Thursday, 8/31/23, packed last minute stuff, picked the corn, fed the birds, headed to BayShore, Bill drove the trike and I drove the motor home, celebrated Jane’s birthday

Bill reading his Bible after we had everything set up.  

Jay, Jane (the birthday girl), Kathy and Jeff

Jeff, Betty, Mel and Bill

Bev, Lucy, Al, Chrissy, and Dave

Julie, Doug, Sue, Max on Phil’s lap, and Teresa

I got up early to shower before Bill took his shower.  He had a VA diabetic shoe appointment to order new shoes at 8:30.  I packed the rest of my stuff in the camper while he got ready.  While he was gone, I closed up the camper, fed the birds, picked some tomatoes and picked the corn.  He had got to his appointment on time and had to wait for a half hour.  He went up to see why they hadn’t called his name and the girl told him they had him down as a no show. Go figure!!!  They took him back right away then.

We left for BayShore at 10:15.  I drove the motor home and followed Bill on the trike.  We couldn’t get our automatic levelers to work so did it manually.  It was so wet here that our things we put down to level were sinking in the ground.  Then we would have to re level it. Finally we said it was good enough.  

Ron and Dave were a big help to us when we were trying to get it level.  After we were set up, and Wes and Gayla got here,  Barb, Gayla and I each checked out each other’s motor homes.  It’s fun to look at different ones.  

At 7 we went to celebrate Jane’s 60th Birthday at the family center with the state leadership.  It was fun seeing everyone.  We drove the golf cart.  On our way back, we talked to Mike Dewey a former State Coordinator.  He came to our camper because he thought he knew how to work our automatic leveler.  Bill googled how to reservist, then they got it working.  It was amazing how it got us perfectly level.

Bill and I played 3-13 before going to bed.  Bill was the winner!

Wed., 8/30/23, HAPPY 20TH ANNIVERSARY KIMMY AND JARED! I LOVE YOU BOTH! Baked butterhorns, chocolate chip cookies, made chili, went to the store, made our RFS video, made the poster for it too, folded 75 little candy boxes

Fall is on the way...the leaves are changing color already

Chocolate chip cookies baked, packaged and ready for bake sale Saturday

Butterhorns baked and packaged up too

Poster I made for our church Mission donor brunch

75 boxes folded for our 50th party, 25 more to go

When I got up, I got the dough out of the refrigerator that I made last night and started making the butter horns.  Got them baked and frosted, then packaged them up.  I baked a batch of chocolate chip cookies after that and packaged them up.  After that, I made a pot of chili to take camping with us.  Spent lots of time in the kitchen today.  Bill went to breakfast with Charlie.  He told him I was making butterhorns, and Charlie told him to tell me he wanted some and would give a donation to Run for the Son.  He texted me to make sure Bill gave me the message lol.  I packed up 4 big ones and ran them over to him and Sue.  He was sitting on the deck in the sun when I got there.  Sue came out and joined us.  I visited with them about 20 minutes.  Charlie ate both of his butterhorns while I was there.  Sue ate one and said she is going to hide the other one, ha ha.  Charlie looked healthier than I have seen him look in a long time.  That's the fasted I've seen him eat in a long time too.  It made me happy to see him doing so good.  I went to Meijer after I left their house to get some lotion and a couple of other things.  Headed home and drove back by the camper so I could put the stuff in it.  I wished my sister, Jody, Happy Birthday.  Wished Bill's sister Angie Happy Birthday too.

Sprayed the ground bees tonight.  Poor Vikki's foot is very swollen and painful.  She had me pray for her.  I sure am continuing to pray.  

I set the live trap to catch the woodchuck that is under our shed deck.  Vikki called me tonight and she has one under her porch.  Weird because she lives in the city.  She set her trap too.  

I made up the Run for the Son poster Kurt from church needed us to make.  Bill is way too busy with CMA State Rally stuff right now, so I went ahead and got it done so he would have one less thing to be concerned about.  I wrote out what we are going to say for our video we are going to make too.  We made the video.  It took us about 4 tries to get it right, but we did it and he sent it to Kurt.  I'm glad that is done.  I don't like having to talk on camera.  I sure prayed for God to help me.  Bill gave me the shorter part, then he did the long part, then we both did the last part, which was thanking everyone for supporting Run for the Son.  

