The big barn as the sun is setting.
Tick-tock. Tick-tock. Tick- tock. I’m listening to Grandpa’s 150 year old mantel clock. (This post was written on Tuesday, September 17.) Leaning back in an old, floral, upholstered chair with my laptop, I view Grandpa’s big, green roofed barn out the window of the old, farmhouse window. Continue reading
It’s 5:00 A.M. and still thoroughly dark outside. I’m up and packed, ready to begin a month long adventure. Before we leave for the airport in four hours, I wanted to write a post to you all. I have an update on the DeFord family, which I’ll save for next time when I have more time to develop some thoughts. Continue to pray for God’s grace on them and all the Hotshot families, and pray that Dustin’s life story will continue to speak gospel-grace.
Today is Labor Day. Paul is driving me to Sky Harbor Airport south of Phoenix, a 1 1/2 hour drive from Prescott Valley. I’m leaving our green valley (yes, the monsoon rains have transformed our landscape), and I’m flying to Denver to meet a close friend. Tomorrow, we take off from her Victorian home in her Honda Pilot to travel east to Chicago and on to Ohio. Continue reading
Thank you to all who responded to the last post. So very interesting to hear a bit of your stories. This reminds me of my summer after fourth grade. We had moved from Findlay to Bowling Green, Ohio. These towns (little cities) were just a mere half hour from each other, but to me, they were worlds apart. Life started over for me in BG, as Bowling Green so often is called. That summer, I walked about six blocks to the local library and checked out books. I discovered the biography section of the children’s library and fell in love with stories of people who lived before me. Continue reading
Journey North Character is about “walking with Christ and becoming more like in Him.” This is an audacious goal, except when one considers that the Holy Spirit, no, the entire Godhead resides within believers! This concept is mind-blowing. But Scripture says so! Take a look at Ephesians 3:16-19 and then at the fuller context. This passage has always boggled me. Continue reading
Cousins:
Front: Susan, Gary
Back: Elaine, Karen, Donna
Bobby & Susie Kloeffer ( June 2012)
What do you think of when you read the words, “Lost and Found”? I think of a big, plastic bin at the YMCA where swimsuits, goggles, towels, and tee shirts were tossed when people left things behind in the locker room. I think of a closet at school where books, binders, purses, and such were stored, waiting for owners to come and claim them. I think of little Bo-Peep who lost her sheep and didn’t know where to find them. Lost and found.
Reflection Pool at a Christian retreat in Ohio
I want to welcome some new readers to JNC. I hope you read some old posts. Feel free to make yourself at home on this blog.
Journey North began as a blog project for Continue reading
June 18: View from behind our house in Prescott Valley of the Doce Fire near Prescott, involving 7000 acres, 460 evacuated houses, and 672 firefighers including the Granite Mountain Hotshots. The fire was successfully extinguished with no loss of life or houses. All Prescott rejoiced.
This has been a life-framing prayer for Paul and me:
“Your Majesty,
Thank you for what you have entrusted to me to manage on your behalf.
These possessions, these resources, these gifts are not mine, but yours.
Give me the wisdom I need to make them available for the work of your kingdom.
I am honored to be your subject.
Amen.”* Continue reading
Dustin DeFord
Twenty-four summers. If you’re old enough to have lived some years, and I suppose most of my readers are, do your remember your 24th summer? Dustin DeFord completed his. At least part of it. And, as you know from my last post and from national news, 24 was his culminating year! I told my sister what an irony it is that he with his youth, vigor, and dedication to Christ should have his life snuffed out, while I am 59, physically weary, and am still alive. I would have gladly died instead. Of course, no Hotshot firefighter could I have ever been! My sister’s immediate response was, “Karen, your job’s not done, but Dustin’s is.” Continue reading
Paul Olsen and Dustin and Ryan DeFord
How do I write today’s post? What I had planned must be set aside in light of the great loss that has been thrust upon us. Most likely you’ve heard, but for us, we are a part of the devastated ones, praying for those who are more devastated, those closer to the 19. We live about an hour from Yarnell, Arizona, where the fierce fire on Sunday, June 30, claimed the lives of 19, beautiful, capable, dedicated Granite Mountain Hotshot Firefighters.
Dustin DeFord, a buff, rugged 24 year old red head, is our friend and was one of these “Hotshots.” He belongs to our church. He was in our home on Father’s Day for a big, noon dinner. Continue reading
I just returned from a water aerobics class down at the pool at our community center. Back to my studies and writing. In the background, I’m listening to the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir sing such songs as “Because of Who You Are” and “Hallelujah Anyhow.” I could houseclean to this kind of music, but I’m not cleaning. I’m contemplating the edges of Divine Majesty, eating Greek yogurt with almonds, daydreaming about my family and our future, and still seeing in my mind the crystalline, blue sparkles of the pool’s H2O. “Glory Hallelujah to the Risen King,” the choir now sings. My! My senses are being exercised in the otherwise stillness of my kitchen, where I sit on a padded stool by my counter with my laptop. Continue reading
Journey North Character 