In Seeing Clearly: A View From Heaven (originally published 2009; revised edition 2014), Rick Mapson delivers a simple compelling narrative conveying deep, important truths. The book, well-written fiction packed with vivid word pictures and masterful character development, is primarily a glimpse into heaven and the character of God. It’s an enthralling tale of stubbornness, love, tragedy, grace and forgiveness with some fascinating twists and turns, interwoven intricately into a tantalizing tapestry by a master storyteller. The book is as entertaining as it is valuable. Surprisingly, the lighthearted moments in this book convey some of the deepest truths. And among the compelling sub-narratives tucked within the text are the stories of the Roman soldier Marcus and an Aesop-like tale about Carl the caterpillar. If you have been praying for a loved one for a long time who has not yet received Christ, this book will encourage you. It also shares rare insight into the character of heaven, as seen by the author. It sheds light as well on the character of God and His love for the lost. This is the second, revised and expanded, edition of this book. Errors in the first edition have been corrected making the book a smooth, delightful read. I heartily recommend Seeing Clearly—for enjoyment, for inspiration, and to build your faith.

Anti-Quaker Law That Executed My Ancestor

Yesterday was the 358th anniversary of the enacting of a law against the "cursed sect of heretics lately risen up in the world, which are commonly called Quakers..." Two years later this law was strengthened and made more oppressive. Quakers were hung. My ninth great-grandmother, Mary Dyer, was hanged on Boston Common in 1660 because of this law. She had a part in bringing the religious liberties we now enjoy. She has a statue at the Boston Statehouse that recognizes the wrong that was done and her contribution to these current liberties. The inscription calls her a "witness for religious freedom." I recently wrote a guest column for the wonderful historical William and Mary Barrett Dyer Blog, which can be found here: http://marybarrettdyer.blogspot.com/2014/10/significant-ancestry.html

This Day in Horn Family History

Frank Eugene Horn, my grandfather, died July 8, 1960, in Pleasant Hill, Contra Costa Co., California, at the age of 77. He is buried in Memory Gardens, Concord, Contra Costa Co., California.
 He was the son of John Henry Franklin Horn and Jennie Fishbaugh Horn, my great grandparents. His second wife, my grandmother (shown in below photo) was Bessie Cleo Wharton. Frank E. Horn of Beaverton, Oklahoma and Bessie C. Wharton of Girdner, Missouri were married July 29, 1908 at Watonga, Oklahoma. The photo was taken August 15, 1908. This is from the large portrait we own. For more family photos see my Horn/Wharton Ancestry set here.

This Day in Horn Family History

On July 7, 1890, my great-grandmother Jennie May (Jane) Fishbaugh Horn died in Anthony, Harper Co., Kansas, at the age of 22. She was my great-grandfather John Henry Franklin Horn's first wife and it has been very difficult to find much information about her. The one photo we have of her shows her to be a beautiful lady. Her son Frank was my grandfather.

For more family photos see my Horn/Wharton Ancestry set here.

On this date in 1859 Big Ben went into operation in London. It sits 320 feet high atop St. Stephen's Tower. I've seen it twice and took these shots in 2005 and 2010.

One of Our Favorite Peaceful Spots

This spot even made it onto the cover of one of Peggy's books. (Not this photo though.)

A Black Rat Snake Crosses the Path

A National Hero

33 years ago today, President Reagan was shot in an attempted assassination. Several years ago, Peggy and I had the great fortune of meeting former Secret Service Agent Jerry Parr and his wife, aboard a cruise ship. Parr is one of the nation's true heroes. He pushed the President into the limousine immediately after the shots rang out. He was also the first to notice blood and ordered the destination changed from White House to hospital. This probably saved Reagan's life as even he did not know yet that he had been shot. Thank you, Jerry Parr. (Parr is now a pastoral counselor.)

Horn Family Heritage

See my Horn/Wharton Ancestry set on Flickr.


Extended Horn Family about 1951.

My sister Ellene's notes:

"Horn Family about 1951
Back - Ellene, Roy, John, Grandpa Frank [I think he is holding Ted], Ed, Ruby's mom [I think it might be Nellie Horn Beeler or Pauline's mom], Pauline.
Front - Pat, Rose, Granny Horn, Ruby, Great Grampa, Nedra, Johnny.
Very front - Ken & Cleo."

Mrs. Link’s Pet Catamounts

Researching my Pennsylvania heritage, I came across this fascinating item. A catamount is a mountain lion. —KH

The New York Times, October 20, 1897

Valued Possessions of a Pennsylvania Woman Who is a Great Hunter.

Reading, Penn., October 19 – The sight of a woman dressed in pretty hunting costume, gun on shoulder, and two wildcats by her side, greeted a party of chestnut hunters on Neversink Mountain, near this city, yesterday morning.

The female Nimrod was Mrs. Helen Link, daughter of Charles Long, the trucker on White House Road, whose little farm produces each year a large amount of the finest truck raised in this section, although it is situated on this side of one of the stoniest hills in this neighborhood.

Mrs. Link derives great enjoyment from the hunt, and has been accustomed for some years to invade, unattended, the wildest haunts on the mountains in this section, in quest of game.

About a year ago, while on one of these trips near Joanna Heights, Berks County, she stopped to rest and inclined her gun against an old oak tree. Noticing a whole in the side of the trunk, she placed her hand into it, and was startled to have it slightly nipped.

Nothing daunted, she continued the investigation, and was rewarded by bringing from the hallow tree two tiny catamounts. She got them home without coming across the parent felines, fed, fondled, and cared for them in every way, and to-day, nearly full grown, they follow Mrs. Link and love her like a faithful dog would.

Her pets are male and female, the former named Josie, the latter Nancy. They are very tame and get along nicely with half a dozen dogs and a number of domestic cats, also pets of the household. Josie and Nancy frequently make trips over the mountains alone, and always return before nightfall. They respond when Mrs. Link calls them and are more than pleased when, one at a time, they are permitted to nestle in her lap.

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