Thurs. 1/16/25, Ate breakfast at the hotel, arrived at Best Western in Newton

Community Heights Alliance Church

Went to the church and helped the goodie reps put CMA Shirts and other things on tables in Goodies where we all get to shop. Pat from the UP helped too!  Bill set our stuff out on our Michigan table.  We worked until lunchtime, then checked into our hotel.  We went to a cute diner for lunch.  Paul and Debbie and Pat and Art were there so we talked with them.  We got breakfast and it was

S delicious! We went to Walmart and got pillow cases because Bill accidentally shut the back Jeep door on his pillow and got grease on it.

I texted out new U.P. Goodie reps to let them know the area reps were all getting together at Pizza Ranch at 5. We went back to our hotel and relaxed for a couple of hours.  At 5, we went to the church and met with Jay for a state coordinators meeting.  First we ate pizza they ordered, then we had our meeting in another room.  We went and shopped in the Goodies Store after that. We got some things to give to our chapters for events they do and for bike blessings.All of us got together at 7 to watch the movie, The Forge!  Such a great movie.  I’m going to buy it.  We put another tablecloth on a table a

Head of our long table because we have so many from Michigan here!  Only one couple couldn’t make it.  John Ogden Jr. and his wife Holly are here from Arkansas to share a message

He with us. They are an amazing couple! We cam back to our hotel after that.

Wednesday, 1/15/25, Packed last minute things, made egg salad sandwiches for our lunch, Bill loaded the Jeep, left at 7:40,

 

Bill driving

Us at 5 Guys.  We sent the picture to Melissa for her to show Max because it’s one of his favorite restaurants

I got up at 5:30. and got ready, and Bill got up at 6:30.and got ready.  After we packed everything, Bill put it in the Jeep.  I made egg salad sandwiches and packed protein drinks and water bottles in the cooler.  I also packed  crackers and peanut butter snacks and trail mix.  

We stopped at Tim Hortons and each got a donut.  Bill got a coffee, but I just drank my yummy coffee crop from home.  We each had a pack of crackers and peanut butter about an hour later.  Then we had a banana too.

We had clear roads all the way and no snow at all when we got to Iowa.  We got gas and then ate our egg salad sandwiches at noon. We wanted to stay at the Comfort Inn we stayed at last year in Davenport and tried to put it in our GPS but it didn’t take us to the Comfort in I typed in.  We decided to stay at a Comfort Suites in Coralville, the next town.  We checked in and it was a very nice hotel.  There was a 5 Guys a few buildings down, and a car wash a couple of buildings past that.  We went through the car wash, then to 5 Guys, then back to our hotel.  We read our Bibles.  They had nice reading lights extending from the bedside lights.  I could have read without my glasses.  I did my blog then we relaxed!

Wed., 1/14/25, Bill went to Wes’s and to the bank, started packing,

Maddy sent me these cute pictures of Brielle and Mason...so cute!

 We read our Bibles right away and did our devotions,  I brought the suitcases down and the rod to hang clothes on in the Jeep.  Bill went to see Wes, and then to the bank.  I made egg salad for sandwiches on our trip.  We both had a sandwich for dinner tonight too.  

We put our hanging clothes in the Jeep and also loaded the CMA decorations for our Michigan table.  We had to go through them all and sort them, and just are taking the ones we know we will use.  Went from two tubs to one tub!  Looking forward to a good time of hearing great messages and having good fellowship with the state leaders from our 9 states    

Bill got his results from his MRI.  No changes so that is good. We are thanking the Lord!

We packed our suitcases and now just have to pack last minute stuff tomorrow morning.

Talked to Melissa and FaceTimed with Vikki.  Texted with Adam.  Texted with my friend Vikki too.  

Monday, 1/13/25, School was cancelled because of bad roads, Eli’s school was delayed, Adam had school, Went to Vikki’s, Bill and I went to Merijo and Gregs, to St. Laurents Candy shop, Melissa came to visit

I had fun with great grandson, Rehvyn, today.  He’s so sweet and cute!

His Uncle Isaac sure loves him

He’s pretty fun too!

Such a tired boy

Grammy and Rehvyn are always so happy together

He loves his Aunt Peyton too!

Nana and her boy and Lucy

Nana and Rehvyn playing music together

He’s just like Kenzie and loves remotes

Watching Barney with the remote in his hand.  Vikki looked away for just a minute and then turned around and saw him standing on one of those stools infant of the bookshelf.  Yikes!