Bill put a new screen protector on my watch for me.  My other one was so bad, I took it off when I went to Amanda's wedding.  He did a great job putting it on.  

I folded 75 of our candy boxes for our 50th party tonight.  They were pretty easy to fold once I got the hang of it.  Didn't take very long.  I talked with Vikki and FaceTimed with her, talked to Melissa a couple of times, texted with Kimmy (she didn't answer when I called her), talked with Kenzie.  I got 16,000 steps today too.  

 

Tues, 8/29/23, Met Angie and Debbie for breakfast, packed refrigerator in camper and other things, Got two Lazyboy chairs, went to prayer,

Max and Vader's first day of school.  Love your smile Max and love you.  You are looking so handsome.

The flowers from the wedding are still looking beautiful

Angie gave me a beautiful beaded decoration to put in my plant pot

My hibiscus is just beautiful and loaded with blossoms this year

 

Vikki found these two Lazyboy chairs at the Family Store today.  She called me to see if I wanted them.  They were $69.99 each.  What a deal.  Kenzie said the lady told her they were from Art Sample Furniture.  They are beautiful and so comfy.  Thank you Vikki.  You always find great things I need.

Peyton, Kenzie and Isaac eating at Culver's.  Borrowed this picture from Vikki.  Kenzie and Isaac helped with my chairs.  Peyton had to try out for a play at school so didn't come. 

Got some things packed and loaded in the camper.  Went to meet Debbie, Matthew, Angie and Shani at Cracker Barrel in Bridgeport.  Matthew was wearing a cool looking shirt that said I walk by Faith and not by Sight.  The breakfast was amazing!  We had fun visiting.  Angie was sweet and gave me a pretty beaded plant decoration.  I gave her her birthday present because her birthday is tomorrow, but she is flying back home today.  She and Bill are the same age since his birthday on Monday and her's tomorrow.  Three days, just like my sister Linda and I were.  Debbie paid ahead for all of our breakfasts which was really sweet of her.  After breakfast, we came home and I went and got groceries at Sam's Club while Bill worked on CMA State Rally stuff.  He is really busy putting it all together.  I proof read.  

We also have to do a 2 minute video for our church Mission Donor Brunch.  I wrote out what we are going to say.  I ran off copies of things for Run for the Son to make a poster with.  I will be putting it together tomorrow. Lots to do for both of us.  I just got home from shopping when Vikki called and let me know about the chairs.  I went out to ask Bill.  He was on the lawn mower, trying to get the grass cut before it rained.  I asked him and he said we didn't need them.  I told him the price and that I wanted to get them to match our new furniture we had got.  He told me he couldn't go because he needed to get the grass cut.  I called Vikki and she, Kenzie and Isaac were at the store waiting.  I met them and we got the chairs.  Isaac and Vikki loaded them on the truck.  It was really dark out on the way home and looked like it could storm any minute.  Isaac and I prayed together that we would get home and get the chairs inside before it rained.  Vikki and I carried them in the garage, but they wouldn't fit through the door.  We went to the front door then and got them inside just before it started to pour.  It was a downpour.  I sure was thanking God.  Bill helped Vikki carry them through the house to the family room.  They look amazing.  Bill was really happy I got them when he saw them and saw how comfy they are.  They look new and Kenzie said they were display chairs at Art Sample.  What a great find.  I appreciate how you always find things for me Vikki.  

I talked to Melissa a few times.  We pray together often and see such great answers.  She also always has funny things to tell me about what the boys say. 

In the evening, I went to prayer at church.  It was an awesome time of prayer.  Jeff and Debbie do an amazing job leading it.  Great turn out tonight again.  Had special prayer for a couple who will be leading one of our fall classes at church, Jeff and Kathy. Came home and packed more in the camper.  Only have last minute stuff now.  

