Release Time is going great....

We only have 3 boys in our 7-8th grade group in Release Time. There were some who said they wanted to come but never got their permission slip in...... These 3 (one new this year) are very attentive, pleasant young men.....so we are enjoying them. After the lesson and verse we have been going over the Lords Prayer. We finished with the "AMEN"- so be it. We have now started on learning Psalm 23 - it went so well with the lesson for this week....I Am the Good Shepherd. So we will be working on learning Psalm 23 until the end of the year.

This past week we had Release Time on Wednesday because we had a funeral in Lakeview CRC on Tuesday. Tim Walkling was a highly respected man with wonderful Christian morals and he will be missed. We were so happy that school allowed us to have our meeting on Wed. this week.

Phillip is hard at work on his bridge. One young man :) :) just talks too much ---- we hope he gets his done in time!!!











The 5th and 6th graders are our biggest group. It is so wonderful to see everyones eye on you as you give the lesson. It was a wonderful story and one I am sure they will remember. They enjoy singing too and it's fun to hear them lift their voices !!! ------- the 3 boys did good this week too after a little encouragement with "cake for snack"...sing for your cake. :)

This is a photo of one of the puppet heads. They were busy painting and putting the hair on
this week. Next week they will have to pick out the clothes --- and the "store" is in limited supply..... (I have sewn enough of those little
things and they will have to be happy with the selection......).

This is a shot of Tyre with his puppet. He got a late start (missed one week)...but caught right up with everyone. Some kids want more help than others. Tyre got his hair and hat on without any help!!....and he was pretty happy with his job.






We still are having a mild winter. I think I would be safe to say that we haven't had even 5 inches this year. It is enjoyable in it's own way --- clear roads, clean yards, no need for boots, nice temperatures.....however, WHERE IS THE SNOW --- I would really like some. Sorry folks but I do enjoy winter.

We are having computer troubles.....computer man says "oh yes! you need more RAM." Don't have a clue what that means but after accomplishing this update, we will be taking it in for some much needed work. It is so slow right now.......

We will have JDC tonight with the Good Shepherd lesson. We are looking forward to sharing this message with the kids. Last week the singing was absolutely amazing....we shall see what this week brings.

Gary and Barb

Lighter side -

We have a dear friend who was in a nasty car accident - just before Thanksgiving. She is still in a brace and getting sick of it. But she is also in a lot of pain and discomfort. So Jean---- our hope here is that you will get a few smiles from these photos and we are also asking all of our friends out there to lift up a prayer for you for healing. :) :) :)
They ALL want to get in the picture :)
Austin and Trenton with Mike in the background. Then Colton in the back, Haedynn (I'm afraid I probably spelled that wrong - she is Linda and Dave's grand daughter), Clayton, and Brennan up front.




Two of our sweet grandchildren.....Sidney and Sawyer - cousins. They are the best! :)










On looking through photos at mom's house we found more pictures of our family members with their tongues sticking out!! Could publish a book! So -- this one was at Thanksgiving time - 2011.


Holly, Linda and Dave






Some people just refuse to have their picture taken!!! I got them good a second later --- they thought I was done - but I wasn't. :)


Holly, Gary, Dave Nysse and (young) Dave Nysse









Our Christmas photo of me and Gary this year was out in these sunflowers - lots of you received that one ---- here is one that was just rather spontaneous....... :) :)








This is a picture of the barn at our place (now Holly and Dennis' place) in Michigan. Looks like the sky is on fire --- beautiful sunrise. The picture is in rather bad shape but I scanned it into the computer --- and it's still pretty cool.

You should see that barn now......unbelievable what Dennis and Holly did remodeling it. They are ready to rent it out for wedding receptions!! :)




Found this picture in my mom's things. This is our family at Sleeping Bear Dunes in Upper Michigan. This was the spot for our summer vacations for YEARS --- Glen Lake. Great memories!!! Nice looking family :) :)








Oliver is now crawling --- actually he is almost walking --- but here - poor Yuki, the cat ....looks like he's ready to take him on!!!












This is Rick --- eating some --- YES!!!! --- deep fried worms.....next he ate some locust.......



He said that even the local Thai people that were selling these looked at him like he was crazy.

Just something he felt he had to do on his new adventure in Thailand.









Here is Toby -- a BIG dog with a BIG!!!!! stick. Better hope you aren't in his pathway when he comes running through with that thing in his mouth......although he really can't run that awful fast with it.

I think that is enough of showing off our families goofy side. Hope you had fun.

