Prayer Request

Today we went to the Detention Center to visit one on one with some of the kids.   No one had asked for a visit ----- so we could have just stayed home and relaxed -- but that just didn't feel right - so we went.  We met with Taylor .... a gal who had prayed with us back in February, 2012.     We just want to ask you to please pray for Taylor.  In February she told us that she had been reading in the Native "Book of Hope",  which is a book that we have used for Bible Lessons so we are familiar with it.  She wanted her mom to start going to church -- oh! how she wanted to make changes in her life.

Taylor cried and cried today. She shared a lot of "stuff" that has been happening in her life......she has gone through SO MUCH!!!   We wish we could share these things with your but there are restrictions........   We assured Taylor that God cares and He promises never to leave those who trust in Him.  We believe that Taylor does trust in Him!

We also had a very special visit with Sara. 

Thank you for all your support and prayers --- especially for the young people like Taylor and Sara.  God knows each one of these girls --- we all know that --- and so even though you don' t know their needs --- God does.  Thanks again.

Gary and Barb

April Snow and Rain

This past week we had over a foot of snow and now last night there are reports of an inch of rain.  We could hear it during the night----also could hear some hail/sleet (pea sized stuff).  So we are so very thankful for all the moisture God has sent this way!!!!  And actually the roads weren't too bad this morning.   They needed to get a bulldozer in to clear some of the snow off the roads .....our east/west road.....the school road all the way past Matthew Walkling....and possibly more.  I wouldn' want to meet anyone on parts of it but we can at least get out.

So we are planning on JDC this afternoon and tonight we will have a service also.   We haven't been able to finish the Easter Story with all the "weather" ---- so tonight is the Resurrection Story.  It's never too late to give that wonderful lesson!!

The blog wouldn't be "up to date" without some good ole snow pictures........

Not real sure if the video will work but I'm going to try it.   It's pretty long.........    Gary and I went out yesterday late afternoon and walked all over these huge snow drifts.  They are in the trees to the east of us.   Toby had a lot of fun too as you can see.

It's supposed to be real windy today ---- and warm --- right now it's in the upper 40's.  So the snow will disappear fast! 

Gary and Barb

Snow Storm Fun

Spring is here but winter just caught up with us.  We've gotten at least a foot of the white stuff.   We called our neighbors (Rick and Kitty Vander Wey) to see if they had seen the snow plow yet....."nope".  So we are pretty sure that we are not able to get out.  So there will be no meeting at the Detention Center tonight.  We are unhappy about that .....!  But we are very thankful for all the moisture that is coming -- yes it is still snowing --- has been since about midnight Monday night. 

 The poor birds were really struggling to hang on at the feeder.

Seeing as how Gary was bored ---- too nasty to work outside .......  sssoooo --- a project was in order.   I had all the "workings" for a floor lamp, so we went to work.  The pole is a Diamond Willow that I had cleaned up several years ago.    I guess our only thought for changing anything on it - would be to make the base a little darker.  Right now it only has a coating of oil. 

Well ---- now we need another project - so I have my thinking cap on - but Gary is watching the weather channel on TV.    Guess he is hoping for a change in the weather.

Gary and Barb

Holly, Clayton and Sawyer come for a visit :)

Holly and the boys got on Amtrak in Holland, MI on Thursday morning (March 28),......they arrived in McCook, NE at 4:06 a.m. on Friday morning.  That was a LONG trip!!! and the boys weren't real excited about the 3 hour ride to get to "home".  But we've had lots of things to do and hope to do LOTS more.

 Here is Sawyer finding one of his Easter eggs..........

 Clayton's  eggs were a bit harder to find.  They had clues to decipher in order to locate their eggs.....One was "I am mobile and I run on 4 legs".  Of course, that was Toby ---- too easy for Clayton because Toby just came running with the egg bouncing on his collar.

 Mommy and Sawyer working on a puzzle......

 Grandpa and Clayton enjoyed lots of games of checkers..... Clayton can beat Grandpa if he concentrates!!

Of course, the 4 wheeler got tons of use.....checking coyote snares and just riding around..

As you can see Clayton is a pretty good shot with the 22.  He hit 3 in a row.....better than grandma can do!!

We also went to the church in Spring Creek to hear the Northwest Indian Bible School Choir sing.  Laura Patton (front row 2nd from right) was singing.  We didn't realize that little church even existed.  What a beautiful setting out in the prairies......I'm sure their sunrise service was wonderful.

Our company will be staying until Saturday -- when we have to bring them back for their train ride home.  We are glad that the weather is so nice and we can be outside a lot of the time. 

More later........
Gary and Barb and the Kroeze Crew.

EGGS EGGS Eggs eggs..... ???????

For those of you who want lots of updates....this one will be short and sweet.  We have 7 chickens.  One of them is a Banty hen, 2 are Roosters!! and that leaves 4 white hens.  Today I got 7 (seven) eggs.  Yes, I was in the chicken coop yesterday and there were no eggs there!!!  Today even the roosters must be laying  :)  :)  :)  :)

I went on line an googled "can a chicken lay 2 eggs in one day".  The word came back "rarely".  So I guess we have some VERY rare chickens....or ......maybe i'm just losing it......

BARB

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.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
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