Saturday, May 30, 2026, Bill did Gary Turner’s funeral, Kimmy, Vikki and I went to it, went Chris’s house afterward, came home and Jared was tilling the garden for Bill, Vikki, Bill, Eli, Isaac and I pulled grass clumps out of the garden, fish pond lost a foot of water again, Kimmy and Jared found small leak, fixed it, painted it, dug out where the pond had been and leveled it good, lots of hard work, Vikki, Issac and Eli planted the corn, onions and most of the rest of the garden. I planted a few plants

Gary’s funeral service...the military were there to honor his life, and so was the Patriot Guard...We knew four of the Patriot Guard people and ride in CMA with two of them. 

Presenting the flag to Chris

Presenting plaques to Gary’s kids

Bill giving the message for the service.  He did a great job!  Very moving the way Gary was honored as a hero for serving in Vietnam.  Vikki took this and though she didn’t see the four eagles flying during the service, she captured one of them in this picture.  It was very cool seeing them.  Like a special gift from the Lord during the service.

At Chris’s house after the funeral.  Me with Renee and Greg.  They were around us lots when they were kids.  Always have loved them.

Kimmy, Vikki, Renee and Greg....They were together so much when they were growing up.  Kimmy and Vikki were excited to be there and go through the house remembering all of their wonderful memories there.  It was a great day for remembering great friends.

Bill, me and Chris.  Long time friends.  We got baptized with her and Gary and went to a Bible Study together.  Started hanging around together after that.

We got home and Eli and Isaac were sitting in the Jeep in the garage with the top off the Jeep just hanging out with each other.  It was so cute!

Us pulling in the garage next to them

Vikki and Kimmy were trying to get the best picture of the 3 Jeeps in our driveway.

Ha Ha, then we realized Isaac got the best picture.  Leave it to Isaac to get a picture like this.

Rody and Jared power washing the pond so they could find the leak.
Thank you both son much for cleaning it and finding that leak.  Great job!

Eli and Isaac working on measuring and putting the stakes in the garden after Jared tilled it for Bill.  Thanks so much Jared!

Great teamwork

Them planting the 8 rows of corn

Planting plants

 Thanks to Vikki, Isaac and Eli for getting the grass clumps out of the garden and planting the garden

Me hauling the hose with Isaac helping make it easier to pull.

The pond all patched, painted, the dirt leveled where it goes and put back in place.  Filled with water, fish back in it, stones put back around it nicely and plants planted around it.  Amazing job Kimmy and Jared!  Thank you so much!

Thank you all too for putting the air conditioner in the window for us, for bringing the pool filter and stuff for it up from the basement and putting it by the pool.  It sure was a busy day.  So much got done because of all of you!

Bill took the boys with him to town in the Jeep.  He got some things he needed for the electric fence around the garden.  Everyone worked so hard.  They didn’t want to take time to go eat, so I went and picked up food from Culver's for everyone.  It was fast and easy.  I came home with the food and had called Vikki to let her know I needed help because I didn’t want the ice cream for dessert to melt.  Eli and Isaac both came out to help right away, then Vikki came too.  Vikki helped sort all of the orders out.  Everyone ate, then got back to work right away.

They had most of the corn already planted, Kimmy and Jared had the prep work almost done for the pond to be placed back in it’s spot, the pond had been patched, dried and was painted.  The filter to the pool was brought up and in its place and the pool was filling.  Melissa called to see if she could bring Jack and Evan over to put in our air conditioner, but I told her the boys were here and were going to do it.  Everyone did such a great job helping with everything.  Bill and I both appreciated all of your help so much and love you all so much.  I read my Bible when everyone left and I got in the house.  I worked on my blog but fell asleep at around 9:30 and didn’t wake up til almost midnight.  I was ready for bed then and so was Bill.

