Monday, 8/17/26, Went to Carol’s, Met Debbie at Cracker Barrel, went back to Carol’s, played Donkey, took Angie to Bishop airport, Jack drove over to visit us by himself the first time, went on ice cream run with Faith Riders

Silly Brielle...we got her a big sticker book for her birthday and she put them all over her.  Good thing there are lots

Debbie, Angie, Bill and I all had a good visit and a delicious breakfast at Cracker Barrel this morning 

Jack go his license so he drove over to visit Bill and I today.  It made us so happy!

Jack visiting with us on the deck

We had a nice group come to ride to our mystery ice cream place.  From Left to Right..Joaquin, Dan, Elaine, Karen, Miles, Barb, Ron, Bill, Gayla and Wes.  My shadow ha ha!

At the ice cream place

Bill wanted to take my picture there

I got up at 8:30 and did my Bible reading and prayer time.  Then I got ready.  Bill got up and got ready and read his Bible.  We left after he finished and went to his sister Carol’s.  We we stopped at the Spatz Bread Store and picked up some bread for Angie and Carol.  Angie wanted to take some home with her.  We visited for a while, then we met Debbie at 12:30 at the Cracker Barrel.  We all got pancakes, eggs, potatoes and meat.  We visited and had a good time.  We ordered some pancakes to take back to Carol.  Debbie had to go home because she was really tired.  She got up around 4 a.m. and took Lizzy, Justine, Mackenzie and Olivia to the Detroit airport.  She is still having trouble with pain in her shoulder that she broke and had surgery on.  We went back to Carol’s and she, Angie, Bill and I played Donkey since we had lots of time.  Bill went out first, I went out second and Angie got stuck with the donkey.  It sure got passed around lots.  Angie got her suitcase and stuff and we put it in the Jeep and she. Bill and I headed to the Airport.  Her flight got moved up so it departs earlier.  We dropped her off, hugged, cried and off she went into the airport.  Saying goodbye is always hard.  

Bill and I drove home and sucked on some candy sticks Angie got us from Cracker Barrel.  I texted Angie and she was having hers on the plane she texted back.

We got home and Melissa had wanted me to let her know when we were home so Jack could drive himself over.    I called her and he headed over.  Bill was mowing the grass and saw him coming so headed to the front yard on the tractor.  I saw him coming when I was in the house and went out to welcome him.  I love that he can drive himself now.  We had a really nice visit and he told us all about helping at dog camp.  He will be starting a job at Christine’s business tomorrow and will be working through co-op.  We are proud of him.

When he left, I took a picture of him in his car.   

Bill and I got ready and went out to the driveway and got on the motorcycle.  We rode to Meijer where we me up with 9 others and rode to the mystery ice cream place Wes had picked out.  We enjoyed ice cream and each other’s company.  

We came home and I worked on my blog and Bill caught up on his phone stuffl. It was a fun day

I talked Kimmy and she said she was doing ok.  She said Jacob had the sore throat and was getting congested now.  We are praying for our Jacob.  

 

Sunday, 8/16/26, Went to meet for ride, Rode to Unionville, met more bikers, we all went to Elevate Church, Lunch at Cracker Barrel, Had a downpour at home in the evening, garden looks good, watched Movie Daniel 2026

All of us at Elevate Church

  

Ron, Russ and Bill relaxing at Cracker Barrel while we waited to get seated

Lots of fields of Sunflowers this year which are absolutely beautiful.

