Summary of the year 2016

Well, its been another year I am back to give a summary of what happen in our lives in 2016.

Was good year for our health, Virgil is doing much better this year, his heart and diabetes are both stable.  He had some dental work done too, is now getting use to have a upper plate, he's lose 10 lbs. because of not being about to eat as much.  Which is not the best way to lose weight but it all  helps.

My health is good over all, did have ankle injury this spring, bad spring and found out that my ankle bones are thinning, would rather have my waist line thinning.  I am now 65 and getting my Medicare and so far that seem to cover most of what I  have need in regard to my health and the supplement picks up the rest, so far good with it.

I did have a time to use the health insurance in August on Virgil birthday, that evening at church I began to have chest pain discomfort.  Was glad that Dan Smith he is and EMT and help be stay calm and called for EMT and I took ride to Mercy Hospital, not my heart but turn out to be a very bad cast of acid refluxed, but while there they noticed a nodule on my right lung on an x-ray then they did a cat scan to get better look, will have another scan in 3 months.   Got home about 2am with them telling me to have a follow up with my Doctor, which I did and he had be start to take an over the counter pill for acid refluxed.  So far not have that pain again and trying to eat better and can't go more that 5-6 hours with eating something, all of this because don't have a gallbladder anymore who know!    The scan I had 3 months late not change so Doctor not worried about it. 

Giving chickens to Bedina

Worship with Elderly at Casa de Mana

Mission Trip Pictures

Lunch with Elderly

Pray tunnel for  church in Somoto

The team wanting to be prayed for

Our Trip to Mountain Church

My appointment in the Mountains

I did go on mission trip this summer in June to Nicaragua with team form MN Passion for Life Ministries.  I had a fundraiser at church we did taco salads and cake and Pam & I cooked and we  had help serving from Traci and others I raised over 600 dollars everyone was so wonderful   I flow out few days before we left and Virgil and the dogs drove out with our new R-Pod travel trailer and we stated another 10 days. It worked out that we will be able to see Carrie she was in MN for a week and it was over the time we stayed.  She came out on Father Day to the camp ground and was a nice visit.

Virgil, Mike & Carrie

Pictures of our Oregon Trip

Evergreen Aviation Museum

Virgil, Carrie & Mike

Seating in the pilot seats of Spruce Goose

Mike & Carrie turn in the pilots seats

Inside the Spruce Goose

Mike and his cousin Joe making dinner for us

The summer was very hot this year a lot of triple digits temps here, was nice to spend some time in cooler weather in MN.  Was nice when fall began to start Camp this year was good nice weather and was nice to have Pam there this year.  We also went to Newburg Oregon to see Carrie and Mike and see his dad Clarence, who was undergoing treatment for cancer, doing great now. I was nice trip with did some wine tasting and went to Evergreen Aviation Museum we got to go inside the Spruce Goose Howard Hughes plane.  Was  good trip, did have a few bumps along the way, but that can happen anytime family comes together.


Chelsea and Derek had a baby girl on November 15the, Elizabeth Hope is her name. She is Lee and Pam 1st grandchild, and they are both loving being grandparents.  The family is all doing good, Mom is doing good over all, she has her good days and bad, but who doesn't.

Thanksgiving was at Pam's and Mike and Brittany came up so a small group this time around.  Christmas all would be up but Karin, her sister and husband were flying in for Christmas this year.  Lindsey came with Connor they are planning an August wedding this year. He is nice guy she is so happy, Mike's baby will be getting married wow where does the time go to.  Brittany has moved back to Ca and is working as a home nurse with clients she checks on weekly, she seems to love. Her folks are glad she is back in the state.

We are planning a move in the future, Bob and Kathy have started the process of getting a mortgage and that will free us up to move into another direction.  We are looking to down size and lower our mortgage so will be looking to a 55+ community we are looking at one in Red Bluff.  This will free us up to travel more and maybe able to spend time in Minnesota too in the summers.  We are waiting on right thing and the right time of things.  Virgil is planning and I'm praying we stay on track with each other and make the right move with the leading of the Lord, all in His good timing.

I was voted on to the woman's committee again this year, and still heading  up the intercessor team at Grace Fellowship.  Hope to being to plan doing a once a month worship and pray intercession this year.  God has some great things come our way at church as a body and as individuals. 
Looking forward to a great 2017, God is great and I excited about what He has for me going forward.

