Today I rushed to get the children off for their last day of school. They met at the designated place to bike a mile long journey with their classmates.

After seeing them off, the two little boys and I grabbed a pop from the local station and adventured into the country for our home.
We came upon this old school house that still stands. If this school could only speak! Oh how I wish it could. I would listen in awe with these ears the Lord has given me!

Oh to think upon the many children who walked through the blistering heat and knee high snow to gather into this one room school. Sharp in their clean dresses and trousers with smiles on to embrace the year. Sharpened pencils and a notebook were sufficient then. A ruler was the teachers best instrument to efficiently do her job to keep these dear children in line. She knew the key to being a successful instructor was maintaining her authoritative position.
Where has this wisdom gone? Has it all truly been lost? Has it been left behind here in this simple school house? If it could speak would it cry out to our country?
I snapped the photo above and went on my way. I looked back one last time in my rearview mirror at this little school and thought to myself, a student opened the handle and shut the door one last time. What once was now is no more.

Down another country road the boys and I went. What once was a piece of prairie, now was a small cemetery. A cemetery with many broken tombstones of individuals that were once living and breathing. Enjoying the things of life in the small towns that surround us. Sending their children off to school for their first day and rejoicing with them on their last.
“Oh how you’ve grown young one throughout the year! You’ve learned a great deal this year, now on to the next!”
One of the largest tombs caught my attention. I squinted to read the large print and smiled as I saw the name Rincker, as this was my maiden name. I walked across the ground and traced the letters with the tip of my finger and thought to myself, what once was a new tomb with fresh sorrow now is a century ago memory.
The internet is such a great blessing from the Lord if one practices self control in regards to our time and content we are searching. Typing in the name Reverend H.W. Rincker 1889, I found a beautiful article from the Library of Illinois History.
I found this piece to be so intriguing, I can’t help but share.

Crossing the ocean to America with 75¢ in his pocket.
“Having lost the support of his family, H.W. moved with his wife and children to the United States around 1846. Tillie wrote: “H.W. landed in Chicago penniless. When he and his family arrived in America, he only had 75¢ to his name.”
What great faith for one to move across the ocean with so little, yet expecting the Lord to provide so much!
This man who was once, is now no more. However I am delighted to know that his time was spent as a missionary proclaiming the Truths of the Gospel on these very roads I adventure down today! These roads that at one point did not exist. Jesus’ words to his apostles that he spoke over 2,000 years ago are still for us today. They were true for this man, leading to the construction of roads and churches planted in the towns that we live and carry out our lives to this day.
Jesus’ words are true for us as believers today as well. May we strive to live by them.
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.””
Matthew 28:19-20

Who now is, but will one day be, Who once was