mrs. Cross now paints with her hands, fingers and even elbows some times because once her hand touches the canvas the shaking stops. She has succeeded remarkably to go on to learn to paint with her fingers and aided by prosthetic devices invented by the herself! Mary Jane says of the situation that “she felt like a live dead artist.” Coping with what you cannot change has given her figure paintings a strength and truth that speaks to real people, in real life. It continues to be an inspiring story of a pioneering spirit and a faith in the Sovereign Lord Who will never say, "well I didn't plan for that to happen". Everything that happens, including what seems to have no good purpose whatsoever, is still predestined by God and as Romans 8:28 says,

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. ²⁹ For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters" 

 In Mrs. Cross's case, not only is she now the subject of a new documentary soon to be published, as well as receiving much more publicity for her artwork, but her faith and trust in the Lord was built in an amazing way and she is now able to be a stellar example to other Christians!

The Royal Gallery was rather crowded with all of us squeezing in to admire her work

Listening to her story

Mrs. Eckersons Mom tries on these pretty neat glasses

Because of certain paints that Mrs. Cross uses, these glasses enable you to see certain colors in 3D! The colors pop out when you use the glasses!

Mom examines the now 3D picture.

At this point Mrs. Cross was showing short video clips of herself painting one of the pictures that was hanging on the wall. She showed us these videos so we could see how she blends the colors to create certain skin tones and to bring the picture from merely a painting, to a portrayal of a beauty and life!

Putting her hand out so we could see how severely her hand shakes so we could better understand the magnitude of her trial.

Telling stories about some of the girls she uses as models

 

Using Lydia to tell the story :) 

Moses

Photographer in training!

It was so beautiful to see her tell her story and how God used it to teach different lessons in her life

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Von Trapp Singers

For the last 4 years the Fournier's have gone to see the free performance by the Von Trapp children at the Yankee Candle Flagship Store and this year they invited us to go with them.  We had so much fun with the Fourniers and the Von Trapp's performance was amazing and beautiful! But I won't say any more, I'll let you see the pictures for yourselves.

After two hours we finally arrived at Yankee Candle, and among the crowd of hundreds of people we started looking for the Fourniers with no cell phones OR internet...

We found them!

Lilya and Hannah stuck their hands together and were not to be separated all the day long.

Fifteen minutes before the show started the parents held our seats while the Fournier girls and Mello children ran out to snap a couple of pictures because it would be too dark after the performance was done.

The little people and the 115 pound pumpkin

Such a cute picture!

 

The rest of the group

Somethin's wrong wit this here picture, can't for thu life o' me figur out whut it maight be....

There, that's better!

My favorite picture of all!

So cute!

We got back five minutes before the performance started!

So we snapped a few more pictures of our row

I'm sorry but we weren't able to get very good pictures, I suppose these will have to do. :) 

This is Amanda and Sophie singing

The girls laugh as Justin introduces himself, he's got quite the sense of humor!

They were so friendly and obliging, they acted as though you were doing them a favor by coming to see them it was truly wonderful to see their joy and friendliness. I hope to go see them again!

You can check out thier website if you click on this link: 

The Von Trapp Children 

Especially knowing that they are fellow Christians and homeschoolers, you can see the joy of Christ on their countenance!

Emily and I quickly got to speak to Melanie, it was a privilege I won't soon forget. The line was so long, I think everyone in the building just got up from their seats and into the line.

 After talking to Melanie Von Trapp, we and the Fourniers were just hanging around for a little bit talking and this man, the manager of Yankee Candle, walked up to us and asked if we'd ever been to this performance before, when he heard that the Fourniers have attended for a few years he offered all of us  front row seats for next year and gave Mr. Fournier his card to call him to reserve the seats for next year! The Lord's Providence and special care for His children is evident everywhere and at all times!

Now, off to explore Yankee Candle!

First thing to catch our attention was the wall of plaques!

Mrs. Fournier found her plaque!

Jillian thinks this one is a good for mom.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Fournier liked this one!

It's snowing! But we're not outside, it's the snow room! In this room it snows every four minutes.

Time for family pictures!

The Fournier family!

This was my favorite part of Yankee Candle! The castle!

Felicity and Chariti

Welcome to my *humble* abode 

(Complete with knight in shining armour)

The Prince sits upon his royal throne with his two advisers on his right and his left

The girls knelt and said Your majesty to Prince Seth

 I never knew I was related to so much royalty!

*gasp* SHE FOUND HIM!!!!! Blow the fanfare, send out the town criers, gather in the guests, she has found her knight in shining amor!!!!

Now, if only we could afford to buy him...and this is only for his glove!

Fits like a glove!

Seth was loving all the soldiers and knights

The night grew later and our mouths watered as we gazed at the delicious delicacies that were set before our eyes.

 

Felicity and Chariti found enough sweets to satisfy their appetite! 

 Good night to one and all! Hope you enjoyed the post and maybe you can join us next year for a beautiful performance to watch the Von Trapps at the Yankee Candle! We'll be in the VIP seats!:)(God willing)

Mr. Stebbing's Art Class at the Cape

Just a few weeks ago Felicity and Chariti had the wonderful privilege of taking an art class from Mr. Barry Stebbing! Stephanie and I(Tabitha) took a class from him when we were around Felicity and Charit's age and now Felicity and Chariti got to do it too!

A picture with Mr. Stebbing

Mrs. Stebbing serves as Mr. Stebbing's helper as they go across country teaching all ages how to mimic God's creation in the form of art. 

Chariti very carefully paints in her drawing

Felicity mixes colors to get just the right color that she's looking for

Chariti loves to draw and has quite the little artistic hand. If she consistently practices then Lord willing, she will some day be quite the artist!

Felicity ponders what color she should choose, she also loved the art class!

While Felicity and Chariti are enjoying the art class.....

Seth and Hannah are playing horse and carriage!

 

 Hannah shows off her newest stunts and tricks

She seems to think she's quite impressive! 

Night time!

Stephanie and Seth snuggle and read together

Stephanie reads a sheriff book that she's had for 14 years, Seth loved it!

Thanks for looking at the blog!