A Grand Family visit

My mom and brother Bill just departed -- 8:30 a.m.......Linda and Dave took off at 6:30 this morning. We had a grand visit. We've found out that it is fun to have a house full of people - especially family. SO---HINT HINT!!!

Mom was really glad she made the long trip. She got to see relatives at the reunion and then also visited with many more "neighbors and relatives" in the area. "I'm so glad we came." was her comment. We were too!!!

Linda and Dave took home another old truck.......some one has to clean up the neighborhood :) :). They will be enjoying some more car races in Iowa and then heading home for Michigan. We have a promise of a return trip soon :)

We are mowing the lawn, doing laundry and spraying for grasshoppers to get rid of our blues.

Haven't seen any more snakes but did enjoy a view of 2 twin fawns last night. My cousin Dwight says they have triplets that visit regularly by their house.

More later........

Gary and Barb

GOOD TRIP to Michigan and back....

Yes we had a good trip to Michigan with the young people. Above is Brayden....our only young man. He made the trip interesting....always something to say. They all seemed ready for the trip.....JaeLynn must have thought she was going for a month :) :) ---have to say she WAS prepared for whatever she might need. And luckily we had plenty of room in the van so luggage was no problem.

Below is a picture of our 3 girls at the Commissioning Service. They were stationed at Friendship CRC in Byron Center. Friendship is a very large church - especially when you compare it to our Lakeview CRC. The service was really good. And as the kids sang "Here I am Lord" --- lots of us were crying. It was a very moving moment!!
DonShay is right in front of the microphone - then JaeLynn up and to the right....then Rebecca with the dark hair. The kids were on their own for the week and we were free to visit with our family.

We started out staying by my mom. It's really neat to be able to spend time with mom. She's 89 but still able to be in her own home and put on a good meal for her family. Sometimes I think her mind is sharper than my own. We also made time to be with friends and relatives. We made a move to our sons home on Tuesday. On Wednesday, I went to Shipshewanna with Holly for the day. So Gary wondered what he would do. Well - how about picking some blueberries to take home?!?! Would you believe that Grandpa took 5 grandkids berry picking!! He said Colton and Brennan never did get the bottom of their pail covered......too busy eating. They weighed the berries in at 60 pounds-- really wonder what the kids weighed when they left!!! Needless to say we didn't take all the berries back with us.
After all that berry picking grandpa needed some ice cream.......YUP!!! one major sugar high for a couple of little boys. But they made it all home safe and sound and had water fights to wear off the sugar.

We picked up our campers on Friday morning at 9:30 and headed back for South Dakota. We made sure we had a motel with a pool for the trip home. We finally arrived back on Saturday around 6:00 p.m. It's always good to realize you made it back safe and had no vehicle troubles. God is GOOD!!! And the kids had had a really good time and shared a lot about what they did all week. They all said they would do it again. We saw changes in the kids ---- GOOD changes that we hope will build!!

It is now Wednesday.....have most everything washed and the house is put back together...the lawn is mowed.....weeds are pulled. And --- what fun!!! --- we are enjoying our garden. Eating corn on the cob, zucchini (a different way each night!!), beans, tomatoes....and wondering when those watermelon will be ripe!!

Gary went to help Dwight this afternoon....I had supper ready at 6:00 but he was late - ?? must have a big job...... So I turned all the burners off and waited. Meanwhile -- I went out to pitch some peelings. I wondered what all the racket was in a tree by the garden. Some birds were REALLY chirping!!! Noticed that they were robins - but the chirp wasn't their normal sound. Suddenly I saw what the problem was. A bull snake was wrapped around their nest and was in the process of cleaning out the nest of baby birds. I ran back to the house for my camera. They aren't "nice" pictures -- but then I guess that's what happens in nature.....
Gary finally made it home.......He had stopped by a neighbor on the way home and the visit lasted an hour. :) Our neighbors Dan and Sheri had also been on a road trip and had lots to share.

We will be having a lot of company in the next couple of weeks. We LOVE company so we are looking forward to it. My mom and brother Bill will be the first. They are heading out here for a family reunion on Saturday. Mom does NOT like the long trip but I think Bill talked her in to it.

We are also gearing up for Release Time once again. Not even sure when school starts but it will come soon enough!

Thanks for keeping us in your prayers.
Gary and Barb

Heading for Michigan July 23 - 30

Just a quick note to let you know that we will be heading for Michigan tomorrow morning at 9:00. We will be taking 4 young people from the Lakeview CRC to a Middle School SERV camp in Byron Center, Mi. When we were asked if we would be willing to drive a group of kids to a SERV camp we said "yes"......where are we going?? !!!!!Byron Center, MI??????? Seems rather strange for kids from the Rosebud Reservation to be going there for a work camp. But there are needs everywhere!

