Remembering MOM

EDNA and WILLIAM VERDUIN on their wedding day. (I am not the "good" daughter --- I don't remember their anniversary - Help me out Linda!!) Aren't they a good looking couple!!!!

It's past time for an update --- and so I apologize.

I'm sure you know by now that mom passed away on Dec. 1. She had turned 90 on May 26, 2011 and we had had a fun party to celebrate that event.















We also got to spend Thanksgiving 2011 with her and (most of) our family. That is when I decided it was important to take a special picture of me and mom. Our daughter-in-law had once asked me if I had a picture of her and her mom --- she didn't have one and now her mom was gone. I will treasure this photo.....yes I know - I look a lot like her. :) :)

Mom was a wonderful "mom".....always had good advice ---- and I went to her for advice often. Now who will I go to ?! - I suppose I have to rely on myself now......not good! Her mind was sharp and remained strong to the end. I was often amazed at the things she could remember.

Because she was in her own home she got to know her great grandchildren --- it's more fun to go to Great Gramma Dine when she is in her own place and still making those yummy cookies and cake and cinnamon rolls ---- then in a nursing home. Mom spent close to two months in a nursing home for therapy after her first "leg problem". But was back home once again. She even baked buns (with Bills help I"m sure) the Monday before she passed away. Her hands weren't working the best anymore but she was determined and happy with what she could do.

We thank everyone for all the prayers lifted for our family. There is an empty spot once again in our lives --- but God is good!!! We have the assurance that mom is rejoicing with her Lord in heaven and celebrating with her loved ones that have gone on before her. We know we will see her again........

We have a "vacation time" from Release Time -- the kids have two weeks off for Christmas vacation. We will see them again on January 3. We continue to see the young people at the Detention Center --- Some get to have a "temporary release" to be with their families over Christmas --- but others (on the naughty list according to one of the young men) have to remain at the center. So we hope to go visit with them on Sunday - Christmas Day. It was so good the other night ---- Julie was asking "review questions"....going back several weeks ---- way back to Zechariah being visited by the angel.... Two of the boys sitting in the back were giving the correct answers -- amazing one of the other boys. Sergio looked back at Mike and Justin and said "you guys must be reading your Bible more than I do!!" (and Sergio usually know the answers!!). Warmed our hearts !!!! Those kind of things are what keep us loving our time with these kids.

We are back in South Dakota for Christmas having spent about 2 weeks in Michigan after the funeral. It always seems more "like Christmas" when there is snow on the ground and everything is pure and white..... no such thing for this year. But who complains about a sunny 50 degree day in December ?! It's not fun being "alone" on Holidays.....but we have had two invites for Sunday dinner -- so we are well taken care of. The tree is rather bare underneath - but we have all we need ...........

Thanks again for all of your prayers and words of encouragement.
Gary and Barb

Please pray for our family

We will be heading back to MI asap....... Mom is failing and so we would ask for prayers for safe travel for us as well as others...... Tim (Marti's in laws) parents are traveling from the Carolinas because Oliver is sick and they will help with him so Marti and Tim can be with the family.

Everyone that can be there - is there.... Rick is in Thailand - but it would be possible to leave right now.....school will not start until Dec 16.

We will be traveling in the dark....and that is NOT our favorite time to travel.

Pray for alert minds and deer that stay in the woods and other drivers to be sane!!!!

THANK YOU!!
Gary and Barb

Great Thanksgiving..........but prayer request too.

HI everyone, Well, we had a great trip back to Michigan to see our family. We did end up in a garage with an alternator going out on us. But once again God was right there directing...... We had stopped in Walcott, Iowa for gas - that has been a usual stop for YEARS. Anyway, when Gary started the car again - it made a horrible whining noise. So we went over to the truck service area (This is Iowa's biggest truck stop)......but they, of course, only worked on trucks. But they wrote down a phone number and directed us one mile away. We drove in - the owner came out - took a listen and a look -- and said "we'll be with you in a minute". And so once again we were blessed in our breakdown!!!!

We had our Thanksgiving dinner on Friday evening in Holly and Dennis' totally remodeled barn. My mom said it was perfect......lots of room...good lighting....warm furnace.....and no steps for her in the wheelchair. Mom really looked good and enjoyed herself.

