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Bonnie & Clyde in Missouri: Part 4 of 4

1933 View of the Red Crown Tourist Court Cabins

Hello Friends! Welcome to the latest installment of Bonnie & Clyde in Missouri. When I originally started this journey of the famous outlaws in the Show-Me-State I was only going to focus on Southwest Missouri. You can read about Bonnie & Clyde in Reeds Spring, Missouri by clicking here or the outlaws in Springfield, Missouri by clicking here.

However, I would be remiss to leave out one of the pivotal moments in the gang’s history. Ladies and Gentlemen, let me introduce you to Platte City, Missouri.

As of the 2020 census, Platte City has a population of 4,784 and is a part of the Kansas City Metropolitan area. If you are in the Kansas City area and are near the airport, you are not far from Platte City.

You may be wondering, why is this small town such a big deal in the story of Bonnie & Clyde. Platte City holds so much significance because this was where Bonnie & Clyde had a major shootout with law enforcement. Now, that in itself is not unusual, especially if you have done any amount of reading on the outlaws, but Platte City was where it was the beginning of the end for two of the gang.

In July of 1933, Bonnie & Clyde are finding themselves in need of rest. Bonnie is suffering from severe burns she obtained in a car crash the previous month. It has only been a few months after the shootout in Joplin, Missouri (May 1933) and they are still traveling with their companions Buck & Blanche Barrow, Clyde’s brother and sister-in-law, and W.D. Jones, a friend. To read my post about Joplin, please click here.

At this point, according to Blanche Barrow’s memoir “My Life with Bonnie & Clyde,” Buck and Cylde were fighting about their next move and Buck wanted out of this life on the road. Buck was nervous about being so near Kansas City and the potential of wandering into a trap with the law; the law looking for them, or the law looking for someone else. Either way, Buck was uneasy and wanted out. Blache remembers Buck telling Clyde,

“But I am not going to stay with you any longer than it takes to get a car so Blanche and I can leave you. We don’t have to put up with it. We can live a lot longer away from you that we can with you.”

My Life with Bonnie and Clyde page 110

Those words would soon prove very true. The Barrow gang found the Red Court Tourist Camp and quickly took cabins with a garage between them. Clyde paid for the two rooms and Blanche was sent to purchase food for the gang. She was given small change to pay with and was continually afraid of being recognized.

Their one-night stay was turning into two nights and Blanche once again had to make all the arrangements and get more food for the gang. Clyde was unwilling to leave or move Bonnie. She was burned so badly that she was unable to walk and continually needed her burns tended and redressed. To keep their stolen car away from prying eyes, Clyde hitched into town to purchase more medical supplies to keep Bonnie comfortable.

It is hard to imagine from my place in history in 2024, how terrifying it would be to be in Blanche’s shoes. She is scared, known by the law from the Joplin incident, must act like all is well and normal, buy food for 5 people, and not arouse any suspicion. There is tension between the brothers. Bonnie is severely injured, in great pain, and one can imagine not in great spirits. They are near a large city with large law enforcement resources, now adding more interaction with the management was making matters worse.

According to her memoir, she tells about her experience in this light.

” I went to the station to get some toilet soap and fresh towels. Before I entered the station, I noticed everyone in the place was doing a lot of talking. I could hear them and see several of them sitting around a table. But when I walked in everyone stopped talking. The place was so quiet you could have heard a pin drop. It was just as quiet as a death chamber. I knew something must be wrong. The girl who waited on me stood and stared at me for a few seconds, as if she had seen a ghost. And when she did speak, she seemed to be extra polite. I told her what I wanted. “Yes, deary,” she said. “I’ll get them. Is there anything else you need?”

While she was gone, I stepped on a pair of scales and dropped a penny in them. Some young fellow walk up close to me and looked to see how much I weighed. He tried to start a conversation with me. he said something about how small I was, tipping the scales at ninety-one pounds, and how I was dressed in riding boots, trousers, and a shirt. Soon the girl came back and handing me the fresh towels. Everyone acted as though I might pull a machine gun and turn on them at any minute. As soon as I stepped outside, the talking started again but I couldn’t understand anything that was said.”

My Life with Bonnie & Clyde- pages 113-114

Blanche thought her experience was an indicator of suspicion regarding the gang. She told both Buck and Clyde about her experience, but both men thought waiting until morning would be the best. As Buck told her, “If anything was going to happen, you can’t stop it until it starts.”

It is important to note that the Red Crown at this time was also known as “The Junction” and word had spread that Bonnie & Clyde were in town and staying at “The Junction.” While Blanche was telling her tale to Buck and Clyde, the Platte City officers were telling a tale of their own, to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department. The Platte City men were asking for reinforcements, again, what happened in Joplin was probably fresh on their minds and they did not want a repeat of what happened there. Armored cars were supplied, with steel shields and plenty of machine guns were all gathered and brought to the Red Crown. The stage was set for a battle. Thirteen lawmen stood at the ready.

At about 10 pm, officers pounded on the door of Blanche’s cabin and demanded to speak to the men. Blanche full of terror tried to stall and wake the others up to the danger. The armored car tried to break into the garage, and the outlaws, sleepy and desperate to gather their guns were on the defense.

The cabins must have been in chaos. Blanche is screaming, Buck is armed and ready to murder if needed, Bonnie is unable to walk, and Clyde is trying to put her in the car, defend his family, and get everyone out alive. Clyde is shouting to W.D. to load things, move things, and be ready to shoot things all at once. The battle was about to begin.

The book “The True Story of Bonnie and Clyde” as told by Emma Parker (Bonnie’s mother) and Nell Barrow Cowan (Clyde’s sister,) with Jan Fortune, tells a similar account of that night. Clyde sprayed the closed garage door with bullets, hoping this action would get the car blocking the garage door to move back, and it worked. One officer, Ben Throne, was hit by gunfire that pierced through the armored car, which caused the officers to rethink the car’s location and back up away from the gunfire. The outlaws now had a path to escape, but where were Buck and Blanche? Were they alive? Injured? Clyde had no choice but to go into the other cabin and look for them.

“The way was open, but Clyde dared not leave. Buck and Blanche were still in the cabin. He had no way of knowing if they had been killed or not. “I’ll have to go after them,” he shouted to W.D. Just at this moment Blanche staggered out, half carrying Buck. He had been shot twice through the head, and was unconscious, blood flowing from his wound. Blanche dragged him a few feet in that whithering fire, and collapsed with him. “I can’t do it,” she screamed, “He’s dying.”

The True Story of Bonnie and Clyde- also know as the Fugitive. Page 154

Clyde rushed to her aid and Buck was loaded into the back seat with the injured Bonnie.

I try to imagine the sights and smells of these few minutes. The gunsmoke, the screams, the muzzle flashes…it had to be terrifying for all parties involved. By this point, Cylde had a reputation of being almost invincible and the officers were unwilling to lose the outlaws on their watch. Every precaution had been taken, the officers were not going to be outdone again. However, once again, Clyle managed an escape…an escape but not a victory.

“Clyde leaned low, shot the gas to the engine and they roared through the barrage toward safety, the posse scattering as they came on. Bullets crashed through the windows, and Blanche screamed once, high and clear. They all heard her. She pitched forward over Buck’s limp form, blood streaming from her face and her eyes blinded. There was no time to stop and attend the wounded.”

The True Story of Bonnie and Clyde- also know as the Fugitive. Page 154

I have read multiple sources about the life of Bonnie & Clyde and it is through the lens of these multiple points of view that you almost get to see the true story. Blanche has a slightly different take on the glass that blinded her as they drove away.

“I was holding his (Buck’s) head as close to my breast as I could, and had both my arms wrapped around him, trying to protect him should the officers shoot into the car, as I was sure they would do. My face was turned toward the right side of the car and I had my head bent as near Buck as I could. Then a hail of bullets was fired into the right side of the car. I couldn’t protect my face because I was trying to shield Buck as much as I could. Glass broke. Something hard hit the side of my head, just above the temple. It seems to burn its was across the side of my head. I was also struck in my right arm, though I didn’t feel it at the time. But none of the glass or lead hit Buck.

Then my vision suddenly faded out. All was dark. I thought my eyes had been damaged by bullets and glass. But I felt no pain. I was past feeling pain. Then, when hot blood began to stream down on my face, I thought some of it was water from my shattered eyes.

“They got my eyes!” I said. ” I can’t see!”

No one heard me.”

My Life with Bonnie & Clyde- pages 119-120

If the gang in the car heard or didn’t hear Blanche cry out, it didn’t change the injury. The car was full of the wounded and the dying. Once again, Clyde was able to escape capture but not tragedy. Buck later died in Dexter, Iowa from his injuries in Platte City and from further injuries that occurred in another shootout with the law at Dexfield Park. Blanche, unwilling to leave Buck, was captured in the park and taken back to Platte City for trial. Buck died on July 29, 1933. Blanche received a ten-year sentence for her association with Bonnie & Clyde but was eligible for parole after two years. She underwent surgery in September 1933 to remove a glass fragment from the pupil of her eye. Another surgery in July of 1934 confirmed all glass had been removed.

Bonnie, Clyde, and W.D. managed to escape capture in Iowa and were once again on the road, but continued to be hunted by lawmen in multiple states.

In 1933, after the shootout, spectators gathered at the Red Crown to see the bullet holes and the damage caused by the altercation between outlaws and lawmen.

The Red Crown Tourist Court remained an establishment for many years until a fire in the kitchens in 1967 put an end to the buildings. The site was demolished in 1968.

Now, the former site is part office building and part parking lot. Nothing remains that would have resembled the former cabins or the tavern that the Barrow gang would have seen. Rather a historical marker exists now where the Red Crown once stood. The full address for the site is 12200 NW Ambassador Drive Kansas City, MO.

The Red Crown historical marker. You can find this on the southwest corner of the parking lot of the office building. Photos by Kimberly Rankin.
A closer view of the historical marker at the Red Crown site. Photos by Kimberly Rankin.

I hope you have enjoyed Bonnie & Clyde in Missouri. If you are looking for further reading on Bonnie & Clyde, I have listed some recommendations below.

As always, drop me a comment and let me know what you think of Bonnie & Clyde and their Missouri adventures.

Till next time,

Kimberly

Bonnie & Clyde Recommended Reading:

  • My Life with Bonnie & Clyde- by Blanche Barrow Caldwell & John Neal Phillips
  • The True Story of Bonnie and Clyde- by Emma Parker, Nell Barrow Cowan with Jan Fortune
  • Go Down Together- by Jeff Guinn
  • Running with Bonnie & Clyde: Ralph Fults Story- by John Neal Phillips
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That One Saturday I Got Lost in Adventure…

I love adventure and the idea of adventuring…is adventuring even a word? I love wondering where my feet will take me as I leave my front door. Or, as Biblo said best…

“It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there’s no knowing where you might be swept off to.”

Bilbo Baggins- Lord of the Rings- The Fellowship of the Ring- J.R.R Tolkien

I like the idea of wandering in a wood or on a trail, trying to keep my feet but being so willing to be swept off. Always imagining I am in the footsteps of a grand and epic plot, wondering what will I find around the next curve in the path?

I recently found my feet in an old and nearly forgotten cemetery, I know, great October adventure, right? That’s actually how I sold the trip to a few of my friends…gonna explore a creepy old cemetery, want to go? Always have friends in your life who will answer a question like that with an enthusiastic YES!

I first saw the cemetery through the trees along the side of the road from our car, going 70mph on a very busy highway. It was the odd location of the sign that made me so curious, it was right off the highway with no obvious entrance or exits to get there. The car was moving too fast and the woods were too dense to really be able to get a closer look.

A close-up view of the cemetery as seen traveling South on Highway 65, just north of Springfield and the I-44 exit.

The first time I saw it was a glimpse of an old sign, and on every trip, after that, I tried to see more and more of the cemetery. I love it when leaves fall off the trees…you get to see really cool things on the side of the road. It was last winter that I was able to get the best look and see a few of the headstones. Remember what Ferris Bueller said…

Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once and awhile, you could miss it.

Ferris Bueller

He was right. I would see the old sign for the cemetery every time I was on that road and I was dying to explore. So, after a year, I decided to follow Ferris’ advice and check it out. But how did I get there? There were no roads that I could follow, no obvious trails or paths. I was determined to find a way and, armed with the name of the cemetery, Google did not disappoint. I found the website that very dedicated caretakers put together. You can check out all their hard work here.

This is the Union Campground Cemetery. It is located off Highway 65, just north of the I-44 exit in Springfield. You have to follow a trail to get to the actual site, and that makes exploring it even better. It feels a bit like you are traveling in time.

Signs on the property.

The cemetery was established in 1840 and contains the final resting place of about 200 people. Since their burials, time has marched on, families have moved, and new roads have been built. I am not sure the founders would recognize the place.

Researchers only have documentation on about 80 of the names engraved on the headstones. We saw family groupings and graves for infants and small children. It was almost maddening trying to make out the names on the weather-worn headstones. I really wished I would have thought to bring paper and a pencil to try to do a rubbing to make out the words. I guess I have to go back again! The Union Campground Cemetery is no longer active, the last funeral was in the mid-1920s.

You can tell that great care has been taken to upkeep and even repair some of the fallen headstones. The graves that have been identified as unknown have been carefully marked, although the placement of the stones may not actually reflect the actual burial sites. It was honestly a bit moving to stand there and look at the rows of unknown headstones, carefully placed side by side.

This was not a Civil War Union cemetery as the name might imply, but rather it is a church burial ground. The cemetery was unusual for the time as it held the remains of both white and black from the area. It was one of the earliest integrated places of burial. It was amazing being there and also a little emotional. So many graves marked “unknown” or whose headstones are unreadable, the names and lives of those people are lost to history. Maybe it is all the Toy Story movies I watched with my son…but the idea of something being lost and forgotten makes me sad. Who were they? What was their story? I was glad that, at least for that moment, they were being remembered. But why were they in that particular spot?

The church, it is thought, bought the land to use as a permanent camp meeting location where church families and even other churches could gather in open-air meetings. I can see why they were attracted to this particular area…it is lovely. The Cumberland Presbyterian Church bought 39.6 acres of land on September 29, 1840. The actual church was burned by a fire, historians are uncertain of the actual date of the fire or even the cause. I looked around to try to find any clues to the location of the church. A major highway was built in the 1980s near the cemetery and may have disrupted the remains. We did see bricks and other building materials but those are the only clues we could see. can imagine it was even better before a four-lane highway was built next to it.

I found the cemetery just by looking out the car window and I am beyond glad I was paying attention; it was a great adventure! It makes me wonder what I else might have missed or what I was too distracted to see. I find myself paying much more attention to what is around me. Fall is a great time to be able to see the unseen, look through the woods, and find the hidden adventure just waiting to be explored, plus…way fewer creepy-crawly things to interfere along the way.

What amazing places have you explored recently? What should I check out next? Let me know in the comments below.

Until next time,

Kimberly

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WHEN THE STORM COMES: WINNING MINDSETS FOR LIFE’S TRIALS

Have you ever made a mistake as a parent that sets your child on an unfortunate trajectory that takes years to course-correct?

When our son, Connor, was a kindergartener he was fascinated with science. He loved learning and discovering new things. He showed a particular interest in natural sciences-how the world worked!

Being intentional and nurturing parents Kim and I wanted to encourage this inquisitive nature and thought to ourselves, “Maybe he’d like to learn about weather and storms! Let’s watch Twister with him!” (Please don’t judge us.)

