Thurs., 6/13/24, Put things that could be affected by thunderstorms away on the deck, I went to Meijer and Jack’s, Jack, Bill and I went to Culver’s for lunch (I just had a free kid’s sundae) Jack and Bill moved the little shed of the shed deck and power washed that deck,

Evan and his chapel buddy (the little girl) praying in a circle on their last day of school in chapel

Kit Kat was pretty comfy when I went outside to sit on the swing

I was in Meijer and I looked down the aisle and saw this man and started crying.  He looks so much like my dad who I miss so much!  I used to take him to Meijer a lot and have such great memories of being there with him.  I thanked God for reminding me of just how special my dad was and how much I miss him.  Happy because of Jesus, I will see him again!

Bill and Jack in the front seat on our way for me to let a chipmunk out the back door where his relatives are located.  We went to Culver’s for lunch after that.  We were happy to run into our friend, Joaquin, there. .

Selfie when we got home

Bill and Jack took turns power washing the shed deck.  First the moved the little shed off the deck which meant emptying it.  Thank you Jack for helping papa!

Lantana plants from Boehler’s

I forgot what this plant is.  I will have to ask Kimmy as she gave it to me.

Cute toy I got for Rehvyn for 50 cents at a garage sale.  Vikki looked it up and they are $8 and have a 5 star rating

I got up at 8 and Bill got up at 8:30.  I started laundry right away, then went out and filled jelly feeders. The orioles like the jelly instead of the liquid feeders this year for some reason.  I put a capful of the weekly pool stuff in and started the pool filter.  Ran it until 10 when electricity doubles until 7.  I sat outside on the deck and ate breakfast and drank my coffee.  I gave Kit Kat her attention for the morning.  Then I went out and fed the fish and sat on my new bench and watched them.  Such a peaceful place to sit too.  I saw that it was supposed to thunderstorm in the afternoon with possible hail, so I put things I didn’t want broken or ruined away.  I went to Meijer for suet and chlorine tablets that were on sale and Jacks. for 50 lbs. of bird feed for $16.99.  My birds will be happy.  I went to a couple of garage sales too and got a couple of cute little toys for Rehvyn that I think he will really like.  I talked to Kimmy, Melissa, Vikki and Kenzie today.  I was happy when Jack walked in after I got home.  Bill picked him up to spend time with him.  I told him how happy I was to see him and have him spend time with us.  Bill and Jack played ping pong for a while, then we all went to Culver’s.  Jack had a double cheeseburger and fries, and Bill had chicken strips and fries.   Jack had a concrete mixer too.  I just got a free hot fudge kids sundae.  Bill shared his fries with me too.  Bill ran into 3 guys who used to work for him that were eating there.  

When we got home, Bill and Jack took the stuff out of the little shed, and moved the shed to the side of the big shed.  Then Bill taught Jack how to power wash the deck.  Jack did a great job and has a great work attitude too.  So nice that grandkids love helping us.  He wants to help Eli stain that deck when we are ready to.  When they were done, they came in for a few minutes, then Bill took Jack home on the motorcycle because Jack wanted to ride on it.  I took pictures and a video.  I read my Bible on the deck.  I’m reading Job now.  Sure is a good lesson on how we should worship God even when we go through tough times because of all God has done for us and given us.  

Kimmy called to get an idea of prices at Boehlers.  They were better than the Meijer prices for pepper plants she checked.  I sent her some Apple Cash because I wanted her to pick up a lantana plant.  I love the ones I got there.  She found two little ones she loved the color of and got those instead of one big one.  Things from Boehlers always grow good, so hers will be as big as mine in no time.  Bill got home and we ate left over chicken noodle casserole for dinner.  It is so yummy warmed up.  I watered the new plants Kimmy gave me the other day.  I sure want them to make it.   It rained this morning, but not enough to do the plants a whole lot of good.  Better than nothing though.  Our garden is doing great after watering it last night.  No more wilted plants and the corn is about an inch high and so are the radishes.  The flower seeds I planted are popping up now too.

I sat out on the deck and watched birds this evening.  Bill was tired and snoozed in his recliner.  He worked hard today.  I enjoyed seeing lots of nice birds. I talked to Vikki again for a while.  It never did thunderstorm out and we didn’t even get rain.  

