Saturday, 9/12/2020, Went to chapter meeting in Sandusky. Closing the pool today! Went to Country View Mennonite Store.

                                                    Max, Jack, Bruce Evan and Melissa 

                                                                Bruce being silly

                                                     Eli, Papa Bill, me, Adam and Jacob

                                                                              Peyton

                                                                  Hans has gotten so big

                                                          Bill and I relaxing on the shed deck

                                                     Peyton in her cute outfit she got today

                                        

                                                            My roses are beautiful right now

We got up early and went to Sandusky for CMA Chapter chapter that we are reps for.  They were having a few problems, so we went to pray for them and help them work things out.  After 4 phone calls when we got home, it was resolved and they all were ready to do what God has called them to do.  We stopped at Country View Mennonite Store and shopped.  When we got home, I put all the chemicals in the pool that were needed for closing.  We delivered cinnamon rolls and bread we had bought at the Mennonite Store to Melissa and Bruce and visited for a while.  We split the last cinnamon roll they had just warmed up and it was yummy.  Nice we had replacement cinnamon rolls.  We had a nice visit with Melissa and Bruce.  The kids called us afterward and were super excited.  We dropped Molasses cookies off at Charlie and Sue's.  They were on a drive in Kalkaska so we stuck the bag on their porch.  Next we went to Kimmy's.  She and Jared were busy throwing pottery together on the wheel.  The kids came out to greet us, and then Kimmy and Jared came out.  Kimmy and I walked and looked at the sheep, the new spickets they put in (so nice to see them have water handy everywhere now and be able to use their well water.  They did a great job replacing the old ones with new ones that work great.  She also showed me the new cabinet they made in the barn to shelter one of the spickets.  They sure did a great job.  The sheep sure have grown, especially Hans.  He is huge.  The babies are so cute and getting so big.  They picked some musk melons,  watermelon, cauliflower, and peppers out of their garden for us.  We walked around and looked at their beautiful plants and flowers.  They looks so nice.  We came home and started working on closing the pool.  While Bill unhooked the filter, I made spaghetti for dinner.  Vikki and Peyton came over.  Vikki was a great help with closing the pool.  She sprayed the filter and got it really clean.  Helped with lots of other stuff too and helped get the winter cover on the pool.  The rain held off so we could do all of this.  Right as soon as we were done, it started raining.  Peyton helped with the cover.  We set the pool furniture on the shed deck until we pack it away.  We had drumsticks afterward, and we gave Vikki and Peyton the goodies we got for their family.  Bill and I  filled out our CMA form for the State Rally. 

Cute picture of Kimmy and Jared working on pottery together 

Friday,9/11/2020, Remembering 9-11, Started working on closing pool, Walked

            Geese flying over on our walk

Remembering 9-11 and what a sad day it was.  Also remember our country uniting together and lots of people turning to God.  I remember that day so well.  I was up and starting to get some things done when my mom called and told me one of the Twin Towers had been hit by a plane.  I turned the television on just as the second plane was flying into the tower.  They knew it was no accident then.  The Pentagon got hit by another plane and by that time I had gone downstairs to wake Bill up.  We slept in the bedroom in the basement and he was still sleeping.  He got up and we watched the day unfold as another plane went down in Pennsylvania.  Those brave people laid their lives down and overtook the hijackers so they wouldn’t fly the plane into another building.  It was unbelievable that this could happen on American soil.  Terrorists were behind it.  Lots of fear and lots of change in our country.  Also, lots of people helping others, praying for others, calling on God and uniting together as Americans!
Today we started closing our pool.  Bill disconnected the steps and I vacuumed the pool.  Some leaves but not a whole lot. The vacuum picked them up easily.  The water was crystal clear and when we took it in for them to test he said it was perfect.  We got the chemicals we need to close it.
Got coney dogs from Old Town to go.  Too late to do the pool when we got home.  Will do it when we get home from Sandusky tomorrow. We went for a walk down our road to get our steps.  Saw and heard lots of geese.  Had ice cream when we got home.

Thurs., 9/10/2020 Peyton and Isaac stayed with me til Vikki got out of work, Trump was in Freeland for a rally

 Me at the Trump Campaign store

Me ready for Trump Rally

Vikki, Bill and I ready to go see President Trump

                                                             Vikki at the Trump Rally

                                                      Vikki...Air Force One in the background

                                                   Air Force One Landing at MBS Airport

I heard Peyton and Isaac up, so I got up and we had breakfast.  They made the bed upstairs for me.  We read a book called The Hideout, for a half hour, then Peyton and Isaac read the Picture Bible for 20 minutes.  Isaac is an amazing reader.  Peyton is doing good and will be reading like Isaac soon I think. Vikki got out of work early, so she came over and we ate tacos.  Then we went to the Trump Campaign Store.  We got hats and face masks and a couple of little flags.  She took the kids home to have Rody watch them, and I came home to get ready.  She came back and we all rode to the Trump Rally together.  There were probably 20,000 people there (they were expecting 5,000), so we didn't get to go see Trump in person.  We saw his plane fly in which was so cool.  Then we were let in the next area before you went into security and watched him on the big screen.  We saw Olivia Gager when we walked.  Bill went ahead of us because he cut in front of some people.  One guy was upset, and Vikki and I just wanted to wait back in line so we did.  We actually ended up right close to the big screen which was a better spot.  President Trump's did an amazing job and has done an amazing job for our country.  People were really excited!  Me too!  Bill saw Mark, Michelle and Meh Meh there.  They were close to him, but not close enough to talk to.  

