The Night of Worship

 We had a beautiful walk, the storm gave us a half an inch of rain which was very welcome and the morning dawned bright and clear. The lake was still with a beautiful reflection so much so I stopped walking to take the 2 pictures below.

After the walk and after breakfast it was time to get the barn ready for the Night of Worship. The fruit was washed and arranged in a big platter.

I ended up making 2 and at the end was glad I did. Both were put in the fridge.

I also cut up a big watermelon and put that in a bowl in the fridge to cool down. During the event Diane saw the watermelon was quickly eaten so she cut up the second one. She came in while I was working with a gift and everything needed to hang it.

Next Sarah's girls came in straight from VBS to change into their swimming suits.

Sarah's girls joined Taunya's and  Anna's children swimming.

Today was a perfect day to stay in the water, it was over 90 degrees.  People started arriving around 6:00 pm but Mark and I didn't get over to the barn until 6:15 pm. Below are a few pictures of the night.

We kind of ran out of parking and there must be a more efficient way to get more cars in the lot I just have to figure out how.

The front of the building wasn't used so maybe we can encourage some to drive around the building to park. Most of the family parked at the playground which helped. I videoed some of the music until my phone battery dropped down to 10 % then stopped but thankfully saved enough that I was able to get most of Rebekah's story. I missed the first part where she told why she was taking him to the pediatrician. That was she saw bruising on Micah and knew he had not been abused. 

The video of the some of the music is posted below: 

This group: The Church Has Left the Building. Started during the pandemic when churches were closed. This group found a way to still worship when the buildings were shut. Each month they pray about where to meet and for June they decided to honor Hanna City and what an honor it was to meet many who just want to Praise the Lord!

 Tonight really was a blessing and I was so thankful for all who came to Praise Jesus, our Lord. 

 

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Much Needed Rain

 It was already warm when the mares were checked. Jury was a little more bagged up but that may be because she isn't walking as much. We had the entire group walk today and when we got to Diane's Spark was there helping Mike. 

Of course we had to stop and visit. When we reached Rhonda's she stopped to ask us if we needed any more tomato plants.

After the walk and after breakfast I left for Sam's club where the food for the Father's Day picnic was purchased along with 2 big bags of ice for tomorrow night's Night of Worship at the barn. Sure hope we can fill the barn with the sound of songs of praise Worshiping our Redeemer and King.

No need to bring chairs we have plenty.

When I got back and the groceries were put away I drove in to West Peoria to pick up two tables for this event. On the way back for the 3rd day in a row I had to stop for gas. At least today the vehicle was a Prius and has a small 10 gallon tank. It took over 9 gallons to fill it.

My credit card bill is going to be huge next month. Mark came with me to take down the volley ball net in the gym.

It took the both of us to get that down and put away. The balls and games were put against the North wall and the 2 pickle ball nets put in front of them.

I swept while Mark went upstairs to put all the balls away up there. He doesn't want anyone using the batting cage while others are worshipping. In the picture below you can barely see his head all the way to the right.

After supper the weather radio went off with a thunderstorm and hail warning. Mark put his car in the indoor arena. I had the people staying in the barn put their car inside then we put the Little Guy camper and truck inside. About that time I realized Evan needed a round bale and was getting that ready when Rachel arrived to put her car inside. She was able to tuck hers in out of the way. I had the bale on the tractor and was putting it in when a couple with a small camper and jeep arrived needing to spend the night and they also wanted to park inside. They were able to back in. 

There is now 86 round bales of hay, a motorhome, the Little Guy Mini Max, Rachel's car, our airbnb guest's car, Mark's car, my truck, the skid steer, 2 tractors and the jeep and camper from the couple spending the night tonight. I'm sure thankful for that big barn. We really need to rain and this evening, right at 7:15 pm it started raining.

We got a half an inch of rain with that storm but at 8:45 pm the clouds in the West broke apart and colored the sky.

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4 for 4

 I stayed up last night until 11:00 pm finishing the last book of the Mark of the Lion series by Francine River. It was worth staying up for but morning came awful quick. I had to start work at 7:00 am, first to unhook the 2 horse trailer and hook up the 4 horse then back that into the indoor arena. Next was to bring Lily, her colt, Sheena and Rosaleigh into the stall barn. Each got a half of scoop of grain in a bucket once in the stall and all were happy. Mike showed up with Dancer, Mika and Blueberry. Dancer was tied to the trailer while Blueberry and Mika were put in with Irish. Then it was time to start loading. Lily and her colt were loaded first, the colt was moved in front of Lily then Sheena brought in to stand at the left side of the trailer. The middle divider shut then Rosaleigh and Dancer were loaded at the same time in the back. It is so nice to have such well behaved horses. Hunter arrived just as I was getting ready to leave. Mike asked if I needed help at the vet clinic and offered Hunter for that. I was VERY glad for the help. Below we are getting ready to pull out. 