From that point on, any time there was even a tinge of gray on the clouds Connor would get nervous and ask with tears welling up in his eyes, “Is there going to be a tornado?!?” And of course, living in the midwest, not a Spring season would go by without at least one tornado siren sounding in the middle of the night, putting Connor in full FREAK OUT mode, where he’d grab a blanket, pillows, and a bike helmet and bolt into the bathroom tub, praying fervently. The bike helmet was Connor’s brilliant idea, by the way…I highly recommend it!

The decision to watch Twister with our 6-year-old was not the best parenting move we’ve made, for sure, and thankfully this blog post isn’t about parenting, otherwise you could click off right now. This post is about storms. Grab your bike helmet, we’re heading in!

This morning I was reading Matthew Chapter Eight about Jesus and his disciples in a boat in the middle of the sea when a squall or “pop-up storm” came from nowhere that nearly sank the boat until Jesus intervened.

And when [Jesus] got into the boat, his disciples followed him. And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. And they went and woke him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.” And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?”

Matthew 8:23-27 (ESV)

I’ve read, written about, and taught this story dozens of times. But this morning something new struck me about this passage. Here it is.

When Facing Storms, Prayer Alone Isn’t Enough!

Ok, this one sounds wrong, possibly heretical. But hear me out. This is the thing that struck me about this story as I read it this morning. Think about it. When we have a storm, what’s the first thing we should do? Pray, of course! And that’s essentially what the disciples did. They knew who to go to! They knew what to ask for. “JESUS! SAVE US!!!”

So why did Jesus say they had such little faith?!? That’s what tripped me up this morning. The disciples did exactly what we all know to do. We go to Jesus! But, sadly they came to him with their storm in the same way we often do with ours. Their mindsets lacked faith. They were not, mentally, where they needed to be when they approached Jesus with their request.

Below are four faith-filled mindsets we must have when we face storms in our lives. With these mindsets, we can come confidently to God with our requests and have peace about the outcome of our situation!

Mindset #1 – “Jesus May Have Brought Me To This Storm!”

We often pray and believe that Jesus will bring us through the storm, but rarely does it occur to us that Jesus may be the one bringing us to the storm! This is something we don’t want to think about. Jesus loves us. He’s working everything for our good. He wouldn’t lead us into the storm. That’s the Devil’s job. And normally that’s who gets the blame for our storms. Or if you’re like me, you might even be “humble” enough to blame yourself for your storms. But like I mentioned in a previous blog My Promise My Trial, often Jesus himself is the one leading us into the storm.

If you look up a few verses from this story you’ll see that it was Jesus’ idea to cross the sea in the first place. Jesus, the one we ask to protect us from the storms led his disciples right into one, and will often do the same to us. Not because he hates us but because he loves us, wants to teach us something, and wants to demonstrate his power and presence in our lives.

When you face the storm, it can be easy to blame the Devil, other people, or even yourself. But remember, it could be Jesus that led you into this very moment in your life, and guaranteed, this storm didn’t take him by surprise.

So, unlike the disciples who prayed “SAVE US!” perhaps our prayers may need to look more like, “Jesus, what are you trying to teach me?” or “What are you trying to work out in my life so that I can be more like you?” Often, the storm isn’t about shaking you. It’s about shaping you.

Mindset #2 – “Jesus Actively Cares About My Storm.”

In Mark’s account of this story, it says that the disciples woke Jesus saying, “Do you not care that we are perishing?” They mistook Jesus’ inactivity for apathy. I know I’ve been guilty of this numerous times. I don’t see an immediate answer to prayer and I assume Jesus doesn’t care about me. Often I think that perhaps it’s because of something I’ve done wrong that has separated Jesus’ love for me. Like I’ve messed up and now I’m on my own!

Nothing can be further from the truth. Nothing can separate us from the love of Jesus (Romans 8:38-39). When praying about your storm, be quick to remember that Jesus loves you always, and cares about your situation more than you can imagine. And even though you can’t see it, he’s actively working!

Mindset #3 – “Jesus Is In This Storm With Me.”

I think this is one of the craziest things about this story. If you read the preceding verses, that very day Jesus was performing countless miracles and wonders (Matthew 8:14-17).

The disciples may not have yet fully known that Jesus was God’s own son, but they couldn’t escape the knowledge that God’s hand was on Jesus in a very unique way. But when the clouds rolled in and the winds kicked up, they forgot who they were with. It happens to the best of us. We get so caught up in our situation our focus turns inward and self-preservation kicks in. In times of trials and storms Jesus is with you whether you feel him or not.

Can you imagine the outcome of this story if just one of the disciples stood up and said, “Fellas! Listen! Jesus is in this boat with us. Do you really think it’s gonna sink with him in it? Let’s just trust in Jesus and keep rowing!” Perhaps the storm would have stopped then. Or perhaps they would have ridden the storm out and had an awesome story about how even when he’s asleep Jesus does miracles. Either way, I’m confident the boat would not have sunk. I’m also confident that if we keep this mindset in our storms our confidence will grow, knowing that no matter what the outcome Jesus is with us.

Mindset #4 – “Jesus Knows More About My Storm Than I Do.”

Have you ever been in a tough situation in your area of expertise? Perhaps where you work, something goes south and you know full well that there’s no way to fix it because you’re the expert and you have no clue!

This is the situation the disciples were in. At least four of them were fishermen and were well versed in sailing and navigating troubled waters. When they told Jesus “We are going to drown!” they had a lifetime of expertise to back up that statement. They may have even thought to themselves, Jesus is a carpenter. He can’t comprehend the danger we’re in.

Sadly I think we can be guilty of this too. We are so familiar with the details of our situation that, though we wouldn’t admit it, we feel we know more about it than Jesus himself, and when we pray it shows. We pray for exact outcomes. We pray as if God doesn’t answer in a specific way, all is lost.

I’m not sure what the disciples expected of Jesus, but I do know yelling at the weather was not on the short-list of solutions, as evidenced by their response in verse 41, “Who then is this, that even the wind and sea obey him?”

When you pray about your situation having a mindset that you don’t have the eternal perspective is crucial. The truth is, though you may know a lot about your situation, there is a God who sees all things from beginning to end who can fix your situation and loves to do it in unexpected ways that will amaze and baffle us!

Faith and Fear Cannot Coexist!

I’ve heard life summed up in this way several times. Right now you are in one of three camps. You’re either currently in a storm, just getting out of one, or about to go into one. Life-giving words aren’t they? None of these camps sound great, but that’s often how life works. In fact, I get most nervous when things seem to be going pretty well. Things are quiet…a little too quiet.

Though storms in life are unavoidable and often uncontrollable, our mindset during the storms is our choice. Jesus didn’t rebuke his disciples because they were in a storm, or that they came to him for help. Jesus’ main concern was their fear (“Why were you afraid?”). Fear blinded them to what they knew about Jesus and robbed them of their faith in Jesus.

When facing storms fear is an easy option, it takes little effort to get there. Faith, on the other hand, can be harder to bolster. Being intentional about your mindset during the storm can make all the difference, not just in the situation itself, but in your personal and spiritual growth and your confidence in God! You may see a miracle in your storm, you may have to ride out the storm, or you may even suffer some loss, but you can be confident that God’s best for you happened in that storm.

I pray you found this encouraging, and if you did I’d love to hear how it has helped you, or how I can pray for you.

Blessings,

Caleb

If you enjoyed this post, feel free to buy Caleb a cup of coffee.

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Bonnie & Clyde in Missouri: Part 3 of 4

Welcome back! Thanks for being on the final leg of the Bonnie & Clyde Road Trip Tour. I am your host and, once again, I will be guiding you on their adventures in the Show-Me State. If you missed the previous posts on their trip to Springfield you can check it out here and you can read about their adventures in Joplin here.

We have visited January 1933, April 1933 and this time we are fast-forwarding even further to February 1934. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome back to Springfield, Missouri!

Bonnie & Clyde found themselves in Springfield once again. This time they didn’t kidnap a police officer, but rather stole a car. They stole a black 1934 Pontiac 4- door sedan from a Springfield neighborhood and then left town. The car they stole belonged to George Thompson, owner of Thompson Sales, a local car dealership. Barrow, presumably, rolled the car down the driveway with the idea of starting it out of earshot. He was seen and later identified by mugshots, by George Thompson. The car was later recovered in Galena, with no damage.

A current picture of the house where Barrow stole the 1934 Pontiac

I spent a Saturday recently, following in the footsteps of this chase, using the same roads and bridges mentioned in the accounts.

Bonnie, Clyde, and their newly stolen Pontiac, plus one other car traveled to Galena, Missouri, intending to leave the state via Arkansas. Authorities had been notified about the stolen car and were now on the lookout for the Barrow gang. Officers spotted the car near Galena and began to give chase.

Map of the 1933 roads in Missouri.

The above picture on the left shows the route from Springfield to Reeds Spring taken by Barrow. Bonnie and Clyde went south from Springfield towards Galena and crossed the Pine Run Bridge. This bridge is closed now to car traffic but remains open as a footbridge. They went over the bridge and then abandoned the car stolen from Springfield.

A brief pause to talk about the stolen car. The car was recovered with no signs of damage and returned to Thompson, who sold it off his lot. Oddly enough, that customer was not told of the amazing “test drive” Clyde Barrow had given it. I would have loved to see the expression on the new owner’s face when he found out. In the hurry to abandon the car, they outlaws left items behind.

The stolen machine was returned to Galena and was turned over to the owner Monday night. In the car that was abandoned, Sherriff Tuttle found two suede jackets presumably belonging to Barrow and his woman companion.

Article from Stone County News Oracle, Wednesday February 14, 1934

Now in one car, they kept going and turned towards Reeds Spring. Once they got to the junction they realized the underpass was blocked by officers.

This is the underpass as it looks in 2019.

At this point, Clyde had no choice but to turn the car around. They couldn’t go back to Galena, they were being pursued, so they took a side road, which in 1934 was called Bear Den Road. I believe today this road is called Yocum Pond Road, it is the only side road that would lead Bonnie and Clyde to the Cape Fair Farm to Market Road, today Hwy 76. It is at some point on this side road that they kidnapped a man named Joe Gunn, who was walking to a local market. This is Joe Gunn’s own account of the incident.

They were being chased by Stone County officers. Raymond Hamilton and another man were with them. They turned off on a country road west of Reeds Spring. They stopped me near Fred Tolbert’s farm. They said they were lost and ordered me to get in the car with them and show them how to get into Arkansas. The car was full of guns. I got in the back seat between Hamilton and the other man they called “Gibbons.” Clyde was driving. Bonnie was with him with an automatic rifle in her lap. They were all pretty calm. They didn’t seem nervous or scared. I had them drive to the Cape Fair Road and turn toward Highway 13, south of Reeds Spring. Just before we got to the junction in a low gap by Yocum Pond, we saw a load of armed officers blocking the road ahead. They were Galena men.

An interview with Joe Gunn in the Springfield News & Leader

Barrow and his gang were able to outshoot the officers and get away once the police had run out of ammunition. They simply drove around the officers’ car and headed south out of town. Amazingly nobody on either side was harmed in this shootout.

And their kidnapped man? Joe Gunn was with the Barrow Gang until they got to Berryville, Arkansas where they told him to get out, miles from his home. Not to be completely heartless, they did give Gunn $10 and let him go without harm.

This is Yocum Pond, near where the shootout happened.

My husband, Caleb, and I spent the afternoon, retracing the path of Bonnie and Clyde and trying to pinpoint the exact location of this shootout with the officers. We think we found it.

Joe Gunn describes a “low point near Yocum Pond”. The picture on the left is traveling East on Hwy 76, the direction Bonnie & Clyde were driving. It is right before that low point in the road and would have given a clear line of sight to the officers ahead. The trees in the photo would not have been there in 1934.

This is the other side of the low point in the road, traveling West on the highway, from the vantage point of the Galena men that Joe Gunn referred to in his account. This picture was taken with my phone while driving, please forgive the dirty windshield.

We brought along a metal detector and wanted to dig around the area to see if there was anything to be found from the shootout. Upon getting permission from landowners, we started looking. First, this is a scary stretch of road. It is near curves and cars travel quite fast along it. Second, we quickly realized we forgot a shovel so we went armed with the jack from the car. It wasn’t ideal but it worked. Caleb was a hero and even dug in the dirt with his hands.

The photos above show the search. I would love to say we found relics from this encounter, bullets or casings, but we didn’t. We did have fun and we walked in the footsteps of history. We went exploring. We came up empty-handed but we still had an adventure. There is something special and sort of amazing about being in a place that was featured in history books.

Ok, we didn’t really come up completely empty-handed. We did find something. Ready to see it?

According to one of our readers this is a loading clip for the 30-06 browning bar machine rifle, which was Clyde’s favorite weapon.

I know. It’s pretty wonderful, right? It won’t get us on the cover of Treasure Hunters Weekly if that is even a real magazine, but we found it. It was our treasure. I am not sure what it even is exactly. If you know please leave me a note in the comments.

We spent a Saturday following Bonnie and Clyde through Missouri, starting in Springfield, to Joplin and Reeds Spring. Up until then I hadn’t really known of them or their history. I was able to read about them, learn about them through the voices of family and fellow outlaws, and read FBI accounts. I am not sure what I think of them exactly but I loved this project and am thrilled I was able to walk into history for a while. I think history is more fun up close, being able to see it and touch it. It was an adventure and I am eager to find more. Maybe even next time I will have a better find to show you.

Bonus, we stopped at a fast-food place to wash out hands after digging in the dirt and in the parking lot was this beauty. I am not sure what year it is but it was almost surreal after walking in the history of the 1930s for a day and it was a Ford, Clyde’s favorite brand. I had to get a picture for you!

Have you walked in the footsteps of history? What did you think? Do you have a favorite monument or place you’ve visited? I would love to hear your story in the comments. Let me know what you think.

Till next time,

Kimberly

P.S. I have found my next adventure. Stay tuned to the blog or follow me on Instagram (@kimberly_rankin) for the latest updates on this new project. I can’t wait to tell you more about it!!

If you enjoyed this post, feel free to buy Kimberly a cup of coffee.

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Bonnie & Clyde in Missouri: Part 2 of 4

Welcome back! Thanks for being on the Bonnie & Clyde Road Trip Tour. I am your host and I will be guiding you on their adventures in the Show-Me State. If you missed the previous post on their first trip to Springfield you can check it out here.

This time we are fast-forwarding a few months from their visit in January 1933 to their visit in April 1933. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to lovely Joplin, Missouri!

April 1933 finds the Bonnie & Clyde, along with W.D. Jones in a reunion with Clyde’s older brother Buck and his wife Blanche. Buck has recently been pardoned by the state of Texas and he sets out to see Clyde. It is speculation on what Buck’s intentions are for this trip. Does he want to try to set Clyde straight or is he looking to join the gang? According to his sister Nell’s account in the book The True Story of Bonnie and Clyde, she believes Buck just wanted to see his brother. Buck knew the risks of running from the law and wanted to just see his brother. One thing was certain his wife, Blanche, did not want him to go.

I (Nell) didn’t blame Blanche for kicking about going to find Clyde. I told Buck so. I said: “You fool around with Clyde, and you’ll land back in the pen with a life sentence. You haven’t got the nerve and daring to do the things that Clyde does and get by. You’d get caught right off.” Buck laughed. “Listen, Sis,” he said, “I’m no fool. I wouldn’t ride a block with Clyde. I know what it would mean. But I haven’t seen him in two years and I want to visit with him. Now don’t you worry, Sis. I’ll be back safe and sound.”

