Friday, February 14, 2025



Happy Valentine’s Day!


 

I wonder if we really knew how deep the love of God is for each one of us, how it would change our view of what happens to us and our loved ones each day. This truth is worth basking in as it deepens our relationship with our God and our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He loves us all so very much!


A concise recap of 2024 for us would be: 

The terrain we traveled was rough, but the scenic view was gorgeous and worth it all (kind of like riding in an open jeep on  rugged, rocky roads that leads to the most beautiful view of snow-capped mountains.) 
















We spent the first part of the year with Jimmy resting and recovering from his stroke that had happened between the two winter holidays of 2023. He was able to begin driving again in January and started learning how to compensate with no eyesight in his right eye. What an example he has been of acceptance and moving forward in life with joy and contentment, never complaining.  



Things changed for us again when on March 19th I had a brain bleed stroke. Three different hospital stays, two ambulance transports and tests galore over the next eight months kept us trusting the Lord in new ways again and thanking Him for His protection. The cause of my stroke is still a mystery to the doctors, and miraculously I have no disabilities. The unsettling “off” feeling in my head continues pretty much daily, but this also keeps me dependent on the Lord who faithfully carries me and who calms the many fears I have dealt with.





Because the majority of my year was spent with medical personnel, they became a big part of my mission field. So many of them were so encouraging and helpful to me, but I soon learned that my physical needs were far less critical than their spiritual needs. Many, many of them were open to hearing the gospel and seeing that God offers eternal life through faith in Christ…something they needed and had not heard before.  



Many of them had already placed their faith in Christ but were walking through some hard trials and just needed to talk to and be encouraged. Those were some really sweet times of fellowship with them. On two different hospital stays, God put a janitor “Daddy” at one hospital and then later a nurse “Mommy” at another who shared their hurting hearts with me because of their stillborn baby. My heart could immediately resonate and cry with them because of our Baby Samuel who is also safe in the arms of Jesus but who is greatly missed being in our arms, too. Truly, this was God’s doing to put these people in my life, definitely not chance meetings, which again reminded me that God chooses how He wants to use us and where His mission field is for us each day. 




Because I couldn’t drive for six months or travel, we rearranged our summer plans. Andy, Chiree and the little boys flew to Michigan for most of the month of July. It was such a special time for us making memories with them, Nathan, Katie and their kiddos. Such delight to these grandparents’ lives! Our seven grandchildren (the "Cousin Crew") used their creative minds and made playtime each day so fun! 



Michigan summers are awesome, which always involves heading to Lake Michigan just 30 minutes from us!

















  




            

We were finally able to fly and go to Denver from the end of October until the first week of December to have six weeks with our little family and extended family there. Another bunch of fun memories were made…definitely things that mean the most to us! 


Colorado sun and snow go together!  


 

          


My sister and her husband, Dan and Michelle and his mom, as well as Jimmy's sister, brother-in-law, Kay and Dean, all live close to Andy and Chiree. We love grabbing time together with them!



Our great nephews, Coen, Casen and EJ (Michelle and Dan's 3 grandsons), live near Denver and have great times with our three grandsons. My niece,  Rebecca, and Jimmy's niece, Kara,
are a ball of fun to be with, too!


Our 50+ years of friendship with Andy's mom, Nancy, makes sharing these three grandsons with her (and Grandpa Wayne) even more special, as well as watching Aunt Melissa and Aunt Holly invest greatly into the boys' lives! 





















We love it when friends and family get to come by and see us. My  niece, Rebecca (on furlough from Papua, New Guinea where she is doing medical nursing), came in May. She's always so joy-filled and brings us all an excitement in life!












      




Then in July our long-time dear friends (50+ years) and retired missionaries, Joe and Terri Potter, from Guyana came. (Terry and I missed getting our picture made together.) Oh, how we talked and talked about all the memories we have made together over the years.












 


 
In October, we were blessed to have Jimmy's sister, Connie, and brother, Kenny and sister-in-law, Kathy, stop by from Illinois and Missouri. We always just pick up from where we left off. We do miss living near each of them like we did for so many years. 


















