Several things to write about.....

1st ---we received another nice rain.  It was spotty -- we got about 1 and 6/10 inches ...others 7 miles away got 4 inches!!!!   Whatever the amount - we are very thankful!!!  Our lawn is nice and yellow    AUGH!!!!  those nasty dandelions --- but oh well.

The other day - Gary figured out that since we have moved to our present location - 6 years ago......we have had 38 flat tires.  We never take them to town for repair --- that would be pretty nasty on the pocket book over time.  Gary has a tool that he uses ....and then a plug....and that holds up until the next nail gets picked up.   Anyway --- just an interesting fact (I thought) to pass along.    One comment from a local gal ---- "it just comes with the territory."

Now for the good stuff......    We had our Rosebud Worship again yesterday afternoon.  The teens from Sioux Falls came out (anyway half of their normal group) ----- a rather foggy morning - but they had safe travel.. At 2:00 the vans went out to pick up the kids...... I think 40 little ones were counted.  It was a rather wet (not rainy - but misty) day.  They let the kids play outside for a while anyway.  Then I got to start things off with some songs.  We put all the "visuals" (the words of the songs - with maybe a picture here and there - on 8 x 10 paper that gets flipped over as we sing.  That's Gary's job)....anyway we have about 7 songs that we have been singing - so we put those "visuals" upright on a table and then let a child pick which song they wanted to sing.  We have teens up front to help with the motions.  ???The songs??? ----  This little light of mine........Amazing Grace..... The Wise Man built his house upon the Rock.......O be careful little eyes......For God so Loved the World......The B I B L E....and  ....Jesus Loves Me.  They are getting to know them pretty good.    Then the teens had a lesson on  The lost sheep and the Lost Coin.... then a craft (color a shepherd with his sheep and then cotton for the sheep) and then a meal (BBQ and chips and pudding).    Then we take them home.  We (Gary and I) have been taking one family home - they are right on our way out.  So yesterday as we are going home, I tried to come up with a conversation with the 2 little girls (ages 5 and 7 or so).  Knowing they had both gotten to pick a song - I asked the one which song she had picked.  She said....."let it shine let it shine ------ will you sing that for me?  So I sang the song to her and she just sat there and smiled.   JOY   JOY  J O Y.  Made my heart sing!   Makes it all worth while!!

Today we had a "classical appointment" minister for our service - Pastor Sam Kirkee.  He and his family came all the way from Inwood, Iowa...... We had a full church because of the Tinant branding, which always brings in lots of family members and lots of  others that just want to join in on the branding "fun"--- so the singing was fantastic and the message so good ---- it was a good morning!!!

Cool and  cloudy today --- but now the sky is clearing and the birds are busy.   Thank you Lord for a wonderful day!!
Gary and Barb

A little of this and that.....April 15, 2015

 Don's kitchen is almost done.....it's those little things now.....like the window trim and the sink and a couple of shelves.......and so - on it goes.  It's looking really sharp ---  especially if you can look back at what they started with!!

The sawmill is doing a fine job......

Some of those red cedar boards went to Michigan.  Gary's nephew Kent enjoys wood working also and so Gary sent some along with Hazel and Paul (Kent's mom and dad) when they stopped in for a visit.  I believe Kent is "giving these boards some careful thought".  It will be interesting to see what he makes from them!!!

Gary has some shelves in the works for Don's kitchen and then he hopes to make a hat rack for church.  Could be a need to cut another tree down.......   Hat racks in cowboy country are a thing to behold.  At Harvey Gunninks funeral ALL of the hat racks were FULL of cowboy hats - not your everyday sweaty hats -- no no!-- your fancy, going to church hats.....it was a thing of beauty to behold.......I so wish I had a picture of it!!!!