The True Story of Bonnie and Clyde by Emma Parker and Nell Barrow Cowan (pg 112)

One can speculate that Buck truly did want to just see his brother. So he and Blanche left Texas and met with Bonnie, Clyde, and W.D in Fort Smith, Arkansas and together they all arrived in Joplin.

Part 2: April 1933- Joplin Missouri

The group rented an above garage apartment in the suburbs of Joplin, under a fake name. Clyde rented it for one month for $20 plus $1 extra for the neighborhood watch program, something he should have kept in mind.

The apartment had double garages below and two bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen, and a bathroom above. Joplin was a convenient place to rest because of its position in the state. It was minutes from the Kansas and Oklahoma borders, with Arkansas also not far away. In those days, law enforcement could not cross state lines and this was a strategic location.

The rented apartment in Joplin – it looks very similar as it did in 1933.

The group enjoyed a bit of rest from the road and did all the usual vacation type things. They slept, read, cooked, mended and darned clothing, and just enjoyed being together. Bonnie wrote poems and was able to cook her favorite foods; beans, cabbage, and cornbread. Even Blanche, who was nervous about the visit, began to enjoy herself. She had brought along her small white dog and it was all going well.

All in all, it was just the usual family reunion, with the exception that Clyde was wanted for three or four murders, which, of course, sounds incongruous.

The True Story of Bonnie and Clyde (pg 112)

The only problem with the Joplin location was that Joplin was a hot-bed for bootleggers, neighbors and police were suspicious of outsiders and the Barrow gang was soon noticed. Most likely thanks to the helpful neighborhood watch program.

Within a few days the Joplin police became suspicious of the group. Neighbors reported seeing different cars with various license plates as well as occasional glimpses of guns… (Police) also learned the suspects had registered with the power company under one name, with the gas company in another, and applied for a telephone hookup under still another.

The Lives and Times of Bonnie and Clyde by E.R. Milner (pg 63)

It appears that Clyde forgot about the active area neighborhood watch and was more casual than he should have been. Money was getting low for the group and on the night of April 12, 1933, a robbery was committed in Neosho, a neighboring town, by three men. By this time the local authorities had started an around-the-clock watch on the apartment. The descriptions of the robbers match the men in the apartment. It was time for the police to take action. Unfortunately, the police underestimated just who it was that was living in the apartment. They thought they were going to bust bootleggers and came armed with pistols. The Barrow gang had an arsenal.

In the apartment, it was a lazy afternoon. Buck was asleep on the couch. Bonnie was cooking beans and cornbread. Blanche was playing a game of solitaire. Even the small white dog was sleeping. Imagine the panic and chaos that happened next when Clyde, from an upper window, saw the police outside.

This is the account from the perspective of the Barrow gang.

Bonnie said afterward, the thing that stood out clearest in her memory concerning this gun battle was the fact that she could smell her precious red beans burning, hear Blanche screaming and running, and the dog barking wildly. Then the guns began roaring all around her. Bonnie grabbed a gun, ran to the window and fired. “But I know I didn’t hit him,” she insisted. “He ran off down the street. Then before I could fire again a slug came through the top of the window and glass shattered all around me. Buck shoved me down, yelling, “Get back, for God’s sake.”

“Down in the garage W.D. and Clyde were spraying the landscape with their machine guns and Clyde was yelling commands to be above the awful racket: “Get down into the car- you and Blanche- get in the back of the car!” he called, never stopping with that deadly machine gun…

I ran, but there was no Blanche to go with me. Frightened to death, she had jerked the door open at the first shot and gone down the stairs, screaming with terror and fear, the little dog behind her. They were both a half a block away…

The firing had never let up an instant. It was hell. I’d never lived through such hell. Every minute seemed like it would be our last. Clyde was wounded, W.D.’s head was spouting blood, Blanche was gone, and shells were still spatting and snarling at us. Still firing with one hand, Clyde slipped under the wheel and we roared down the driveway.

Passages from The True Story of Bonnie and Clyde (pgs 113-115)

They found Blanche two blocks away from the house, still running, terrified, and holding her little dog. Whatever Buck’s intention was with his reunion with Clyde, it no longer mattered, they were all now wanted by the police and were all on the run.

The aftermath in Joplin was terrible. A thousand rounds were fired between the police and the Barrow gang. Two officers were killed in the gunfight, one at the scene and one later of injuries. Two others were badly injured but survived their wounds. In the fire, officers were able to notice the car and quickly an APB was broadcast. What the police found in the apartment was a treasure trove of evidence.

Memorial sign outside the Joplin Apartment

A preliminary inventory produced a large number of firearms, stolen property, and evidence clearly indicating the Barrows. Weapons included a Browning automatic rifle, four regular rifles, a sawed-off shotgun, and a revolver.

Officers discovered five diamonds that were part of a robbery commited the previous day at Neosho, Missouri. Blanche Barrow’s purse was found and contained both her marriage license and the papers signed by Texas Governon Mirian Ferguson granting a full pardon to Buck on 20 March 1933, only three weeks before…

Further investigation revealed two rolls of exposed photographic film. Strangely, several posters of wanted criminals, including Bonnie and Clyde, were scattered around the apartment.

Passages from The Lives and Times of Bonnie and Clyde by E.R. Milner (pg 65)

It is this photographic film that gave the nation its first look at the faces of Bonnie and Clyde. Until then, Clyde was only known from an old mug shot and Bonnie only had a general description. Now law enforcement had actual evidence of what the outlaws looked like. Interestingly enough, one photo shows Bonnie posing with a gun and a cigar. This led to her being known as a Barrow’s “cigar-smoking gun moll”, which she hated. She smoked cigarettes but not cigars and tried to correct it as often as she could.

Images from The North Adams Transcript, North Adams Massachusetts- April 18, 1933

The Barrow gang fled from Missouri and drove to Amarillo where they bought medicine for wounds they obtained in the gunfight. They were now wanted across the southwest.

I have to wonder here what Buck and Blanche were thinking in that eight hour trip to Amarillo. All their hopes of going straight were dashed, if that was ever a desire for Buck. Blanche, who was never in trouble with the law, now was wanted as an accomplice in the Joplin shootings. Just being with Bonnie and Clyde, at this point, was a criminal act.

I find myself feeling sorry for Blanche, I am certain she was terrified and absolutely out of her depths. Bonnie, Clyde, W.D., and even Buck all had chosen crime as a life. Yes, you can say that she married into a life of crime but here is a fun sidenote. When Blanche found out about her husband’s criminal past and his escape from his jail sentence, she convinced him to go back and make it right. Now that the time was served, Blanche was looking forward, excited about her husband’s full pardon and a fresh chance to live straight.

Buck Barrow was paroled from Huntsville State Prison on 22 March 1933. His family was hoped that he would not return to his criminal ways. Heeding the pleas of Blanche, his wife, Buck had willingly surrendered to prison officials after an escape and had completed the sentence recieved in Denton; he had never cared for guns and primarily had commited only petty thefts.

The Lives and Times of Bonnie and Clyde by E.R. Milner (pg 62)

I can’t imagine how she felt, all the promise of the future and a fresh start now torn to bits. It makes me sad. One wrong decision. One bad choice. I have to wonder if she felt stuck. If she left would Buck follow? Was leaving even an option? This is one of my favorite parts of studying history, trying to put yourself in those situations and wondering it out.

Blanche and Buck were with Bonnie and Clyde for another three months, constantly on the run. On July 19, 1933, outside of Platte City, Missouri they were involved in yet another gunfight with police. This time, they were not so lucky. Buck was bleeding profusely from two head wounds, Blanche was hit in the eyes by glass shards from a broken window. Clyde drove like a madman with his injured group of outlaws. Clyde found a spot to rest and to try to help the injured in Dexfield Park, Iowa. Again, luck was not on his side and a posse of officers found them and opened fire on July 24th. Buck received more gunshot wounds in the fight and was unable to continue. Both Buck and Blanche were captured and Buck died from his wounds on July 29, 1933. Blanche, who was wanted on several charges, spent 15 years in the Missouri State Prison.

Blanche and Buck’s part of the story stopped in 1933 but Bonnie and Clyde kept moving. Coming soon, Part 3 of 3 and their next visit to Missouri and another gunfight with law enforcement.

Till next time,

Kimberly

I want to know what you think about Blanche Barrow. Was she caught up in unfortunate circumstances without a choice or could she have done more to get away from the danger? What would you have done? What would you have said? Please leave me a note in the comments.

If you enjoyed this post, feel free to buy Kimberly a cup of coffee.

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Bonnie & Clyde in Missouri: Part 1 of 4

When I was younger I wanted to be in the secret service because I wanted to know all the “secrets” and have a high-security clearance. I wanted access to data and information. I guess not much has changed. I still want to know things that have happened and all the details but my interest is less in the present and more in the past.

My ears perked up with a simple question asked over lunch one lazy Sunday…”did you know that?” Has that ever happened to you? You hear a fact that you didn’t know and suddenly you are hooked? You want to read and research all about it. Anyone? Well, it happened to me in just that way, “did you know that Bonnie and Clyde had a shoot out in a nearby small town?”

Bonnie and Clyde? THE Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow?? The outlaws who were as well-known for their love affair as they were their robberies. They had a shoot-out near where I lived and I had to find out more. And I did. In fact, I found out so much that it turned into a three-part post.

If you are unfamiliar with Bonnie and Clyde here is the short version, the really short version. Clyde Chestnut Barrow and Bonnie Elizabeth Parker both came of age during the Great Depression. Money and jobs were scarce. Both the Barrow family and the Parker family moved to an area of West Dallas known as Cement City or the Great Divide. They met and lived as outlaws until their deaths in May of 1934. Bonnie puts their story best in her own words.

The True Story of Bonnie and Clyde by Emma Parker/ Nell Barrow Cowan – pg 167-169

At the height of their popularity, they found themselves in Southwest Missouri several times, twice in 1933 and again in 1934. This post covers their January 1933 time in Springfield, the time they kidnapped a local police officer and took him on a joyride.

I will be citing two sources in this post. The first is Officer Persell’s own account as given to a press staff after the incident with the Barrow gang and the second from a memoir written by the third man in the car, W.D. Jones.

Part 1: January 1933- Springfield Missouri

It was the evening of January 26th when motorcycle police officer Tom Persell pulled over a Ford V-8 coach after noticing suspicious behavior. It was just north of the Benton Avenue viaduct. The photos below show the area where Persell pulled the car over. The photo on the right shows the Benton Avenue viaduct at an angle looking south. Clyde did not like stopping on bridges as it limited his escape route.

Clyde had good manners, just naturally. It fooled a lot of folks, like that policeman in Missouri. We was driving over a bridge and the motor law rolled up beside us and told us to pull over. Clyde smiled and told him, “Just a minute, sir.” It was night and Clyde want to get off that bridge before he stopped.

W.D. Jones Memoir November 1968

Officer Persell walked up to the car and found himself staring into the faces of Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker. Rather then the citation Persell was expecting to write, he found himself at gunpoint and in the backseat of Barrow’s car, without his service revolver. In Persell’s words, the car contained an arsenal of weapons and he sat on what he thought was stacks of money. Barrow needed directions out of town and Persell directed him through Springfield and surrounding roads.

The highlighted area shows the estimated travel path Barrow took with Persell.
A zoomed-in version of the estimated travel path.

According to Persell’s account on January 27, 1933, he even helped them change the battery in their stolen car.

The men seemed to have a mania for V-8 Fords and I believe they were trying to steal the other cars just to get batteries for their machine… When he returned, he had an old battery, which was a sorry looking thing. He set it on the running board and started off. It fell off once and we went back after it. After driving several miles, we stopped and I held the light while the driver took the floorboards out of the car and prepared to put in the stolen battery. The other fellow stood behind me and the girl stayed in the car. I helped with the pilers after we got the battery placed.

Tom Persell’s account as told to press staff Perry Smith in Springfield MO 1933

The third man in the car that night was W.D. Jones, a known accomplice of the Barrow gang. In 1968 he wrote a memoir about his times with Bonnie and Clyde and mentioned Officer Persell.

We drove about 150 miles before the car’s battery run down and the car quit. The generator wasn’t working right. We was just outside a little town so Clyde told me, “Boy, you’re gonna have to go get a battery. Take him with you.” And that’s what we done. Me and that policeman went into town and took a battery out of a car and took turns carrying it back to where Clyde and Bonnie was waiting. You’d have thought we was working buddies. We had a pair of pliers and a wrench and that policeman worked right hard to get the battery in the car like Clyde wanted.

W.D. Jones Memoir November 1968

Clyde let Persell go without harm but did drop him off about 8 miles from the nearest telephone. Persell returned home, much to the relief of his family, with an amazing story. He served the Springfield Police Department and later worked with the US Postal Service. He died in 1989, a lifelong resident of Springfield.

An Interesting Note about Officer Persell’s Service Weapon.

When Persell asked for his revolver back, Clyde’s answer was simply, “we can use it.” This gun was special to Persell since he paid for it himself, a Smith & Wesson .44 Special with jigged bone grips. It was one of the pistols that Bonnie & Clyde used in their photos they took of themselves found in Joplin. Persell inquired about the gun, years later, but because he could not supply the serial number, despite a thorough description, he was unable to get it back from its current owner.

Want to know more about Bonnie & Clyde in Southwest Missouri? Stay tuned for parts 2 & 3 coming soon.

Till next time,

Kimberly

What do you think of Bonnie & Clyde? Are they two kids who got stuck in bad circumstances or are they heartless killers? Or are they somewhere in the middle? Let me know your thoughts in the comments. I can’t wait to hear from you!

If you enjoyed this post, feel free to buy Kimberly a cup of coffee.

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The Greatest Generation

My grandparents belonged to what is called the greatest generation. These are the men and women who lived through two world wars. Today is Veteran’s Day 2019 and I want to take a moment and honor my family who served in World War II.

I am a huge fan of history, especially World War II history. I think the more you can learn and understand about the past, the less likely you are to repeat it. It is one thing to read about the battles and the sacrifices of the brave, but it is another to read it in the scope of my grandfather being in the middle, among the gunfire and the bombs. It makes it personal and emotional. I am beyond thankful for their service and the service of so many that allow my freedoms today. In my family tree, I counted 20 men who served in WWII, great uncles and distant 3rd or 4th cousins, but I want you to meet two of the men closest to me, my grandfathers.

I wish I knew more about their service, I am working to attain the full accounts but this is what I know…they were brave, the made a great sacrifice, and they came home to their loved ones. They were able to get past the horrors of war and find love, have families, and enjoy life.

Harry Franklin Conour Jr.

Harry in April 1045- 34 years old

This is my dad’s dad. He died when I was about 1 and 1/2 years old and unfortunately I do not remember him. He was a talented carpenter and I still have some of the furniture he made for me. It is a treasured item. He served in the US Army from April 6, 1945, until June 25, 1946, in the Pacific Theatre of the war in the Philippines. My dad recalls that he trained soldiers to drive tanks. He did not talk about his war experience much. I wish I knew more of his story, his wartime movements, and exactly where he served.

