SORRY ---- and an update of JDC

I don't know why all the trouble opening up our video.... I got it to work once -- and that was it. Maybe it's just too big. They really aren't that long - but ?? too long for the blog. SHUCKS!!! It was a fun one too!

We went to the JDC last night. We divided the group into boys alone and then girls alone....so we gave the message twice. This was because we had a bad incident there the week before. We had a fight just as a group of girls was leaving. This was very upsetting!!!! However, this week it went just great. The lesson was very serious and the kids all listened intently!! We will be breaking the group in two until the size goes down. Thirty young people in one small room is just too much!!! And then you know how teens are ---- gotta look cool for the other sex. The boys even sang last night :) The Center seems to be short on help....that works against us also.

So we covet your prayers for this....... Thank you!!!

Gary and Barb

A tunnel is made!!!

What do YOU do after a big storm goes through and dumps a ton of snow in your pathway???? Here's what we (mostly Gary) decided to do........ Now not to worry --- We did this AFTER we had Release Time today. And the kids were GREAT! We really have fun with them when they listen so nicely to the lesson......and then we did a neat craft...but sorry -- forget the camera....photo of that later.......




Yesterday was a nasty!! day. We couldn't see more than ?? 1/8 of a mile and at times less. The wind howled for 2 days.....and then this morning was gorgeous --- sunny and no wind. We can still get out through the cornfield so thank goodness for that. So now for a time we are back to "normal" --- what is that really!?!?!? The mail lady said more snow was in the forecast -- I guess she could be right. A storm really isn't so bad when you have power and are snug and warm inside........We pray for the ranchers and other who have no choice but to go out in it!!

More later........
Gary and Barb

Sun Dogs..... 1/7/2010

Today started out with an awesome sight..... a sun dog and it was so bright.... but I didn't realize that there was a part hidden by the trees...(to the right of the picture). It was a beautiful sunny day without a cloud in the sky.... but VERY cold - never got above the single digits.

We watched it move across the sky all day long. This picture was at about 3:00 in the afternoon. And what we couldn't capture in our pictures was a sun dog on the top of the sun (not to the sides but above it. It was like a smile up above......not a straight line - but a curve .... like a smile.

This photo was at about 5:30 just before sundown and then the one below --- but just at a different location. I've seen other pictures of sundogs but (AHEM) I think these last two beat them all!!!!

Hope you enjoy these grand displays of the Master at work. We LOVE his creative work!!

Gary and Barb

ANOTHER blizzard..........

Yup! We are in a VERY white world today. By looking out at the snow drift that has developed around the truck (while I can SEE the truck) just this morning......I would say we will have to look for a way out of here via the corn field.. And that might be tough!!! The prediction is for -18 degrees on Thurs. evening and then with the winds at 30 to 40 miles an hour...... That is COLD!! We are praying that the power stays on --- then we will be OK.

At least we were able to have Release Time yesterday. We :-) took on the K-2 and 3,4 and 5th graders. When us kids were "wild" my Grandma always said "I think there's a storm coming". Well, yesterday would have proved that theory right. The kids didn't have much sit in them.....instead they liked it under the chairs and under the table....AND on top of the table. HOWEVER, we were blessed to have them listen to the lesson very good!! And that's the important part. The rest ---- well maybe there's a need for some different activities to use up that energy. And don't get me wrong......it not ALWAYS like that......there WAS a storm coming!!!!

We did hope to deliver some food packages today and tomorrow..... I guess that will be on hold for a time again. We called them Christmas baskets.... Could be we will just call them Valentines Day packages....... The hams are frozen and the rest of the food is non perishable....so we aren't in any kid of worry mode as far as that is concerned.

This weather system is supposed to clear on Thursday as far as the snow fall is concerned. Sunday is predicted as 32 degrees......so "this too shall end."

God Bless!!!! Gary and Barb

The Christmas blizzard of 2009.....

It all began on the Wednesday before Christmas......our power went off at 6:30 in the morning and of course I had turned the heat down to 60 the night before. So it was a cold start to a long day. We have 270 head of cattle on the place so the generator was needed in several places...trying to keep the cows with water and us with heat was a busy job for Gary. The way the water system is set up meant that not only were the cows without water but so were we.

As cold as it was in our house ...... the beauty outside would warm anyone. We had hoar frost that was absolutely amazing. It stuck to everything. I would sit here and look out the window and couldn't believe the beauty.

Our power came back on Wednesday at noon... but went off again at 8:00 p.m. But it was 70 degrees in the house so we considered ourselves lucky to have a good temperature at the git-go.

On Thursday morning Gary woke up at 4:00 and his nose was cold and he wanted a stocking cap for his head.....47 degrees in the house and very windy outside. Out to the barn to get the generator.....and we had the furnace running by 4:45. The weather still wasn't totally nasty yet so at 1:30 we headed out for the Detention Center. We had wanted to go on Wednesday evening but there was a "no travel" advisory out so we obeyed. There were 12 kids at the JDC who were not allowed a Temporary Release for Christmas so we wanted to share a little bit of Christmas joy with them. We were there for 3 hours.....seeing 2 boys separately because they were in Max. When we got home our house was down to 42 degrees......but just as Gary got the generator up to the back door to hook it up.....the power came on and it hasn't gone out again since. However, many of our neighbors were out for 4 to 5 days....including our Pastor Tom and his wife Judy. We were very concerned for them because Judy's health isn't real good and being cold really gives her more problems than she needs.

