Sat. 9/19/26, West Branch RFS breakfast, 10 a.m. ride around from St. Helen to Houghton Lake, buffet pizza lunch and salad bar at Puccini’s, visited in camper with Russ, Marsha and Barry, potluck at 6:00,

Prayer before Ride

Bike and Off Road lineup

At Bucinni's

Potluck in the evening

I read my Bible after I got ready.  West Branch put on a breakfast to raise money for RFS.  We all went to eat, then lined the bikes and Off Road vehicles up.  We prayed before leaving.  Then we left for our ride.  Rob did a great job leading us.  Doug was next, then us, and then Rod and Beth.  There weren’t as many up here this year, because of the weather forecast and also some parent’s kids had sports events they had to be at.  It was 49 degrees this morning.  It got up to about 53 when we took off.  We were all dressed in layers to keep warm.  We stopped in Mio at a gas station, but no one needed to use the restroom and no one got snacks.  It was a sooner stop than yesterday.  The sun came out while we were stopped, and stayed out while we rode for about another 20 minutes.  When we got to Roscommon, we turned the corner in town, and there were lots of people sitting along the road.  They were waiting for the parade to start.  Some of the people were waving to us, so we waved back.  Glad we made it through before the parade started.  When we got close to Higgins Lake, it started misting out.  It wasn’t much at all, so we kept riding and didn’t stop to put our rain gear on.  It stopped about 15 minutes later.  None of us were wet so that was good.  We arrived a half hour early at Buccini’s, but they let us go to the back room and brought out water and whatever anyone want to drink with their pizza.  At one, we all got the salad bar, then they brought in lots of different kinds of pizza.  Of course Bill ordered his special no cheese pizza.  We sat across from Jerry and Sandy, and had a nice visit.  Rob and Barry were at our table too, so we talked with them also.  Barry just drove up for today and brought his Off Road vehicle up so he could ride with that group.  We all enjoyed great pizza and fellowship.  Then we took off again to go to back to the campground.  It warmed up to 65 degrees and felt nice out.  I went in the camper and heated up my chili and put it in the crockpot and turned it on low.  Bill wanted to load the motorcycle, so we packed stuff away in the camper that needed moving, put the slide outs in, Bill disconnected the water and the electricity.  I helped guide Bill onto the hitch.  Then he drove the bike up on the trailer and we secured it.  Then we put the slide outs back out, and he plugged things back in.  I put things back in the camper that I had to secure.  I packed everything in my basket carrier Vikki got me.  Then Marsha, Russ and Barry came and talked to us outside and we invited them into our camper because it was misting out.  Julie came and told us that the Pavilion was open for us to use while we ate so that was good.  It quit raining, so we cleaned thing up, then took stuff back to our campers and then sat around the campfire until around 9:30.  Melissa called me and told me how far she had gotten with taking off the wallpaper in her kitchen and dining room.  She only has to do over the refrigerator.  She FaceTimed me to show me.  She did an amazing job. I’m so proud of her and so thankful God gave her good health so she is able to do that.  I’m very happy. 

 

Evan sent the sweetest text to me thanking Papa and I for his prayer month gift.  It is a watch he can wear that he isn’t allergic to.  He also added that he was thankful that we prayed for him. 

Bill and I played 3-13.  I had over 100 and my goal of the game was to get him out of being negative.  I didn’t make it, but he only hat -5 at least.  It was -60.  We played his new dice game and I won 2 out of 3.  Then we played dice and we tied.  

 

 

Friday, 9/18/26, Cool morning 58 degrees, Marsha, Russ, Rich, Kari, and Rob came from the Indian River chapter, we went pre-rides for tomorrow’s ride, sat around visiting outside, went to dinner at Angry Oven, sat around campfire at Phil and Julies,until about 8:30

Kari and Ricky coming for the ride

Marsha and Russ in their new Off Road vehicle.

It must be thrilling from the look on Marsha’s face.  She’s so cute!
They did the Off Road Pre ride along with, Rick and Kari and Bob and Carol

Six of us did the pre ride for tomorrow.  Rob lead us, Sue and Doug are ahead of us, and
Jerry and Brenda were behind us

We road to Rose City, Mia, Luzerne, Roscommon, by Higgins Lake, and to Houghton Lake

It was a cloudy day with a high temp of 65 degrees.

