Dave and Jan returned home September 7th from a two week trip to “camp” with their children and grandchildren at Camp Rimrock, located about 10 miles west of Rapid City, South Dakota. The most famous faces in the region, of course, are located on Mount Rushmore – but family faces make that national monument even more interesting.

(Left to right – Andrew, Elijah, Alissa with Silas, Levi, Stephen with Ryan on his back, and Meagan)

Another face is being carved on a nearby mountain – the face of the Indian Chief Crazy Horse. If the carving is ever completed (with the chief sitting on his horse), it will be even larger than the one at Mt. Rushmore!

Another familiar face we enjoyed together was the familiar face of the moon as it passed as close to earth as it gets on its travels around our planet.

Our first day in camp at Camp Rimrock Dave and Jan joined Andrew, Alissa, Levi, Elijah and Silas for a hike up the hill across from the camp where the view of the camp, looking down from the hilltop, is quite impressive.


Popsicles served to the boys at camp resulted in some happy faces – as popsicles normally do.

The whole family posed for a family photo in front of the fireplace in the camp lodge at Camp Rimrock.

We enjoyed celebrating Stephen’s 34th birthday together with some of his favorite ice cream pies.

Ryan had a chance to explore the Black Hills Central while Dave, Jan, Stephen, Meagan and Ryan awaited the arrival of Andrew, Alissa, Levi, Elijah and Silas on the steam-driven hour-long train ride between Keystone and Hill City.


Levi and Elijah had fun exploring another train which was once used in the mining operation at Thunderhead Falls.

At Thunderhead Falls, just outside the entrance to Camp Rimrock, the outside water fall is set in contrast with the inner falls at the end of a six hundred foot mine shaft.


It was a fun experience to have the family vacation together – enjoying other local attractions like the Wind Cave (while Stephen’s family was still with us), and the Dinosaur Park and a museum of area wildlife provided by the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Department (with Andrew’s family after Stephen’s family flew back to Southern California).

We are grateful for the opportunity to be reminded of some of the men who have influenced our nation’s past, and happy for the opportunity to blend their faces with the even more familiar faces of our own children and grandchildren.

The Summer months are great months for growing things, and our yard has a variety of flowering plants which demonstrate some of the creativity which the Lord build into the growing things He has provided for our enjoyment and amazement.  Some of the names escape memory, but the blossoms are nice to see.

A new addition to our yard this year, these blossoms top a plant which is already colorful in its own right.

A friend from Hawaii has some Plumeria in her yard and decided to share some with us.  We are happy that it seems to be doing well so far from Hawaii.

Two varieties of Bougainvillaea display their bright red colors in different parts of the back yard.

This Urn Plant (Aechmea fasciata) cactus displays a pretty blossom which lasts for many months when once they have bloomed.

This Epiphyllum cactus blossom didn’t last very long but was very showy while it lasted.

The Peruvian Lilies which sister Jewel gave us years ago have thrived in our yard.  This year we added other colors to enjoy.

Of course, it isn’t only plants which are growing for our enjoyment.  It is fun to see our family grow and we enjoyed having Stephen, Meagan and Ryan with us to celebrate Jan’s recent birthday.

Because he lives in the area, we are enjoying the chance to see Ryan grow, and we are looking forward to a short family reunion soon with not only Stephen, Meagan and Ryan but also Andrew, Alissa and our other three grandsons – Levi, Elijah and Silas, who will have undoubtedly done some serious growing since we were with them last.

Digital technology has changed many things in our world. A couple of years ago Jan spent hours during summer months to scan some 21 photo albums worth of family memories into a digital format so we can more easily enjoy our photographs – and reduce an entire cabinet of photo albums to a manageable plastic bin. Now she is working on the task of digitizing Dad Baden’s large collection of slides so they can be viewed on our computer. The process has already brought back many great memories! For quite a few years Dad Baden served as a ranger-naturalist during summer months at Glacier National Park in Montana. We thought you might be interested in seeing some of his photos. As you can see, Jan (pictured here with her mother) got an early introduction to the beauty of Glacier! Dad Baden often led hikes to a small glacier which originated, for at least some of the hikers, at the lodge which was located on the lowest of three lakes in a beautiful mountain setting. Many visitors to Glacier enjoyed crossing the lake from the lodge on boats which ferried passengers across the water to hiking trails – saving some time and many steps on what could easily be a full-day hike.  Dad Baden led many of these hikes and traveled across this lake several times a week. Many happy hours were spent hiking on the numerous trails which traverse the park – like this beautiful trail which Jan and Mom Baden were enjoying when the picture was taken. The mountainous terrain provides spectacular views from the heights which Jan’s family, and especially her Dad, enjoyed reaching. But Dad Baden was not the only one who ascended to the heights in the park. For many years Mom Baden was quite an avid hiker as well. Dad Baden’s knowledge of botany made the family unusually sensitive to the beauty of flowers which appeared throughout the park as the summer months passed. Here is a picture of a lovely lady (Mom) among a showy floral display. The park, of course, was also the year-round home for many kinds of animals. Grizzly bears were a subject of concern, but it was always a more welcome experience to come across some of the deer which lived in the area. When Dave entered the Baden family picture he was blessed to enjoy some of the amazing scenery which the family had been enjoying for years before his time among them. What great memories we have of Glacier National Park – clear evidence to each of us of the amazing greatness and creative genius of our great God!