Wed., 6/12/24, went to breakfast with Sue and Charlie, got water tested at Macksoods, went to Vikki’s, Kenzie dropped Rehvyn off for Vikki to watch, added chlorine and ph + to the pool, Max and Bill target practiced, then they put the stuff back on the deck, I took food to Charlie and Sue

Me trying to take selfie pictures of Rehvyn and I 

He loves this teething toy

I took a face time picture of Rehvyn  outside in this tub...I got him right when he smiled

He was so cute how he splashed and was so serious at first about the water

Yay, Max and Bill got everything back on the deck.  We will really enjoy it now since it looks so good

Sat out on the deck and read my Bible and also relaxed and watched the birds this evening

Adam sent me these pictures he took at the Detroit Zoo when he went with Hope and her mom and dad.  He’s always so sweet to think of me.

Bill and I slept in until 8:30.  I went out and filled bird feeders and jelly feeders, turned the pool filter on and watered one section of the garden. I checked the deck and stained in a few places were the cracks needed stain in them.  Bill asked me if I wanted to go meet Charlie and Sue at Leo’s for breakfast.  I said yes of course.  We left about 5 minutes later.  We had a nice time at breakfast.  Charlie said his doctor’s appt. went good.  We went to Aldi’s after that.  I got things I needed to go with my chicken I put in the crockpot this morning to make Chicken noodle casserole.  Vikki called and said Kimmy was there.  I took a pool sample and stopped at Macksood’s so they could test it and tell me what to do to get the water perfectly clear.  It needed PH+.  I went to Vikki’s after that.  I was happy to see Melissa and Jack there, along with Kimmy and Eli, Peyton, Isaac and Vikki.  We sat out on the sun porch and visited.  Jack showed us his 3 favorite nerf gel shooters.  Vikki tried shooting a squirrel on the top of her garage roof, but she kept missing and it kept looking like it was saying, ha ha ya missed me.  Then Jack shot at it and boy did it run.  It got hit a few times when he shot.  Kimmy went to Target and got one of the ones that was Jack’s favorite.  She has already shot 3 starlings.  I want to get one for me when I sit on the back deck.  Mykenzie came for a few minutes and then left Rehvyn for Vikki to watch tomorrow while she helps Travis and his friend.  She gave me the sweetest hug when she left.   So much fun spending time with daughters and grandkids.  Rehvyn was just so cute and sweet again.  I love holding him!  I had to leave to come home and put the chemicals in the pool.  I want to have it clear and ready for those 90 degree days that are coming next week and the 80 degree days coming this week.  I got the PH up and added some chlorine.  We will see what tomorrow brings.

I took a 20 minute rest, then made the chicken noodle casserole.  I made lots so I could take Charlie and Sue some.  I also went to Boehler’s and picked up a pretty garden decoration stake like I got Debbie only they didn’t have any heart ones.  I got the circle ones that kept going in circles.  They are so pretty.   

Max and Bill were target practicing when I came home.  Max and Bill left, but then came back shortly after and said Bruce was going to pick Max up here.  I thought I would be able to feed him, after he and Bill put the stuff back on the deck, but Bruce came right away.  I gave Sue the garden decoration when I delivered the food.  We sat out on the deck and talked for a while, then I asked her where she wanted me to put the garden stake.  She showed me and I put it in for her.  I forgot her card, so I will have to give it to her next time I see her. 

When I got home, I started watering the other side of the garden, then did my flower garden. 

I checked the pool and it was clearing up nicely.  I skimmed the pool a little, but there wasn’t much to skim.  I took the solar cover off and put it back on myself.  Bill was coming out to help me put it back on, but I already had it done.  It is much easier with two people, but I am glad I can do it myself if needed.  I sat on the deck and read my Bible, then watched the birds when I finished reading. 

We relaxed in our recliners which felt good again since I am still somewhat sore today still. 

 

Tuesday, 6/11/24, Rehvyn is 6 months old today! We all love him so much! Kimmy, Adam, Evan and Eli, and Vikki and Isaac all came over, worked all day on staining the wrap around deck and the pool deck, Very joyful diligent and great workers, Everything looks so nice! Thank you all

Our sweet adorable 6th month old Rehvyn!  We all love him so much!

His grammy’s new car seat!  He is pretty happy in it, but then he’s always happy

Vikki, Kimmy and Eli working on staining the deck today.  They are such hard workers!

Finished in two days....our wrap around deck and our pool deck!  Amazing!

 I got up early and fed the birds.  Bill took the garbage and recycling out.  He went to get stain while I sat on the deck and ate my bowl of cereal and drank my coffee.  I gave Kit Kat attention too, hoping she wouldn’t come on the deck while we were staining if she already had attention.  She did pretty good today.  Rehvyn is 6 months old today.  He is such a blessing and gift from the Lord.  What a happy and content baby who makes us all so happy.  He is just what we needed in the family.  