Both Jimmy and I have been given many new insights about life and death, about our loving Savior, and about eternity as we traveled some rough terrain in 2024. But, again, the views God gave us through these trials are just but a taste of who He is and what heaven will be to us one day. And the joys of being with so many that we love throughout the year were the most beautiful touches of all to the views God gave us!












Two names that have become treasured in our lives are “Emmanuel” (God with Us) and “Prince of Peace.” Who wouldn’t want to have the assurance of God literally being with them every moment of the day and that He is the ruler of all and gives perfect peace! So, maybe you would like to say along with us, “Thank you, Lord, for being our Emmanuel and our Prince of Peace!”



We are always grateful for any time we get to spend with you, our friends and family, just as the cartoon below says. 



The Lord loves you all so very much, and so do we!



Wednesday, February 14, 2024

2024 Valentine's Blog


         "Happy Valentine’s Week!” 

May you sense our love for you, our friends and family. But even more, may you sense God’s abundant unconditional love for you every day!


Here is a recap of God’s faithfulness to us in 2023:




Three years living in beautiful Michigan!

We saw our Bollinger grands and their creative parents almost every day we were home and not traveling. It’s great living half a block from them! We spent 17 different weeks with our Patterson grandsons and their wonderful parents, either while we were in Colorado or they were here in Michigan. It is our joy to love on, squeeze, tickle, read-to and do life with our precious seven grandchildren, as well as laugh, talk, plan and share our hearts with their parents who are doing an awesome job helping their children grow and learn! All of them are such treasures!! 


Caleb 10, Grace, 8, Brielle 6 and Natalie 1


Isaiah 5, Micah 4 and Benaiah 2



Precious Praying Times






Nathan and Chiree manage a "Brother/Sister Coffee Date" whenever they are in the same state. Both of them are so blessed with wonderful spouses whom we love dearly! 

We rejoice with Andy on receiving the "President's Choice Award" at his place of business, Computronix. (This is given two people per year who gave a significant contribution at company level.) Congratulations, Andy! 

After 20 years of being a professional portrait photographer and instructor, Katie has just launched her first online course reaching people all of the world. Yay, Katie! We are so excited for you and what lies ahead for "Confident Photographer!"

 

(Side note: You can’t imagine what a blessing Baby Natalie is to us all! Her brother and sisters train her and include her in everything they do, and her three little boy cousins love on her as if she were their very own sister. As for the rest of us, she is abundant joy in our lives.  Thank you, Lord, for sending Natalie to us!)




After a diagnosis of a severe mold allergy for Andy, it was decided to completely remediate all areas of Andy and Chiree’s home. Jimmy spent twelve weeks in Denver in the spring doing an incredible job helping to head up a work team, as well as be one of the major workers. When completed, the whole house was basically new (and, oh, so beautiful)! Chiree said, “Dad, your fingerprints are all over our home!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!



As a little girl I always, always wanted my birthday to fall on Easter, and it never did. Well, this past April 9th, at the age of 71, it finally did fall on Easter for the first time in my life. So special to me as we celebrated the resurrected Lord and the forgiveness of our sins. The most sacred holiday of the year! 



In June our well pump broke, and then a brand new well had to be dug. What a mess! The lawn was reseeded and landscaping was enlarged and replaced. We are so thankful for clean running water after being without for over ten days!


An incredibly, wonderful  and fun memory-making time happened over three days during the Fourth of July weekend in Kansas City for a Bollinger Family reunion. Out of 80+ Bollingers, about 50 were able to attend. And, oh, all the little cousins had a ball! (I love the family I married into!!)

All 6 Bollinger "Grown-Up Kids"
9 of the 14 Grandchildren
24 of the 37 Great-Grandchildren

Tons of fun activities for all the Bollinger Kiddos!

For those who have eaten with the Bollinger Clan, 
you know that the meals are absolutely scrumptious! 

Three days of wonderful food and fellowship!!!



We made a detour coming and going to Kansas City in order to spend time with 34 dear, long-time friends, as well seeing our SW MO church family of Prairie Flower Bible Church. Such a blessing being together again!

Stephen, Debby & Dennis Greer

Ron & Donna French and Jack & Judy Hubbard
(These two couples each bought a part of our family farm
in Neosho and have become such special friends to us!)

