Page 5 - KOG Glory & Grace Issue 9, Feb 2023, "Home"

Red Lodge, 2023 Red Lodge, Jenna's first run (2017)
Three generations at KOG in 2016: Jason, Jenna, and JR Johnston
Home is defined by the people
Take it from college freshman Jenna Johnston: calling more than one place home "is totally possible."
Jenna's parents divorced when she was in the 2nd grade. "In those days, everything I needed fit in my backpack," Jenna remembers fondly, "I was on the move all the time." Jenna consolidated her belongings into one closet when she was a sophomore at West High, but affection for her "two homes" remained. "Home is defined by the people," Jenna says with a chuckle, "Home is where the family is."
Regardless of where she was living, family has always been an important part of Jenna's life. "Grandpa always picked me up from school," Jenna recalls, remembering her grandfather J.R. Johnston. Then her voice softens, "which is why the last year - without him, without a part of the team - has been so weird." Last year on Thanksgiving Day 2021, J.R. Johnston died unexpectedly, so when Jenna reflects on the last year without him she says "it feels sad and surreal." One bright spot, however, was getting to stream KOG's All Saints Day worship service in November despite being at college in Spokane, WA. "I wanted to be there to remember Grandpa, but at least I could worship with KOG (and hear his name read and the bell toll) even though I was far away."
1st day of classes in Spokane, WA
After completing her first semester at Gonzaga University, Jenna returned to Billings for the holiday break. In addition to reconnecting with family and friends, Jenna was sure to visit her "home mountain" in Red Lodge (for snowboarding) and worship at her "home church" with her Dad, Jason. "Montana will always be home for me, but now that I'm here I find myself referring to Gonzaga as home, too" she says with excitement. "I really feel like I can flourish there [Gonzaga]. I even have a new home mountain [Schweitzer in Sandpoint, ID]!"
Though some might wonder why she chose to go to college so far away from home, Jenna's advice to others is simple. "Get out there and see what else is in the world. Definitely go! You can always come back home."
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