We kept busy all day. I spent all morning in the house kitchen. We mowed the lawn. Denny put the numbers on the buildings.
Around 7 Jensens got here. SO GOOD!! Brooks shot a bunny!!! Sp[hi came to visit Anabel. Lord, thank you for their friendship. May they continue to grow in you.
I met with 2 for Huddle Tori and Elsie. Two more came after. We left about 5 for the boys' ball games. Pretty fir tp watch them. Tyler was sad because he went after his hat that blew off and didn't get to play pitcher that inning. Toshi came over to get good international phone connection.
UP for OGT. I got scotcheroos from Sheila and then headed to Cherokee for an afternoon with the boys. Lunch at the HS. Home to play in the crawl space with leggos. and money, We went to the pool for about an hour. Then home, I got groceries before heading to the farm.
I straightened CSA shed. Flowers to church. SS with Sierra. I talked her into trying it again. Quarterly business meeting, lunch put on by youth. Put labels on 5000 water bottles. Home for quick nap. I started to work with irises, but it started to rain, so get cleaned up and we headed for DM with the pickup and Rav4 for Jensens to have a car while they are in the states. We looked around Trader Des until they closed at 9. Then to HYVee for a walk around the store. Then to the DM airport to wait until kids got off the plane about midnight. Phillip put the bike rack on the RAv, and his big bike on that rack. Loaded what they could and put the rest of the stuff in the back of the pick up. Hugs and we headed to Schrums and they headed to Ames. Full day!!
Devo outside on rocker. Denny worked like a dog today and then some. He went to Rod B. to get crankshaft to take to DM for Rod. He washed pickup and Rav 4. We mowed the lawn. He sprayed off patio. And used the blower to move grass clippings off patio. I moved patio furniture back to it's place. I moved chairs and long tables under tall pine trees. I dug up more grassy iris. I put together flowers for church. We got done and we were tired.
One of the deepest lessons a parent learns is surrendering adult children to God’s care. When they were young, you could keep them close. You knew where they were, held their hand, guided their steps, and stood between them and danger. But adulthood brings a different kind of love. There are decisions you cannot make, wounds you cannot prevent, roads you cannot walk in their place, and struggles you cannot remove by sheer devotion. That is where worry often tries to take over. You think through old conversations. You wonder what they are facing. You pray they choose wisely. You carry silent concerns they may never hear you speak aloud. But God is present with your children in every place your arms cannot reach. The Lord who guarded Moses on the water, Daniel among the lions, and Joseph in a foreign land still watches over your family today. No part of your child’s life is hidden from Him. He sees their fears, their pressures, their private battles, and the heavy nights they never mention to anyone. A parent cannot control every outcome, but a parent can pray. And prayer is not a small thing. It reaches places human effort cannot enter. It reaches anxious minds, wounded relationships, unsafe circumstances, and hearts that have wandered far from home. Never diminish the power of a praying parent. Your prayers still matter. They still cover your children. They still follow them through confusing seasons, distant seasons, and seasons you do not fully understand. Release tomorrow’s fear into God’s hands. Entrust your children to the One who loves them with perfect wisdom and unfailing care. He is still leading, still guarding, still calling, still working in ways you cannot yet see. And while He watches over the children you love, He is also strengthening the heart that keeps praying for them.
I got up , devo, loaded up all the boxes in the garage and took to CSA born. I dropped off Widow's flowers, and headed to Olive Branch. Volunteered there until 11. Met Denny and he drove me up to Spencer to get #19 pulled. Not a lot of Fun, but DONE. Denny shopped at Walmart while I waited in the car.
Home and cleaning the airbnb. Lots of bedding to sort thru. We went to IG for Denny perscription and a belt got the car. I worked some on the iris. Mary Kay came to help make flowers for widow's luncheon. I got all ready for FCA and it was canceled. Then I really did nothing. Watched tv.
We were home all day. Mowing, cleaning the airbnb, working on splitting iris. Good day. Tired. Lisa VK's birthday. Oh, my the weeds/ grasses are very prevalent in the flowers. Uffda!! ;bummer!!! Gary and Kim's boys
I stopped to get Rita and we were at OGT until I headed to Cherokee. Fun day with the boys. We ate at the HS and then came home to visit while Mandy and Jason were on their noon break. It was so cute when I got there the boys were arranging rocks out on the patio. They had categorized them, put a value on the rocks and made gift certificates to each other. We went to Paulina, played in the lake, played in the stream, played on the playgrounds. SO FUN!! We were home by 4 so they could go to soccer camp in Orange city. On the way home I stopped to watch the girls play softball in Galva.
