Valentine’s Day is really like Thanksgiving Day. Regardless of ours or anyone else’s conduct in our world, God’s love is given to everyone. It is eternal, constant and incomparable to any other. For that, we give Him thanks and may we love Him back with our whole hearts! 

                       

                   Our VALENTINES!

Valentine’s EVE was celebrated in Michigan with these three sweet granddaughters and their awesome older brother (Natalie 3, Brielle ­8, Grace 10 and Caleb 12), along with Mommy Katie and Daddy Nathan. 

Valentine’s DAY was celebrated in Colorado with these three terrific grandsons (Isaiah 7, Micah 6, and Bennaiah 4), along with Mommy Chiree and Daddy Andy.

You’ve got to love the fast benefits of flying across the country, rather than driving, so to be able to celebrate Valentine's Day with both families! 

Our 2025 was full of “Family and Friends Time.” One thing is for sure: Friends are friends and family are friends! We love you all so very much!

Get-togethers with family and friends were abundant this year. In June we flew to Denver. There are over 40 relatives from both Jimmy and my sides of the family living there. Then the fact that we lived there many years in the 70’s and 80’s, we have friends galore. So, our 7-week vacation in Denver during the summer was packed with food, fellowship and fun with our many family and friends there. 

Mid-way through our visit, Nathan, Katie and their four kiddos came for two weeks. We all fit very comfortably in Andy and Chiree’s home, which proved to be a perfect Bed and Breakfast for coming and going as we played in the wonderful Denver sunshine, including mountain-time fun and get-togethers with loved ones. 

Mother and Daddy would have been so proud of their 10 great-grandchildren and their 4 grandchildren!

                          Nathan and Chiree's youngest, 

Bennaiah 4 and Natalie 3

Cousins and best friends!

  Yep, all 13 of us are big BRONCO fans!

This time together also included us all heading to Topeka, Kansas, for our 3-day Bollinger Family Reunion over the Fourth of July. Grandma and Grandpa Bollinger would be so happy to know that we have this reunion every other year because we all love being together (and we love reminiscing of the times when we were all together with them…precious memories!) So very grateful to Stephen and Elisabeth for hosting this at their home with an awesome fireworks display, a big swimming pool and gorgeous surrounding land. It was a perfect place for all of us to have a ball of fun!

The 6 Bollinger siblings are just the best and crazy fun to be with!

 

Andy, Chiree and the little boys flew to Michigan for three weeks in October, so we once again were able to have such special family time. October 1-5 was the national True Woman ‘25 Conference with Revive Our Hearts in Indianapolis, where Nathan and Katie and Andy and Chiree all had jobs to do for the conference. We babysat the three little boys here, and Katie’s parents came to babysit the three little girls. We four grandparents enjoyed watching these six kiddos having great cousin time. Caleb got to go with his mom and dad as he is learning many videography skills from Nathan and was a big help, plus he experienced much of all the Lord did in the lives the almost 6,000 women who attended. God’s Word was boldly proclaimed and women were blessed.

      Great conference!

         Caleb is growing up fast!

At age 12 1/2, he is wearing a 12 1/2 shoe.

       And, he's now taller than most of us adults!

 

 

Andy assisted Nathan with the set for interviews and was a part of the men's praying team.

Chiree assisted with interviews with conference attendees (and soaked up fellowship with her long-time friend, Jennifer Smith.

 

 

 

 

My dear sister and brother-in-law, Michelle and Dan, vacationed through Michigan on their way to Niagara Falls in October while Andy and Chiree were here, so we made more special family memories.

Everyone needs an Uncle Dan and Aunt 'Shell!

Jimmy and I continue to be so grateful for our health, even when days are a bit harder and slower than when we were younger. He is still blind in his right eye from his stroke two years ago, but he never complains.  I struggle with a mild “off feeling” in my head from my stroke, but I’m so thankful I can keep doing most things I desire to do. Last February, I had surgery for a rare Anyard Hernia, a hernia trapped inside my appendix requiring two hernia repairs and an appendectomy, too. Lymphedema followed that surgery, so… “Hello, support hose!” 

 

All is good, though, and both Jimmy and I, at ages 77 and 73, praise God to be able to get up each morning and love our Savior and love each other, thanking Him for our almost 48 years of marriage! Many, many church and neighbor friends, as well as younger friends speak into our lives and bring us much joy. We are daily blessed to have God’s Word, our family and friends, our ministry opportunities and our privilege to live in the greatest nation on this earth! 

“Being justified by His grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus…The gift of God is eternal life…that whosoever believes in Him”  – Romans 3:24, Ephesians 2:8, John 3:16. This gift is truly the gift that keeps on giving! Do share this with others as so many do not know this and their eternal destiny is at stake!

 

As we live our Christian life, we are reminded that we were not created for independent living and that we are to always be on life support. Why? Because we were created to be dependent on God and to rely on Him totally for our life. And, what does He do for us because of it…He makes His home within our hearts, never leaving us and always giving us the strength for every breathing moment. What a wonderful God we serve!

 

 

 

 

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 19^th 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!

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 30^th 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!