We had hoped to have Christmas Dinner with my Cousin Dwight and Marvanne and their family. The pork chops were cooking but the weather was getting more and more nasty so we are still waiting for that meal.

We did end up with frozen water pipes but with a little help from a neighbor we were able to unthaw them.

As of Sunday, we got the two water tanks unthawed and producing water for the cattle. Dwight came last night with hay for them and so now everyone is happy. We still don't have our driveway (which we consider 1/2 mile long) plowed -- wondering if the snow plow has forgotten us.....but we can get out through the corn field if we need to. We did get the car out of the drift....in fact just as I was typing this Gary backed it out --- after a time of both of us shoveling. The other photo is of a drift about 8 feet tall just south of our trailer.

Today (Monday) is a beautiful sunny day and we are enjoying it. Yesterday we took a cross country walk (part of it on our snowshoes) to a neighbor for coffee. So we are doing fine. Seems like we totally missed Christmas -- anyway all the good food and family fun..... but Christ is the reason for the season and we didn't miss that.

May God bless all of you in the coming New Year.

Gary and Barb

November update

I feel like I need to apologize for not keeping this updated often enough. As I read the last update I had to laugh!!!! It seemed that I was complaining that the thermometer read 60 degrees but the wind was so cold. Good grief.........now I don't dare complain about the below 0 temperatures for fear that it might get colder. But winter has arrived ----and it is COLD!! For a couple of days we were afraid we might need our furnace looked at, but.....suddenly it started working right again. :-)

We have been keeping busy. Gary is putting up a workshop -- inside the workshop. Which means he is building a building inside a building. Are you confused now?!?!?! Anyway --he is looking forward to having his tools handy so that he can be more efficient. And it should be a nice cozy place to work as we are putting in a good amount of insulation and a heating system.

While we were home in Michigan over Thanksgiving our Pastor Tom Vander Ziel and Wyonne Walkling took over for us on Tuesday Release Time. That is a blessing to us that we don't have to worry about letting the Release Time kids down.

Last week Release Time did not happen. It was a snowy day with more predicted so the kids were released for home at 1:00. Now this coming week....on Tuesday the school will have their Christmas musical in the evening and the music teacher likes to practice with the kids all day so --- no Release Time. But ---- we are scheduled instead on Wednesday. That will be the last time for the year 2009.

Tonight the Lakeview CRC had worship service at the Detention Center. There were about 20 kids in attendance. Pastor Tom always does a great job. As the kids come in it gets worrisome that they will settle down and listen. But after the talking and visiting with each other has gotten out of their system -- they settle down and listen very well. I wish you could see some of the faces....they ARE hearing God's word. Now our prayer is that they will apply it and that they will put their trust in Him. We had 4 young people stay after tonight for a time of prayer. We are never in a hurry to leave....but give them as long of a visit as we can. We are so thankful that the officers are so open to our being there. And the Lakeview people that go along are so good.....so caring and concerned and prayerful.

Peer pressure is an issue at the JDC too. There always seems to be a ringleader or two. Some of the kids get taken in on that.....others try to avoid it. And of course as the group gets larger (which it has been doing) -- it makes it harder to get close to the kids. But there are several who listen so intently......who are so respectful..... Those are the kids who really make it all worth while. And when I (Barb) get in the "sermon giving mode" that mom's can get into --- they even seem to pay attention.... :-) Hope it sinks in !!!!!!

Now onto the ranch news. We have around 200 head of cattle living on the place with us and so we have the responsibility of checking that they stay in the fences and that they have water and seem to be healthy. If trouble arises -- we make a phone call to "the boss" :-) Yes, we did have some - about 11 - try to escape from the place but they were found out and put back in.....keeps things lively.

Love to all............Gary and Barb

Getting ready for Thanksgiving

What a beautiful day - finally!!!! The sun has shone all day - not a cloud in the sky....but the wind has also been blowing ------- so 60 degrees doesn't feel as nice as it sounds because of the wind. But we will take it and say THANK YOU!!! Gary - with the help of Terry and Jack got a start on his work shop today. More on that at a later time........ But then this afternoon we had Release Time with the 6th, 7th and 8th graders. We had been working on a Thanksgiving Wreath with each class The K-5 all did a little bit of cutting the leaves out (I did most of it just because it's always a "time" thing) and then we let the K-2 glue the leaves on the paper plates. They ALL did an awesome job......then the 3-5th grade group put the words "thank you" or "giving thanks" on the plates. Now today we let the 6-8th graders put them up around the community center.

Now we are "taking a break" - until this evening when we go to the PMO - Youth Ranch. We are going to be working out of the Book of Hope tonight -- put out by the Native American Fellowship. We have used this book before and it goes good....the kids seem to enjoy it even though the stories are hard to read. They are true life stories of Native people whose lives were in a shambles --- but turned around when they found Christ.

Thank you once again for your prayers that are lifted up for these young people on the Reservation. Pray that they will grasp how important it is for them to commit to knowing Christ and living their lives as He wants them too.

Gary and Barb