Day 142, 8/6/2020, Everyone came and we all worked on the deck again

Bill and Jacob

Adam

Peyton, Eli and Isaac gettin screws out.  Boys are drilling and Peyton is pulling them out once they are up

Peyton

Adam

Jacob

Isaac and Eli

Bucket of old screws we've all taken out of the deck

So much accomplished today...lots of hard work by everyone.  They are all so joyful while working together.  What an awesome family we have!  Love each of them so much!  Melissa and her family would love being here helping if they could too.  I loved talking to her on the phone today.

dd captionGrilled hot dogs and potatoes, made corn on the cob and enjoyed eating on the deck.  Jared, Adam, Bill and Jacob

Peyton, Eli and Isaac

Bill

Bill

Adam

Adam and Peyton

Bill and I

Another day spent working on the deck.  Kimmy, Eli and Adam came early and Vikki, Peyton and Isaac got here shortly after.  We took the screws out, flipped these boards and power washed them.  Kimmy picked up Jacob, got Jared and came back and worked until late.  Even the younger ones Peyton and Isaac 8, and Eli, 10 worked the entire day (except for a swim break) and didn't complain, but wanted to keep drilling screws out.  Very hard workers.  The older boys are amazing!  Bill, Kimmy, Jared, and Vikki are amazing workers too!  Smart and skillful!  We are so thankful for their help and hard work.  We are so blessed!

Day 141, 8/4/2020, Vikki & twins came over, Kimmy and family came over, we all worked on the deck

Vikki and the kids after she voted!  Yay Vikki and kiddos!

Bill power washing

Bill and Peyton

Isaac

Isaac

Peyton

Me

Jared, Adam, Jacob, Isaac, Peyton, Eli and Papa Bill

Jacob, Jared, Bill, Isaac

Adam, Jared, Jacob, Bill, Isaac

Isaac, in blue.  Vikki, Kimmy, Adam, Jared and Jacob

Stone Debbie brought over and gave to dad

Jacob taking a picture of the beautiful sunset.  I was going out to take one too, so I took it with him in it

They got this much done.  Amazing how much work everyone did and how much got done.

Bill took the garbage out, then we ate our oatmeal and read our Bibles.  We went to Home Depot to pick up a big container of Flood Cedar deck stain.  Vikki and the kids came over.  We started working on the deck, taking screws out while Bill pulled the boards up.  He started power washing the boards too.  Kimmy called and she wanted to come help too.  Kimmy, Jared, Jacob, Adam and Eli came and all started working hard too.  It was amazing how fast the work got done.  Everyone had such a joyful attitude helping. We sure are blessed!  I started power washing boards, so they would be done before they put them back down.  I ordered pizzas for everyone to eat.  Marie called and let me know how she was doing after her heart cath yesterday.  I talked to her yesterday and she was tired and her arm was pretty sore.  She was doing much better today.  Pray for healing of blockage in her aortic valve.  She has to have it rechecked in 3 months.  Vikki took over power washing and Kimmy stacked the boards according to size.  They had it done by the time I got back to do it.  Bill had a meeting online with CMA State Leadership.  Jared and Jacob got lots done on the deck flipping the boards and putting them back down.  I am just amazed at all that got done, thanks to family who are always there to help us.  Thank you all so much.  The kids got to swim which was nice.  Pretty cool night, but they didn't mind.  

Day 140, 8/3/2020...Vikki surprised us and came over, Hailey got her license, Hailey and Evan came over,

