Winter in April

It was a short lived warm spell but we all LOVED it. Got the greenhouse planted (and things are popping out of the ground already). Now we have winter again.....actually I don't remember that the roads were this bad all winter.  Well, maybe once.   We went out to mail a couple of packages in Crookston and decided we were a little bit crazy.  If I had gone out with the car I would still be sitting out there in the middle of the road. 

The first day of the "storm" brought us a wonderful almost 3 inches of rain.  What grand timing. God is good - YES He is!!!   And now we've had snow for the last couple of days.  I know it is NOT good for those little baby calves - never is in weather like this, but I don't hear any of the ranchers complaining (maybe worrying a little) - but never do they complain when it's moisture that is so badly needed.

Cabin fever is sitting in - and the other night we didn't have a signal for the television.  Even our exercise night at the Community Center got canceled - rats!!!  But we have electricity and warmth - so we will make it.

That's all for now folks!
Gary and Barb

Holly, Colton, Clayton, and Sawyer visit us for a week..... WHAT FUN!!

What a grand time we had with Holly and the boys.  We had a "bucket list" and accomplished all but one. 

We went fishing at Beads Dam --- not a fish in the lake - ???Where did they all go - must have gone out with the ice?!  But it was a beautiful day -- so we had fun anyway.  When we got there - there wasn't a ripple on the lake, so I got several beautiful "mirror" pictures.  This is the lake that my dad and mom took us to when we were kids.  The scenery has changed somewhat  because the Dam broke sometime in the 70's - so things look a little different.  I can't quite figure it out on this 1st picture ------there was a fire 2 summers ago and many of the pine trees are dead.....but look at the ones in the "water".....they are nice and green  :)

I love that picture of Clayton laying on the shore fishing.  What a leisurely day we had.  Even Toby had a good time - once we let him get into the water.  He swam and swam after those sticks we threw in for him.

The boys and grandpa worked hard on a "fort" just behind our trailer.  We got  a good clean up in the woods because of it. 

Clayton had the idea to make a sign for the fort.  He went to the barn and found an old board, and they named it "The Cousins Fort".  Anybody who wants to be the 1st to sleep in it......that chance is still open.

You can't come to Todd County and not go prairie dog hunting.  Clayton was SO EXCITED --  he got off a shot at 168 yards and the bullet found it's home.  Pretty big gun for such a young boy......Colton was rather upset that he missed his target - but the next day they went again and they were both successful.  They went home with their "lucky bullets".

Well, I'm not sure that this video will work.....says there "was an error".  So we shall see.  Anyway, Sawyer is just finishing Kindergarten and he LOVES to read.  He made us smile (and laugh) as he read "Green Eggs and Ham".  I thought I had caught him as he read the "I WILL NOT EAT THEM ANYWHERE!!!!!!!" - but I messed up (as usual) ....so I tried again.   He is a GREAT reader --- reads with E X P R E S S I O N!!!!!  I love it when a kid learns to read that way.  So many of the kids we are working with don't......

We also helped our neighbors, Rick and Kitty, move about 30 +- cow/calf pairs....from one pasture to the next.  That way, as he checks the cows that haven't had calves....he doesn't have to look at so many.   Holly and I sat on the road to make sure the traffic was aware of cows crossing the road.  It was the easy job!!!  Colton and Clayton were on one 4-wheeler and grandpa and Sawyer on the other one.  They would keep the cow and calf moving after they were sorted off by the cowboys/girls----Rick, Kitty, Sadie and Mikah. 

Clayton, Holly and Sawyer also made a belt for themselves.  We have made belts at Camp so we had all the supplies.  Colton had done that last time he was out  --- -and he was wearing it....so he ended up just watching. 

CJK - Clayton J Kroeze......he did a REALLY good job......Holly put a LOT of effort into her belt and it was NICE!!!! - I'm sure she will show it off if you want to see it.

The last night that they were going to be here.....Thursday, April 10, we drove out to see the 38 foot cross - in the Badlands area --- we wanted to arrive just before sunset.....

This shows you that it was made of all sorts of things....

It really IS a MUST SEE!!! in my opinion.  There is a bell on top ---- but we didn't yank on the cable - didn't want anything to fall on our heads........

