MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE RBR FAMILY
What a joy to be a part of this team. Each of us realize the blessing of the Lord at this Christmas season. Nearly everyone was here. Several could not be present.
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Merry Christmas from the RBR Family.
SECOND BIRTHDAY IN HEAVEN
Happy 2nd birthday in heaven my darling boy. Forever wondering who you would be, and why you’re not here. But also knowing that you are full and complete in the the presence of Jesus. We miss you everyday and love you forever, Emanuel Jacob Fisher.
EVEN THOUGH IT WAS ....
Even though it was our anniversary... we stayed pretty busy building corrals and preparing for the Birthday in the Barn Celebration. There were still some pretty special moments on the ranch, however. Our family made us a wonderful meal of sirloin, sweet potatoes, green beans with bacon, garlic toast and for dessert... Homemade Strawberry Pie and Homemade Pear Custard Pie. A small slice each please. And then Kiersten presented me with a special gift... a hand crafted mohair cinch custom designed and "warped" by her. Very special indeed.
MY DAKOTA RAINBOW
December 7, 1941 ... A Date Which Will Live in Infamy
50 years later....
December 7,1991... A Date Which Will Live in Esteem & Goodness.
On this date, My Dear Robin and I were married. To God, I am ever grateful.
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Oh yes, our wedding had a theme.
"Dakota Rainbow... A Friend of Promise"
Dakota in the native tongue meaning friend or ally and Rainbow... Significant of God's continued promises.
We even wrote a song and sang before the audience to one another. I can still remember "most" of the words.
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I thought in honor of this day and in honor of our journey together... . Honestly, I wanted to share so many memories from over the years... However, I chose to remember that special day 32 years ago.
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Robin Lee, I love you and I am so glad that you are my "Dakota Rainbow"...
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOLLY
Robin and I wish to take this time to wish our sweet daughter, Molly, a blessed birthday. You are such a joy to many. We love you and pray for you.
Dad and Mom
WON'T QUIT NOW...
The other night Robin and I were talking deeply and thoughtfully about our family. Our children are no longer kids... and our family is expanding. We talked of joys and challenges. Oh we have been more than blessed as our four daughters and two sons have been an amazing part of our lives. I shared with Robin my desire and heart's conviction to pray "even more" for each one along with the expanded family.
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This conversation took place two days ago and here I am sitting in my chair in the early morning hours still pondering that conversation. Pondering and praying... Certainly, I prayed for our next generation that Robin and I have been blessed with, however now perhaps with more of a desire of sincerity and perhaps urgency. Two or three things are upon my heart...
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One.... The verse in the book of James that speaks of the "effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much". God working in my family starts with me as an individual. I cry out, "Oh, God let me be that man". A man after God's heart...
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Two... God laid on my heart the following principle... "It may be hard for one to shine when they stand in the shadow of another". May my presence and goals never stand in the way of what God has planned for those that follow after me. I know too many parents that are chasing dreams and earthly goals and in so doing, they have forsaken leading and teaching the ones that are flesh and blood. When one invests into his or her child's heart they are truly laying up treasures in heaven and not the temporary of this fleeting world.
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Three... I must never forget the principle found in Philippians 1:3-6 (personalized for myself and my family)
"I thank my God every time I remember you (each of my children). In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your PARTNERSHIP in the gospel from the first day until now, being CONFIDENT OF THIS, THAT HE WHO BEGAN A GOOD WORK IN YOU WILL CARRY IT ON TO COMPLETION UNTIL THE DAY OF JESUS CHRIST.
LBR December 4, 2034
Rachel and Her Calves
One gets rather attached to those calves. I am sure many can relate
I Would Suggest "LONETREE"
I hear Yellowstone is on network television this. evening...
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I would suggest "LONETREE" instead.
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*** A Family... Generations deep
*** A Ranch... Over a century
*** People... None have been in jail
*** Sons... Strong and dependable
***Daughters... Attractive and dignified
*** Cattle... Hereford cattle that still have their horns
***Romance... Starring couple been married for over 30 years
***Drink... Good black coffee and the purest of water
***Guns... Gave up counting
***Guns... Know how to use them
***Challenges... Grasshoppers like crazy this year
***Gov't overstep... Been trying to rein in a huge gun range
***Language... family friendly - nothing has to be bleeped
***Working cattle... Slow and quiet - Language is family friendly
***Horses... Plenty of good ones
***ATV... minimal
***Interruptions... no commercials
***God... His Way not our way
Teamwork
Teamwork....
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Working cows and giving preconditioning shots. The wind made the project a little tough... lot of dirt in one's eyes.. but we got the job done.
How Pleasant
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers (and sisters) to dwell together in unity!
Psalm 133:1
Chokecherry Picking
The chokecherry patch was amazing... Picked 30#. Will make luscious jelly and syrup.
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Good family time as well.
SUNDAY AFTERNOON DRIVRE
We have been so busy on the ranch... We just decided to take a drive this afternoon. We are blessed to live in western Dakota. The Prairies and Plains... The Black Hills and Badlands. Today, we just stayed in our home county...
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We certainly enjoy the family time as well. Tomorrow... We have around d 55 kids coming to the ranch to spend time. "For The Kingdom"
NiCE RAIN
Lonetree Creek running pretty strong this afternoon. We received 2.65" of very much appreciated rain. Our big dam (Reinhold Lake) pick up a foot or two of water. This was such a nice rain. So gentle... really soaked in. Thank You Lord.
Photos by Danny Reinhold
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.
Lonetree Ranch Branding 2023
MY BROTHERS
My Brothers... My best friends...
Lyle August 25, 1959 - May 28, 1979
Lee June 7, 1961 - May 28, 1979
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Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:1-2
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But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Isaiah 40:31
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We're pilgrims on the journey of the narrow road
And those who've gone before us line the way
Cheering on the faithful, encouraging the weary
Their lives a stirring testament to God's sustaining grace
Surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses
Let us run the race not only for the prize
But as those who've gone before us
Let us leave to those behind us
The heritage of faithfulness passed on through godly lives
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After all our hopes and dreams have come and gone
And our children sift through all we've left behind
May the clues that they discover and the memories they uncover
Become the light that leads them to the road we each must find
Oh, may all who come behind us find us faithful
May the fire of our devotion light their way
May the footprints that we leave lead them to believe
And the lives we live inspire them to obey
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Oh, may all who come behind us find us faithful
May the fire of our devotion light their way
May the footprints that we leave lead them to believe
And the lives we live inspire them to obey
Oh, may all who come behind us find us faithful
(Words by John Mohr... Performed by Steve Green)
The Boys...
The Boys...
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Yes, the grass is greening up and growing, but sometimes during this time of the year, the herd bulls sort of have to make due in the lot or little out of the way pasture. And right now, they are putting in their time just not far out of our picture window.... Might add... not a bad picture.