Vikki and Isaac came over.  Kimmy, Adam, Eli, and Evan got here a few minutes later.  We moved things off the deck, then Kimmy and I blew the part we were staining today off.  Kimmy instructed Evan and Isaac on how to stain and they did it for a little while.  Then we let them enjoy their time and go in the house and play ping pong and also hang out together outside.  In three years when we do the deck again, they will be helping the whole time probably.  We were thankful for their help.

Adam did the pool deck by himself and Kimmy, Vikki, Eli and I split up the sections of the deck and worked together getting that done.  They are all amazing workers.  I love how joyful they are and how the kids think it is fun.  Kimmy, Vikki and I think it is work that we make fun by laughing and talking together.  It is just amazing to me that we got all of that done in a day and a half.  We actually didn’t get to start yesterday until around 1.  Vikki, Eli and Isaac left around 4 to go to Kenzie’s to see Rehvyn on his 6 month old birthday.  She took the great pictures on my blog today.  Bill took Adam to his soccer practice with his school team.  Kimmy and I did the gate to the pool, the hand rail and the last 10 short boards in the center of the pool deck.  We got really hot because we were in the sun. (We realized how hot Adam must have been doing all the rest of the deck). We decided to wait til it was more shaded, so we sat on the swings and drank our water and had frozen strawberry popsicles I made.  They were so good and it sure felt good to relax.  We were both pretty sore from yesterday’s staining.  After we got done, it was pretty shaded by the steps so we did those, and the deck around the steps.   Lastly, we did the two posts that the solar cover to the pool is on.  Then we took care of our brushes and Kimmy had to leave to go pick up Adam.  I put the sprinkler on the garden, then picked up the small stuff that could be put away or thrown away.  When I came in the house, Bill and I had a piece of the rhubarb pie, Carol sent home with Bill after he took her to a dentist.  She sent two pieces for us to have because she was finishing another piece tonight too and ate a half a pie in two days.  That was sweet of her to want us to have some too.  I have to say, it did taste pretty good with ice cream on it.  YUM!

Pool Jacob isn’t feeling good.  He has a really sore throat.  Jared is trying to get a doctor appt. for him for tomorrow.  We prayed for him today and are continuing to pray.  He had to go practice with the Eddy band tonight.  On his way home, Kimmy said he hit a fawn on the highway.  He didn’t get hurt, but there is some damage to the bumper.  He missed the mom deer praise God.  Hailey totaled her mom and dad’s car hitting a deer when she first started driving.  Thankful Kimmy and Jared don’t have to go through that.

It was a busy, but a fun family work day.  I appreciate everyone’s help and love so much.  We are so blessed with a close and loving family.  I thank God for each one!  God is so good to us!  Our family is so good to us too.  I’m thankful for the love God has put in our hearts.

Monday, 6/10/24, Took Sister Carol to her appt., returned pool straps we don’t need, went to Sam’s, Kimmy, Eli and Adam came over and we started staining the deck, Max came over, Evan came over, went to McDonalds, went to Home Depot,

The deck power washed and ready to stain

Eli mixing the stain

Eli and Adam staining their section

They were such great workers.  They didn’t even want to stop to go out to eat with Papa and Max

Me staining...this was Kimmy and my section

We got a lot done today for starting late

Bill saw the neighbor had cut down a tree, and piled the branches at the end of his little woods.  Bill told him he would burn them for him.  He had the Adam, Eli and Evan haul them up with him so he could burn them today.  They were hard workers doing that too.

 

Me, Adam, Evan and Eli when we said goodbye in the van at McDonalds.  They are all fun and just the nicest grandkids.

Hailey sent me these cute pictures at Valley Lutheran’s Graduation yesterday.  Hailey, Ally and friends

Besties since preschool....Now both finished their second year of college

Brianna with Hailey and Ally

Luke and Hailey

Luke with his sister and Hailey

I love these two girls.  I always took a picture of them together and now they are taking them still and sending them to me when I’m not there.  I trained them well.

