About Debby Topliff BA, MA

Debby Topliff received her bachelors degree from the University of Michigan and her masters degree from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Illinois. She and her husband live near Lake Michigan.

John and Debby have another website at www.fireflylife.com.

1949 Born in small town in N MI, ice on nursery walls. Naps outdoors every day in pram.

1952 Moves to Ann Arbor. Sneaks out of house naked and pushes doll buggy through neighborhood.

1954-61 Attends Angell school but soon learns difference an extra “l” can make. Shows babysitters—with running commentary—content of every drawer and closet in house. Spends free time building forts in woods and creating fantasy world with dolls. Develops knack for jumping from rugs to bed to avoid alligators.

1961-64 Piano lessons, trampoline, horseback riding, junior theater, competitive swimming, water ballet, ballroom dancing, summer camps in MI, MT, VT mean not much time at home.

1964-67 Tricked into thinking MA boarding school equals extended summer camp. Loves math, chemistry, physics; nearly flunks English. Learns guitar from girls in dorm; learns other things from boys across river.

1967-71 University. No rules. Colorado Outward Bound. Year in UK: motorcycle, drug dealers, despair. Winds up at L’Abri study center on top of mountain in Switzerland. Finally sees the light. Shares new knowledge with old friend John.

1970-71 Studies Greek to retrain tripped-out brain. Starts sorting out behavior. Attends Urbana, hears John R. W. Stott, decides to study Bible.

1971-74 Back to MA for seminary. Marries John who decides not to be a monk after all. Transfers to his school in IL. Joins up with PCC and helps launch Sojourners. Begins writing songs.

1974-84 Moves to UP with other Coalition members to start first century-type Christian community. Common purse, bookstore, organic gardening, Bible study, creative worship, food coop, peace marches, guitar, guitar, guitar. Raises three children.

1984-88 Back to Ann Arbor. Runs home-based mail-order book service. More child raising, more guitar playing. Neighbors from hell teach true meaning of love your enemies and turn the other cheek.

1988-1990 Escapes to CA. Busy husband, busy household.

1990-1992 Escapes to NY. Busy husband, busy household.

1992-2003: Reluctantly returns to MI for long, dark, inner-journey. House overflows with teenagers. Church hopping, creative writing, singing out loud. Studies Bible through Precept Ministries, attends PRMI Dunamis courses, learns to pray. First grandchild born. House empties.

2003-present: Moves to artist-community/beach resort town, takes deep sigh of relief. Creative energy abounds. Paints, writes screenplay, writes children’s book, finishes third novel, cuts down trees in woods, plants trees in woods, soaks in hot tub….