Day 73, 5/28/2020, Worked more on leveling, worked on packing the camper and reloading everything I took out for the winter,

Iris's are looking beautiful

More life on the apple tree

Milkweed growing in the woods by the side of the house!

Hens and Chicks are super big this year

Made some more masks

Listened to the devotion, ate breakfast and read my Bible.  Worked a little on leveling the ground again.  Put Preen down where we are putting bark by the pool.  Got pretty much everything packed in the camper except last minute stuff.  It was supposed to rain and be stormy, but it missed us.  All we got were a few sprinkles.  We did cover the sand pile to protect it from getting wet.  Bill worked on pens.  Did the Faith Riders Newsletter.

Day 72, 5/27/2020, Went to Midland shopping, Worked on leveling ground where pool is going, Bruce, Melissa, and Hailey came to visit

I love how Freeland has all the 2020 graduate's pictures hanging from the light posts in town

Iris's are starting to bloom

There's lots of life coming on the apple tree 

Yay, a milkweed is growing in the woods

Best year for hens and chicks.  Biggest I've seen them here

Watched the Devotion online on Psalm 62.  Great devotion.  Read my Bible outside.  Bill worked on leveling the dirt where the pool will go, and also tilled the dirt piles where the dirt from it was dumped.    I started getting the camper packed.  It was super hot out, and when I went outside and saw him he looked so hot and tired.  I told him he needs to be careful.  I started leveling some dirt and he was going to mow the lawn.  He said the sun doesn't bother him and mowing is relaxing.  I worked for about 10 minutes, then came in the house and cooled off in the air conditioning.  Also had to wet down with a washcloth to get really cool.  Then I rested on the couch.  Kept doing this until it was pretty level.  I sure couldn't just keep going at it like he did.  I like to be safe.  I went to Midland to Aldi and Jack's and got my groceries.  Not busy at all and very safe in the stores.  I sanitized the groceries that had to come in the house, and then helped Bill more.  We had nacho supreme's for supper.  I hoed the garden after we ate.  I had just started, and looked up and saw somebody coming in the back yard.  I stopped hoeing, trying to figure out who was coming.  Yay, it was Melissa, Hailey and Bruce.  We had a nice social distance visit in the back yard.  It was so good to have them come visit.  I didn't have my phone on me, but wish I would have gotten it and taken a picture.  Didn't think of it.  I finished the garden after they left.

Day 71, 5/26/2020, HAPPY 15TH BIRTHDAY JACOB! We love you so much!

        HAPPY 15TH BIRTHDAY JACOB!  WE LOVE YOU!

Very handsome and very kind 15 year old!

The Azalea Bruce and Melissa got us back in 2004 blossoming and beautiful

Since I spread out this clematis it has taken off and one has even reached the top of the trellis

Beautiful Iris

Sand to be put down where the pool will go was delivered today

Bill bought the trailer on the right and borrowed Charlie's trailer on the left.  Will come in handy when hauling all that sand

Isaac, Peyton and Lucy

Isaac and Peyton sitting by the fire pit

Love this bush!  I looked and it was in full bloom tonight

Listened to Pastor's devotion in the morning.  We called Jacob on Kimmy's phone, but didn't get an answer.  We ate oatmeal for breakfast.  Sat outside and read the Bible and Jacob called.  I told him Happy Birthday and then came in so Papa could tell him too, and then we both sang Happy Birthday to him.  I am so thankful God gave us our Jacob.  I can't say enough about how wonderful he is.   I talked to Kimmy for a while after I talked to Jacob.   Bill worked on some pens.  I talked to Melissa.  It was cute.  Evan is done with school as of last Friday, but his teacher said they could zoom with her today.  Evan set the alarm on the stove by himself, because he didn't want to miss it.  The alarm went off after the morning zoom, so he zoomed at the afternoon time instead.  He ended up being the only one who zoomed with his teacher.  He took her and showed her his room and some of the stuff he has in it.  He was happy to get to zoom with her by himself, but missed the other kids.  I walked around and looked at the garden and some of my plants, but it was too hot so came back in to the air conditioned house.  I bagged 40 more face masks and then dropped them off on Anna's porch.  Bill found a wagon that you can dump to hook up to his tractor.  Sure will come in handy with hauling all the sand we need to haul and for lots of other things.  He had to go to an Elder's meeting, so while he was gone I picked up all the grass he dumped in the woods when he cut the grass twice because of all the rain.  As I carried the bags a little way to the bricks around the tree, I thought that wagon will sure be handy for him to haul these bags of grass to the road tomorrow.  He was happy when he got home and saw that I had it done.  Vikki and the kids came over while he was at his meeting to see the fire pit.  The first thing they wanted to do when they got here though is climb the big maple tree.  I put some chairs on the end by the fire pit and put cushions that hadn't been used on them.  They did lots of running with Lucy in the back yard.  They sure have lots of energy.  Lucy runs so fast it's amazing.  They left and then Bill got home.  He passed them on our road.  

