HOWEVER
It is nearly overwhelming... House... moving... remodel at RBR... health issues of staff... shorthanded in a couple of areas... However, I thought I would post pics of some of the positive views. The panorama from "Lakeside" (our temporary home) is amazing. We are grateful that the guys moved our piano out for us... and "Tige's Rose" is blessing us in full bloom.
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Not going to kid you... today was a challenge... Long day... way into the evening... But, we are grateful to God for His provision.
"MY CREW"
I have the privilege of calling these great young people... "My Crew".
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They just keep going... Not a quitter in the bunch..
BANQUET NITE PICS BY ROBIN
A great nite to get group pics... Thanks Robin!
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Our Banquet Nite also includes our talent program. A blessing indeed... Oh by the way... Supper was fantastic... A little change up as we had pork roast (home raised) along with real mashed potatoes and gravy, corn, our homemade wheat rolls which have been a tradition for years at RBR... Both Grandma Vicky and now Grandma Robin and yes Grandma Chris-Lana has made her share as well. And homemade banana cake for dessert.
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Hats off to my team leaders this session... Mesa, Maddie, Serenity, Julia, Cody and Adrik.
IN FULL SWING
We are in full swing with 54 guests enjoying the ranch. Only down thing was that the flies really were bothersome to the horses on the rides out on the range. But all went off without a hitch.
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Our theme is "TRUTH"... The kids are quite perceptive to the numerous lies that are being promoted in our society today. In the evening we played the ever popular "Capture the Flag... RBR style". And then with the weather being so pleasant... the kids camped outside.
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"A Good Day... "
ANNUAL "SUPPER ON THE TOWN"
We sure enjoyed our evening in Sturgis. Our annual #supperonthetown also included bowling at Sturgis Strikers
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Each year the nite before camp starts, we head to town for supper. We have visited a number of restaurants over the past years. This has actually been a teaching and learning venture for nearly 20 years. We pick an eating establishment and then thoughtfully critique the eating experience. Not just food... but service atmosphere etc..
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Yes supper was tasty but the service left something to be desired.... However the highlight of the evening came after dining... with a was a couple of games of bowling where our crew thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Thank you Max... the crew sure had fun. We would certainly recommend the bowling alley in Sturgis to anyone.
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Tomorrow... Little Ranchers Camp... Be praying for all of our little friends that will be arriving at the ranch for day one of the 2023 RBR season.
l-r Adrik, Derek, Caleb, Kyle, Danny, Issac, Jesse, Maddie, Julia, Robin, Larry, Mesa, Kiersten, Hannah, Serenity, Rachel,
TO ADJUST "OUR GOOD INTENTIONS"
The Strawberry Moon... Some call it the Rose Moon... Whatever... the moon is out in brilliance this nite as we have moved from our old house to Lakeside overlooking Reinhold Lake. This is the house that my mom and dad lived in for about 25 years.
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For me, the panoramic view has spawned memories and a recollection that I have wanted to share in the last week, especially in light of the tragic incidents that have taken place in our region.
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It was nearing dusk and I was in my early twenties when I became the focus of the television camera. I was oblivious to my unplanned fame as I walked down the shoreline of this reservoir that we simply called the "big dam". I did not have time to prepare a statement or even straighten my hair or tidy my clothes, when all at once I came face to face with the lady and her microphone. I turned to catch a glimpse of the camera not focused on her, but rather aiming straight at me. I must say I was dumbfounded, as I watched her drop the mic to about waist level and ask quietly if I wanted to say anything. I can still recall staring her in the eye probably more in disbelief and astonishment than anger or fright.
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You see... just hours before, a life changing event happened to me along with my family. What had taken place would change lives of thousands. I had not only just witnessed the death of my two brothers and a good friend. Not only had I witnessed it, I was in the midst of the drama that took place. I was in the boat... I was in the water... when they drowned. I was there with family and friends enjoying the late spring afternoon when everything that we held dear seemingly fell apart. I heard the words of my mother as I lay on shore gasping for breath when she said through tears, "Larry, they're gone"!
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In no time there were people on scene. First responders, the concerned and the curious... and the news media. Over the next days to weeks, we were "in the news" a lot. All well meaning for the most part. But I will never forget that first time. Unlike a politician or celebrity, I was not looking to be front and center for a photo op. Some may have said I was in shock, but no... I was just processing. My life was going to be so different. I could have nearly died, as well. My brothers and friend did die. When I was in that water fighting, my past life did not flash before my eyes but rather "what about the future". That was playing on my mind and weighing heavy on my heart.
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This all happened over four decades ago. Long before social medial... long before the internet... I had a little space. However, that is not the way it is today. Certainly, we all need support, sympathy and understanding. But I will go on record and say that each of us as we go through tragic life event, we also need space and time. We need to free from the piercing eyes of the onlookers. My word... an event cannot even take place any longer without the sensationalism one day and old news the next. When we need the thoughtfulness of others in our lives, too often those others are already occupied with news from around the world. Too often, the need for support may need to come months even years down the road, but we have moved on and have forgotten the one day at a time scenario.
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Was I resentful of the news media? Did the overwhelming attention of the masses smother me? Am I bitter. Honestly, I think that God has brought me more in tune to the needs of others that are hurting. I think, perhaps I am more sensitive to folks that have been through dire circumstances. I believe with all my heart that most of us need to adjust "our good intentions" to better suit those that are going through the valley and the shadows.
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The glow of the moon across the water tonight is such a good reminder. The moon has no light of its own. And yet its reflection as the result of a reflection (of the sun) carries a powerful but silent message. Be a light in the darkness and one does best when that light comes from the Almighty.
