Precious Moments. Really.

Being in Neosho, we couldn’t be this close to Carthage, Missouri and not take Snookie and Bob to see the Precious Moments Chapel, Museum and gift shop.  It is truly an amazing place. 

Even though it is the first of fall, there were still some beautiful flowers blooming on the grounds.

Samuel J. Butcher is the creator of the adorable Precious Memories figures.

This is part of the welcome center.

The landscape is all Precious Moments inspired.

Don and Bob and the way to the guided tour of the Chapel.

Along the path, beautiful Christian music can be heard as though it was drifting from the trees.

We got there just in the for the tour on the hour.  The Chapel was opened for visitors in 1989.

 

 

 

The huge wooden front door is beautiful.

This huge mural was painted in stages by Mr. Butcher.  In stages because each figure in the painting is inspired by a family member or person that he met through the years.  The little blonde girl with her doll was added after original painting was completed, the story behind this is her parents brought her to the Chapel to show her what heaven was going to be like, because she was dying of cancer.  They bought her the little doll at the Chapel gift shop.  The little was so happy with her doll, when they visited the Chapel and met Sam Butcher, the little girl ask him if she could take her doll to heaven with her. Sam Butcher was so touched by this little girl and her story that he decided to add her and her doll to the mural in the Chapel.

Somewhere toward the completion of this mural, Sam Butcher was thrilled when he realized that he had unknowingly painted Jesus Christ in the absolute center of the picture.

Every painting in the chapel is inspired by a story or character in the Bible.

Paintings line every wall.

Mr. Butcher tediously painted the cherubs on the ceiling while lying on his back on scaffolding.

Daniel in the Lion’s den is a favorite for me.  Sam Butcher came back later and painted the little gray mouse beside the bear.

Who hasn’t read or heard about Jonah and the great fish.

More of the Hallelujah Square.

“Graduation”

In a side room lined with stained glass picture windows was a big painting entitled:

The church represents The Father, God.

The bridge represents Jesus Christ.

And the rivers and waterfalls represent the Holy Spirit.

This is one of the beautiful stained glass windows.

The “playhouse” Mr. Butcher had built for his children and grandchildren on an island in the middle of the creek behind the chapel.  Now doesn’t that look like a fun place to play?

Also, behind the Chapel is a cave that has been staged to symbolized the empty tomb of Jesus.  A Precious Moments angel figure has been “posted” at the entrance of the “tomb.”  Notice the cross.

At this point in our tour of the grounds, Snookie and I stopped to get a picture together.

What a blessing Snookie is to me.  And just think…. I would have never met her if the Lord hadn’t sent us to the desert valley of Arizona! (Shouldn’t there be a law against fat people wearing horizontal stripes???!!!)

I took well over one hundred pictures today, but this post is already too long, so I will finish up with another picture of color and…

tell you that we drove over to:

where  Snookie and Bob treated us to an early dinner at Cheddar’s.  It was outstanding (Don and Snookie had steak, Bob had grilled salmon and I had shrimp) and we enjoyed it soooo much.

Snookie and Bob seemed to really enjoy our day.  Snookie took more pictures than I did and we couldn’t stop talking about the uniqueness of the whole Precious Moments story, while we were driving.

Snookie and I have both spent the evening in our respective “homes” editing pictures and blogging. 

We have thoroughly enjoyed our short, unexpected time with Snookie and Bob, but we have to head toward Oklahoma tomorrow.

“I would rather live my life as if there is a God,
And die to find out there isn't, than live my life
As if there isn't, and die to find out there is.” –---- Albert Camus