Terry Bison Ranch

What an amazing opportunity God gave our S.S. children today!

Last month after the last night of the summer F.R.O.G. program,
one of the little boys went with his grandma to the Terry Bison Ranch where his mom works at the restaurant there.  When he was there a man approached him and asked about his F.R.O.G. shirt and award he was wearing.  This young boy witnessed to the man and told him everything
they had learned about God that summer.

 

It turned out that this man was the owner of the ranch
and because of this boy's testimony, he invited all the S.S. kids
out to enjoy a day at the ranch!

 

 

After church this morning we fed the kids a lunch of hot dogs and chips,

 

 

and then we loaded everyone up on the bus.

 

As soon as we got to the ranch we boarded this neat little train to take us

 out to were the bison where in the field.

 

This was Dan, our host and train driver!

 

 

 

As soon as the train started the kids saw all kinds of different animals.

 

These llama's looked so sad that we did not stop and feed them!

 

We had only gotten a little ways up the track when the train just totally stopped!  Luckily, our church bus driver is a mechanic and had

the train running again in just a few minutes!

 

 

They gave us these huge buckets of buffalo pellets and let the kids throw the pellets out the window at the buffalo and other animals.

 

The kids loved the buffalo and fed them and fed them and fed them!

 

Afterward we headed to the playground where they had several rides for the kids.  Of course on the way Mr. Chandler found a snake,

he always finds a snake on our outings!

 

 

The kids all piled on the merry-go-round as Mr. Mason pushed.

 

Everyone loved the pony rides and carnival rides.

 

After a very long but fun afternoon we loaded up the bus and headed home.  We praise God for giving our kids this awesome opportunity through the witnessing of one of your children!  God is so good!

 



Beautiful Rainy Day

There is just something about a rainy that seems to slow the day down and makes you want to curl up in a chair with a good book, and that is exactly what I did!  This morning I spent extra time cuddled up in my chair reading my Bible.  I just couldn't get enough of God's Word this morning!  What words of peace, words of comfort, words of wisdom I always find that make me feel so calm and peaceful and joyful.  I am in 1 Chronicles right now and love the story of David and his life. 
The more I read it, the more interesting things I find about his life and all the people around him. 

 

 

 

I have been praying for several months about this years children's Christmas play.  I always write my own play but this year have had no idea what to write it about.  Several weeks ago God put the story of a King and his Son into my heart and mind and as I studied this morning I read over Luke 14 and Matthew 22.  It is slowly coming together in my mind of the parable of the marriage feast and the parable of the evil husbandman showing the story of salvation.  I am so excited and started writing a page of ideas and possible songs.  I have a month to put it all together before we start practicing in November.

 

I also spent time today cutting squares for a new Puff Quilt I am making.

 

 

Hopefully I will be able to get everything sewed together in the next couple of weeks as I love to have a new quilt every winter.  If today is any indication, winter will be here before we know it.  It was so chilly today my sweet hubby lighted all the furnaces today so we could have a little heat.  Not looking forward to cold weather but am looking forward to the slower pace winter seems to bring to busy schedules!

 

 



Good Role Models

We had another awesome night in Bible Adventures!

 

 

The kids are loving our theme song of "Wings as Eagles" and sing it

 so much heart.  I talked to the kids about role models tonight and how important role models are and what we should look for in a role model.

 

Lawrence came out at the first and told us that his role model was Paco

 the pig.  He even got down on the ground and rolled in the dirt like a pig

and scratched behind his ear with his foot like a pig.  When Paco told him he had to eat slop like a pig, Lawrence decided he needed to go

 look for another role model, one who didn't eat slop!

 

Our Bible story was about Jesus and how Jesus should be our role model

 for many, many reasons.  Not only is Jesus God, but Jesus loved everyone no matter who they were, He helped and ministered to everyone, He always did what was good and right no matter what anybody else  thought about Him, and He laid down His life for others.  

We can never find a better role model than Jesus Christ! 

 

The kids said their verses and got their prizes for each verse they said.

 

 

Alan finished his first verse sheet tonight and got his bronze medal.  This was Alan's last night with us as his family is leaving Friday for their move to Florida.  Alan has an amazing thirst for God and His Word and always has his verses memorized and is telling others about God and His Son. 

We will definitely miss him!

 

Lawrence came back at the end and told us how he made a new friend, Roger.  Not only does Roger like calculators and math and has a bunch

 of cool pens, but Roger also loves to talk about God and tell others about Him.  Lawrence told us how he wants to talk more about God too so he has decided to hang out with Roger more and let Roger be his role model and learn to tell others more about God too.

 

 

I could not help shedding a few tears tonight as Sarah left tonight. 

She has been such a wonderful friend and I have loved watching her

grow in her relationship with the Lord.  Praying for their family

 as God continues to lead and guide them!

 

 

Flowers and Encouragement

Several weeks ago the Lord put it on my heart to do something more

for ladies in our church.  I prayed and prayed and asked God to show me

 how I could minister and encourage them more.  As I prayed He told me to buy flowers each week and pick one of the ladies and then go visit

with them and give them the flowers.

 

 

This week I knew one of our ladies was really struggling and having a hard time so I bought her flowers and made her a card.

 

I found these cards at Michael's and thought they were so cute. 

I usually do not make cards but thought it would help make the ladies feel special.  I wrote several encouraging Bible Verses in the card and let her know I am praying for her.  I then called and asked if she would be home and she said no.  I prayed and felt God still wanted me to give flowers to this lady so I took them to her work and they were waiting for her when she went into her office tonight.  She called me tonight and told me thank you and said how much the flowers and encouraging words meant to her.  I really think I am going to love this new ministry to my ladies!

