A cowboy husband

This is the newest addition to our "herd". We now have one cow, one yearling heifer, and one newborn heifer. Moving right along with our "ranch". Ha :)

We started out the day with moving pairs for my cousin Dwight. It was actually hot this morning. But this afternoon for the branding at the Vander Wey ranch it turned cold and windy. But that didn't dampen the spirits. It was so much fun watching Gary drag some calves out for branding. It was totally different --- getting on a "not too cooperative horse" and trying for a real calf. The saw horses were much more cooperative - but he did accomplish what he set out to do. Hope the video is watchable. Otherwise, this snapshot is good. I was busy too...... busy with the camera - yes - but I also did all the "nose shots"....(should ask just what the proper term is for that). This afternoon we did a small portion of the Vander Wey herd and tomorrow we will finish with a much larger herd.
















Now ---- what is happening with Release Time and the JDC. We will only have 2 more weeks of Release Time. We just did the Easter story of Jesus great sacrifice.....and we will finish with the Ascension story. The kids listen so attentively and remember hearing the story last year and also at Prairie Light Youth Camp. So the message is getting to them.

There are about 20 kids at JDC right now, so we do the lesson twice. This past Thursday was great. You just can't figure the kids out. Lately the singing had really been poor. This time almost all the boys were singing - it was great. We had one girl pray to receive Christ - with Julie L. (as we did the next group Julie went with Chelsey and helped here accept Christ as her Savior). We will meet with another girl - Serena - on Sunday - she indicated that she also wanted to accept Christ into her heart. So once again we are encouraged.

We do have a prayer request. Riley --- a young man that has been in JDC for a very long time and most of the time spent in MAX. Riley has a temper that will flare up all of a sudden (never in our presence!). We weren't told what happened - only that it was "bad". Riley has been sent "away for 2 years" according to some of the other boys. We had been visiting with Riley on Sundays and he has such a good mind to memorize Bible verses. He could remember Psalm 34:1 - and recite it for 3 weeks in a row. We feel real bad that this has happened and yet it doesn't surprise us. We just hope that this new place (someone said the words "boot camp" ---?? we don't know that for sure)......will be able to help Riley!!! I'm rather doubtful that there will be any Christian influence there.....but we can hope!!

We will be back in Michigan around May 14 -- and stay for a little over a week. Looking forward to seeing our family again -- and good friends.

Love to all,
Gary and Barb

Winter is Back!!! :(

Last week on a beautiful sunny day we sat out on our back deck and watched wave after wave of Sandhill Cranes fly over. There were 1,000s of them. It looked as if they were gliding on the winds.......their wings were not flapping. We decided that they find air currents and air thermals (is that the right term???) Anyway, they would glide along and then begin to circle and rise up and up....we figured they had found a current that would take them back up to the higher altitudes.

The other day as I was driving to my cousin Dwight's ranch -- I suddenly spotted a flock of Black Birds....and along with them were some of the Yellow Headed Black Birds --- If you have never seem them you are missing out!! Bright yellow heads and the rest of their body is black. Again we are amazed at God's creativity!!!

This picture is kind of dark.....but you do get the picture.....winter came back!!!! This is our front door. A batch of the wet stuff fell off the door and onto the floor when the door was opened. They predicted right this time. We got about 5 to 7 inches of the white stuff overnight. But they were wrong about the wind. It is windy today but not the 60 mph that they talked about. As I am writing this - the sun is shining through some light clouds. Tomorrow it's supposed to be in the 40's . This was much needed moisture for the grasses and hay lands.....so no one is doing much complaining. Besides--- we know that SPRING will win!

We are doing Easter lessons for the Release Time group and at the Detention Center. Gary gave the lesson of Jesus' entry into Jerusalem for the Passover Feast. This past Thursday went much better at the JDC. We seem to have the group split up in the right way. One young man really never filled out a prayer request sheet.....and then all of a sudden he started writing one out. We were very happy with that. He has been there a long time now. But then suddenly the requests stopped - he wouldn't even take a sheet of paper. We decided that one of the new (repeaters) boys was the cause. And now that we have separated the boys into 2 different groups --- he is once again filling out a prayer request. Could it be that they are in opposing gangs?!?!

We will be heading for Michigan mid May. My mother turns 90 this year and that is cause for a celebration party. Our son Rick will be back from the Netherlands also for a short visit....and then he will head to Thailand. He will be teaching at the Mahidol University just outside of Bangkok.

Thanks for your support and interest!!
Gary and Barb

Got some photos to share :-)

For those of you who know what the Lakeview CRC basement looks like you will realize that the big set of cupboards is gone. And the piano is waiting to be moved through that door and up the steps. The walls are in bad need of repair and it's still in the "thinking it out" process. The piano is going to a young family from church. It does need a little work but I think they will enjoy it for years to come.




This is the shelf Gary made for the tv that is in the nursery. We used some of the leftover ceiling boards to trim it. Looks pretty good.....and we hope it will serve the purpose.










