Praise concert

 Up and sooner or later I started the dishwasher.  Nice sister phone call.   We spent the morning cleaning the airbnb.   At 3 I went to play pickleball with Shawn, Jennifer, Lynn and Tim.  3 was too hot for me.   A couple times I got light headed.  After I got home I put together flowers and we went to the outside concert at Leslie and John G.  It was really nice.  Nice weather/praise/music/people.  Thank you Jesus!!!

My friend Carol Johnson

This is My story! So many miracles. Healed miraculously of rheumatoid AND psoriatic arthritis which crippled me in absolute agony and constant pain at 38. Absolutely confounded the rheumatologist and other specialists I saw at the Mayo Clinic. No meds. No treatment. Just time, praise and God’s word. Complete healing .So thankful!!!

First before that I was healed of severe heart trouble to live a normal life at age 10 after 3 years of not being able to attend full days in school from age 6 to 9. Rheumatic fever at age six left me with two significant heart murmurs and a very compromised heart. So I had to stay home all year for first grade and second grade some of third grade but got to go 1/2 days in fourth grade and finally (hooray!!)full days in fifth grade. Thank goodness I love to read and study on my own. So I was able to keep up with my school work on my own. But being sick and weak for much of my childhood was not great.

Had some heart issues over the years but was mostly good until extreme symptoms caused an emergency visit to Sanford Heart hospital due to really weird pains and very strange heart rhythms at age 65. Many tests all showed some pretty terrible problems. But after a night of prayer with my family and me speaking God’s word and promises for healing all night I went in for a procedure that involved a live video feed from camera put into my heart through veins in my wrist area. Pretty stressful but I just knew God had shown up once again for me.

When cardiologist came in as I lay on gurney ready to go into surgical suite he asked what I felt like and what I thought they would find. I said my heart is healed and you will see that my heart is beautiful. He just smiled and said “I hope you are right.” They rolled me in and put me on surgical bed. Prepped me and started procedure. Imagine my joy when he said in kind of an awe-filled voice a few moments later while looking at live video images of my heart and all its chambers… “You are right…- “your heart is beautiful!”

My family, waiting with trepidation in Surgical waiting room was shocked when cardiac surgeon came out in minutes instead of what they had been told could take hours as they attempted to fix my heart. What they heard was good news from my very happy, surprised and confused cardiologist/surgeon telling them my heart was just fine. What a miracle!!! So thankful!!!

So I am happy every day I get to wake up pain-free with my heart beating nicely. I am so thankful for God’s goodness and mercy and the absolute power of Jesus’ amazing blood!!!

Grands … smoked meat … pickleball people plus

 Fun day!!!  I got a few groceries and the played pickleball 8-10.  Karen, and2 were at Pete and Carol’s so I stopped for a cup of coffee.  At home the pork butt was smoking, Denny had started it last night, low temp and slow using bbq sauce from Hendersons.    I planted free flowers, husked the corn from Goldsmiths, etc. made mint lemonade, washed tabled, and then we napped for about an hour.   Kathy and Clayton, Marilyn and Steve, Brenda and Mike, Lynn S/N, Pete and Carol, Karen, Rose and Lincoln, Denny and me and our 3 airbnbers, A Dora, Jessica's and Trevina, Total 17 area great potluck meal.  Corn, green beans, cukes, peach pie, fat bars, watermelon and blueberries, pesto, cowboy caviar, and smoked pork butt.  SO GOOD!!  For me it kinda felt like a 3 ring circus.    We were one patio ... it rained ... we went to coop ... All arrived ... people went thru food line in the sunroom.  Some sat out side ... some in coop ... It rained ... all moved into the coop.  There were three varied groups invited.  But in the end all meshed okay.  Pickle ball people ... our family  ...  especially the Grands ... our airbnbers.   Life is always interesting.  And I hope all had a good time ... I know they had good food!!!

Cherokee Fun!!

I was up and heading north by 6:30.  I loaded sunflower nosegays for Mandy to take to her clinic.  I think they look so pretty.  It was a fun day.  G'ma Jan came over about 11.  Jason came home for lunch.  The boys napped and I fixed some food.  Maidrite meat,  meat for taco bars,

                                         

 

Pickle ball and golf

Up early   A fun picture appeared on my facebook.  At pickle ball there were 11 players.  At home Denny was working on garden shed repairs.  We mowed the lawn and after we got done I took a shower.  Julie P. came to pick me up and we played 9 holes of golf.  We visited on the rockers and grilled pork chops and had salad for supper.  I am waiting to our airbnb gal.  

