Good Books for a Tired Reader

Posted on October 28, 2013 by Karen Thomas Olsen
Grandson, Aiden, reading in his bed!

Grandson, Aiden, reading in his bed!

My daughter, Amanda, has been reading The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoyevsky.  Woven into her full life, this dense volume has taken her many months to read. She has been reading it along with three other friends who’ve formed a small, reading circle, gathering periodically to discuss their progress through the book and their interpretations. Proud of them. For me, my mind is too weary for such mental demands from my “recreational” reading.  Yet, reading of various sorts and genres is crucial to my life.  Recently, I re-read a book in two sessions in two days:  The Summer of the Swans, by Betsy Byars — winner of the the Newbery Award in 1971.  A children’s book?  You have it!

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Categories: Parenting, Spiritual Growth | Tags: , , | 4 Comments

Autumn Potpourri

Posted on October 17, 2013 by Karen Thomas Olsen
By Pebble Beach in Crescent City, California

Paul & Karen at Pebble Beach in Crescent City, California, Paul’s home town, two blocks from where he grew up. 2012

Autumn days. Favorite for me. Why? I’ve always enjoyed all the seasons. Each has its focal attributes. This reminds me of a reply my mother made to my question to her when I was probably seven or eight years old. I asked her, “Mom, what’s your favorite age for us kids?” (I was asking her what age of children she most enjoyed mothering, what stage of our short lives she liked best.) With the slightest of pauses she said,  “Oh, whatever age you are!” I liked her answer, feeling very secure in it.  So, I learned to like whatever stage I was in, wherever we lived, and whatever the season.  But part of that changed 33 years ago today.

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Categories: Spiritual Growth | Tags: , | 1 Comment

“How Can You Explain God’s Grace?” She Sighed.

Posted on October 9, 2013 by Karen Thomas Olsen

I talked on the phone with Dustin DeFord’s mother at the end of August, before leaving on my cross-country trip.  Tall (to me) and  lovely with strawberry blond hair and pleasant features, Celeste DeFord talked graciously about her family: “God is working uniquely in each person.” (I took notes.)  At the very beginning of the conversation, she replied to my inquiry into how they are doing with a little sigh: “How can you explain God’s grace?”  Obviously, many folks have asked this question. Continue reading →

Categories: Joy & Suffering -- Good & Evil, Spiritual Growth | Tags: , , , , | 3 Comments

Tick-Tock

Posted on September 30, 2013 by Karen Thomas Olsen
The big barn at sun rise.

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 →

Categories: Spiritual Growth | Tags: , | 4 Comments

Cross Country Adventure Begins Today

Posted on September 2, 2013 by Karen Thomas Olsen

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 →

Categories: Spiritual Growth | Tags: , | 5 Comments

Thank You; Comforting Thoughts

Posted on August 19, 2013 by Karen Thomas Olsen

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 →

Categories: Spiritual Growth | Tags: , | 2 Comments

Questions for You

Posted on August 6, 2013 by Karen Thomas Olsen

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 →

Categories: Spiritual Growth | Tags: , , , | 14 Comments

Lost and Found

Posted on July 30, 2013 by Karen Thomas Olsen
Cousins: Front: Susan, Gary Back: Elaine, Karen, Donna

Cousins:
Front: Susan, Gary
Back: Elaine, Karen, Donna

Bobby & Susie Kloeffer

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.

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Categories: Joy & Suffering -- Good & Evil, Spiritual Growth | Tags: , , , , | 2 Comments

Peace to You All

Posted on July 21, 2013 by Karen Thomas Olsen
Reflection Pool at a Christian retreat in Ohio

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 →

Categories: Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Belongs To Whom ?

Posted on July 10, 2013 by Karen Thomas Olsen
June 18: View from our house in Prescott Valley of the Doce Fire in Prescott, AZ

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 →

Categories: Joy & Suffering -- Good & Evil, Spiritual Growth | Tags: , , , | 5 Comments

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