Thomas Is Promoted

Congratulations Thomas!!!

Yesterday we got a phone call from Thomas, our son who is a Marine. He called to tell us he got promoted to Lance Corporal. To say that made our day is an understatement. We were thrilled to hear about his promotion. It feels our heart with joy to see our children succeed. We are so proud of him. He just got back from spending a month in the field in Northern California and was happy to be back at Camp Pendleton. His Battalion is preparing to deploy to Afghanistan in February. As much as it scares us that he’s deploying we are still proud of him and his service to our Great Country.

We had a relaxing morning by sleeping in until 6:30. We didn’t have any plans for today since the drywall contractor didn’t show up on Thursday. He did show up today and finally around four o’clock he finished spraying the texture. It looks fantastic. Now we just need to let it dry and Gina can begin her painting magic. Here are some pictures of the finished look.

Looking into the Kitchen


Looking into the Living room


Looking into the Bedroom

Being that it was our social hour time we all grabbed our chairs and sat outside enjoying the beautiful weather. There were storm clouds moving in over the horizon. That’s a daily occurrence around here at four o’clock everyday. We have just come to expect it. Some days it rains and some days it passes on by us. However, today it rained on us for about an hour. I can handle all of the rain it’s the hail that I don’t like. We finally called it a night and watched a movie.

Now for a very important item. I need to ask a favor from anyone who is in Houston or might be near there. As you all know Mom and Pop’s are downsizing and are looking to move from a fifth wheel to a motorhome. Well, they found one at the PPL consignment lot located on the southwest side of Houston. Specifically, it’s on the corner of Hwy 59 and the Beltway. They called them yesterday and the salesman wasn’t very helpful in providing information. So my favor, can anyone go by there today or early next week to take some pictures and provide a little more specific information. It would be greatly appreciated and thank you. Please email us at rolliethurston@yahoo.com and I'll provide you with the specific details they would like to know.


Gina & I hope everyone has a pleasant and wonderful day, enjoying what our Father has so graciously blessed us with.

Pop Gets His Workshop Back

Thursday morning found me up early and on the road driving to Rapid City at five o’clock. It was a beautiful morning and I arrived at Lowe's at six only to find out they didn’t open until seven. That was all right. However, I still had an hour to kill so I went to Wal-mart and picked up a few items. I was back at Lowe’s at seven and bought all of the items needed to complete the electrical installation.

Got Back on the road at 8:30 and let me tell you I have never seen so many motorcycles in my life. Mom & Pop’s told us that there would be a lot but I figured most of them would be up around Sturgis. I was wrong they are all over the place. Occasionally, I would see two or three riding together but mostly there were groups of ten to twenty bikes and some even larger groups. They do not ride very fast so my trip back took me over an hour and a half. The other thing that I noticed on my drive home was all of the vendor booths along the highway and the towns including Custer have closed off roads to allow for motorcycle parking and vendor booths. This is a major boost for the economy around here and they appear to appreciate the business it brings.

Once I arrived back home Mom and Gina were in the shed cleaning it out. The idea is to clean out the shed and move items inside the barn on top of the cabin. They are just about finished. Pop’s is really liking it. He commented that he now has his workshop back again.

Pop is happy to have his workshop back


Gina even managed to do a little decorating above the door

Well, we were all hoping the drywall would be finished today. However, the contractor called and said he wouldn’t be working today. This is really slowing us down, but it is what it is or something like that. We all stopped at four o’clock as usual for our social hour. We both look forward to four o’clock everyday because it’s our time to relax and enjoy good conversation. Of course dinner always occurs right after it. Today Gina was making a pot of taco soup. Here’s an open invitation to anyone that may be near us to stop by at four o’clock and enjoy our social hour with us. The weather up here is unbelievable when you look at the national picture. We are enjoying the cool temperatures. Wish we could pack it up and send it to all of you that are enduring those 100 plus degree temperatures. Stay safe and drink plenty of water or you could just come up to the Black Hills and visit us. The high yesterday was only 76 and the low was 49 degrees with clear skies. We couldn't ask for better weather.


Gina & I hope everyone has a pleasant and wonderful day, enjoying what our Father has so graciously blessed us with.