Monday, 8/28/23, Happy75th Birthday Bill...I love you so much! We went to BayShore, hung banner and signs, ate at Lamplighter, I drove the motorhome for the first time today,the kids and families came over for Bill's birthday

 

We hung the banner for the street party, then took pictures

 

 

Peyton does the splits great now!

Bruce and Max relaxing on the swings by the fire

Bill and Peyton

Eli and Evan

Adam

Bill opening his cards and gifts

Melissa, Isaac and Rody

Jared

Rody and Isaac taking pictures of my zinnias.  Like father like son.  They love nature pictures.  They didn't know I took these.

 

Melissa and Peyton

Making flowers for our party

We left for BayShore at 9.  It was a nice day for a drive.  We took the truck.  I had to use the heated seats in the morning because it was only 55 degrees and cold.  They worked great.  We checked the signs we hung in town a couple of weeks ago, then we went to take to Jeff the Director of BayShore and Liz the secretary.  Everything is all set to go for the rally.  We went to see what we needed to hang the banner.  We ate at the Lamplighter Restaurant, then We went to the hardware store, but if we bought what we needed it was pretty expensive.  We put everything back and went back to BayShore and asked Dave the maintenance man, if we could use their stuff to hang the sign.  He had everything we needed including the post.  We hung it and returned the everything but the post.  It had to stay put.  Bill talked on the phone to the guy from the Bad Axe paper who is writing an article on our State Rally and wanted to meet with Bill to interview him.  He is doing it by email, because they couldn't work out a time for today.  

We came home and I drove the motorhome for the first time.  We went to Sam's because we wanted to fill it with gas for when we take it to BayShore this week.  It drove easy, so I will be driving it Thursday while Bill rides the trike.  Lew and Cindy wanted to use our trailer to haul both of their bikes, so we told them they could if I was comfortable driving the camper.  

Bill called them and told them I was A OK.  

Bill had to run into town, and so did I when we got home.  I went to a few stores and he went to where he needed to go.  I picked up a Tim Horton's gift card to go with the gift Bruce, Melissa and I got him and got ice cream.   We got him a grill cover for the new grill we got for the camper the other night.  Also got Angie's birthday gift. Everyone brought the kind of pizza their family likes and we all ate out on the deck.  Adam has some symptoms so we wanted to stay outside.  Kimmy thinks it might be allergies, buy we can't take chances now, so wanted to be safe.  Kimmy made Bill's birthday cake.   It looked so pretty and tasted amazing.  We visited by the fire pit in the yard, and also on the deck by the fire pit.  We didn't have anyone else come because we didn't want to take any chances of being crowed on the deck and someone catching something.  Bruce had to leave to go pick up Jack from school.  He had an out of town soccer game, so rode on the bus.

`The kids had fun hanging out together, and of course, Eli and Jack wanted to stay and hang out longer, but they both have school in the morning so couldn't. It was a very busy, but fun day.  I am thankful for the long life God is blessing  Bill with.  Most of the men in his family died young, and the oldest was 70. 

Sunday, 8/27/23, Went to the wedding brunch, stopped for ice cream on the way home, Melissa and Max came over, took them for a ride in the motorhome, Wes and Gayla came over

Beautiful lights hanging in our hotel

Beautiful water streams coming down by the plants in our hotel lobby

We took beautiful back roads home...some of the trees are turning colors already

We couldn't pass the Merrill Dairy Barn without stopping

We all practiced shooting at the target when Melissa and Max came over

My turn

Bill took us for a ride in the motor home.  We all had fun riding in the camper section