We had Sunday Worship at the Detention Center this past Sunday.....Pastor Paul Mitchell joined us once again.  He always has powerful things to say to the young people.....and we always feel that it means a little bit more coming from a fellow Native.  Paul wanted the kids to think about "procrastination" ----"what are you waiting for"--- to accept Jesus Christ as your Savior.   Later he wanted them to give him their prayer requests....but none were coming (out loud and in person can be hard in a group).  So we suggested that he have them write them down.  In the end we ( Julie, Andee, Debbie, Marlys, Paul and Gary and I) all took one or two requests home to pray over them daily.   I received Ransom's ......I think you will remember Ransom----- he was NOT very interested in anything to do with "church" when we first met him.   His prayer request on Sunday was something new for Ransom.   He said that when he was out this last time he had done some pretty messed up stuff and asked us to pray for the Kingsmen family. I hope to ask him ---- but my thinking is that this is not HIS family -- but perhaps a family that he had hurt.    And so I am passing this on to you ---- asking you to add him and this family to your prayer list if you would.

We will be finishing up Release Time with the Easter Story......the 1st and 7-8th graders still need to hear the Crucifixion and then we will end with the Ascension.  We have had really attentive kids these past few weeks.  It's almost as if they feel the importance of it.  Only three more weeks remain.....we are done at the end of April usually.  May can be a busy time for schools.....getting in those field trips and testings.....  It's been a good year.  We tried something new - with the booklets....but neither Gary nor I were happy with the outcome.  Our thinking is to go back to the Bible Stories and Applications.    I guess book work is too much like school work and we just couldn't get them to concentrate it seemed.   They (all the groups) are attentive when we give a Bible Story .......

On April 25, we will have another Rosebud Worship.  The group of teens from Sioux Falls Christian School will be coming out again. I think these kids have fallen in love with our little group of Native Children .....because it's always the same ones that come out.   That means "recognition" --- they recognize the little ones and the little ones recognize them --- they are like old friends.  It's a good situation!!  We would ask if you would pray for safe travel for them --- it's a good 4 hour (or more) trip just to get here.  And also pray for this part of ministry that happens out here on the reservation.

We are gearing up for Prairie Light Youth Camp.   This year we have two young people from the area helping us with our group.  Andee Beckwith - who goes with us to the Detention Center and then Jason Schubauer  will be with us.  Jason was in our group years ago - probably the 1st year of PLYC --- he is now a Deacon in our church.  We are excited!!! 

We have a branding that we want to participate in ---on May 2, and then we hope to head for Michigan some time in May --- probably towards the end of the month.

See you soon!     Gary and Barb

Oh man! I almost forgot...... We've been working on our back yard.  The fire danger is extreme out here and we had a tinder box behind us....lots and lots of tall dead grass.  We have removed a good portion of it and it's looking pretty good.

 We got Don to come over with his tractor and loader....and then later Gary cleaned up a little more with his (Don's) Bobcat.

Now we pray for rain, rain, rain.......  We REALLY need it!!!
Barb and Gary

PRAISE, PRAISE, PRAISE

I have been doing my devotions each morning in the Psalms.  This morning I read Psalm 35......verse 1 ---- Contend, O Lord, with those who contend with me;  ......and it goes on..... fight against those who fight against me.

Gary and I have been really struggling with 2 of our Release Time groups and ...oh boy!! .... today we would have them both.

After reading that verse this morning, I decided that we would pray that prayer before we began Release Time.   And so we did ---- Gary and I together prayed:  Lord, we thank you that we know that you are in control.   And so we pray, Lord, that you will contend with those who contend against us.  If there is a spirit of restlessness amongst us, we pray that you will remove it, and fill this place with your Spirit of Peace and Quietness and Attentiveness.  In Jesus name we pay, Amen.

That prayer was answered in a powerful way!!!!

Mr. Walkling (Dakota) usually gives the 2nd and 3rd graders a good talking to about - respect and sitting still and listening and so on.  He did it again today.

But we want this day to go down as PRAISE TO GOD WHO HEARS OUR PRAYERS.  The 2nd and 3rd graders sat SO good and listened SO attentively!!!  They asked if they could put their heads on the table and listen that way.   "Of course".   Today's lesson was a long one --- it was the Easter story from when Judas betrayed Jesus --- through the Last Supper -- through Peters' Denial ----and  through the trials.  We were afraid we would lose them half way through ---- but Easter had come up on us so fast  - plus I had a horrible cold so we canceled one week.  We just wanted to get through to the Crucifixion BEFORE Easter was over.

But we totally give God all the glory for today.

