Hello!

We hope to have a new look soon. ICloud has made our life a little more complex as we’ve had to change hosts, but for many people it will make life easier. We had to take down many of our entries in order to transfer the site, so we are process of re-building it. And please complete RSS feeds if you want email notifications.

But we are excited you have found us! God has been doing so many things in our lives and we want to be able to share them with friends, family and ministry partners. To reach us personally, just email us at roger.bruehl@ccci.org or maggie.bruehl@ccci.org.

And as we update the site, we’d love to know what you would like to see!

We’re Back!

Obviously, blogging did not go as I expected! Lack of time, energy, internet all fed into the collapse of a vision, but my intentions were good. The cost of data in Canada was unreal, and even when we had a campsite with wi-fi, we were usually too tired to try. And then there were the challenges with the RSS feed.

All that to say, it was an amazing adventure. We learned so much about ourselves (and our sin nature when energy gave out!) and our grandchildren. Living in the same space for as long as we did helped barriers come down and true emotions expressed. And we learned from each other. As we went through the Proverbs study, we were reminded how each one is precious and we are all growing.

We saw amazing nature. God gave us some “up close and personal” experiences and still protected us from them being too “up close and personal.” Jasper National Park in Canada was absolutely amazing — it made our Rockies look like hills. But even as we were driving through the Appalachians (which the Rockies make look like hills), we were inspired with the beauty and God’s majesty. Each range has it’s own message to us.

Roger’s sabbatical was not exactly restful, but it was full. I think both of us are going to take some time to download all that occurred and lessons learned. The trip was a gift from God we will cherish for a lifetime. For now, let’s celebrate!

(We’d love to hear from you – email us at maggie.bruehl@ccci.org )

Unexpected Stop in Coal River

Mile Marker 533 on the Alaskan Highway.

Roger wanted an adventure. So I guess that includes 2 blown out tires on the camper stranding us at a small lodge called Coal River. They had been doing road work laying down small rock on a tar surface, but the rock are like small pieces of glass, cutting not only our tires, but fan belts, etc.

So he’s driven back to the nearest village 2 hours (one way) away to get new tires. The other direction, it would have been 4 hours (one way). We are in the middle of “no where.”

I can’t help but make some spiritual connections. Sometimes we are tooling along in life, enjoying the view. We are even on the right road, but things happen and then happen again that try our attitudes.

I’m glad we have a credit card with God that helps meet our needs. He provided clean beds and private showers. Our faithfulness and obedience financially has offered us credit on this side. We’ll need to be faithful in the future to pay the debt. But for now, we’re not feeling the stress.

We’re just doing what needs to be done. Bad things do happen to good people. We can’t control it. What we can control is our attitude of thankfulness for what we do have without focusing on what we don’t have.

Hopefully Roger will return in a few hours with new tires and we’ll be on our way. But Mile marker 533 will probably be one of the memories that sticks with us the longest, just like other times God has given us the opportunity to trust Him.

Email me a response:  maggie.bruehl@ccci.org

Where Have We Been?

Blogging our trip has not been as easy as I thought it would! Stopping at campgrounds that cost $11, doesn’t provide access to internet (or hot showers, as Roger sadly learned!). And in Canada, data transfer costs dearly (as Caleb learned when he forgot to turn off his data and his dad got a big bill!). So, we’ve really been pretty isolated from the rest of the world, except for satellite radio (and the sad news from Aurora, CO – our prayers go with them).

But it has been an amazing adventure. I’ve learned so much about my grandchildren and myself, and I know that I am going to need the next 3 weeks to keep working out our relationship. We really are complex beings and getting below the surface to real heart issues take time. I’m glad we have it with them.

We’re on a ferry from Prince Rupert to Juneau where I hope we have internet access and can post this. The trip has been amazing with mountains out every side. God’s grandeur.

But I noticed something interesting — I like the back of the boat more than the front. I think of Rose on the Titanic, flying off the bow, feeling free to create her own future. For me, at this point of my life, the bow is too windy and cold. The back is protected. For me, it’s just as beautiful to look at where I have been and savor those moments.

Life is made of moments, like miles and mountains, we have moved through. It reminds me of a poem I wrote awhile ago. Right now, I’m savoring these moments with my husband, my grandkids and mountains.

Moments

Moments
of fragrance floating
over yellow roses.

Moments
touching the smoothness
of nude sculptures.

Moments
of sheer terror
spinning out of control.

Moments
of quieting hope
when life seems dim.

Moments
of leaving
those we love deeply.

Moments
of unity,
embracing hearts.

Moments
of success
dancing in celebration.

Moments
of shame
brought into light.

Moments
with family
warmed with coco.

Moments
facing illness,
touching the supernatural.

Moments
of missed opportunity,
laced with loss.

Moments
of love
captured in embrace.

Moments around us
chained together
by breath,
forming the essence
of life.

        —Maggie Bruehl

Starting Point: DeBary

This is it! What we will call home for 4 weeks on the drive to Alaska. The picture is not actually taken in DeBary but where we bought it off of Craig’s list, but if you can picture it in the middle of our driveway in the midst of being packed with sleeping bags, food, clothes, and yes, a portable toilet — then you can get a good idea of where we are in the process.

We leave this Saturday, 7am. We’re trying to wrap up our work as well as pack, so it’s going to be a full week. Becky and I worked last night on making notebooks with maps of where we are going and devotionals for the month (a study of Proverbs). I can hardly wait.

Obviously, we need prayer! But what a grand way to enjoy God through family and nature. Pray for health and traveling mercies, and that God will use this in all of our lives to draw us closer to Him.

We’ll try to update this site as the internet access allows us. Feel free to email us as we have email on our phones: maggie.bruehl@cru.org