Merry Christmas from Ken & Peggy

December 2013
Slow down and look up …

As we write this letter looking back on the year,
snow covers the area and all is white and beautiful.

We recently returned from Scottsdale, AZ, where we visited with
Peggy’s cousin Melba. We celebrated Thanksgiving together and
enjoyed our time there. We visited a great walking area where we
birded and Ken did some photography.

Sadness touched us once again with the sudden loss of Ken’s sister, Ellene. God helped Ken do the funeral with family and friends. With this came executor responsibilities but we were able to sell her home quickly (the day it went on the market) and all related business has come together well.

Ken’s cousin Nedra was an incredible help, opening her home to us, and helping at every stage of the process.

Ken took a 12-day trip to Indonesia in November and had an exciting time trying to get home when airports were closed and he was stranded on a small island until a special flight to Singapore was arranged for him and the other “strandees.” He missed one major part of his story because of this.

Ken continues to play basketball twice a week with a group of guys 45+ and really enjoys it. The injuries so far are minimal (right now only two of his fingers are non-bending). Peggy started water aerobics the first of year and continues to attend with a friend two to three evenings a week.

Peggy was diagnosed with celiac disease in November, likely triggered by her chemo treatments four years ago. She is adjusting to the major change in diet and learning to cook and bake with the change. (Ken thinks she is a real trooper; she’s never complained and has baked numerous goodies she couldn’t eat throughout the holidays for others.)
We are both still involved in book publishing and editing. We completed a second book for Project Rescue and Peggy is currently working on a Spanish translation project for Silk Road Stories, one of Ken’s book projects previously published in English. The Pentecostal Evangel, the weekly magazine that Ken leads distributed several million copies once again during the year.

Peggy continued her tax work, serving her regular clients in Springfield as well as working with Southwest Missouri Office on Aging. She traveled to Branson once a week during tax season assisting at the senior center. She enjoyed seeing the ladies that were friends of her mother at Maranatha Village while doing taxes there several times.

Ken did very little fishing this year but hopes to make up for it next year!

Perkitty is more spoiled than ever. But, we love her anyway and you would too!

We pray you have a wonderful holiday season and a Christ-filled Christmas. We also pray God’s richest blessing on your upcoming year. May He fill your hearts with His love.

Ken & Peggy

The best place to connect with us is on Facebook; we would love to add you. Ken’s Flickr site has photos and a few video clips are on YouTube. Ken is kenhorn1 on Twitter.

flickr.com/photos/hornkl youtube.com/kjwq

Ken’s AGTV interview program, PE Connections, is online as video on demand at agtv.ag.org. Go to “channels,” then to “Pentecostal Evangel” to view them.

Happy New Year! Let’s make it a good one filled with all God has for us!

Year-End Holiday Greetings

December 2012
Greetings from Missouri.

Feliz Navidad! We just returned from a cruise aboard the Celebrity Equinox. We cruised from December 10-21 to Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica, Honduras, Belize and Mexico. With many of our family now gone we have decided this may be our new Christmas tradition. We thoroughly enjoyed it and had a ball. We sailed with longtime friends Jim and Sherryl Ford. Peggy finally realized a longtime desire of owning red cowboy boots—purchased in Cozumel! We added many birds to our birdlist, especially in Belize where we hiked the jungle with a knowledgeable naturalist of Mayan heritage; it was a great experience. We won’t mention the downpour in the rainforest of Panama! No birds added there!! No photography either, but Ken was able to add to our amazing pictures in most of the countries and we have many wonderful memories that will be with us for years.

Peggy resigned her administrator’s post with South Side Senior Center in May and she is now enjoying free time to do what she likes. This actually freed her up to travel with Convoy of Hope, which was both exciting and sad. Peggy started working with the partnership between Convoy and the National Breast Cancer Foundation. They are now supporting a women’s tent at the events and have seen thousands of women this past year offering free mammograms, screening training, and other life-saving opportunities. She trained them so well that after only a few events they are now off and running and not in need of her to assist. But God is at work and Convoy is serving ladies in need and that is what is important.

Sadness touched us in the loss of two precious loved ones. We were able to be with Ken’s sister Pat in Mississippi before her passing in September and God helped Ken do the funeral with the family and friends. Then Peggy was called to Scottsdale where her cousin Melba’s husband, Dick, had suffered a stroke. She spent the rest of September and some of October with them and then Ken came and officiated at that funeral also.
We realize family is so important and time is precious. We must use it wisely
for things that matter.

On one Convoy trip to Frederick, MD, Ken came along and took vacation time and we toured several historic spots, including: Gettysburg, Antietam, Fort McHenry, Harper’s Ferry, and others.