 I got ready first, then read my Bible while Bill got ready.  We went to the Wedding Brunch around 9:20 at our hotel.  We were happy to see Alan and his wife, and Jennifer and her husband.  We hadn't got to see them at the wedding, and then I saw a Facebook picture of them there.  We were glad to see each other.  We sat with Debbie, Amanda, Sherri, Bob, and Sonny for a while and just drank coffee.  Emma came and sat in a high chair and ate a little bit of breakfast.  We got in the food line right as Fred and Lourdes got there, so we moved to their table since we set up to meet them there.  Shani came and sat with us too.  Angie sat with Debbie for a while, then came to our table. We enjoyed the good company and the wonderful food.   Everyone at our table left at the same time.  We went and talked to Matthew for a while when we saw him sitting at the table.  We checked out and then headed for home. We took the back roads which was relaxing and enjoyable.  We stopped and I had a hot fudge Sunday with Caramel ice cream and Bill had a vanilla soft serve cone dipped in chocolate.  Yum!  8 motorcycles pulled in, so Bill took some flyers for the state rally next weekend and gave them to the riders.  We got home and started unpacking.  Melissa and Max came over and brought Vader and Badger.  We practiced shooting the guns for a while, then we all went for a nice ride in the motorhome.  We visited a little more, then Melissa and Max left and shortly after, Wes, Gayla and Joel came and brought Bill his birthday present.  They finally got to see our camper too.  We have had something going on every time they have called to come see it.  After they left, Bill worked on the State Rally Stuff and I worked on a poster board and typed out what we are going to say on our video we need to make for church.  I also made some paper flowers.

Sat., 8/26/23, Amanda and Alex’s wedding day

Our family section waiting for the wedding to start

Bill and I...Angie, Bruce, Jared, Lourdes and Fred in the background

Matthew coming up the aisle...he looked very handsome

The groom, Alex, giving Matthew a hug

Debbie and Emma coming up the aisle...Diane smiling on the left

Amanda and Tom walking up the aisle

Tom giving Amanda away

Amanda and Alex doing their vows...Emma smiling at the photographer

Husband and Wife

Jared, Amanda, and Kimmy

Alex, Amanda and Vikki

Amanda and Vikki (cousins)

Shani and Vikki (cousins)

Lourdes, Vikki and Fred

Debbie, Vikki and Angie (her aunts)

Melissa, Emma and Bruce

Vikki, Emma and Rody

Bill, Me and Emma

Jared, Emma and Kimmy

Kimmy, Matthew (cousin), Vikki and Melissa

Shani and Sleeping Emma

Amanda and Alex

Me and my nephew, Matthew

My amazing son in laws...Rody, Jared and Bruce

My beautiful amazing daughters, Kimmy, Melissa and Vikki

Rody and Vikki

Jared and Kimmy

Our table....Diane and Mike sat at our table too

Jared, Rody and Vikki

Ashton, Freddy, Lourdes and Fred

Diane and Mike...cousins on Schaard side from Pennsylvania

Sister Angie and I

Bill, Fred and Lourdes

Cousins/sisters/brothers...Diane, Fred, Angie, Ken, Debbie and Bill

 

Me and Missy

Pretty dessert table...the desserts were delicious...best we've ever had

Bill with his sisters and brother

Melissa and Amanda...Amanda was Melissa's flower girl 25 years ago

Me and Amanda

Me and Emma...she was the sweetest and best baby all day

 

Spent the morning getting ready for the wedding.  Put on good worship music. Ate lunch, then left for Grand Rapids at 12:15.  We took the new truck and it rode great, was comfy and got great gas mileage, about 2 1/2 times what our other one got.

We made one bathroom stop and got a candy bar to snack on.  We saw some storm damage with lots of trees down or broken off.  We decided to try to check into our hotel but the parking ramp drive was two way and so narrow either we would have to back up at the turns or the other car would.  After all that, we decided we didn’t have time to check in before the wedding, so went to the Market Place where it was going to be.  Kimmy, Jared, Vikki and Rody ended up pulling in right behind us. Tom and Matthew were just getting out of their car.  We said hi to them. Then went inside.  We walked upstairs and Melissa and Bruce were right where we walked in.  We said hi to them and to our relatives and then went in the greenhouse and sat down with family for the wedding.  It was a short ceremony, only 17 minutes long.  We loved seeing Matthew in the bridal party.  Afterwards we went across the hall into the banquet area and had appetizers.  The girls and husbands and Diane and Mike sat at our table, so we were all happy they put us together.  The food was good and we all had a good time. We loved getting to hold baby Emma.  She was so sweet and went to all of us, even though she doesn’t really know us.  We left around 9 to go check into our hotel and relax.  

Waiting for all the girls to let me know they are home safely!  Kenzie face timed me to show me the baby’s room