just have to share these....

I was thinking that many of you saw some pictures of our 2nd Annual Peters Family Campout at Tri-Ponds...... but lots of you might not have......so here goes........  

We pulled our camper out for the Family Campout ------ and stayed our first night at the Ilini State Park.   Very nice park......where we got to watch the tug boats push the huge barges down river to who knows where.  Fascinating!!

We camped in the same place as we did last year......next year Gary and I will be staying in a little cabin just to the left of the picture....right close by -- so it should work just fine.  Colton, Brennan and Halle came along and stayed in their family tent.  Mom and dad were just too busy getting ready for the Colorado Challenge that Julie, Trenton, Austin and Sidney would be going on the following week.

The "Pond" was the best part of the whole week.   We never even went over to the pool....this was just way too much fun.  I even got in on the fun!

So did Axl --- Holly's family dog.  Dogs weren't really supposed to be in the water.....but good grief -- it was 96 degrees and Axl is black....he was one hot puppy!!!!    So we snuck him in.

You can't be near the water ---- near a bunch of kids ...that have access to water balloons........ and not have a water fight.  Neighbor kids got in on the fun too and war was declared.   Notice that this balloon was filled too much...it burst right above Clayton's head.

There was a game of bean bag toss.....  guess who was the winning team!!

Brennan had good luck catching some nice bass and came in 1st in the fishing derby ----- got himself a nice ice cream treat.

The highlight of the week was the Cherry Pit Spitting Contest.   This contest first took place when we camped at Glen Lake in Michigan with our family.  Traverse City is known for it's cherry orchards and we had enjoyed some cherries........"why not see how far we can spit these pits."  Wish I could dig up the pictures of that 1st contest. Everyone "pushed off" from a post that was on our site.........  Not sure now who was the actual winner of the first one - but I do know that it was either Mike or Gary.    And once again --- Mike and Gary were tops.  
Gary was first by a long shot until Mike came ---- then it all fell apart and Mike was declared the winner.   There is a technique to this madness and until you figure it out --- you're just spitting in the wind.

We had a great time but the roads are so nasty that we have decided that we won't pull our camper again....... at one point we must have hit such a bump that my refrigerator door flew open and I had oranges and milk all over the floor.  Wasn't a really bad mess -- but enough for us to say "hey"...not going to do that again.  Good grief Illinois, Indiana, Michigan --- well - Iowa too.... FIX YOUR ROADS!!!  

Now you have a little more of an insight into the crazies of the Peters family.    Good stuff!
Gary and Barb

REVIVED..........

We came home - from Michigan ----- on Tuesday dog tired.    We had received a phone call on Thursday June 15 ---- we were about 6 hours from home after spending about 10 days with our family.        A young man --- Joe Nicholson ---- had been diagnosed with Leukemia on June 6.  His body reacted to the first treatment and in just a few days he was put on a respirator....... On June 15 --- he passed away.    Gary had Joe in Boy Scouts --- he received his Eagle Badge while Gary was Scout Master.  He had a wonderful family and his dad was also a Scout leader.  Gary had known Joe from age 11 or 12 until he turned 18.  Joe served in the National Guard and was also stationed in Afghanistan for a tour of duty.  Joe served his Lord, Jesus, in all of his life!  Joe was just a fine young man in all respects.   We had to go to be with his family.   And so we got home .....washed the laundry.....spent one night in our own bed.....packed up ....and headed back.

It was a big Boy Scout Reunion.  All the old leaders and many of the young men who had known Joe were there.........and so there were lots of stories and lots of laughter ------ all mingled in with lots of tears.     We were so glad we had made the trip.  The funeral was on Monday and afterwards we headed right back for South Dakota.

We figure we had put on more than 2700 miles in 5 days.   As I said.....we were dog tired!!!!     But tonight was JDC night.   Gary told the Bible story about the Healing of the Paralytic.  We first had 4 girls  and then we did the same lesson for 5 boys.   Oh Man!   Did those boys have questions....... GOOD questions.  We got to share much more than just the one story.  And then we sang........  :)  :)  Really boosts your heart when a young man tells you "you have a nice voice".  :)  :).       But that doesn't mean a thing compared to being able to tell these young men about their need to have their sins forgiven.....which we ALL need.  And then all those questions..... YES we were revived.   I don't feel nearly as tired coming from JDC as I did going to JDC!!!

God is good and we thank Him for allowing us to minister to these young people. Thank you for your prayers and support!!!

Gary and Barb