Saturday, 10/12/24, slept in, walked around campground, no ride today, another walk around the campground, saw Mel and Betty pull in, another walk to visit Mel and Betty, helped Kathy set up our leadership table, dinner with leadership of CMA,

Bill took this after walking up to see Mel and Betty

Bill when we left the main building after eating 

 We slept in this morning til 9! Wow!  Bill drank a protein drink and I ate breakfast, then we sat outside and read our Bibles.  Gail was walking back from Rayleen’s house and stopped to sit and visit with us.  She’s so sweet!  After she left,  we went for a walk and saw Pat and Art from the UP.  We sat and visited for a while.  They’ve got a dog with them that looks just like Stumpy did.  We walked back around the tent area and back up the hill where we are camped.  We saw Mel and Betty and let them know where to park their trailer they hauled their motorcycle on.   It was 88degrees out, so we came back to our air conditioned camper and cooled off.  We went for another walk  and stopped to visit Mel and Betty.  We sat inside their tent for a while, then left and were looking for Doug and Sue’s camper when Jay and Jane went by in their truck and offered to help us find them.  We said no, then walked more and couldn’t find it.  We stopped to talk to Bear and Tracy.  We met their son in law, Tim.  We  cut over to look ok where Bill thought the couple we were still looking for were.  I saw Jay and Jane driving back around and we told them we changed our mind and would love to ride with them.  We ended up going to where you first come in the campground and there were 5 RV spots way up on a hill we didn’t know about.  We were happy to finally find Doug and Sue, and very thankful for our ride there.  We visited for a while, then walked back to our camper.  Kathy called me and said they were here.  We took the Mackinac Bridge for our table and a couple of tubs full of decorations.  Kathy had some tablecloths from last year and had them on our table already and had really cute fall decorations and leaves on it too.  She used a couple of things out of the tubs with Míchigan on them.  Bill took the tubs back to our camper.  Then when he was done, we talked to our area reps and went and visited other people from states who n our region.  I especially was happy to see Stephanie and Eric who were our prayer partners one year and were the best prayer partners ever!    I talked with Rayleen and she said we have to come to her house to visit and we could even come tonight.  

We all prayed and ate great food, yummy desserts and ate lots off the amazing chocolate bar.  We visited more, than were too tired to go to Rayleen and Roger’s but jut came back to the camper and played 2 games of 3-13.  I won both games!  

Friday, 10/11/24, 82 degree day again, slept in, volunteer work is done, Sat outside of camper, went for a ride, the most thrilling yet I think, stopped for ice cream at Cruisers, Made lunch/supper when we got back, sat outside, went for a walk around the campground,

While Bill waited for three people to get their hair cut, then got his cut, I went to the coffee shop next door and had an Ice Capp.  It was a small but very cute coffee shop.  There were only 2 tables and one was taken, but everyone who came in wanted their coffee’s to go.  I sat there a long time drinking mine very slowly and watching up on things on my phone. One of the ladies at the next table left so I talked to the one who was a grandma and had her almost year old granddaughter with her.  I was old her about sweet Rehvyn.  It helped pass time.  Bill came in the door to get me and took off for a ride.

 

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The ride today was almost too thrilling for me…oh my goodness!!!!! The video of a short part of it is below. It went like that for miles. I about screamed a couple of times and Bill was driving good.

We stopped at Cruisers drive in again and pulled into a spot, ordered on the speaker, then sat outside and enjoyed our ice cream.

It’s filling up in the campground.  Met some new neighbors! 

 

Bill walking back to our camper, Roger and Rayleen’s house on the hill.  

It felt good getting to sleep in, especially after getting up early all week.  I sleep really good in the camper!  Bill ate breakfast outside, but it was 56 out and a little too cool for me.  We read our Bibles and had our prayer time, then sat outside for a while.  We decided to go for a ride.  Bill wanted to get a haircut, but the guy who is the barber was just going to lunch.  We walked through all the cute shops until the barber was back.  There were antique shops, a big flea market store, a peaceful cute shop with lots of cute Christian decor and shirts with Christian says on them.  By the time we got done, the barber was back, so Bill went in and I went next door for coffee.  Then when Bill came and got me we went for our thrilling ride.  We passed the Air B&B that we stayed at two years ago with Ziggy, Wayne and Lisa.  We never went the direction on the road we went on today.  We finally turned around and headed back to Mena.  We stopped for ice cream, then came back to the camper and ate dinner.  Then we went for a walk around the campground.  We came back and sat outside.  We met our neighbor on the hill behind us, and also said I to Ben and Rachael on the other side of us.  

