GRANDKIDS ARE A GIFT FROM GOD!

Yes, we moved from Wellington to West Jordan, July 1st. It has been an interesting and rewarding time. We have been more involved with family because we live within 15 min. of five of our kids and 8 of our grandkids. Angie and her family are still in New Mexico.

This is a photo of where we live in West Jordan. We don't spend a lot of time here.

This year we actually had a garden. Kyle and Cindy had this spot at the back of the patio and they let us put the garden in there. We harvested zucchini, summer squash, cucumbers, and some tomatoes. As you see here, the snow fell on it but it didn't affect it much- until the next storm.

We tended lots of grandkids this summer. THAT is why we moved to Salt Lake. We've had lots of adventures with family members. Here are some.Remy and Tate at the Living Planet Aquarium

Cody's Birthday ( and we went to Tanner's, too).

Tyler's birthday

Hogle Zoo- some real zoo critters

Bradshaw gorillas

A real zoo turtle

Angie and the kids came up to visit for the October Bradshaw thanksgiving.
Here is a photo of the two sets of twins.

Aaron and Isaac showing off their matching coats and their cute smiles.

As anyone can tell, these are really handsome little boys- not just because the shirts say so.

Their grandma Bradshaw is busy being Isaac's personal tailor. The normal size clothes just don't fit. He needs longer-legged newborns, so grandma has started sewing him pants.



This is just an interesting scene we took in Orem one afternoon. The moon has just risen over Mt. Timpanogas- just as the sunset produced some beautiful colors on the mountain.

All in all, this has been a big, but a good change for us. Next big change- a mission?

February thru June 16, 2011

We've been blog-slothful and have decided it is time to repent and catch up a bit. This will be a long one with lots of photos- in chronological order. Click on the photos if you want to see them bigger and in more detail.

Cindy's Baby Shower

We've tended lots of Grandkids. Tanner in our car.

Six boys at Remy's baptism

Remy and the family at his baptism

Heather's high school graduation- before the cloudburst

Heather and her parents

Kevin down the ramp to the bus

Kevin on the lift, getting on the bus

Grandpa and Grandma's basement flooded this deep

The last FHE in Wellington- the cemetary May 23, 2011

Saying goodbye to Wellington May 24, 2011

Bear Lake view on Memorial Day 2011

The Lake is getting full

Laketown cemetary Memorial Day at 11 AM

At the lot. The lake is filling. Ruth is pointing to where the water will be when it is full

Aaron Kyle Balling June 12, 2011

Isaac David Balling June 12, 2011

Grandma and Aaron in Cindy's room

We took this photo during a rainstorm at the Skyview rest area on Hwy 6 between Spanish Fork and Price (Wellington). Notice the double rainbow! I think it is the best I have ever seen!

The end, for now!

Divine Signatures of God

During the news of possible complications of Cindy's twins, I decided to add a ray of hope through a story in the book, by Gerald Lund, Divine Signatures, the Confirming Hand of God. It's the story of his younger brother Mike Lund. He loved to ride his bike and while biking one day was involved in an accident. A cement truck with a stabilizing trailer knocked him to the ground with the stabilizing trailer running up his entire back. In the next 4 months many miracles took place while he was in the hospital and in rehab. But the biggest miracle took place years before while in the womb. As they met together one day in conference with doctors, lawyers, and insurance people, the doctor excused all but Mike and his wife, because he wanted to talk to them personally. He told them he did not believe in God or miracles. Then he showed them an x-ray of the brain, with the cerebellum, which controls motor functions of the body. Then he showed them another x-ray and asked them what the difference was. They noticed that this x-ray had no cerebellum. The doctor then announced that this x-ray was of Mike's brain, the cerebellum was missing. He said the only thing that he could figure out to explain any of it was that while Mike was in the womb, the cerebellum had never developed. But the brain, had taken upon itself to reroute things so that the functions of the cerebellum in other areas. He said again I don't believe in God or in miracles, but you sir, are a walking miracle. All I can say is stand and watch the faith of Cindy and Kyle and see the miracles of the Lord unfold.

UPDATES

Thanksgiving and Christmas were great with family and loved ones. And we had lots of them! We also got the announcement of Kyle and Cindy, that they were expecting and having twins! It let us know what our next mission is. I didn't take too many pictures though. Grandpa went to the Parkinson's doctor yesterday. he is losing his sense of smell, so he doesn't like a lot of things. He is also starting to have hot flashes! This is unusual for Grandpa, most of his life he has had to wear extra warm clothes. Updates on Cindy is , she is having identical twin boys! We are used to boys. As Becky says we are supplying God's army of missionaries! WE LOVE MISSIONARIES! So you can see our blessings, miracles and tender mercies of the Lord. NO DOUBT ABOUT IT, YOU CAN SEE HIS DIVINE SIGNATURE IN OUR LIVES!