An Easy Day Enjoying the Beautiful Weather

Gina and I would like to thank everyone for taking the time to read our blog and for sharing your thoughts by posting comments. We really appreciate hearing from you.

Two of the comments yesterday asked us how we knew the age of the buffalo. Well, we really didn’t know. However, we got a lesson from Mom & Pop’s about how the park brands the buffalo. They worked here at Custer State Park for nine years. Each year in September, the park conducts a buffalo roundup. They gather all of the buffaloes up for vaccinations. However, the new calves get branded with the last digit of the year they were born. So if you check out the pictures below you will see the brand on the rear hindquarter.

Notice the zero, this bull was born in 2000


This buffalo was born last year in 2009


Rocky & Sheri loaded up and heading out

After Rocky and Sheri departed this morning we headed out to the barn. Our goal today was to help Mom & Pop’s move a lot of items in their new storage area above their cabin. After we got most items moved from the barn floor Gina and Mom moved out to their shed. We finished up right at four o’clock. While we were enjoying our social hour I decided to boil a few pounds of shrimp, potatoes, onions, and sausage. We had to eat quickly because Mom and I had a softball game. Well, the game didn’t go so well considering we had won our last three games. Regardless of whether we win or lose we have a lot of fun. We do not have a game next week since the giant motorcycle rally held in Sturgis is next week. This is the 70th anniversary for the rally.

I am off to Rapid City this morning to buy light switches and receptacles. We are hoping real hard that the drywall will be finished today. If that happens you will find Gina in her painting clothes doing her second best hobby right behind searching for rocks.


Gina & I hope everyone has a pleasant and wonderful day, enjoying what our Father has so graciously blessed us with.

Hiking Lover's Leap Trail

We were greeted this morning by this ten year old bull as he decided to cross the road right in front of us


Pop's said "he's an old timer and can do whatever he wants to"

We set out yesterday morning for Custer State Park to hike “Lover’s Leap Trail”. Mom and Pop’s had told us about this trail and we have wanted to hike it but it’s 15 miles away. Today was the day. We didn’t have any work planned so this morning we decided we would just have some fun. Legend has it that when a tribe wouldn't let a brave marry the woman he chose they would both jump to their death from this high peak. Lover's leap is approximately 250 feet above the valley floor. Rather than write about the trail here’s some pictures.

Pop's and Gina starting off on the trail


Pop's taking our picture


On Top of "Lover's Leap"


All of us on "Lover's Leap"


It was so beautiful that I believe I could have just stood there all day


A view looking out from "Lover's Leap"


Absolutely Beautiful, these pictures don't do it justice


A fast moving stream that we crossed about ten times


Gina crossing the stream


Pop's missed the rock and stepped in the stream


Getting a Kiss on "Lover's Leap"

Around ten o’clock we finished the hike and then set out to drive the wildlife loop here in Custer State Park.

A herd of Buffalo


A mother and her calf


Another old bull doing his own thing


As we drove the scenery changed to grasslands


Gina petting a wild burro


a very young burro


Gina feeding both a mother and her little one


Pronghorn antelope


A valley of flowers for Gina

We made it back home around noon so Mom could make her hair appointment. We ate lunch and then with bad weather moving in I decided to take a nap in my recliner while it rained outside. The rain brought in some much cooler temperatures. When I walked outside with shorts on I turned around and headed back inside and put blue jeans on. It was 58 degrees. Gina walked over to talk to Pop’s and he said we needed some warm food for dinner. So with that Gina began to make some homemade chili for Pop’s. Gina was going to make Taco Soup but she didn’t’ have everything to make it. Gina had it cooking during our social hour so when Mom arrived home at a little after five o’clock everyone was ready to eat.


We also wanted to cook for Rocky & Sheri since this would be their last night with us. They are leaving in the morning heading toward California. We have enjoyed their friendship and help on Mom & Pop’s Summer Cabin. We pray for their safe travels as they continue their “Heromakers” journey on the mission field. We said good night to everyone and headed inside so I could watch my new favorite show “Covert Affairs”. After the show was over I kissed Gina good night and headed to bed. We enjoyed another great day here in the “Black Hills”.

