WEEK 5

 July 15th, 1989

I woke up at 5:50 am and dressed. Asked the boys if they wanted to go over to IHOP for breakfast . They really didn't want to get up and asked if they could stay.  I walked over, ate and ordered pancakes to go for the three boys. Then I asked for a service station near by, contacted an AMACO at 7:10 am. They said someone would be here in 20 minutes. I waited until 8:05 am and called again. They said someone would be right there. It's only down the road less than a mile. They came at 8:15 and we still couldn't get the car started. I had to have it towed and they put it on a battery charger. The man at the hotel told me they didn't accept charge cards. I was starting to worry about the cost when I saw a lady pay for her gas with a Master Card. Guess What? That is what I have. Poor Mark, first the hotel and now the car. I hope he can get reimbursed for some of this.  It is 9:20 am and I'm still waiting. I called Beth and Greg and told them we wouldn't be there for at least 3 hours. I hope I'm not too off in my estimate. The good thing is I'm less than 40 miles away. I wrote some while I was waiting for the car to charge. We finally got the car running at 9:45 am and I made it to Diane's house by 10:45 am but had no charge left in the battery. I put Mike's charger on  and planned on keeping it on all night then leaving in the morning for home. Greg decided to leave immediately and I was in such a rush to get the house cleaned up and the car packed, I ended up leaving my purse in Valparaiso. The car ran ok, but I ran out of batter power right away. We got almost to Pontiac when it over heated and stopped. Beth didn't see me pull over right away and had to back up.  We loaded all of us into Beth's van and drove into Pontiac and found someone to tow it. then we headed home.  Made it by 4:00 pm. I tried to call the lady that found Misty but no answer. Mark came home for supper and we took the kids to Kartsville. We let David and Philip go first. Philip didn't know how to slow down and ran right off the track. The man running the place had to  rescue him.  Then we let them ride the bumper boats. Ben didn't like that because David and Philip  kept running into his bat and getting him wet.  When we came home I was able to talk to Misty's keeper. She gave me directions to find her. Her house was in East Peoria. Misty was glad to see us and we were glad to see her.  We brought her home and walked her on the leash then locked her in the hall by the washer and dryer for the night. Marie called and wanted to borrow $20.00. I told her mom was in Alaska, she said she would call later tonight. I repeated, she is in ALASKA. Marie said, "ok I'll call tomorrow." Marie, I asked, "do you know where Alaska is?,"  she replied, "no" and I explained it is thousands of miles from here. 

July 16th, 1989

Everyone was up at 6:30 am and I made lots of eggs for breakfast, 16 of them and they were all eaten.  We got ready and left for church about 9:10 am., stopping first to pick up Tommy and Kristin. It was our last day of Sunday school. Ken had the sermon in the afternoon. It was very good.  As I was walking out of church, Vi and Laurance Popp from Mansfield met Aunt Bernie and me. I offered them supper and a place to stay. They were glad for the invite and made plans to be here around 5:00 pm. We went to the store on the way home to get something for supper, then rushed home to unpack and clean.  Mark worked on the melon and I worked on the lasagna. I found a brownie mix and made that for dessert. Also served lettuce and rolls. I was working on the upstairs bathroom when Ben said, "they are here."  It was only 4:30 pm but they were. Supper was at 5:00. We ate in the dining room. Ben spilled his glass of water but it only went on me. I should have known the kids were a little young to eat at the adult table in the dining room.  WE cleaned up and Vi called some of her relation that live in Peoria. They invited them to come visit for the evening so Mark and I can rest for a few hours. they seem nice and friendly. Beth called and wanted to clean church tonight, but it is already 8:30 pm and I don't want to leave in case they come back. The boys just rescued a raccoon. Saber had it, they think it is still alive and faking death. I told them to take it to John, he used to have a raccoon. That way I won't have to mess with it. 121 just called, 3 problems. I hope Mark will look at them. 