Harry’s Registration Card- 1940

Walter Edward Friese

Walter in March 1943- 19 or 20 years old

This is my mom’s dad. He served in the US Army from March 5, 1943, to March 10, 1946. He died in I was in my 20s and I have very special memories of him. Grandpa had major heart surgery in the 1980s and when I visited during his recovery, it was my job to “walk grandpa” and make sure he got his exercise. I loved those walks.

He used to smoke apple tobacco in his pipe, but that was a secret and I couldn’t tell my nana. He loved reading the newspaper and, in full disclosure, I loved to sneak up on him and thump the paper so it folded in on him. It was my favorite game, not his. I heard “Kimberly Ann,” said a lot in frustration when I visited their house. I was an ill-mannered child, to whitewash it a bit. For all the trouble I caused, he loved me a lot and was very kind. Grandpa worked hard and was a serious man, but when he did laugh it shook the room. It was rare to get my grandpa talking about the war and I wish I could have recorded his stories. It was a special day when he started talking.

Walter’s Registration Card- 1942
The War Souvenir

One day, Grandpa told me he wanted to show me something that he got in the war. I was expecting medals or awards but was totally surprised at what he presented. He pulled out of a drawer a white plate with a red rim around the edges. It was the heaviest plate I ever held. Grandpa told me that this plate was from the remains of a house that his unit found and raided. The backside had German writing and a Nazi swastika. I remember being super impressed and a bit overwhelmed that I was holding a real piece of history. It was his only war souvenir and he handled it with great care. My mom remembers the same story but with an added twist, grandpa told her the plate was from Hitler’s house.

I, unfortunately, do not have the plate today. It was lost after my grandma died but I do have the memory. I also can’t prove the Hitler angle but I am working on it.

The Sherman Tank

My grandpa loved big trucks and drove them before and after the war. He drove tanks in the war and told me he was among the second wave landing on the beach at Normandy and was also in the Battle of the Bulge. His most memorable story was about how he rolled a Sherman tank. He was driving along and the tread came off while on a hill and he rolled the tank. He was so proud of that accomplishment, rolled a tank and lived to tell about it.

Talking about the war was hard for him and there were lots of things he didn’t share with me. I have been told that after the Battle of the Bulge he had a detail where he had to load dead bodies on a truck and burn areas where bodies lay. Some of the units that were involved in the Battle of the Bulge were also some that helped liberate concentration camps. I am not sure if this was his unit or not but I can’t image how horrific those memories would have been.

I will forever be so proud of the service of both of my grandfathers, they are very special men and I am honored to be in their family tree.

I am super thankful for the sacrifice of so many brave men and women, and the bravery of all who served and continue to serve. Today we honor them all. Thank you for your service to our country.

Till next time,

Kimberly

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I missed it!

I had a plan. I had a really good plan all written out. I even wrote it in pen. It was perfect on paper. And I missed the mark! I didn’t meet my deadlines, I didn’t hit the target or even come close. Is this just me? Your goal could have been clean eating, gym time, cleaning that closet, organizing your life, or whatever. You had the plan on paper but something happened in the execution.

Here is what happened to me. I had a calendar full of blog posts I wanted to research and write in October, you can check them out here. I had 17 mysteries from history that I honestly thought I could conquer. I didn’t do it. I finished 8 out of the 17…still good but not the home run I was expecting. But rather than focusing on the accomplishment, I focused on the stuff I didn’t do. My mind was full of negativity and frustration. 

You should have done this!

Why did you waste time on that?

If you were better, smarter, faster you could have finished.

I didn’t pull back and see the bigger picture. I loved the research and writing, it just took longer than expected. We also had some personal family stuff happen, I attended a conference, we promoted our first book in several schools, and we had an unexpected home repair. We had things that happened despite it not being written neatly on my calendar. It was good to take time for all those things. But rather than see all the good…all I thought was negativity. As if I should have been superwoman and still met my goal no matter what else was happening.

It is important to pause at this point because we are at an important fork in the road.

How do we respond when we fail to meet our standards? Which path will you follow?

I learned something important. I am not very kind to myself. I probably speak to myself more than any other person on the planet and I am mean to myself. Ok, very mean. What bothered me is that I had never thought about it before. Like ever.

It was a strange revelation. I like being kind to others. Why am I not kind to me? It reminded me of that verse in James.

People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison. Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely my brothers and sisters, this is not right!

James 3:7-10 (NLT)

We can be quick to read this verse and only think about the words we speak out loud. I don’t think this verse is just about those words. I think you can apply it to words you speak to yourself as well.

Take a pause here and think about how you spoke to yourself today.

…

…

Ok, time’s up. How was it?

It is amazing what we say to ourselves and we do it without even thinking about it. We can trash our appearance, a conversation we had, how we did this or that. We wage mental war on ourselves. Why are we so unkind when we make a mistake? Are we any less deserving of words of kindness and grace?

My friends, we are in a battle against a very real enemy, one who doesn’t want us to win. Every time we speak negativity over ourselves, we are giving up ground. Our enemy wants us to be discouraged, to be depressed, to be ashamed, to be afraid to try again.

Think about this…when we are in those mindsets, we are not effective, we are not moving forward, and we are certainly not winning the battle. And the enemy celebrates his victory. I don’t want to be the reason he is celebrating! I want to take a stand over how I speak to myself.

I am not naive enough to think I will never be disappointed with myself or bothered that I missed the mark. I will. But I won’t stay there.

I will remember I am not in charge and plans change.

The Lord will work out his plans for my life— for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever.

Psalm 138:8a

I will speak words of kindness and grace over my life.

Kind words are like honey- sweet to the soul and healthy for the body

Proverbs 16:24

I will be a self-encourager.

Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.

Ephesians 4:29

I will speak life over myself.

When you speak healing words, you offer others fruit from the tree of life. But unhealthy, negative words do nothing but crush their hopes.

Proverbs 15:4

Maybe this post was just for me? Or maybe it spoke to you too? Leave me a comment and let me know. I am praying you were encouraged and strengthened. I am praying that you give yourself some grace and that you speak kindness and life over yourself. I am praying that you remember these truths.

  • You are lovely and a princess of the King of Kings.
  • You are dearly loved and so special.
  • You were created with a plan and a purpose.
  • You are seen and you are heard.
  • You are a world changer!

Thanks so much for spending time with me on my blog! I appreciate it! Take some time and check out what I learned about Amelia Earhart, Jack the Ripper, The Amber Room, The Dancing Plague, Agatha Christie, Bermuda Triangle, the British Columbia feet, DB Cooper, and the Nazca Lines. Plus, I am still writing about mysteries from history so keep checking back.

Till next time,

Kimberly

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The Nazca Lines

Imagine a blank piece of paper that you doodle on…the lines and curves, random shapes are all part of the doodle. It might represent something to you or it may just be random jumbles from your imagination. Now imagine the Peruvian desert is a piece of paper, a canvas for lines and curves, animal shapes and geometric figures. In the desert the doodles are more than just imagination, they are real. They are the Nazca lines.

What are they?

First discovered in 1927 by archeologists, the Nazca lines have been a mystery ever since. The lines, shapes, and figures, known as geoglyphs, were drawn by the ancient Nazca people over 2,000 years ago. They cover an area of about 200 square miles and are only fully appreciated from the air. The geoglyphs contain over 800 lines, over 700 animals, and over 150 shapes. The largest figure is nearly 1,000 feet and the longest line is over 9 miles. These are massive drawings in the sand.

How were they made?

The geoglyphs were made by removing the top rust-colored layer of the sand and revealing the lighter colors below. The intricate shapes and lines were either marked out with string or rocks and then drawn, sort of like a giant game of connecting the dots. The desert area of Peru only gets about an inch of rain a year, and with low wind and erosion, this has allowed the exposed sand to harden and the lines to remain in almost the same condition for over 2,000 years.

  • Nazca Lines |Myths & Mountains | Flickr
  • Nazca lines |Fabian M | Flickr

What do the lines represent?

Now we are getting into a highly debated area. You can browse the internet and find theory upon theory about why the lines exist, ranging from aliens to maps of the stars.

Unfortunately, we do not have written records of the purpose of each line. Wouldn’t that be an amazing discovery? Dear future generations, we made these really complex shapes and lines and here is why…

All we have is speculations and really educated guesses. Here are the three main reasons that I found in my reading.

Reason #1: Astronomical Calendar

In 1941, German mathematician Maria Reiche first saw the Nazca lines and it fueled her life-long research into the lines. She is actually known as “Lady of the Lines” and was instrumental in getting the lines registered as a World Heritage Site. Reiche discovered that some of the lines aligned with celestial bodies, the sun, and the moon.

  • The Hummingbird geoglyphs longest line actually points to the rising of the sun at the summer solstice.
  • The long beak of the Heron points to the rising of the sun on the winter solstice.
  • The Condor has a line crossing the bird. This line is oriented to the setting sun on the winter solstice.

Reiche believes that the Nazca people used these lines to mark the beginning and the end of the rainy season. Not all of the lines follow the stars and celestial bodies, however. So we move on to reason #2.

Reason #2: Messages to the Alien Visitors/ Religious Purposes

Ok, upfront disclaimer, you can find really interesting statements and viewpoints from this line of thinking. I don’t believe little green men came to visit earth but many people do. There is a belief that the Nazca lines were created as navigational markers for alien visitors and communicated messages to them. Maybe saying come back? When you think that these lines are most clearly seen from the air, it does make sense that they were sending a message.

But if messages were written to the gods, what would have brought visitors from space to Nazca, Peru in the first place? Great question! Scientific research has provided an answer.

Oddly enough, there is a change in the magnetic field under some of the lines, with the field being greater on the lines. Scientists also measured electric currents on the lines. Some of the lines had the ability to conduct electricity that was 8,000 times greater than in other places not on the lines. Is there something in the earth that attracted space travelers? Did extraterrestrials visit Nazca and use it as a mine?

I am a skeptic of the alien visitor theory, but the Nazca people were highly religious people and the lines could have been created in ceremonies celebrating the gods. The Nazca used the San Pedro cactus to communicate with the gods, in touch with the spirits, and to get visions of the future. The cactus, when drunk, creates a hallucinogenic state and the lines could have been created out of the visions they saw. Small stakes and holes in the ground show researchers that the lines could have been marked out and drawn using a string and simple tools, not advanced technology from aliens.

Reason #3: Indicate Water

New lines have been discovered that researchers believe were created by the Paracas people, almost 1,000 years prior to the Nazca. These lines in the shapes of snakes, birds and zig zags have an interesting meaning. It is believed that they point to water. There are several ancient Paraca temples that are built at the intersection of lines, and when you dig at these sites, you can find water. The belief is that many of the lines are directional lines to track underground water systems- natural wells that would provide precious water in the harsh environment.

This geoglyph can only be seen from the sea. This is visible from 12 miles from the shore.

The geoglyph above was known as the candelabra, but some believe it is actually a cactus. The long line of the cactus, when extended, links to the hummingbird glyph which aligns with the sun and the beginning of the rainy season. Many of these glyphs are tied to water and mark the way of the ancient peoples to find this scarce resource. Researchers even suggest that the glyph commonly known as the astronaut should be known as the fisherman.

In Conclusion…

Water played a huge role in the lives of these people and it makes the most sense that they made markers and lines that showed them when to expect the rainy season, where to find water, and geoglyphs they created, maybe, as prayers to the gods for water.

We don’t have letters written by the Nazca spelling out the exact reasons for the lines but I am convinced that they were created with water in mind. This is a harsh environment, that gets about an inch of rain a year. Water would be a huge deal to the people, for life, for livestock, and for crops. They needed a way to show ways to water and even track the calendar to know when to expect water. The Paraca and Nazca peoples were just really creative in how they did this. Lines are fun but the geoglyphs and shapes are really amazing. I would highly encourage you to take a trip, even via Google Earth, and see their creations. Knowing some of the lines are over 2,200 years old and still visible today is absolutely amazing and, I think, one more proof of how important water was to the people of this region.

Thanks so much for reading the blog. I am so thankful for you and I would love to hear from you. Leave me a comment below about what you think about the Nazca lines, what you would have drawn in the sand, or even let me know what you like on your pizza. I can’t wait to hear from you!

Till next time,

Kimberly

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The Search for DB Cooper

I want to start this post with a disclaimer, I am not a professional detective or familiar with skydiving. In fact, a lot of the aspects of this case are brand new to me. So, with that being said…here are my thoughts on the search for DB Cooper.

It was the day before Thanksgiving, November 24, 1971, when a man dressed in a business suit and tie bought a $20 one way ticket from Portland Oregon to Seattle Washington on Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 305. The name on the ticket was Dan Cooper. (He became known as DB Cooper due to a media miscommunication.) Shortly after takeoff, the man ordered a bourbon and soda and gave a note to the flight attendant. In this note, he claimed he had a bomb in his briefcase and showed her red tubes and wires. He had her write a new note to take to the captain and demanded $200,000 in $20 bills and 4 parachutes on landing, in exchange he would release all 36 passengers on board. Incredibly, none of the passengers on board the flight knew what was happening.

The flight landed in Seattle. The passengers got off and the money and parachutes were loaded. Cooper kept the two pilots, a flight engineer, and a flight attendant on board and ordered the plane to head towards Mexico City. Cooper was specific with the way the plane should fly, however, under 10,000 feet and at a speed slower than 200 knots. At some point between Seattle and Reno, Cooper left the plane. Flight 305 was a 727 passenger jet equipped with rear stairs. It is unknown as to when exactly Cooper lowered the stairs and jumped, once in flight Cooper had the flight attendant move to the cockpit and remain there. Only the clip-on tie and two of the four parachutes remained in the cabin upon landing.

In 1980, a young boy while digging for a campfire with his family found a decaying package with $5800, all $20 bills, buried in the sand along the Columbia River. The serial numbers matched those of the Cooper ransom money. This was the only money to have been found from the hijacking.

The Investigation

The FBI became aware of the hijacking in flight and interviewed the passengers in Seattle and also searched the plane and conducted interviews when it landed in Reno. As well, in 1980 when the $5800 was found that area was extensively searched but with no luck.

To date and to my knowledge, human remains, the rest of the money or the parachutes have never been found.

Below is the FBI description of Cooper.

From the FBI Records: The Vault: DB Cooper: DB Cooper part 1 of 41, page 8

The FBI official investigation lasted from November 1971 until 2016. By the 5 year anniversary of the hijacking over 800 suspects had been investigated. Over the course of the case about 1,100 suspects have been investigated with most being cleared for one reason or another.

There are numerous books, documentaries, websites, blogs, and the FBI’s own Vault where you can read detailed reports of the investigation and various theories. Here are three of the best sites I found in my reading. You could spend hours reading through these sites…just felt it fair to warn you. It is an amazingly interesting and complex case and I would recommend checking out their research.

  • themountainnewswa.net- Bruce Smith is a journalist who has extensively researched DB Cooper
  • FBI Records: The Vault– you can also look into other FBI files as well. This was my favorite site if you can get past all the redactions
  • Citizen Sleuths– the website of the private investigators who worked with the FBI to add to the investigation

It Remains a Mystery

Almost every point of view comes with their own favorite suspect of who could actually be DB Cooper. What was interesting is that the hijacking happened the day before Thanksgiving, which traditionally is a 4 day weekend. There were not any missing person cases that came up, matching the description, after the hijacking.

So did DB Cooper survive the jump? Did he make it back to his normal life? The only traces of the money found was what was dug up in 1980. So did Cooper never spend it? Or did he somehow launder the money?