Hailey got her license today and drove Jack to Taco Bell 

Then she drove Evan and came to see me

Hailey and Evan

Waving goodbye

Ate oatmeal and Read Bibles. Decided I would pick the corn since we didn't catch a raccoon last night.  Vikki, Peyton and Isaac surprised us and came and scraped and power washed the deck.  
They sure worked hard.  Hailey got her license.  I am so happy for her.  She got to drive Jack to Taco Bell.  She was so happy.  Then she made my day and drove Evan here.  She made me so happy to come here on the day she got her license.  I loved sitting on the deck and talking with her and Evan.  I am so proud of her.  I sure was blessed with having grandkids around the last two days.  I sure love them all so much.  I gave Hailey and Evan a drumstick that I dumped out of the box for them.  We walked way around on grass so they could see Aunt Vikki and the kids on the deck.  They talked for a little while and also talked with Papa.  We went back on our side of the deck and talked some more.  Then Hailey said Evan wanted to go home.  I thought that was cute!  She reminded me of her mom today.  Melissa called me a few times and we got to talk.  Adam texted me and Kimmy texted me.  I did some googling and watched some videos, and it is squirrels eating our corn.  They have cleaned out most of the corn that is ready to pick.  I only found 2 ears not touched, other than the stuff that is too small right now.  First time in 16 years of having a garden here.  So sad!  Pretty happy squirrels though.  We voted today and dropped our ballots off at the township hall.  Jacob had his first day of band camp. 

Day 139, 8/2/2020, Vikki and twins came over, Kimmy and family came over

Peyton scraping Deck Over off the deck...she has done a lot of scraping the last couple of days

Isaac scraping the deck...he loves doing this and has done lots of scraping the last few days

Eli...so happy he's back from Copper Harbor

Jacob and Adam...I am happy to have them back too!

It was raining when we went to church.  The worship was wonderful and it was such a great message Pastor Ken gave.  We came home and had brunch.  Vikki and the kids came over, and then Kimmy, Jared, Jacob, Adam and Eli came over.  They had to come to Saginaw, so came and picked up the face masks I made for Jacob for his Band Camp this week.  I sure was happy to see them, even if we couldn't get close.  They really liked how the pool deck turned out.  Peyton and Isaac were working on scraping the deck and kept going. Vikki found more scrapers and everyone except Bill and Jared started scraping.  Nobody wanted to leave lol.  What a blessing to have all of those helpers.  Vikki, Peyton and Isaac left too.  Bill and I went to Julia Curry's outside graduation party.  We went late so there were only a few people there.  It was at our church and was a nice party.  Vikki and the kids came over again afterwards, and we went for swim.  We both got lots of exercise, and the kids had lots of fun.  Vikki picked up a great scraper from the Family Dollar Store.  It works so well.  We all tried it and love using it.  Talked to Melissa a couple of times.   I love my family!

Day 138, 8/1/2020, Went to Sandusky, Went to Menonnite store, Stopped at Farmer's Market in Frankenmuth, Vikki and Peyton came over, Kimmy and family got home yay!

Me, Bill and Debbie at the Farmer's Market

Road to Sandusky, then to Frankenmuth, then home

Jacob wanted a black face mask for Band Camp, so I made 4 for my wonderful grandson

We got up early to go to Sandusky for their Chapter Meeting at the Park.  The meeting was nice and their chaplain gave a good message from the book of Mark.  We went to the Mennonite Store after that and picked up a few things.  Got a huge Creamer for 1.99.  What a deal.  Got a blueberry pie, some snickerdoodle cookies, hash browns, lunchmeat, and bacon.  I took two small coolers with me with ice.  We couldn't get too much because we had the motorcycle.  Bill wanted to get cinnamon rolls for Vikki.  I almost told him she wouldn't want them, but then thought about how she loves cinnamon rolls, and also thought about how sweet it was of him, so told him yes when he mentioned it.  We went to Frankenmuth and stopped at the farmer's market.  We checked to see if Bill's sister, Debbie was there making pizza's.  She was so, we walked around outside while they made our pizza.  It was baked on the grill and was so delicious.  She served it to us outside and we ate at a little table.  After we were done eating, she had time to come sit with us for a little bit.  We left for home after that.  I tried calling Kimmy, as I saw a message saying she had pocket dialed me and they were past Marquette.  I was excited that I could talk to her, but my headphones in my helmet didn't pick up the call, so she couldn't hear me.  I called her when I got home and was so happy to talk to her.  I sanitized everything down when I brought the groceries in the garage.  Vikki and Peyton were swimming.  We gave her the cinnamon rolls!  Bill was right and she loved them.  She shared with her family of course.  Bill and I went for a swim and cooled down after our ride too.  Vikki swam 1 mile and I only swam 1/2 mile.  We closed our exercise rings.  Bill and I went to JoAnne's to get black material for Jacob's Masks.  We went to Sam's Club after that.  Picked up Kind Bars that were on sale, a box of Premium Protein drinks for us and one for Marie and Roy, Bacon that you microwave for Kody, and a huge box of 250 lens wipes.  Adam texted me that they were home!  I am excited to get to see them tomorrow.  We came home and I started making masks.  Kimmy called and it was so nice talking to her again.  I sure have missed her!  I finished the face masks and then talked to Vikki.  Love that she and Peyton are reading the Bible together.  Peyton is loving it!  This makes me so happy!