Besides Ken’s stateside travels , he took a 10-day trip to Israel during November.

At home he continued doing AGTV interviews. A favorite this year was Nik Wallenda, shortly after he walked a wire over Niagara Falls.

Ken continues to play basketball twice a week with a group of guys 45+ and really enjoys it. The injuries so far are minimal so Peggy tries to keep quiet about the enthusiasm and rivalries!

We are both still involved in book publishing and editing.

Ken didn’t do nearly enough fishing but did have his best ever fall fishing for white bass.

Perkitty is more spoiled than ever. The tree was in peril this year; some ornaments had to be moved!

We pray you have a wonderful holiday season and a Christ-filled Christmas. We also pray God’s richest blessing on your upcoming year. May He fill your hearts with His love.

Ken & Peggy

The best place to connect with us is on Facebook; we would love to add you. Ken’s Flickr site has photos and a few video clips are on YouTube. Ken is kenhorn1 on Twitter.

Kenhorn.blogspot.com Khorn.agblogger.org flickr.com/photos/hornkl youtube.com/kjwq

Ken’s AGTV interview program, PE Connections, is online as video on demand at agtv.ag.org. Go to “channels,” then to “Pentecostal Evangel” to view them.

Happy New Year! Let’s make it a good one filled with all God has for us!

Peace

I woke up this morning with a song on my heart. It's a song that I haven't thought of in a long time.

"Peace, peace, wonderful peace, Coming down from the Father above! Sweep over my spirit forever, I pray In fathomless billows of love!"

I'm not sure why I woke up with this on my mind but I am thankful for God's precious peace and at this time where I and my family are going through a difficult time I know that God can give us each His peace and His strength and oh so much more if we just rest in Him.

For those of you who are unaware my cousins Dick and Melba Callender are going through health trials that need much prayer. Dick has had a massive stroke and is now in the stroke center at their local hospital. The same day that Dick had his stroke Melba was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. We are believing God for a mighty miracle in their lives but it will take much prayer and they are both very precious to me. If you would pray with me I would very much appreciate it. Thank you in advance.

GREETING FROM MISSOURI - DECEMBER 2011

Whew, what a year this has been! Lots going on all year and now entering a great holiday season.

In April my mother took a fall. This started a series of events that eventually ended in our losing her. It has been a sad loss for us. As we adjust to not having those daily phone calls or taking her to appointments, lunch, church and more, we both realize what a precious part of our lives she has been these past five years in Missouri. Closing her apartment, packing up items and deciding what to sell and what to keep have kept us busy. Moving into my folks’ home here in Springfield since being unable to sell it has also been a change for us. (Note our address change below.) And the paperwork!!

In August we both headed to General Council in Phoenix, Arizona—Ken with his Pentecostal Evangel responsibilities and me with a wonderful new ministry opportunity. I have been asked to be the spokesperson and Women’s Health Care Coordinator for the new partnership between the Convoy of Hope, the Women’s Department of the Assemblies of God, and the National Breast Cancer Foundation. I am excited about this and we are in the process of seeing just what this will mean for the future. We launched a campaign at General Council announcing the kick-off of a two-year 50 state tour where we will have a Convoy event in all 50 states over the next two years with a women’s tent offering breast cancer awareness, free mammogram screenings, and much more. It’s exciting to say the least and I am pleased to know that God is using my past experience for His good. I’ve been cancer free for two years now. I will be participating in at least 12 Convoy events in 2012.

My job at the Senior Center continues to be crazy and hectic. How can those seniors keep me soooo busy?! Exercise classes, bingo, 300 lunches served each day, delivery of some of those meals to homebound clients, dominos, bridge, puzzles, painting the center, decorating the center, counseling … it just keeps going. Ain’t life grand?!

Ken doesn’t travel as much as he used to but there were still a number of trips this year. He covered the World Assemblies of God Congress in India, where he saw several friends he had met in other parts of the world. He went to the Philippines where he covered stories on two islands. At the Evangelical Press Association conference in Chicago, the Pentecostal Evangel again won several awards.

At home he continued doing AGTV interviews. A favorite was Hudson Taylor IV, direct descendent of pioneer China missionary Hudson Taylor.

Since August he has been playing basketball twice a week with a group of guys 45+ and really enjoying it. He credits this (partially) for his best physical in years. (He’s cancer free for nine years.)

We are both still involved in book publishing, both with Onward Books and other projects.

Perkitty is enjoying the new house. She has the run of two levels and has figured out new places to hide and not come out from when called!

We pray you have a wonderful holiday season and a Christ-filled Christmas. We also pray God’s richest blessing on your upcoming year. May He fill your hearts with His love.

