by Elaine Olsen | Dec 26, 2013 | Advent, christmas, creation, faith, fellowship with God, knowing God, pilgrimage, silence, worship
I’ve been waiting for this day for several weeks now. December 26th – the day after Christmas. No wrapping. No baking. No one needing me quite so much. More peace. More quiet. More time to take a walk beneath the beauty of a setting sun. This is where I found the...
by Elaine Olsen | Dec 14, 2013 | Advent, christmas, family fun, parenting, pilgrimage
She held on tightly, arms wrapped fully around my waist and her head burrowed deeply in my coat. “Mom, I don’t want you to go.” Her plea was persuasive but not enough to keep me from loading up the van and making the two hour trek northward to my parents’ home. “I...
by Elaine Olsen | Dec 8, 2013 | church life, dad, faith, francis asbury, methodism, ministry life, pilgrimage
She reads to me about his life, this man named Francis Asbury. Do you know of him? I do. I’d better. Why? Well, I’m the daughter of a Methodist preacher. I’m married to one as well. I grew up in Wilmore, KY, home to Asbury College and Asbury Seminary. I graduated from...
by Elaine Olsen | Dec 4, 2013 | christmas, hunger, letting go, living God's truth, pain, parenting, peace, suffering, surrender, worship
Silent night. It’s been one of those for me. I tried to fill it with a few phone calls and text messages to friends while waiting in my car for my kids to emerge from their youth group meeting. No one answered. All was silent, and the hush filled my heart until I...