July 17th, 1989

I didn't get up until 6:30 am and leisurely went down to start breakfast. Vi said she would come down around 8:00 pm. I started breakfast and they were down at 7:30 pm so I rushed the rest. After breakfast they sat and visited a while then took 2 dozen eggs and started for home.  I cleaned up breakfast dishes then made the boys lunch and sent them over to Beth's. She is taking them to Farmington for the day. I collected all of the apartment papers and went to the shop, made the deposit and paid all the due bills. Then it was time to clean the church. I worked until 4:00 pm and really got tired out. It was hard doing the cleaning by myself. I didn't touch the downstairs. I stopped at Aldi to buy some food for our trip then home for supper. As I was eating Beth M called and asked if I would feed and watch her kids while she and John went to see Kenny Albah's new baby then go out to eat. They were absolutely starving and ate everything I could find to feed them.  Mark came home from his meeting and tried to get the kids to clean up. I worked until 10:00 pm and got everything I could ready for the trip back to Valparaiso to pick up my purse and the journal.

July 18th, 1989

Up at 6:00am and tried to get the boys going. They snuck in another 10 minutes of sleep while I bathed Rhoda and Ben. Rhoda had been sick during the night and had vomited repeatedly.  I got both kids cleaned up and sent them down for breakfast. I sent David and Philip out to water and feed the dogs, cats, rabbits and chickens.  Loaded the van and left at 7;00 am. Picked up Diane, Jenny and Andrew then off to Valparaiso. We had an uneventful trip and pulled in at 10:45 pm fixed lunch and unpacked and then off to the beach. We pulled in at the beach at 12:30 pm and stayed until 5:00 pm It was cloudy and about 70 degrees but nice.  No crowds and the kids really enjoyed the beach.  They swam, played in the dunes, built sand castles and took walks.  On the way home we stopped and picked up Burger king hamburgers and fries for the kids but Gyros for Diane and me. Took them to Mike and Diane's and ate there.  After supper we took the kids to the library and let each one take out a book, then let Jenny pick two videos.  We decided to watch the Journey of Natty Gann first. It was pouring rain when we got to the library and we all got soaked. It was still pouring when we left. We have had such a drought at home we are not used to such rain.  Diane is going to call home to see if home is getting any. No one answered, we will call again later.

July 19th, 1989

We had gone to bed shortly after 9:00 pm but at 10:30 pm last night was awakened by Rhoda, she was sick and had vomited all over me and the sheets. I cleaned her up and started a load of laundry.  I waited up until the washer was done then put the sheets in the dryer turned that on, laid down on the bare mattress and fell asleep. I woke up at 5:45 am and put the sheets back on the bed. Went upstairs for breakfast about 6:30 am. Diane and I decided since it looked like rain all day we would go visit some garage sales this morning and the boys club this afternoon then leave around 4:00 pm for home. We bought a paper and there were only two sales.  We were back by 9:00 an and had the house clean and lunch made by 10:00 am. We were just waiting for the boys club to open.  The boys loved the club. We left them there and took Ben and Rhoda back. Diane, Ben, Rhoda and I all took naps. We picked up David, Philip, Andrew and Jenny about 2:00 pm then left for home.  It was an easy trip home, we arrived about 6:00 pm. Mark and I went to Marilyn's for supper. We decided we couldn't afford Hawaii at this time and started planning for Houston next week. Mom called and said they would be coming home a day or two early. The girls don't want to miss another Sunday.

July 20th, 1989

Diane and I decided to go shopping at the garage sales today and I bought a set of bunk beds and a rec room set of furniture. We spent all morning and half of the afternoon picking up the furniture getting it to  our Sioux Trail house and arranging it. I came home at 4:00 pm plopped down in the couch and picked up the book I was reading. Beth M walked in at 4:30 pm to see if I was ready to clean the shop.  We went down at 5:00 pm and cleaned there, then over to her house and cleaned there and finally to this house and just cleaned the downstairs.  It is bedtime and I'm tired.  IT RAINED.

 July 21st, 1989

 We woke up fairly early, I started on the upstairs and had the boys work on the attic.  It is a rain day. I left for grocery shopping at 9:00 am and only went to 2 stores so I was back in 4 minutes. We put food away and had lunch.  I left to clean church. Ben and Rhoda came with me. David and Philip stayed home to clean. Church was hard. I didn't get done until 4:00 pm. When I finally made it home, Jon and Kim were already here. Beth H was here working on supper. She brought her big fryer and food enough for everyone AND their kids! We fed the kids at 5:00 pm  then left for volleyball. We had 4 people to a side, it was fun.  came back and had supper for the adults at 8:00 pm. By that time everyone was starving.  Kim made a cross stich blue jay for Gary. she gave it to Mark last night. Gave Ben and Rhoda a bath then took a shower and went to bed at 9:30 pm. A good day!