 

Day 137, 7/31/2020, Viikki, Isaac and I finished staining the deck, Went for a swim, Went to Kimmy's to check on her place

Bill and I riding to meet up with Don and Sabrina at Meijer's

We were in a parade at Community Village.  The residents loved it.  Don in front, then Sabrina, then us.  Had vehicles too!

We went around 3 times

Isaac staining the deck in the small area by the wall of the pool.  We couldn't fit in there.  Vikki taught him how to stain, and he did the wall joyfully and did a great job!

Wished Brenda a happy birthday.  She said to please tell everyone she said hi.  We did our Bible reading, worshipping and praying, then went to Meijer's to meet up with Don and Sabrina to go to Community Village to be in a parade for the residents.  We got to Community Village and went around three times.  It was so nice seeing all of the residents outside.  They were waving and saying hi.  I loved it when someone called out my name and said hi.  She is a favorite of mine when we play bingo.  They are all favorites though.  Can't wait to be able to help them for Bingo again.  The nurses and workers were feeding them and giving them popcorn.  It was so much fun.  We got home, and Vikki and Isaac came over to help me stain.  Isaac did such a great job in the area by the pool where we didn't fit.  It was a tight squeeze, but he fit and joyfully helped us.  Thank you Isaac.  We went for a swim afterward and the water was so warm.  It felt great since it was a cooler day.  We went to Kimmy's and hoed her garden to surprise her.  Isaac was a big help.  Isaac watered her blueberries and flowers too.  It was fun doing it with Vikki and Issac.  Gave the kitty's lots of attention and told them their family would be home tomorrow.  Came home and made dinner for Bill.  I ate left over mac and cheese.  Watered my plants and relaxed in my recliner next to All in his recliner.

Day 136, 7/30/2020, Vikki and the kids came swiming, Hailey passed her driving test, took meal to Barb, Bill finished cable on deck

Hailey passed her driving test! YAY! Way to go Hailey!  

Bill finished the cable on the deck rails

Ate oatmeal outside, read my Bible and prayed.  Cleaned out and refilled all the bird feeders.  Put  suet Vikki made me out, refilled oriole feeder and put oranges out.  Cut out some face mask material. Vikki, Peyton and Isaac came over.  Isaac worked on scraping old Deck Over off the house deck and did a great job.  Melissa let me know Hailey passed her driving test.  We were praying for her while she took it.  Knew she would do great!  We had a nice swim and saw baby orioles at my oriole feeder.  Haven't had orioles in so long.   It was pretty exciting.  Saw lots of other birds at the feeder too.  I made mac and cheese to take Barb in Alma.  Took her some veggies from the garden and zucchini bread too.  We had a nice visit.  She is doing great after her heart attack.  She was just tested for Covid and was negative so that was good.  Talked to Melissa on my way home.  Hailey and Bruce had fun at BayShore for the day and everyone was careful around them.  Answered prayer!  Talked to Vikki after Melissa.  She FaceTimed me and showed me how she trimmed Peyton's hair so it's even.  She did a great job!