We did get a picture of our 2nd and 3rd grade group.....we were missing 2 and then -- where in the world was one of them when everyone else was lined up to go out.   ???? Probably in the bathroom....

I have to add that the 5th and 6th graders were also very attentive and really listened to the lesson.  They let us know that they have had this lesson before -- but we told them that it is the MOST IMPORTANT message that they could ever hear.   That if Jesus didn't come back to life --- then we wouldn't have a story to tell and we wouldn't have any hope!

 I am now a total believer in praying scriptures!!   Thank you Lord for showing us this truth in such a powerful way!!!

Gary and Barb

Sawmill -- a done deal

I just looked back on the "prairie notes" and see that I haven't put any FINISHED pictures of the sawmill.  The other day we cut down a dead pine tree from our yard---- for the 1st test cut.  The sawmill worked quite nicely  -- but a little wobbly.  Perhaps the motor needed more speed .........--- but anyway....Gary was happy --- it worked!!!!

Last night he came in from the shop and said --- I got it!!!!!  What did you get???   He got rid of the wobble.  He had been working on it ---- putting more strength to the framework that holds the motor and sawblades.....and finally last night -- that was it......No more wobble.    He's rather proud of the fact that this sawmill has only cost him about $200.00.  Lots of parts and pieces from here and there and a donated motor...... Jay said - "I haven't used that motor in 10 years -- give it a try."

Today, they (he and neighbor Don) are headed to the Niobrara River area where another neighbor has land and told Gary ----"there are trees that we had cut down.  You can have whatever you want."   We went and checked it out the other day and it was rather disappointing .....not too many that are nice and straight. But there are some -- they will just have to work at it.   He was hoping for more Red Cedar ---- there is one -- but it will be a LOT of work getting it out.

OK ----- back to a letter I was writing.
Barb

Red Flag Warning

RED FLAG WARNING.......
Well ---- in Michigan that would mean ---- not a good day to go to the beach.  The waves are too big and there is a fierce undertow.  You'd probably get sand in your face every time someone picks up their beach towel because it's rather windy.

Well ---- here in South Dakota / Nebraska it means ---- extreme fire danger.  The relative humidity is (I heard on the radio) 15%, it's VERY dry out and then the wind.  Factor all of those in and you have trouble.
We drove past the fire station in Rosebud today and all the trucks were out and ready to take off on a moments notice....anyway that's what it looked like to us.

There was also another bad report on the radio this morning.   A woman in White River was attacked and killed by a pack of wild dogs Saturday morning.  She apparently was walking from a friends house (at 6:30 a.m.) back to her home and was attacked.  When ?!?!? are they going to realize they have to do something about all the dogs on the reservation?!?!

--------------------------------

Enough of that......
We had Release Time this past week.......missed the week before because I had a NASTY cold.  We had the youngest  (1st graders) and the oldest (7-8th Graders). 

 Gary was asking these little ones some review questions.....Taeden has his back to us, then Mahpiya and Kingston and on the other side of Gary is Doris.  They are getting into the songs we are learning and it's fun to hear their little voices sing Jesus Loves Me and This Little Light of Mine ....and others.

There --- that's a better picture --- Mahpiya, Taeden, Kingston and Doris.  They had just made Valentine hearts that said "Jesus Loves Me".

It was so nice out that we got the 7-8th Grade girls though 2 pages of the book on temptation and we sang a couple of songs.....Amazing Grace and Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus (they like the sign language with that one)....and then we let them go outside to walk on our 3 pairs of stilts.  They had lots of fun.

 These three had a hard time getting it to work....they did finally get a few steps off before crashing.  They are Tiana (Ty), Charlee and Taylor.

 Faith was the only one who had the stilts mastered......she walked all over the place.  But then Shallon was missing that day and she could have done the same.  Faith and Shallon  had practice this summer at PLYC.

It was 82 degrees today.  Time to get some summer wear out.  But we know it won't last....however, this week is supposed to be nice too --- in the 60's I believe.  That's not all good.   It's hard on the trees when this happens - they start to bud out and then it turns cold again.    We are enjoying it while we have it!!!

May God Bless you as we prepare for Easter -- that most important time of remembrance of what Jesus did for us.

