Visitors and camping......and Release Time begins.

What fun to have some of our friends from Michigan and Colorado stop in for a visit.  We had just gotten our new camper so we had plenty of beds and showers.  Jon and Sue stayed in our camper and the rest of us (Bruce and Glenda Peters and Ken and Sally Krueze) were in the house.   We needed to have some entertainment.....so our first choice was kayaking down the Niobrara.  We borrowed the 4 that we are storing in our barn and then got 2 more from a good neighbor and headed to Valentine, where we rented 2 more.  It was a short ride to our entry point but then we had to take the time to spot our vehicle.   What a beautiful day!!!  We kayaked for about 1 3/4 hour and then went on by truck to the Smith Falls.

 That water was SO cold!!!  But we all took a turn and stood directly under it.....  AH! refreshing!!

I just had to add this last picture.....it was taken at the same time ---- but half of us sure are leaning!!!!  Can't figure out how that happened - unless we had our camera sitting crooked. Maybe Gary grabbed me and we all started tumbling.... I don't know.

The following day we took a drive to Murdo, SD and went to a car museum - which had lots and lots of old antiques.  Another fun time.  Glenda has an Aunt and Uncle living in Murdo - so they went to visit them for a short time and then we had lunch.  It was another fun day.

Our friends went to church with us on Sunday - getting to meet our new Pastor -- and then had to leave.  Thank you so much for coming!!!!

The following weekend Gary and I went camping at Snake Creek Recreation Area out by Platte, SD.  Didn't take very many pictures but it was a wonderful peaceful place.  Not many campers this time of the year.   But the second weekend when we went back ...(we left our trailer parked there because we knew our roads were horrible - it had rained)......there was a Walleye Tournament --- so lots more campers with boats. 

Yes, we were right on the river -- right by the 1/2 mile long bridge.  Fishing wasn't so good.  But one fisherman came over to shore and asked if we wanted a walleye.   Gary said "yes" - so the guy gave him a nice 15 incher.  Tasted really good on the grill.

This weekend we had hopes of going out again - but we would probably have to drive out in the mud and come back in the mud.   So we have decided to see about next weekend. Rain is always a  blessing - so we aren't complaining. Everything is still so beautiful.  The prairies are our color tour and the grasses are beautiful!!!

Release Time will start tomorrow.  We are all geared up for that.  Pastor Mark and Dawn will be helping out this year.   So we will share the load.....feels good.  They will take the youngest and the oldest groups and we will take the middle one.  We will have about the same number of kids........they will have 13 and we will have 13 and possibly 14.   I feel that some of our older kids dropped out because we worked in a workbook last year....and I think it was just too much like school.  It  had really good stuff in it.....but we had a hard time keeping them focused.  Too bad.....so now we have decided to go back to story telling for all ages.......

We would appreciate your prayers for the kids and all of us leaders.  Pray that we give out the Gospel message in a clear and understandable way and that the kids can take it all in and believe it.....taking it into their hearts and making a commitment to Jesus.

Thank You
Gary and Barb