There were 922 additional people that confessed to being DB Cooper, and at least one on his deathbed. Other suspects were identified by various family members or friends based on odd behavior and circumstantial evidence. We may never know the truth behind what happened.

Questions from my research…

1. The FBI Investigation

The FBI has been criticized for how evidence was gathered from the plane. Namely the tie and the cigarettes that Cooper smoked on the plane. The cigarettes are no longer part of the evidence in FBI possession and the tie was missing for the first few days of the investigation. What else was missed? Did they collect the glass he drank from? Magazines he touched? Hair or fibers from the seat he was sitting? Was anything overlooked that could have helped catch Cooper?

2. A Fun Bonus from the FBI Files…

I loved reading the FBI case files and I found this gem. This made me laugh and I am going to post the full images below.

From the FBI Records: The Vault: DB Cooper: DB Cooper part 10 of 41, page 79
From the FBI Records: The Vault: DB Cooper: DB Cooper part 10 of 41, page 80

So let this just be a lesson for you…crime doesn’t pay! Or at least claim your ill-gotten gains with the IRS and pay taxes on it…but even then, it still doesn’t pay! How was this even an incentive for someone to come forward?

3. The Jump from the Plane

There was a pressure bump during the flight to Reno that the pilots used to assume the location where Cooper parachuted out of the plane. Ok. Seems logical. However, could Cooper not have gone to the bottom stair, caused the pressure bump, and then have gone back to the top of the stairs and actually jumped later than pilots think? Were there multiple pressure bumps? The flight attendant stated that Cooper did not need help lowering the rear stairs. This indicates he familiar with the aircraft. Would he have known enough to cause a misleading pressure bump?

4. What kind of man was DB Cooper?

Reports after the hijacking said he was a master criminal and must have been an experienced skydiver. The parachute he used was unable to be steered and he was wearing a business suit, trenchcoat, and loafers. This was clothing and equipment completely inappropriate for a cold and wet nighttime jump.

Later in the investigation minds changed and Cooper became someone who didn’t know anything and was quite foolish. So what kind of man was he? Was he a thrill seeker who was looking to have a huge adrenaline rush and masterfully planned out this heist or was he a foolhardy man who made mistakes and plunged to certain death?

5. What about the paper bag and briefcase?

What was in that paper bag he had on the plane? A meal? Was it big enough for a change of clothes/shoes for the jump? Was it ever found on the plane or did Cooper take it with him?

What about the briefcase with the bomb? Was it a real bomb or a great fake? What happened to that briefcase?

In Conclusion…

The case remains to date unsolved. Many of the leading suspects from the various investigations and theories have passed away…did the truth of the DB Cooper mystery die with them? A body was never found and that leads me to think that he survived the jump from the plane, with a parachute he couldn’t steer, wearing a business suit and loafers. What a story that would have been to listen to…minus the stolen money and hijacked a plane of course.

What do you think? Did Cooper survive the jump? Did he somehow launder the money and evade investigation? Or did he die in the remote areas and the cash forever lost with him? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.

Thanks for journeying through history with me. If you are new to the blog, I am in the middle of Mystery Month and have tackled several topics already, you can check out past posts here and I have some exciting ones coming up. You can get updates on new posts by following CampTown Media on Instagram (@camptownmedia) or Facebook.

Till next time,

Kimberly

P.S. – Did you know my husband and I wrote a kids’ book? It is now available on Amazon!! Piggy & his best friend The Bear are excited to go trick-or-treating and need to find the perfect costumes. You can click here for more details.

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Have you heard about the British Columbia feet?

How much do you think about your feet? It seems like a silly question but think about it for a moment. On an average day, do you really spend time thinking about your feet? I would say the only time my feet take up mental territory is when my feet are sore or when I need to buy new shoes. Other than that…they don’t get lots of attention.

However, in British Columbia and even into Washington state, feet have been featured often by the media. Why? Because since August 2007 feet have been washing up on the shore and along the coastline of the Salish Sea. Yep, just feet still in their shoes. As of this writing, 15 feet still in shoes have come ashore, more than one shoe a year.

What’s the deal with the feet?

Ok…so what’s the deal? Is there a serial killer with a foot fetish? Is it gang violence or punishment for not paying back a loan? As you might expect conspiracy theories abound and there are lots of varied reasons for the strange occurrence. So it some unknown evil lurking about that part of the country?

Actually, law enforcement and the coroner’s office are thinking it has a simpler explanation.

Just the facts and nothing but the facts…

Since the beginning of this occurrence, the feet have washed ashore in various stages, sometimes just the ankle and foot incased in the shoe and other times with the tibia and fibula still attached. In all cases, the coroner does not see signs of mechanical separation, so foul play is not suspected in these cases.

Interestingly enough, this part of the country is not the first part where feet have been found. In 2017, a foot was found in a park off the Mississippi River near St. Louis. Police were able to use DNA and find the foot belonged to a man who had gone missing earlier that year. Feet have also been found along other waterways including the Williamette River in Oregon and in Charleston, South Carolina.

But it is still super weird and needs an explanation. Why are feet washing ashore?

When a body goes into water it will sink into the depths but the ankle is a weak part of the body and with decompensation, ocean currents, and saltwater it can become detached from the body. Hands can also become dislodged and disconnect but the feet can find themselves floating to the surface rather than sinking like hands. Why?

Since the foot is encased in a shoe, and with lighter foam and air pockets in shoe technology, the feet float up to the surface. Which is why most of the feet found have been wearing sneakers. Scientists who study the Salish Sea and its currents have remarked that in that area the currents and the west to east winds lead to more things washing ashore.

All that makes sense…but still 15 feet in one area? What is the reason? Here are some possible reasons for the feet.

Media Cycle

One theory believes it is the cycle of the media that causes the number to be so high.

A foot gets found, press reports and the public becomes more aware, people get curious and their beach strolls turn into a foot rescue mission. Then another foot is found, more media coverage, greater awareness and now more people looking. The cycle keeps growing and creating more and more awareness. I had never actually heard of this before Mystery Month, so I guess I am part of the media cycle problem? This strange foot problem has even inspired an episode of the TV show Bones, season 6 episode 17. I watched it after doing research for this post. It was a good episode.

Victims from the 2004 Tsunami

Some believe that the feet are from victims of the tsunami that hit Asia in 2004. When looking at the shoes found on some of the feet, the manufacturing date is 2004 or earlier. When you factor in the Pacific Ocean currents this theory is possible, but I think unlikely. I have shoes that I actively wear that are several years old. In my opinion that the date of manufacturing does not hold a great deal of weight.

Suicide & Accident Victims

Along that area of coastline, you can find a population of about 7 million people- which is a lot of people! Law enforcement believes that the feet are the result of people having died from drownings, suicides, and boating accidents. Using DNA, 10 out of the 15 feet have been identified as people who went missing. In fact, one of the feet belongs to a man who was known to be depressed and believed to have committed suicide. Two of the feet belonged to a woman who committed suicide by jumping off the Pattullo Bridge. Could the feet belong to others who had unfortunate accidents?

In Conclusion…

It does seem strange that so many feet have been found in one relatively small area, but that does not mean there is some conspiracy afoot. Rather, unfortunately, accidents happen and people die in the water. It is a sad thing, but with feet washing ashore it hopefully brings closure to the families who are waiting and wondering for news of their loved ones. It doesn’t make the loss any easier but maybe knowing something is better than knowing nothing.

What do you think? What would you do if you found human remains? Let me know in the comments.

Thanks for journeying through history with me and examining the feet. If you are new to the blog, I am in the middle of Mystery Month and have tackled several topics already, you can check out past posts here and I have some exciting ones coming up. You can get updates on new posts by following CampTown Media on Instagram (@camptownmedia) or Facebook.

Till next time,

Kimberly

P.S. – Did you know my husband and I wrote a kids’ book? It is now available on Amazon!! Piggy & his best friend The Bear are excited to go trick-or-treating and need to find the perfect costumes. You can click here for more details.

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What Happens in the Bermuda Triangle?

I love the internet! Where else can you find recipes for dinner, spend hours watching cat videos, get the weather reports, daily news and find out how much your neighbor dislikes their child’s teacher? The internet is a lovely and strange place. At times, the internet can feel almost like a Bermuda Triangle, you go in with a planned course and then something happens that you can’t explain. It is a vortex that sucks you in and you can’t escape. You don’t know what happened or how you got there, and you can’t explain how your 5-minute search turned into a 3-hour rabbit trail on flat earth theories.

We know the internet vortex is real, but what about the Bermuda Triangle? Is it really the phenomena that so many have claimed? I dove in, yes-pun intended and searched it out.

The Bermuda Triangle is an expanse of the Atlantic Ocean, roughly 500,000 miles. The exact borders are uncertain but the triangle points of Miami, Puerto Rico, and Bermuda are the most accepted.

It has been documented that strange and unusual occurrences happen to ships and aircraft while traveling in the triangle. This can vary from compasses spinning, electrical equipment ceasing to work, strange fogs and lights, and loss of radio contact to the outside world.

I would highly suggest that you dive into the many disappearances attributed to the Triangle. This one was my favorite.

Flight 19

In December 1945, 5 Navy bombers took off from Fort Lauderdale, Florida on a mission to do bomb runs over nearby shoals. It was supposed to be a routine two-hour flight but something happened. The leader of the group, known as Flight 19, and the other planes, and the planes 14 men crew were never seen again. It has been debated as to what happened to the group of 5 bombers…but it gets weirder. The rescue plane with their crew of 13 that searched for the missing bombers, well…that went missing too.

Was it supernatural phenomena? Maybe?

In his 1984 book, The Bermuda Triangle author Charles Berlitz writes his theory of what happened to Flight 19. According to Berlitz, the cause of the crash was due to less natural causes. He reports that the gyro and magnetic compasses on the planes were “going crazy” and all reporting different readings. Radio transmissions from the tower to the planes were static and transmissions were poor. The planes just vanished.

Berlitz tells of the organized search operation.

But in spite of history’s most intensive search involving, 240 planes plus another 67 additional planes from aircraft carrier Solomons, 4 destroyers, several submarines, 18 Coast Guard vessels, search and rescue cutters, and hundreds of private planes, yachts, and boats…nothing was found.

The Bermuda Triangle by Charles Berlitz, page 30

Berlitz also describes the review board’s findings and quotes an unnamed member as saying, “they vanished as completely as if they had flown off to Mars.” Here is where it gets strange. Berlitz starts to look at the possible connection to UFO’s and introduced the idea that the planes were here but in a different dimension, one caused by magnetic phenomena set up by a UFO.

So it was supernatural? But again…Maybe not.

According to an article from The Independent, Karl Kruszelnicki, an Australian scientist, had some suggestions that are more natural than supernatural, weather and human error.

“It wasn’t fine weather, there were 15m (49ft) waves.” Mr. Kruszelnicki added that the only truly experienced pilot in the flight was its leader, Lieutenant Charles Taylor, and his human error may well have played a part in the tragedy. [He] arrived with a hangover, flew off without a watch, and had a history of getting lost and ditching his plane twice before,” said Mr. Kruszelnicki. Radio transcripts from before the patrol vanished, he added, made it clear that Flight 19 had become unsure of its position. Mr. Kruszelnicki said Lt Taylor overruled a junior pilot who said they should turn west, and insisted the patrol fly east, unwittingly taking them further into the Atlantic, above deep water where it might be harder to find sunken planes or bodies. “If you read the radio transcripts,” said Mr. Kruszelnicki, “Some of the junior pilots are saying, ‘Why don’t we fly to the west?’, and the pilot says, ‘Why don’t we fly to the east?’” 

An interview from news.com.au with Mr. Kruszelnicki taken from the Independent

Kruszelnicki also had an explanation for the search plane’s disappearance. In simple terms, it exploded. After the disaster, oil-slicks and debris were located. The type of search plane that was used was a PBM-Mariner seaplane, also called “flying gas tanks” by the Navy. Interestingly enough, all other planes of this type were grounded after the disaster.

So two sides of the Flight 19 disaster were presented…what do you believe? Is one of them right or is the truth somewhere in the middle?

Theories and Wonderings

Many theories abound as to what happens in the Bermuda Triangle to cause such a list of missing ships and planes.

  • It is a busy area…it is one of the most heavily traveled shipping lanes in the world.
  • It has so many disasters because of the amount of traffic, both air, and sea, and it is just going to happen. Think car wrecks on a freeway versus car wrecks on a country road.
  • The weather patterns play a cause. The Gulf Stream runs in that area and can cause sharp weather changes, plus it is an activity area for tropical storms and hurricanes.

My Favorite Theory

The Bermuda Triangle trouble is caused by the lost city of Atlantis. In 360 B.C. Plato wrote about Atlantis in two of his dialogues, Timaeus and Critias. Plato describes the people of Atlantis as wealthy, technologically advanced, and far superior to the culture of his day. According to Plato, the city sunk into the ocean depths to disappear forever. Here is where Bermuda Triangle speculators pick it up. Atlantis, because of it’s technology and advancement continues to cause issues in the triangle. The legend says that the city of Atlantis heavily depended on powerful crystals which radiated huge amounts of energy. It is this energy that causes navigational instruments of passing ships and airplanes to malfunction.

This brings up a separate question though, was Atlantis a real city that Plato was writing about or a clever invention of his imagination to tell his story? That’s a mystery for another day.

So what do you think? I personally think that with the advancement of GPS, access to more accurate weather forecasts, and other navigational equipment it has helped sailors and pilots better understand where they are at sea and in the air. This has prevented much of the “lost” causes of old. I highly doubt aliens or angry Atlantians are messing with our world and causing chaos.

Would you travel through the Bermuda Triangle? Would you be confident or a little nervous? Let me know in the comments. If you want to learn more, I have hyperlinked my sources and you can check out the numerous books on the subject.

Thanks for journeying through history with me and examining the Bermuda Triangle. If you are new to the blog, I am in the middle of Mystery Month and have tackled several topics already, you can check out past posts here and I have some exciting ones coming up. You can get updates on new posts by following CampTown Media on Instagram or Facebook.

Till next time,

Kimberly

P.S. – Did you know my husband and I wrote a kids’ book? It is now available on Amazon!! Piggy & his best friend The Bear are excited to go trick-or-treating and need to find the perfect costumes. You can click here for more details.

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Agatha Christie & the 11 Missing Days

Agatha Christie, the Queen of Crime herself, was the subject of a possible crime on December 3, 1926. It was a Friday evening and all accounts agree that Agatha kissed her daughter good-night, left her home and then disappeared for 11 days.

I am a huge Agatha Christie fan. I would love to be Miss Marple when I grow up, you can read my blog about it here. I love Christie’s twists and turns in her mysteries and just when you think you know who-did-it…another plot twist. Her disappearance actually fits well with her style of writing, you have the characters, the drama, the mystery, but unlike one of her stories, there is not a clear ending. When looking at her disappearance it is riddled with speculation and unknowns.

Why did she disappear?

Before we tackle the big question, let’s look at the timeline and history leading up to that night.

In 1926, Agatha was already a best-selling author. Her latest book, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, was selling well, but personally, her life was marred by tragedy. Earlier that year, Agatha lost her beloved mother and was struggling greatly with the loss. It is reported that her husband, Archie Christie, either not knowing how to help her grieve or not willing to help, was absent and unavailable to Agatha. Needless to say, her mind was not in a great place when she found out about Archie’s affair with Nancy Neele and his desire for a divorce.