Friday, 5/29/26, Vikki came over, Kimmy and Eli came over, Melissa came over, Peyton and Isaac came over, Last day of school for them. Kimmy, Vikki, Eli and I went to Estate Sale, lots of good finds, Kimmy worked on putting slate stones around my pond, Vikki and Kimmy covered fish pond with wire fencing, unocvered the pool, went to Chic Fil A

Bill and I sitting on the deck

Melissa and Wookie sitting on the deck

Arnie playing with a dog toy of Melissa’s that is his favorite

Isaac in the Jeep

Everything is growing nicely. I love the big hostas Kimmy gave me

Arnie posing so nicely.  He is such a great dog and great looking dog

Vikki came over and brought a delicous Swiss Melt Bagel to share with me.  Yum!  It was so good.  Kimmy and Eli came over shortly after.  Eli is finished with school and Peyton and Isaac’s last day is today.  They get out at 12:05.  We visited and drank our coffee.  I filled the jelly feeders and also the window feeders.  Then we decided to go to an Estate sale.  Eli went with us.  Good thing, because it was a wonderful estate sale with amazing slate stones and pavers, some of which Eli had to dig out of the ground and others he carried for us.  He was such a great help.  He found a couple of things he liked too.  We all found things we really liked.  We had a load in Kimmy’s van.  We left the estate sale in time to go pick Peyton and Isaac up from school.  Then we drove to Tim Horton’s in Midland to meet Jared.  He was taking Eli to a friend’s house and they were going with other friends to a movie.  Jared looked pretty cool pulling up with his blue Jeep with the doors off.  The rest of us all came back to my house and unloaded our stuff.  Kimmy got a super cute cement bunny.  He looked cute in my front flower/plant area.  I knew he wasn’t staying for long though.  He would be hopping to Kimmy’s for his permanent home.  

I started making grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup for us adults and pizza for the kids.  Melissa got here just as the sandwiches were getting done and we all had lunch together.  Bill had a PB& J.  His favorite right now.  We sat outside on the swings for a while and watched birds while Kimmy worked hard putting the slate stones just right around my fish pond.  She made me stay on the deck and not look until she finished.  When she was done, it looked amazing.  Thanks Kimmy!  

After Melissa left, we uncovered the pool.  Kimmy and Bill worked on pumping all the water off the cover.  Vikki and Kimmy also worked on putting a screen over my fish pond to protect them from whatever was making their water go down about a foot once a week.  They did a great job trimming it so it would fit perfectly.  It looked so nice and I could still feed the fish through it.  When the pool cover was pretty empty of water, Kimmy tried scooping leaves out of it.  They were wet and yucky.  They got to where the four of us could lift the cover and get it out of the pool but poor Kimmy ended up being a mess with the water and the leaves.  She washed off with the hose and we sat in the sun so she would dry off.  She is the hardest worker, and doesn’t stop til the job is finished.  I tried to talk them into letting us take them to Chick fil A, but they wouldn’t go with us.  They help us so much and work so hard, but they still wouldn’t let us talk then into going.

Bill and I went after they left and he got a chicken wrap, noodle soup and a vanilla shake and I got 3 chicken strips, fries and a chocolate shake.  Yum!

We came home, read our Bibles and did our Prayer Book Devotion.  I worked on my blog after that, but fell asleep while I was working on it.  Now I am catching up on my blogs.

 

Thurs., 5/28/26, Got up early, did some weeding, watered sod, studied Bible Study Lesson, went to Peyton and Isaac’s 8th grade graduation, went to TSC, went to Bible Study, weeded more, put Preen down

Isaac and Peyton’s 8th Grade Graduation

Isaac

Peyton

Vikki, Vershon, Rody, Isaac and me 

Vikki, me, Vershon, Peyton, Isaac and Rody

Ready to go to the 8th Grade Dance

Cute Cousin pictures

Rody, Isaac, Peyton and Vikki

Vershon and Peyton

Beautiful Peyton

Isaac and Peyton talking to friends at school

Peyton and her friends

Hailey and Isaac

Got up early, put the sprinkler where it would spray the sod. Then I pulled weeds around the house while it was nice and cool outside.  Watered sod.  When I got tired, I came inside and ate breakfast.  It was 7:30 when I went out and 9:20 when I came in.  I am getting building up more endurance now and my muscles aren't getting sore like before.  Yay!  After I ate, we read our Bibles and did our prayer book/devotion!

I was going to go outside and sit, but I went out and it was cool and windy, so came back in.  Looked over and studied my Bible study lesson for tonight.  At 2 p.m., I went to Peyton and Isaac’s Graduation Ceremony.  They are both graduating from 8th Grade.  I’m proud of my kiddos!  