We aren't required to stay with the group --- because we are only coming with 4 (5 would have been a different story).....so we will be able to enjoy our friends and family during the week.

We would ask that you pray for-----JaeLynn, Brayden, DonShay and Rebecca. They will be a long ways from home and in a different environment. Also, if you would pray for safe travel coming and going, we would appreciate it.

Thanks!!!!! Gary and Barb

More photos and ........Boo Hoo.........

Once again I put the pictures on "backwards" --- the ones I wanted last are on here first.. Oh well. . . . I will try to get the days with the right story - that's all that matters.


We took our group kayaking on Friday. In a way we made them earn it. The kids had to say "thank you" to the cooks every day at the noon meal. You just don't realize how little we hear those words - close to never. And some had a hard time doing it. But Sue got after them...... :) in her own sweet way she made them do it. We also took note of their attitudes and how well they participated in all of our activities. When some were close to not receiving the two "punches" (on their name tag) ......we would let them know. We didn't have to leave any behind when it came to the kayaking day........however - there were still some that were "on the edge".
We played LOTS and LOTS of silly games!! One was the "banana relay". Team members had to decided who would eat the banana at the end of the "foot to foot relay".....that person had to eat the banana and get to the front of the line first. Oh My!!! One girl and one boy stuffed that banana down their throats in record time and then wanted to do it again!!! Girls won :)

On Thursday we made "J E S U S plaques". The kids did a real nice job. We had to battle the wind wanting to blow our little pieces away but we managed to save them all. Anthony didn't want his picture taken..........??why?? who knows!!
On Thursday we also had the kids decorate aprons for the three main cooks. We all signed our names-with some putting a little thank you note on it too. They are very nice looking aprons (designed by Sue) and the one cook - Vicky - who had received one 3 years ago and said she still had it hanging on display in her kitchen at home.

We had the privilege of Chad V.G. joining us for the week. He's one of those hyper adults that have a blast with the kids. He was a nut and we all thoroughly enjoyed him! He was a bonus. I think he was with a group from Iowa -- in fact I think he is the Youth Pastor. Sad that I don't know all these things for positive!!! ....we just know we had a lot of fun with him.

We had such a good time with my two sisters and Jon and Sue and now (Boo Hoo) they are all gone. It's just me and Gary and Toby. We miss our company already!!! It was a good week as far as the weather goes.....warm to hot --- no rain --- no storms ----.... We did have one gal sprain here ankle during basketball and one little boy got sick and had to be taken home. But considering the numbers....that's not bad.

And speaking of numbers ------- I don't have the total for camp this year..... will have to find out later. I do know that the numbers were "down" from other years. But in many ways - it was for the good. Too many young people and it gets harder to do "quality" ministry.

Thank you so much for remembering us in your prayers!!! And now we just ask that you continue to pray for the children.

Gary and Barb

2nd Day of Prairie Light Youth Camp - 2010

Our Pastor Tom had a problem with his lawn mower this morning....so Gary helped him out with that.... (after telling him that he couldn't get his hands and pants dirty).










Sue had the early morning devotions.....the "Three Crosses". Jesus Redeemed us....one thief Refused Jesus......and the other thief Received Jesus' free gift of salvation.









The boys made wooden "treasure" boxes yesterday and finished them up today. We had a couple of new boys today.....but Gary and Jon had that all figured out and the new boys were able to take theirs home today also.









The girls worked hard on some really pretty "boxes". They get into decorating the tops and there is no stopping them. Standing is one of our helpers, JaeLynn, who is from the Lakeview church.









And this little gal --- so VERY quiet and shy......but what a gorgeous job she did. And this wasn't even her finished product. She went on to more and better. CLASSY!!! Oh....that is her name - Anpo means Morning Star in Lakota.









And then we filled the rest of the day with some very crazy games. The kids loved them all and really participated well. We have a helper - Chad - I think he is from Sioux Falls.....he's a "30 something guy"..... and FULL of energy. We are having a lot of fun with him and he is having a lot of fun with the kids....one of those competitive type that REALLY works hard at winning and having fun at the same time.





We did several versions of the bag race....singles - doubles - triples - backwards - half the group together - the whole group together..... Loads of fun!!!!










We wondered if today was going to be a first......the weather threatened rain...... but it never came. So that meant the roads were good too. It wouldn't be good to have a lot of folks here that have never experienced our roads when they get muddy.....would send everyone into a tizzy!!!!

We really had a good day with the kids that came....but there are still some that were registered that haven't showed up yet. And now it's Thursday (tomorrow) already. So it gets to the point that it would be best if we finish with the ones we have.

Jon and Sue did both Bible lessons today....Jon having the main one after lunch. They are such a bonus to have as helpers. We are BLESSED to have them here with us.