Kenzie put her sunglasses on him and he just sat there with them on

Papa very happy with his duck from Hailey, Max, Jack and Evan

Fred sent this picture of Jacob and Lourdes eating the good meal she made for them.  It’s called Rolls de verduras, and it’s a Spanish dish of pork, vegetables and pastry.  Jacob told his mom it was delicious.  They sure are treating him good.

No school today around here.  Eli’s school was delayed a couple of hours and Adam had school and drove himself there.  Bill went into town to buy a part he needed.  He also took a tool Wes needed over to him.  I went to Vikki’s and visited with her and enjoyed spending time with Rehvyn.  He sure stands a lot and takes some steps.  He still prefers crawling, but it won’t be long and that will change.  He likes to get into stuff now.  He’s on the go and doesn''t want to be held unless he’s tired.  He gave me a kiss and when I went to leave, he walked to the gate and held his hands up for me to pick him up.  He was so cute.  Of course, I picked him up and stayed a few more minutes.  What a sweet boy! I was so happy to see him.  Kimmy called Vikki and we got to hear how good Jacob slept last night.  I left and came home, got ready and went to visit Greg and Merijo and see their new house.  It’s really cute and we sure had a fun time with them.  Merijo made a delicious banana pudding dessert.  It was so good, and so was the coffee we had with it.  We took them for a ride in our Jeep and went to St. Laurent’s Candy Store.  We bought some Sea Foam candy like my great grandma Daisy would have at Christmas time.  We also got some dark chocolate covered orange peels and some chocolate covered almonds. Bill got some cinnamon covered almonds too.  Greg and Merijo got some candy too.  On our way back to their house, I let them try a Sea Foam candy because they had never had it before.  They liked it too.  We dropped them off at their house, got out and gave them hugs and headed to Sam’s Club to get some things we need to take to Iowa for treats and also some premium protein drinks that were on sale.  I got a pizza combo there and ate it on the way home. That was Bill’s suggestion, and then he said he would eat the vegetable soup at home.

We were going to pick up Jack to take him to Fencing, but Melissa called and since the kids didn’t have school today, they celebrated Peggy’s birthday with her early.  They got done and had plenty of time for Melissa to take Jack to Fencing class.  Melissa came to visit while Jack was there.  She gave Bill the Marine Rubber Duck that the kids got for Bill.  He was pretty happy to get that!!! Really weird, though because even though it said Jeep Rubber Duck, it was made out of ceramic.  Still very cute and Bill sure likes it.  Melissa had some chocolate covered almonds, we had a nice visit, talked to Vikki on the phone, then she went to pick Jack up.  

 

 

Sunday, 1/12/25, Went to prayer, than church service, Jacob moved into Fred and Lourdes’s, Vikki picked up Rrehvyn,, went to Sue’s, watched a movie with Bill

Kenzie FaceTimed me and she was cutting up chicken for chicken salad.  Rehvyn went zooming in his walker to the dryer and he stopped and watched the clothes spinning.  He was so cute.

                                                 Rehvyn at Grammy Vikki’s house walking.     

I started dough going in the bread maker before we left this morning. We went to prayer before service, then into the church service.  Bill had pastor and the elder’s pray for me when they had their prayer time.  Pastor has eczema too.  Worship was amazing!  Pastors message was so good too.  We went up to pray for people after the service was finished.  Pastor Ken came up to me after service and told me he was praying for me.  So thankful for my church family and my pastor.  Love that we pray for each other.  Then we went to Riverside for breakfast for Bill and lunch for me.  We were just talking about going to Greg and Merijo’s tomorrow to see their new house, and they walked in.  They had us move and sit with them Dennis, Andy and Sheila, and Max.  We also got to see Ann and Ken who started His Restoration and have since retired.  We had such a nice time talking with everyone and the food was really good.  

Kimmy, Jared and Jacob, and Vikki were going to Bill’s brothers and moving Jacob in.  She sent me a video of him all moved in.  Everything went well and Fred texted Bill and I to tell us they had a nice visit with everyone and that Jacob was all moved in.  

I baked the rolls for Sue.  Bill sampled one.  The rest I took over to Sue and gave her.  I took her a bowl of veggie soup too and a Hostess Snow ball.  It had snowed all day, so Bill had me take the Jeep so I would have 4 wheel drive.  I was thankful as soon as I got on the roads and saw how bad they were.  I dropped the stuff off and headed right back home.