2015 Was a very full year

Its been a year since I've done any posting at all. We've moving into our new home in Cottonwood CA., we took our time and we closed on our new home on August 7th, 2014. Its in the area they call Lake California its a gated community that has been here for a about 30 years.  We moved into a 10 year old home with a great cover patio that I love, 3 bed rooms, 2 bath and open living room and kitchen.  We decided not to get a larger lot, just would be to much work and we still want travel as much as we can with Carrie and Mike living 3000 miles a way and still plan to visit MN as least once a year (Lord willing). 

Front of house

Patio

dinning room

 

Kitchen

patio Virgil, Diego & our new puppy Sassy in the chair

Guest room with new paint

Office with murphy bed

It has been a very busy year for us, we finally sold the Lake home (Isanti MM) closed on it end of August.  We had made a trip back to MN in April to get it ready to sell after our rents moved out.  So we and now down to have only 2 homes.  The home in Bradford is being bought by Bob & Kathy Snyder and we should be clear of that one in early 2017.  God really blessed us with having Bob and Kathy in that home.

Did get go on another mission trip in Feb of 2105 to Nicaragua for 2 weeks with my MN home church New Life in Ramsey MN.  Was so blessed to be with this group of people. 

In church in Leno



Then in Sept of this year 3 of my best friends from MN came out for visit, we had great time. We spent time on the coast and just hang out.  Love these 3 woman I am so bless to have them in my life, even though we are 2100 miles from each other, but when we see each other again its like its only been a few day apart.  Thank you Lyn, Lori and Cat for coming to see me, looking forward to your next visit.

  Best friends from MN loving the coast and the great Redwood.

We did make a trip to the coast for few days, in August. We had plan on going in end of July, but Mom went into hospital for week so we move it to August.  She is doing fine now, she turn 87 on the 22nd of November.  Carrie also came to visit us in Oct for a week was good to see her, Mike didn't come with her.  They are planning to drive out this summer, looking forward to see all of them. 



We wend to the Crescent City area




My sister Pam had a heart attach this summer, she is doing fine now.  So its been quite the year for all of us.  As I take time to reflect on all that has happen with us as a family we truly bless.  Jake & Laura bought their 1st home as did Derek & Chelsea, Lindsey is now a nurse along with her sister Brittany and Jamie and Taylor & their son Hunter all back together safe and sound in Las Vegas. We will all be together this Christmas.  God has been with each of us each step we have taken over this last year, and as we look forward to 2016 I know Father God will continue to lead us and guide us in all we put our hands too. 

I thank my Father God for my children and my grand children and my pray is that we will begin a new journey into 2016 getting to know each other over time and distance.

I will try to post more in the next year so we can stay more connected over the distance.

God Bless to all and have a Very Bless Christmas and Happy New Year.

Diego & Sassy

To Brittany and My Family We shall be rebuilt

Jeremiah 31:3-4 & 12-14

As I read this passage on Jan 1st, I cried out to Father God Why again do we as a family walk this path of loss; I waited and yet didn't hear the answer, so I waited for a measure of peace in His presence.

3. The Lord has appeared of old to me saying: "Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with loving kindness I have drawn you. 4. Again I will build you, and you shall be rebuilt, 12. Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, Streaming to the goodness of the Lord For wheat and new wine and oil, for the young of the flock and the herd; Their souls shall be like a well-watered garden. And they shall sorrow no more at all. 13. Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, and the young men and the old together; For I will turn their mourning to joy, Will comfort them, and make them rejoice rather than sorrow. 14. I will satiate the soul of the priests with abundance, And My people shall be satisfied with My goodness says the Lord."

Brittany's Shawn has passed from this world to the next and he is seated with his Father God, while we are left to ask the questions of: How come, Why now, Why! Why!

Her life and ours as a family are broken and hurt with this loss of a life full of joy, happiness and we will miss Shawn's smile and his thumbs up attitude.  He was so young 36 years old, her soul mate the love of her life and he hers.  As her family we feel so helpless and we can only offer words, hugs and prays for her as she walks this path of sorrow. 

In time Father God will rebuilt us; there will one day be joy, and hope as He helps us walk this path, we may never completely understand the Why. One day we will see all those we have lose this pass 3 years and we will have the greatest family reunion that heaven has seen.  All tears will be wiped away and our hearts will not ache anymore, as we dance and rejoice in the presence of our Father God and our family. 

So we will wait, hold on to one another and know He will turn our mourning into joy and He will satiate us with this Love and Peace and with blesses of abundance that will come to each of us.  He has promise in this word. 

Psalm 63:7-8   Because You have been my help, Therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice.  My soul follows close behind You; Your right hand upholds me.

