25 Years

Bob & Jode Bardwell

“The Joyful Noise”  (L to R) – Abby, Birdie, Lydia and Hannah at the keyboard

Bardwell & Morris Families

My blog for the month of July was the first 25 years of my injury. My August blog will be the last 25 years since 1998. 

PHOTO 1 – July 16, 2023  (Sunday) was a complete SURPRISE PARTY in the chapel to celebrate my 50th year being in a wheelchair.  I want to thank Jode, my wife for her supporting me the past 32 of the 50 years. Tracy Bashore, the ranch CEO, had called me and told me that someone wanted to meet me in the chapel at 1PM, and then I would go home and celebrate with my family. I literally was shocked when I rolled into the chapel and was greeted with claps and cheers.   Nearly 90 people showed up and several who knew me before my accident.  

PHOTO 2 –The HIGHLIGHT of the celebration was when our daughters got on stage and sang.  It was 22 years ago the last time they sang on stage often when I was at a speaking engagement. They started by quoting Psalm 100, and with Hannah the older sister at the keyboard, they sang one of my old favorites, “You are a Promise” and a few other oldies.

PHOTO 3 – This was recently taken at the chuckwagon with Colonel Chaplain John and Kathy Morris and their family.   We raised our families together early on and John was back to speak at Operation Welcome Home.    

HIGHLIGHTS from the past 25 years.

Family First:   Jode and I now have 3 sons-in-law and 5 grandchildren. We are so blessed that they all live close by.  

Ranch Updates:  All of the following dates were taken from the book entitled, “Spreading Joy & Changing Lives”.   A great book to get with 300 photographs covering the first 40 years of the ranch.     1998 – 80 acre land purchase, 2000/2004 – Castner Riding Arena, 2000/2009 – Miracle Lodge, 2001 – Office,  2009 – Start of Operation Welcome Home, 2010 – 1st Miracles Happen Festival, 2012/13 – Disc Golf and Clyde the Camel, 2013/14 – Mini-golf,  2015 - Tracy Bashore became the ranch CEO. 

I am excited about the future and being a part of seeing the ranch grow and thrive each day.     We will always DO OUR BEST to Honor God and Love People.  Thanks to many of you for your love, support and generosity, it has been a great encouragement!.

Bob Bardwell  

Miracles Happen.

“The measure of your strength is not how much you can lift, but how much you lift up others”