Oh and our dog Toby would say " I am blessed too!!!!" He has a bunch of 12 teenagers on the yard with him and every-once-in-a -while he gets away with a flip flop to chew on. But I really think they are a forgiving bunch........anyway he sure is up there a lot!!

Hope your days are going good. I know that Overisel Reformed Church is having VBS also this week.

We will try to keep you posted!!
Lots of Love to you all!!!
Gary and Barb and for a short time......Jon and Sue

First day of PLYC for 2010

Prairie Light Youth Camp began today - Tuesday. We had the funeral of and elderly gentleman, Bobby Tinant, from our Lakeview Church on Monday and so camp was delayed a day.

It seems to have been a pretty good day for the most part. Our group was smaller than anticipated --- but that is usual for the 1st day so no surprises there. As you can see from the photos the games seemed to be a hit.

The photo in the middle was beach ball volley ball and the other two are a game called "Table Top". We got this idea from a young man in the JDC who had played it at a team building event. We tested it out the night before and if us "oldies" could do it - we knew the younger set would be able to. The little gal in the yellow shirt was VERY small but she did a grand job. Both of these groups held their "pose" for 2 minutes. You start out with everyone sitting on a chair --- and then you pull the chairs out from under them.

















The boys also did a good job with the Table Top game....and it was a tie with the girls in the end.















We made "treasure boxes" today..... sorry :( we forgot about the camera until the games....but we will get some photos of them tomorrow. Tomorrow we will be finishing them.

On Thursday we will be making a J E S U S plaque ---- that one where you have to look at it just right in order to see JESUS. And then we will be decorating some aprons to give as a THANK YOU to the cooks.

It was VERY hot today ---- balloons popped on the hot car..... but we all made it OK.....

We have to admit that we have a couple of kids that are "high maintenance" - if that's the right phrase. But we have found that many times these come around and we have a good time with them. So we ask for your prayers in this.

It's been GRAND to have my two sisters, Ethel and Linda, here for the week. Ethel figured out the problem with not being able to put photos on the blog -- what wonderful timing :) :) :) !!! We are also having a lot of fun with our friends (and helpers for the week) Jon and Sue Pfnister. We will hate to see all of them leave!!

Thank you !!! We know that prayers are being lifted for camp.....everyone arrived safely so right there we had an answer to prayer!!

Gary and Barb and "the crew".

Garage and great helper

We have been blessed in grand ways!!!

We had a wonderful time visiting with family and friends in Michigan --- we were gone for 10 days. We got to help our daughter Marti and her husband Tim move to a new home in Kalamazoo and even got to spend a night in that new home. We were also able to watch Clayton and Sawyer in their swim lessons. Sawyer was not a happy swimmer that day but they really both did great. Then we were also able to enjoy watching Sidney and Austin practice for their Age Group Swim Team. It's fun to see kids excited about something like that and to do so well also.

It's always good to visit with our Overisel Church friends too. You are so supportive and we thank God for each one of you!!

Then back to South Dakota for a FUN Box Social --- a fundraiser for some dear neighbors. Barb S. is battling cancer and this was a way to help them with all the cost of travel and meds and so on. It was a grand success!!! and we were glad we didn't miss it.

On Saturday we received a phone call --- caller had to leave a message...... It was rather hard to understand so we played it over about 3 or 4 times and finally realized it was a young man that we had gotten to know at the JDC. We had told Jeremy that he should come to the Lakeview church when he got out and he said "Oh, I'll be there." Jeremy had gotten out on Wednesday and called to say he wanted to come to church and needed directions. YES!!!! I hoped that my directions were easy to follow....Sunday morning - they arrived before we did. :)
Jeremy, his mom, little sister and younger brother. As it turns out Jeremy and his mom know several of the ladies in our church from school days. Mom said she had been looking for a church in the area and they would be back. The two youngest ones are signed up for PLYC. PRAISE THE LORD! He is faithful!

Having gotten to know Jeremy quite well--- we decided to ask if he would like to come and help with the garage that Gary has been working on. Yes! Jeremy wanted to!! I have tried to post photos and for some reason I can't :( !!! But Jeremy is doing a great job!! Yesterday they put the trusses up and today the siding goes on. A couple of band aids this morning --- but then one was for Gary and 2 for Jeremy. Working with sheet metal --- sharp edges.

There are still things - those last minute things - to do for Prairie Light Youth Camp, but we do feel that for the most part we are ready. Please keep camp in your prayers!! Travel for the volunteers coming from so many places - Michigan, Wisconsin, Colorado, Sioux Falls and other areas of South Dakota, Iowa, Montana ........... But most of all - please remember the children. Pray that God's Good News will go out to them loud and clear, and that camp will be a fun and safe week.

If anyone has an idea why I can't post photos - please let me know. It's very frustrating and will be even more so when camp starts!!!

Thank You once again for your prayers and support is so many many ways.

Gary and Barb