Tuesday July 27

 I worked at the OGT until 11.  When I stopped at Bomgaars they were giving away free plants. At home Denny was moving dirt with the bob cat to level camping places for a RV.  We had an inquiry on airbnb for Wednesday.  Denny started to fix garden shed.  I put together sunflowers and 5 stems nosegays.  I started to paint the upper room a light gray.  

Golf at Cherokee

Up early enough that I could tell bikers bye. Then to IG to play one game of pickleball before heading to Cherokee to play golf with 44 other women.  Such a fun morning.  My partners were Jean from Storm Lake and Becky from Alta.  We had a lot of fun and shot a 38.  Pretty good for me.  I stopped at a thrift store and got a bigger pot for the 2 hibiscus plants.  At home Denny had been moving dirt to make the camper spot more level.   We cleaned in then basement, and ate supper on the deck.  Wonderful Day!!

First time meal for Airbnb'ers

I didn't sleep the best but slept well from 5-6 and then I was up and had the time to plant the Bomgaars purchases.  I also picked and put together small bunches of sunflowers to give away after church.  After church we started on the meal preparations.  The group called about 1:30 and said they were  about 20 minutes out.  Denny sprayed for bugs and blew off then patio.  Jensens texted and said they made it to Doha for an 8 hour layover before going to Katmandu.  

Menu:  Denny's Jubilee wild rice stuffed teriyaki pork chops garnished with small corn on the cob  Tossed salad,  Green beans sautéed with garlic and sliced almonds.  Onion Dill buns, rhubarb pie alamode.  Mint lemonade, coffee and ice water.  

Floral sheet table cloth Yellow dishes Aqua napkins.

Clean and Sand

 Up for devo.  When airbnbers left I napped and then went out and finished sanding the first level in the bunk house upstairs.  It was a dirty job, but I got it done.  Now I am lying in bed, watching tv, and thinking I wish I had energy to do something.  Like plant the plants that I got from Bomgaars, or put away the 3 baskets of clean clothes that I have in my bedroom, or pick flowers to put in the cooler for Monday.  but instead ... I'll just chill.   The sanding job does not look very good, but it is as good as it is going to be this time around.  Now to clean, prime, and paint.  UFFDA!!  Maybe try to put on some wallpaper.  And then move up some furniture.  ????? Lord, guide me.  

July 23

 I was in town playing pickle ball about 7:15.  It was SO much fun.  I went to double Doses and bought a 3 tier fern stand, a blue and white star quilt, 20 gray plastic plates, and at Bomgaars I bought 40 plants @ $.25.  At home Denny was working on repairing the well wire that went down during one of the last storms.  I pulled weeds from flower garden, sanded the bunkhouse upstairs floor.  At 7ish the newest Airbnber's came.  Denny got an RV in the grove for pictures.  He grilled 2 wild rice stuffed pork chops for us for a late supper.   Jensens are spending their last days in California before heading back to N. 

Happy second birthday Lincoln!!!

Dear sweet active Lincoln.  We hope you have a very happy birthday and may God continue to watch over you every day of your life.  

I was up and so I got in the packed car and headed south.  I got home about 8:30.  Denny was having breakfast on the deck.  All day I was tired even tho I took a morning nap.  That pickleball really takes it out of me.  BUT I am happy to be tired AND not have anything I have to get done.  I went to study at Ginny's.  Sharon brought Denny's suits.  Denny started working on repairing power line to the well that the tree fell on during a recent storm.  We had a tiny steak for supper.   

Did someone say pickleball????

Fun

Fishing with Bruce

Pickleball in Decorah

The Landing

Dunning Springs

Hotel Winnishiek

Fish Hatchery

Toppling Goliiath

Seed saver Winery North Winn

Pickleball 4-6

Merle and Bev's

Wow another great day in NE Iowa!!

Up with coffee-to-go look at stuff at Craigs.   I found a rocker I may get for the porch.  Next 2 hours of pickleball in Decorah .  It wa so much fun!!  Next to Bev and Merle's acreage.  SO nice. Then we took a ride thru Bluffton and stopped at Craig's Silver Creek before eating lunch at Keiths.  It was so pretty on their upper Deck.  We just visited and from 4-6 we played more pickleball.  Gail gave everyone quilts, SO nice.  Jane had made lasagna for us at 7.  Nice time.  We spent the evening on Keith's ;patio.  Three deer walked along the corn field 30 feet from where we were.  Great day.  Denny spent most of the day working with Mike W. and getting the electricity going in the campsite and the bunkhouse.  

