MUD and more MUD

Our road is actually not that bad......  but this past Tuesday we went to Valentine.  Gary was on a mission....tools or rather A tool.  The gravel roads were their usual "bumpy" but once we hit the pavement it felt like we were still on those bumpy gravel roads....ALL the way to Valentine.  Now Highway 20 is usually smooth as silk -- well silk maybe not --- but GOOD!   So Gar decide it had to be the mud on the wheel rims.  Finally today he got to it.....the Tool had to be tired out first.  He has a whole bunch of new shelves along the outside of his "shop" (which if you've never been here----is a "building" inside the big barn on our place).

Back to the wheel rims.......

....they were caked with mud and ice....and that made for a BAD shimmy.  So after today we will be good until we take the car out again on the wet roads.  Tonight (Detention Center) we will be taking the truck.  After all the wonderful snow -- we have had beautiful sunny days.  The snow is melting fast ......but what a wonderful amount of moisture.  THANK YOU LORD!!!

And a prayer request...... Eric Nixon - a young man who comes to our Youth Group lost his Grandma yesterday.   Family is very important and a lose is hard.....and when life is so hard as it is.... a death makes it all the harder.  Would you please pray for Eric and his family.  Thanks.

We will be doing the older group tomorrow at Release Time.  LaCosta had an important meeting that she wanted to attend.  We are looking forward to seeing all the kids once again.  It should be a fun time!!

Gary and Barb

Gary's latest project

We have to keep Gary busy --- and the neighbors do a good job of it.  He has been busy making gates for a calving barn.  Here are some pictures of it.

 Lots of cutting and welding and putting together.......

 All from  flat stock (yikes! is that the right wording ??--- guess I'll find out later.....)

 This is his work table for the gates.....the small stuff like the hinges he made in his shop at our place...  I think this picture is of one of the smaller end gates.  The other ones filled the whole table.  I believe it was a total of 36 gates.

 Lots and lots and lots of welding....so much so that we went on a "fishing trip" to Dog Ear Lake out by Winner.  It was sort of a trip to rest his neck and back -- but also to stop at Runnings to see about an automatic darkening welders hood.  And YES they had just what he wanted.  That made the gates come together MUCH faster.

 Here you see some of the big gates put in place.  They all swing flat against the wall.

And an overhead shot.  Gary is welding at the time so it's rather smoky.  Maybe I will have to go on a day when it's done and quiet and just some mama's and their babies in there.  Anyway,   now you know what Gary has been doing this winter.

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We had Youth Group this past Saturday. I call the kids each time--- on the Friday before we meet--- to try to let them know we are coming and also to get an idea of where we need to stop.   This week it looked like we might only get 3-4 boys - IF we were lucky.  HOWEVER,  God is Good all the time and we picked up 9 kids  :)  :)  Rick VanderWey did a great job on the lesson.  We are doing the Easter Story ...... the kids seemed to sense the seriousness of the story as they listened with their heads on the table.  Rick gave an invitation and 3 girls accepted Christ as their Savior.  

The Alcohol Recovery group was put on hold ----- but suddenly it was "taken off hold" and put on a different day.  So now instead of meeting on Thursday evenings -- we meet on Monday evening.   We are doing the Easter story for them also.  Because Gary and I have been doing this ministry for 5 years (well almost)....we have these stories ....for the most part....ready to go ---- So doing them with 3 different groups -- all on different schedules....seems to be going alright.  We are able to keep our heads on straight.   HHmmm could that be because you keep us in your prayers?!?!?!?  I really think so!!  Thank You!!!

And, Janel,  thank you for bugging me --- I'm serious---  :)  :)  I need some pleasant reminders that it's time to update.   I'm sure everyone else thought so too.

We love all of you faithful supporters!!!
Gary and Barb

For the birds --- winter storm

No we aren't considering the storm "for the birds"...... on the contrary --- it's rather nice to sit in a warm home and look out at the blowing snow with the trees still hanging with ice.  And then to go out for a while and be able to come back in and get warmed up.  The storm hasn't brought a lot of snow -- perhaps 4 inches here.  But the wind is, of course, doing it's thing

We have baby calves being born on the place and yesterday we helped Rob and Dwight get all the cow/calf pairs in to the corrals and the rest of the heifers in a sheltered place.  Otherwise those little calves born out in the corn field might not have much of a chance.

But - for the birds.....  sometimes I will let the feeder go almost empty when you know the birds should be able to find something on the ground.  But today ---- not so.  I went out to get the thistle feeder in so that I could fill it.  On bringing it back out.  A bird decided I was no threat  and it stayed right there as you can see.  I tried to put some seeds on my wet hand (so it would stick) and held it out for them....but my hand got cold long before any birds decided to come to sit for a picture.