Our Father God now and forever holds us in this hands.

Deborah

Our Move

Well, we've finally done it! We have made our move back (home) to California after leaving and moving to Minnesota for 40 years, for years we always talking about going back, but with life happening we found our self calling Minnesota home.  We sold are homes in Minnesota and now are renting in the lovely town of Shingletown, at the elevation of 3200 ft. surrounded by pine tree and deer walking through our yard at all time of the day.  I'm now just a 30 minute drive to see my Mon and sister Pam and can see my brother in 2 hours and also can see our grandson in about 4 hours.  Though we have moved farther away from our daughter Carrie and her husband Mike, they now live on the east coast in the town of Sylva North Carolina. We are looking forward to traveling back to see her and see some to this great country on the way.

We are begin to settle in and become accustom to the weather, it was 70 degrees on Christmas day!!!!
Missing our friend in the great state of Minnesota, but not missing the winters.  We have each left friends and memories back in MN and they are forever with us.  For Virgil its his golfing buddy's and his friends in Big Lake and beyond, as for me I've left my friends I worked with for many years and my New Life Church family.  

2012 & 2013 were a busy years for us with selling of the houses and moving. We did it in 3 trips. 1st trip to come to my niece Chelsea wedding in July 2012, then a second niece Brittany wedding in June 2013 and the last one when we move into our home in Shingletown Oct 15th, 2013.    

 We had two additional wedding in the past few year, Jake married Laure and Jamie married Taylor they gave a grand baby to my brother and Karin,  another great grand baby for Mom. So we were growing as a family we were all being to feel bless after to lose of loved ones in 2010.

 

 

family pictures

I would like to share family photos with my family and friends.  Most of our albums are packed away since deciding to get house ready to sell.  We all know what that means de-cluttering, which mean less of us.  So just have few of my favorites still here, our wedding pic, Carrie and Mike's wedding, special pic of Christian and the ones of our travels. Alaska, Ireland, Gulf of Mexico. 

Its turn cooler here in last few days, was 32 degrees on Thursday morning the 15th, that's a little soon even for Minnesota.  Today we are have some siding replaced, and hopefully we got the right paint to match what is on the house.  East side fade more that west side so we did our best to match up each side. 

Virgil is easing in to his retirement and so am I, so far we are both doing okay with it.  There has been some adjusting for each of us, but hey we are still here and that's what's counts.  Just about all done with things with the business and that is great to be done with that.  We are both feeling good, keeping busy with getting the house ready to sell inside and out.  We will going to North Carolina in Oct to see the kids over the MEA week that Carrie has off, really looking forward to see them and the fall colors should be great down there.  Well enough of this lets puts come pictures one this site. I've added the link below so  you can see the pictures, best way to load on the blog.

http://barnesballardfamily.shutterfly.com/

Someday

Someday, why is it that everyone says it will be better someday. I've even said it! I know it does get easier I've walked though my share of grief over the last 60 years, but some how its different each time. The lost of Grand Parents, Step Mom & Step Dad and my own Father, but the lose of a Son is so much harder.

As I read the blog of my friend (Tweets from my nest) as she walks through the lose of her husband with grace and faith. I am so encouraged by her and by the Lord himself that I do know that it will get easier with time. The Lord keeps reminding me that he has all things in His hands, I know He is a good God and loves us so much. Its just some times hard to see the end of the valley where I know the sun comes up each day, so I just keep breathing in and out and living one day at a time.

I must remind myself its okay to cry and to miss his face and know that I will see him again, just not here on this earth, but oh to hold him one more time and say I do love you. I will wait and can wait for I know one day it will come to pass I will hold my son once again.

February

Well its the end of February and I'm doing okay. Its been 10 weeks since Christian death and some days its very hard to doing anything else except just sit, but it is getting better. As I set here in the office I'm surrounded by photo albums that I need to go through, so I can finish the memory album I started for Christian a year ago. Now I will finish it for his son Sequoia.

I have a set a goal for this, I need to be finish so I can send to Sequoia before April 29th (which is Christian's 40th birthday). I know this will be bitter sweet as I go though the photos of our early lives becoming a family, as both kids grow up again before my eyes. My mother told me when I was pregnant with Christian take a lot of pictures, its important to catch all the little things they do. Time stands still for no one! We did take a lot of pictures, we are talking about 39 years of photos!!!

So the journey begins stepping back in time to watch our family grow, change and live again as only they can though the lens of a camera.