Dave and Jan were honored to be asked to take part in the memorial service for two very special friends who were key players in the life of the church they served in Gallup, New Mexico (Gallup Baptist Church, now Grace Bible Church) forty years ago. Dr. Al and Sheila Diddams were two people who played a significant part in the Balsleys’ lives in the early years of their marriage and family and ministry. The Diddams were a rich source of wisdom and knowledge on many subjects, so Dave and Jan turned to them for help with church life and family life (especially when children came into their lives) and medical questions (for which Dr. Diddams, a highly respected surgeon, was a valuable source). Here is a picture of the Diddams at their home in Dewey (near Prescott) Arizona several years back.

Sheila Diddams headed for heaven on Christmas Eve of 2016 due to diabetes complications. Her husband, Al, died two months later (February 26th). They were living at the time at King Bruwaert House, a senior care home in Burr Ridge, Illinois – and services were held in that area at the time of their respective deaths. But, because their last lengthy residence was in the Prescott area, where they were active at First Baptist Church of Prescott (now Solid Rock Christian Fellowship) and had many friends, they were interred at the National Cemetery in Prescott and a memorial service was held in their honor on April 21st. Their five children (young people when we were together in Gallup) and their spouses were all present for the service (along with other friends from Gallup days), so it was a special time of family reunion for them, and Dave and Jan thoroughly enjoyed seeing them all once again.

                                      (Susie, Steve, Scott, Shannon, Stan)
Dave and Jan had just checked into the motel in Prescott and gotten dinner when they received a text from son Stephen saying that he and Meagan were at the hospital (7:00 p.m.) because Meagan was nearing the time of the birth of their second child. They were admitted at 8:00 and Jan spent sleepless hours wondering what was happening (while Dave slept soundly, of course).  At 12:08 A.M. on April 21st Erin Laurel Balsley made her appearance – the first granddaughter for the Balsleys after five grandsons.

Meagan is enjoying some time off for recovery and to get acquainted with the new addition to the family.

Gramma Jan, of course, is in “Gramma Heaven” with the arrival of Erin!

And “big brother” Ryan is getting accustomed to the arrival of his sister.

Our lives are rich with special relationships. We are grateful for the 4 South Dakota grandsons we have been blessed with and are looking forward to connecting with them this summer. We thank the Lord for the blessing of family – both our immediate family and our extended family who make up the family of God! We rejoice that loved ones in Christ, like the Diddams, now “absent from the body” are “at home with the Lord” (II Corinthians 5:8).  And we are very thankful for each new entry the Lord brings into our experience – especially the addition of grandchildren!