Eating at the Angry Oven...Jerry, Brenda, Bob, Carol, Marsha, Russ, his brother Rick and Kari

Rob, Sue, Doug, Phil, Julie, me and Bill

It was a cool 58 degrees and cloudy when we got up.  We got ready and read our Bibles and did our prayer books.  Marsha, Russ and Rich and Kara came with their Off Road vehicles.  Marsha and Russ came over, and then we went outside to look at their new Off Road they bought.  So happy for them.  We sat at Phil and Julie’s for a while, then at 10 we all left to do the pre-rides for the street bikes and the off road vehicles.  Rob was our leader.  He did a great job.  We stopped in Roscommon to stretch and have a bathroom break.  We bought snacks to eat too because we were hungry.  We finished our ride to Houghton Lake, and stopped at Buccini’s where we will be having pizza tomorrow after we all finish our ride.  We didn’t get anything to eat, because we were going out to eat later.  We came back to the campground and sat around at Julie and Phil’s, then when it was time to eat, we rode the motorcycle to the restaurant.  We went to the Angry Oven, but since we were going to have pizza tomorrow, we didn’t eat their specialty pizza. 

Bill got chicken tenders and I got Mac and cheese.  The restaurant we usually go to on Friday evening when we’re up her closed temporarily.  

We came back and sat around the campfire.  It rained lightly so I put on my raincoat and a hat.  It was mostly just a mist.  It didn’t last long.  We sat around the campfire until 9:30, then came in the camper and Bill and I played 3-13.  I won 3-13, he won on the new dice game and I won regular dice.  I worked on my blog after that.

Thurs. 9/17/26, Took showers, got ready, packed last minute stuff, went to Bill’s dr. appt. with Evan P.A., stopped at Panera, picked my prescription up, unloaded clothes baskets in camper, loaded motorcycle, left for St. Helen, Arrived around 2:15, set up, visited at Sue and Doug’s, with them and Phil and Julie, sat around campfire at Julie an Phil’s, played 3-13, a new game and then dice

I forgot to take pictures during the day, so here we are ready to play games.

I got up first and took my shower and did my hair.  Bill got up and took his shower.  

After we were ready, we packed up the last minute stuff and I drove my car with a load of stuff out to the camper.  I just set the stuff in it and put only the refrigerator stuff away.  

I had to drive back to our driveway and get my stuff so we could leave for Bill’s doctor Appt.  We had an hour wait, most of it in the room waiting to be seen.  Dr. Adam’s is on leave because his wife has cancer, so he saw the PA, Evan.  He’s really nice and seems really smart.  He explained the MRI results and the conclusion is to wait since Bill is doing pretty well, and then see in December what Dr. Adam’s says.  Bill was extra sore today from cutting all the limbs off the trees and trimming all of our shrubs.

He had to have an X-Ray of his neck, so while he went to have that done, I walked through the gift shop and bought some of their yummy freshly made popcorn for $2 for our 2 bags of popcorn.  Vikki showed me how good their popcorn was when Kimmy had her colonoscopy.

We picked up my prescription, then went to Panera and got 2 large lemonades and 2 muffeys.   We came home and both put the stuff away in the camper.  Then we loaded the trike up quickly since it looked like rain.  It sprinkled a tiny bit, but not much.  I put a feeder in the fish pond, filled the bird feeders, watered my plants, made sure Kit Kat had lots of food and told her goodbye, then we left.  We prayed before we took off of course.  

When we were in West Branch we stopped at a gas station to wash off the two big splots of bird poo, one on the motorhome window, and one on the passenger side of the motorhome.

Bill cleaned the window and I cleaned the side.  It looked much better when we were done.

We got to St. Helen’s and Doug and Sue had just parked and were setting up, we were going to back into our spot and Julie and Phil pulled in right then and started backing into their spot.  Set up was quick.  However,  I had set my lemonade in the cup holder in the table so it would be safe and out of the way.  I came out of the hallway to hear Bill gasp as he dropped my large lemonade from Panera that was almost full and his almost gone lemonade.  It went all over the bench cover, the side of the bench and all over the floor.  What a mess. I had just turned on the hot water heater and didn’t think it would be hot yet, the water was very hot.  Bill and I soaked up the spilled lemonade, then I washed everything with warm soapy water. After that I washed the cover to the bench seat.  Bill set up the clothes outdoor rack and I hung the bench cover out on it in the sun.  

After that, we went and sat over at Doug and Sue’s campsite and visited with them and Phil and Julie.  It was a nice relaxing day, other than there were deer flies biting everyone.  I put my socks and tennis shoes back on and one bit through my sock, but after that no more bites.  Bill and Phil both had shorts on, so they were biting them bad.  Doug and Sue had bug zappers, so they let us all use one.    We all went to our campers to eat, then later met at the campfire at Julie and Phil’s.  Bill ordered some wood for the fire, to add to Doug and Sue’s wood they brought.  We finished eating chili and a cabbage bun, then saw the wood guy delivering the wood.  Bill went over to help show him what campsite to put it on.  We went over and sat by the fire after that.  Bill put jeans on and we didn’t get bit any more after that.

