Author Archives: Ellen

In Memory of…

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In Memory of Nadia Bagdanov

April 8, 1924 – September 13, 2013

Services:

These words were penned by Nadia’s granddaughter Melissa:

If I said that facing the impending death of someone as amazing as my grandma was hard, that would be an understatement. It doesn’t matter how much you try to prepare yourself because the truth is, you’re never really ready to face such a great loss…

As I sit here trying to process it all, her life, her death, the amazing gift of even being able to call her my grandma, the reality of having to live the rest of my life on this earth without her, I find myself overwhelmed at God’s love, His goodness and His perfect timing. Many of you who knew Baba know that she was a very strong, very stubborn woman and she demonstrated that until the very end. The doctors gave her less than week to live, but she and her stubbornness proved them wrong and instead, she lived almost 2 months. Because of that, my family was given a very special gift, a long goodbye…the opportunity to spend precious time with her all the while knowing that every goodbye could be our very last…until it finally was.
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I know her memory will live on…we’ll be able to hear her critiquing our varenyiki every Christmas from now on (we promise not to make them look like slugs, Baba…we’ll aim for 5+’s now more than ever ), we’ll still be able to hear her snarky remarks during Dzeda’s speeches before family meals, and her telling us to love each other…something she did so well.

Until we see her again, we mourn our great loss but celebrate her GREAT gain. I have no doubt she heard the words, ‘Well done, good and faithful, servant’ when she entered the presence of her Savior this morning. She truly was an incredible example…an example whose footsteps have been etched so deeply in my life and heart. She will forever be one of my greatest role models and inspirations and I feel so blessed to be part of such an amazing legacy.
But words cannot even begin to express how much I will miss her…
I love you SO much, Baba

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Please leave any comments here and I will be sure to pass them on to my Dad.  I am sure he would love to hear words of encouragement or remembrance from you.  Mom loved Jesus and was confident in her last days.  She loved her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.  She will be missed and her words will encourage us for years to come.  The Bagdanov family was blessed by God to have Nadia as our Mom.

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I copied this post and information from my brother’s blog. If you live in Southern California feel free to attend my mom’s memorial service. We would be happy to welcome you and see you. I will be away from the computer for the next few days…

Our Finale was London…

And our favorite phrase while in London for our last 3 days was, “Oh the humanity”. Such a sea of people and an amazing ethnic diversity. Never ever go to England and miss out on the countryside. London is fabulous but it is a completely different experience from the quiet of the countryside.

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This is Tower Bridge in London over the river Thames with the HMS Belfast permanently docked since 1971.

On Tuesday I was able to get some laundry done and organize some thoughts which is always good. I enjoyed visiting some of your blogs and seeing what’s new in your corner of the world. Talking to my sister voice to voice this morning and getting all the details of my mom’s last minutes was good for my soul. I talked to my pop for the first time since my mom died and that was good for both of us. What a sweet man my pop is. Looking forward to hugging him on Thursday afternoon…

Left in Summer…

…returned in Autumn!

We arrived home from England yesterday evening at 6:00 pm after a flight delay in London. I was tucked into my own bed by 8:30 and wide awake at 3:00 am.  My body and mind will adjust soon. We left with windows open and returned with windows shut. We left with the heater pilot lights off and they are back on this morning along with a wee bit of heat to warm up our chilly home. Fall has definitely arrived!

The rest of this week will be busy with our preparations for my mom’s memorial service and our travel to Southern California. Time will tell when I will start posting my full travelogue from England.

Here’s another snapshot of our days in England. After Wells we traveled on to Cornwall where we spent 3 nights. What a wonderful area to explore! Cheers!

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Josh, Laura, Dear and I are so thankful to God for watching over us and for His favor on us during this trip. There were so many moments that we felt His touch on us and our experiences. Thank you Lord!

Just One…

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It’s hard to just show one photo from this amazing cathedral. I’ll be showing lots more in the coming weeks when we get back Stateside.

We leave England today (Monday) at 3:00 and arrive in Seattle at 4:30…so weird. Later this week we board a plane again to go to Southern California for my mom’s funeral. We’ve had a marvelous time in England and I’m so happy that this time around I have a digital camera and a blog so I can document the trip. I already am making plans in my head to improve our next trip here…whenever that may be.

Happy Autumn everyone! I so looking forward to catching up with you all.

Abide With Me ~ Hymn

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Abide With Me

Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens; Lord with me abide.
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me.

Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day;
Earth’s joys grow dim; its glories pass away;
Change and decay in all around I see;
O Thou who changest not, abide with me.

Not a brief glance I beg, a passing word;
But as Thou dwell’st with Thy disciples, Lord,
Familiar, condescending, patient, free.
Come not to sojourn, but abide with me.

Come not in terrors, as the King of kings,
But kind and good, with healing in Thy wings,
Tears for all woes, a heart for every plea—
Come, friend of sinners, and thus bide with me.

Thou on my head in early youth didst smile;
And, though rebellious and perverse meanwhile,
Thou hast not left me, oft as I left Thee,
On to the close, O Lord, abide with me.

I need Thy presence every passing hour.
What but Thy grace can foil the tempter’s power?
Who, like Thyself, my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me.

I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless;
Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness.
Where is death’s sting? Where, grave, thy victory?
I triumph still, if Thou abide with me.

Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes;
Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies.
Heaven’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee;
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.

Words: Henry F. Lyte, 1847.

A Wee Glimpse…

of the Cotswolds…

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Extra credit to anyone who can identify the B.B.C. series that the church in the bottom right hand corner was used in…

Tomorrow is our last full day in England. We spent a very long day in London today and we are bushed. No rain but cloudy all day. The last days of summer are winding down.

Since it’s hard to tell without all the sets adorned I’ll tell you that this is the church from Downton Abbey where Mary Grantham got married and Sybil got left at the altar…

We’ve Laid Our Heads Down…

…in some very nice places.

I will share more about these spots when we get home from England.

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St. Ives sunny 226The view from the house we stayed at in Cornwall.

We are now in a flat in London. My feet hurt but we’re happy and amazed at all we are experiencing.

I wanted to share a link my brother posted for my mom’s obituary and service times…

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The Potteries…

Since we were so close to the Potteries we decided to at least make 2 stops on our way from Alton to the Cotswolds on Sunday. Emma Bridgewater was our #1 choice and Aynsley was close by so we stopped there, too.

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Upon our arrival in Stratford Upon Avon Dear and Josh were called into service to the Crown…

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All is well now so Keep Calm and Carry On…

We are on the west coast of Cornwall these days enjoying the wind and spray off the sea…