Working on the Patton's / Stephens Church Building ....and Release Time Begins

Gary has been sharing his skills with Ron Patton and Bruce Stephens.....putting up the forms for their new church footings.    This will be an all cement building.......the last one was burned down to the ground due to arson.    The new one will not burn so easily.

The building will be 40 x 60 -(I think I have that right)-- anyway - larger than the one that burned.  I will try to keep you posted on how this goes - I don't go out with Gary that often so might have to rely on him for photos.   Otherwise, please go to the blogsite of the church.    sfholinesschapel.blogspot.com and then there is another with some answers to questions people have had concerning the church  https://sfholinesschapel.blogspot.com/p/how-can-i-help-its-question-that-has.html.  Thank you!!!

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Release Time began today.   This year we are working together as a threesome ---- Gary and myself and Pastor Mark.  We have both experience discipline problems with our groups so we decided that perhaps together we can gain control.  And maybe a clearer explanation of some rules helped too.

Gary gave the lesson for groups 2-3rd Graders (8 kids) and 3,4,5th Graders (turned out to be 14 kids) and Pastor Mark did the 6,7,8th  Graders (8 kids).    Our lessons are on Joseph -- such an interesting story and such good applications available.   I played my guitar and made music.  We also went thru the books of the Bible like we did last year. 

 2nd and 3rd graders

 3rd, 4th and 5th graders......... Lots of new faces for us -- so lots of names to learn.  I don't like it when I can't talk to them using their name!!!!

 7th and 8th graders.....Shucks - I didn't realize I missed Lane  - in the far right corner.....and then Maleah didn't want to be seen I guess.

Pastor Mark going over the Books of the Bible.

The school year was cut back by 15 minutes.  But we thought that if we didn't do a snack and cut our time down to 45 minutes --- we could do all 3 groups on one day.   Then we would have the next week off.   It went good today so I think that will continue to be the plan.   We had a few "we don't get a snack"??   But we did have a small "Hershey's kiss" treat for good behavior.

A quick story ------  Pastor Mark was telling about Jealousy with the older group.    Then he asked if they were sinners -- I saw a couple of heads shaking "no".     ---- -- They hadn't gotten their Hershey Kiss yet --- so I gave out just 3 treats.    The ones that didn't get one were looking like --- hey! why didn't I get one --- one little gal pulled a nasty mad face....      So we got to prove that jealousy can hit us at anytime.

We had a good day today..... the oldest group will be our toughest if today is any impression.   But we think that with a couple of seat changes --- separating kids from each other  -- we might just make it a little better for us.   We appreciate your continued prayers!!!!

What a beautiful day ---- Sunshine but with a touch of coolness --- my favorite kind of day.   However, lots of flies and wasps  trying to find their way in the warm places -- our windows.  Oh well - this too shall pass.

God Bless ---- Gary and Barb (and Pastor Mark)

A labor of love......

Holly had been saving this horrible old cabinet in her basement --- well, actually it had been there for years and years and years...... Ever since Grandpa and Grandma (Gordon and Margaret) Peters remodeled the kitchen????  Maybe 60 years ago or more.    Marti got one of the pieces and it is a much loved piece of furniture in her home..... now Holly wanted this other piece to become an "Island" in her kitchen.

As you can see, there was no back or sides and the top was old, old linoleum.  So "how do we do this".    Of course, Gary had a plan.  He would save only the front and build an entirely new cabinet.  And that was good with Holly --- all she wanted was the "old" look of the front.   Their entryway has
wainscoat on the walls --- we would put that on the back side.

What would the top be made out of????   We had an idea --- how about we make a butcher block top?!   That might be kind of cool.

 So we cut up some lumber into strips  --- Ash and Black Walnut

Then came the gluing process....and then an oops --- so we cut that strip out.....re-glued it.   Then - doggone - another oops .....so we cut that strip out and re-glued it.   Yes - it was a process --- But look how it turned out!!!!