On Sunday morning we gave an update to our Overisel Reformed church family and then at about 12:00 noon we headed back for South Dakota.....and had a good trip --- no delays!!!

However,..........and here is the prayer request. On Monday evening my sister Linda called to say that they had taken my mom to the hospital. I don't remember if I put anything on this "blog" about my mom's one leg and the "wounds" she has (sores that came from excess water and then splits in her skin as the water leached out)......but I think I did. Anyway - now it is her other leg ---- red and sore to the touch. The doctors are hopeful that they got to it in time and that antibiotics will protect her from getting the open sores like she still has on the other leg.

So if you could lift up my mother in prayer --- we would appreciate it!!

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On another note....... We have had a long and good conversation with Rick in Thailand....the floods are receding and he has moved from the little island - back to the University (he is not in his apartment yet).....but staying on campus. He said he couldn't work any longer without internet. He has really appreciated the "extended vacation" (school was delayed due to the flooding) because he has had more time to prepare for his classes which will begin (I think) on December 19 or there about.

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Oh YEAH!!!!! We came back with the good ole' usual Michigan cold - so we are both sniffling and blowing and vicking and all that disgusting stuff. Wish we could figure that one out!!!! It's a never fail thing.........

Take care and more later.............
Gary and Barb

Prayer Request

If you haven't heard -- most of Thailand is suffering from severe flooding. It has finally reached the Bangkok area. Rick is in a small town just outside of Bangkok. We had been hearing from him on a regular basis -- telling us about his flood "adventures". But the last time we heard --- his water was dirty looking and he had some diarreha (sp??) problems.....and then we didn't hear from him again. There was some concern on my part. But today we got an email from him -- he has moved to a place where student monks live. Everything around them is waist deep with water -- but they are on "sort of an island". He arrived there by boat. It's good to hear that he is being taken care of......an answer to our prayers. So if you would --- keep our son Rick in your prayers - he is on the exact opposite side of the world from us here. If you didn't know ----- he is teaching at the Mahidol University - Comparative Religions and more.

Thanks!!!! Barb and Gary

Wrong video ---- so will try again.

When I put all the photos in the blog --- I thought I had the video I wanted to Toby.....but it was the wrong one. So enjoy this one.

Barb

Some photos

I promised a few photos so here they are.....not in any kind of order -- just as I thought of them... :)

This was taken during Toby's first REAL hunt with strangers. Three days worth and he did just fantastic!!!












This is the bantie chicken house --- right next to Toby's dog house. Yes it is a house inside of a house. But when the wind howls --- we wanted our doggie to be nice and warm. We really wonder how the chickens will do come 20 below!!!






The south side of our Grandpa's house took a beating from the hail storms. Gary would work for a short time in the mornings while it was cool. It didn't take long and the job was done. Now is that a good looking scaffolding or what?!?!?











These are some happy hunters. Ken and Ross Nagelkirk and Keith and Lee Lubbers. They stayed with us for about 5 days....and a fun time was had by all...including us.










These chickens (banties) were a gift from some friendly hunters who come all the way from Alabama --- they come and hunt with our neighbor Dan Tinant. We have gotten 4 eggs from them already so we think they have accepted their new home.....which they share (the building) with Toby.








During the roofing of church --- I think you heard --- we had a rain storm on the bare boards.....
These panels were rusted through before the rain and now with the new paint coming Gary searched the internet for quite some time.....and was successful. He found a perfect match.....and with the help from me and Dan Tinant - they are installed.



This is the home of our chickens --- meat chickens. The cats have totally lost interest in them --- just a bunch of big ugly birds that smell rather bad....... We are down to 5 now -- butchered 5 yesterday and have them in the freezer. We both love a good chicken dinner - so we are looking forward to it.






Below is a video of Toby retrieving a bird. Gary was a ways away (you can hear him telling Dan to get the bird from Toby).......


Well I think that about does it for now. Hope you enjoy them. We had about an inch of snow this morning -- but right now it has mostly disappeared and is a beautiful sunny afternoon.
Take Care!!!
Gary and Barb

Chewed out !!! :) So will try to do better again. SORRY!