I got up at 5:15 a.m. and got ready, then left at 6:30 to be at Bill’s sister, Carol’s at 7 to take her to her appointment.  I surprised her and took her a rhubarb pie I made last night after I got home from the parade.  She had commented on my post of the picture of the rhubarb pie I made for our camping trip.  She was very happy when I gave it to her.  We went to her appointment to have an Echo test and a medicine stress test.  Last time I took her, the end screw thing broke off her oxygen tank.  It got caught between the door.  Today I prayed everything would go good.  We walked through the first door and she told me it was her fault it broke off last time because she should have walked through the doors.  The tank just got caught on the door edge.  This time she put the oxygen tank in front of her in the wheelchair and pushed it in.  I also stayed in the very middle of the doors.  I guess we both learned our lesson.  They didn’t send the instructions for her appt. in time so she never received them.  She had her first test done and it took 10 minutes.  Then she came out with a big cup that they had me fill at the water cooler.  She had to drink 2 of them.  She also had Fritos and chips to eat.  They wanted her eating something greasy which seemed weird.  She went back in for her stress test.  I was talking to Sue and praying for some prayer needs they had for today, when the worker guy came and said, Penny, could you go get Carol an egg McMuffin, hash brown and black coffee from McDonalds?  She needed more grease he said.  He told me the closest one to go to and I went and got her what she wanted and also got me an egg McMuffin.  She was coming out when I got there, so I moved a plant off an end table and slid it over so she could set her hot coffee on it.  She ate the hash brown, which was super greasy, then took a few bites of the egg McMuffin.  Her coffee was too hot to drink.  They came out before she could finish eating and got her.  She went back to finish the test, then came out and they said she was done.  She had to go to the bathroom, so I wheeled her over to the door.  She told me she could get up and walk in, but I needed to take the oxygen tank out of the holder on the wheelchair.  Well, it wouldn’t come out.  When the guy set it in, the wheel got caught and it was too tight to get it out.  Finally after we were trying for a while, the young girl behind the window in the office asked if we needed help.  We told her what was wrong and she came out and helped us.  She said she didn’t care if she had to break the wheelchair.  She tried with us for quite a while, then finally I held a part back for her and up a little and she was able to pull the wheel out.  Yay!  I asked Carol if she had adventures with the oxygen tank like this with Bill and she said no.  I guess I will have to pray harder next time.  We sure had a good laugh on the way home.  

I went to return the solar cover straps we didn’t use.  After that I went to Sam’s Club and Aldi’s.  Kimmy called and they were coming over to start staining the deck, so I stopped at Home Depot to get some cheap brushes she liked that she sent me a picture of.  Well they didn’t have any cheap brushes.  I decided to go to Meijer to look and see if they had them.  They did, so I picked up some.  I came home and Kimmy and Adam and Eli got there shortly after.  Eli stirred the stain, then we filled our containers and all started staining.  It went much faster than I thought it would.  It was fun staining with Kimmy.  We would start on three boards and work to the middle where we would meet.  Then we gave it a second coat right away.  I put good Christian music on so we could all listen to it while we worked.  

Those boys were amazing workers and did a great job.  They finished their section before us, so they went in and had muffins I picked up from Sam’s Club this morning.  Adam made some sandwiches too.  Bill took Max out for a hamburger to Culvers, and when he dropped Max off, he picked up Evan as he was going to spend the night at Kimmy’s.  He was so sweet and gave me the biggest hugs.  Kimmy and I thought we were coming to the easy shorter part, but it ended up taking long, because Bill had to replace to boards that were rotting.  After he got that done, we were back at it.  The deck sure looks beautiful.  Thank you Kimmy and boys.  What hard workers you are and what huge blessings.  Bill and the boys worked on hauling brush and burning it after they had been in the house for a while.  They sure are joyful workers too. 

The boys, Kimmy and I went to 7-11 and McDonalds on their way home.  I followed in my car and treated them.  Kimmy didn’t want me to, but there was no way I wasn’t going to after all their hard work.  We used the app on our phones and did four orders and saved quite a bit of money.  They headed home, and I came back to my house and picked up Bill.  We went to Home Depot and tried to get the stain.  They told us they didn’t sell it, but the one on Gratiot did.  I had him call to see if they had some.  He said they had 9 cans.  We headed to that one, and got there 12 minutes after they closed.  They close an hour earlier than the other store.  That would have been nice for the guy to tell us.  Now Bill will go in the morning and get it before we start staining.  It was a busy, but fun day.

Poor Peyton was sick throwing up and having diarrhea since 3 a.m.  We prayed for her to get better fast.  In the evening, Vikki FaceTimed me and Peyton was doing good.  She sent me a funny video earlier, so I thought she was starting to feel better.   She was doing great.  They thought it was because she was putting the pool water in her mouth so much yesterday.