Phil still had shorts on so they were still after him.  This is the first time we’ve seen deer flies here.  Me no like them though.  Julie brought out some homemade chocolate covered nuts out for us to try.  They were really good.  We sat by the campfire talking until 9:30.  Then it was down to 60 degrees and getting colder.  We all went inside our campers.  Bill and I played 3-13 which he won, a new cute little game he bought and showed me how to play- he won 1 game and I won the other, and dice which I won.  We relaxed after that and I worked on my blog.

 

Wednesday, 9/16/26, Packed stuff and put it in camper, Went to Jacks, went to Meijer, Bill and I went to Sam’s Club, went to Vikki’s, Bill went to Marine Corp. League, I stayed at Vikki’s, she brought me home, we got subs at Subway, made chili,

I love FaceTiming with Rehvy this morning.  So sweet to talk to and so cute to watch.  

Vikki and I visited in her sun porch.  It was so good getting to see her and hang out with her after 2 weeks of not being able to because she was sick.  I was so happy to see Peyton too.  She was so sweet and came and gave me a hug when I got there and then hugged me goodbye.   I sure love these two so much!

I sure love this fun and beautiful girl!

I got up early so I could read my Bible before I went to get groceries.  I stopped at McDonald’s to get a $2 Egg McMuffin I had a code for.  Kenzie FaceTimed me, so I parked in the parking lot and talked to her and Rehvyn.  I am so thankful they FaceTime me.  When it was time to hang up because Kenzie’s phone battery needed charging, Rehvyn cried because he wanted to keep talking.  

I left for Jack’s, got burger for chili and packed it in a stay cold bag, and then went to Meijer to get the stuff on my list that I had clipped digital coupons for.   I returned pop cans too.  I did the shop and scan so I could earn 1,000 extra M-Perk points.  

I got home and put the groceries that we are taking in the camper.  Then I came in and packed my stuff, the refrigerator stuff, and the freezer stuff and put it in my car and drove back to the camper to put it inside it.  I came in after that, and Bill was sleeping.  He had mowed the lawn again and also had picked up the stuff he cut down around his shed.  When I was done, I let him know and we went to Panera to get drinks, and then went to Sam’s Club to get a few things.  After that we dropped off Isaac’s card at Vikki’s, and went in to say hi to her and enjoyed seeing her in person.  Bill said we couldn’t stay because he had to get home to go to the Marine Corps League meeting.  Vikki said she would take me home if I stayed and visited with her, so that’s what I did.  It was so nice hanging out with her.  I’ve had two blessed days of hanging out with daughter’s.  I'll have to hang out with Melissa when I get back from my camping trip.  I am blessed with wonderful and caring daughters.

Vikki made me a pumpkin spice coffee.  I put creamer in it and it was sure delicious.  We sat out on the swing in the sun room.  She hasn’t heard the woodchuck digging since they pulled the rug back and found the hole it chewed in the floor.  Hopefully, it never comes back.  We sure had a nice time sitting out there and visiting.  It was sure nice to see Peyton too.  She was so sweet.  She always is.  Isaac was riding his bike to church.  It was nice getting to see Rody too.  At around 7, Vikki and I went to Subway and got $4 BLT subs, then came to my house and ate them.  They were so good.  It was getting dark, so before she left we went out and I picked a couple of green peppers for her and a few tomatoes.  She left after that.  

I started making the chili for our camping trip chili cookout.  I used a quart of the stewed tomatoes I did the other night.  Bill tried the chili and said it was really good.  I did a last minute load of laundry.

 

Tues., 9/15/26, Went to Kimmy’s for the day, got to see Adam, then Grace came and got to see her, Bill trimmed lots of stuff, went to prayer, raked up the trimmed off stuff

Such a cute sweet couple....Grace and Adam

Kimmy and me right before I left.  I love this daughter of mine so much!

Bill was trimming stuff when I got home.  

and trimming

and trimming...

He did so much.  I was worried he was overdoing it for his back, but he said he wasn’t.  I was happy because he trimmed lots of plants that I was going to have to trim.  He is a very hard worker.  I sure appreciate him.