Day 70, Mon., 6/262020, Memorial Day! Vikki, Kimmy, Jared, Jacob, Adam and Eli came and dug out where our pool is going to go for us

Bill, Eli, Jacob, Adam and Jared working together on digging out where our pool will go.  Vikki and Kimmy worked the whole time too, but didn't want to be in the picture. 

Eli  (Jacob in background with wheelbarrow)

Adam

Jacob

Eli

Jared drinking his iced tea, Jacob catching his breath....(they just had a wheelbarrow race and Jacob beat)  Jacob admitted it tired him out)  Adam working away

Look what a great job they did.  They not only dug where the pool is going, they dug out on the sides of the deck where we will put mulch so it's easier for Bill to cut.  

I think we overworked my boys!  Eli, Adam and Jacob...this had to feel good after all their hard work

Eli and Adam cooling off in their pool.  Jared and the boys made that nice deck.  

Beautiful Rainbow tonight...It was there for a really long time.  A reminder of God's Promise!

Bill sitting by the gas fire pit we got today.  

Bagged 146 face masks and filters tonight

I ate oatmeal, and read my Bible on the deck.  Vikki came over at 7 this morning.  She and I dug some more on where the pool is going.  Kimmy, Jared and the boys got here at 7:30.  They all started working right away.  Bill supervised.  The girls made me just sit and watch.  I served water, iced tea and pop whenever anyone wanted something to drink.  I ran to Home Depot and got a line level Bill needed.  I did do some raking.  It was in the 70's at 7 a.m. and warmed up quickly.  It was a good thing they came early.  They got done at 10:30 an it got really hot after that.  They all worked so hard and did such a great job.  They are all amazing with such great attitudes and joyful hearts.  When Jacob was done, he said "That was Fun".  Jared sprayed me from behind with the hose while I was sitting in my chair.  That was a surprise, but I must say it felt good.  Can't believe my son in law would do that though as there is a saying in our family that "Not everyone wants to get wet in the pool",  That's only because a kid had a supersaver in the pool when we were camping and I said that  because I didn't want him shooting it at me.  It sure stuck.  Vikki called me and she found a floating basketball hoop for the pool for $5.  Great deal!  Bill and I went to Midland to pick up a gas fire pit he saw on FaceBook Market Place. I made potato salad and Bill grilled burgers.  We had corn on the cob which was delicious.  Vikki came over and brought the basketball hoop.  She thought it was put together wrong, so started working on it.  It ended up that only one part was on wrong.  It started to downpour.  It quit as soon as she was done working on it.  She left after that.  I talked to Melissa for a while and we Face Timed each other.  She sure is enjoying her family time with Bruce off.  He had two days off which was nice after being so busy at work because of the flooding and being gone a lot.  Adam texted me and sent me a video.  Kimmy sent me pictures of the stool, the chair and the card table they recovered.  They did a great job.  Vikki sent me a picture of the table she put together to put plants on her deck.  Very talented girls.  When the chance of more showers was over, Bill and I went out and sat by the gas fire pit on the deck.  It was so nice.  I didn't even want to come in, but when he was ready I did.  I worked on bagging 146 face masks our church group made and is donating to Correctional Officers in Michigan.  We have made 1000 altogether now.  They turned out so good.  I was just a cutter (of material), a filter ironer and folder, and a bagger.   30 more to bag tomorrow and I will be done.  It was a great day today!  I love my family.

Day 69, Sun. 5/24/2020...Great Message on online church, Visited James, Worked on getting ground ready for pool, Amy and Dennis stopped, Vikki, Peyton and Isaac came over, Vikki came back to help shovel dirt where pool is going

Got everything ready to read my Bible and listen to worship music outside this morning.  Ice tea to enjoy too!