 

Melissa Snow and Elizabeth & Michael Kaether & little ones

Sarah, Rebekah and Ann Morris




Phil & Patty Johnson

Rebecca Emery, Tonna Thomas,
Laura Jones and Jill Wilkins



Murray & Rache'l Campbell
Maria Crews
Ryan, Robert & Rose Jeffery
Todd & Linda Johnson 
Benita Pearson and Cathy Wedel 



Donna French and Sharon Bogle
(Oh, dear, we should have positioned sweet Sharon better
so that it didn't look like a cup of coffee was on her head!!) 




The fall brought various dear friends and family visiting from out of state. 

Elisabeth & Brian Detrick

Isaiah & Heather Ueland with their children, 
Nathan, Michael, Ariana, Tabitha and Mark 

Katie's parents, Debbie & Larry Miller

Jimmy's sister and brother-in-law, Patty & Nat Diliberto





We also got to enjoy a gathering for "Apple Cider-Making" at our neighbors' home (friends from Revive Our Hearts), Helen and Martin Jones, on a crisp fall evening. There is nothing like fresh squeezed apple cider and sweet fellowship!





The fall also brought Jimmy and a friend from Nathan’s church tackling the job of finishing our basement. Jimmy again put on his tool pouch after thinking he might retire it after his Denver house assignment. He sure makes being 75 years old look like being 45 years old! I love my man so much!


 All throughout the year, we have been so blessed to be a part of Bertrand Bible Church, learning much from God’s Word and being a part of “Salt Shakers.” (Yep, we are full-fledged senior citizens!) Such a sweet group of brothers and sisters in Christ to be with as we pray, serve the Lord together and reach out to our community for others to come to know the Lord!



We had the opportunity to spend lots of time this year with our dear friend, Jennifer Smith, whom we met in Arkansas 13 years ago after she was released from 12 years in prison. In the past she joined our family in prison ministry,  and this year I got to join her in new ministry opportunities including Twelve Stones, a Biblical Counseling Retreat in Indianapolis, with Jill Wamsley and Craig Mercer. We also did a workshop together with “Learning That Lasts,” a ministry of Make It Clear with Jon and Peggy Sperling in Loveland, Colorado. What a blessing to walk alongside her during this new season of life. She truly is family to us!



November 30th was a life changing day for my dear Jimmy. High blood pressure has never been an issue, and he was on no meds for anything, but a sudden high blood pressure with no warning gave him blindness in his right eye. After many appointments and being with a specialist, the news came that he had an eye stroke and that his retina was dead. Very hard news.  Jimmy has had a peaceful, calm attitude and is learning to adjust to this disability.  We are fearfully and wonderfully made…and we certainly don’t take sight for granted now. When sight is clouded, it gives us the opportunity for more insights from God and the revealing of blindspots in our lives. He is faithful and is teaching us much. We trust Him.  



 On December 7th I went in for a heart ablation since I have been dealing with racing heart tachycardia for over 32 years. It was successful, and I am so very grateful! My sweet sister, Michelle, flew in to be with me and to be of help for Jimmy, too, since we were still in the crisis with his eye. Having a nurse here for four days gave an added peace. Plus, for those who know Michelle, she brought lots of laughs, too. She a real joy! 

A merry heart does good like medicine. 
Proverbs 17:22


When thinking about losses in life, the ultimate tragedy would be life without the hope of heaven with God. That brings tears to God and to us. Because of Jesus’ resurrection, He is alive, well and at work. When we trust Him as our Savior from sin, then our story can and will end in LIFE…eternal life with God! As the old hymn goes, “Only trust Him, only trust Him, only trust Him now. He will save you. He will save you. He will save you now."

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved. Acts 16:31


Sending our love and prayers to all who have visited our blog,
Ann and Jim

(Another side note: One more "little girl wish" I had was to be a flower girl in a wedding. Well, that never happened, but lately I have seen pictures of grandmas being the flower girl in a grandchild’s wedding! So, who knows?? Maybe there is hope still for this childhood dream! Can’t you just see me…fluffy Grammie in a fluffy dress!! Ha, Ha!)

    Apple, Cranberry, Kale, Bacon Salad 
    (Even our grandchildren love this and request it!) 

(This recipe is shared by Katie’s mom, Debbie Miller, who obtained it from Samaritan’s Purse’s recipe files.) 