We came in and played 2 games of 3-13.  I won the first big lots and Bill won the second by a little.  We sure had fun and lots of laughs!  What a great day!

Thursday, 10/10/24, went to volunteer meeting, cleared out large area of property of lots of brush, trimmed limbs on trees to 8 ft, high, loaded brush and limbs, relaxed at camper, went on ride to Queen Wilhelmina Lodge and restaurant, stopped at Walmart, relaxed outside, National Evangelists came to visit us

Ride down to Mena from Iron Mountain where we’re staying

Our ride today was back to Queen Wilhelmina Lodge and Restaurant 

Bill turning his camera on his sunglasses on 

Bill sitting on the porch after we got there

Me sitting on the ither porch

My chicken Alfredo and in the background, Bill’s chicken strip meal.  Yum!

We had a great view from our table

Bill by the bike when we were ready to leave 

 We went to meet with the head of volunteers and those volunteering.  Today’s job was clearing some additional property CMA just purchased.  There were a couple of chain saws going trimming limbs so the trees would be cleared the first 8 feet up.  There was someone with loppers, then the rest of us hauled the brush and limbs and put them in the trailer.  I had sandals and capri jeans on because yesterday he said we would be cleaning inside.  A couple of maintenance guys told me I should go get jeans, socks and tennis shoes on so I don’t get chiggars.  I told Bill, who had shorts on too, but he said he wasn’t going to change.  I headed back to the work site and passed Bill on my way.  They warned him too.  The guy had a can of off and sprayed my jeans and feet.  I sure don’t want to get those things!  I worked for about an hour.  I was the only lady at first but then another guy’s wife came and helped,  Then she left.  One guy with the chain saw decided to cut a tall thin tree down because it was leaning.  They were having trouble getting it to fall.  I decided I would leave that to the guys and headed back to the camper.  I took my shoes and socks off outside and hung my sweatshirt on the clothes rack.  I relaxed for a while in the no gravity chair.  Bill called me after an hour and a half and wanted me to bring him a water. I got it and headed back there.  I gave it to him and then one of the workers said it was time to quit and go to lunch.  Today is our last work day.  Tomorrow we get to sleep in.  

I made lunch and then we sat outside, then came in and tried to nap for an hour, but couldn’t. Bill was able to sleep a little.  

In the late afternoon, we went for another ride to Queen Wilhelmina Lodge and Restaurant.  Bill asked me if I wanted to eat there. Of course yes was my answer. They have the best food and the best view.  It was a great ride again today.  We stopped at Walmart to get a few things we needed. 

Came back to the camper and sat outside.  Life and his dog came and visited. Then after he left, Jay and Jane came and visited. 

We went in and played 2 games of 3-13.  I won the first by lots of points and Bill won the second by a few points.  

Wednesday, 10/9/24, Went to Bible Study, met to volunteer, went to Hot Springs, relaxed outside our camper, met new friends, played 3-13

Picture Bill took of me raking leaves and cleaning out the culvert

Our ride to Hot Springs was beautiful!  82 degrees out!

Hot Springs

Bill…We walked downtown trying to find the restaurant we ate at with Bev, Ron, Joyce and Rod a few years ago.  It was closed.  

Beautiful Bath Houses all down the main road 

Bill and I at Texas Roadhouse 

With our little photo bomber in the picture lol!

