A trip to Michigan to "kid sit" Oliver and Keller ....AND....Marlys couch

Marti and Tim  asked us if we would be able to make it to Michigan the first of January to help out with "a problem".  The problem was fun for us....and worked out for Marti and Tim too.  The boys - our grandsons - Oliver and Keller were off from school from Dec. ??23  - January 6.   Mom and dad didn't have that much vacation time - just the boys.  Grandpa and Grandma Sparling would be there for the first week -- "could we come for the last week??!!"

The weather was in our favor (at least until we got to Michigan) --- used to be called the "Winter Wonderland" state....   YUP!!  we had snow EVERY day!!  That pretty white stuff can get a bit old!!!

We had a lot of good quality time with the boys and so it was all worth it!   The pictures will tell a lot!

 It was Oliver's Birthday on December 31....he turned six!!!  So we had our own little party with him and Keller.  We gave him something that Grandpa would be able to help him with ---- building a bird house.  Oliver got right into the painting.    Of course,  that meant Keller needed to be occupied too.

So him and Grandpa had fun --- the above picture is Grandpa's fine art work    :)  :)

The painting and the glueing are done --- so Grandpa is making sure that it will stay together.  The rubberbands are temporary holders.

We waited a couple of days to open his other package.  And would you believe --- even though Oliver knew there was another present --- there was no begging to get it opened.....he waited patiently!!!

A rocket ship.....

It needed some stickers....

Oh boy did we get some laughs!!  The directions were "fill with baking soda to marked line....then put the two parts together (the other one had vinegar in it).....shake a couple of times and then set it down.    A couple of shakes later and grandpa had wet baking soda blown all over his jeans.  Blast off didn't happen.   So another try....and another......and then FINALLY -- blast off!!!  Do NOT shake it!

(OH -- and this day had a break from the snow..... it RAINED  instead....AUGH!!!)
We didn't tell Daddy all of the tricks......we're hoping for that wet baking soda pants for him too   :)

 We had a lot of fun with the boys.....only saw this face a couple of times.   There was a lot of laughing and squealing and yelling and all that good stuff that needs to happen with little boys.

And Uncle Rick was there to read the long, long story of Moana.   Rick gets very involved in his reading ---- that's why he's blurry..... :)

Marti had Thursday off -- so we spent most of that day with Rick.  Then on Friday evening we headed up to see Mike, Julie and kids and Holly, Dennis and boys.  We were with Holly and Dennis Saturday afternoon and Dennis looked at the weather report.  "There's a big system over Montana right now."    YIKES.....can we beat it??!!  We went back to Bill's place, packed up and headed right out..... ......  ......  .....  got out of Michigan.....hit the Indiana border.....and the sun came out and the roads were nice and dry.  Good weather all the way.   And the system over Montana.....must have went away.....we never saw it!   Thank goodness!!!

AND THEN  --- Marlys couch.

If you look back at the last blog....you can see the project in it's original shape.   We got home and got right to work.  It was in the house because that was where I thought we would work on it.    Not so.  Needed to get that HEAVY thing out and in the work shop. There were some repairs that needed Gary's expertise....

It was Gary and I that were going to move it and as I said ----that thing is HEAVY.  So we took part of the deck railing out so we could back the truck right up to the deck and get it on the truck.   Where there's a will --- there's a way!!

Here you can see some of the needed repairs.  There were screws loose, screws missing, a board broken......but WOW what a couch!!

Yes, it's a pull out bed.  An antique that the tags say was built in 1916.

The back head board is off right now.....

And here is the finished product.  We are rather pleased!!!

                                                               The back --- note.... it's not crocked anymore....

Decided to put the "original" here.....for comparison.  It would be a real bonus if this refinished product would last as long as the original!!!!  And we hope Marlys and the family are happy!!!!

We had a wonderful time at JDC this past Wednesday.  There were only 4 young people.  Two boys and two girls.....but they were so attentive and loved singing so much.  It was one of those nights that WE went home singing praises to God---we are SO blessed.  We thank all of you for your interest in what we do out here on the Rosebud.  We are blessed to live in this community and we thank God daily for all the opportunties He gives us --whether it's to help our local neighbors .....or minister to the youth of the reservation....WE ARE BLESSED!!!

Gary and Barb

Last project for 2016 and an unwanted adventure for the Walkling/Markus family

 Gary's last project for 2016 is a cabinet for Don and Jeannie Schellhaas's bathroom.

 It will be installed tomorrow.  They put in a new stool and new flooring and lastly this cabinet.  Don looked Jeannie in the eye and said " the next remodel ------NO!!!!"   Sounds to me like he's sick of remodeling jobs.  The only other one recently was his kitchen....WOW was that a job!!!!  But it sure turned out awesome!!   Jeannie is busy painting as I write.....  