Again, the historical records are fuzzy as to exactly when she found out, some say it was the night she disappeared or that she already knew and the 3rd was when he finally left the home.

Friday, December 3, 1926

Friday, December 3, 1926- Agatha left home. The historical record is clear on that, but the waters again muddy quickly. There are many varied accounts of what exactly happened that night. Did they fight? Did he leave quietly? The reports vary. It is certain that she packed a suitcase, kissed her daughter good-night and told the maid she would be back soon.

Interestingly enough, we have some accounts that Agatha wrote her secretary a letter before she left, outlining her travel plans, and then another letter to the Chief Deputy Constable of the Surry Police that she was afraid of her safety. I can not find evidence of either letter. A separate account mentions she wrote Archie a letter as well, but more about that later.

Saturday, December 4, 1926

Christie’s car was found abandoned on a slope at Newland’s Corner, near Guildford, and there was no sign of Christie, blood in the car, or damage from an accident. The car was near the Silent Pool, where kids were said to have drowned, and the pool was searched with no luck. Inside the car, was a fur coat, a suitcase with belongings and a driver’s license.

The largest man-hunt of the day started, with nearly 1,000 police officers and private citizens joining the search. This was also the first time airplanes were used in such a search. Leading mystery authors Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Dorthy Sayers were brought in to lend their expertise to the case. Sayers investigated the scene of the crime and Doyle used one of Christie’s gloves and consulted a medium named Horace Leaf. Sayers did not find additional clues and while Doyles’ medium was unable to provide a location, Leaf is quoted as saying Christie was alive but “half-dazed and half-purposeful.” So, where did Agatha Christie go?

Tuesday, December 14, 1926

Daily Herald (London) 15 December 1926, p. 1. Photo source: Wikimedia Commons

Christie was discovered 11 days later at a spa hotel in Harrogate, The Hydropathic Hotel, now The Old Swan, with no memory at all as to what had happened. She checked in on December 4th with little luggage and under the name Theresa Neele from South Africa. She claimed she had just lost her child and was recovering. Remember, Neele is the surname of her husband’s mistress, interesting right? She remained at the hotel, enjoying herself until she was identified by a banjo player, Bob Tappin, who alerted police. Upon the arrival of her husband, Archie, witnesses say she thought she was her brother. It is said Christie did not regain her memory or speak of the incident again.

Was it a publicity stunt to sell more books? Was she seeking attention or revenge? There are two theories that I believe make the most sense.

The Fugue State

Did Christie, under the stress of Archie’s affair, dealing with her mother’s death, and the car accident, go into a fugue state or a sort of amnesia? She claims that she did not know how she got to the hotel, or how long she had been there. Is it possible that she wandered into an elegant hotel and just happened to choose the surname of her husband’s mistress as her own? Was that name bouncing around in her subconscious and in her amnesia she claimed that name?

I have a hard time with this theory. It is odd that she did not express any other signs of social awkwardness to the other guests. She was able to converse, be social and seemed to be enjoying her stay. Would she so quickly have been able to assume this other identity and such a cover story? Maybe? But what about money? How was she to pay for her hotel bill? How long would she have remained at the hotel if she had not been identified? This theory raises many questions. I, as it seems the police of the day, liked the next theory better.

The Revenge State

Ok, it is certain that anyone in Christie’s shoes would have lots of wild emotions to deal with during this period. The loss of her beloved mother, her husband’s affair, and his desire for a divorce would cause huge emotional turmoil. It begs the question though, how did she handle it all?

I love the way Agatha’s brain works the complex plot lines and intricate details in the pages of her stories. I have no doubt that she could have worked something similar off the pages as well.

It is believed that her car accident and a trip to the hotel were all part of a complex plan to seek revenge. Agatha knew that the first suspect in a disappearance would be the husband. Remember the letter that she wrote to her husband? Sources from Christie’s house reported they saw Archie burning a letter from Agatha the next day – what did the letter say? Was she setting him up as a suspect?

Author Jared Cade in his 1999 book Agatha Christie and the Eleven Missing Days interviewed family members and got the untold story. James Watts had married Agatha’s sister, Madge. It was told that James’ sister, Nan, was the one who helped Christie in her revenge. Agatha pushed her car down the hill, took the train to London, met Nan and got supplies, cash, and clothes, then took the train to the spa.

It is also rumored before she disappeared Christie told Archie that she was so good at writing mystery stories that she knew that if there was ever a time that she needed to disappear, she knew exactly how to accomplish that. He gave an interview to a newspaper, saying that this was her way of proving herself right. Was this her way of putting herself as the main character of the story? Or did the family make this story up?

In conclusion…

I tend to say that Agatha wanted some time to grieve and wanted to embarrass and hurt her husband for cheating on her. I also tend to believe that she was unaware of how famous she had actually become and was uneasy with the fact that she caused such a large search and a scandal. It was easier to hide behind the wall of amnesia than to admit she was angry and acting out.

In the end, the 11 missing days were almost easily forgotten and life moved on. Christie got divorced and then remarried, still was a hugely popular author, and widely loved by the public.

This was an incredibly interesting story to look into and read about. There are unconfirmed reports of letters that Christie was supposed to have sent from the hotel, about a ring that she lost at Harrod’s, before her amnesia. Letters she sent to the paper asking for the lost family of Theresa Neele to write care of the paper. I could not confirm any of these but the speculation was fun. If you want to learn more, I have hyperlinked my sources and you can check out the numerous books and movies made on the subject.

Thanks for journeying through history with me and examining the mystery of Agatha Christie’s disappearance. Mystery month so far has been a blast! If you are new to the blog, I have tackled several topics already, Amelia Earhart and Jack the Ripper, and I looked through history for The Amber Room, known as the 8th Wonder of the World.

So what do you think? Why do you think Agatha Christie spent 11 days missing? Let me know in the comments. If you have a mystery that you want to me learn about, let me know what too. Or if you just want to tell me your favorite food or just say hello…I am excited to hear from you.

Till next time,

Kimberly

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Nonsensicality: Nature’s Mysteries

Bigfoot. The Yeti. The Loch Ness Monster. Cryptids. Do they really exist? We talk about our favorite unknown creatures in this episode of Nonsensicality. If you have ever seen a crazy unknown creature please let us know. You can connect with us on this site. We want to hear your story!

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If I Had a Million Dollars…

In 1992 Barenaked Ladies released a song called “If I Had a Million Dollars.” I love that song, mostly because of the ridiculous things they say they’d buy with it. But any time I hear the song, it gets me thinking about what I would do if I, somehow ended up with a million dollars.

Now the cynic would very quickly point out that Uncle Sam would demand his fair share, which according to just some quick digging, I found could be up to 37 percent, which would then leave me with a mere $630,000. But so what. That’s still $630,000 more than I had before! Plus, being a Christian who loves my church I would tithe off the pre-tax amount, so now I have about $530,000. Now I’m guessing I could deduct some of that charitable giving from my taxes so I would end up with…um… Boy, this “mathing” is making my head hurt. I need to lay down.

I’m back, refreshed and ready to go. Let’s just say, after all the preliminary expenditures, I still clear $500,000 all to myself. Then what would I do? Below are five things I’d do if I had a million dollars…or $500,000, whatever. I would…

1. Quit Worrying!

I’m loaded now so I don’t need to worry about things, right? Again the cynic would interject, “Mo Money Mo Problems!” And they’d be right to a degree. But worrying about my problems won’t make them go away, now will they? NOPE! So I’ll stop worrying because worrying won’t add a day to my life or a dollar to my wallet.

Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And if worry can’t accomplish a little thing like that, what’s the use of worrying over bigger things?

Jesus – Luke 12:25-26 (NLT)

2. Be Generous!

A million dollars is much more than I need to get by, so I’d give a lot away to people who need it and to worthwhile causes. I would give a lot to my church because I love my church and how much it helps people. Plus being generous will actually make me wealthier!

If you help the poor, you are lending to the Lord— and he will repay you!

Proverbs 19:17 (NLT)

Sounds like an investment option I can get behind.

3. Focus on What’s Important!

In a word: Simplify! I don’t think I would accumulate lots of stuff, because that just breeds more headaches. I have more money, so I buy more stuff that will require more money PLUS time PLUS effort to maintain, fuel and protect. No thanks.

So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content.

The Apostle Paul – 1 Timothy 6:8

I would probably scale down my life so I can enjoy the few things that are most important to me. I’d pay off the house I live in, then give it to my son. I would upgrade my vehicle to a nice pickup because I can’t imagine pulling my tiny house with my Scion XD. (If you’ve read Kim’s and my “Getting to Know You” blogs you’d know our dreams are to move into a tiny house and travel the world!)

4. Treasure Each Day

The world we live in is A-MAZ-ING, but sometimes I think we forget that, or worse yet complain about it. Have you ever given someone a gift and their reaction is less than you had hoped? You’re thinking, I worked really hard on this gift and you didn’t even pretend to like it!!! Think about this. Each day is a gift from God, so why in the world would we treat it any less than that!

This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalm 118:24

Think about this verse. It was written long before flushable toilets, air conditioning, cars, Netflix, or our beloved iPhones ever existed. Creature comforts weren’t a thing in “Bible Days,” yet there were still reasons to celebrate the dawning of each day. So, yeah, I’d treasure each day more than my swollen bank account.

5. Show Gratitude

Just to clarify, showing gratitude is different than being thankful. Being thankful is passive. Nothing wrong with it, but it’s not as active nor powerful as showing gratitude.

I remember Christmas as a kid, when we’d visit extended family. We’d all gather around and receive gifts from grandparents, aunts, uncles, and other extended family. When the appointed time came I’d tear open a gift, mentally evaluate its worth and then attempt to move on to the next one. But before I could open another gift my mom would prompt me with, “What do you tell your Uncle Donnie?” To which I’d reply with a sheepish, “Thanks Uncle Donnie,” then tear into another gift.

Not once did my mom prompt me with, “Now little Caleb, how do you feel?” Why? Was she not concerned with how I felt about my gift? I’m sure she was, but she was more concerned that I let my Uncle Donnie know how thankful I was. Being thankful is great, but vocalizing thanks whether to God or others takes gratitude to a whole new level.

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

The Apostle Paul – 1 Thessalonians 5:18

So there you have it. Five things I’d do if I had a million dollars!

Wait Just a Minute!

I know you’re a smart reader. Probably by Number 2 or 3 you were picking up on the subtle hints I was dropping. This blog has very little to do with spending a cool mill. It’s all about mindsets we should have whether we have millions or just a few bucks. And though I currently don’t have millions I DO have a great fortune when I quit worrying, practice generosity, focus on what’s important, treasure each day and show gratitude.

Ok for reals, though…

TBH, if I did have a large sum of money there are a few things I’d spend it on. Here are my top five…

  1. Home repairs…I would fix it up and make sure it’s livable so our son has a place to stay while Kim and I…
  2. Travel around the world…probably by jet if possible
  3. Buy a pickup truck so that I can pull my…
  4. Tiny House. And…
  5. A Fur Coat…but not a real fur coat that’s cruel.

Oh, and I’d get Kim something really nice.

Blessings!

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Who IS this…CALEB?!?

Hey, Happy Campers! Recently Kim posted 18 Random and Fun Facts about herself, so I thought it would only be fitting for me to do the same thing…not that I’m in any way competing with her (as you’ll see in number 4 below), but I’m going to give you at TWENTY Random and AMAZING Facts about myself. Are you ready? Buckle up!

The Fam and me…dangling 1,400 feet above Chicago.
  1. I Love My Wife. That’s right. I’m going to play the “Husband of the Year” card right now. Seriously, though Kim and I have been married an amazing 22 years, which, as of June 2019 means that I’ve been married over half my life! Pretty amazing. I can’t imagine doing life without her and I’m so excited that she’s on this journey with me!
  2. I Love My Son. Connor is also amazing. He’s in his senior year of college now. It was such an honor raising him and, despite my parenting, he’s turning out to be a stand-up young man.
Ok, enough fluff. You came here for some real random and amazing facts, and though my family is amazing you probably want more “meaty” stuff about me. Here goes.

  1. I recently quit my job of 11 years for seemingly no good reason. I say seemingly because I loved what I did and I believe I was good at it. Kim and I were kids’ pastors and had a great time of it. Recently we felt God calling us to something different. You can read more about our journey in my first blog called The Amazing JOATMON.
  2. I’m not competitive. At least that’s what I like to say. But sometimes the competitive side of me rears its ugly head. I don’t think competitions themselves are wrong, especially if the purpose is self-improvement, or learning teamwork or social skills. I just find that often competition brings out the worst in people and even myself (e.g. this blog header) so I try to avoid it, which isn’t really too hard because…
  3. I’m very unathletic. I’m not super-out-of-shape or anything but I’m not athletically gifted or even interested in sports. I know very little about sports themselves. Kid you not, one time at a football game I shouted, “Kick a Corn Dog!” because I thought that’s what the guy next to me shouted.
  4. I have a pet pig. Perhaps you’ve met Waddles. She became a member of our family in December 2017 when our kids’ ministry needed a mini-piglet for a gag in a school assembly. Afterward, Waddles needed a home, so we adopted her. If you haven’t met her you can check out her blog page or her Instagram account. BTW she’s technically a mini-pig which is a misnomer on all accounts. She’s easily over 100 pounds and could get upwards of 200 or more! Prayers appreciated.
  5. I cut my own hair. Nothing really great to add to this. Just thought you might like to know.
  6. I’m a PK… I grew up as a pastor’s kid in Illinois where my dad was a pastor in a small farming community.
  7. I’m also an MK… When I was 16 I became a missionary kid when my parents became missionaries to the South Pacific and we moved to American Samoa.
  8. And I’m a KK. A WHAT?!? KK was my nickname growing up. Apparently Caleb was too hard for my older brother to pronounce so he dubbed me KK.
  9. I’m an artist…well I dabble. I’ve always loved art, and I enjoy drawing. When I was a teenager I dreamed of being a comic book artist. This dream was realized, sort of, as I recently completed a freelance gig, coloring someone else’s cover art for an independent comic book. You read correctly. I got paid to color! I also do the cover art for our podcast episodes.
  10. I’m a Vegetarian…for the most part. I rarely eat meat. Because MEAT IS MURDER on my digestive system. Seriously it’s not because I feel convictions against eating animals, but I find the plumbing always works better if I steer clear of meat. I also feel better when I don’t have a lot of dairy either, but I don’t think I could ever go vegan because pizza exists! PS. How can you tell if someone is vegan? Don’t worry, they’ll tell you!
  11. I’m an Aspiring Minimalist. Actually, at one time I was a full-blown minimalist. In 1991, when my parents and I moved to American Samoa we each packed all our belongings into a suitcase and a trunk, each. I’ve since relapsed, but am making strides towards minimalism once again, mainly because…
  12. I Want to Live in a Tiny House. The Tiny House Movement really appeals to me. And if you’ve read Kim’s”about me” blog you know she’s on board with this too. I’d love to to reduce everything I owned to fit into a house that’s small enough to be pulled behind a truck because…
  13. I Want to Travel the World. Ultimately I would love to be a world traveler. When Kim and I were dating in college we dreamed about traveling the world, taking pictures and writing for National Geographic. Then we got married and immediately started a family (no regrets at all). But now we are nearly empty nesters and feel like we could pick up this dream once again. Maybe not with NatGeo, but perhaps as travel bloggers. #goals
  14. I Don’t Like Confrontation. I really don’t. I don’t even want to talk about it. Moving on.
  15. I Love Black Licorice. There are two types of people in this world. Those who love black licorice and those who shouldn’t be allowed to vote. Do you disagree? See #16.
  16. I Used to Breakdance. If you listened to our Back To School Podcast Episode you already knew this, but when I was in 3rd grade I used to breakdance. I think I was pretty good at it, but what did I know? I was eight.
  17. I Just Topped Kim’s List. Again…not that I’m competing with her because I HATE COMPETITION! And Finally…
  18. I Love Round Numbers. If I left the list at 19 I would not be able to sleep tonight, or ever again. The only non-round numbers I like are multiples of 5. So right now I’m in my sweet spot and I’m going to end it right now! Thanks for reading!

