The “lazy days of summer” haven’t been too lazy at the Brea Balsley residence.  We have had some very warm days in mid-summer, which have restricted some of our activities, but we haven’t been challenged to find things to do.

Caroleen Suzuki, our college student house guest wrapped up her studies at Fullerton (Jr.) College in June with graduation exercises.  Pictures were posted on Facebook, so you may already have seen her in graduation attire.

Graduation was followed shortly, for Caroleen, with a month-and-a-half visit in Japan with her mother and brother and grandmother.  Next she is preparing to pursue graphic arts studies at California State College in Fullerton.

Jan put in some extra duty in her care of Stephen and Meagan’s children when the other grandmother/care provider had two surgeries and a two-week vacation trip, but being a grandmother is one of Jan’s favorite things!

For the last year (since September) we have hosted a weekly Life Group meeting in our home each Tuesday evening.  It has been a refreshing time of Bible study and fellowship in prayer and some good refreshments – with most of those attending coming from our former church family at Temple Baptist.

At the end of June Dave volunteered for a week of service in our church’s Mega Music Mash-up program – a week-long Vacation Bible School (9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Monday through Friday) with a significant musical dimension to it.  During the week every child learned a full musical and learned how to play a simple musical instrument.  Dave was a small-group leader with the 3rd and 4th grade children.  It was one of the best VBS programs he has ever witnessed.  Barbara Barr (wife of Pastor-Emeritus Jamie Barr) was the lead teacher for the 3rd and 4th grade group.

The week ended with two performances on Sunday (4:00 and 6:30 p.m.) of the Christmas-themed musical “A Certain Small Shepherd” to full-house audiences.

And what would summer be without at least one hike in the Angeles Forest at Ice House Canyon – a nice escape from the heat in the valley below.

Dave and Jan look forward to more summer scenes in the Sierras, camping with ministry friends from Tucson days (now living and serving a small church in the eastern Sierras town of Independence, California), Dave and Suzie Bancroft, before the summer is over.