THIS OLD HOUSE
It is 1:30 AM and I am having a difficult time sleeping. Tomorrow, we will move out of "This Old House"... at least for a season. For nearly a century it has been home to the Reinholds... Generations.... and it has been the setting for many joys and yes sometimes trials as well. But it has always been home... and not just to our family. Emanuel and Hazel Reinhold built this house in the 1920's. My Dad, Tige, grew up in this house. He and his wife, Vicky, along with their three sons moved in around 1962. I grew up in this house. And Robin and I have lived in this old house for as long as we have been married. And our children grew up in this house.
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But time and this old gumbo (clay) soil has taken its toll. Our basement has always shifted to and fro to some extent with the freezing and thawing... wet and dry over the years. Tough country in more ways than one. And we had hoped to remodel one day and improve the basement and foundation. Well now the time has come as a couple of weeks ago, the north wall in the basement caved in after some heavy rainfall.
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Now we have to address the issues. However, our summers with camp are not the easiest times to get big projects like this done. We are extremely tied up with the camping schedule and all the kids that come to enjoy the ranch and learn more about the Bible and Jesus. Simply stated, "We would have scheduled this "project" some other time". But that is not to be.
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So what is the project. We are moving out and preparing to lift the house and proceed to move it to the east. When that is completed we will excavate the old basement and then proceed to pour a new foundation and basement . Then we will move the house back. Sounds easy enough.. Right? Well, we are encouraged that we have the contractors in place to do such a project. It should happen over the next month or so. Then when the house is back in place, a complete remodel will take place. Yes to fix the wear and tear of nearly 100 years on the Great Plains of Dakota and the living of multiple generations that have called this old structure home.
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Worries... not really. God has this. Weary... yes we are at that. May is always a challenging month with preparation for camp and the many ranch activities that must be done. And then there is the summer season. This will be our 44th season of camp at RBR and we know how busy that keeps us... We do not want our busyness to take away from any child's experience at camp. We somewhat say "tongue in cheek" that we operate on spiritual adrenaline. We realize our extra strength comes from the Lord. But at times we are physically exhausted as well.
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We know that we cannot complete this project on our own. We need to relay on God and the capability of others as well. We request your prayers that we will stay focused and fervent. We need to trust God to meet the needs and the extra expenses along the way. And we must live in faith and trust that God will provide in all areas.
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Camp starts next week. And we have so many tasks yet to complete. We will take one day at a time. There are some other situations that are part of life that are adding to the challenges as well. I ask for your prayer in those areas, too.
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I have added some pics to this album that go back to the 1920's. I find them fascinating. My Grandpa cut the logs and had them milled for the framing of this Craftsman model house. It was built for a thousand dollars back then. We still have the same hand saw that the carpenter used to build with. He used it for framing and then set the teeth differently for the finish work. Amazing. I loved growing up in this house... I always thought it was big. As I became an adult, I realized that it wasn't so big, but was certainly adequate for the family. We enjoy the coziness and closeness. And yes now moving forward we look forward to having it not only repaired but updated as well. Tomorrow we move... some of us will go to the house by Reinhold Lake... some are moving into a camper and one of the cabins. As for now, I should get a little shut eye in the last hours in this old house... and trust God that one day we will move in again for the next however many years...
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Thanks for praying and caring...
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From the book of Ephesians chapter three, Paul writes,
"For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
May - Pics from the past month
Please Pray
“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to God our Savior, Who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever.”
Too often we only pronounce this above passage from the book of Jude at the “end of the service”.
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What power would be available if we pronounced this in full realization at the beginning of each day?
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We are grateful to God that he is merciful and assists us in the many times that we stumble. I just love this verse and the fact that in Christ… we don’t have to stumble.
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What victory!
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And we can be presented faultless full of joy before The Almighty. Now that is victorious living. Jesus Christ is “All in All”. Wow! Just read that last line again.
I have started this letter three or four times. The first included an update of the ongoing drought and the uncertainty that went with that. We honestly had many unanswered questions.
And then Thursday it started to rain. A beautiful rain. Over four days around four inches. Wow… Ponds and dams were rising. Even our Big Dam received quite a good amount. Grass was going to grow. Summer season looked so much better
We enjoyed Mother’s Day. Rain moving out. Everything looked so much better. And then just after we had gone to bed… we heard a crash. Going to look in the basement, we discovered a large portion of the north wall had totally caved in.
What now? We knew our Monday was going to be busy. One of us was needing to take some cattle to Sheridan. We had a shipment coming to the camp via semi. And we knew that the remodel job at RBR’s Dining Room was pushing on us so that we would have everything ready by summer. We would be looking forward to Molly coming to visit and the excitement of Julia’a graduation was certainly present.
We have much to be grateful for…. Camp looks to be nearly booked up for the summer. We have a good staff. But I will be honest, the load looks pretty heavy now.
Please pray. We need to press on together more and more each day.
There is so much more that I could share… and wanted too.
I will just end this letter as I started…
Jude writes, ““Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to God our Savior, Who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever.”
Julia's Graduation - Lonetree School Class of 2023
ETERNAL IMPACT
"FIND SOMETHING YOU WOULD DIE FOR. THEN LIVE FOR IT.
Are you having an ETERNAL IMPACT with your life? Or just rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic?"
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This is from a letter that our friend, Ken Korkow, wrote. We so appreciate his and his wife, Liz, and their ministry.
A PRIVILEGE
Do you recognize these kids... We had the privilege of watching them become adults. What a blessing.
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Over the years... 43 years to be exact. RBR is gearing up. We have some hills to climb however before camp starts. Please pray for God's strength, wisdom and provision.
THE CHURCHWELL FAMILY... LONG-TIME FRIENDS
PHOTO BY RACHEL DEJONG