Each Memorial Day in recent years Dave and Jan have attended the Loma Vista Memorial Park event sponsored by the American Veterans Memorial Association and the nearby City of Fullerton. This year was the 77th annual Memorial Day event, honoring “The Greatest Generation.”  This year Dave and Jan were joined by Caroleen Suzuki who lives with them in anticipation of her studies next school year at Fullerton College (where Jan’s father worked for 33 years).

The event was attended by many hundreds of local citizens, with 4,000 American flags placed throughout the Memorial Park.
Many people who attended were dressed for the occasion in colorful attire predominated by red, white and blue.

A “Missing Man Flyover” of five planes became only four planes as they passed back over the memorial location.
The Orange County Sheriff’s helicopter landed in the park, delivering the speaker for the event.
The Pledge of Allegiance was followed by the National Anthem, sung by Kristen Romero and Dave Deno, returning for the occasion as they have for quite a number of years. One or the other or both of them also sang America the Beautiful, God Bless the USA, My Buddy, and God Bless America. Amazing Grace was performed on the bagpipes. An address by Lt. General David H. Berger, Commanding General of the First Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp Pendleton was the main event of the day – and, as always, a very good and appropriate address.
Dave and Jan have good reason for “Honoring the Greatest Generation” because both have fathers who served in World War II – Dave’s dad keeping books for a medical unit in the Army which spent time in England and France, and Jan’s dad among the sailors who landed at Normandy in his service in the Navy. Though we have photos of both fathers in their military uniforms they were not easily included in this blog, so they are pictured here with their wives of many years in grateful appreciation for not only their service to our country but their faithful service to their families.

Norris R. (“Bob”) and Kay Balsley

Gerald M. and Wanda Baden
We are deeply grateful for the benefits we enjoy as citizens of the United States of America, but even more grateful that “our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ (Philippians 3:20)!

Recent weeks have been busy ones at the Balsley household. But they have been very enjoyable ones as well, because we have had opportunities to spend time with members of our family and our church family celebrating important events and occasions, and we have even managed to get in a little recreation from time to time. On the recreation side, we enjoyed exploring the Tin Mine Canyon Trail in nearby Corona – a surprising find in a generally dry region.


Jan and Caroleen peered into the tin mine for which the canyon trail was named, though entry was prevented to preserve wildlife habitat (and preserve human life, no doubt, in view of the danger of mine collapse).

Easter if always a wonderful time of celebration for those who know the crucified and risen Christ! We also enjoyed a visit on Easter Sunday from Stephen, Meagan and Ryan in the early afternoon – prior to their visit with Meagan’s parents as well.

Ryan is about as cute as they come, and has recently taken to walking, so the pace is picking up!

The Saturday following Easter our church participated in the annual Faces of Fullerton event in downtown Fullerton, where a variety of community organizations engage the community by offering some activity for families and their children.

Our church’s activity was the opportunity to create wire sculptures – something both the children and adults seemed to enjoy doing.

Later the same day we drove to Foothills Ranch to join with Meagan’s family in celebration of Ryan’s first birthday. Ryan’s two grandmothers brought him from his room where an intended nap wasn’t happening.

Ryan was soon well-dressed for the auspicious occasion.

And what would a birthday celebration be without a birthday cake?

As you can tell, we have been enjoying some busy but happy times with family and friends – always grateful for the Lord’s goodness to us in so many ways.

Julie Andrews is (and long will be) remembered for her beautiful renditions of much of the music from the movie The Sound of Music. The movie begins with the message that “the hills are alive with the sound of music, a song they have sung for a thousand years.” The music of the hills, including the sound of breezes rustling in the trees and the songs of various birds and the sound of running water, has been enjoyable this year in southern California. As a result of recent rains, the hills are also alive this season with plenty of plant and animal life to be enjoyed by those who have ventured into the hills. Jan and Caroleen, for example, recently enjoyed venturing into nearby Chino Hills State Park.

The park is often pretty dry, but this year’s rains have created a beautiful carpet of green on the hillsides.

The view from some of Chino Hills State Park’s hilltops offers a nice panorama of the urban sprawl toward the coast not too many miles away.

A recent visit to Black Star Canyon led Dave and Caroleen up the creek bed in search of the “falls.” Jan’s sensitive back probably wouldn’t have taken too kindly to the boulder-strewn path, so she returned to the car, but the musical sound of running water always adds to the pleasure of any trip into the hills.