I got up at 6:15 this morning.  Bill got up at 7.  We got ready, got our motorcycle vests on, got our coffee and waters, then went out and got on the motorcycle and headed to meet others in Saginaw.  Russ and Marsha got there after us.  They came from Sturgis, South Dakota, spent the night in a hotel, and joined us.  I called Barb to see if they were coming and she was having back pain so she didn’t come, but said Ron was on his way.   I called Wes and Gayla too, but they weren’t coming because they had a family reunion.  Called Elaine and she and Karen weren’t coming because it was supposed to rain.  We took off and Bill and I led the way.  We got to Bay City and it started sprinkling lightly.  We stopped and put our rain jackets on.  We started riding again and it was only about 5 minutes and the rain stopped.  Yay!  So thankful.  We got to Unionville and met other CMA members at a gas station.  Then we all rode together to the school where they have started a church.  They had hardboiled eggs, bagels and cream cheese, brownies, and cookies for everyone as well as coffee.  We were happy because we hadn’t eaten breakfast. They were all so nice and welcoming.  The church service was awesome.  The girl praying and doing the welcome said such touching heartfelt prayers.  The young guy doing the worship was anointed and worship was awesome.  Lew and Cindy did a great job sharing about CMA and Run for the Son.  The pastor gave a really good message about Joshua and crossing the Jordan River.  He gave people the opportunity to think, pray about what our Jordan was and everyone could go forward and get a stone and build a memorial with them.  He had everyone who wanted prayer to get prayer from the prayer team.  Bill and I got prayer for God’s help being State Coordinators for CMA Michigan.  We talked to the worship leader afterwards for a long time,  He really wants a motorcycle as he rode a motorcycle when he was younger, but his wife doesn’t want him to get one.  We talked to others too.  In the parking lot, we discussed where to go eat.  There were 17 of us and they wanted to go to a new Mexican restaurant but it’s very small.  Bill and I, Russ and Marcia and Ron decided to just head towards home and eat in Bay City because Russ and Marcia had a long drive to get home yet.  The Tawas group went the same direction because they had a long ride.  The rest went to Sebewaing to the Mexican place.  We had a nice ride and ended up eating at Cracker Barrel.  The food was delicious and we had a nice time visiting.  

I read my Bible when I got home.  Kimmy called me.  Her ear isn’t popped any more and she’s feeling a little better.  I am thankful.  Jared was picking the corn, the boys were shucking the corn and she was boiling the corn.  They ended up getting 45 lbs.  WOW!  

She sent me this picture.  I love that they got so much.  Their corn last year was amazing.

We both took a nap.  Then Bill read his Bible.  I ate left over Chicken and mashed potatoes from Cracker Barrel for dinner.  Bill wasn’t hungry.  We watched the movie, Daniel, the Movie 2026.  It was really good.

Saturday, 8/15/26, Went to family reunion at Fred and Lourdes’s, sad because Kimmy, Jared and their boys can’t come. Kimmy doesn’t want to pass what she has to anyone.

Pam and Bill...cheese squish thing on his head

Pam, Angie, Debbie, Fred and Bill

Kenzie and Peyton in their new hot tub

Hailey with Rehvyn on the front porch

Evan and Hailey

Sister Pam and Bill

Pa, Bill, Shani, Angie and Lourdes at the table...Lizzy, Rody and Steve standing up

Melissa, Hailey, Fred, Justin, Lizzy, Tom, Debbie and Matthew

Sisters....Debbie, Angie and Pam

Sister in laws, Lourdes and me with Pam

Lizzy having the brothers and sisters getting on steps in order of age...Bill was telling Angie to move up one step because he wasn’t the oldest, she was

Top to bottom...Angie, Bill, Debbie, Pam, Fred.  MacKenzie playing by the stairs

The little cousins all playing in the sand together

 

Peyton and Kenzie

 

Rehvy

Bruce

Isaac and Evan

Shani and Lourdes

Debbie and Tom

Peyton, Rody and Steve

Lizzy taking pictures

Matthew and Pam

Peyton and Kenzie

Rody and Peyton

I got up early.  I put the baked beans I had baked last night in the crockpot so they would be warm for the reunion.  I read my Bible.  Bill got up and came in and read his Bible too.  We did our Devotion together.  We got ready and the nwe packed everything in the Jeep.  We were happy everything fit.  We left and headed to Carol’s.  We had time so we went in and visited with her and Angie for a while, then we put Angie’s veggies and dip for the reunion in our cooler.  Carol is unable to go to the family reunion because she has COPD.

