Tuesday, 8/12/25, Went to Va Hospital in Ann Arbor, Went to 5 Guys, then to Faith Christian Store, It poured on our way home, weeded in front, got 2 inches in our rain gauge, Vikki and the kids came over and swam, went to prayer, tornado warnings in Midland and Bay City, 3 inches of rain after last rain,

At 5 Guys and having burgers and fries besides lots of peanuts after Bill’s appointment

Max loves 5 Guys, so I took these to send and let him know we were missing him.  He smiled and said YUM when he saw the pictures.

Nice day to sit out on the deck.  Much better than the 90’s

Peyton

Her hair looked beautiful tied up in the back

Isaac 

We got ready and left for the VA Hospital in Ann Arbor at 7:45.  I packed BelVita Crunchy bar snacks and peanut butter and crackers for a snack on the way.  We had a nice drive and good weather on the way there.  Bill got into his appointment quickly.  The Urologist told him he really didn’t need this appointment, but he confirmed that he thought what the two oncologist had told Bill was what he would do too.  Bill was out of there quickly, so we walked through the Patriot Store in the hospital.  Bill bought a neck cooler fan and I got a pair of soft jeans like the ones I have for $19.  We left and checked out the cafeteria, but they were done serving breakfast.  We decided to stop at 5 Guys.  I got our drinks and Bill got us both a container of peanuts to shuck.  We ate the nuts as appetizers.  They were so good.  We both got single hamburgers and shared fries.  The burgers were so delicious.  The fries were good.  Good thing we shared because they give you so many that 4 people could share them.  We stoped at the Faith Christian Store down the road and Bill got a new Bible for 50% off and I got a nice shirt with a Christian saying on it.  It was such a nice shop and had so many nice things in it.  I sure do miss our Christian Book Store.  We left there and ran into som heavy rain for a short time.  It was a good car wash as it cleaned my dirty windshield and made it spotless.  We got home and checked the rain gauge and it had almost two inches of rain in it.  Only 1/10 inch and it would have been 2.  My plants look better already.  Even thought I have been watering them, there is nothing like when God waters them.  Vikki had to work at school and it was super hot in the building.  She called when she got home and wanted to come over and cool down in the pool.  She and the kids came and they all cooled down.  We had spaghetti afterwards.  Bill saw that there were tornado warnings in Midland and Bay City. Vikki left right away to get home before there were any reports here of tornados.  I had my phone in my hand ready to call Kimmy when she called me.  The tornado sirens were going off.  Jared was on his way home from work.  We sure prayed.  He made it safely and they all stayed safe.  I went to prayer.  It was pouring out when I went.  No warnings though.  I prayed God would have it slow down so we call all get in the church without getting drenched.  He did just that.  It poured after we started worshiping.  It was an awesome time of prayer.  It was just sprinkling when we left to go home.  I got home and talked to Vikki.  Melissa called me because Hailey wants to spend a couple of nights here while they are at dog camp.  Yay we can’t wait.  I was talking to her and  and it started pouring hard again.  I had to hang up and go close doors so it wouldn’t rain in.  

I read over the agenda for Thursday night’s CMA zoom meeting with our area reps., prayer leads and goodie reps.  Bill did a great job on it.

Monday, 8/11/25, Evan and I went to the Midland Fair, Eli showed his sheep, Walked through merchant buildings, Evan went to Kimmy’s, painted second coat on stair trim in camper, went to Sam’s Club, took food to Sue

Fun watching Eli show his sheep Doug

Eli and Evan with Doug the sheep

This sheep of Eli’s is the sweetest 

I sure was happy when Adam came

Eli and his second place ribbon

Eli with his hot fudge sundae with Evan in the background

I treated Kimmy and Jared to a Cider Slush from Leaman’s Apple Farm.  Jared asked the pronunciation of their name and I have been saying it right.  Kimmy had her own cute pronunciation, but my great grandparents played cards with the Leaman’s so I knew I was saying it right. Thanks Jared for confirming it by asking.  These slushes were so good and so refreshing.

Some wood carvings by the Merchant Building

Jared and Kimmy....we looked inside this cute little shed.  It sure would make a good pottery shop for some people I know

Adam showed us the big tortoises.  The big one weighs 600 lbs.  It crawled right over one of the smaller ones to get where it wanted to go.

