Footings are poured and ......

.....the fence is going back up as I type.     The St. Francis Holiness Chapel - new building  - has the footings.  What a great crew showed up to help.  Vern and Matthew Walkling, Gary, Jason Schubauer, Shane LaFortune, Vern Lanz, Don Schelhaas, and Jimmy Doyle, and then Ron Patton and Lori Leese.   Of course, the cement truck was on it's own time.  The workers were all there - but waiting for the truck - so Becky served lunch before ------ if they had waited it would have been 2:30 before they would have been able to eat.     And what a beautiful day....sunny - about 70 degrees - light breeze.  Couldn't ask for a more perfect day.    We had some little helpers too --- wore them out....they were in great need of a nap by the time it was all over.    The pictures will tell a better story....

 These two pictures are what needs to get the cement.....that hole is about 7 feet deep.  The cement has to just cover the re-bar  --- up to the pads.  On the top picture you see the orange paint.  That is where the pads need to be ---you will see that on another shot.  Also --- you notice the thin wire --- that was to keep the forms from moving when the heavy cement was poured in.

 Waiting ---- waiting-----waiting.  We were told the truck would be there approximately 11 - 11:30.   I think it was after 12:00 before they arrived.

Ah!  Finally it's underway.......  Gary and Ron would set the pads once they got one side finished.  Those pads have to line up with the ones that will come on the walls --- and then welded together.

They put a line down where the middle of the pad had to be....

Shane did finishing work........

Had a super crew ----- about 10 minutes to a side.

Enough extra to do a little pad by the Sunday School Building......

Cynthia and Kaitlyn Patton, Bruce Stephens, Becky (Ron's wife)and Lori Leese (also member of their church).

Bridger Doyle and Beckett Walkling........ "helpers" that needed to be kept out of the hole!!!

Don, Vern W (Matthew headed home --- vet was coming for preg check), Jason, Jimmy, Gary, Vern L., Shane, Ron, Bruce, Lori

The fence is back up to hopefully keep any St. Francis kids out of the wet cement.  The company that will be putting up the walls has a big job in Kadoka - school gymnasium -- so the walls won't be put in place until mid Nov.  Out on the prairies you have to learn a lot of patience.   Things don't always happen on the time line that you want.  The Pattons and Stephens are just very happy and thankful that this portion is done.

Pour cement at Church in St. Francis ---- and Michaela and Evan come for a visit

Tomorrow, Thursday  Oct. 12, they will finally be pouring cement at the Church in St. Francis --- the Patton and Stephens church.   Gary, Matthew and Vern Walkling, Don Schelhaas, and Vern Lanz from our church will all be helping.  They pour at  10:00 (must we add - hopefully).  Then I believe there is a rather long "cure time" and then the walls will be set.   They are still able to have Sunday School and  Adult Services  at another location in St. Francis so the kids and adults are still being ministered to --- but it's always so much nicer to have your "home place".

I hope to go around 10:00 to get some pictures.....so stay tuned.
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We had some fun company on Monday and Tuesday.........Michaela and Evan Langenbach (our Pastor Mark and Dawn's two kids).  We always try to make for some good fun when kids come --- so we had a few ideas of what to do.   First off, we got the two lego sets out and that kept them busy for a while..........then they both made a "treasure box"....out in Gary's work shop.

 There was gluing, and nailing, and screwing, and sanding (both by hand and with a power sander), and then finally varnishing.   Evan became very concerned though --- Gary! ---- Gary!---we just nailed the top on --- now what?! --- how's this gonna work?     Michaela just kept on sanding....... 

 Then Gary took the boxes over to his saw and cut the lid......PHEW!!  Relief!    The boxes turned out very nice and they were both very happy.

After that they had Mitsubishi 101.... the "tin truck" as Evan calls it.

It's a manual shift -- so, of course, the first lesson was about letting out the clutch.  Evan did a little better than Michaela -- but they both made it around the barn or the bales without any mishaps.......I was a little concerned about the fence one time........       Then a little running around on the bales and it was supper time ----- the end of day one.    A good day --- what will we do tomorrow???

Well --- of course,   a 4 wheeler trip.......   

Then while Evan and Gary were on a trip to St. Francis to see if anyone was working that afternoon....   Michaela came to me  and asked if I would take some action shots of her jumping on the hay bales.  WOW did I take lots of pictures.   These are some of the best ones.....

 long legs!!......

And then for the "landing"....

Evan and Gary finally got back and Evan got into it too......OH!!! But first - the cat ---- Chucky got into it too!!!

Is that a good photo or what!?!?!?
Evan could do one that Michaela just couldn't.......and she DID try and try.  She'd get a running start and come to the jump and stop --- Oh my Goodness!!!!  Did that about 4 times.....then Evan had to show her.........

He sure made it look easy!!!  And it really was a long jump --- the picture it deceiving.         Instead of making another try at it.....Michaela decided to get a good picture of Evan instead.

WOW!!!!!

Pastor Mark said tonight that they were both rather sore today.  No Doubt!!!

Today seemed rather boring around the Peters home........ kids do keep you young and active.  Michaela had me up on the bales too....not jumping!!!!  but taking all those action shots.  Thanks for the bales Dwight --- they might be food for the cattle --- but they are FUN for the kids!!!!
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JDC tonight.  The kids do seem to get to laughing during the singing sometimes -- and tonight was one of them.   But we sang "Amazing Grace -- So Fill it Up."  A fun song with parts.....and did they ever do good.  All the boys really got into it......lots of smiles on that one!!!  And even though these boys hearts aren't always in the right place --- I really can't help but think that God was smiling too.  When you get kids with lives in such a mess and they are willing to sing like that --- it's special in my book.!!!!

God Bless
Gary and Barb
OH -----   And Release Time this past Thursday went pretty good too.   Pastor Mark and I agreed that we didn't go home discouraged like last year.