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.  
 

Tuesday 5/26/26, Happy 21st Birthday to Jacob, We love you! watered sod, Sat outside on the deck, planted flower packets Jared’s sweet mom gave me, pulled weeds, caught a chipmunk, went to Taco Tuesday with Vikki, Peyton, Kenzie, and Rehvyn, saw Pat and Andre’ there, went to intercessory prayer

Happy Birthday Jacob!  We love you so much!

Kit Kat’s new resting place to soak up the sun

My first view of her

My sister, Brenda’s, new puppy.  So cute and sweet

 I called Kimmy to see if Jacob had any classes today.  She told me he was out to breakfast with Abi, then would be coming home after that.  Bill and I called him and sang Happy Birthday to him and wished him a happy birthday.  He said he just finished having breakfast with Abi and was heading home.  We talked for a while and then I told him he should concentrate on his driving.  I remember being at the hospital and hoping that he would be born on 5/25/05, but he decided to wait and come on 5/26/05.  It is still easy for me to remember though.  He was our first grandson after 2 granddaughters, so we were pretty excited to have a boy.  Then we got 6 more grandsons and one more granddaughter.  Plus then we got Kody.  All are wonderful.

I watered the sod before the sun got really hot and was shining on it.  Gave it a good soaking.  I watered my plants after that.  I sat on the deck and watched birds for a whole.  Prayed some too.  

We read our Bibles and then we prayed the prayer in our prayer books.  It was a good one.  We take turns praying and it was Bill’s turn today.  These prayers are so good for husbands and wives.  We are now praying them for us together instead of me for him and him for me.

Vikki texted me but I didn’t see it, so she and Kenzie FaceTimed me and asked me if I wanted to meet them for Taco Tuesday.  I did, so I got ready and met them there.  When I walked in I saw my friend Pat and her husband Andre’.  She worked helping the kids at school when my kids were little.  I was the secretary of the school, so I loved her kids and she loved mine.  She was such a blessing.  She came and sat at our table and shared a big prayer need she has.  I am sure praying in agreement with her for the answer.  She is such a strong Christian and knows God’s Word.  I shared some Scriptures to speak and stand on.  It was so good seeing her.  Vikki was happy to see her too.  

I came home and Bill was cutting the grass.  I told him I would do it, but he says it gets him out of the house and sitting on it doesn’t bother him much.  I went out and planted the packets of flower seeds Jared’s mom had given me.  I watered them really good and will continue watering them.  After that, I started weeding around the house.  I had done it before, but it got cold so I didn’t put Preen down.  Now tomorrow when I finish, I will put Preen Extensive down.  It lasts even longer so lasts around 6 mos. instead of 3.  I made food for Bill and then I went to Intercessory prayer group at church.  Marie and Roy were there again tonight.  Sure am praising God for that.  Prayer time 

I watered the sod more, because Bill cut it too short and it wasn’t looking good after being in the hot sun.  I showed him the picture and asked him not to cut it, but just to let it get long because it holds the water for longer and doesn’t dry out so fast.  This is today’s picture.

I was sad after how much I have been watering it and getting it to grow.  I just gave it more water tonight, so hopefully that helps.

I caught a chipmunk, so I put it in my car and took it across the river and dropped him off with his friends from last year.  I have seen 2 so I need to catch one more.  

 

 

Monday, 5/25/26, Memorial Day! Thinking of those who have lost loved ones in the service! Praying for them.

Eli when he got home late last night 

This is so sweet.  Kimmy sent me it of Eli when he saw his kitty, Basil.

Beautiful warm morning and beautiful view

Ate a breakfast bar, now going to read my Bible, pray for grandkids and drink my coffee

Nice 80 degree day.  Ate outside at Wes and Gayla’s.