I was chastised in a very goodnatured way - that I needed to do an update again. She was sick of seeing "Sept 19" come up. I know there are more of you thinking the same thing so you can thank her for speaking up.....no I won't tell you who it was :)

We have had a very good start with Religion Release Time. We feel bad that some of the kids that we had come to our Bible Study time for 3 years have opted out this year. But at the same time we have many new kids......so God's Good News continues to go out to different families. We are doing stories in the New Testament again this year.....wanting the kids to get to know Jesus more and more. So far we have had "Jesus turns Water to Wine", "Nicodemus hears the Good News, and "Samaritans Find Living Water". Our Pastors wife, Lynn Boersma, is helping out this year and her presence is wonderful. It is always helpful to have another presence in the room - the kids are a lot less restless! She is a former teacher and has those very valuable skills in control!! We also appreciate her help with the crafts.

The Juvenile Detention Center was full to the max this fall.....which means about 30 kids. Julie continues to help us out every week and we truly feel blessed by her faithfulness. She loves these kids too and presents very valuable lessons to them. We hope to make homemade pizzas on Oct. 31 with the kids and have some fun games while we wait for the pizzas to bake. We hope to put about 3 kids to a cookie sheet sized pizza, add some chips and pop and they should be happy. This will be at snack time - so we don't have to fill them full.

This past Sunday - October 23 - we began a Bible Study at the Rosebud Alcohol Treatment Center. We did this in the past but then they didn't have teens there for some time. We were really looking forward to this group because there were two boys that we knew very well taking treatment at the Center. However, they couldn't handle the freedom that they have there - and they both "ran away". Which means they are now being looked for by the law enforcement officers. We do have a very nice group of 7 young people and we actually know most of them from having been at the JDC at some time. Gary did the lesson on Nicodemus --- the need to be born again.....starting out new....changing on the inside. A good lesson for these kids. We could get a bit overwhelmed with all of our lesson plans......Tuesday, Thurs, and then Sunday. The only real problem will be the Sunday Lesson ---- the others are figured out every other week. The Alcohol Treatment Center will be every week for us....Julie will not be going along there. So if you would - pray that our minds can handle this. Thanks!!!! They graduate on November 23 ---- the day before Thanksgiving. We would like to be there for them.....but we would also like to be with our family for the holiday. So we aren't sure how we will work that one out.

I took a trip home via Amtrak to see my mother. She had a leg infection and is now in a Nursing Home for therapy. She is doing very well and hopes to return home in a couple of weeks. Gary had stayed home in South Dakota --- too many irons in the fire. The train ride went very well and we are thinking of using that means of transportation more often.

We enjoyed some company from Michigan this past week. Ross and Ken Nagelkirk, and Lee and Keith Lubbers - from our church in Overisel. They are hunters and I think they had a very good time. They were a fun group to have over. They took a lot of pheasants home with them and helped out the ranchers with the prairie dogs. They also got in on some cattle work and catching birds for a neighbor. All in all -- I think they might just be back again next year.

Gary and Toby were asked to be the ???? what is the right term????? "Man and his dog"......for a group of hunters that Dan T. had in from Illinois. Toby was the "birddog of the week". He did terrific!!!! I don't know if anyone got a count of all the birds that Toby retrieved those 3 days - just about all of them. He was one tired puppy at the end of the week. He's been getting a much deserved rest.

We were also the recipients of 3 bantams --- one rooster and 2 hens. They are sharing Toby's dog house --- no Toby can't even see them ----we put a steel barrier between them - or we know we would have had feathers flying in no time at all. We haven't dared to put them out on their own yet.....not sure we could get them back inside for the night. We can tell they were fed scraps because they really prefer potato peelings rather than cracked corn. Hopefully they will learn to accept the corn in time.

Our church sanctuary is being painted this week. It will be so nice not have to look at all those ugly streaks down the walls.

I think that just about does it for news....... I came home from Michigan with a cold - but that has cleared up and so far Gary hasn't gotten it. We are "enjoying our solitude"....as Ken Nagelkirk called it. Although it has been far from quiet lately.....neighbor weaned calves and we hear the bawling...... but it's a nice sound - much better than traffic. :)

Thanks for your interest --- maybe a few pictures will come later..........
Barb and Gary