Ytreeide Family, 1996

Jotham's Journey began not as a book for sale, but as a story for two special children. Author Arnold Ytreeide explains:

"When I began dating a widow with two children in 1994, I wasn't so sure that I would ever want to marry an entire family. But as time passed, and memories were made, the four of us formed a bond of love that was strong and genuine. 

"Then in the fall of 1995 that widow -- Elsie -- told me their family tradition had always been to observe Advent. She told me of her struggle to find good Advent material, then asked if I would like to write a nightly devotional to share with her children, Jonathan (then 12) and Jessica (then 10). I of course agreed, and sat down to whip out a quick little pamphlet. 

"Five weeks and two hundred pages later, Jotham's Journey had been born. As I read each night's episode to the kids, and watched the wonder and suspense in their eyes, I began to feel this was a story that might help other families enjoy Advent together." 

The following June, under soaring stain-glassed windows and a garden created from plants brought by the guests, Arnold and Elsie were united in marriage. And in a ceremony that left not a single dry eye, Arnie, Jonathan and Jessica exchanged vows as Father and Children. Today Jonathan and Jessica have families of their own, and Arnie is a professor of film and television at Northwest Nazarene University.