We ate some soup, some homemade applesauce, and then had banana splits for dessert. I talked to Kimmy for a while and was happy to hear about their day.  Her voice was gone this morning, but it was coming back tonight so I could hear her good. I talked to Melissa for a while.  She needs us to take Jack to fencing tomorrow night and pick him up.  Bill and I watched a movie with David White in it, the Harvest.  

            

Sat. 1/11/25, Went to Faith Riders Chapter meeting, Bill plowed the driveways, and shoveled the by the door of his shed, I shove;led the deck off, and he shoveled the sidewalk. made vegetable soup, I went to Vikki's

Gayla’s Birthday is Saturday so she had to wear the Birthday Hat at breakfast this morning

Bill sure enjoyed plowing with the plow he got for his tractor. 

We went to Faith Rider’s Chapter meeting.  Some side roads were still slippery, but the main roads were good.  Only 10 of us showed up.  We had a good time visiting, there was a great message from Chaplain Elaine, and we all shared our favorite thing about Christmas this year.  We had a wonderful breakfast.  I took my tiny Tupperware pictcher with my flavored creamer from home so my coffee there was enjoyable. Wes brought his orange Tupperware pitcher with flavored creamer also.  If one of us forgets, we share.  After the meeting, we came home.  Bill said he was going to plow the driveway.  I looked out and he was shoveling the deck by the door of the shed.  It was nice out, so I decided to surprise him and shovel off the back deck.  When I saw him drive the tractor to the front of the house, I went and took pictures and videos of him.  He’s so cute on the tractor.

We read our Bibles, then he took a nap while I made vegetable soup.  I put chicken, carrots, cabbage, two potatoes, onions, green beans, and pinto beans in it.  I took some to Vikki and her family because I thought it would help keep her blood sugar down.  I’m so glad she’s going to therapy for her shoulder and she’s exercising on her treadmill at home. I want her to live a long healthy life.  I want that for all of my girls, son in laws and grandkids.and pray for them and for many others.  

Kimmy, Jared and Jacob went to Lansing and moved all of Jacob’s stuff back home.  Bill’s brother Fred and his wife are letting Jacob stay at their house for a while so he is close to drive to college. It’s so nice of them and we are so thankful.  Jacob is a great kid and I know he’ll be a blessing to them too.  He moves in tomorrow.

Sue called me and she is hungry for rolls so wanted to pay me to make her some.  I told her I was making her some, but told her it’s easy and I will love to do it for her for nothing.  She likes to keep them in her freezer like Charlie did and get one out when she wants one.  I will be doing that tomorrow and paying her a visit.

Friday, 1/10/25, Started snowing around 10:30 am. , Kimmy, Jared and Jacob went to check on Jacob’s place in Lansing,, I fed the birds,I shoveled off the deck after about an inch of snow fell, picked Eli up from school,

Blanket Hope gave Adam for Christmas

Had fun watching this Pileated Woodpecker this morning.  There was a pretty cardinal above it

 We got up and Bill had his protein drink and I made a coffee.  We read our Bibles afterwards.  I watched the birds for a while and was happy to see a Pileated Woodpecker on the suet feeder. After it left, I went out and filled the feeders.  I scattered some on the ground too.  I decided to shovel off the deck to get the first layer of snow off.  There was about an inch on it.  It was snowing pretty steady when I got done. I went inside and Kimmy called.  She and Jared were in the van and Jacob was following in his car.  The roads were getting bad.  Kimmy wanted to make sure if they were bad here, that Bill would pick up Adam and Eli from school.  Of course he would. Kimmy said Adam got out of school early because he had everything he needed done and they were letting kids out of school early because of the storm.  He picked up pizzas and was home when she called.  We took the Jeep and went to get Eli so Adam wouldn’t have to drive on the bad roads.  They were bad too!  We were glad we had 4 wheel drive.  We got there and about 5 minutes later Eli came out.  I had texted him that we were there.  It was nice to see him for a little while.  We dropped him off and headed for home.  Then Bill said he needed gas.  We needed to go at the same time to get our $1 off up to 35 gallons at Kroger.  We stopped at our house and I followed him.  He put gas in my ar first and then I ran into Kroger to get carrots, potatoes, and tomato juice to make veggie soup.  The roads were terrible and I was really glad to get home.  

Bill went out even  though it was dark out and plowed the driveways.  I talked to Vikki for a long time and then Kenzie FaceTimed me.  After that, Bill and I are the last of the chili.  Bill called his brother, Fred, and he and Lourdes said Jacob can stay at their place for now.  He’s about 1/2 hour away from Jacob’s college.  We were all thankful.