By Larry Reinhold

September 2002 has left its mark in the annals of my mind. Realizing that I began the process of putting together the Reflector on September 2 and here I am punching on the keyboard at 4:37 A.M. on September 23; let’s just say—deadlines don’t always work.

Molly came into our room about 45 minutes ago and uttered those words, "I have a leg ache.” That jogged my memory, as I used to walk into the very same room over 35 years ago and say those words to my mom. This morning it motivated the same response as it did then. As I stood in the bathroom filling the water bottle with hot tap water and then wrapping it in a pillow case, my mind was turned loose.

Molly was appreciative as she reached out into the darkness to receive some relief. I told her I loved her and then stepped slowly through the hallway to the bedroom. I lay there for a few minutes when Caleb started making all sorts of baby noise. I can just imagine many of you wondering aloud, “Who is Caleb?”

Just hold on. I will fill you in on Caleb in a moment, but I need to explain how baby noises and hot water bottles have me in the office at such an early hour. It was the remembering thing. As Robin was up now addressing the baby noises, there was no way that I could shut down my thoughts. Some of this had to be on paper.

Remember September 2? My lofty goals to prepare the Autumn Issue of the Rainbow Reflector were started in the morning, but that was Labor Day morning and I guess you could say that Labor day meant for Robin, “labor day”.

Caleb James Reinhold entered the world at 4:21 PM. His thankful parents are Robin and me and Caleb now joins two proud sisters, Rachel and Molly and one very happy big brother, Danny. Of course, grandparents, aunts and uncles and cousins think he is just fine as well.

We had been looking for his arrival nearly nine months; however, it was not until we were on our way into the hospital that we settled on a name or two. It is not that names are not important to us, but rather that they are.

Nearly nine years ago our first born arrived. She was so pretty and new. Rachel Marie was a name that both of us enjoyed saying and thought it was a name that fit this precious gift. Two years later, we were blessed with another little girl. Her name was not one that we picked out without help. By the time this little girl arrived, our Rachel was impacting our thoughts daily and our little blonde two year old loved the American Girl Dolls. She was especially intrigued with the one named Molly. So Mom and Dad agreed. Just prior to Molly’s birth, Anne of Green Gables was (and still is) very well watched. And of course, Molly Anne (Ann with and E) seemed very fitting. Today our Molly Anne is an all American girl with gumption as her name implies.

Danny Blaine was our first born son and in honor of Grandpa and Grandma Reinhold, we chose the name Danny as their first born son, Danny, died at birth. Realizing that their losses were heaven’s gains, we too want our Danny to have a heavenly purpose for as many years as God gives him. Blaine is my middle name and I count it a privilege to share it with our little Danny.

Caleb James? What more can you say except that Caleb of Old Testament fame left his mark. As a spy into the promised land, his report upon return was simply and firmly stated, “Go claim this promise for God has given it to us.” Caleb said this even though he was vastly outnumbered by those with a negative opinion. And what a powerful testimony when at the sunset years of his life, he was still ready to claim the promises of God as he looked at his inheritance, a mountain inhabited by giants. That did not stop this man in his eighties as he stated that since God was with him, he would be able to overcome.

Caleb’s middle name is one for honor as well. Granddad and Grandma Paulton raised a fine son named James. Jim, as he was known, loved life and loved the Lord with gusto. I have heard Robin talk many times of this big brother and I can see her admiration and respect for him. Jim left this earth as a young man during a blizzard as he was caring for newborn calves in weather that was not fit for man nor beast. Again, our loss was heaven’s gain.

May Caleb James Reinhold realize his heritage and along with our other children build a legacy of eternal value.

Life is a course and one can see that in a hospital, especially when you start in a birthing room. Late on Labor Day I went home to relieve grandpa and grandma of their duties with our three oldest. The kids were so excited. Early the next morning I stopped at the bakery and picked up a couple dozen bavarian cream filled long johns. I like them. Robin likes them. Dr. Mike likes them and since I don’t hand out cigars as a father of a new little one, these filled long johns are a good choice. I spent the morning with Robin and Caleb and since the hospital staff brought an early lunch to Robin, we were hoping to be on the road home shortly. I was too tight to spend money at the cafeteria and I was more than willing to eat Robin’s vegetable beef soup. It was very good. While we waited, it seemed like good timing to go and visit a friend of ours, Chas Fender. He was recovering from surgery for colon cancer.

I waited outside his door for a few minutes as some procedures were being done. After a few minutes, one of the hospital personnel opened his door and asked, “ Are you decent?”

I was still chuckling as I walked in and joked with Chas about “him being decent?” Chas loved life and he spent much of his time at church with the youth. His vibrant personality made him very suited for that. After some more joking around to try and ward off some of the stuffiness that abounds in these places, we moved into some serious talk. Chas was nice enough to give me his soup as well.

Chas stated very matter of factly that he felt like he had been run over. All of this came about so soon and just the dreaded sound of the word cancer takes its toll. The surgery was successful as near as they could tell. He told me, “Larry, I am not sure why the Lord has me here, but I come into contact with people that don’t know Jesus as their Savior and perhaps I can spread the message to some new people along the way.”

He was very happy about the birth of Caleb and he congratulated me again.

“Larry,” Chas looked me in the eye and said, “Sandy (his wife) and I have talked about nearly everything in the last week or so. We have even talked about a funeral, right down to the songs that we would like to have presented. And then we worked back day by day until we came to today and I want to live each day forward as a testimony to my Lord.”

I was listening intently to Chas until I heard over the speakers, “Larry Reinhold dial 8332. Larry Reinhold dial 8332.”

We laughed at how important that made me feel. And then we said goodbye. As I shook hands with Chas, little did I realize that I will not do that again until I step over to the other side into Glory to be with Jesus. Four days later Chas died unexpectedly. I was amazed when Robin told me the news. I have not been able to forget his last words to me.

What a testimony and what a sermon. Chas had come to a new sense of realization that death would come and we must be prepared for that day, but for now we should desire to live each day as a testimony to the love, grace, mercy, and all the attributes of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch. September has been a month where many decisions were made due to the hot, dry summer of 2002. Many of you remember that we had a difficult growing season last year as well. We found ourselves buying some hay last winter along with selling some cows. We were fortunate enough to receive some snow in March and April which added runoff for some of our dams. But March is also the beginning of calving season. It was a very cold spring. Our average low here at the ranch in March was nine degrees and besides losing calves due to weather stress, the effects still show up as you see more calves with bobbed ears than usual due to them freezing. The Spring stayed unseasonably cool and May and June were well below normal for moisture. About the middle of June it turned extremely hot and we had 10 Days of 100 degrees plus and 45 Days in the 90’s. Our highest temp was 111 degrees. This made for many fires across the region and forage for livestock was greatly reduced to non-existent. With this all in mind we knew we had to do herd reduction. We have sold about 50 head of cows. We have weaned and sold calves, which is about six weeks ahead of schedule for us, and have purchased quite a lot of feed for the winter. Normally, we can graze well into the fall and sometime into the winter months as well, but we are looking at buying feed for this time as well. We are not alone in this drought, and I am not writing this to bemoan our situation. Many people are feeling the effects of the serious drought. It is a reminder of how finite we are. We must rely upon God and His provision.

Pray for the family here at RBR. Dad is still feeling much pain even though he has had surgery to relieve some of that. Mom continues to carry many responsibilities, but is ready to slow down. Pray for wisdom as we follow the Lord’s leading into the autumn months.