Below is something I said "yes" to.   This as you can tell is an antique.....  I THINK Marlys said it was Vernon's Grandpas ---- or else Great Grandpa.   Anyway, something way to cool to be dumped!!   So she asked if I was interested.....  In a weaker moment, I said "yes".   Now as I look at it ---- there is NO sewing involved.  It will all be held together with upholstery tacks.    There is some need of repair to the under parts..... it is a pull out bed.... but in very poor shape.  So Gary will be called in for that.  My fear is that he will want to do more than I want from him.   He talked about adding springs and ........  It isn't the most comfortable sit.... that's for sure.   But then it's not being refurbished for comfort really.    I do figure that I will have to let Gar have his way on some of it.........

I have material on order .....but it will have to wait until after we get back from Michigan.  We are heading that direction to spend some quality time with 2 of our grandsons,   Oliver and Keller - in Kalamazoo.  Mom and dad don't have enough vacation time....but the boys are off from school --- Kindergarten and  Pre 3 school (or whatever it's called) until January 9.

About the Walkling Adventure.     It was on Christmas Night.....  they were all enjoying Christmas at Grandma Wyonne's place and that's when the wind came up at 7:30.....the wind came up really fierce and snow came with it.  You couldn't see the road in front of you at all.  Kim and Debbie just flat out drove off the road and into the ditch.   They called Don ....but Don said --- "I can't see to come".   So Kim and Debbie spent the evening - until 2:00 a.m. in their car in the ditch.  They had a full tank of gas and so could stay warm.  ??? Fear of carbon monoxide poisoning????  Debbie had to go to the bathroom twice - so she checked --- nothing around the exhaust!!         Marlys and Prairey and Nolan got stuck driving in toward the Lodge......  Marlys ----driving with her head out the window to see....got sopping wet.....  Don went and got them and they spent the night at Jeannies "Bed and Breakfast".   Pud (Matthew) and Kara and Carson and James got stuck on the "Purewater church hill".  Pud got out and walked (NOT SAFE) to Dan Tinant.....but then had to walk on the Vern's place.  When he got  out of the truck to walk - Carson was scared and cried and cried -- afraid he would never see his dad again.   Carson is 4.   Dakota got stuck too --- but I don't have the details on his adventure.    All in all it turned out good....and lots of stories to tell.   But it could have been tragic.

May you all be safe and have a Blessed New Year!!!
Gary and Barb

WONDERFUL Christmas Program

Tonight we enjoyed such a wonderful Christmas program put on by the children of our church with the help and organizing of Dawn Langenbach and Kitty VanderWey.   And it was done before a FULL HOUSE!!!   At about 6:50 the church was pretty empty .....hopes dashed ??......and then they started coming through the doors and they just kept coming until every possible seat was full. It was grand!!!    So much fun to be able to spend Christmas Eve in such a way.

There was some talent before the program began with a piano solo --- a flute solo----- and a violin solo and perhaps some that we missed.  Then Rick and Kitty entertained us with some Christmas songs with their voices and guitars.

And then the pictures will tell a little more.....

Let the program begin........ We will hear about all the fun things we enjoy at this time of the year  ....things like shopping and the tree and Santa!!! . and then hear the TRUE meaning of Christmas -- through songs.  And wow did those kids sing nicely!!

 Carson, James, Evan, Micah, Sadie, Michaela, Lilly, River and Ivy.....

 Carson, James and Evan sang their hearts out and aren't those two handsome in their suits!!!!

EVERYONE did such an awesome job!!!  And thank you Marlys for your expertise on the piano with all those Christmas Songs!!!

And then were made a circle all around the church (inside) and were going to have a candlelight service while singing "Silent Night".   Not figuring on such a large crowd......there were a few people without a candle....but the effect was still very special!!!!

It took a while to get organized with so many people.    Silent Night never sounded so good!!!  Afterwards people hung around wanting to visit with all their neighbors.   What a fun night!!  It truly is a blessing to be amongst God's people at this time when we remember Jesus's birth.  May tomorrow bring you Great JOY!!!,    Merry Christmas Everyone!!!!

Gary and Barb

Stress Test ---- Banana Song!!!!

Good Morning.........  I just about couldn't find this blogspot thing AGAIN....   Gotta remember so much on these goofy computers.....taxing on the brain!!!  I can't get to it on "Internet Explorer"....only on "Goggle Chrome"(or is that Chrome Goggle???).  Anyway.....snowing here....they predict that we could get up to 9 inches..if we do....and the wind comes up....  --  ...  we will (WILL) be in trouble.  Oh man!!! --- and the grocery store has so many nice specials this week -- I might not get there this Saturday........   Storm Warning until tomorrow some time......  21 below tonight.

WELL ------ but that is NOT what this update is about.....it's about an AWESOME happening yesterday at Gary's stress test.   So this is how I remember it......