Bill and I visiting James through his window...His blinds were broke so he couldn't pull the up

James held the blind open a bit, so I could take a picture...It looks like he's reaching for the cloud ha ha

Bill tilling where the pool is going

He did a great job

Peyton and Isaac

They love climbing our tree

Bill

Coronavirus numbers

Great worship and a great message this morning on online church.  I made eggs, bacon, potatoes and toast for Bill for breakfast.  It was a beautiful morning, so I sat on the deck to read my Bible.  Bill wanted me to go with him to Home Depot, so we went to get some things he needed to clean the pens he is making. We stopped to see James on our way to Home Depot.   He was very happy to see us and we were sure happy to see him.  We had to peek through the blind to see him because his blind wouldn't go up.  We feel bad for him, because he can't go out of his room.  I got some bags to put grass in...he mowed the lawn twice this week and picked up all the grass.  Lots of grass to bag now.  Not many in the store.  We didn't go in the garden center, just the regular part of the store.  Everyone was wearing face masks which was good.  Made Bill a BLT for dinner.  Bill sold our old fire pit.  After the news, we went outside and Bill tilled where the pool is going and I picked up the grass clumps and put them in the wheelbarrow.  He hauled the dirt where he wanted it and worked getting that smoothed out.  Amy and Dennis stopped in to say hi.  They kept really far away.  It was so nice seeing them.  I ran some Cranberry Grape drink over to Melissa for Hailey.  Vikki came over with the kids to drop off a thing to drain water from the eave troughs.  She saw us working, so went home to drop the kids off, got shovels and a drink and came back to work.  Bill helped some more, but then went in.  He had worked very hard.  Vikki and I picked up more dirt clumps and then we dug 4 inches starting at the middle.  We got a nice circle done before it got dark.  She hauled the wheelbarrow and dumped the dirt where Bill said he wanted it.  We both had wet hair from all that work when we got done.  It was pretty humid out.  Going to bed now, as we are getting up early to work while it is cooler.  Kimmy and family and Vikki  are all coming in the morning to help.  

Day 68, Sat. 5/23/2020...Thinking of my mom lots today..sure am missing her....ordered a pool

My mom and Taylor...she passed away 13 years ago.  I sure miss her hugs and  everything else about her.  Because of what Jesus did, I will see her again in heaven! 

Rody drilled holes and Vikki made this bird bath.  I love it! Thank you Vikki

It looks so pretty hanging from the tree. So sweet of her to give it to me and even hang it in the tree for me.

Ha ha!  I put this chipmunk trap out and was pretty excited when a chipmunk came...Then he passed it and sat next to it eating birdseed that was on the ground

Found a new fern coming up.  Yay!

We picked this pool out...Don't get it until the end of July unless we have nice weather and they can get lots of pools put in.  

Instead of a Military discount, they upgraded us to this really nice filter that holds a chlorine cartridge that lasts for two weeks or more.  The pink thing above it comes with it to to keep the bottom of the pool clean.  

They upgraded us to steps instead of a ladder too...they said we could have these, but then said we could pick from some others, so we picked some we liked better. We only need the step part, because the stairs will connect to our deck

We read our Bibles.  I sat outside and ate my oatmeal.  It was in the 60's when I got up.  Such a beautiful morning.  Vikki brought me a birdbath she and Rody made for me. It is beautiful!  She hung it in the tree for me.  Bill sold our pool.  He just put it in last night and he had 45 responses.   A girl and her little 5 yr. old boy who reminded me of Isaac, came and wanted it.  Bill and I had it all ready and laid out by the trailer.  She liked it, so we loaded it in the trailer and followed her to her house where we unloaded it.  We wore our masks and social distanced.  She paid 350 for the pool and another 30 to deliver it.  We stopped at Beattie Pools on our way home.  It was curb side only and a masked person came out to help us.  They were super careful and social distancing which was great.  Their prices were super high and they wanted 1,500 to 2,500 just to install a pool.  We left there and decided to go to Macksoods.  They only let two  us and another customer they were helping in.  All were wearing face masks and being careful.  We picked out a pool we liked and Bill asked if they did Military discounts.  The guy said he couldn't do a discount, but would see what he could do.  He came back and said he would give us a free upgrade and upgraded the filter, gave us an automatic vacuum that keeps the bottom of the pool clean, and also gave us steps instead of a ladder.  He was super nice.  They had hand sanitizer around for us to use and also had spray they used to disinfect.  Only 390 for them to install the pool.  We were pretty happy about that.  

They can't put it in until the end of July, unless the weather is really good and we don't get a lot of rain.  Then it will be quicker.  We are praying for good weather.  When we got home, I walked around and checked on my plants.  I did some weeding too.  In the evening, I cleaned the fifth wheel and scrubbed floors.  It feels good to have that done.  Made popcorn for Bill, and I had a bowl of strawberries for our snack.