Last project for 2016 and an unwanted adventure for the Walkling/Markus family

 Gary's last project for 2016 is a cabinet for Don and Jeannie Schellhaas's bathroom.

 It will be installed tomorrow.  They put in a new stool and new flooring and lastly this cabinet.  Don looked Jeannie in the eye and said " the next remodel ------NO!!!!"   Sounds to me like he's sick of remodeling jobs.  The only other one recently was his kitchen....WOW was that a job!!!!  But it sure turned out awesome!!   Jeannie is busy painting as I write.....  

Below is something I said "yes" to.   This as you can tell is an antique.....  I THINK Marlys said it was Vernon's Grandpas ---- or else Great Grandpa.   Anyway, something way to cool to be dumped!!   So she asked if I was interested.....  In a weaker moment, I said "yes".   Now as I look at it ---- there is NO sewing involved.  It will all be held together with upholstery tacks.    There is some need of repair to the under parts..... it is a pull out bed.... but in very poor shape.  So Gary will be called in for that.  My fear is that he will want to do more than I want from him.   He talked about adding springs and ........  It isn't the most comfortable sit.... that's for sure.   But then it's not being refurbished for comfort really.    I do figure that I will have to let Gar have his way on some of it.........

I have material on order .....but it will have to wait until after we get back from Michigan.  We are heading that direction to spend some quality time with 2 of our grandsons,   Oliver and Keller - in Kalamazoo.  Mom and dad don't have enough vacation time....but the boys are off from school --- Kindergarten and  Pre 3 school (or whatever it's called) until January 9.

About the Walkling Adventure.     It was on Christmas Night.....  they were all enjoying Christmas at Grandma Wyonne's place and that's when the wind came up at 7:30.....the wind came up really fierce and snow came with it.  You couldn't see the road in front of you at all.  Kim and Debbie just flat out drove off the road and into the ditch.   They called Don ....but Don said --- "I can't see to come".   So Kim and Debbie spent the evening - until 2:00 a.m. in their car in the ditch.  They had a full tank of gas and so could stay warm.  ??? Fear of carbon monoxide poisoning????  Debbie had to go to the bathroom twice - so she checked --- nothing around the exhaust!!         Marlys and Prairey and Nolan got stuck driving in toward the Lodge......  Marlys ----driving with her head out the window to see....got sopping wet.....  Don went and got them and they spent the night at Jeannies "Bed and Breakfast".   Pud (Matthew) and Kara and Carson and James got stuck on the "Purewater church hill".  Pud got out and walked (NOT SAFE) to Dan Tinant.....but then had to walk on the Vern's place.  When he got  out of the truck to walk - Carson was scared and cried and cried -- afraid he would never see his dad again.   Carson is 4.   Dakota got stuck too --- but I don't have the details on his adventure.    All in all it turned out good....and lots of stories to tell.   But it could have been tragic.

May you all be safe and have a Blessed New Year!!!
Gary and Barb

WONDERFUL Christmas Program

Tonight we enjoyed such a wonderful Christmas program put on by the children of our church with the help and organizing of Dawn Langenbach and Kitty VanderWey.   And it was done before a FULL HOUSE!!!   At about 6:50 the church was pretty empty .....hopes dashed ??......and then they started coming through the doors and they just kept coming until every possible seat was full. It was grand!!!    So much fun to be able to spend Christmas Eve in such a way.

There was some talent before the program began with a piano solo --- a flute solo----- and a violin solo and perhaps some that we missed.  Then Rick and Kitty entertained us with some Christmas songs with their voices and guitars.

And then the pictures will tell a little more.....

Let the program begin........ We will hear about all the fun things we enjoy at this time of the year  ....things like shopping and the tree and Santa!!! . and then hear the TRUE meaning of Christmas -- through songs.  And wow did those kids sing nicely!!

 Carson, James, Evan, Micah, Sadie, Michaela, Lilly, River and Ivy.....

 Carson, James and Evan sang their hearts out and aren't those two handsome in their suits!!!!

EVERYONE did such an awesome job!!!  And thank you Marlys for your expertise on the piano with all those Christmas Songs!!!