And then the stripping and the refinishing and the finishing on the cabinet......    I didn't get pictures of a lot of that --- -but here's a dad with a finished project for his daughter.

We told Holly that we had it "in our Living Room and it really looked pretty good -- went well with our furniture......so we'd like to keep it."     She didn't think it was very funny.

A recycled old cabinet --- what an idea.  Hope Holly gets lots of use out of it.  Gpa and Gma Peters would be thrilled also, I'm sure!
Gary and Barb 

Fun times -----busy times

Well --- those green apples you saw on the tree (last blog update) have gotten redder and in need of picking.   I made lots of applesauce and put slices in the freezer for pies.   And then we had company and Lee and Mary Lubbers picked some to take to Michigan!!!  Seems strange to take apples to Michigan where there is an abundance --- but what a more special thing --- apples from South Dakota.  Lee and Mary thought so!!

Lee and Mary also got in on some Grouse Hunting.   It was opening day while they were here and we didn't let them go home without eating the little buggers.  They also shot some Doves -- so those little morsels were in the pot too.  Recipe:  Put breasts in crockpot -- cover with homemade salsa and enjoy.   It was actually pretty tasty and tender.

While we were sitting on the front deck --- there was a strange bird on the yard.   Don't think we had ever seen it before.  Looking it up in our bird book we discovered it was a "Clark's Nutcracker".  I haven't seen it since --- so maybe it was just passing through -- but the book says we should have them around all year long.  Have to keep my eyes open.

Lee and Mary also got in on some Sawmill work.  Gary had 2 good sized pine logs and our neighbor Ron Patton needed some lumber for the footings of his church.   The church that burned to the ground in June.  So what a better place for these pine boards than a church footing.  Gary will be more involved in that project as time goes on.

What a fun time we had with our company!!!  They are fun to have around.  We sure laughed a lot.
The weather wasn't always the nicest --- rather wet at times.....so one morning we sent them down the road to see a little portion of the Badlands .....and.... the 38 foot cross - made of old farm machinery parts.   If you wonder what that is you will have to "page" through this blog and find those pictures.   We have been there several times with company -- always a neat place to go to.
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On a different note.....   Release Time will begin next week.   We really ask for prayers for this.   We have had a lot of difficulty the last few years with discipline.   It just seems to be getting worse.   This coming year we are going to work with the 3 of us.   Gary, myself and Pastor Mark...... that way if some of the kids don't know how to act -- there will be one that can return them to school and two left to continue with the lesson and other activities.

We have still been enjoying going out to the Detention Center.  Laura Patton who goes along will be in Rapid City for a month --- she is doing an Internship toward a Counseling Career.  We will miss her presence at JDC.  Last night we just had to quit singing.  It was difficult in a strange way.  We have one boy who wants to sing --- and he sings with everything he's got.  He doesn't really know the tune ---- but sings loud anyway.    We don't want to discourage him in any way!!!!  But when I said we would be done -- his comment was ---- "and I was singing my heart out."  Yes, you were!!!!

 Another boy came in with the Bible we had given him on Sunday.  We have been doing the story of Joseph and when we ask ANY question -- Holden knows the answer --- he's been reading ahead!!!  Very encouraging for us!!!!

And so things continue on......  The nights are getting cooler and we know fall is here. Some trees are starting to change color.   We are pulling the garden apart.......there are still some tomatoes, watermelon, muskmelon and sweet potatoes.   The apples in the tree top might just have to come down on their own and might be food for the chickens.  They are just too high up there!!!   It's always nice when you can share produce with friends and neighbors......plums and apples all went to several places.  Hopefully, I won't hoard my juice - but share home made jelly with others too.

It's fun to make such good looking things!!!---- this is Wild Plum Jelly.
Well --- get outside and enjoy this lovely weather!!!!  Pretty soon the snow will be flyi...............OH NO!!!   Well -- probably not for a couple of months yet.

Gary and Barb