GOD'S MESSAGES

HEY! I MADE IT! Thought for beginners again I would send this.(until I get the picture thing down). LOLOLO (An email that Mike received)

Several years ago, my husband was invited to spend the weekend at his employer’s home. The boss was very wealthy, with a home on the waterway and cars costing more than our house.

The first day and evening went well, and I was delighted to have this rare glimpse into how the very wealthy live. My husband’s boss was a generous host and took us to the most extravagant restaurants.

As we were about to enter an exclusive restaurant on evening, the boss was walking slightly ahead of us when he suddenly stopped looking down at the pavement for a long, silent moment. There was nothing on the ground except a few cigarette buts and a darkened old penny. The boss reached down, picked up the penny, held it up for a moment, smiled, then put it into his pocket as if he had found a great treasure.

I thought to myself , what need would this man have for a penny? Why did he even take the time to pick it up?

Throughout dinner the, the scene nagged at me until I finally commented that my daughter once had a coin collection and I wondered if he collected coins too?

A smile crept across the man’s face as he reached into his pocket and retrieved the penny and held it out to me. What was the point of this?

“Look at it”, he said, “read what it says”. Aloud I read, I read the words, ”United States of America.” “ No not that, read further.” “one cent” “No , keep reading”. “In God we Trust”. “Yes”! And? ….I asked? “And if I trust in God, the name of God is Holy even on a coin”. Whenever I see a coin I see that inscription. God drops a message right in frond of me to telling me to trust Him. Who am I to pass it by? I stop to see if my trust is in God at that moment. I pick up the coin in response to God, that I do trust in him and for a short time cherish it as if it were gold. I think it is God’s way of starting a conversation with me. Lucky for me God is patient and pennies are plentiful.! When I was out shopping today, I found a penny. I stopped and picked it up and realized that I had been worrying about a few things today. I read the words, In God we Trust, and had to laugh. Yes, God I got the message. It seems that lately I have found a number of pennies in the past few months. But then pennies are plentiful and God is patient.

If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it. If he had a wallet, your photo would be in it. He sends you flowers every spring. He sends you sunrises and sunsets every day. Face it God is crazy about you.

FAMILY TIMES ARE BEST!

When family came for a visit and found our snow out back, they decided to make a snow hill to sled on.

or to bury Remy in, which wasn't hard.

When Cindy and Kyle brought the pup down, we found strange "dogs" trying out the dog cage.

Cody and Tanner before all the big, remake and redo hospital visit in February.

Brothers very excited to see each other again after Tanner's long hospital stay! I'm not sure which one was the most excited to see the other!


Tanner with his new hospital toys and at home at last!

Dad getting Tyler ready for the big day. And Tyler is all happy about it!

See my new outfit that Charlie used on his blessing day. One more day and it won't fit me!

We are a Happy family!

FUN & CRAZY HOLIDAYS! ON THE ROAD AGAIN!

Well, On Dec. 23rd we went from home to Brigham City, visiting David & Betsy. It was fun to see Charlie and Tyler, how they've grown and changed. Then on to visit Cindy and Kyle for about an hour, then on to Darrin and Mandy's for Christmas. The parents showed up this year, but there were some times we were wondering if they would escape like last year. Only this year instead of 15 stockings around the table, the table had only a bowl of sweets that Santa had left. I guess it was because of all those cookies Remy and Tate left for him. Becky, Jeff and family made it for Christmas Eve and Brady made if just after Breakfast on Christmas day.


We left about noon on Christmas to tend Cody and Tanner while Becky and Jeff went to a movie. Cody let us play with his puzzles and toys. We returned to Mandy & Darrin's just after supper, but in time to eat it.

In the meantime, Angie called saying that they would not be up because Ed needed the car for work. We returned home on Saturday, washed clothes, repacked and headed for New Mexico early Monday morning. I think we even made it in record time, since there was no one on the roads that early in the morning or Mike had a club foot. lol But they all liked their presents and sent some back, so they are here till someone comes to see us or we move on again. lol We took pictures of Heather doing her DDR, their crazy CP cat, they think won't last much longer, and their weird Chihuahua, that has a hurt leg and limps when he gets in trouble and on a diffrent leg each time. We celebrated Eddie's 13th birthday on Tuesday before we left for the trip back - before the snow came. Well, we found the snow in Cortez and it was with us till about Green River, but not too bad for driving.

Grandpa was a little sad about not having Grandma's 80th party he had tried to surprise her with, but I think it's just because he feels he might not be around for the next one.

Glad everyone had a great Christmas and we will see you on the next road trip heading north. Love Always,
Mom and Dad