Barb and Gary

What a way to start the New Year - 2012

We had a wonderful meal at Dwight and Marvanne and their family and then we headed out to visit a few kids at the Detention Center. We visited with 6 young men and they were very positive visits. Sometimes we go away from the Center and just shake our heads - what a mess a person can make of their lives....... Well their lives are still a mess but these guys gave us hope. One that we hadn't visited with for a long time- James- had lost his Bible (he had prayed to receive Christ on July 14 when Bruce and Glenda were here with us).... so we gave him a new Bible and pointed out a couple of passages - showing him how the Bible can teach us how to live.....Colossians 3:8 and Titus 3:1,2. He says - they really say that ??? --- yes - so we showed him the same passage out of a couple of different versions. :) He asked how long Gary and I were married....almost 44 years...."for real?!". :)

(names of these young men have been changed to protect them)

Troy came in next ---- we had gotten to know Troy since before he prayed to receive Christ May 2, 2010. Sometimes he would come in to visit so down in the dumps that we would finally ask him if he just wanted to go back to his pod - "yes". Other times -- he was seeing "spirits" (little flames of fire - and we DO believe him) - "scared the begeebeeies out of me"...other times he talked about fighting people with baseball bats :( told him he could kill someone doing that..... Today was wonderful. He came in with a little New Testament in his pocket (one that we had given someone else and he found it in the back). "Want to show you something"..... he had found that the Lord's prayer was in Luke AND in Matthew. So we talked about how the Gospels have the same story but in different form. He then (and this is the best part) asked us to give him a passage to read. So I told him to read the book of Colossians (4 pages) and Gary told him to read James, and then we gave him about 6 different verses to look up....writing these down in the back of his little Bible - so he wouldn't lose them. He told us about working for a rancher for about a month this fall and "loving it". Said he was quitting the gang because all it did was get him into trouble and break him away from his family. He also talked about getting his tatoo's removed-- gang symbols. Could bring dire consequences from gang members - but we'll pray for him. He will be turning 18 on May 26, 2012 and has a long way to go to finish high school but says "I can do it!". It was an amazing visit - We gave God the praise with Troy in our prayer at the end of his visit.

And then - you gotta love Lyle :) :) He is such a talker -- and always a big smile on his face. He and his brother are hoping to get out in the custody of their Auntie. So we talked about showing her respect and obeying her when she told them to do something. "oh yeah - he says - I'm more scared of her than I am my dad or mom. :) I don't know why but I am".

Two of them -- only 16 - but with children -- and the mothers are giving them grief....like moving away and taking the baby with them. This upsets these boys but what can they do......so we try to talk with them about these situations .... And so when those questions come up like "how long you guys been married??".... We try to talk about maturing....and not making babies but waiting ---- Not what we like to talk about - but we try........ We are NOT Counselors and to come down on them hard isn't going to make them change.

With some guards - when it's 4:00 visitation time is done and we are sent on our way. But today - the guards saw that we had 2 more boys on our list. One was eating but would be done in 10 minutes or so - "would we wait"....SURE. And then - one more --- he was one the phone -did we want to wait. "Well - he has never said yes to come to visit with us - does he want to". "I'll go see". So back down the hall way. ........ "No.". Decided it was good exercise for the guard - he's a little heavy. :) So we left the Center today at 5:00.....smiling and lifted up.

Now we are having a cup of hot coffee --- it is COLD out - but no snow.

Gary heads for north of Pierre tomorrow with neighbor Don --- a trailer to be looked at - and hopefully copied. So Gary can be busy this winter.

That's all for now.

May God bless each and every one of you for the prayers you lift on the behalf of these young people and us. Thank You!!
Gary and Barb

Remembering MOM

EDNA and WILLIAM VERDUIN on their wedding day. (I am not the "good" daughter --- I don't remember their anniversary - Help me out Linda!!) Aren't they a good looking couple!!!!

It's past time for an update --- and so I apologize.

I'm sure you know by now that mom passed away on Dec. 1. She had turned 90 on May 26, 2011 and we had had a fun party to celebrate that event.















We also got to spend Thanksgiving 2011 with her and (most of) our family. That is when I decided it was important to take a special picture of me and mom. Our daughter-in-law had once asked me if I had a picture of her and her mom --- she didn't have one and now her mom was gone. I will treasure this photo.....yes I know - I look a lot like her. :) :)

Mom was a wonderful "mom".....always had good advice ---- and I went to her for advice often. Now who will I go to ?! - I suppose I have to rely on myself now......not good! Her mind was sharp and remained strong to the end. I was often amazed at the things she could remember.

Because she was in her own home she got to know her great grandchildren --- it's more fun to go to Great Gramma Dine when she is in her own place and still making those yummy cookies and cake and cinnamon rolls ---- then in a nursing home. Mom spent close to two months in a nursing home for therapy after her first "leg problem". But was back home once again. She even baked buns (with Bills help I"m sure) the Monday before she passed away. Her hands weren't working the best anymore but she was determined and happy with what she could do.

We thank everyone for all the prayers lifted for our family. There is an empty spot once again in our lives --- but God is good!!! We have the assurance that mom is rejoicing with her Lord in heaven and celebrating with her loved ones that have gone on before her. We know we will see her again........