We took the Jeep to Sam’s Club...It looked so cool with the back open.  

I made spaghetti and beets on the grill tonight for dinner.  Had lots so after we went to Sam’s Club, I took some over to Sue

I got ready, then woke Evan up.  I didn’t have any milk besides Almond milk, so we stopped at McDonald’s on our way to the Midland Fair.   I had an Egg McMuffin and Evan had a pancake and eggs breakfast.  He only wanted the pancakes, so saved the protein (the eggs) for Eli.  We got to the fair, parked really close and went to the sheep barn.  Kimmy called when we were walking to say it was going to start soon.  Jared accidentally entered Eli in with all the seniors.  It was a large group and they had been showing sheep for longer.  I thought Eli did a great job and his sheep was so well behaved.  They separated him in a group with two others and I thought they were going to be the top winners.  I was wrong.  The other line up had the 6 winners in it.  Eli handled the mistake really well and I was very proud of him.  It was kind of weird that they couldn’t switch him in to his right age group when Jared called, but it was what it was.  Ei had to show his sheep again in the meat showing.  In the weight competition,  Eli was second, but when both groups in that weight competition were judged together, he lost that spot that removed him from competing in the grand championship contest.  Eli was happy he was done.  It was a pretty nice day compared to what it has been.  There was a nice breeze, so I didn’t get warm watching.  It was a different story when we went outside afterwards.  Eli and Evan walked around.  I had given them each $20, but they both said they were going to keep it.  Things are pretty pricey at the fair.  Kimmy, Jared, Adam and I enjoyed walking to see the big tortoises.  We walked in the trailer and looked at the snakes and alligator too.  Yikes!  I sure don’t like snakes.  Adam left.  He didn’t spend his $20 either.  That’s changed since they have become wiser with money as they have gotten older.  I finally talked  Kimmy and Jared into letting me treat them to a Leaman’s Cider Slush.  I always get one when I got to the fair.  We sat under a tent at a picnic table in the shade with a breeze blowing and enjoyed them.  Eli and Evan came and sat with us.  That’s when Eli got the sundae.  He said he didn’t spend my money though.  He’s so cute.  Evan confirmed that he didn’t either.  They walked around more and then Kimmy, Jared and I walked through the Merchant barns.  We picked up a few free things, one being gun locks.  Also I got some pens I liked and a cow sticker and cow pen.  

We sat back at the picnic table, and the boys came and met us.  We walked to our vehicles and found out we were parked really close together.  They were across from me a couple of spots down.  Evan went home with Kimmy and I came home and painted the second coat on the trim to the camper steps inside.  Bill helped me uncover the pool, then I went for a nice long swim.  The water temp is 88 degrees.  Not cold, so easy to get into.  I’m glad it is going to be cooling off, because I don’t want it to get much warmer than that.  It was great exercise and really did cool me down.  I went back in the house into the air conditioning and was cold.  

I read my Bible and so did Bill.  Afterwards, I made spaghetti and then grilled the beets from the garden on the grill.  They tasted so delicious grilled.  I packed some food to take to Sue.  Then Bill brought the mail in and there was a sweet card from Sue with $10 in it.  When we left for Sam’s, I called her and told her I wasn’t keeping the money and I was going to drop off some food to her after we got home from Sam’s.  Her heart rate was fast today and she had called the doctor but hadn’t heard anything.  Her niece was with her when I took the food to her.  I am praying for her.  It was a fun day!

Sunday, 8/10/25, Went to early service, went to prayer, went to late service, taught Sunday School, went to Sawmill for lunch, took a nap, cooked veggies from the garden, painted step trim in camper, watered plants, Melissa, Hailey and Evan came over, Hailey made great food tonight and brought some for us to try, YUM!, Evan spent the night

 Cooked Broccoli from the garden and put it in the freezer

Cute picture of Hailey and Evan.  Hailey is wearing some cute Bibs she got at good deal on at a thrift shop.

Bill and I went out in the camper and played 2 tames of 3-13.  He beat me bad in both games.