 We walked down to where we thought Bible Study was. No one was there.  Then we walked to the Building we always meet at and they told us it was in the Chapel in Hatfield.  We walked back, got our motorcycle and headed there.  When we got there it was standing room only.  A guy offered me his seat but I told him I would stand.  Worship was amazing. They sang Brandon Lake’s song, Gratitude.  Another guy moved and gave me his seat, so I sat during the message.  Jared M. Gave the message and it was so good.  People are so kind here.  We went back to the main building and met   .the volunteer group.  Today we all worked together raking leaves away from the many culverts on the campground.  It was a nice cool morning to do it.  We met Bruce, an area rep. From Tennessee.  He knows Wayne and Lisa who were Michigan state coordinators before Ziggy, than us.  Pam came up to me and I remembered her and her husband’s name from yesterday and she remembered our names.  We hugged over that one!!! We finished our  job, then came back to the camper and read our Bibles.  We relaxed for a half hour, the headed to Hot Springs which is a 2 hour drive.  We were on more amazing hilly and curving roads.  Such a great ride.  We walked downtown which was fun.  We found the restaurant we wanted to go to again but it was closed.  There was another restaurant, but it was closed too.  Then I told Bill I had brought a gift card for Texas Roadhouse.  It was our last gift card we received for our 50th anniversary.  I checked on maps and it was only 10 minutes away, and was straight down the road we were on.  We had a delicious steak dinner.  When we went to leave, we met a veteran who was in the same time as Bill.  Then another veteran came up to Bill and thanked him for his service and he was in the same time as Bill to and his friend came out to talk and he was over there the same time too.  It was so cool and they were all so happy to meet!  

We left to come back to Mena and the road we needed to get on was just around the corner.  We had another great ride back.  We sat outside for a while and met a couple who are state coordinators from Washington State.  I don’t remember their names but they both started with D and she told me I could call them D & D.  Then Leif brought his dog, Boulder, who is an Australian Shepherd over to meet us.  He’s from Arkansas.  

We sat outside and I wrote chapter names down in my notebook as Bill read them to me.  Then we came in the camper.  I talked to Vikki then to Melissa.  Melissa and I were remembering some awesome things God has done for us.  

We  played 2 games of 3-13. I won the first and Bill won the second.  

It wouldn’t let me delete the his double picture for some reason 

Tuesday, 10/8/24, Went to serve, good devotion, relaxed outside, another fun motorcycle ride, walk in evening

Today we served by washing all the tables and chairs  for leadership training and the rall

Bill really relaxing… I guess he needed it after all that work.  I napped in my chair next to him

The Mena Mountain Top Resort.  It our favorite hotel.  

Bill and I at the Queen Wilhelmina Lodge/Restaurant.  We stopped at the Lookout before going in

New Bear in the Lodge

More really fun roads to drive

Monday, 10./7/24, met with volunteers and leader at 8, our assigned job was cleaning the youth center and setting up 100 chairs, walked to camper and had lunch, went for a super fun trike ride, ice Cream at Sonic, relaxed, Bill grilled sirloin burgers,

Bill mopping the floor after sweeping it.  He set the chairs up while waiting for me to sweep away all the spider webs and cob webs that were in that huge garage door. Some little buggers we’re still alive. I also swept the edges of the room and made sure to get any webs.  I prayed for all the kids that would be coming to CMA Colors Rally.  We are expecting God to do great things!

Bill is too funny wearing his camera glasses over his regular glasses

Probably the scariest road we road on during our ride.  There was the road and then it dropped off with no shoulder.  There were hills where I felt my tummy wiggle like on a roller coaster. Lots of curves too!

Just a picture of the same road

It only got to 82 today, but these cows look like the love cooling off in the water

Just about to enter Oklahoma!!!

Beautiful scenery on our ride

Our sweet ending…I had a banana split and Bill had a banana fudge sundae at Sonic’s

In the morning at 8, we walked down to the Volunteer meeting.  After we listened, Bill told John we would clean the youth center if no one else had asked to do it.  He unlocked it and gave us some instructions.  After we finished, we walked back to our camper and relaxed for a while, then had lunch.

I talked to Melissa, then Kimmy for quite a while and got caught up.

We decided to go for a ride.  The first road was a little scary, but fun.  The other roads we great roads with lots of hills and curves and beautiful scenery.  When we crossed into Oklahoma we both had the same idea of looking for a place to have ice cream like we did when we rode to Texas.  No restaurants, gas stations or anything when we drove a ways, so we had our ice cream in Mena.  Yum was it good.  We relaxed outside when we got home.  Bill grilled sirloin burgers on the grill and I made potatoes and peas for dinner.  We walked around the campground after we ate.  Such great weather today.  

We played two games of cards.  I won the first one and Bill won the second.  They were both fun games. We had to start the second game over because I noticed Bill mixing the scores up.  He had switched our names around from what the first game was.