We had breakfast, packed up and went to Schrums for coffee. Then to Jenkins garden in Carlyle. I got $50 plants. Globe Thistle, columbine, 3 columbine
I didn't sleep well and so I got up to text Missy about getting the invite out for Anabel's graduation. She got it done. I went to Walmart early and then to Schrums for coffee. I went back to motel and Denny and I went to Redeemer Church at 9:30. Then to golf course for the celebration. SO many nice people, so much good food. Lots from 4 seasons. Great get together. We went back to motel for naps and then to Schrums to visit until bed time.
Jean was sleeping but I called her and she started the sister call. The Home Place is ready to go when airbnb come tomorrow. The basement possibly empty. The strangest occupant yet. Uffda!!! I slowly got ready to head to the 50th and left about 9:30. We stopped at Culvers for chicken tenders. We got to Schrums, the guys were golfing, we gals went thrifting and Denny chilled at the house. We went to Katie's and put together flowers for tomorrow. Next check in motel. Then to scrums for visiting and great supper brats and salads. I rode with Beth to Katie's fire pit. I did not sleep well last night.
In am I worked outside. Can't remember that I actually did much, but Before I left for the HS to meet with the Softball girls I went to the CSA barn and there was a lot of broken glass. Uffda!! I started to sweep some up and then saw more ... so I texted Travis and P and had them clean up the mess that the children made. FCA went well, I think. 9 gals, 30 minute talk. Just getting to know them. When I got back to the farm the 3 kids were int he car with the car area full. They said that Grandma would be at the farm shortly, they loaded the dog and took off. Well, that didn't happen. We went to bed and my watch said I didn't sleep very well. Uffda!!
The boys slept pretty well and came upstairs around 7. Fun morning with breakfast on the porch, playing with Johan and Johnae, shooting a raccoon in the tree, and working with Gpa on nails. We headed ti Cherokee around 3. The Rodeo was great!! Magic, ring toss, free ice cream bars, donut contest, and mutton riding and bucking bull ride machine. The contestants were given a bag of 121 donut holes for Tyler, 8 donuts for Jack. Tyler finished 8 holes in 3 minutes and won his age group. Jack tied by eating 5 donuts. and he won the rock scissor paper challenge. So he got to take the trophy home. Great to spend time together with Jan also.
I left about 6:30 for Alta. They had gotten a lot of donations in and were happy for the help. I played golf with Jane from Alta, Linda and Carol. We didn't putt well. I played not so hot, but beautiful day and it's all good. I got boys at their place and we headed to the farm about 4. Denny went to Rod's with Mike. He was thrilled because some of the car parts were done in Des Moines and we can pick them up on Monday. Denny happily booked an additional night in the Indianola motel. The boys went to diving up metal in the camp ground. They found some old square nails and Denny showed them how to make a cross from them. Denny put on mutton busting videos to get them prepared for tomorrow rodeo. The boys slept on the pull out love seat.
I headed to OGT. When it was over Denny met me and we went too SC to look for suit for the June wedding. Lord, guide our decisions. I cancelled by oral surgeon tooth pulling because the tooth is not hurting me now. Lord, guide our decisions. The irises growing are just amazing!!! So pretty
We were just at home all day. I got my flag fix yesterday at Cobb Park. I think Denny painted on the '72. I cleaned the Home Place kitchen. I think we may have mowed. I thank the Lord for the many lives given to preserve our nation. Bless all the families of service men.
SS and church and we gave Laura a ride home from Church. That gave me the opportunity to sit by water after church. Cobb Park and the flags were so amazing. I took a lot of pictures and posted them on innsta and facebook. Thank you Lord for all who gave their lives for the freedom I enjoy.
Bruce H. got a amazing award at the Drake State Track Meet. WAY TO GO!!! We worked around the farm all day until we got a hold of Mike and Brenda and went to Lakeview Mexican. Great meal. In the morning I planted all the random plants that were around and the 136 gladiola bulbs. Denny washed the Rav and worked on his car. The 2 airbnb kids played outside with the wheels.
Nikki called to say she is coming out to visit with Travis. She came but Travis was not up yet. She was sorrowed by the care that has not been given to the 2 dogs. I don't' remember what I did. Uffda!! I think it was cool and rainy and we did very little. I'll have to check my pictures to se if I recored any thing special. Denny and I worked on the computer finding out the dates the buildings on our farm were constructed. Hurrah!!! for Chat GPT. Bunk house 1880 Grainery cabin 1915 Chicken coop. 1910 CSA Barn 1945. I worked on a display of Ione Johnson's wedding dress in the bunkhouse. She probably lived in the bunkhouse/kitchen/I wing of the farmhouse when she and John Gabriel were married in 1923. Denny's grandparents.