Trim on step in the camper that’s chipped, all taped up and ready to paint

Done with the first coat

Hailey made delicious banana bread

She cooked an amazing dinner too

It looked beautiful on Melissa’s table

Smash potatoes

Seasoned steak bits with homemade sauce, smash potatoes, salad with dressing Hailey made, grilled beets, and asparagus.   Hailey loves to cook and bake and does such a great job at it.

We were blessed that she brought Papa and me samples of everything.  It all tasted amazing.  Great Job Hailey and thanks for sharing.  We loved it.  Thumbs up from all of us.

She let Evan get in the picture because he helped with a few things

New cute shorts from the Thrift Shop too.  She is a bargain hunter.

Cute picture of Bruce and Missy in front of their house

We got ready and went to early church.  The worship was awesome and the message was on Simple Faith and was really good. We prayed for people afterwards.  I went into the prayer room and prayed between services.  We visited with people and then went into the second service.  The worship was awesome again and Emily gave a wonderful Word the Lord gave her.  I went back to teach Sunday School after worship.  Renee was my helper and she is always such a great help.  We had a good class of all girls.  It was a great lesson about God knowing us.  

After church, we went to the Sawmill for lunch with Greg, Merijo, Dennis, Andy and Shiela.

It’s the first time we were there and the food was delicious and very reasonable.  We had a great visit with everyone.

We came home and took a nap.  That sure felt good.  Then I cooked the broccoli and beets I had picked in the garden.  I’m glad it will be cooling down some, because I need to get back out and pick some more things out of the garden.  

We went out in the camper after it was in the shade and I turned the air on.  I was cooling it down some so I could paint the trim on the step.  Bill and I played two games of 3-13.  I sure didn’t get any good cards and he beat me really bad.  After we finished, I painted the trim.  It looks much better. Melissa called, and she had told me earlier that Hailey was making a really good meal and dessert for them tonight.  She wanted to know if they could come and drop the rain jacket they found for me and got at Goodwill, and also had some of the left over food Hailey made for us to try.  Of course I was happy to have them come.   Evan are out and helped me carry stuff in from the camper when he got here.  Bill was sampling Hailey’s banana bread already when I got in.  Then we both tried the grilled beets, potatoes, and steak bits. I tried Hailey’s homemade steak sauce and also her spinach salad and homemade dressing.  She is a pretty amazing cook.  Her banana bread was devious too.  She can cook or bake for me anytime.  We visited and Hailey showed me the dresses and styles she has to choose from for the friend’s wedding she is going to be in.  Then we looked at Melissa and Bruce’s wedding picture books that I have.  It was so much fun.  Things sure have gotten expensive.  They left for home, then Evan and I went out and watered some plants on the deck.  It was still 80 degrees and very humid.  Thankful for air conditioning. 

I had Evan turn the portable one in the room he is going to sleep in on so he would be cool upstairs.  

 

Saturday, 8/9/25, Went to Faith Riders meeting, came home and relaxed because it was so hot out, Bill napped while FaceTimed Kenzie and Vikki, Went for a cool relaxing swim, went to Kenzie’s with Vikki, Kenzie made us dinner, fun doing the Wii and hanging out, Vikki brought me home

Bill wearing the Birthday Hat while we all sang Happy Birthday to him and Joel at the Faith Riders meeting.  He wore pink, because Joel picked blue.  He didn’t want pink for sure.

Joel wearing the Blue birthday hat while we sang

My cute August birthday boy

Rehvyn giving me a fist bump while I FaceTimed with him and his mommy

I am so thankful for FaceTime.  Love FaceTiming with these two!

Peyton and Rehvyn.  He sure loves her.

Not a good picture of me, but I love how Rehvyn was hugging me and cuddling.  He is a blessing from the Lord for sure!

Vikki wearing the silly mask she made

Eli’s fair sheep getting all cleaned up.  Bath and a brush job.

Good team work....Eli had Band Camp all week after being gone to Copper Harbor for 2 weeks.  Nice that Jared worked with him.  I love his sheep Doug M.  He was so sweet when I fed him for 2 days after I got back from BayShore.

Being dried off with a towel and looking great!

Such a beautiful sheep...pretty handsome grandson too!  Good winning position.  I can’t wait to see Eli show him at the Fair Monday!  Praying it goes well and Eli and Doug are winners.  His sister was a winner in the Bay City Fair showing.  Should be in this sweet sheep’s genes.