Ken & Peggy


Though we still have blogs with personal news and photos, the best place to connect with us is on Facebook; we would love to add you. Ken’s Flickr site has photos and a few video clips are on YouTube. Ken is kenhorn1 on Twitter.

Kenhorn.blogspot.com
Peggyhorn.blogspot.com
Khorn.agblogger.org
flickr.com/photos/hornkl
youtube.com/kjwq youtube.com/tpeag

Ken’s AGTV interview program, PE Connections, is online as video on demand at agtv.ag.org. Go to “channels,” then to “Pentecostal Evangel” to view them.



Perky after a hard day of play! Getting ready for the holidays…

LETTER BOXING 2

I just wanted you to know that our first attempt at letter boxing didn't cause me to decide to quit! I have added seven stamps since I last wrote and am still having fun. I do have to admit I took Ken with me on one attempt and when we got out of the car at our destination he looked at me and asked, "Where's your journal?" I had left it at home!! The journal is what you stamp your located rubber stamp in to prove you found it! So much for that attempt although we did go ahead and find it and now all I have to do is return to the destination, go directly to the hidden location and stamp my book!

We located two in Branson on our media weekend at the Conservation Area and I have included some of those photos.

"Found it"

Stamping my book

Ken being nice and returning the box to the hidden location - there might be spiders!

Success

Also on a recent trip to Dallas we found four stamps at one location creating a treasure map directing us to the treasure chest - the final stamp. We also went to the cemetery where Greer Garson is buried and got a stamp with her profile on it. That one was interesting because of the history involved and the story shared in the clues.

Well I'll let you know my next adventure and I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and wonderful holiday season.

Letter Boxing

Last weekend I started letter boxing with my best friends. We were excited, we read up on it, we googled it, we read the clues and we headed out. One of my friends said her friend had been doing this for years and had never had a letter box not be there!

So our first clue directed us to a cemetery in Northeast Texas. My first hint at a problem should have been the sign over the road which read Zion emetery but no we headed toward our first clue - the parking lot and parked near the flag pole. We then headed toward the largest "Bull." This ended up being one of the family plots and the largest headstone. After trekking all over the "emetery," respectfully, we ended at our destination only to find that there had been vandals and our hunted box had been stolen and the prize inside destroyed and scattered around the area. This box had included shells and was "sea worthy." If you check into letter boxing you will see that many of the boxes have themes.

Disappointed we headed back home and wondered if we would letter box again. That evening we headed to a local college to discover the alumni hidden box. Upon discovering the secret location we found it empty. We actually cheated and talked to the librarian about the box being gone (you're suppose to remain spy like and not let anyone know you are letter boxing or discover the box location). He indicated that they didn't want everyone coming in and out of the library disrupting the shelves, etc. and also that the box which had been magnetized to the shelf had looked like a bomb! Disappointment once again. And to top it all off we had to run back to our car in pouring down rain, laughing all the way, drenched like rats! Now two down and not sure if we would continue we checked to see if there were more hidden boxes nearby!

We headed to the train depot where there was to be the first of a chain of boxes which would end in our having three stamps,(the result of finding your box) the engine, a car and caboose. Upon getting out of our vehicle we could smell heavy natural gas fumes. We quickly tried to discover the box but were overwhelmed with the fumes. We got back in the car and called 911 discovering that the eternal flame at the first train depot in Texas had been snuffed out by the evenings rain!

But, we are not quitters, we would not be stopped. The next morning we headed to Eisenhower's homestead and found our first box complete with self carved stamp inside a hole in a tree and left champions!!

Now, check out letter boxing online and see how exciting this can be. There are actually 13 hidden letter boxes in Springfield alone!! Happy hunting for those of you who are game. And those of you who I will be visiting get out your tennies cause we will be trekking your area soon!

My Mother with the Lord

Virginia Lea Paul, 86, of Springfield, MO passed away surrounded by her loving family on Saturday, May 14, 2011 in the Maranatha Lodge. She was born in Clebit, OK on September 11, 1924 to Howard and Rose Ella (Leigh) Samples.

Virginia was a member of Calvary Temple in Concord, CA for 54 years before moving to Springfield, MO. She sold tickets for Greyhound Bus Lines for approximately 30 years.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband of 64 years, Alfred Paul.

Surviving Virginia is her daughter and husband, Peggy and Kenneth Horn, son and wife, Don and Rita Paul, granddaughter and husband, Heidi and Mike Westfall, great-grandson Andrew Westfall, nieces, nephews, and a host of friends.

