There are firsts in the journey of grief—the first full week, the first full month, the first full year, first mother’s and father’s day, first birthday without Brianna, and many others not worth revisiting. She was preparing a special surprise for our 30th wedding anniversary, (a first), but we were robbed of that privilege. The day is coming where we will say, “O death, where is thy sting, or grave where is thy victory!” What a glorious Day that will be!!

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This is another first—a first in writing a blog so late in the year. Every year I’ve written

blogs, I’ve always written at least the first for that current year, sooner than October.

Why so late this year? A host of reasons, but briefly this has been our busiest year since

loosing her. The demands of our prison ministry continue to grow, including an

increase in speaking appointments, and hosting our first grief seminar since before the

Paradise Campfire of Nov 2018. But this is not the purpose of my blog, a first for 2026.

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Tomorrow, will mark 70 days out till December 19, the 12 year mark, since we lost our

precious daughter. Nearly 4400 days later, we are still not over it, for any who may be

wondering. When you lose a child, especially one who is about to spread their wings

(literally for her) into the path God appointed, parents NEVER get over that sudden

loss. Not until that special resurrection day will we be over it. Then our deliverance

will begin, until it is consummated in He who is the Resurrection and the Life appears

in the clouds of glory.

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                                                            Today, as you see in the pictures, we did some needed “refurbishing of the cross” out at                                                                 the crash site, on one of the hottest days of the year, in early October, also a first for us                                                                   since we moved to the Paradise area more than 14 years ago.

 

                                                             This cross has withstood 12 years of the changing of the seasons--cold rain, and heat,                                                                     wind and frost storm after storm, year after year, including a fire that burnt                                                                                       everything  around it—a miracle of Divine power. Well, some cracks appeared in its                                                                       foundation, which we had to repair a couple weeks ago, then the cross beam, needed                                                                     some TLC—a couple of the lag bolts were loose, rusted, and had to be replaced, an

                                                             application of construction adhesive, and minor sanding were added to allow for the

                                                             name plate to be reattached. Once the weather cools, we'll return to apply a fresh coat of

                                                             paint, making it appear as new again. So the builder of the cross returned after being

                                                             absent from the area for nearly ten years to assist us in 'repairing the cross,’ what a

                                                             privilege. Thank you Michael.

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                                                                                                                  - - - - -- - - - - - - - - -

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This cross has stood as a beacon of hope in dark days, especially in one of the worst disasters in CA State history. But this cross is just an emblem of a greater Cross, that an innocent man poured out His life on, long ago. That Cross is what gives us hope of seeing our precious Brianna again, and also all who have lost loved ones that have put their trust in IT, they have that hope, as well. But that Cross only has value because of the Resurrection of that holy One, in order that we might have life, more abundantly, now and into eternity.

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Keep your eyes on that Cross, my friend, for it is the only one that can heal our broken hearts and restore us through that living blood, so that one Day we will be reconciled—never more to part.