I love this relaxing picture

My favorite small vacuum for cleanups.  It was my mom and dad’s and I remember my dad using it for messy clean up jobs.  Now that’s what I’ve been doing since I inherited it.  

Plant dirt vacuumed up and cat food mice stuffed in couch all vacuumed out with that little vacuum.  Couched all washed down and drying.

Kit Kat on the table on the pool deck after I got out of the pool and sat on the deck

Drying off in the sunshine...the pool sure cooled me down

Rehvyn was on the Wii

He is walking on the lower couch cushions and has great balance

Eating his spaghetti...he loved it!

Deciding which color to use to color his pictures

Did amazing coloring for a 1 1/2 year old.  He takes his time and likes to color for a long time

Vikki and I added some of our favorite drawings while he was coloring

My sweet Peyton!

Rehvyn in his cool car!  He loves it outside!

Hailey loved working this week at Spring Hill.  She was requested to be with a little girl with downs syndrome for the 3rd year in a row, so went to work there just this week.  It’s nice her other job lets her take off to do this.  Hailey is awesome at what she does and has such a love for children.

 Bill and I left at 8:30 this morning and rode the trike to Faith Rider’s meeting. It was already 75 degrees out by that time.  Isaac did a great job leading the meeting and people had good things to share.  We had a new visitor, who is very interested in joining and already took his CMA test and sent it in to become a member.  Yay!  We came home after the meeting and it was in the high 80’s already.  We both said, it was too hot to do anything, so we came inside and read our Bibles.  Then we relaxed after that.  Kenzie FaceTimed me and invited me to come over with Vikki when she picks up Peyton.  She also invited me to eat spaghetti there.  Who could turn that down.   I said I would call Vikki and ask her if I could ride with her and Kenzie said she could just have her join us on FaceTime so that’s what we did.  I went in the family room to take to them so Bill could still sleep.  Vikki said I could ride with her.  When we ended our call, I cleaned up the dirt on the floor in the family room and vacuumed all the cat food the mice had put down the couch again.  I shampooed the couch after that.  Bill has someone coming to let us know where they are getting in and getting it repaired.  I just need to bring Kit Kat in, but Bill doesn’t want a cat inside.   

I went for an hour and a half swim.  The pool team was 86 degrees and just right.  I got lots of exercise and relaxed while floating too.  It sure felt good and cooled me right down.  When I was done, I covered it while in the pool which was super easy.  I relaxed in the chair while I dried off.  Kit Kat joined me of course.  

I came in the house and got ready and Vikki came shortly to pick me up.  We had a nice relaxing ride to Kenzie’s while she told me about her exciting active babysitting job today.

She was so funny.  We had lots of fun at Kenzie’s with Rehvyn, Peyton and Kenzie.  Rehvyn was a loving and cute as can be and we had fun doing the Wii.  It has been a long time for me.  I need to practice up again.  I sure had fun trying.  We ate Kenzie’s delicious spaghetti for dinner, and drank a fruit water she had made with a strawberry on the edge of the cup.  I should have taken a picture.  It was very pretty.  We also had brownies.  We were so full afterwards. Melissa and Hailey FaceTimed me and they found me a really nice rain jacket.  I have been looking for one like Melissa’s that is so nice to replace my old fashioned one.  They found me the perfect one for $10 at Goodwill.  I have been looking at sales and didn’t want to pay what they are asking even on sale.  How blessed I am that they found one for me.  Hailey found some good deals too for back to school at Plato’s Closet and other thrift stores.  She showed me all the cute things she got.  I’ve always loved going school shopping with her, and still like seeing what she gets for her college shopping.  

We walked outside and looked at the big tree stumps from the trees they had cut down and hauled away.  The sure were huge.  Of course Rehvyn loved it outside and didn’t want to go back inside.  Vikki said just to walk up on the porch and he would come, but he didn’t he went exploring more.  Kenzie brought him in and he cried at first, but then he went back to giving fist bumps and smiling.  He is so sweet.  

It was fun watching Peyton practice golf swings on the Wii.  She is pretty good.  We left there around 7:30 and quickly drove down the road a little ways with Kenzie and Rehvyn with us to show us all the wood at the neighbors from their trees.  

It sure was a fun day!