The only thing which prevented a view of an impressive water fall at the end of the trail was the minuscule amount of water coming over the rock ledge towering well above the canyon floor.

Dave has been enjoying bicycle trips into a growing list of Southern California open spaces suitable for trail bike exploration. His most recent ride led to the “discovery” of Weir Canyon Wilderness Park where some wildflowers dotted the grassy hillsides.

At the Weir Canyon Park he got a nice view of some of the animal life which occupies the hills when a coyote stepped out of the underbrush on the trail ahead.

The roads and paths of Weir Canyon Park and many others invite further exploration as we continue to enjoy the many life-forms in the hills and valleys of Southern California.

We celebrate the fact that “the hills are alive” with the author of the 104th Psalm, verses 10-13 (NASB):
10 He sends forth springs in the valleys; They flow between the mountains;
11 They give drink to every beast of the field; The wild donkeys quench their thirst.
12 Beside them the birds of the heavens dwell; They lift up their voices among the branches.
13 He waters the mountains from His upper chambers; The earth is satisfied with the fruit of His works.

Our Christmas trip to the Monterey area was blessed with beautiful weather – even though it was a little cool at times. Here is a very “cool” fountain in the courtyard at our motel on the morning of January 1.

The New Year’s Day drive down the coast route (California Highway 1) was incredibly beautiful, with sunshine all day long and arguably some of the most beautiful coastal scenery to be seen anywhere.


But Southern California has its share of coastal beauty as well, and the weather was perfect for a visit to the beach when Andrew, Alissa, Levi, Elijah and Silas arrived for a week-long visit from the frigid temperatures of a South Dakota winter.
Andrew was able to share with Levi and Elijah the joy of replicating the construction of South Dakota snowmen with the construction of a California sandman.

This was the first chance for Andrew and Alissa’s newborn, Silas, to spend some time at a California beach.

It was also the first time to enjoy all four grandsons and their parents at the same location – as we did during a visit to Stephen and Meagan’s at Foothills Ranch.

We all enjoyed a picnic at a nice park located just across the street from the condominium complex where Stephen, Meagan and Ryan are living. Stephen and Alissa enjoyed spending time together with each other and the recent additions to their families.

This is how the family looked when they lined up on the park’s triple teeter-totter for a family photo.

Elijah and Ryan were able to spend a little time “hanging out” together in the double swing at the park.

Before Andrew and Alissa and their sons headed back to the cool climate of South Dakota they enjoyed some time at a new water park recently installed at Pathfinder Park in nearby Rowland Heights.

Today we are enjoying some much-needed rain in Southern California, but we are grateful for the fun times we all have enjoyed as a family on some of the beautiful California sunshiny days of recent weeks in the new year.

The final weeks of the year present many occasions and opportunities for celebration. One of our favorites is the celebration of Thanksgiving. We have so much for which to be thankful, and we find it very heartwarming to try to express our appreciation to the Lord for His many blessings in our lives! And a good meal with family is certainly something we are grateful for – like the meal we enjoyed with the Seymours (Meagan’s parents) in their home Thanksgiving day.

Meagan’s 30th birthday offered another occasion for celebration. We thank the Lord for providing Stephen with a wonderful wife – and for providing us (in the process) a wonderful daughter-in-law. The birthday celebration was held this year at Stephen and Meagan’s apartment.

Christmas, of course, is always a great time of celebration. We find it fascinating that the Lord has arranged for a celebration of the incarnation of His Son, Jesus, which has spread to so many places around the world – even in places where the reason for the season is not fully appreciated! But we who know Jesus as our Savior and Lord find many occasions to celebrate the birth of Jesus – like the musical celebration we enjoyed this year (as in previous years) with the musicians at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Orange!

We were back this year on Christmas morning for another worship experience at St. John’s in the beauty of their historic building with its tasteful Christmas decorations.

Our Christmas celebration continued the day after Christmas when Stephen, Meagan and Ryan joined us for a fun time of gift exchange, a second “Christmas dinner,” a tour of some of the area’s more spectacular Christmas lights, and an enjoyable Christmas dessert and game time with new games Stephen received for Christmas.

The Monday after Christmas found us on our way to the Monterey Bay area for a nice time with Dave’s sisters and their families. We stopped in San Luis Obispo on the way to celebrate our 44th anniversary in the colorful surroundings of the Madonna Inn over a very nice meal in the Steakhouse Restaurant.

And the most recent cause for celebration was the birthday celebration we hosted for Caroleen, the Japanese young lady who is living with us this year as she waits out her residency status in the state in anticipation of the beginning of college studies at Fullerton Junior College next fall.

We have enjoyed, as you can tell, a very nice season of celebration. And we are grateful to the Lord for so many good things to celebrate!