some photos for you to enjoy

A dog box for Don Schellhaus..........
Our friends Sally Kreuze and Carla Kraker----- their husbands are working on the garage door. But they really came to hunt - and they did :)
We don't think Toby really likes to ride on the quad.....rather bumpy and the box doesn't fit him --- he grew too big!!!!
Ross Nagelkirk and Lee Lubbers. Boy Oh Boy! They are doing a number on those prairie dogs!!
Some of the 7th and 8th Graders.....missing Jasper.
And this isn't all of the 5th and 6th graders.....don't remember the reason why they weren't there. Could have been sport physicals.
These are the 3rd and 4th graders......the best singers this year.....are they cute or what!?!?!?!?
Dale and Barb Becksford came with their John Deere Gator - boy did we have fun. Went and explored a HUGE pasture out in the canyons.....had a picnic lunch by a pretty lake too :)
This cat is awesome...goes down the ladder NO PROBLEM!!
Linda and Dave with another old truck from the prairies.
And, of course, pictures from South Dakota wouldn't be complete without a gorgeous sunset!!!

Hope you enjoyed them!!!
Barb

I've been reminded that it's past time to update!!!

October has been a month of lots of company and we love it. It also keeps us busy....but we have still been able to accomplish a lot of things......many of them thanks to the company.

We now have a garage door in the big barn - which houses Garys' work shop. So he figures he won't have to shovel snow out of the barn now when the wind howls. We had about 3 men out in Michigan looking for a used door for us. The opening was 16 x 14 ---- however, that was a hard size to find....so Gary went with a 12 x 14 and put a service entrance in the extra space. My sister Linda and her husband Dave brought it out for us and then left with another old truck. It was a win / win situation. :)

Right now we have two young men from our Overisel Reformed Church - Ross and Lee - out for a Prairie Dog / Pheasant Hunting Trip. They are having a blast - literally :) !!! And the area is minus a BUNCH of prairie dogs!! They have seen several coyotes but haven't connected with one yet.

For a while we were concerned that our dog, Toby, was gun shy. But that's no longer the case. He just has to work through some things I guess. For his first season he's doing pretty good. And anyway --- we are really enjoying being able to have a dog that doesn't have to be in a pen or tied up all the time!!! He roams here free and stays close to home.

Our garden was totally put to rest today. We pulled all of the old tomato plants and vines and leftover zucchini (cow killer size - as Hazel puts it) ......put it all on a pile - covered it with a tarp and hopefully it will be "mulch" by spring.

It's interesting how the pheasant arrive just before hunting season -- where were they all before that???? And the deer are also arriving -- where were they????? We didn't see them most of the summer. Now we see lots of bucks ....so excitement is rising. We have had a wonderful fall ---- such beautiful weather. I suppose it will end suddenly and we will be shivering in the cold. But for now we are totally enjoying the days.

Release Time continues --- seems to be at a fast pace. It seems to be coming easier for us....but if anyone has some "tips" for handling K-2 -- we would greatly appreciate it!! They are the ones that are the most ?? stressful. And, of course, the group that WERE our best singers last year are now that much older and singing is embarrassing to them and they fear looking stupid to their peers.......ssssooooo...

Our time with the JDC kids continues. We were asked by one of the guards if our church would be interested in putting together a Halloween Party for the kids. We asked --- and yes - we had enough people interested in helping. So we have the plans in the making. I think we will have a lot of fun and the guards are willing to help us in any way we need....."just let us know what we can do". How I wish we could take pictures.....but that's out!!

Well, I have visitors that I have to put a meal on for......so on to the potatoes!!! We are having pheasant tonight......

God Bless and Thank you for your interest and your prayers!!
Gary and Barb

Release Time has started

I know that I has missed a lot of news in between posts.....and I apologize. Time flies when you are having fun and I guess that has been the case. Today was really no exception....we had fun.

Release Time has finally gotten underway. We began with eleven K-2. And you guessed it....they are a test. The youngest still haven't learned that you have to SIT at school --- so, of course, they don't do it with us either. However, your heart would have warmed if you could have seen them get real close and circle around Gary as he told the story of Elijah being fed by the ravens......and how the widow's flour and oil lasted for 3 1/2 years!! Their eyes got real big when they thought about the 3 1/2 years!!

We finished the day with the 3rd and 4th graders. There were 3 new girls - so we have a few names to try to remember for next time. We had 12 in this group and both groups could get larger -- we know that the k-2 will and have already planned that we will do the Kindergarten group by themselves......

We had a surprise visitor show up yesterday. My brother Bill flew in from Michigan. We are hoping that the weather will clear (and the wind stop) so that he can fly over the Badlands and the Black Hills as he was wanting to do....and then clear again enough so he can get back home to Michigan in time to go to work on Monday.

I had some medical testing done just recently.....pelvic ultrasound and biopsy.... just because I did a little spotting. So far everything is looking good but have to wait yet for the biopsy results. If those are good --- then nothing more will be done and I will have a clean bill of health. So that would be a prayer request.

The days are getting much shorter and the evenings cool down very nicely -- good sleeping weather. So we know that fall is here. But we really don't look forward to the winter that is ahead of us. Gary said the first winter here was an adventure...but he doesn't really need to repeat that adventure again. We shall see.

Our dog Toby is learning lots of new things. You treat cats with care......hunting is fun, but come when you are called and you "sit" and wait until given the word that it's OK to eat. He's really doing super and we enjoy him a LOT. It should be a fun time when hunting season comes around. He is still very young but is already getting the hang of it.

We learned today that a young man that we got to know in the JDC will be serving 48 years in prison for murder. We pray that Bryan will be in a prison that has a Christian Ministry and he comes to know Christ as his Lord and Savior.

May God bless each one of you!
Gary and Barb

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