Angie rode with us.  It was a nice ride. Bill got out after a while and snapped Angie’s window in the back so it was sealed and didn’t let the noisy air blow in.  Angie was having trouble hearing us.  It took over an hour to get to Fred’s house.  He was outside when we got there and welcomed us.  He helped us carry everything in too.  We went inside and greeted Bill’s sister, Pam, who had flown in from N. Carolina.  It was so good to see her and get to spend time with her.  She had brought each of us girls, a beautiful tin of English tea from England where she and Dick go for part of the year to live because he is from there.  She brought Bill a bag with Cheese Its,  a bag with real cheese curds, and a cheese square to squish.  He hates cheese!!!  Then she also gave him a nice package of chocolates.

Fred grilled brats and burgers on the grill which were delicious.  Shani made potato salad that was yummy.  There was delicious fruit the girls brought. (I brought Melissa’s because they were at dog camp camping, so I told her I would bring pineapple and musk melon for her.   Angie brought the veggies and dip.  Everyone liked the chocolate covered strawberries Hailey and I made.  Tom asked me if I would pack up about 8 of them for him to take home, so I did.  He was pretty happy to have them.  Pam left because she had to get to the airport to fly home.  Freddie, Ashton and the boys left.  Then the rest of us left after helping clean up.

It was such a fun reunion and so good to see everyone.  We all really missed Kimmy, Jared and the boys.  I sent her texts because everyone wanted them to know they missed them and love them.  We took Angie back to Carol’s.  Vikki, Rody, Isaac and Rehvyn were behind us for a ways, then they took Rehvyn home and picked up Peyton because she went home with Kenzie.  

I was happy to talk to Kimmy when I got home.  She had a popped hear that was bugging her because she could hear herself so loud.  Poor girl.  I can’t wait until she is back to normal and felling great.  I am really missing my Kimmy and her family.  

I was trying to do the blog, but I fell asleep sitting up.  I was tired from getting up early, plus tomorrow we get up early so we can leave by 7:30 to go to a church crash for CMA in Sebewaing.  When I woke up, Bill told me I had slept for an hour.  I quit my blog and went to bed when he did. 

Friday, 8/14/26, Went to Isaac’s Marching Band presentation, went to Jack’s and Meijer, Hailey came over, she brought banana bread all mixed up and baked us a loaf and another loaf, helped me do chocolate covered strawberries, went to Culvers with us, Bill and I got gas for $1 off 30 gal, He got a carwash and I went to Sam’s, made baked beans, cut up pineapple, musk melon

Isaac in the marching band’s presentation of what they are doing pre game and half time for Homecoming.  They did a great job!

Isaac in the center

Bill’s camera takes great closeups from far away!

Hailey was such a blessing making us banana bread.  She was also amazing at doing half of the chocolate covered strawberries.  A huge thank you Hailey!

I got up at 7:30 so I could read my Bible before things got busy.  I took my shower, did my hair, ran the pool filter for an hour, and filled Kit Kat’s self feeder and put it outside.  Bill got up around 8:30 and read his Bible.  He left to go get water jugs from Shays.  At 10:45 I left to go to Isaac’s Marching band presentation.  Vikki called and they were on their way at the same time and Bill called me and he was on his way there too.  We all got there at the same time.  We sat in the middle of the bleachers in the shade and all had our stadium seats to be comfortable.  I brought Bill’s for him.  I gave my Peyton a big hug when I saw her.  She carried Papa’s stadium seat for me.  We all enjoyed watching Isaac in the marching band.  He and all the band did a great job and sounded wonderful.  

I went to Jacks after that and got some safflower seed.  I looked at their strawberries but they didn’t look real good.  I went to Meijer’s next and got 6 containers of strawberries, some baked beans, some creamer and some nice stick things to put in the strawberries when they are ready to dip in chocolate.  Hailey called to see if she could come over an bake banana bread.  She had it all mixed up, but didn’t realize there were any walnuts at her house.  She knows we like lots of walnuts on ours.  We got to my house at around the same time.  We went to Aldi to get some walnuts, came back home and she baked the banana bread.  Then she helped me dip get the strawberries ready and then dip them into melted chocolate. She did the dark chocolate, and did an amazing job.  She even took the extra chocolate and made swirls on some of hers.  Hers were designer!  

