"God sets the lonely in families..."

"(4) Sing to God, sing in praise of His name, extol Him who rides on the clouds, rejoice before Him - His name is the LORD.

(5) A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His Holy dwelling.

(6) God sets the lonely in families, He leads out the prisoners with singing...

(19) Praise be to the LORD, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens. 

(20) Our God is a God who saves; from the Sovereign LORD comes escape from death."

~Psalm 68~

In the month before DJ went to Jesus, when I was facing in my own heart that he might leave us, the thing that struck me with sorrow primarily was, "Oh, my kids won't have a Dad."  And then I would think, "Oh, and I will be alone...but that's okay, I'll be fine - I have a thousand friends."

I didn't anticipate the loneliness that would set in to my heart.  And I didn't anticipate that I would feel so lonely in a crowd.  Usually, I love to socialize and flit around and visit and chit chat and "make my rounds" when in a group of people.  And it didn't occur to me that that would be any different without DJ.

But what I speculate now is that DJ was my anchor, and that our partnership and the safety of our relationship gave me my wings and the security that my heart needs to flit and fly about and be social.

But when DJ was gone, I was very very lonely.  And I particularly felt lonely in a crowd.  It was uncomfortable and unpleasant.

Now, I am happily married to a super duper wonderfully amazing man - and one of the many benefits I find is that, even when he and I are apart and I am in a crowd with some of my "thousand" friends, I don't feel lonely.  I feel anchored.  I feel the stability of a beautiful partnership.  And rather than feeling restless and jittery and lonely in a crowd, even if I'm temporarily without my partner, I feel that I have regained my wings (thank you, Karen DeLuca, for that description of what I'm experiencing).  How lovely, and how happy I am!  :-)  

Thank you, LORD, for blessing me with Jerel Haley!  

What Shall Be Done With This Site? (A homework assignment from Mary S)

Well, Howdy Doody!

The question is, what shall be done with "Happenings With Holly"?

My guess is that if this site were to slip quietly into oblivion, not much would change in the universe.

Except that recent conversations and contemplations are perhaps spurring me on to continue writing and sharing my heart.

Hmmmm....

Please cast your vote - do you prefer that I:

1) Let this site page slip quietly into Oblivion

B) Write something and post some photos

If B is your vote, please specify what you would like to hear and see.

Feel free to comment publicly at the end of this post, or to email me privately at "hollybigelow@charter.net".

Thank you for loving us, as always!

Alexandra loves to read and to float in the swimming pool

Brookelow proposed to Darth Vader

Who is this crazy kid?  Caedmon Van Bigelow

HollyB and Bun-Bun ("Lennie")

Happy January

Dear Friends,

We are blessed and sustained and moving and grooving, and overall we are doing well in the Bigelow family.  Our happy news is that DJ's parents Poppa Dan and Mimi Penny have moved to Paso Roles, and this brings much comfort and joy!  :-)  

I don't have terribly much to report - 

so I will offer photographic images instead of words.

Brooke and Alex and our friend Daniel Vigil, Pike's Place Market, Seattle, WA
November 23, 2016

My Momma Dr. McDonald gave me a tour of her campus, Western Washington University
Bellingham, Washington; November 2016

Alexandra Bigelow is becoming a pro at riding the train back and forth between
San Diego and Paso Robles

We gathered in Renton, Washington, on Thanksgiving Day
with many of the members of the McDonald family.
Pictured here: the patriarch Scott McDonald with his progeny (minus Greyson Wittstock)

Caedmon is happy for any time to spend with his buddy Dylan Saunders
December 2016, Pyuallup, Washington

Brooke Bigelow performed with the Paso High Theater Company in a recent production of
"The Orphan Train", pictured here with her fans Joe and Crystal Benyo
December, 2016, Paso Robles

Brooke and her buddy Morgan enjoyed a Crowder concert
October 2016, Santa Barbara, Ca

Holly Bigelow, Yours Truly
November 2016, Paso Robles

Alexandra Bigelow
Big Sur, California, 2017

Three crazy Bigelow kids
San Diego State University, December 2016

"Grace and peace to you, from Him Who is and Who was and Who is to come; and from the seven-fold Spirit before His throne; and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.  To Him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by His blood, who has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve His God and Father, to Him be glory and power for ever and ever. Amen!"

As always - thank you for loving us!