Eli in the parade...if you look at the girl behind the Tubas, he is past her

Plants I planted today.  Lantana with an accent plant I added

Pink Geranium with accent vine

White geranium, Yellow Calynopsis with sweet potato vine added

Dianthysis and dahila's

The sod is doing amazing after I soaked it while it was raining

Plants make the deck look so much nicer

Peyton practicing driving in a parking lot

Lydia and Evan....sweet kids

Grace graduating....Adam went and took these pictures

Sweet kids also

Isaac with Rehvyn at Mary Freebed in front of a picture the took of Melissa when she was in

Rody got in the picture with them

I got up at 7:30, took my shower and did my hair.  It was a warm morning and the sun was out, so I put shorts and a short sleeve shirt on and then went out to eat my breakfast bar, drink my coffee and birdwatch.  I had to fill jelly jars and a few feeders.  After that I read my Bible and prayed for my grandkids plus some other kids dear to my heart that I have added. I texted Eli to welcome him home and told him I knew he had to be tired so I would be praying for him.  He is in the Sanford Parade with his band today. He texted me back thanking me and said he was really tired.   

I had everything ready for the potato salad, but had to mix it all together and add the salad dressing.  I made a big bowl.  I put it in the refrigerator til we left.  

Bill wanted to drive the Jeep, so we loaded the potato salad in and Wes’s Birthday gift.

I should have put a hat on, but ended up holding my hair so it wouldn’t blow all over.  Really windy with those doors off.  Bill sure enjoyed it and gave my hand a squeeze and held my hand while he drove.   I love going to their house, first of all because they are just like family and secondly, they live right down the road from where my grandma and grandpa and great grandma and great grandpa lived.  I love going by their houses.  Lots of great memories come back.  

Wes, Gayla and Joel were out on the back patio so we joined them.  Wes was grilling the burgers.  When they were finished, we all ate outside.  We had burgers, corn on the cob, potato salad, chips and then rhubarb crunch and ice cream for dessert.  Yum!  Everything was delicious.  Gayla let me know when I got home, she was hiding deviled eggs in her refrigerator.  (She actually forgot them). We were plenty full without them.

After we ate, we played Donkey with them.  It looked like Gayla or Bill were going to get stuck with the Donkey, but it ended up being me.  You never know til the end in that game.  I sure made Bill happy when he gave all them high cards to me with the donkey included though.  Gayla ended up being the winner as she got rid of her wood squares first.  Bill was actually walking better and not bent over after that.  We left for home, and Gayla opened the garage door for us to go that way so it would be easier for Bill.  We got a couple of miles away and I remembered my sweatshirt was outside on a chair on the patio.  I was going to get it when we walked out and then we went a different way and I forgot.  We called Gayla and went back to get it.  She met us out at the end of her driveway with it which was sweet of her.  

We came home and I gathered stuff and then went outside and planted all the flowers I had picked up.  It was such a nice day to do that.  I sure appreciated having the extra hose on the side, so I could just water them there.  I love having flowers on the deck.  

I fed my fish after that, then sat down on the bench and watched them for a while.  Melissa called me and it came through my phone, so I went to get my phone where I left it.  It wasn’t on the table like I thought, so I hung up and used my phone finder.  It ended up being on that table, but was buried under the book.  We talked for 58 minutes.  Vikki had been trying to call both of us, so I told Melissa we could race to see who could call her first.  I told Siri to call her and she was pretty slow, so Melissa won.  I talked to Melissa again afterward.  I talked to Vikki for a long time too.  I came in and told Bill he should call Greg and tell him whether he could do his dad’s funeral or not.  Bill told him he would let him know in a couple of days, but I told him he should just decide if he could do it and let him know.  He decided he would, but told Greg he may have to sit the whole time he does it.  Greg was very happy that he was doing it and was ok with that.  They are like family with us all too.

God has really blessed us with friends who are like family.  I let Vikki know he was doing it and then I worked on my Sunday School lesson for Sunday.

We snacked on some M & M’s and cashews.  I worked on my blog and he caught up on stuff he needed to get done.  