If you watch HGTV too long, you’ll become dissatisfied with your home.

If you stay on social media too long, you’ll become dissatisfied with your life.

If you watch the news too long, you’ll become dissatisfied with the world.

Unplug.

Pray.

Read any book.

Spend time with loved ones.

Take a walk.

Our minds are easily influenced, but we control what the influences are. Choose wisely.

Pickleball

Left home about 4 and got to Decorah about  8.  I went straight to the pickleball court and played until about 10.  It was sunny and hot and I felt the need to rest and drink water.  From there I went to the Depot, thru downtown, to seed Saver and another place.  Then to Jane and Keith's to unload and take a rest nap for about 15 minutes.  I went out to tour with Keith and then when Bill, Sandy and Bruce came we played pickleball in the Shed until 4 or 5.  Bev and Merle came to visit.  When they left to golf we went to Burr Oak and ordered from Barney's.  While the food was being   fixed we toured the Art on the corner lot.  So fun to see.  Te meal was great.  Bruce made a fire at his home afterward.  

Wonderful!!!

I was awake and enjoying the beautiful morning.  I went out to bring the flowers for church from the cooler to the house.  Denny, Matt, and Becky went out to paint the second time on the west side of the CSA shed.  We said our good byes and then went to SS.  Lord, guide and lead our church family.  At home a restful, wonderful afternoon with naps.  It was wonderful sitting on the patio and getting caught up on ly blog.  Thank you, Jesus!!!

So thankful for all that got done!!!

 Denny was up and 4 and putting the pork in the smoker.  I listened to DAB on the decking exercised for the 4th day in a row.  We started painting and didn't quit until the shady E, N, and W sides were done.  Next came the task of the south side with it's high peak and how to prime and paint there.  Matt went up to the high window and Becky rode the bobcat bucket.  They both used their complete stretch and then a roller to get the places a LONG ways away.  UFFDA!!  How great to get it primed.  Then while primer dried ... tree trimming was tackled.  The Linden tree has been hanging over the roof of our house and bugging Denny.  Matt rode the bobcat, Becky directed the bobcat driver, Denny ('cause he couldn't see Matt in the bucket) and TJ and Kane carried off the branches.  IT WAS AMAZING!!  Lots of branches gone, the rain gutters cleaned out, and the twigs/leaves/tree debris on the roof of the house blown off.  Then to painting the south side of the CSA from lofty perches again.  COMPLETED!!!  All work stopped for a break, BUT the anticipated box in the walk in cooler was ... empty ... reminiscent of empty hamburger box.  UFFDA!!  We ate Mexican and spinach artichoke dip under a shade tree,  Mandy and "napping in the car" sleepy boys came.  We hung out down by creek and started a fire to burn sticks there.   Supper of smoked pork, party potatoes, green Asian salad, sliced creamy cukes, sliced Parmesan zucchini, Yum!!  Biggest news is a RV that booked to come before ragbrai.  Lord, help electricity and all get done in anticipation of their arrival.  Wonderful day/ evening/ family/ location.  Thank you, Jesus!!

                                          

Z Johnsons come to paint

 I went in for pickle ball and to get a tray for roller painting.  I also got some paint for the bunk house upstairs.  At home Denny was getting smoked butt roast ready for Matt's family.  I got food ready while he worked on CSA shed.  They arrived about 5 and went right to work painting.  If we got the east side done in the shade, it could get it's second coat of pain tomorrow.  We grilled hamburgers for supper NO WAIT the box only had 3 left in it, so we grilled brats and 3 hamburgers.  Chilled on porch rocking.  Sweet!!!  Jensens wedding was tonight in California.

July 15 Cherokee fun!!

I didn't sleep well last night.   Nothing new.  I loaded the Prius with flowers, etc and went to Lisa's Youth group garage sale before heading to Cherokee.  I hung out with Mandy and boys until she left for work. The am went quickly with boys playing in the house until about 11 and then we went outside.  Mac and Cheese for lunch and after Jason left the boys napped until 4:30.  About 1:30 Jack was still awake and so I lay down in his bed with him.  Lay Still....  I awoke at 4:30. Wonderful nap.   The water sprayer is a hit!At home Denny was getting ready for Z Johnsons family weekend tasks.   The CSA has primer and all boards have been repaired.