A visitation was held Thursday, May 19, 2011, in the Klingner-Cope Family Funeral Home at Rivermonte, 4500 S. Lone Pine, Springfield, MO. A celebration of life was held Friday, May 20, 2011 at 2:00 P.M. in the Maranatha Chapel, 233 E. Norton, Springfield, MO, with the interment following in Rivermonte Memorial Gardens.

The family wants to thank each of you who sent prayers and wishes our way. Also to each of you who took the time to attend the viewing or funeral we want you to know how very much it was appreciated.

Family members coming from out of state were Don & Rita Paul of Ashland, OR; Cal & Fern Baty of Springfield, OR; Melba Callender of Scottsdale, AZ; Glenda Huff of Gig Harbor, WA; and Joyce Headings of Salem, OR.

Snow Day!!

OK, who's the wise guy that put all that snow in front of my driveway today while I was at work?! I got home to a 2' high pile of snow along my entry to my driveway because the snow plow had cleared the street! And it had turned to ice by the time I got home! I got stuck and couldn't go in or out with my car across the full street and my bumper in the pile!

Finally a neighbor felt sorry for me and pushed me out. I got a pitchfork and broke up the ice, shoveled snow out of the way and pulled into the garage. I may or may not make it to work in the morning!! My feet are frost bitten and my fingers are frozen!! I am whining since Ken is in India!! He's having temps in the 80's!! Love you Ken.

Bad - Not Blogging!

If you check this blog site at all you know I have been bad in keeping you posted on what's going on - I apologize.

The new job is as I expected in that I love the people and the day to day. There is a lot to learn and a lot to catch up at the center and so I feel like I take one step forward and then two back most weeks! Hoping to soon feel like I am moving forward and able to make a difference.

Yesterday was one of the most "exciting!" We had to call an ambulance for one of the clients and someone locked their keys in their car. I got a frantic call that Mom couldn't find her beauty shop (I usually take her and was only needing to pick her up yesterday because of a kind friend). I set up her Christmas decorations in the evening and did labels for her Christmas cards and letters and had her write out her Christmas checks and stickers. If I look back on the day I actually had a full one, I just didn't get a lot done!

Man, I think I just got tired!!

HORN FAMILY TIMES

We are in the middle of a family reunion with Ken's sisters Ellene and Pat. Ellene lives in Richmond, California and Pat is from Pascagoula, Mississippi. We have been talking, laughing, sharing photos, and just having a good time together.


We visited Ava, MO on Friday the county seat of Douglas County where their Daddy was born. We tried to find his birth certificate but the book where it would have been recorded went from 1895 to one entry in 1910, the year he was born, but nothing else. Then they sent us to the Health Department and they weren't able to pull records up from that long ago. So, we had a fun trip and enjoyed seeing the area where Daddy is from but came home without a birth certificate. The picnic lunch in the car (since we couldn't find anywhere else to stop and eat it) was good!! We also fit in a visit to Bass Pro Shop on the way home and the girls caught big ones.


We visited Precious Moments Chapel in Carthage on Wednesday and though Ken wouldn't let me post any pictures of him there we all had a good time.


Today we celebrated Thanksgiving since we are all together and haven't been for a holiday for a long time. We enjoyed turkey with all the fixings and of course Pat's famous cherry pie which she let me help make so I could learn some of her secrets.









We are truly enjoying having the time together and are thankful for this opportunity since we live so far apart.

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. (Psalm 100:4, NKJ)

Lot's Going On

Thought I should update you on the resume situation since I mentioned it! I was excited about the position but knew with all we are doing with the house and other things it would be difficult going back to full-time work at this time. Well, another woman who already works with the office where I applied got the position so for now I shall remain a working from home employee only! Disappointed but okay with it!

The house updates keep moving forward, the downstairs is almost complete and I had someone bid the remaining jobs last Friday so I will soon know if we can get those things done or if we will be plodding along to try and do some of them! The front office is completed and I have one more bedroom to paint other than the master bedroom which is on hold.

We enjoyed Ray Stevens last night in Branson with friends Dennis and Jill Franck. We laughed nearly the entire show. He was very good. We really had a good time.

Ken's sisters Ellene and Pat are coming the end of October so I will be getting ready for their visit. Ken heads for Jordan soon and hopefully while he is away my friend Karen will visit from Texas.

As I titled this - a lot is going on - but we keep moving forward. OK a few steps back but moving - some days!!

Happy Birthday Mom

Resume and More Work on the House

Reminder: We are working on the home my parents lived in here in Missouri, making the changes that hopefully will help it sell in the future.

Hoping to finish up the downstairs painting today. Ken's off on Fridays so I will have help. It will be nice to have an area done. I need to find someone to cut a couple of shelves for the closets and I think that's it for the downstairs except carpet cleaning - yippee!