The drive went fine and we were on time at 8:15 am but there was another horse in the stocks so we had to wait for Dr. Hoerr to finish with that one. Rosaleigh and Dancer were taken out first with Rosaleigh first in the stocks.

We are thrilled to announce she is pregnant. She was bred to Evan and is due April 23rd, 2025.

Rosaleigh was led out the front while Dancer led in from the back.

Dancer is also pregnant. She was bred to Pablo's big Friesian stallion Mafia and is due May 5th, 2025.

Those 2 mares were tied to the side of the trailer and Sheena brought out the side door leaving Lily and her colt still locked in the front of the trailer.

Sheena is also confirmed in foal. 

She was bred to Evan and is due April 30th, 2025. Hunter tied her next to Dancer and Rosaleigh while Lily and her colt were brought in.

Lily is also pregnant. She was bred to Valiant and is due early May 2025. Happy we were 4 for 4 this morning. As Lily's colt is sold I asked Dr. Hoerr to do the coggins test on him. He stood very well for that.

These 2 were taken out to the trailer and loaded in the front. Hunter was with them when I started bringing Sheena in and saw that Lily had turned around and was facing the back. I told Hunter she would need to be turned and just then Sheena decide she needed to load, jumped in the trailer knocked me into Lily who immediately threatened Sheena only I was between then. I'm pushing Sheena back and she isn't budging. I threw her lead rope to Hunter and yelled, "move her back." He put his muscles to use and as soon as she moved a tiny bit away I was able to get out from under Lily, grabbed her and turned her around then brought Sheena up front. After that mess of course I had to tell Hunter,  "I surely didn't need any help this morning." The real story was before I even loaded I had been praying for help and wondering if I could ask Berlica. When Hunter agreed to go I was so relieved. I told him after that he really was an answer to my prayer. Below Hunter is loading Dancer and Rosaleigh. We had no more drama and I am thankful.

When I went into the vet clinic to pay there was a girl there with her duck waiting for Dr. Hoerr. 

One NEVER knows what is going to show up at that clinic. Below Dr. Hoerr is examining the duck.

We made arrangements to meet Mike at Casey's so Hunter could start helping him on the well at the cabin field. From there the horses were taken to Middle Grove. I backed into the summer pasture lane then brought Sheena out the side door, took her halter off, jumped in the side door to take both Lily and her colt's halter off and then watch them jump out of the side door.

Those 3 didn't take off like I expected instead they waited around while I got the halters off the next 2 then opened the back door of the stock trailer.

They still didn't run like expected instead they were busy eating the grain heads off the tops of the grasses.

I couldn't leave until they left as the gate couldn't be shut until the truck and trailer were moved. Below is a short video of them enjoying the grass and grain heads.

By the time I reached Hanna City the truck was out of gas. It took 26 gallons to fill it.

Once I got back it was time to plant the tomato plants Rhonda gave us. We were not going to grow tomatoes this year but when Rhonda had some volunteer plants come up and offered to give them to us I couldn't resist. The boxes were dug up then 2 loads of dirt brought down using the small Kubota.

As long as I was digging in the dirt the plant Jeanette Hoerr gave me was also planted. 

Berlica was mowing with the grass hopper while Mackenson was using the push mower.

Mark wanted my help with the gate post he was putting in at the back paddock. He just wanted to make sure it was level and not push too far. 

Jewel came down to watch then followed us as we went to get another bucket of gravel.

My next job was to drive to TSC to pick up 4 of the 50 pound salt blocks for the paddocks then to Aldi to pick up some groceries.  When we got back I thought I would relax the take a shower when Mark was done with his but instead got a text that someone was wanting to come to see if the barn would work for their wedding. I took the golf cart over got the 3 bathrooms cleaned, the dishes from Sunday put away and some of the floor swept. The hardest job was the bouncy house. The air had been removed but it was upside down and the floor mat had been put inside. I had to get that floor mat out before the house could be folded up. Today is our 47th anniversary and this morning Mark gave me a card and a gift certificate for Texas Roadhouse. We were supposed to leave around 4:00 pm for that but cleaning the barn made me late. When we arrived it as already very busy and we had to wait. The meal was worth waiting for.

One distressing thing that happened today is with mom. This happened suddenly but she can't hear. Aunt Jinnie called and mom could not hear her even on the speaker. Joan tried to clean out her ears but that didn't help. Joan made an appointment with Peoria ear nose nd throat clinic but the first available they had was for July 3rd.  Please pray that mom's hearing could come back.