BALENTINE MEMOIRS

We have answered a lot of questions over the past several weeks, but we also know that quite a few people don't feel comfortable asking us questions.  The subject matter is tough, and we get that.  Amy and I thought it would be interesting to come up with a few questions and then to answer them individually, so we could share our separate thoughts on a few topics on the blog.  Some of the questions are ones we have actually been asked, and some address things that what we think people may want to ask but don't.  We'll break it up into five separate posts since it would be rather long otherwise.  We are always open to questions.  We know others are grieving with us, and we can help one another on this journey with questions as basic as, "How are you doing today?" Question 1: Why the name Simon? Amy's answer: Adam and I both liked the name Simon before we were even pregnant the second time.  However, the nam...

God has been asking me to write further about Him speaking to me in our old church in San Francisco, so I am obeying and sharing so you can see where my heart was on February 2, 2014. The song that spoke to my heart was called Oceans by Hillsong .   I should mention that the band at Cornerstone is simply amazing – they often sound better than the originally recorded song.   Normally in the first few songs at Cornerstone, they ask us to rise and sing with them, but for Oceans, their opening worship song, they asked for us to sit and sing or just read the words silently as they sang to us.   It was a sweet time of worship.   I sang the words that would come out of my mouth behind the quivering voice and tear-filled eyes.   But my tears and my shaky voice weren’t coming from a sad place – it was joy.   I recall thinking, I’m not sad, this is thanksgiving to my Jesus.   It was like my thoughts had surprised me – they did, actually.   A wave of p...