We are enjoying these Purple Finch, Goldfinch, Chickadees and Snow birds, as well as Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers.

We didn't have church this morning and we won't be going to the Detention Center tonight.  So, it's been a day of reading and painting on my latest paint by number picture (Chickadees on the Lilac Bushes) and working on a 1000 piece puzzle.  I need lots of activities going  ---- I guess I have a short attention span.

Wishing you a good week!
Barb and Gary

T-shirts / Ice fishing and Youth Group

T-shirts first......
        We had measured the kids for the size of their shirts quite a while back and they were wondering ---- when do we get to do our "Lakota" shirts.  This past Thursday we finally got to work on the shirts.  I thought it would at least take a couple of weeks -- but they were fast.  They did a GRAND job as you can see.

 This is why the kids called them "Lakota" shirts.  The turtle is one of their native symbols - bringing health and long life.

Someone donated the shirts for Prairie Light Youth Camp.  However, there really weren't enough for all of camp. So we were the happy recipients and decided to add a grand message on the back for the kids to decorate.  The shirts had to come home so I could iron them before sending them with the kids.  The colors will last longer with the ironing.

Gary and I went ice fishing yesterday --- in the drizzling rain.  We didn't catch many fish - got rather wet..... but Gar says it "was not a wasted trip".  Well, I wasn't thinking that either.  I now know that the ice is thick and I don't have to worry.  We found a shorter way to get to the Lake....we went to He Dog Lake. And it was a time away together.

And now for the Youth Group Meeting this past Saturday.

We weren't having a lot of luck finding kids that wanted to come that afternoon.  It was 50 degrees out -a very nice day - so when you can run and play outdoors - who wants to go to a youth group.?!  Others were gone - some to a Birthday Party......  So as we came back to church with one girl - I was thinking "now what".  But we had one more area to cover.  Our next stop -- "no she's not home"..... next stop......Yes! three boys that were with us each time before wanted to come.  YES!  And there were 3 girls hanging out with them - so we asked if they wanted to come.  

Anyway --- all in all we had 8 young people for the event.  Gary did the lesson on Jesus entering Jerusalem with the praise of the crowds (knowing his death was coming).  The kids really listened good.  We also had the verse Psalm 34:1 I will praise the Lord at all times. His praise is always on my lips.

We then handed out Journals for the kids and asked them to write some things that they could praise God for.  One young man wrote "I prayed that my cousin Dade would get better and he did."  

We finished with a game and lunch.  ----- "Successful" was stamped on the evening.

We are so thankful for all those who are helping with this group.  We don't feel overwhelmed with this new additional event to our life because we have such a good crew making it work.  Next week the VanderWeys - Rick and Kitty -  will be in charge.   God is at work and we thank you for your prayers!!!

God Bless ---- Gary and Barb

Logterman trucking.......and a prayer request for Youth Group

Well - I finally got to see the Logterman truck.....Rob just delivered a big load to our place and I figured you would all be interested-----anyway some of you would be. 

 Can't show the truck without including the trucker.  We worry sometimes when Rob leaves --- are the roads snow covered and icy?????  We've seen too many semi's flipped on their sides or plowed into the medium on our trips to Michigan.

And then there are the birds ------ sometimes pretty entertaining.....  Gar says between the dog, the cats, the chickens and the wild birds - we're putting out a fair bit of cash.  Oh, well - I figure they're all good for our enjoyment ----- well I don't know for sure about our chickens -- they're about worthless right now....no eggs - no noth'n.

******** We are planning some Youth Group meetings....... January 26 - this Saturday will be our first this year.  And then we plan to meet the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of  February and March.  We will be doing the Easter Story.  We have changed our location from the Boys and Girls Club to the Lutheran Church - both in Rosebud.  It will be a smaller place - with bright lights - no noisey light fixtures - no smelly bathrooms.   So we would really appreciate your prayers for safety on the roads as we pick up kids, attentive minds and hearts and the words of God's loving message to come through clearly.

Thank you so much!!!
Gary and Barb

Sun Dogs this morning

We didn't go out for our usual Saturday morning breakfast in Valentine......waiting a bit to see how the roads were....we had some snow and a fair amount of wind so we figured on some good drifting.  Then we got a call from the Post Office that we had a package  --- and would we met her at the mail box ---- or else she would have to take it back to town.  So we were outside early........ The view that we saw was fantastic...... Sun Dogs.....