SALAD:

6 cups chopped kale, massaged well

1 red apple, diced

2/3 cup crisp bacon bits

1 cup almonds, roughly chopped

1/3 cup crumbled feta cheese

1/3 cup dried cranberries

 

DRESSING:

¼ cup apple cider vinegar

½ cup apple juice

1 Tablespoon Dijon mustard

2 Tablespoons honey

½ teaspoon salt

¼ cup olive oil

Fresh cracked pepper

 

Whisk together the dressing and pour immediately over the greens and serve. Enjoy!

 




Tuesday, February 14, 2023

2023 Valentine Blog

  Happy Valentine’s Day!


To think that absolutely NOTHING can separate us from God’s love! We are all so blessed!!


In our 2022…

We made many special memories. 

We laughed a lot. 

We cried. 

We spent time alone. 

We spent time with family and friends. 

We made new friends.

We read new books. 

We tried new recipes. 

We exercised more.

We uncluttered, sold or gave away unneeded stuff. 

We learned wonderful new things in scripture.

We saw many answers to prayer.  

Best of all, the Lord and His Word faithfully met each of the needs of our hearts. 

 

As always, we loved spending time with our children and grandchildren. 



Having Nathan and Katie and our four Michigan grandchildren (Caleb 9, Grace 7, Brielle 5, Natalie 4 months) just a block away is such a blessing. Our backyard neighbor let us put a gate on the back of his fence, so now the children (and we adults, too) are just like across-the-street-neighbors since we can dart over to each other’s homes through their backyard in a flash when we want. 





Andy and Chiree and our three little Colorado grandsons (Isaiah almost 5, Micah 3, Benniah 1) were able to come twice this past year, in May and in October, staying two weeks each time. So fun!! We, as well, were able to spend a month with them in Colorado in January of 2022 (and another two months this January and February). 






We have been very encouraged through the ministry of Legacy Coalition - Intentional Christian Grandparenting. Through their resources and conferences, as well as their excellent speakers on their weekly zoom Grand Monday Nights, we as grandparents are given great wisdom for ways to invest in our grandchildren. (For those of you with children still at home, the absolute best parenting course we could recommend to you is through Biblical Parenting University - "Teaching a Heart-Based Approach to Parenting.")

 


Our grandchildren are treasures and loved beyond words. They have our hearts and also keep us in stitches!!





“Out of the Mouths of Babes”


Andy: “Isaiah, thank you for all the help you were for me today.”




Isaiah (age 4): “Daddy, it sure is a good thing God gave you three boys to help with all the work!”

 

(Little does Isaiah know just how much work three little boys make themselves! Ha, Ha!)



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Brielle (age 5): “Mommy, do you have a video of Adam and Eve marrying?”


Katie: “They didn’t have video cameras back then--not even in Jesus’ day.”


Brielle: “Oh, they just had phones?”


Mommy: “Not even phones.”


Brielle: “Did Eve wear a pretty dress?”


Mommy: “Nope.”


Brielle: “What did she wear?”


Katie: “Nothing.”


Brielle, looking horrified: “You mean she was naked?!”


Caleb (age 9) hearing this said: “That’s why there weren’t cameras back then!!




 

My 70th birthday arrived on April 9th. It’s still hard to believe I can be this age when in my mind, I feel 30! 



Jennifer Smith and Bethany Davis, my dear friends from the prison ministry we worked with for several years in Arkansas and Cornerstone Transition Home, flew in for that weekend and helped make for a very special celebration with my family here in Michigan.




My sister, Michelle, was at the airport in Denver ready to fly in also as a surprise but became suddenly sick and had to cancel at the last minute. Gratefully, she recovered well and flew out in October for five days, so we celebrated then and had such a wonderful sister time together.



Some of our extended Bolliger family were able to come to visit that same weekend, so we got to also  enjoy my brother-and-sister-in-law Kenny and Kathy from Missouri, my sister-in-law Connie and niece-and-nephew-in-law Kevin and Julie all from Illinois. 




 In celebration of all the God has done in my 70 years of life, I invited 27 friends and relatives to each write a 2-minute blog of how the Lord has worked in their life. Each writing was such a blessing to read and to share with others. Those 27 short blogs can be read at: aprilbday.blogspot.com. 




