Stories of my life . . . working through tough times . . . finding hope . . . living joyfully
My Happy Place
As I’m sitting here looking at this beautiful land . . . I think about how a city girl from Indiana could be in a pasture in Kansas perfectly content with life.
Well . . . she fell in love with a guy from Kansas, and in the process of doing life with him for a few decades, she fell in love with this picturesque pastureland that they’ve been blessed with.
That girl is me. When my husbands family purchased this land long ago it was bought for cattle to graze, not for a girl they didn’t even know existed, and who so desperately would need it years later. I have been blessed abundantly to be able to enjoy this beautiful place. Who would have thought how the puzzle pieces of my life would fit together?
God did . . . He knew how much I would need this place to escape my grief I was going through after losing my sister . . . He has opened my eyes and ears to the beauty and sounds that surround me while I’m here.
He knew that while I was growing up in Indiana with my sidekick sister, I would plant a tree in the middle of this pasture to represent her life.
This is my happy place . . .my escape from the world . . .my peace . . . contentment . . . where I walk in solitude . . . talk to god . . . listen to frogs croak and birds sing . . . work through grief . . . watch the cows . . . journal . . .read . . . sing . . . view the magnificent Kansas sunsets . . .
He knew I would need this place. It was all part of His amazing plan for my life . . . and that makes me very happy!
My name is Barb Ninemire. I live in Hill City, Kansas, it’s a small town in the NW part of the state. I’ve been married to my husband Lon for 40 years. We have two children. Our daughter Krysten is married to Braden and she has a beautiful daughter, Klara and a rambunctious 2 year old Elliot. Our son, Lewen and his wife Ashley have two sweet little girls Isabelle and Lillian. Being grandparents has brought so much joy to our lives!
I grew up in Indiana and am the youngest from a family of two children. My sister Janet was 14 months older than me. I never new life without her. We were the best of friends! You may have noticed that I am referencing her in the past tense.
Six years ago we were right in the middle of preparing her for a bone marrow transplant. I was blessed to be a 100% match for her so I was able to be her donor. She lived in Virginia and I live in Kansas. That meant a lot of flying back and forth for me. I didn’t care at all, it was actually fun because I was able to spend so much extra time with my favorite person!
The transplant was in June. She did amazing, and all of her numbers were looking great. I flew back to Kansas a week after the transplant. Soon after I was home things weren’t going as well as they had been. She had graft vs host which is basically her body rejecting the donors bone marrow.
She lived just a few short weeks after that. I had never watched someone die before. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever experienced. I wasn’t emotionally ready for anything this devastating.
I began to journal my experiences through my grief. My hope is that I can share some of what I went through and how I dealt with this great loss in my life.
Life is good - but sometimes its hard. I depend on the Lord and His word for my strength during those times.
View all posts by 2faithfulsisters
9 thoughts on “My Happy Place”
Love this! Love you, Barb! Janet holds such a special place in so many hearts, mine included. Keeping you and yours in prayer, always. — Deanna
I’m so glad that you’ve started your blog. I know this is part of your healing from the loss of not just your sister, but your best friend from day one of your life. Thank you for sharing and I look forward to more posts and pictures of your “Happy Place!” Love you my dear friend. Donna
Very well written. I was with my son when he died. I know your grief. With Julie having the same bone marrow cancer as your sis, I worry about her future each day and say a prayer each night. Sometimes we smile because of the memories at other times we cry just thinking of them.
Grief is strange sometimes. I have definitely laughed when thinking about memories and other times tears are shed. Thankfully the tears aren’t as often as they used to be. However they still are there when I’m not even expecting them sometimes.
Barb this is absolutely heartwarming! Thank you for sharing you thoughts and struggles and the beauty that God has surrounded you with. I look at the beautiful pictures and can hear the frogs croaking and the birds singing. How often we miss what God has right in front of us and the journey he has seen us through to get there. Love you friend!
Thank you Barb for sharing your happy place with us. You have such beautiful memories of your dear sister. God is always with you lifting you up and sharing in your loss.
2FaithfulSisters 
Love this! Love you, Barb! Janet holds such a special place in so many hearts, mine included. Keeping you and yours in prayer, always. — Deanna
LikeLike
I’m so glad that you’ve started your blog. I know this is part of your healing from the loss of not just your sister, but your best friend from day one of your life. Thank you for sharing and I look forward to more posts and pictures of your “Happy Place!” Love you my dear friend. Donna
LikeLike
Very well written. I was with my son when he died. I know your grief. With Julie having the same bone marrow cancer as your sis, I worry about her future each day and say a prayer each night. Sometimes we smile because of the memories at other times we cry just thinking of them.
LikeLike
Grief is strange sometimes. I have definitely laughed when thinking about memories and other times tears are shed. Thankfully the tears aren’t as often as they used to be. However they still are there when I’m not even expecting them sometimes.
LikeLike
Barb this is absolutely heartwarming! Thank you for sharing you thoughts and struggles and the beauty that God has surrounded you with. I look at the beautiful pictures and can hear the frogs croaking and the birds singing. How often we miss what God has right in front of us and the journey he has seen us through to get there. Love you friend!
LikeLike
Thanks for sharing. Love the photos as well.
LikeLike
Hope you have had a great birthday week….love your writing and photos!
LikeLike
Thank you Barb for sharing your happy place with us. You have such beautiful memories of your dear sister. God is always with you lifting you up and sharing in your loss.
LikeLike
Thank you Barb, for sharing. I am so glad that God has been the “balm of Gilead”. I can’t imagine losing a sibling. You are in our prayers.
LikeLike