It was nice seeing Vershon there.  I sat with Vikki, Rody and Vershon.  The ceremony was nice.  After we took some pictures, I left.  I called Bill to see if he wanted ice cream.  I was going to stop at Culver’s.  Then he asked me to stop at Chick fil A.  I thought about it and called him back to tell him we needed to eat the roast I made yesterday.  He agreed.  He had me pick up oil he needed from TSC so I did that.  I came home and warmed up the roast, carrots and potatoes.  It tasted just as good as it did yesterday.  After dinner, I studied my lesson more, than relaxed and closed my eyes for a half hour.  Vikki called me.  I went to Bible Study.  Amanda and I joined groups and taught together.  It was a great lesson.  Only one more Bible Study to go.  

Vikki called me and told me about the kids fun time at their dance.  She said she posted pictures, so I borrowed some of them for my blog.  

The kids looked so nice all dressed up.  They sure are growing up too fast.  

I sure do love them.

I went outside and finished pulling weeds on the side, part of the front of the house, then put Preen down on the flower garden and also where I pulled weeds around the house.    Only a little in the front and then on the side of the house and one side of the pool to go.  One side of the shed still needs weeding and Preen too.

I came in and made us hot fudge banana ice cream desserts with cashews.  It tasted so good.  YUM!

    

   

 

Wed., 5/27/26, 6 months since my hip surgery, went for a bone density test and mammogram, went to Meijer’s, went to Panera, made roast, added inch of water to fish pond, met with Chris, Greg and Renee, went to cemetery, pulled more weeds around the house,

A strawberry farm in our area had this crop last year.  This year they had the plants with rows of plastic and deer devoured the whole field.  No strawberries this year.  They are taking all the plastic up and will be planting squash to make some money back from the property.  So sad.

My oldest Clematis plant

Worked on weeds along this deck today.  One more side to do.

My newest Clematis plant

Cute picture Kenzie took of Rehvyn at the park

Vikki and Rehvyn when we met for Taco Tuesday.  He ate half of his taco with the lettuce and tomato included. Such a good eater.

More pictures Kenzie took

Cool picture Kenzie took of Rehvyn by their new car.  

 I got up early to get ready to go to my bone density test at 8:30 and my mammogram at 9:15.  I got to Covenant Mackinaw and got in fast.  Bone density was easy and relaxing.  Got done at 8:50 and went to Mammogram office down the hall.  Got in right away.  Had a nice and efficient girl there too and got done fast.  I went to Meijer after that to return something, then went to Panera and got a lemonade for Bill and I to share.  Came home and drank my lemonade while I read my Bible.  Bill drank the other half of it that I split with him.  I relaxed for a half hour, then got up and put a roast in.  I got potatoes and carrots ready to put in with the roast after it browned.  I did extra, thinking maybe Vikki would like to come for some.  Went and sat on the deck for a while.  Not much action from birds while I watched.  Came back in the house and added the carrots and potatoes to the roast.  I pulled more weeds around the house.  Will probably be able to finish that job tomorrow.  Peyton and Isaac’s graduation from 8th grade is tomorrow also.  

I took the roast out of the oven and put a pan of brownies in to bake around 4:30.  I dished up containers of each thing to take to Chris.  Bill and I ate our dinner.When the brownies were done, Bill ate 2 and I had 1.  I put the rest on a plate to take to Chris for dessert with the meal I made.  Greg had called and wants us to meet him, Renee and his mom at 6:30 tonight at his mom’s house so Bill can ask some questions about Gary (their dad) so he can do the funeral Saturday.  We hugged and shed some tears and then sat on the front porch and went over things about the funeral and they shared memories.  Bill hadn’t seen Greg since we camped with them about 5 years ago.  He didn’t even recognize him and thought he was Renee’s husband and asked him what is name was lol.   Bill did a great job going over funeral plan and brought up things that made them share good memories of Gary.  We all went to the cemetery afterwords so we could check it out.  We took the Jeep with the bars for doors. We left and put the heat on while we rode home.  We passed Cathy’s, Brittany’s and Stacie’s house on our way home, but it was too late to stop in and visit anyone.  I put sprinklers on the front flowers and plants and also one on the sod.  I talked to Vikki when I got home and told her how everything went.