Gary was getting into his test -- they were hooking him up to the heart monitor (oh and he was having this - just because - he has no problems) and he said the one gal was rather unfriendly.   But they finally asked him to tell them about himself....what did he do??    So he told them that he (we) go to the Detention Center a lot.   And the one gal - Vicky --- her eyes got real big and she pointed a finger at him.   You guys are the ones who do the BANANA SONG!!!    "Yes! we are".     She went on to say that she helped with the Ambulance that took kids to ER......when they are hurting - they want to hear the Banana Song.  She says  they call you "mom and pop-----they love us and we love them".

When Gary finished the test --- I was waiting in the lab waiting room --- they came out to me together -- Vicky and Gary.   Gary introduced me to Vicky and she told me the story.    What an encouragement!!!!   I gave Vicky a big hug.   She said "you have a wonderful ministry -- you ARE making a difference".   Then she asked me to sing the Banana Song.      "HERE?!?!?"  But we kind of "said" it....and bingo -- she knew it!!!  But they didn't call it  - The Banana Song ---- it was something about 'Fruit'....

Those "kids" are the Detention Center kids......they are the only ones we do the Banana Song with. 

We tell you this --- not because we "want the praise of men!!!!!"    But just to let you know these things so that you too can give God the Praise that He so deserves!!!!   We often think that it's in the BIG things that God works.....and He does certainly --- but he also uses those silly little things that we do.   And let me tell you -- the Banana Song -- is a SILLY little thing!   I just went to Youtube to try to find it......but the good oldie is gone.  Several years ago a gal in the JDC asked me if I knew the Banana Song.   "No".   But I contacted Linda Hemmeke --- She would certainly know it.    Well - she didn't -- so I went to Youtube and found Vince Nimms doing it....with the words that Connie had remember from when she was a little girl at Bible Camp.    So that was how I did it with my guitar.   The kids always get a hoot out of it......and when a new kid comes in .....they laugh and laugh.

It's those kind of things that stick in their mind.    Here are the words to the Banana Song.
         I like bananas.....I know that mangos are sweet.....I like papayas ...PAPAYAS (the kids yell out).
         But nothing can beat that sweet  love of God.....here we go...here we go....here we go.   Well,
        I was walking round in circles 5 miles an hour trying to find my way back to the Heavenly
        Father.  The world tasted SWEET (high pitch)and then it turned sour ...till I asked God in and
        received his power      (Gary says...)   LIKE ARNOLD SWARTZENEGGER  

  Then we repeat it.....  And then we get to talk about receiving GOD'S POWER  

So I guess I would say --- if you ever feel like God is asking you to do something silly --- DO IT!!!  You might change a persons life!!!

God Bless and may you stay safe and warm and have a Wonderful Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!
Gary and Barb    (mom and pop😊)

WOW ----- I actually found my blog!!!!

Hello friends......sorry I have been away......  NOT MY FAULT!!     I changed our email address to gmail.....   JUNO wanted $9.95 a month to keep the juno account and I said NOPE.   But then everything went south!!!   Not just our blog got lost but other things changed too......maybe if I were 20 something I wouldn't have had any trouble......but I'm NOT and so I couldn't make heads nor tails out of things.     But thanks to Sidney (our grand daughter --- and she IS grand) it was found  :)  :)

So ---- how to catch up...........  it's been since September......

One nice piece of news was that the playground --- that a child had set fire to and burned a good portion of it-----was finally put back together in a new way.    Gary built a deck and a chain ladder (had a little help from grand kids - Halle and Colton)  and with the help of a few good men it was installed.

We hope the little ones are once again enjoying their play.....

We had a handsome antelope just north of us in the alfalfa circle......it wasn't this one --- I didn't have my camera (Of course) at the right time.   This one was further north of us.  I just think their markings are beautiful..... but I guess they are fence wreckers.....

And .....  Gary got his buck once again.....

........so we will be munching on some jerky and breakfast steaks for a while.

We had fun in Michigan ---- good quality time with family and friends.  We had Thanksgiving and Christmas rather early --- Nov. 20.  Good food can be had anytime - any day.......  And we were all going to be available on the 20th.  We did eat a bit late ---- about 2:00 ---- :)  :) someone forgot she was supposed to do the potatoes......   oh well ---- no problem.....and nope - not telling who that someone was.   :)    We always pack our time full --- so we do get worn out --- but lots of memories made.

We are always thankful for safe travel and good friends and a loving family.  We don't all agree on everything --- but we do always love each other.  I am now looking out on snow blowing around (and where is Gary?!?!? --- he took off to see how the roads are and no phone along ....so he might be waiting for a good neighbor to get him unstuck - --- don't know).    Looks like our burn barrel is tipping over with the wind....  AH! winter --- gotta love it.