There you have it! Twenty Random, Fun, Amazing, and a little bizarre facts about me. If you enjoyed this list I’d love it if you shared it with others!

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18 Random and Fun Facts About Me…

Welcome friends! I am so glad you stopped by the blog! We are celebrating fun facts today and here’s a freebie. The opening photo above made me laugh. I thought it fitting for today’s topic.

Imagine you are meeting someone new. If you are like me you may have an imaginary index card you read with the all have the usual things we say when meeting someone. Answers to potential questions they might ask. Hello, my name is…I am single/married…with or without kids…I do this for a living.

For example, my name is Kim and I have been married to Caleb for 22 years. We have one son, Connor, who is 21 years old. We recently made a career shift from full-time ministry to the next adventure the Lord has for us. We love our local church and helping people live their best life for Jesus.

What I love though is learning the less obvious stuff about a person; unusual facts, irrational fears, silly things they did as a kid. In this post, you are getting my fun facts, things about me that would most likely never come up in a first-time conversation.

18 Things Most People Don’t Know About Me

  1. I would love to be a minimalist! Seriously! I would love to only own the things I truly love and truly need and not what the magazines or Amazon tells me I need. Do we need 25 sweatshirts and 8 different types of fall boots? NO! Do I need every dish, cup, and platter in my kitchen? Again, no!
  2. I would LOVE to live in a tiny house. Good thing I am thinking about minimalism, huh? Think about it. Less stuff plus less space equal less cleaning…who doesn’t love that idea? The only part I am hesitant about is the composting toilet. I like toilets that flush.
  3. I like conspiracy theories! We are working on a podcast coming up about our favorite conspiracy theories. One of mine comes from WWII and is the controversy about if Hitler actually died in the bunker or if he got out of Germany. Reading about his life and his terrible plans to take over the world…would someone like that toss it all in? I don’t know. If you want to hear more about this conspiracy and my thoughts, stay tuned to our CampTown Hall podcast. Check out our homepage for the latest episode.
  4. I love being a Vegetarian– I do. I feel better. I think the more plant-based, whole food you can eat, the better your body runs. I really don’t miss meat…cheese a bit, but not meat.
  5. I love Fall– I love the cool weather, the plants that make me sneeze die off. I can wear my favorite sweater and go to fall festivals. Fall is the best and it ushers in my other favorite season, winter! I fully acknowledge that I am strange, it’s ok.
  6. I dislike small talk– not because I don’t like meeting people, I am just bad at it. I makeup interview questions in my head and pretend I am hosting a talk show. I am not even kidding. It’s one of the games I play.
  7. I own a pet pig. Her name is Waddles and you can learn more about her here. She’s awesome! Plus, she has her own Instagram and a blog page you can read here.
  8. I almost always wear the color black. I worked in kids’ ministry for 14 years and wore LOTS of fun, bright colors. Once I was in a mall and a family told me later they saw me but didn’t want to interrupt me because I looked “too grown-up.”
  9. I am an only child, the oldest child and the youngest child in my family. How? I was an only child when my parents got divorced. My mom remarried and had my brother so in that family I am the oldest. My dad remarried and my step-mom had two kids, both older than me, so I am the youngest. Cool, right?
  10. I have never watched It’s a Wonderful Life and I don’t want to. I know! You can’t believe it. I heard it was sad and I don’t like watching sad movies. I know it ends well, but I can’t build up a desire to watch it.
  11. The Wizard of Oz scares me a bit. Our family watched it every year on TV and I watched parts of it from behind a blanket. I don’t like the witch and I don’t like flying monkeys.
  12. If ice cream has stuff in it, like nuts, chocolate chunks, candies, etc. I struggle to eat it. I don’t think ice cream is a chew food. It needs to be smooth.
  13. I once hid behind a couch and held my breath to avoid getting into trouble. It didn’t work. My nana found me once I passed out and once she woke me up…let’s just saw that it lead into fun fact #14.
  14. I have an irrational fear of wooden spoons with holes in them. It was my nana’s weapon of choice for administering punishments. The day I held my breath to avoid trouble…I got double spoon swats.
  15. If I could choose my personality it would be this… Part Miss Marple (she can read people), part Sherlock Holmes (observational skills), part The Doctor from Doctor Who (just to know all the things), part Samwise from The Lord of the Rings (his loyalty and desire to see the best in others), and part Elizabeth Bennett (her charm and wit.)
  16. I used to have the movie Stand By Me memorized. My best friend growing up handwrote out the entire movie word for word. It was our favorite!
  17. I would love to go back in time and dance with Fred Astaire or even with Danny Kaye in White Christmas. I love watching graceful dancers. I like to pretend that I am that graceful. Somedays I think I have two left feet.
  18. I only like my eggs scrambled. I think any other way is icky.

I am stopping here and saving the rest for another day. So, do we have anything in common? What fun facts about you do most people not know? I would love to hear from you in the comments below.

Much love,

Kim

Bonus, if you want to know all about Caleb you can check out his 20 amazing facts blog post here.

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5 Ways to Stop Playing the Comparison Game…

Ever feel like you don’t have all the right pieces in your box to make your life work?

Ever feel like you don’t measure up?

Ever feel like the dumbest person in the room?

Please say I am not the only one here.

So what’s the solution?

We get information faster today than in any generation before us. It was unheard of in my grandparents’ day to have computers in our homes, much less in our pockets. It can be amazing when we are needing facts or figures, but when it comes to personal growth, that’s another story.

We often see the whitewashed, picture-perfect images posted on Pinterest or Instagram and then glance around our chaos and feel…jumbled. We don’t have the perfect (blank) that she does, or the amazing (blank), our homes aren’t (blank), our marriages and our children aren’t (blank). It is amazing how quickly we can go from content to completely inferior, right?

Case in point, I spent two days reading various blogs wondering what I am even qualified to write about. Should I even be writing? Do I have something to say? I wrote and deleted it. Wrote more and delated more. My thought process looked jigsaw puzzle and I felt a lot like the car on the left in the picture above. I imagined critics in my head, “Your website is about media…you should write about movies, books, art…where’s your niche? Who is even going to read this?”

I was frustrated and discouraged. I read all these “expert” bloggers and felt quickly inferior and wanted to throw in the towel… or rather the keyboard. But then I had a light bulb moment!

Want to know what I learned?

Let’s take a quick pause here and remind ourselves of something that we often miss. Ready? Here it is. You are enough. You were made in the image of the Father who loves you and is in awe of you. God didn’t create you to be a copy of someone else. You were made to be YOU!! God doesn’t see any blanks or inadequacies when He looks at you, only His child, His amazing creation, His masterpiece.

God didn’t make a mistake with you, and you are NOT some worthless piece of junk. Read this passage below slowly…let this speak to you.

“You formed my innermost being, shaping my delicate inside and my intricate outside, and wove them all together in my mother’s womb.

I thank you, God, for making me so mysteriously complex! Everything you do is marvelously breathtaking. It simply amazes me to think about it!

How thoroughly you know me, Lord! You even formed every bone in my body when you created me in the secret place, carefully, skillfully shaping me from nothing to something.

You saw who you created me to be before I became me! Before I’d ever seen the light of day, the number of days you planned for me were already recorded in your book.

Every single moment you are thinking of me! How precious and wonderful to consider that you cherish me constantly in your every thought! O God, your desires toward me are more than the grains of sand on every shore!”

Psalm 139: 13-17

Take a deep breath and pause just a moment in the knowledge of how much God loves you. God cherishes you with every thought. We have to start there because getting that truth deep in your soul is foundational for the next part. Ready to go further?

You are needed. Yep…you! Your world, your family, your co-workers, the people you bump into walking about life, they need you. Not you pretending to be a photocopy of someone else but YOU. Authentically and genuinely you. You are enough!  

You were put on the planet, right now, in the place you live, because the world needs you. Don’t have it all together? Me either. Laundry piled up, dishes in the sink, things still unchecked on the to-do list, welcome to the club. We still need you. We need your story, your friendship, your encouragement, we even need your scars because we might need the wisdom of how you overcame.

It’s 100% ok that your life doesn’t look like her life. It’s not supposed to! One of my favorite pieces of advice that I have ever been given is this…

“Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.” – Dr. Seuss

God made you wonderful, on purpose, for a reason. You might need to remind yourself of that every day, every hour, or every 10 minutes.  

And you wouldn’t be alone. Every woman I have ever met struggles with having a comparison mindset at times.  

In fact, with the rise in social media popularity, there is now a phenomenon called FOMO. It is otherwise known as the Fear Of Missing Out. Why wasn’t I invited to the party? Why did they go to that place without me? Am I not fun enough, popular enough, good enough to be included? And those thoughts can go round and round in our minds.

Want to stop playing the comparison game? Let me help you.  

  1. Wash your Mind! Allow God’s word and His truth to go deep into your thoughts and stand on it. Believe you are who He says you are. Write it on mirrors, on index cards for the car, add verses to your phone’s wallpaper…whereever you will see them when you need them. The YouVersion app has options to have the Bible read aloud…it’s a great option.
  2. Stop Listening to the Wrong Voices! The enemy would like nothing more than to get you to buy into his lies…it keeps you from living out your purpose and being effective. The enemy would love nothing more to keep you quiet and afraid. When you start believing you are who God says you are, you are becoming a powerful force to change the world!
  3. Be thankful! Look around your world and start being thankful for what you have and who you have in your world. Make a list of all the things you are thankful for, down to the smallest things, and watch how your perspective changes.
  4. Serve! Volunteer in your community or your church. Serving others is the best way to take your eyes off yourself and focus on meeting the needs of others.
  5. Find a Community! Connect with other people around you and share with them what God is doing in your life and the things you are learning. People need your stories, your wisdom, and they need YOU!  

You, my dear, are a world changer! I am right beside you, cheering you on and here to pray for you when you need it. You are not alone on this journey! Leave me a comment below and let me know if comparing is something you struggle with and how you have overcome it. I can’t wait to hear from you!

Much love,

Kim

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Mistakes We Make When We Vote

I hesitate to even post this. Possibly by the time I do, it may be irrelevant but after praying about it I felt I should. I also understand that this is a very sensitive subject for many people and many are passionate about their opinions on this matter. You may have negative feedback for me at the end of this, and I’m ok with that.

As I’m writing this, ballots for the 2020 Elections are still being counted (this is day 4 of counting). We may be getting close to an official report of who the next President of the United States of America will be. When the announcement is made nearly half of the country will be ecstatic and the other half will be angry, disappointed, ready to riot, ready to leave the country, and ready to hate their neighbor for not voting their way. But 100% of the people who put their complete faith and hope in this elected official will be disappointed by this person. Because they’re just that. They’re people. Imperfect, flawed people.

I’ve been watching social media leading up to this vote and I have to say that I’m very disappointed in my fellow man, particularly my Christian brothers and sisters who, for some reason believe that because they’re a Christian and an American the party they support is anointed by God Himself. As if to say “God is a (fill in your party here).” This angers and saddens me, and this morning as I was praying about this situation 1 Samuel Chapter 8 came to mind.

Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah and said to him, “Behold, you are old and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint for us a king to judge us like all the nations.” But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” And Samuel prayed to the Lord. And the Lord said to Samuel, “Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them. According to all the deeds that they have done, from the day I brought them up out of Egypt even to this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are also doing to you. Now then, obey their voice; only you shall solemnly warn them and show them the ways of the king who shall reign over them.”

1 Samuel 8:4-9

Then what follows is a list of all the freedoms they will lose. Their children will essentially become slaves to the king. They will be taxed on everything. The king will do whatever he pleases, and the people will have to comply. God paints a very bleak picture of what a human-based government will look like. But the people still want it! They fill out their ballots and cast their votes for a king to lead them. Ok, they didn’t actually fill out ballots. They just shouted at Samuel.

And they got a king. And they regretted it. Occasionally a good king comes along in the history of Israel, but by and large, the kings are a disappointment and do exactly what God warned them would happen, sometimes to horrendous extremes.

Ok, I think I should get to the point. I’m not saying having a president or government is wrong. I’m not advocating for a religious oligarchy. Actually, I’d be very much against that. I’m not even saying that we shouldn’t vote. I voted this week. Who I voted for is none of your business, and I really don’t care who you voted for. But when it comes to government and particularly voting there are things we must consider, especially for Christians.

Below are 5 things to keep in mind when it comes to faith, government, and voting.

1. You Are Entitled to Dual-Citizenship!

The longer I live on this earth the more I look forward to Heaven. But while I’m here I can always rest in the knowledge that I’m a citizen of another Kingdom, and not only that, I’m a son of the King, with equal rights as Jesus himself (Romans 8:14-17)

So if the candidate I vote for doesn’t get elected, I’m ok with that. I’m a citizen of the Kingdom of God and as such, I don’t have to worry about how the affairs of this world. All I need to do is continue to fix my eyes on the King of Kings and, come what may, I’m great!

And by the way, when you fix your eyes on anything, or anyone else, that’s called idolatry. Please, I beg you, don’t elevate any candidate to the point that you are fixing your eyes, faith, hope, or expectancy on them other than Jesus, himself. Which brings me to my next point!

2. Your Leaders Will Fail You

No matter who gets elected, this person is human, prone to the same sins, mistakes, misjudgments, and malfeasance that we are, and probably more so. Think about it, do you perform better when you are by yourself or when thousands of eyes are watching your every move? Your government officials live under a microscope and every move they make for better or worse will be noticed and shouted from the rooftops.

So when our leaders fail us, show them the grace that we want to be shown when we fail. Actually, that’s required of us. Forgiveness isn’t just for people we know who offend us, but even for our government leaders who lead poorly, or even in sinful ways. Because Jesus died for the sins of politicians, too. Hard to believe I know, but still true.

3. “Vote Bible” Is A Myth

Ok, this is one I may catch some flack for. There’s this whole “Vote Bible” thing I’ve been seeing lately and it’s kind of gotten under my skin. Here’s why.

First, I believe that it places a certain pressure to vote towards a certain party or certain issues. Kind of going back to what I said earlier, that if you’re a Christian, you’ll vote ____________. But the truth is, there are virtues and vices in both major political parties, so to say I’m voting Bible when I vote for one party would be lying.

Second, if I wanted to truly vote Bible, my ballot would look ridiculous, because basically, I’d just have to pencil in “Jesus” for each candidate. Because, as we know Jesus is the answer, and because of my dual-citizenship he has 100% of my vote. But clearly, I’m not going to do that.

That doesn’t mean I don’t take my faith into consideration when I’m voting, and it definitely means I will pray before and after I vote. But I’m going to vote for the person who, after prayer and consideration, I feel like is the best (not perfect) candidate.

