The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.

Precious Moments Indeed

by Dessa Rodeffer
Quill Editor/Publisher

23 June 1999

A weekend trip to Tulsa, Oklahoma brought a delightful thrill to my mother, my granddaughter (Ali Postle), and myself.

After enjoying a wonderful visit with Troy, Erica, and 6-month-old granddaughter Noah Jayne who is trying hard to crawl, cut teeth, and sit-up, we returned home by way of Joplin and Carthage, MO.

In a spur of a second, I decided to detour the 2.5 miles out of our way to visit the Precious Moment Chapel there. I had driven by the sign several times en route to Tulsa and thought what fun this might be for us three generation of girls.

I did not know what to expect but thought it would be a roadside chapel.

As we drove the short distance into this wooded area, we came upon a fairy tale type chapel with two beautiful homes set back along a man-made lake.

"This must be it," I thought , but it was not. We drove a little further and at the next parking area we found the Precious Moments Center.

We had passed the Precious Moments Wedding Island where there is a marvelous mansion that was moved there. It's a magical place to get married.

Ali and her great grandmother got out of the car and posed in front of a Precious Moments fountain that was in front of the welcome center. Some children were throwing pennies in for luck, and I gave Ali a brand new penny and she threw one in too.

At the door, tour guides explained that this was the only week this year that the home of Precious Moments artist and creator, Sam Butcher would be open to the public. The home had been expanded from a small cottage into a large two story home that he converted into a museum.

We hustled through the center to purchase tickets. It was full of shelves of Precious Moments that were enticing us to browse, but we continued to the ticket desk and hurried back to board a waiting bus.

The cushy bus seats made the ride through the woods enjoyable. He took us past the home where Sam Butcher and his seven children lived until his recent move to Chicago. Now his son, Don, lives there and manages the grounds.

The tour guide welcomed us as the largest group of the day and began telling us about the marble floor entry, vases shipped from Japan, the huge chandelier from Czechoslovakia, underwater sculptures, and many oriental pieces of furniture and artwork.

Our guide explained the wood carving set above the doorway was placed over the entry to give a blessing to anyone who passes under the doorway.

In the middle of the tour we stood in a beautiful small library with beamed ceilings. A heavy library table was in the center with a beautiful blue glass globe on top of it .

A man came into the room to replace a vase from the table with a beautiful fluted brass vase.

Our guide seemed startled, then introduced the man as Mr. Butcher. I soon found it was Mr. Sam Butcher, the artist.

He invited our group to see a room that he normally does not show to the public. As he talked about the loving people of Thailand and of the furniture and artwork they had created, he said they often use scary characters on pieces to scare off evil spirits.

They also use mirrors because they feel evil spirits will see themselves and be scared off. After some more talk, a lady asked if she could be photographed with Mr. Butcher.

I tried to persuade my granddaughter to stand by him for a picture. She refused until finally I offered her a dollar and she agreed only if Grandma would stand by him, too.

I was excited that she finally agreed and wanted to surprise her parents with this special photo. I thanked Mr. Butcher for being so gracious and told him Ali's birthday is tomorrow and she will be 5 years old.

He asked how to spell her name and then told me that he would be right back. He opened two double doors of wood and leaded glass and disappeared through a long room of art hangings into his private office.

Upon his return he brought a Precious Moment figurine he had created of a lovely girl seated and holding a diary. He had signed it "Sam Butcher", "Happy Birthday, Ali."

He told me it was from his private collection and that the date and the red dot and the number tells that it is the first one out of the oven.

I was overwhelmed at his generous gift for my granddaughter. I thanked him and took another photo of him with Ali holding the figurine.

I carried the gift so it wouldn't get broken as we continued back on our tour.

It lead upstairs where there was many more things including a white baby grand piano.

A lady played Amazing Grace and How Great Thou Art as we sang. My mother knew all the words.

We returned to the Chapel Center where many Precious Moments dolls, figurines, and items are on sale.

The women who work there found some bubble wrap and a box to safely pack Ali's precious gift from Mr. Butcher.

They checked the number of the figurine and said it was not listed because it must be from his private collection.

Sometimes two or three will be made, she said, and only one is chosen for reproduction, or he might make a change in the original figurine before it is sent out for reproduction. The figurine Ali was given, she said, is one of a kind.

I was shaken by it all, and didn't have any energy left to go further.

The ladies said we should see the chapel because that is what its all about, but it will have to wait for another time.

She explained that Mr. Butcher was here this weekend for the special grand opening of the Precious Moments Fountain of Angels which includes a show that brings you to tears, she said.

Our day ended in Des Moines, IA at my son's family: Damon, Kellee, Caleb and Joshua.

It was a wonderful weekend full of precious moments indeed:and a wonderful birthday for Ali!

Pictured: My granddaughter, Ali Postle, and mother Belva Bell with famous Precious Moments¨ artist Sam Butcher. Ali received a great surprise from Mr. Butcher on her 5th birthday.