Of course, there were days that the boys just rode around and around on the 4-wheelers.  But we stayed busy all the time and never had any "what can I do?!?!"   We are thankful for God's protection as they traveled back again on the train.  Sometimes it's OK  for the train to be a bit late - just so it's not TOO LATE.  They planned on a 2 hour wait in Chicago - but as it turned out   - they arrived JUST IN TIME  - and didn't have to wait at all. 

So - we thank God for family!!!!  
Gary and Barb

Laminated floor, mission project, zebras....................

Well --- for those of you who like to see people crawling around on the floor....here you are..   Gary and me putting the new flooring down.

After getting it all finished - we had to put quarter round down.  That has not been finished --- we have company now so it is on hold.   My house has been too "busy" to take a nice photo of the finished project -- too much clutter.  Sorry!!  But I know you can imagine (can't you??!!)]

Gary and I have been helping at the monthly Rosebud Worship Service --- held the last Saturday of each month.  We work with the young (little) kids .....giving them a Bible Lesson, singing songs, and a small craft.  As we talk with the Native People ---- two Native women organize the Worship Service.....  We come to find out that most families get money for food on the 9th of the month.  Of course, they haven't learned how to manage that in a proper manner......so by the end of the month they are out of food.

Gary and I talked about making some sloppy joes and hot dogs....some treats for the kids......  and what else?!?!?  Then going into one of the communities  - we picked  The Low Rent district---- and handing the hot food out.   We decided it would be fun to do it while Holly, Clayton, Sawyer, and Colton were here with us.  This past Sunday that is just what we did.  It turned out to be the first rain of spring.....but we went with it anyway.  Kids came out in the rain without coats on (and it was rather chilly!!).  We recognized most of these kids from the Worship Service ----- and so they knew us also.  Several of the little boys climbed right up on the truck box with Gary and Colton. We had our gas grill up on the truck box to grill the hotdogs. 

We handed out about 50 hot dogs and 50 sloppy joes......  ??? Does that mean that many people came out??  NO ---   We know that lots of the kids came back for more several times ---- but that was OK....   "Can I have one for my mom....can I have one for my dad, or grandpa.....or Uncle Dave."    We just wanted to make sure these little kids had a decent meal in their tummies.  We left feeling like we had done that successfully.

We also got to meet a lady that we had just prayed for in our church .....and.....we met her little grandson.. RedSky...... a little boy we had in Release Time.   Judy is going to have surgery this coming Thursday for breast cancer ....and having just prayed for her in church --- we had a very nice visit.

We also had a Native Artist come out and he drew us a few really nice "eagle pictures".  They will be going along with Holly and Colton.

We were blessed!!!!   as we hope we blessed others.

We had a few  "not so good" .....our gas grill had fire coming out of the bottom .....melted the on / off knobs.....so that is now in our pit.  We had to finish the hot dogs on our 2 burner camp stove (thank goodness we had it along).  There was also a major dog fight.  Eight on one!!!  The "one" made it out of the battle....... We were glad we were in pack up mode - before the dogs came looking for a hand out!!!
The swing set that was put in place last summer is missing the swings --- chains and all are gone.  One of the new picnic tables was broken.  It's a hard place for little kids to grow up.....trash is EVERYWHERE!! ....broken glass.....anything you can imagine.    But the kids are just plain sweet kids.........

Moving on to another day of something new........ the zebras..... THEY ARE CUTE!!!!

Meet Elvis and Flip..... I can't see which is which on the pictures....but Elvis is a little bit bigger.  They had just been put out in the corral with other horses and 2 cows.  They were NOT popular.   The "head" horse (anyway he thinks so) gave out several nasty kicks and bites -- couldn't believe how wide open those jaws can go!!!!  Then the old milk cow turned on them too.  "No one loves me".    I guess they have to be able to take it ......  Anyway for those of you who couldn't guess -- they belong to Marshall Tinant. 

This has been a LONG UP-DATE......I might not get another one posted for a while.  We have company for a good week.  Holly came with the 3 boys on the train.  They had a good trip but Clayton got an upset stomach and it's been bugging him ever since.   We think he is on the mend.

Thanks for your prayers and interest in our lives and what is happening on the Rosebud.
Gary and Barb and our crew.............