Gary and Barb

Mountain Lion hunt...... March 2015

Gary and Don have gone Mt. lion hunting - trying to call one in.  They haven't been successful so far.  This year thru a friend of a friend they were invited along on a hunt in Custer State Park ......with dogs.  This is a special tag - that not many people get.  So it was just cool to be invited along.

Luckily there was a small amount of snow in the area and as it would happen......they found one track in the snow - on a rock.   The dogs were off.  As I understand it --- the men (8 of them) were on foot following a pack of 6 running dogs --- after a mountain lion.  One gun in the group.   The sound of the dogs baying told them they  had a lion treed (or at least something in a tree).  So the gun was readied and the men began their approach.  Upon arrival --- the cat leaped from the tree ...into the pack of dogs.  Up another tree......out of the tree......up another tree... (which way is he going NOW) --- with dogs and men on the run behind - following the cat.

Is your heart racing --- mine is!!!!   And be assured - so was the cats and the dogs and the mens.......

As the story was told --- it was hard to get a good shot because of a tree branch right across the cats chest.  But finally --- the shot rang out......  the cat came out of the tree and took off with the hounds on his trail.  He got about 100-200 yds (it's hard to measure when your heart is beating so fast) and there he was with the hounds still at work. 

The pictures tell you a bit more.

Is that a huge paw or what?!?!?!?!?!?       Gary explained to me that the one way to tell if it's a cat track or a dog is that largest pad --- those 2 dimples or whatever you would call them --- are only on a cat.....dogs are smooth.    The lion weighed in at 125 lbs......a 5 year old male.

That was one exciting hunt ---- which I'm sure will be told over and over again.

Barb -- with Gary's approval.

Release time and some photos of the sawmill.....

We had Release Time this past Thursday.   It was the 4,5, 6th grade turn....but when we got to school the one teacher insisted it was the 7-8th grade turn.  We didn't argue --- it really didn't matter.  They are doing the same lesson material --- so we were OK with either group.   The 7th and 8th graders are all girls.  Maurice, the one boy decided he wasn't going to come anymore......???? was it because he was overwhelmed by the female population - we don't know.  They CAN be a giggly bunch  :)

The following pictures were taken Thursday.  One girl was missing.....

                                          Ty (Tiana), Sierra, Charlee, Taylor, Faith, and Caitlyn

They wanted a "silly" picture --- We wanted a "nice" one ---- we were both happy.  We had studied hard in the book about "temptations"..... and now they wanted to play "Ring on a String".....one of their favorites.  They were all done with the String Art craft we had worked on ---- so we just had fun for a while and enjoyed some banana bread.   They're a pretty special group of girls.

Gary is getting closer to having his sawmill a reality. I was thinking I had written about this project --- but I didn't find anything. ??? A sawmill on the prairies of South Dakota ?!?!?!?    Well, it has been a dream of his for years -- to have his own sawmill.  He is just about there.   He found plans in  the "Farm Show" Magazine.  Sent for them....and has been working on it for some time now.  Today he is working on the "runway" - the track for the logs to lay on.  All parts and pieces have come from here and there - a few had to be purchased but many were just  laying around....some came from neighbors.  He is still pondering on the motor.....a neighbor has one - but it weighs about 200 lbs.  -that's a bit much but he might give it a try.   If you can't figure it out - what's what -- give him a call or email him.  He'd love to tell you about that steering wheel....where it came from........and the trouble he had finding two spare tires that were the same diameter....

.............And I have one of my 1st "happy customers".  I told Don S. that I would be willing to refinish his kitchen table.  I didn't get a "before" picture - so I can't really brag much at all.   But it does look a LOT better than it was before.  There were lots of spots where the finish was gone and the wood was turning grey.  I just did a lot of sanding - re-stained it and .....success.  I used a different type of varnish than we usually use.....it's a "rub on".  You just rub it on with a cloth and then there is no worry about brush marks or runs.   Works really nice!!

Winter is still busy at it.  Today was windy and cold.  Tomorrow is supposed to be worse.  We are thankful for a warm home and also the fact that the electricity has stayed on all winter so far.  That's always a plus!!  We look forward to spring and long warm summer days.....but no use in dreaming too hard.

Have a good day.
Gary and Barb