So thank you for your patience with the blog ---- hope you're still out there checking in on us!!!!......  I will, no doubt, continue to be slow on updates....but I WILL be able to find it now.

Love to each and everyone of you!!  Keep your focus on God....Oh --- this quote from a Sunday service that I thought was SO good.   "we generally become like the things we focus on"   Hopefully we keep our focus on Christ.  "Stay near to Christ and He will stay near to you"......  rather paraphrased but Biblical.

Gary and Barb

Trouble

Dear friends,
Sorry, I've had a hard time getting into the blog after creating a new email account, bear with me.

Barb/Sidney

Trip to Michigan to help Mike and Julie and more............

Julie's  (our son Mike's wife) dad Loren Rigterink had a bad summer ---- to put it mildly.  He was finally diagnosed with a "fungus on his artificial heart valve".....surgery was needed.  Surgery would take place on September 9.  When Mike called to tell us about it, he said it would be nice if we could come out to give Julie a little relief.  A family of 8 is a VERY busy household and then add the time spent at the hospital....... Julie definitely could use some help.   As she said "we are making do OK"......but Mike just wanted her to be able to relax a little and not have such a heavy load.     We left for Michigan on Sept. 6.

So I tried to put a little dent in Julie's day.  I helped with the laundry --- loads and loads of laundry...... and made the evening meal.   Halle and Colton were being home schooled - so I helped keep them on track with their Reading assignments.

Gary had other tasks.........   Julie and Mike were in the process of moving the laundry room.  They had the room all prepared but now for the plumbing and so on.  Trenton and Austin and Mike and Gary all got busy and after some trips to town for plumbing needs and some scratching of the brain on the amount of "drop" needed in the drain pipe.....the whole thing became a reality.  What a nice room she now has ----- the laundry is  no longer part of the kitchen!!!

What's next....... could you put new brakes on the Suburban??  Yup.  That  wasn't too bad.

  A day's rest from car work brought Gary to Dennis and Holly's to see about the lights on the combine.  He got a few of those working but the ones on the auger were a complete puzzle.  Dennis will have to look into them a little more.

Then Rick wondered if we could come down to Kalamazoo on Wednesday evening --- he would like some help moving his few belongings to his new place of business.   He and a gal who is editor of the little paper Rick writes an article for are going into a business together. I really don't understand it completely so don't want to mess it up with writing something wrong...... but it's some type of "float tank for emotional - physical  - mental therapy" (best way for me to explain it).   Anyway......they found a place for this business and Rick can live in the back portion.    So would we be available to help move.   Yes - we can do that and also get to visit a little with Tim, Marti and Oliver and Keller. We got to move Rick AND enjoy a meal with everyone and spend a little play time with our 2 grandsons.

NEXT --- Austin's little black car -- a Hyundai --- had several needs.    Brake job and ball joints ......this on one of those "foreign" cars!!!!   AUGH!!!!!   Things were so ?? rusted together that the sledge hammer was called into action!!!  Parts stores don't keep those parts on hand so it had to be ordered. Thankfully, they came in the next morning.  Again....Austin, Trenton, Mike and Gary all got into the game on Saturday morning.  Austin and Trenton were given jobs......but it was also a good time of learning for them.   All in all it was a successful job.

Can't be all work ---- Mike and I celebrate a 9/11 birthday together--- so we went out for pizza with the whole family.  That too was a memory maker.  They wanted to try the new "Giordano's Pizza" place (Chicago style pizza).  When we got there we were told it was an hour and a half wait. .......so we put in our name and then headed out to Menards for some ??? parts and pieces for one of the jobs.  We got back to Giordano's at 7:00 --- waited until about 7:45 .....was seated .....put in our pizza order and was told it would take "75 to 90  minutes" for the pizza to be ready. (And they write that down on a piece of paper so there is no misunderstanding).  One good thing was that we "sort of" knew this was going to happen before we got there so there weren't any real big surprises.  And it DID take the 75 minutes.   We had a couple of appetizers and the kids drank tons of Strawberry Lemonade and we watched the people.....and we waited and talked and .......well you know.   The pizza was good --- ?????  but not that good. (My opinion).  But it WAS a fun way to spend time with the family.

We are now back in South Dakota --- took Halle and Colton along with us.  They will be here for a couple of weeks.    And Gary had a big job waiting for him when he got back.   OUCH!! I would say this hay hauler got backed into !!  NOT GOOD!!

Gary praises and thanks God for his talents ---- and I am thinking that the neighbors do too.
Fall is in the air and it is good.  We try to enjoy all the seasons ......our garden is finished for the most part.   There WAS one delicious muskmelon waiting for us when we got back.  I am thinking it will be a good project for us to clean out the garden plants and make it look better.

Later.............
Barb and Gary