A couple of years ago the sun dogs lasted all day - from sunrise to sunset.  But today we saw this for only a short time and then it got cloudy  :(

Enjoy the photo.

Barb and Gary

Happy New Year ----Trip to Michigan

We left Todd County on December 23 and headed for Michigan.  We decided to stop at our daughter Marti's family first.  Her husband, Tim, had just had surgery and we wanted to see how he was doing.  (.....he is doing great --- just has to really, REALLY, watch what he eats now).  It was Christmas Eve when we arrived so we had Christmas with the Sparlings.  Tim's parents were also there from South Carolina so it was a fun time.

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 Yes, Ron and Stephanie are a fun couple to hang out with.  The "antlers" were actually something for Oliver - but he wasn't all that excited about them --- so grandpa Sparling gave them a try.

 We didn't get much for Oliver ---- we were going to head out to Shedds Aquarium in Chicago for a Christmas gift for the grandkids.....but we HAD to give something that night ---- so.....a shovel to help daddy clear the driveway......

 Cooper the dog was a happy camper!!!!  He didn't know what to do with the HUGE bone at first - but when we returned a week later.....he had a good portion of it devoured!

 Oliver LOVES stickers and Grandma Sparling had done her best to make him happy......He had fun sticking them all over my face.  Good quality bonding going on there    :)  :)

The floor looked like.......like Christmas.....wrappings all over the place.........

We always kind of smiled at my mom ---- she used a lot of brown paper bags for her wrapping --- or the funny pages.  Now we have Tim ---- who is REALLY into recycling!!!!  My mom would be proud of him   :)  :).......made me feel GOOD inside.   Thanks Tim and Marti.  :)

Like I said - we were going to take our kids and grand kids to the Shedds Aquarium in Chicago for their Christmas gift. ............ Well --- things were not looking real good.  When we arrived,  Mike and Julies family were overtaken by the flu bug..... We had tickets for Saturday, December 29.  On Friday, Sidney came down with the "YUCK".  So --- they, of course, decided not to go.  Dennis, Holly's husband, was not real keen on the whole idea so he opted out for a farm auction.......(Yes, we had a discussion about that decision -------but he won.  We still love him!)  So, we gave his ticket to my brother, Bill.  On Saturday morning we headed out at 6:00 a.m. to catch the Commuter Train in Michigan City, Indiana.  That was a 1 1/2 hour drive.  Immediately upon arrival - we heard an announcement.  "All trains are suspended due to a semi-loaded with steel dropping it's load on the tracks" or something to that effect.  NOW WHAT?? ---- well with all the smart phones in the group (Marti and Tim and his parents had met up with us right at the announcement also)......we said -- "let's drive it".  We got to the Aquarium at 8:30 and were the 2nd car in the parking lot!!!  GOOD going!!!!  With our tickets in hand - we entered the world of "fish"......and more.

 the Jellies were a special exhibit....... WOW is about all I can say.

We ( I ) decided that God must have had a LOT of fun creating some of his sea creatures!!!!  UNBELIEVABLE!!!!

The place got REAL busy around noon ---- and by about 2:00 we said "I think we've seen it and done it".....including an aquatic show and a 4-D movie.......so we headed back home.  The weather had turned a little bit nasty --- slippery roads.....so we were all thankful for safety in getting back home. 

As it turned out we got to spend a lot of time getting to know Oliver a little better.  It was his birthday on the 31st.  So ---this grandpa and grandma had to do some heavy thinking.....what do we get the little guy who "has all the toys he could need".   WELL --- a good ole' cardboard box -- what do you think?!?!?!?  YES!!  So we went to Sears and lo and behold they had unboxed a lawn mower (???In December??).  So we claimed the box for Oliver.

 HE LOVED IT!!!

 Daddy (and everyone else too) got in the box with him ........ grandpa Peters is looking through the window.

 We gave him some stickers too (he loves stickers) so he could decorate the inside of the box.....some glow in the dark stars, some flowers, panda bears and sun and moon and stars.  We even got Cooper, the dog, to take a peek inside.  It was a WINNER!!!!  And then when we saw Tim reinforcing some of the corners with tape --- we knew that daddy thought it was good too.   :)

And then for some birthday cake decorating fun......  What a fun time we all had!!!

We had safe travels home --- roads were clear all the way.   We just wish some of the winter storms had hit our area while we were gone.  STILL need moisture  real badly!

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE NEAR AND FAR!!!!  MAY GOD BLESS AND KEEP YOU THROUGHOUT 2013.

GARY AND BARB