And then were made a circle all around the church (inside) and were going to have a candlelight service while singing "Silent Night".   Not figuring on such a large crowd......there were a few people without a candle....but the effect was still very special!!!!

It took a while to get organized with so many people.    Silent Night never sounded so good!!!  Afterwards people hung around wanting to visit with all their neighbors.   What a fun night!!  It truly is a blessing to be amongst God's people at this time when we remember Jesus's birth.  May tomorrow bring you Great JOY!!!,    Merry Christmas Everyone!!!!

Gary and Barb

Stress Test ---- Banana Song!!!!

Good Morning.........  I just about couldn't find this blogspot thing AGAIN....   Gotta remember so much on these goofy computers.....taxing on the brain!!!  I can't get to it on "Internet Explorer"....only on "Goggle Chrome"(or is that Chrome Goggle???).  Anyway.....snowing here....they predict that we could get up to 9 inches..if we do....and the wind comes up....  --  ...  we will (WILL) be in trouble.  Oh man!!! --- and the grocery store has so many nice specials this week -- I might not get there this Saturday........   Storm Warning until tomorrow some time......  21 below tonight.

WELL ------ but that is NOT what this update is about.....it's about an AWESOME happening yesterday at Gary's stress test.   So this is how I remember it......

Gary was getting into his test -- they were hooking him up to the heart monitor (oh and he was having this - just because - he has no problems) and he said the one gal was rather unfriendly.   But they finally asked him to tell them about himself....what did he do??    So he told them that he (we) go to the Detention Center a lot.   And the one gal - Vicky --- her eyes got real big and she pointed a finger at him.   You guys are the ones who do the BANANA SONG!!!    "Yes! we are".     She went on to say that she helped with the Ambulance that took kids to ER......when they are hurting - they want to hear the Banana Song.  She says  they call you "mom and pop-----they love us and we love them".

When Gary finished the test --- I was waiting in the lab waiting room --- they came out to me together -- Vicky and Gary.   Gary introduced me to Vicky and she told me the story.    What an encouragement!!!!   I gave Vicky a big hug.   She said "you have a wonderful ministry -- you ARE making a difference".   Then she asked me to sing the Banana Song.      "HERE?!?!?"  But we kind of "said" it....and bingo -- she knew it!!!  But they didn't call it  - The Banana Song ---- it was something about 'Fruit'....

Those "kids" are the Detention Center kids......they are the only ones we do the Banana Song with. 

We tell you this --- not because we "want the praise of men!!!!!"    But just to let you know these things so that you too can give God the Praise that He so deserves!!!!   We often think that it's in the BIG things that God works.....and He does certainly --- but he also uses those silly little things that we do.   And let me tell you -- the Banana Song -- is a SILLY little thing!   I just went to Youtube to try to find it......but the good oldie is gone.  Several years ago a gal in the JDC asked me if I knew the Banana Song.   "No".   But I contacted Linda Hemmeke --- She would certainly know it.    Well - she didn't -- so I went to Youtube and found Vince Nimms doing it....with the words that Connie had remember from when she was a little girl at Bible Camp.    So that was how I did it with my guitar.   The kids always get a hoot out of it......and when a new kid comes in .....they laugh and laugh.

It's those kind of things that stick in their mind.    Here are the words to the Banana Song.
         I like bananas.....I know that mangos are sweet.....I like papayas ...PAPAYAS (the kids yell out).
         But nothing can beat that sweet  love of God.....here we go...here we go....here we go.   Well,
        I was walking round in circles 5 miles an hour trying to find my way back to the Heavenly
        Father.  The world tasted SWEET (high pitch)and then it turned sour ...till I asked God in and
        received his power      (Gary says...)   LIKE ARNOLD SWARTZENEGGER  

  Then we repeat it.....  And then we get to talk about receiving GOD'S POWER  

So I guess I would say --- if you ever feel like God is asking you to do something silly --- DO IT!!!  You might change a persons life!!!

God Bless and may you stay safe and warm and have a Wonderful Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!
Gary and Barb    (mom and pop😊)