Where Do You Live?

"Where do you live?"  It's a simple question and one that has always been easy to answer...it was on or near an Air Force base somewhere in the world.  But now it is different.


As I have gone through the last year and a half, I have been asked this question in many different settings.  Where do you live?  I explain that I have been living with our children and their families in various locations around the US (they live on the East Coast, Northwest, Southwest and in the middle of the country).


Our children are having babies and it was on the occasion of the birth of baby Jubilee when I was asked this question twice while Jen was in the hospital.  First, a doctor asked me, "Where do you live?"  I explained that I had been up north staying with our son and his wife as they had just had a baby boy.  He pressed, "But where do you live?"  I kind of took a deep breath and then explained that my husband had passed away overseas and since that time I had been staying with our children.

As we were leaving the hospital the next day, the attending nurse asked me the question.  I was trying to keep the focus on our sweet little baby girl coming home with her mommy and daddy.  But she asked the question a second time, so I briefly explained my situation and then was able to take the time to talk about my amazing husband and how God had blessed us with almost 32 years of marriage. I told her that I know some people never get to experience the kind of relationship and life that I have been able to have with my precious Lonnie (and I never want to take that for granted).  I also said that I know the Lord is going to be with me in  the days ahead.


As Benji drove up with the car and Jennifer and her sweet daughters were loaded up in the car, the nurse turned to me before I left and said, "You are going to be just fine."


I realized that God gave me an opportunity with this simple question to tell of His blessings and goodness to me.  I was able to share about my Lonnie.  Truly I can say that God has been good to me and I mean it with all of my heart.  I thank God for children who have opened their homes to me and made me feel so loved.  I am thankful for precious friends who have done the same.


Someday it may be easier to answer that question again, but for now.....I'm working on my answer.  

A Letter from Jeremy on the 4th of July

Hello Family!

Ponder this on a most special and treasured day that we Barkers are blessed to celebrate today:

"Alex Wojciechowocz's house is set on a hilltop looking out over the Atlantic. He designed the house himself, and he has a large, handsome den with a fireplace and a desk where he handles his chores as president of the NFL Alumni Association. He has a hedge of roses, which he tends, and a rock garden and a swimming pool and a telescope aimed at the ocean, and he seems to lead a very pleasant life. As I left his home, I couldn't help thinking that perhaps Vince had a place like this in mind, a place where someday, when he stopped pushing himself, when he stopped driving so hard, he could finally relax and enjoy himself and his family." (Taken from Jerry Kramer's book entitled Lombardi: Winning is the only thing).

I share this because as I was reading this initially I was saddened, thinking of the times ahead that I could have had with my father. I envisioned something similar as described above that would make up the scene for a place that we as a family could have lived "happily ever after" with Dad at the helm. And then I got it. I got the big picture.

Alex Wojciechowicz was a freshman at Fordham University who followed in the footsteps of, and learned how to carry himself because of, Vince Lombardi. They were teammates on Fordham University's football team in the 30's. Alex was interviewed about his recollections of life as a teammate of Vince Lombardi following Vince's passing at the young age of 57 years.

Through my reading, it is no surprise to me that Dad too must have really been impressed by Vince Lombardi. I found it almost funny how similar some of the traits that Vince drove to embody were core characteristics that Dad effortlessly lived by: Athleticism, Scholastics, Citizenship, and his Faith were all at Dad's center.

Why am I sharing this? Well, this book is comprised of many accounts of Vince's character and persona. Our lives, and all those who knew Dad, and those who will hear of Dad, will have been better because of his testimony and story. We get to share a story of perseverance and faith and all I can imagine that is a life of abundance in the blessings that matter most.

Although it seems unfair that we won't get to see Dad's smile, share a laugh, or learn something through his conversation, we will always have our telescope by the sea to look through. His life, the way he lived, and Who he lived for, will always lead us to a see things in a better light. I think it's great how Alex's house is described above. It is my desire that our house (or family) will always be a source of hope, a mirror of grace, and a place of comfort for all those who enter. From the babies of my generation, to those of the next, Dad's example will mark our future. I am glad for that.

I love you guys!

Happy Fourth!

Jeremy

(Pictured above: Lonnie with his baby Jeremy and his first gift to him. Jeremy still has that football.)

Jubilee

Benji and Jen have a new little addition to their family. Their baby girl Jubilee was born at the end of June and we are filled with joy and wonderment at this precious little gift from God. What a miracle! We thank all who prayed for Jennifer and baby as she experienced some complications at the end of her pregnancy. Both mommy and baby are healthy and happy!

Her name is Jubilee Lania and she is a beautiful girl just like her happy, full-of-life, big sister Zoe.

Jubilee means joy, celebration, restoration and redemption. Jubilee comes from their family word of the year--Joy! Joy, not having joy but learning joy in their circumstances. Right after finding out Jen was pregnant, many of the really tough things she was dealing with went away (difficulty sleeping and terrible dreams). This is a year of Jubilee for the family.

Her middle name Lania (pronounced Lon-nie'-a) means noble and sacred to God. The inspiration for Lania comes from Jen's Daddy Lonnie which means "heavenly warrior."

We celebrate our Jubilee!