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 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...
by Elaine Olsen | Nov 10, 2013 | faith, family fun, obedience, parenting, pilgrimage
They threw their lanyards on my desk. Safe-keeping I suppose. Mom tucking away treasures for later retrieval, a time when things will be remembered. Events remembered. This remembrance. Pilgrims on pilgrimage. In thinking about this milestone in their journeys of...
by Elaine Olsen | Oct 2, 2013 | dad, faith, family fun, living God's truth, parenting, Raising Faith, words on words on Word
My heart and my pen landed on this verse this morning, while scribing the words of Deuteronomy into my Journible: “Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you...
by Elaine Olsen | Aug 8, 2013 | faith, living God's truth, parenting, peace, pilgrimage, theology, trust, truth
He autographs my copy of his book, along with a postscript – 1 Cor. 1:9. I visited this biblical address in my morning deliberations with God. “God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.” Word by word, I let this...
by Elaine Olsen | Jul 9, 2013 | knowing God, living God's truth, parenting, prayer, theology, truth, worship
Consider heaven. Take a moment or two or ten and consider the heavenly kingdom that exists just beyond the veil. What thoughts come to mind? What do you believe to be true about your Father’s house and the rooms he has prepared in advance of your arrival? As...