 

This morning my husband called me over to the church

to see that the insulation to half the roof was up!

 

They then started to put the roof panels on.  We are getting

 a seamless roof put on where there will be no screws, nails or bolts used

and thus no chance of a leaking roof in the future.  Special clips are used to hold the roof together and to the building frame.  When they put the first roof panel in place they found out that the company had shipped us the wrong roof clips.  Because of this they are unable to work on the roof until the clips come in, which could be days.

 

Sadly, they then took the insulation back off the roof and headed to another job site.  The building was going to be done tomorrow but now it looks like it won't be finished for another week.  We know that

 God is in control of this situation and praying

that He will work everything out quickly!

 

Another Wonderful Sunday in the Lord's House

 

We were so excited to see Delbert and Jemina today! 

Delbert and Jemina used to ride the church bus when they were younger

 but as they became teens they stopped coming.  We had an awesome discussion in teen class with Jemina asking lots of questions about God and Jesus and eternal life.  I am praying for both of their salvation's and praying that the continue to ride the bus!

 

This morning's sermon was so good!  Pastor Chep taught on the good Samaritan but brought out key words out of the verses showing how Jesus is the good Samaritan.  We also had several visitors this morning, two families and a single man.  It was so good to see the church so full!

 

 

One of our young men got baptized this morning. 

Zach got saved several months ago and wanted to follow his salvation with believer's baptism.

 

While we were in church the guys finished another side of the building

and put another door in the open end.

 



We had several visitors again tonight and our little building

was stuffed full! 

 

Chandler and Saraina dedicated baby Keith tonight and I cried as the members of our church gathered around them and formed a hedge around them and promised to pray for them and help them
as they raise Keith for God.

 

 

We also said goodbye to a very dear family.  Wayne and Sarah are one

 of our military couples and they are moving to Florida this week. 

Sarah had just gotten saved two years ago right before we moved here and with many prayers we saw her husband Wayne saved last year.  We also got to see their son Allen accept Jesus as his Lord and Savior. 

We have watched this couple grow in the Lord and dedicate their lives to Him and although we love them and hate to see them go, we know that God has a wonderful plan for them where ever they go.

 

Of course we couldn't have a going away party
without some great food and fellowship!

 

 

With our little church growing so much we hardly had room for everyone!  Almost all the kids and few adults escaped outside to find a somewhere to sit.  We will be so happy to have the new sanctuary up and finished and the old sanctuary remodeled to a new fellowship hall!

 

Praising God for another wonderful Sunday in His house!

 

 



Baking for the Building

Several of our ladies have wanted to help give to the building fund

but because they are older or are stay at home mom's, don't have a way to make extra money.  One of our sweet ladies approached us and asked if she could buy a table at a craft fair in her town.  She then asked all the ladies to bake goodies for the sale.

 

All the ladies out did themselves and made cookies, cakes, bread

and homemade chocolates!  We sold a lot of goodies and of course all the profits from today go to the building.

 

 

Miss Nel rented the booth space for us and had her own booth next to it.  She has a jewelry business she has named "He is > than I."  She makes the most beautiful necklaces and bracelets! 

We had so much fun talking to everyone that came by and and talking and laughing with each other.

 

When I came home I was so surprised to see all the progress they had

made on the building today.  It is going up so fast!

 

 

They finished one side and put the doorway

in for one of the emergency exits.

 

I then got to watch as they put the insulation and siding
up on one of the ends.

 

 

We were surprised to hear they would be back early tomorrow morning

but my husband just invited them to take their lunch break during

church time and come join us for church services.  





 

 



Banana Jam

There is nothing better than a peanut butter and banana jam sandwich.  

So when I was asked to donate to a bake sale this weekend,

I automatically thought of banana jam.

 

 

First I smashed up 4 cups of banana's and added 6 1/2 cups of sugar and 1/4 cup lemon juice and brought it to a boil.  Actually I doubled the recipe, something I will never do again without a bigger pot.  When the jam started boiling it start overflowing and we could not stop it!  Saraina and I were laughing our heads off as jam went everywhere.  As we were trying to get everything under control again, Saraina spilt jam down her and onto the floor.  As she rushed to wash it off her toes Mason came in and stepped in the pile of hot jam.  Luckily no one was hurt

 and it was so funny but such a mess!

 

After it was boiling we added the pectin and boiled it the required time and then poured it into our prepared jars.

 

 

After a water bath we managed to make 12 jars of banana jam for the bake sale and of course I put a couple of jars away for ourselves!

 

We also made my mom's yummy peanut butter popcorn. 

 I used the canner and filled it with popcorn.

 

For the popcorn I mixed 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1 cup maple syrup

and 4 Tablespoons butter.  After boiling it to soft ball stage I added 1/2 cup peanut butter and 1 teaspoon vanilla and then poured it over the popcorn and mixed it well.  It is so good!

 

 

First thing this morning the guys put up the first roof rafter.

 

Before they left for the day, all the roof beams were on and the frames for the doors were finished.  It is amazing to watch it go up so fast!

 



Of course, what would my day have been without a little shopping! 

One of our Sunday School teachers asked if we could get her a dry erase board for her room and we were thrilled when we found these big dry erase boards for $2.48.  I had a dollar off coupon too, so we paid $1.48 for each board.  All in all I spent about fifteen dollars for 3 dry erase boards, 5 pkgs of dry erase pens, 2 reams of construction paper, 2 things of Post-It notes, 3 binders and 12 boxes of Kleenex. 

Praise God for letting us find such great clearance deals

 to stock the church with!