 

Sunday, 5/24/26, Rainy day, Went to early service, talked to friends and met new people, went to Meijer, than picked up movie popcorn, got a free large Pepsi from Panera and came home and watched a movie.

The small birds have figured out how to get in this new bird feeder and eat after having it over a week.  I love that the starlings can waste so much food now.

Plants I picked up yesterday that I will plant tomorrow when it isn’t raining.  They have been watered nicely by yesterday and today’s rain

Weigela is looking beautiful after being pruned last year

Ajuga Bronze Beauty ground cover is so beautiful with all the rain we got

My new goose for the garden I found on clearance at Menard’s.  Hopefully it keeps real geese away from my fish pond

Cardinal on my window feeder

A female cardinal below waiting her turn

View of cardinal on the window feeder from the inside.  Love watching birds feed on it.

We went to the early service.   Lisa and Laurie gave me a really nice greeting.  They were at the welcome center today.  Bill and I sat in the back again today.  Pastor Justin was talking with Bill, so I walked around and met some new people that haven’t been coming to our church long.  Everyone was so nice.  Lots of new people to meet.  Pastor Justin gave the message and did a great job.  We were in Acts 9 and when he read verse 33-35, which says, There he (Peter) found a man named Aeneas who had been beridden for eight years, because he was paralyzed. Peter said to him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; get up and make your own bed.  Immediately he got up  and all who lived at Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.  It made me remember 8 years of Melissa being so sick and having pneumonia 18 times and having to learn to walk all over again each time.  I never saw that 8 years in Acts before for some reason.  God is a Miracle working God for sure!

After church, we came home and I checked the pond and it was still full.  It was misting outside, so I walked around and looked at all the plants and they sure are doing amazing with all this rain.  My Hibiscus is coming up now. Yay!  We had left over spaghetti for dinner.  I made toast and sprinkled some Everything Bagel Asiago Cheese seasoning on mine.  I sure tasted good.  

After we ate, I boiled eggs, cut up potatoes with my chopper for potato salad, cut up celery and also onion.  Then cooked the potatoes and while they were cooling, I went to Meijer and got some things I had clipped coupons for, plus the Salad Dressing I need for making the potato salad.  After that, I went to the theater and picked up a bucket of popcorn, and then went to Panera and got a large Pepsi.  Bill requested the popcorn and I thought of the pop to go with it.  When I got home, I put groceries away and then divided the popcorn into two popcorn containers and split the pop and put half in another cup.  Then I looked for movies and Bill picked Undercover Angel to watch.  

I worked on my blog after that and Bill laid on the couch.  I called Kimmy and Eli’s bus was just getting there.  They were waiting to pick him up.  I’m glad he’s home and I can’t wait to hear about his trip and see pictures.  

 

Sat. 5/23/26, Gave the sod a good soaking, checked on my fish and fed them, went to Menards and Aldi, went to Panera and then Vikki’s to watch Rehvyn, Vikki, Rehvyn and Peyton came over to bring my phone, worked on covering my fish pond with wire

Me and Rehvyn at Vikki’s

Peyton and Rehvyn at my house.  I told Peyton I wanted to take her picture and Rehvyn jumped right in front of her and smiled.  

He did the same thing when I wanted to take a picture of Vikki

I went out to feed Kit Kat, and she had a partly eaten Vole on the mat.  She wanted to show us she was a good Kitty.  I told her so when I saw it and told her to catch more.  Bill can’t take care of it for me right now, so I had to do the yucky job.  So happy to have a Vole gone though, it was worth it.  It was raining lightly out, but the sod looked so dry that I hosed it down good even with the rain.  I checked on my fish and the water level was still the same.  I looked out a few times last night to see if I could see anything out there, but didn’t.  Bill and I read our Bibles.  We did our devotion/prayer book too.  I finished my yearly reading Chronologically.  The book of Revelation was so awesome.  Exciting to read when Jesus is your Lord and Savior and your name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.  Not so good if you aren’t a believer and don’t have a relationship with Jesus and trust him as your Savior.  There is always the opportunity as long as a person has breath to accept Him and His free gift though.  That is the Good News!