Also I submitted a resume for a job yesterday and will know more about that next week. Am hoping I can remember how to sit at a desk and work if I get the job! This video is hopefully not an example of how well I do!!



Sure glad I'm a redhead now!

Back to Normal...!

I'm home from reunion and rafting, company's gone, I'm running around catching up ... now what!? Back to normal, what's that?! Ken leaves for Sweden and a conference next week, We are still needing to do more painting at Mom and Dad's house, I can't get people over for bids, the yards are out of control, I think ignoring things for another week sounds good!

We did finish the new Onward Books project for Convoy of Hope - 7.0 Inside Convoy of Hope's Response to the Haiti Earthquake by Kirk Noonan. It turned out great and everyone is real happy with it. Now on to the next project, just a reprint but hey that's what keeps me busy!



Ken has been taking some beautiful photos. You can check out his flicker site but I have included a mosaic of butterflies that he did here:



Oh to be back on the river!!!

Running the Rogue

I have had a wonderful time with my friend Carol running the Rogue River. We were able to have three great days on the river. The first day was just Carol and I, the second Joyce joined us and on the third Beth was with us. All in all a great three days. And I didn't fall in! Well I didn't fall out of the boat! Well not going through rapids!!

We finished two of the days at our favorite restaurant sitting outside above the river eating delicious Mexican food.

Family Reunion

Mom and I are in Oregon at the family reunion. Tonight is the first night and we had 11 for dinner. Many more expected tomorrow. Yesterday's travel day was long as we got up at 3:30 a.m. and arrived at the airport at 5:15, three flights later we arrived in Medford, Oregon. I picked up the rental car and we headed out for Springfield/Eugene. After a short visit at the Baty's, the home where we will be having our reunion festivities, we headed for the hotel and a much needed night of rest.

Anniversary!

My cousin Melba just called to remind me that today is the anniversary of my last chemo treatment - one year ago. This was the day I rang the bell! Wow, I think we should celebrate! Ice cream?! Actually I am just really happy to have hair!

MOTHER'S DAY

It's Mother's Day a little early this year.

We are headed to the Evangelical Press Association Convention this week in Dallas, and then to Mississippi to visit Ken's family, so we won't be home next week for Mother's Day. We decided to celebrate the day with my mother early and go to church with her and then take her to lunch at her choice of restaurant.

Though we know she loved the company and the lunch, she especially loved getting her favorite cookies that she doesn't get too often since they are from Trader Joe's and we don't have those here! They are Lacey's with dark chocolate and she told me she only had three left from the last box she had been hoarding! She loves her cookies!!

After lunch we took a short drive around a small lake and saw fish and birds and enjoyed the beauty of God's creation.

All in all a great day spent together.

RELIEF EFFORTS IN HAITI THROUGH CONVOY OF HOPE

HAITI EARTHQUAKE UPDATE:


This little guy has two bags of the food like we bagged at the Convoy warehouse last week. This is some of the supplies that were in Haiti when the earthquake hit.

Convoy of Hope has confirmed that AID IS GETTING TO THOSE WHO NEED IT MOST. Because Convoy of Hope already had a presence in Haiti, including a large warehouse (which had just been fully stocked with food and medical supplies a week before the earthquake) distribution of relief has not been hampered. Water, food and medical supplies are being distributed along with qualified in-country emergency medical personnel.

Other outside organizations have been frustrated by the overrun single-strip international airport and additionally do not have the in-country logistics in place. But because of Convoy of Hope's long-term commitment to Haiti, they are equipped and ready to respond. AID IS GETTING THROUGH and making a difference.

Please donate! Your gift can be put to work immediately helping the victims of this tragic earthquake through Convoy of Hope. Go to www.ConvoyofHope.org to donate.

Brrrr...it's Cold Out There

The weather has warmed up today. It's all the way up to 17 degrees. It's a "Mom" day today so I will be going out in it. Wondering what I will do while Mom's at the beauty shop. It may be too cold to run errands like I usually do! Brrr...

Mom has called several times regarding her appointment. One was talking about my driving in the snow. She was going to cancel her hair appointment since it might snow. She has asked if I have driven in snow before and then she called back and had changed her appointment to earlier in the day. Then she called back and said she wasn't going to lunch at the dining room so she'd be ready earlier. I nixed that one. We had already canceled our going to lunch since that would have us driving in the snow more! It's only a 10 minute drive from her house to the shop! She originally had a permanent scheduled but now only has a set and comb out. Who knows what she'll be having done by the time the appointment time comes around!

This should be an interesting day–and it's just getting started.