Amanda Engstrom – Amanda Volsen

Rainbow in the Storm

Amanda Engstrom Over the years, God has used the weather to speak to my heart. One morning, several years ago during a challenging time in my life, God used His creation to help me understand Him even more. It was a late spring morning; thunderstorms had been moving through our area. Rain was falling as… Continue reading Rainbow in the Storm

The Man in Striped Bib Overalls

The man in striped bib overalls. We live on the southern border of Minnesota but go to church about 30 miles away in Iowa. Most weeks, every Wednesday and Sunday I travel the same route through the rural landscape to church activities. Over time, I started to notice an older gentleman who was regularly outside… Continue reading The Man in Striped Bib Overalls

Wade into the Water – Reflections on Grief

I continue to work my way through a book I’ve been reading since the summer. I’ve never been one to devour books and blaze through them at a rapid pace. So here I am a few months later, finally approaching the last few chapters of “Becoming Elisabeth Elliot” by Ellen Vaughn, a biography of the… Continue reading Wade into the Water – Reflections on Grief

Agriculture Storytelling

I am halfway through my year long documentation of the farm life of the Ponwith family. I have so enjoyed traveling to their farm to help tell their family farming story. From a Ranger ride to check on crops to a walk through the garden. We had a beautiful evening to work with for the… Continue reading Agriculture Storytelling

From the Barn

I took this photo from the 2nd story of the barn looking toward the farmhouse at the 156th anniversary celebration. As I gazed out the window, I reflected on how many people had looked out that window over the years. They may have looked out toward the house to see someone waving them inside for… Continue reading From the Barn