I have read this Bible a couple of times before and it is my favorite.  I have a new one like it that I take to church and have read lots of too.  Someone said if your Bible is falling apart then you won’t be.  My old one is sure falling apart.  I have an Amplified Bible that is falling apart too.  I Checked in to having a Bible rebound and it was pretty expensive.  Still thinking about it though.  

Kimmy called me because she and Jared were at Boehler’s Greenhouse and they wanted to know if I wanted them to get any veggies to plant for us at their house.  We decided we weren’t going to have a garden this year and would just plant some corn, and a couple of tomatoes and peppers.  That was so sweet of Kimmy and Jared to think of us though.  

We split the rest of the potato salad, had some chips and a hardboiled egg for lunch.  Then I left to go to Menards and Aldi.  While I was getting plants at Menards, Heather from my Bible Study, came over and talked to me.  After she heard about Melissa’s testimony in Bible Study, she would like me to come talk to her daughter who is having some health issues and needs encouragement.  I told her I would be happy to talk to her daughter and pray with her.  I am amazed at how when you study the gifts of the Spirit in the Bible and ask for the Holy Spirit to give you gifts, how he moves so much in your life.  He is doing amazing things in my life right now.  It is so exciting.  Gayla called me as I was loading stuff in my car.  I talked to her for a while and she asked if we wanted to come to their house on Monday for a cookout.  I told her yes and I would bring potato salad.  Bill will do ok there because he will be sitting most of the time and we will sit when we play a game of Donkey with them and Joel.  Looking forward to that.  Joel can play this game all by himself with little help needed.  He had a traumatic brain injury so most games he helps his mom play.  He remembers the words to hymn and church songs and many other songs. 

 

After I left Menards, I went to Aldi’s and got stuff to make the potato salad that I needed.  Got some fresh milk too.  Then when I got out to my car Vikki called and wanted to know what I was doing.  I told her I was driving to Panera to get a drink and a Muffy for Bill, then was going home.  She wanted to go see Rody’s Aunt Ann in Mary Freebed, so I told her I would come to her house and watch Rehvyn for her.  She was going to meet me some where.  She had tried to call Melissa but she wasn’t home.  I was happy to go watch my boy!  He is so easy to watch.  He played with his matchbox cars and the race track an then we watched movies of him on our motorcycle with papa.  He loved seeing himself honk the horn on it and I also showed him some of our videos of rides in Arkansas on hills and curves.  

Vikki and Peyton got home and let me know how Ann was doing. which is better.  It was getting close to 5, so I left for home.  When I got home, Bill told me I left my phone at Vikki’s, but they were bringing it over because they were going to Panera.  They came over and decided to come in to use the bathroom and for Rehvyn to see Papa.  They had some fruit salad and also some lemonade with the fruit in it.  We all had some double stuff Oreos.  

Then they left.  I made spaghetti for Bill and I for dinner.  After dinner, I went outside and tried to unroll the galvanized 5 x 6 fencing I had got.  It sure was rolled tight and hard to unwind.  I had to cut wire wrapped around it to hold it tight.  I ended up stretching it out and putting stakes in it and rocks on it to flatten it.  Probably won’t be able to put it on til tomorrow.  I came in and took the Laundry out of the dryer and folded it and hung shirts up.

Then I worked on my blog and also read more on the book I got from Church called the Beginners Guide to Spiritual Gifts.  It’s really good so far.  

It has been 19 years since my mom passed away.  I think about her lots and miss her everyday.  She was the one I always wanted to talk to about happy things, sad things or just anything.  I’m so glad I spent so much time with her and my dad when they were here.  I have the best memories that I treasure.