I have to apologize........

......to our faithful supporters. I didn't realize that it was more than a month since we updated this spot. SORRY!!!! As you can tell we have been very busy!

Well, I've tried two times to put some photos on here but for some reason it's not working today. So another apology.......... I wanted to show you what we have been busy with but now will just have to tell you.

We put a deck on the back side of our trailer. There are sliding glass doors in the dining room -- but they were not used because it was a 5 foot drop out the doors. There was a deck slab laying out in the trees -- in good shape --- so we started with that and then enlarged on it. We now have the deck going from the back door (out of the laundry room) and the sliding glass doors so that makes it 15 1/2 feet long by 8 feet wide. We are really enjoying it!!!! Well actually for the past several days we haven't ----- had 4 1/2 inches of rain since this past Wednesday and this is Monday. Today is still cloudy but no rain so far. Of course, that means our roads are horrendous!

Our other project has been our garden. We have been eating radishes, spinach and lettuce already. We have: corn, beans, peppers, zucchini, butternut, tomatoes, carrots, onions, watermelon, muskmelon and potatoes. Sounds pretty impressive doesn't it. Everything is up and doing good except for the potatoes - we got them in the ground late....but we think they are coming - saw the ground cracking around them before all the rain came. We have an electric fence around the bottom - 6 inches up and then at about 5 feet. So far we have kept the rabbits and deer out. And there are plenty of both around.

Gary and my cousins husband, Jerry, have been trying to get going on a garage. This will be next to my Grandparents house --- just to the east of our trailer. The rain has really put a stop to their work. So far, they have the holes dug for the posts (it will be a pole barn type)and the cement pads in the bottom of the holes. They are now just doing odd jobs around the place --- waiting for the ground to dry.

Our puppy - Toby - is doing great. He did get under the front deck and got tangled up in the Dish cable for the TV and did some chewing......but that's been his worst trick --- so we are very pleased with him. He found a mud puddle the other day and boy did he have fun. We will have to take him to White Lake and let him really play in the water!!

Our plan is to come back to Michigan in about 7 days.....we will stay for about a week. Then we hope to be back in time for a "Box Social" for a neighboring couple. Barb has cancer and they make trips to Rapid City every week for treatment. So this is a fundraiser to help them pay for gas and etc. I remember "box socials" from my very young days. If you never made up a box and hoped for that special boy to bid on it --- then you haven't lived long enough :-)

We are still thoroughly enjoying JDC. When a young man asked for a Bible the other night....our hearts just soared. He has been in JDC before and just a quiet young man. But we know that his home life is really bad. Last night Gary gave the group a "history lesson" - kind of a REAL short version from Abraham to Moses. You can imagine the shortness of it -- we were only with the kids for less than an hour and part of that was singing and visiting. Anyway....they were told that this was in preparation for Thursday night. Gary will be telling them the story of the Red Sea crossing....and then we will share some photos of the chariot wheels they have found in the Red Sea....proving that this is NOT just a story....but true Biblical facts. We told them they should read ahead and know the story when we come back Thursday. Many of them have a Bible in their room. So when the young man asked for a Bible after that --- we are hoping he is just reading away!!! :-)

Other lessons have been in answer to some questions that the girls gave us. "Where did the Bible Come from"....."How can I know God is real"....How old is the Bible". Thankfully the girls who asked the questions were there to hear our thoughts. The boys and the girls have gardens at JDC. We are skeptical on how they will fair.....will they be overcome with weeds or will someone be there all summer to take care of it.?? But we were glad to see about 5 boys out in their garden spot with hoes the other night.

Well, perhaps we will see some of you during our return to Michigan. We are going to be helping our daughter Marti and husband Tim move to a new home. But will also be in the Overisel area.

Love to one and all.
Gary and Barb