When the banana bread was done, Bill had the first piece when it was really warm.  After I finished my strawberries, I ate a piece of banana bread.  It was so super delicious.  YUM!

Bill put a new screen protecter on my phone and also on my watch.  He did a nice job and it sure is nice to have them looking good again.  We went to Culver’s for dinner.  I got a hamburger kids meal which is more than enough and so good.  We came back to our house and hung out another half hour.  I had put the other loaf of banana bread in parchment paper and in a ziplock bag.  

Hailey left and took the other loaf of banana bread.  I think she made it for her Aunt Vikki because she had told me she didn’t realize Aunt Vikki didn’t like walnuts on hers.  She didn’t eat any when we were eating ours at BayShorei.  She only likes to bake it.  That’s good.   I could eat more, but I’m too full, so will wait til morning.

I cut up a musk melon for tomorrow. I cut the second one an it was rotten.  I think it is ok to use to catch the woodchuck.  I put it in the live trap so hope I catch the bugger.  I cut up a pineapple too and it was good. Then I noticed I had a device that cores the pineapple.  I used it and it sliced it Ito.  It was more ripe than the first one.  I put everything in containers to take tomorrow.  I put everything in container s and put them in the refrigerator.  

I’m going to bed early, at 11,  tonight.  Getting up early to get ready and then pack up everything we have to take to Fred’s for our family reunion.

  

Thursday, 8/13/26, Bill went to Veterans luncheon, I cut up more cucumbers from the garden, went shopping at Meijer and Aldi, Cindy came over, Maddy came over

Bill took a picture of my new phone case for me

Put the sprinkler on this part of the garden last night.  Plants are sure happier.  Did the end tonight after this picture.  

Melissa, Lydia and Jack all made the BayShore Facebook Page today.  They are at dog camp at BayShore.

We got up and read our Bibles right away and did our devotion together.  So good!  I called Kimmy to check on her.  She said her headaches are gone and her sore throat which is great.  She is still pretty congested though.  Bill and I prayed for her and are continuing to pray.  We told her she should go to Urgent Care, but she said she’s ok.  I sure don’t like it when my Kimmy is sick.  We are very thankful no one else has caught it.  We had a bowl of blueberries for our breakfast.  Bill had a protein drink too.

Bill went to a luncheon for Veterans.  He was asked to say the prayer by a friend of his.  He had a good time.  I cut up a couple of more cucumbers and soaked them in salt water for a few hours.  

I filled all of the bird baths.  I saw a lot of birds on the little bird bath that was low on water.  All of the others were empty.  They were happy when they were filled again.  Poor birds need a drink and need to cool down.  My new phone case came today.  Bill just ordered it for me yesterday.  It’s a pretty flower print.  

I went shopping at Meijer for strawberries, but I decided to wait until tomorrow because I want them really fresh for Saturday at the party.  I returned a dress while I was there.  I went to Aldi after that.  Got three clothes baskets that are square.  My last one I got 5 years ago, broke.  They are super nice for hauling food out to the camper.  Light to carry when loading the cupboards and refrigerator.  The price was right at Aldi too at $3.49

I came home and got here right before Cindy came.  We had stuff for her to pick up for a CMA event they are having a booth at.  She also helped Bill with a map of CMA chapters.  She is really great at flyers and pretty much everything on the computer.  She is such a blessing!

I rinsed the cucumbers and put them in the vinegar/sugar solution.  Also cut up onions to add.  We had spaghetti again for dinner and I had a bowl of cucumbers.  

Maddy came over after her exercise workout.  We had a nice visit and enjoyed coffee and blueberry muffins.  She stayed for about an hour, then had to go home.  We walked out and looked at the garden before she left.  

I worked on my blog after that.  Bill caught up on his phone stuff.