Bill driving the motorhome to get gas

Driving down the driveway

I got ready to go to Kimmy’s.  Right before I was leaving, Kenzie and Rehvyn FaceTimed Papa.  He’s the one Rehvyn wanted to call today.  I got to see him and talk to him too.  I was a little late heading to Kimmy’s so I could do this.  It was raining lightly when I left.  By the time I got to US10, it was raining more.  There was a traffic backup because they were working on US10.  A guy was mixing cement that had been poured in a square area.  It was raining so much, it looked like it was going to be too wet.  Someone let me in the slow flow of traffic.  I was very thankful for that.  It went slow for a while, then we went faster.  It started raining pretty hard, so we were going slower again.  

It went to a sprinkle again.  By the time I got to Kimmy’s it was 9:20.  I had planned on getting there at 9.  She held Arnie back until he was calmly sitting.  Then I got to pet him.  He’s such a sweet dog and such a good boy.  I hope my puppy will be like him.  We drank our coffee and sat and visited.  Kimmy’s place looked beautiful with all of her special touches.  Vikki was talking to us on the phone for a while.  She hung up after a while.  Adam came home from work.  He went in early. Grace was coming at 11, so he got home before she arrived.  When she got there, she was very good at waiting for Arnie to calm down before she tried to pet him.  She works at helping Kimmy train him.  Adam not so much....he got Arnie all riled up and even took the leash off.  He likes to tease.  It was fun watching him and Grace. They are a cute couple and both are very nice.  They left after a while and went to Firehouse Sub to get food.  Kimmy made her and I a really good Russellhouse Sub.  We had Fritos with it.  Yum!  We also had some orange jello that was super good.  Thanks Kimmy!  

Grace and Adam came back for a while.  They said their subs were really good.  They hung out for a while, then left again.  They are planning on going to soccer practice later.  Adam helps coach.

I had to leave at around 3 because Bill and I were going to take the Motorhome to Meijer and put 30 gal. of gas in it at $1 off.  I sure am thankful for Meijer Perks.  Gas was $4.69 So saving $30 was a blessing.  We still have another $1 off at Meijer for 30 gal and $1 off at Kroger for $35 gal.  Bill was doing lots of trimming of trees, bushes and cut down some of my flower plants for me.  I told him I would pick up the stuff when I got back from prayer tonight.  He put the gas in the motorhome, then we headed home.  I only had time to warm up dinner and then leave for Bible Study.  He was out busy picking up the big branches and burning them.  

I went to prayer.  It was so awesome as it always is.  We got into groups of 3 and prayed for all of the leaders and classes they are teaching this fall.  Then we prayed for any needs we had.  Our group prayed for Marie who is having cataract surgery tomorrow too.  

I came home, and while it was still a little light out, I picked up the stuff Bill trimmed off from the bushes up by the house.  I got a garbage can full of stuff.  I couldn’t see real good out back, except where the side of the shed has the big light.  I went out and racked stuff into big piles and will pick it up tomorrow.

I worked on my blog after that.   

Monday, 9/14/26, Met Maddy for Coffee, Bill put shelf bars in camper refrigerator, we put the clean sheets on the bed, went for ice cream with Sue, cool day in the 60’s

Maddy and I took a picture after we came out of Biggby because we both had Lions Sweatshirts on

Isaac videoing the service at his church yesterday

Sue, Bill and I enjoying our banana royal ice cream desserts

Me and Sue as ice cream cones.

Bill didn’t wait for Sue and I.  He started eating his right away.  

We got ready, then read our Bibles.  I had to finish mine when I got back home.  Bill was still reading when I left.  I had a Carmel Marvel at Biggby.  Maddy and I visited for 1 1/2 hours and had a nice time.  We both had our Lions Sweatshirts on, so had to take a picture before we left the parking lot.  I went to Kroger and picked up 4x fuel point gift cards for restaurants and places we will be going to.  We have a dollar off gas up to 35 gal now to use at Kroger.  

Bill mowed the grass.  It was super long, so he picked up all the grass too.  I am happy about that because it won’t get tracked in the house.  I let him know how happy I was too.

I went down stairs and took all of the quarts of tomatoes I did down and put them on the shelf.  I worked on hauling pails of water from the fish pond down there and dumped the water down the drain in the other room.  It will be time to put fish back down there and they will need fresh water. 

I finished reading my Bible after that.  I did my prayer books too.  Bill came in and he read our devotion for the day.  It all was so good! 

Gayla called and invited us to sit at the table they reserved for the Rescue Mission Dinner on the 29th.  We always like going to that.

Bill signed us up for Serve Saturday at Church today.  We will be working out in our community on October 3rd.  There is always a great turn out for that.