Wed., 9/9/2020, Went to Vikki's, Bill returned vanity table, Peyton and Isaac spent the night

 

                                                    Isaac, me, Peyton, Lucy and Lenny

I listened to the Bible on my speaker today.  I have been reading 1st, 2nd and 3rd John, so decided to listen to it too.  Bill had to go into town and return the vanity table he got me for our anniversary.  We are ordering a grey one online.  Another cool day with a little rain.  I went to Vikki's to learn more about the kids online school.  We figured a couple of things out, but poor Vikki spent the whole day working at it.  The teacher told her lots of parents are sending her the same kind of messages.  She had a meeting today and was going to bring up all the concerns.  I came home and cleaned out an upstairs closet.  I did laundry from camping too.  Started going through some pictures. Checking to see if I have doubles for Meh Meh that were from my mom.  Bill went for a walk, but my knee was hurting so I didn't go.  Hopefully tomorrow I will be able to.  Peyton and Isaac came to spend the night.  They wanted to watch a Full House before bed, so we did.  We read the pop up Bible and they took turns pulling the tab up to see what was under it.  I tucked them in and we all prayed!  They went to sleep pretty fast.  

Tues., 9/8/2020, Our 47th Anniversary, Mark, Michelle and Ahmeh came to visit, Kimmy and family came over, and so did Vikki and family, Travis too

 

                                                             Peyton, Mark and Isaac

                                                        This time Jacob photobombed them                                                                                                                                                                

                                                            Adam, Jacob, Eli and Mark

                                                                      Peyton and Mark

                                                                   Me, Bill and Mark

                                                                    Bill and Mark

                                                                    Kenzie and Mark

                                                                        Kimmy and Mark

                                                        Ahmeh, Vikki, Mark and Michelle                                          

                                                         Ahmeh, me, Mark and Michelle 

                                                                Vikki and Mark

                                                                        Me and Mark

                                                                 Kenzie, me and Meh Meh

                                                                  Meh Meh and me

                                                               Kenzie and Meh Meh

                                                              Kenzie, Mark and Travis

                                                               Mark and Travis                                                     

                                                           Ahmeh, Michelle and Mark

                

Mykenzie and Ahmeh

                             Ahmeh, Michelle, Mark, Hailey, Melissa, Max, Evan, Jack and Bruce

Peyton and Isaac got up a half hour after I did.  Bill had already left to take the dunk tank back to Bay City.  The kids ate, then we worked on school work on the computer.  Not easy for me to figure out, so how can a kid figure all that out.  Things didn't work like they should, so we couldn't draw like they said, and the questions we answered seemed to disappear.  They said we need to save them to a file, but it didn't show how to do that or what file.  We spent lots of time trying to figure things out.  Peyton would get a square on her chrome book to write and answer, but Isaac didn't get the square, so couldn't write the answer.  Frustrating to say the least.  Bill came home and brought me a flower arrangement with different kinds of roses and flowers mixed in.  It was beautiful.  He gave me a beautiful card with a gift certificate to Outback in it.  Vikki came here after work to get ready.  Mark, Ahmeh, and Mark's fiancé, Michelle, got here.  Kimmy, Jared and the boys got here right after that.  We had such a great day, looking through pictures, watching videos of grandpa's interviews I took, and sharing memories.  I loved the memory Mark shared about wanting to marry me when he was little because he loved me and I looked beautiful.  How precious.  He lived with us for a few years and we were like parents to him then.  Ahmeh was little last time she was here(around 7). She remembered lots, even though she was so young.  She remembered spending time with Kenzie (who came to see her today too and is only 2 years older, remembered Hailey (commented on how she loved playing with her.  Hailey was only almost 2 when she was here last).  Love that she is such a family girl, and that the loves the Lord.   We loved Michelle....she shared scripture and Prov. 31.  She uses it to teach in her business.  She grew up in Alaska, because her parents were missionaries.  Her dad is a Pastor.  Looks like God has brought Mark the right person.  She was so nice and fit right in our family.  We had tacos and then had ice cream bars, zucchini bread, Oreos and cupcakes for dessert.  We visited more.  While we visited and looked at pictures, I looked up and saw a box with a picture of the make up table I showed Bill I wanted for Christmas sitting on the living room floor in the middle of the room.  Everyone laughed because I had been in the room so long and didn't notice it there for so long.  He sure spoiled me on our 47th Anniversary. I sure am thankful for him and for God being in our marriage.   After the videos we watched, Mark wanted to get over to see Melissa and her family.  We visited outside there.  It was warmer than they had said, 63 degrees, and it was only supposed to get to 54.  We stayed quite a while, and it was so nice getting to visit there too.  Mark told the girls they were like sisters to him.  It was such a fun day! While I went to Melissa's, Kimmy, Vikki and families cleaned up the house, put the tables back to the regular size, did dishes, and everything else to make the house so nice.  What blessings they always are.  I told them to go home and get the kids in bed because they have school tomorrow.  They sure didn't listen.