Today we moved 16 more pairs. This little one needed some encouragement. However, not as much as another one I had to contend with. We got the little heifer calf paired up with her mama and tried to head to the east toward the gate. Well - leave it to a girl - the little rascal decided to take the senic route.....and then when she got to the fence it looked like she would try to go on through it. Mama just followed along behind her. I had to get off ole' Buck to move her in the right direction quite often. As you looked at the calf from behind --- the ear tag read 21P - mama's number. Well, if you look at it from a distance it looks like zip....hope I don't encounter
too many more "zips"!!!!!

Sometimes you just have to get off and wake the little guys up. I don't have a problem getting off my horse with the Herefords.....but those Angus.....that's another story. And I have HEARD too many stories - horror stories---- so I stay put on my horse and so far it has worked. Gar isn't as skidish about that as I am.....but I do a lot of chewing on him when he does it.

It was foggy all day today and as we headed back to the barn with the horses we knew we had finished just in time. The mist was starting to blow through the field. We had made it without getting wet.

We are tired tonight --- but it was a good day!!!

Hope you enjoy the photos.
Gary and Barb

PLEASE keep praying......

Spring is in the air.....and some kids have "checked out of school". That being the concensus from one school teacher......we felt the mood today at Release Time. Our usual "favorite" 3rd and 4th graders had ABSOLUTELY no sit in them today. They usually sit through the Bible Lesson very nicely and then come the wiggles and giggles. Well --- today it was nothing but wiggles and giggles from the whole group -- especially the girls....... AND SO -- we decided that there was nothing to do but bring them back to school early. Hate to do that to the teacher.......... But sometimes you have to let them know that you do mean business.

The kindergartners were actually great today. So what made that change I don't know!!!

Late afternoon today has really turned nice!! Wind has died down and the sky is mostly sunny. Yesterday was nice too.....plus we got our "horse fix" in. Gary and I moved 16 pairs (cow/calf) out of the one pasture and into one next door. That is not as easy as it sounds. Mama doesn't like you pushing her and her baby.......so you go slow and just hope they keep moving. One little feller got tired and laid down.....mama stood her ground beside him. And then we almost paired up the wrong cow and calf. Luckily they were both putting up a resistance --- so it made us check a little closer. WRONG!! "Who paired those two out??!!" ....not me....not me..... But we did get the job done and I think we did OK. Butts were a little sore after being in the saddle for 3+ hours.

We have a work night at church tonight (ladies).....going through some "stuff" that needs sorting and tossing. Gary is working on a shelf to hold the tv in the nursery.....the tv that allows the parent or nursery attendant to watch the message from upstairs.

Keep praying for us ----- THANK YOU!

Gary and Barb

Bumbed!!!!!!!!!!

Well --- we were going to have company this week ---- Holly, Dennis, Clayton and Sawyer. We couldn't wait! Had lots of things planned for Dennis to get involved in. However, Holly got really bad sick - pneumonia along with other nasties before that --- so we are lonely here!!!! You could lift up a prayer for healing!!! She is improving -- but that won't get them here for a while - Clayton is in school and this week was spring break for them.

So we are trying to stay busy. We had a big day at church Saturday. A bunch of members came to paint in the basement and accomplished tons!!! It is looking sharp. Gary and I worked on getting the window up in the sanctuary repaired and that is looking good -- MUCH better than duct tape!! Now we (hopefully Vern and Gary) have to do some major repairs in the kitchen room and that should about be it. Oh yeah! The ceiling in the kitchen will be getting a coat of paint. I did take some "before" pictures -- so that will be fun to look back on.

Today looks like a very nice day - from the living room window --- the sun is shining - there is a breeze -- some clouds floating by. BUT -- it is really quite cold out there. Not a real nice day to be outside. Gar is in his workshop with a "small" tractor repair job. I am baking bread (actually buns). And then I don't know what will happen.

Calving is still in full swing. It is so sweet to watch those little baby calves running and jumping around in the fields. Nothing cuter than a baby animal. Speaking of baby animals.....our cat will be due in short order....how many do you want ??? :) :) :( :(

I will try to put some pictures on the blog at a later date --- of the church beautification. But I first have to download them onto the computer.

And now for a PRAISE!!! Yamni (pronounced yom in ee -- means 3rd in Lakota) prayed to receive Christ yesterday. Yamni's prayer request from Thursday was "I want to get Jesus in my heart". So when he came in to our little area ----- we visited for a short time and then brought up the subject. Yes - he still wanted to do that. :) And we gave Michael M. a Bible......he is catholic and was reading one of the Bibles in his Pod area....but wanted one that "is mine". We had some really neat conversations with 3 of the young guys yesterday. It was fun to hear that another group came in on Saturday and told them about Jesus and played basketball and soccer with them. Trey said "they just preached to us - that was boring. " Well, I said "don't WE preach to you?" "You tell stories." SWEET -- Jesus told stories (parables) too. We had some good laughs with Trey.....and sometimes Trey is so "down hearted".

Thanks for your interest in what we are doing out here. We really appreciate your prayers!!

Gary and Barb

SUNSHINE BIBLE ACADEMY - Mega Teen 2011

First thing ---- take note - I had the name wrong. I said we were going to the Sunshine Christian School.....well..... the proper name is Sunshine Bible Academy. This picture shows you the cafeteria. The food was GREAT!!! If you went away hungry --- it was your own fault!! Gary is sitting with Ethan Hammer -- a young man from our church who is in his 2nd year at Sunshine.