As a little side note to our family in Louisiana we are waking up to a cool 49 degrees this morning. Not trying to rub it in but it feels wonderful. We love y’all.


Gina & I hope everyone has a pleasant and wonderful day, enjoying what our Father has so graciously blessed us with.

Completing Small Jobs

Sunday afternoon Rocky and I installed the insulation and plywood on top of the ceiling. This will allow for some storage on top of Mom & Pop’s summer cabin.

Grey clouds moving in with "Old Glory" flying


Everyone sitting inside prepared for the rain

There was a storm moving in during the afternoon so we sat inside of the barn waiting for the rain. It did rain and hail a little but it moved out within an hour.

Monday morning found us waking up to a hazy yet still beautiful morning. After writing and posting the blog we headed outside to watch Rocky and Pop’s installing the water heater.

Pop's installing the water heater

While they were doing that Gina and I rearranged and cleaned up the barn a little. Mom got to hang out clothes on her new clothesline for the first time. I walked over to take a picture and realized she had her and Pop’s underwear hanging on it. I didn’t think anyone on here wanted to see that so I didn’t take a picture. Mom and I got a good laugh when I told her about it. In the afternoon we installed the plywood on the exterior wall exposed to the inside of the barn.

Cutting out a hole for the receptacle


Another piece of plywood getting hung


Cutting another piece of plywood, the wall is almost complete

Even though their summer cabin has taken over almost half of their barn they will still a lot of space left.

There is really not a lot we can do until the drywall contractor finishes. Which he's still saying will be finished on Wednesday. By the time we finished hanging the plywood it was time for a shortened social hour that was followed by dinner. I grilled steaks while Gina baked potatoes and Mom fixed a salad. Another great day!

Beautiful sunrise

We are waking up this morning to a beautiful sunrise and getting ready for a hike up Lover’s Leap with Mom and Pop's.


Gina & I hope everyone has a pleasant and wonderful day, enjoying what our Father has so graciously blessed us with.

Why Are We Here In South Dakota?

A few people have asked us why we are here? So today I thought I would try to explain. Mike and Pat are very special to Gina and I. God has created a special bond between the four of us and has blessed us from the first day we met. We call them Mom and Pop’s because that is what they are to us. They have taken us in and treated us as though we were their children. This bond only strengthened while we were with them in Arizona for two months. I believe initially God brought us together because we shared something that few people do in that we both had lost a son. This relationship provided us with great therapy. There are no words to describe the loss of a child. We both believe God knew what we needed and placed both of them in our lives. They are slowing down now after 15 years of living fulltime in an RV. We, on the other hand are just beginning our fulltime travels. We helped them settle in their new home in Arizona and while there, we discussed building some type of living quarters in their pole barn located here in South Dakota. Gina and I are not builders by any stroke of imagination. However, God blessed us with the gift of love and we live our life by giving ourselves to others. We’re just His hands being guided by Him to accomplish His will.

On our departure from Arizona we agreed that after we took care of some personal business in Louisiana we would meet them in South Dakota and begin building their “Summer Cabin”. There is no doubt God has His hand in this Cabin. I would have never believed we would be painting the walls within 30 days after we started construction. We have and continue to give all the Praise and Glory to Our Heavenly Father for the Blessings He has given to us.

As Mike and Gerri from Freedom2roll commented the other day “built with hands of love”. We couldn’t have said it any better or clearer. Thanks for the comment.

Mom and Pop’s, we are still in awe and humbled by how God brought us together. We cherish the memories that we have shared thus far. Both of you mean so much to Gina and I and we consider it an honor that you allow us to call you Mom & Pop’s. Even though your Summer Cabin is not finished, the end is in sight. We are looking forward to finishing it and hope you enjoy it as much as we have enjoyed building it. Thank you for allowing us to take part in it.


I do not have any pictures to post today since the summer cabin still looks the same. The drywall contractor continues his work on taping and applying mud to the drywall. Hopefully he will be applying the texture on Wednesday. Gina is biting at the bit to start painting. Stayed tuned to see this barn become a cozy cabin.


Gina & I hope everyone has a pleasant and wonderful day, enjoying what our Father has so graciously blessed us with.