 

I spent the summer recovering from a meniscus tear and stress fracture of the tibia, which put me in a wheelchair for a month, followed by a walker and cane the next two months. Jimmy and I had dates several times a week at a warm water therapy pool during this time. He was such a blessing caring for me and taking care of so many household needs that I couldn’t do. (I love my man so much!!) I also ended up with yet another stress fracture on the top of my foot in December, which put me in a boot for eight weeks. I don’t know what I did to cause these fractures, so aging and osteoporosis seem to be the culprit, which has me being much more proactive in some lifestyle changes. 







Jimmy always brings his tools when traveling and did some electrical tweaking at Andy and Chiree's house on our last visit there. Such a hard-working man, even at nearly 75 years old!




Jimmy spent the fall months updating an investment home we purchased in our quaint and quiet neighborhood just two streets over and behind Nathan and Katie’s house. He did such a nice job on all of it!  At Christmas time we rented it to a sweet, young married couple named Caleb and Grace. Since their names match our sweet nine-and-seven-year-old grandchildren, we affectionately call our renters, Mr. Caleb and Miss Grace. He works from home and she works at Life Action/Revive Our Hearts were our Nathan works. We are grateful to have them as our renters and even more grateful to have them as our new friends. 



 

The most special blessing of 2022 was the gift the Lord gave our family of precious Natalie Joy!



In the midst of our deep sorrow in the stillbirth of our grandson, Samuel Ethan in 2021, God was so gracious to add Natalie to our lives. She was born September 29th and is absolutely loved beyond words! The children love carrying her around, meeting her needs and giggling at the sweet faces she makes. (Because they have to take turns holding their baby sister, sometimes the baby dolls fill the arms of those waiting to hold her.)



Nathan and Katie (and all of us grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins) stand in awe with hearts full of gratefulness. Thank you, thank you, Lord for our Natalie!! 






 

God continues to use Samuel’s short life to bring hope and the gospel to others and has opened opportunities for us as family members to help comfort those who have faced a stillborn birth. The 10-minute video of “Samuel’s Story” was aired a week before Natalie’s birth at the True Woman ’22 Conference to thousands of women in Indianapolis and simultaneously translated into several languages and broadcasted around the world. The theme of the conference was “Heaven Rules.” Watch: “Samuel’s Story: A Heaven Rules Story.”  May this  video bring you hope also. 






Below are excerpts from the forward of  Nancy DeMoss Wolgmuth's newest book, Heaven Rules.


The phrase "Heaven rules''originates in the book of Daniel Chapter 4. Nancy takes us on a journey through the Old Testament book of Daniel and points out "Heaven rules" (HR) moments along the way. 


When we find ourselves in frightening circumstances, we often run to "Human Resources" (HR) to help us rather than a better plan of knowing Heaven rules (HR). You will never watch the news quite the same way again once you start to get a sense of what's going on behind those headlines, what God is doing on earth to accomplish His eternal, heavenly purposes...when Heaven is ruling! 


Heaven rules means God is sovereign over everything that touches us...He is ruler over every diagnosis and prognosis, over all incomes and outcomes, over the most daunting challenges as well as the most seemingly details of our lives.


This book can be purchased at Revive Our Hearts or on Amazon. After reading it, you will definitely want to share it with others!


 

We had a Hallmark-looking Christmas. My niece, Rebecca Dellinger, who lives in Hawaii, flew in on Christmas Eve. We had a memorable Christmas morning breakfast at Nathan and Katie's home and a delightful time with Rebecca all week and with our little Michigan family celebrating the birth of our Savior.


 




“Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift” …the gift of Himself being born in order to die for our sins that we might have His righteousness upon our trust in Him alone. Hallelujah, what a Savior! “For He has make Him to be sin for us that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him” (II Corinthians 5:21). 

 

A wonderful New Year’s challenge from a friend: “May we love God more this year!”

 

Trusting God daily,

Jim and Ann


P. S. Looking for a resource for your church or ministry to empower you to reach the world with the gospel? "Good News Made Clear" is an 8-week, video-based program that gives you the tools and the confidence to share the Good News. We highly recommend it!






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