This was my bedroom for 2 nights. I'm sure you have all been there - done that. The good ole' air mattress on the floor. Not bad if they stay "aired". Well mine didn't! It lasted most of the night -- but by morning I was about 1/2 inch from totally touching the floor.

I shared the room with 3 other ladies and 4 teenage girls. They talked and giggled until a little after midnight the 1st night and then discovered that the basement had LOTS of Veggie Tale movies --- so they moved down there the 2nd night and we didn't hear a thing :).

Gary found his bed in the chapel....on a church pew --- kind of narrow and not the best place to lay your head. But I think it worked out about as good as mine did. He too shared it with several men and boys.....and of course, boys are just as yakky as girls!








The gal on the right is Rebecca - from Lakeview church. When we were asked where we were from - I said Lakeview...... The gal on the left of this picture - Erika - sat up and said "I was so sure I knew you from somewhere!" Our neighbors are her Grandpa and Grandma. What a small world. Erika and Rebecca and two other gals hit it off with a bang! Never a dull moment!!






We had 5 different sessions in the gym. The theme was "Media Talk 101". Discussed how the devil uses the media --- our cellphones, ipods, computers, etc -- to get us away from God. To mess with our minds.....with advertising on tv .... and so on. (You can check them out on www.mediatalk101.org). It was very well done and we hope and pray that the young people (as well as us "older folk") will see this and apply the message to our lives.

This is a photo of the Praise Team (Ethan in the dark shirt). First class music and musicians!!


After the "talk" we would break up into small groups to discuss a little bit more what the speaker had talked about.

We really don't know how many kids were there in attendance --- but groups came from all over the state. Rapid City ......Mobridge....... Platte - to name a few.

The Academy is located out in the middle of the prairies about 13 miles from the small town of Miller, South Dakota. The school has been there for many years. I didn't take note of just when it started - but did see pictures of classes from 1967....... It is a boarding school....with only a few kids who "drive in". There are young people from South Korea and Ethiopia (possibly 12-15). They aren't there for just a year ....or a couple of months..... but will spend their entire high school years at the Academy....going home maybe 2 times a year.
Justin is one of the young men from South Korea. We had been watching the Ping Pong Tournament --- which he was participating in......and then we watched as he "finished" the Rubix Cube (however you spell that) in no time flat. We were sitting there grinning at him and he came over --- pulled up a stool and began to tell us his "history". His grandparents were Buddists....but "my father would sneak out to go to Christian Church ( he would get spanked! )" And he is so glad that his father hung on to his Christian Faith. He grew up in Texas while his father attended a University there....and then moved back to South Korea. So he speaks very clear English and of course his own countries language. He is very proficient in Math ...hopes to become a missionary.

We also met another gal - Lavonne. She sat down by us for lunch and what a wonderful time we had visiting with her. She grew up and lives in Murdo, SD which is directly north of us - on Hwy I-90......her parents are ranchers and she is now married and has a ranch with her husband. A wonderful Christian Gal whose sister attends Sunshine.

Then --- it gets even better....we had seen a couple in the cafeteria.....and the gal had on a "Young Life" sweatshirt. So we knew that we had to touch base with them....just because we've been to a couple of Young Life Camps and think they are GREAT. ---- so questions came to our minds.......Where, when, what. Well get this!!! They worked at the Timberwolf camp in Northern Michigan. That is where Steve and Mendy Pate worked.....Steve and Mendy are from good ole' Overisel Reformed --- our Michigan church. "Oh Yes!!!!" they knew Steve and Mendy --- worked right beside them. This couple is now working at the Sunshine Bible Academy!!

It was such a wonderful, uplifting weekend. The discussions for the weekend were on the media......and we didn't see any televisions in the lounge area....the cellphones don't work very good out there on the prairies...... Many of the parents are doing without their "ranch helpers". Parents from across the world see this as the place they want their kids to spend 4 of their teenage years attending. The staff was wonderful. We see God at work there. :) :) Maybe we will have to see about getting our Grandkids to attend -- wouldn't THAT be something!!

We came home to about 2 inches of snow...and an inch more overnight. So winter is still trying to hang on....but we know Spring will WIN!!! As I write -- it is thawing out. :)

Gary and Barb

MEGA Teen - March 25-27

This late afternoon (Friday through Sunday morning) we will be heading to the Sunshine Christian School in Miller, South Dakota. We are taking 3 young people......2 from Lakeview Church and 1 from Valentine. Rebecca, Brayden, and Colby The students who attend the school are helpers......Brayden's brother Ethan attends Sunshine so we will get to spend time with him also.

They will be talking with the kids about how they use their electronics.......ipods, computers, cellphones....and etc. Hopefully we (Gary and Barb) will get something out of it too and perhaps be able to use it as we talk with the young people at JDC and Release Time.

We are having a dreary foggy day...with predictions of snow this evening. So we pray for safe travel.

Will report on this event when we get back.
Gary and Barb