Also, when I vote for a person doesn’t mean I have to agree with everything they do or stand for. And this is a trap I believe a lot of people fall into when it comes to politics. We support a candidate because they (mostly) line up with how we believe, then they do something stupid, and, rather than just saying “yeah that was stupid,” we justify it. We give up a bit of our own integrity to defend the wrong actions of our very fallible candidate, maybe even try to shift the blame to the other party, as if they were to blame for our guy’s mistake.

Ok moving on.

4. Whoever Is Elected Was Placed There By God

This one is important, and one we cannot forget. We may cast our vote, but whoever gets elected is placed there by God, for better or worse.

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing.

Romans 13;1-6

Romans 13:1-6 always gets me. Like, really convicts me. Whenever I feel like complaining about my government or “The System” this verse is the kick in the pants I need.

But what about “bad” governments? That’s a good question. But the context of these verses answers that question. This wasn’t written in ‘Merica! This was written in the first-century, under Roman and some Jewish rule. So, basically the Herods and Caesars.

Now Kim is the history buff in our marriage, and could probably give more context to this but just what I know from scripture and a little history, these were far-from-perfect governments at work here. You can’t read the Bible and see any Herod and think, that’s a stand-up guy. They were greedy, sinful, corrupt, and never had the peoples’ interests in mind. And then…we have the Caesars. The Roman Emperors, who believed they were not only divinely appointed but, in a sense, gods themselves. Rome was not a Christian nation, much less a godly one. They were idolatrous, murderous, and before long would play a major role in heavy persecution of the Early Church.

So we have these two very undesirable governments and the Apostle Paul is saying, “God put them there!” Kind of a tough pill to swallow, but necessary.

Warning! Unpopular Thought Following: I think that sometimes God puts people in office that are really terrible, on purpose! Not because they’re the leader we want but perhaps the one we deserve, to punish us, to make us uncomfortable, to hopefully cause us to focus more on our True King and His coming Kingdom, rather than the things of this world. Now, this is just my opinion, kind-of based on Romans 13:3, but something to consider.

5. No Matter Who Wins Our Job Stays the Same

I think this is the most important thing to consider and if you only read one of my points I hope it’s this (although you’ve probably already read what’s above so…thanks for reading!).

Regardless of who is in office, our responsibility concerning our government and its leaders NEVER CHANGES. The Bible is clear on how we are to talk about and conduct ourselves in regard to those in authority over us, regardless of how we feel about them.

1. Pray For Our Governing Leaders (1 Timothy 2:1-4)

This doesn’t mean we pray for the ones we like, but for all of them. Again, remember the time and place these verses were written. But what I love about these verses is it shows us that when we do, real change can happen!

I’m all for voting and am thankful for that privilege, but I’m foolish to think that I can vote our country into a godly one. But when we pray for our country and its leaders, we are entrusting it into the hands of the One who can. Have you prayed for your leaders lately? Just think the difference it would make if we took the energy we spent badmouthing our governing officials and used it to offer prayers for them. It’s a much better and more powerful use of our time, don’t you think?

2. Pay Your Taxes (Matthew 22:15-21)

Here’s a random thought I had that tickled me. Voting is our civic duty and people love doing it. I saw countless “I Voted” selfies this week. They’re proud that they fulfilled their “civic duty.” Now when April 15th comes around how many proud “I Paid Taxes” selfies will you see? If you see anything they’re probably not going to be “happygrams.”

But paying taxes was important enough for Jesus to talk about and three Gospel writers to write about, not to mention Paul in Romans Chapter Thirteen. Whether or not we like paying taxes, or even what our taxes are paying for, is irrelevant. I admit there are some things I really wish my tax dollars didn’t pay for, but that doesn’t give me an “out” for paying them.

Jesus didn’t say “Render to Caesar, except if he’s going to build statues of himself, or build a giant stadium where people will be slaughtered…you don’t have to pay taxes for those.” Everyone knew in Jesus’ day that the taxation system was corrupt and that taxes paid for all sorts of ungodliness, but Jesus didn’t differentiate.

3. Honor Them(1 Peter 2:13-17)

Over the last few months, I’ve seen these verses ignored on social media over and over again, especially in regards to the COVID-19 and mask ordinances. I’ve seen countless posts about how requiring people to wear masks in public places is a violation of our constitutional rights and even some equating these mandates to Hitler’s regime (If that’s you, shame on you…seriously you should be ashamed of yourself.)

Like I said earlier, our governments aren’t perfect, but they are placed by God and by and large, have peoples’ best interests in mind. But when we dishonor anyone who is in authority over us, whether the police officer who pulls us over, the city officials who make inconvenient mandates, or the President we didn’t vote for, we are disobeying scripture and hindering the Gospel more than you know.

Think about this. Have your words or social media posts reflected that you love God and honor the government He has placed over you? Do you need to go back and delete some of them? If so, go ahead and do that now. I’ll wait.

4. Obey Them…With Few Exceptions (1 Peter 2:13)

So is there ever a time it’s ok to be disobedient to my government? Yes, but rarely. I’d say in the case where it prevents you from sharing your faith in Christ or causes you to outrightly sin against God. (BTW wearing a mask would not fall into either category.) When Peter and John were brought before the Jewish Council in Acts 4 he was clear he would not stop sharing the Good News with others, and neither should we. But I dare say rarely will there be cases when this happens.

And as we’ve seen in the above scriptures when we pray for, honor, and obey our government we are actually helping build the Kingdom of God. If you are a Christian, the world is watching, and how you respond to our government and its mandates will directly impact how others will perceive Christ. Is Jesus a loud-mouth politically motivated complainer? Is that the kind of “Jesus” people see in you?

Something to think about.

Blessings,

Caleb

If you enjoyed this post, feel free to buy Caleb a cup of coffee!

History Lessons: Bonnie, Clyde & the Great “What If”

Bonnie & Clyde… What images pop immediately in your head at the sound of those names?  Do you think of heartless thugs?  Notorious bank robbers?  Cold-blooded murderers?  Or do you think of their wild and crazy romance?  Maybe you even think combination all of that?  The fact that they conjure up such a wild variety of images is part of their continued appeal. Books have been written about them, movies have told their story…but what, really, is their true story?

Bonnie and Clyde are now shrouded in legend and in what surviving first-person accounts exist.  However, there are always two versions of every story.  It depends on your perspective and personal bents that help you shape the opinions and beliefs you hold.  In other words, you will find what you are looking for, be that positive or negative.

Bonnie and Clyde taken near Joplin, MO in 1933

One thing that stood out to me as I read about the duo is their beginnings. Bonnie was a smart young woman, a good student, very likable, and a hard worker. Clyde was also very likable and charming, well thought of by employers in his early days. You can read more about Bonnie & Clyde in my earlier posts, Bonnie & Clyde in Missouri: Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.

So where did the switch flip? Was it simply a series of choices? A desire to be able to buy nice things in a time of great poverty, or even be able to have two coins to rub together. Was it greed that lead to their crime spree? Perhaps they wanted to live the high life and experience the nice clothes, fancy cars, and lavish meals. Was it more of a Robin Hood philosophy? The deep poverty they lived in could have easily given Clyde the desire to rob from the rich, or what they perceived as the rich, to give to the poor. Or was it more than that? Did they have help on their path towards a life of crime?

Before I dive into this train of thought let me pause here…I know that both Bonnie and Clyde committed terrible acts, they hurt and killed innocent people, they broke the law in numerous towns and states. Their wave of destruction should not be glossed over, they did some terrible things and destroyed many lives. They fully deserved to be punished by the law. I am not saying they are poor innocents. I do want to raise the question, however, did someone’s pre-judgment of them, particularly of Clyde, give them a push towards a life of lawlessness. Could it have all gone the other way?

Clyde was the younger brother of a petty thief.  His brother Buck was building quite a reputation in the small town they lived in for his crimes. In fact, in an excerpt from the book “The True Story of Bonnie and Clyde” written by Bonnie’s mother, Emma Parker, and Clyde’s older and closest sister, Nell Barrow Cowan sheds some light on the story. The passage is written from the perspective of Clyde’s sister.

“Neither did I take too seriously the events which occurred just before Christmas of that year. Buck took all the blame and Buck was the one I bawled out. We hadn’t much money, of course, and Buck wanted some cash for the holidays. I’ll never know whether or not Clyde really had anything to do with this. All I do know is that Buck had the back of the car full of turkeys, and Clyde was with him when the officers caught them. They were arrested and taken to jail. Here Buck assumed all the blame and got a week’s sentence. Clyde was allowed to go.

Everything would have been all right if it hadn’t been Clyde’s second offense against the law, and that Buck, who was notorious for stealing, had been up several times previous to this for petty thievery. The officers began classing the Barrow boys together, and every time Buck did something, they took Clyde down as a matter of course, ever though they turned him loose each time. This began to make Clyde resentful of the law, and disgusted with their methods. He complained to me several times that just because Buck stole was no sign he did, and that he wished the smart cops would realize the fact.”

The True Story of Bonnie and Clyde- As told by Emma Parker and Nell Barrow Cowan- pg 36

I read this and it makes me sad. I know that this is written by a family member and it may be a sanitized version of the truth, painted over a bit to make Clyde look better than he was…but what if even a tiny part is true? What if the attitude of others in that time helped Clyde form a perception of himself that launched him into his life of crime? If they think it…it must be true. I can imagine it would create a sense of hopelessness, apathy, and a great distrust in the legal system. Did the pre-judgments of a few lead to the creation of an outlaw?

It does little good to try to ponder the line of thinking of people long ago, to try to guess their mindsets and reasoning, especially when you can’t ask direct questions and hear their side of the story. However, the past can be beneficial to modern-day life. We can always learn from the stories of others, yes, even from Bonnie and Clyde. Here are a few things that the history of Bonnie and Clyde taught me.

1. Opinions are not facts.

I think a lot of things. I have opinions on everything from colors I like to the foods I don’t like. I need to remember, however, that my opinions are not facts. What I think is not always right, kind, or even words that need to be spoken out loud. Opinions are simply how I feel about a topic. These opinions are based on my viewpoints, personal experiences, and even the mood I am in at the time. And bizarre enough…opinions can change!

I don’t want to go too far away from this point, there are things that are facts, based on the laws of our land and rules we all live by. Just because you are of the opinion that speed limits are stupid doesn’t give you free rein to drive as fast as you would like. Laws and rules have consequences if you break them. If you touch a hot stove, you get burned. If you drive too fast, you get a speeding ticket. We all have laws to follow and rules to obey in life. I am referring to the things that are opinion-based, how we think or feel about something, that we mistake as if it was a law. A line of thinking that shouts “I want my opinion to be your fact.”

Too often, we share our opinion with that line of thinking. In fact, we can argue and push our opinions and get really upset/frustrated/angry when our thoughts are not shared with the masses.

“But it’s my opinion and my opinion is right!”

Case in point, I hate black licorice…in fact I really hate it. My husband, Caleb, loves it and will go out of his way to buy it at a store. I can have my opinion about black licorice all day long, and I can argue some pretty strong points on the subject, but it will never change Caleb’s feelings about it. My opinion is not his fact, it is simply my thoughts about a type of food. You can take my silly licorice example and fill in your own blank, maybe it is politics, a sports team, thoughts about a business, etc. No matter what you put in the blank, when we think our opinions should be someone else’s fact it can affect how we treat those around us.

2. Judgements have power.

When we get so stuck in our opinions and in our mindsets, our way is the right way and only way type of thinking, that can easily distort how we treat people. We can judge them harshly in our viewpoint because they aren’t like us, don’t think like us, don’t feel/look/sound like us.

Using the licorice again, if I got so stuck in the opinion that black licorice is gross and then jump to “it’s gross so the people who eat it must be gross too” way to thinking…I am now in very dangerous territory. I have now judged an entire group of people simply because they did not agree with me. I have categorized them negatively about something that really doesn’t matter. Judgements have power. When we broaden our focus beyond licorice into the realm of bigger matters, we can see how scary this can be. Because you don’t ___________, you must be _________. Or because you ____________, you are ______________. What if the thinking of a few changed the course of Clyde’s life? What if your thinking and judgement of someone has the same power? Whose life are you negatively affecting with your judgement of them?

3. This is some good news, the story isn’t over…

The story of Bonnie and Clyde has ended. In fact, it ended much like Bonnie wrote in her journal.

“Some day they’ll go down together;

They’ll bury them side by side;

To few it’ll be grief-

To the law a relief-

But it’s death for Bonnie and Clyde.”

The True Story of Bonnie and Clyde- page 169

Bonnie and Clyde died in a firestorm of bullets on a dirt road in Louisiana. Their story ended on May 23, 1934. To be fair, with their history of running from the police, there was really only one way their story could end and both Bonnie and Clyde knew it.

Your story, my story, isn’t over yet. We still have things to accomplish. We still have things to do. Your today does not have to look like your yesterday, it can be radically different, but it starts with a mindset shift.

4. Words are powerful.

Everyday we think and speak countless numbers of words. We speak them to ourselves and about ourselves, and we speak them to and about other people. Words can build and words can tear down. Words are powerful. A few of my favorite verses from the Bible talk about the power of our words.

Kind words heal and help; cutting words wound and maim.

Proverbs 15:4 (MSG)

Words kill, words give life; they’re either poison or fruit–you choose.

Proverbs 18:21 (MSG)

That always gets me…with my words I can bring life or I can bring death. I can help or I can hurt. I never want to be so locked in my own opinions or my own mindset that I speak hate, speak to wound, speak to kill their spirit. I can remember with great clarity crushing words spoken over me…someone shared an opinion about what they thought my life should look like and I took it as fact. It, for a season, shaped my decisions and actions. Maybe this is why the story of Bonnie and Clyde strikes such a chord with me. What do I want to do with my words? How do I want to sound? What do I want to be like?

  • As for me, I want my life to reflect Christ, to become more like Him and less like me.
  • I want to speak life into the lives of those in my world.
  • I want to build up and not tear down.
  • I want to show kindness to others and not let my opinions or way of thinking become a barrier.
  • I want to learn from others around me.
  • I want to show grace and compassion in all I do.

We are all in charge over our thoughts and the words we speak, and the words we choose not to speak. What if your words could change someone’s day for the better? What if your words spoke life over someone and it changed their life?

We can’t go back in time and try to change any of Bonnie and Clyde’s story, but maybe we can change the world of someone around us…maybe someone who lives in our house or sits next to us at work. Maybe we can let go of our opinion and our pre-judgements and relax and bit. Maybe it really is ok that someone likes black licorice?

Until next time,

Kimberly

What are your thoughts? Do you have a story of when words impacted your life either for the better or the worse? I would love to hear about it in the comments below.

If you enjoyed this post, feel free to buy Kimberly a cup of coffee.

Nonsensicality: Weird Town Names

In this episode of Nonsensicality, we explore some of our nation’s most oddly named towns and try to figure out why people would name their beloved towns things like Booger Hole, Toad Suck, or Satan’s Kingdom?!?

PLUS, we dabble a little into what Caleb calls “Facebook Science!”

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Nonsensicality: LIES Grown-Ups Tell Kids

“Don’t make that face or it’ll stick like that!”

“If you eat watermelon seeds it’ll grow in your tummy!”

Grown-ups aren’t always quite honest with children. In today’s episode of Nonsensicality we explore and debunk those lies!

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