We have a "vacation time" from Release Time -- the kids have two weeks off for Christmas vacation. We will see them again on January 3. We continue to see the young people at the Detention Center --- Some get to have a "temporary release" to be with their families over Christmas --- but others (on the naughty list according to one of the young men) have to remain at the center. So we hope to go visit with them on Sunday - Christmas Day. It was so good the other night ---- Julie was asking "review questions"....going back several weeks ---- way back to Zechariah being visited by the angel.... Two of the boys sitting in the back were giving the correct answers -- amazing one of the other boys. Sergio looked back at Mike and Justin and said "you guys must be reading your Bible more than I do!!" (and Sergio usually know the answers!!). Warmed our hearts !!!! Those kind of things are what keep us loving our time with these kids.

We are back in South Dakota for Christmas having spent about 2 weeks in Michigan after the funeral. It always seems more "like Christmas" when there is snow on the ground and everything is pure and white..... no such thing for this year. But who complains about a sunny 50 degree day in December ?! It's not fun being "alone" on Holidays.....but we have had two invites for Sunday dinner -- so we are well taken care of. The tree is rather bare underneath - but we have all we need ...........

Thanks again for all of your prayers and words of encouragement.
Gary and Barb

Please pray for our family

We will be heading back to MI asap....... Mom is failing and so we would ask for prayers for safe travel for us as well as others...... Tim (Marti's in laws) parents are traveling from the Carolinas because Oliver is sick and they will help with him so Marti and Tim can be with the family.

Everyone that can be there - is there.... Rick is in Thailand - but it would be possible to leave right now.....school will not start until Dec 16.

We will be traveling in the dark....and that is NOT our favorite time to travel.

Pray for alert minds and deer that stay in the woods and other drivers to be sane!!!!

THANK YOU!!
Gary and Barb

Great Thanksgiving..........but prayer request too.

HI everyone, Well, we had a great trip back to Michigan to see our family. We did end up in a garage with an alternator going out on us. But once again God was right there directing...... We had stopped in Walcott, Iowa for gas - that has been a usual stop for YEARS. Anyway, when Gary started the car again - it made a horrible whining noise. So we went over to the truck service area (This is Iowa's biggest truck stop)......but they, of course, only worked on trucks. But they wrote down a phone number and directed us one mile away. We drove in - the owner came out - took a listen and a look -- and said "we'll be with you in a minute". And so once again we were blessed in our breakdown!!!!

We had our Thanksgiving dinner on Friday evening in Holly and Dennis' totally remodeled barn. My mom said it was perfect......lots of room...good lighting....warm furnace.....and no steps for her in the wheelchair. Mom really looked good and enjoyed herself.

On Sunday morning we gave an update to our Overisel Reformed church family and then at about 12:00 noon we headed back for South Dakota.....and had a good trip --- no delays!!!

However,..........and here is the prayer request. On Monday evening my sister Linda called to say that they had taken my mom to the hospital. I don't remember if I put anything on this "blog" about my mom's one leg and the "wounds" she has (sores that came from excess water and then splits in her skin as the water leached out)......but I think I did. Anyway - now it is her other leg ---- red and sore to the touch. The doctors are hopeful that they got to it in time and that antibiotics will protect her from getting the open sores like she still has on the other leg.

So if you could lift up my mother in prayer --- we would appreciate it!!

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On another note....... We have had a long and good conversation with Rick in Thailand....the floods are receding and he has moved from the little island - back to the University (he is not in his apartment yet).....but staying on campus. He said he couldn't work any longer without internet. He has really appreciated the "extended vacation" (school was delayed due to the flooding) because he has had more time to prepare for his classes which will begin (I think) on December 19 or there about.

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Oh YEAH!!!!! We came back with the good ole' usual Michigan cold - so we are both sniffling and blowing and vicking and all that disgusting stuff. Wish we could figure that one out!!!! It's a never fail thing.........

Take care and more later.............
Gary and Barb

Prayer Request

If you haven't heard -- most of Thailand is suffering from severe flooding. It has finally reached the Bangkok area. Rick is in a small town just outside of Bangkok. We had been hearing from him on a regular basis -- telling us about his flood "adventures". But the last time we heard --- his water was dirty looking and he had some diarreha (sp??) problems.....and then we didn't hear from him again. There was some concern on my part. But today we got an email from him -- he has moved to a place where student monks live. Everything around them is waist deep with water -- but they are on "sort of an island". He arrived there by boat. It's good to hear that he is being taken care of......an answer to our prayers. So if you would --- keep our son Rick in your prayers - he is on the exact opposite side of the world from us here. If you didn't know ----- he is teaching at the Mahidol University - Comparative Religions and more.

Thanks!!!! Barb and Gary