We warmed hotdogs up for a late lunch.  Had some chips with it.  It was good that we ate light.  I called Sue to see if she wanted to go out for ice cream with us.  She did.  I picked some tomatoes and cucumbers in the garden and washed them and gave Sue lots of tomatoes and we also dropped off some cucumbers and tomatoes to Maddy on our way back to Sue’s after our ice cream.  We went to Mooney’s and all got Banana Royals.  The girl told Sue and I we could get any toppings we wanted, even hot fudge.  We both got Bear Claw and Traverse City Cherry ice cream and had hot fudge put on the Traverse City Cherry and caramel on the Bear Claw.  We also had whipped cream, nuts and cherries.  The girl was so nice that waited on us and she was like an artist the way she made our ice cream look so good.  We took a selfie to remember our fun time.  This was the first time Sue had been out for ice cream all summer. 

When we got home, Bill took the electric fencing wire off the electric fence and then we both went in the camper and made the king size bed up.  Then we came in and I started a load of laundry.  Tomorrow I get to go to Kimmy’s, so got stuff I need for camping washed.  We leave on Thursday, and tomorrow I will be at Kimmy’s during the day and then in the evening I have prayer.  Will just have Wed. to make my chili and pack the rest of things we need to take.  At least we don’t need to take too much to this campout.

I talked to Kimmy in the morningf and called Vikki in the evening.  Vikki is still not much better with her cough, but isn’t contagious anymore at least.  I am missing her so much.  

Sunday, 9/13/26, Went to church, taught Sunday School, Bill went to Steak and shoot Men’s event our church is having, Melissa, Jack and Evan came over, Bill took Evan on a motorcycle ride and to Culver’s,

We gave Evan his watch that is his prayer month gift.  He was very happy to get it.  

I grilled hot dogs today

Bill took Evan for a nice ride on the trike.  Evan had said he really wanted to ride on it.  They had fun hanging out and went to Culver’s to eat

We got ready, I made our coffees, Bill read some in his Bible, and I went over my Sunday School Lesson.  We left for church after that.  Worship was awesome!  I went back to teach my class after worship.  My class was fun today.  We had an obstacle course to do and had a lesson on The Spies that Rahab hid.  It was a good lesson and the kids really listened.  We played jump the river with two jump ropes and after all the kids jumped, I would ask a question from our Bible Story.  Then Shannon and I would move the jump ropes farther apart and they would jump again.  This kept going until we were done with our questions.  After that we looked up scriptures and they followed in their Bible while Shannon read.  The kids listened well today and were very well behaved.  They made binoculars to take home to remember the lesson, That God always prepares the way for us as he did for the spys.

We came home and read our Bibles.  We had peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for lunch.  Bill went to the Steak and Shoot for the guys at church.  I took a nice nap that was much needed after being on the go so much.  I fed the fish later and gave Kit Kat some attention.  It really cooled down and got windy this afternoon.  It had said no rain, but as I looked to the west, there were dark clouds.  Evan had asked Papa to take him for a motorcycle ride today and I had looked this morning and there was no rain in the forecast.  I looked when I saw the dark clouds and it said rain starting at 4.  Melissa drove Evan here and Jack drove himself since he had to leave to go on a 30 mile bike ride with Hailey.  We talked for a while, and had some powdered sugar donuts that Evan spotted in the cupboard.  He said to me, those donuts look really good.  I told him I had bought them for when grandkids came, so he got them out and we all had some.  Jack told us about following Christine on the highway and an accident happening that Christine had to swerve to miss and a part of a corvette flew into Jack’s car, but didn’t do any damage.  We were thanking God for his protection.  So very thankful!   Bill got home and we gave Evan his watch for his prayer month.  He had picked it out on amazon.  He really liked it and he won’t be allergic to this one like his last watch.  It rained, but quit after about a half hour.  Jack left to go home and go on a bike ride with Hailey for 30 miles.  Bill and Evan went for their ride on the motorcycle.  They ended up stopping to eat at Culver’s.  I’m glad they could hang out together.  Melissa and Evan had to leave too.  Peggy was coming over.  I forgot to take pictures of Jack and Evan today.  I’m glad Melissa was able to get a picture of Bill and Evan when Bill dropped Evan off.  

I grilled hotdogs outside on the grill.  I made them like Vikki does, with butter and onions.  They sure tasted good.  We will eat them warmed up for lunch tomorrow.  Bill got home.  He had a steak dinner at the Steak and Shoot, so he was full.  I ate a hotdog.  It tasted so good.  

Bill read his Bible when he got home.  Marie called and I talked to her for 1 hr. and 30 min.  I haven’t been able to talk to her for a while.  I worked on my blog after I hung up from her.  Bill and I read our devotions.