Saturday, 12/21/24, Bill went to The CMA Lapeer chapter’s Christmas Party, Finished Christmas shopping, got some Christmas cards mailed out, went to Melissa, met Bill to get gas,

 I didn’t take any pictures today.  Bill got ready and went to a Christmas party one of our chapters was having.  It was held at the Harley Davidson dealer.  I went to the bank, then went to the Maple Grill and got a couple of gift certificates.  Then went home and got the gifts Melissa and the kids ordered for Bruce and took them to her house.  I went to Walmart after that.  Bill called and wanted me to meet him to get gas for $1.00 off up to 35 gallons.  He was in Frankentrost, so I had time to go home and get the big empty gas can so he could fill it too.  I haven’t been using much gas because we have been taking the Jeep.  I had only used 1/2 of a tank of gas in three weeks, and most of that was the running  I did today.  On my way home, when I was about 1/4 mile from out driveway, an eagle flew right over the road in front of me.  It was so low and just beautiful.

I got most of my Christmas cards done and put them out in the mailbox.  Bill worked out in the shed for a while.  I made burgers, mashed potatoes and green beans for dinner.  Gayla called and put Joel on the phone because he wanted to thank us for his Christmas gift we left at there house last night for him.  We talked to all three of them for a while  We’re so thankful God put them in our lives,  We have gone on many trips with them and also camped lots with them.  They are like family.

Bill and I watched the movie, My Christmas Hero which was very good.  Talked to Melissa for a while after the movie.  

Friday, 12/20/24, Happy Birthday to my mom in heaven, baked more Chocolate Crinkle Cookies, made an apple cake, Bill volunteered to collect money for a children’s hospital with the Marine corp. League, Went to Wes and Gayla’s for dinner

Woke up to everything covered with snow.  There’s a cardinal on the left in the tree that was so pretty

Isaac tightening Bill’s chair yesterday

Wes and Bill trying to figure out how to set up the Blink Wes got

New Comforter on the bed upstairs.  Vikki got one like it and told me how nice it was.  It sure is a lot easier to make the bed with this one

 Got up early to check and see if any schools were closed.  None of our grandkids schools were closed.  I looked outside and everything was beautiful covered in white snow.  Vikki called and said she didn’t think Kimmy would come over today because of slippery Roads.  They were both coming over again today, but decided not to.  I didn’t want them driving on slippery roads either.

We read our Bibles and devotionals. then Bill went out to snowblow the driveway and side walk. I made another batch of Chocolate Crinkle cookies for our Christmas Eve family Celebration.  I also made an Apple Cake using a recipe out of my Bronner’s Cookbook to take to Wes and Gayla/s later.  

Bill and I hooked up the Spectrum modem.  Bill stopped in and told them he might be changing to Verizon and the lowered the price by $40.  Yay! They said it is faster than the one we have.  Bill took that one and turned it back in to them.  

When Bill was done collecting money at Pat’s for the Marine Corp League, he called me and I got everything ready to go to Wes and Gatyla’s for dinner.  The cake was still warm when we got to their house.  We took Cool Whip to put on top of it.  I also packed up some cookies in a container Gayla had sent cookies to me in.  We had a really nice time.  It is good to see Wes walking with the boot on.  His foot is healing nicely.  We ate delicious chili, rolls, and corn bread that Gayla made,  Then we had apple cake for dessert.  After that, we played 3-13.  Bill was the happy winner.  We played a game called Frenzy Match.  We competed with each other to see who could match the card flipped over and put our cubes with different things on them in the same pattern as the card.  I won the first time and Bill won the second.  We visited more and then headed home.  Vikki FaceTimed me while we were still there and showed me her kitchen booth she got.  It’s really cute.

Here’s a picture of it

Thursday, 12/19/24, Kimmy and Vikki came over, went and got some groceries for me and for Sue. Spent some time visiting with Sue, Kimmy was back at my house, Visited with her and Vikki, got to see Peyton and Isaac, went to CMA Christmas party in Flint

Last tray of cookies out of the oven just in time for Jared’s arrival 

It was snowing on our way home from the party.  The roads were getting slippery and we had 3 salt trucks with lights flashing in front of us. Our snow plow escort!

Picture of all of us at the Christmas Party

Abby was barking because she couldn’t get comfortable.  Badger went over and laid next to her and she fell asleep right away.  Therapy dogs sure know how to comfort.

I overslept because my phone was on vibrate.  Hurried around to get ready, feed cat, make coffee.  I had intended to bake the cookies before the girls came, but even though they were a little later than they had said, I didn’t get at them.  Kimmy brought cute spoon rests she had made for Vikki to give the people she works with.  She added little spatulas and they packed them up so cute. Kimmy worked on uploading pottery for her online stuff.  I started baking cookies.

Vikki helped me with getting the dough in and out of the refrigerator when my hands were messy from the dough.  I was happy when Kimmy said Jared was coming over.  They are his favorite cookies, so I make him some every year.  I was able to give them to him in person.  He never disappoints. He is always so happy when he sees them and so thankful.  He ate some right away which made me happy.  I put more cookies in his container to replace the ones he ate when he wasn’t looking.  He’s always so kind, patient and fun and it is fun to surprise him.  

He and Kimmy went to Clio for clay and also went to buy a leather Jacket Eli wanted.  I went and got some groceries for me and some for Sue.  I took them to Sue’s and visited with her for a while. I also took her some cookies and butterhorns.  I dropped off a bag she wanted me and o take to Dick’s house on my way.  Kimmy was already back, so I made Mac and cheese for lunch.  Vikki came back when she was done at work.  She’s on her Christmas break now.  She and Kimmy went to pick up Peyton and Issac from school.  I read my Bible while they were gone.  We hung out til Bill and I had to leave for a Christmas party in Flint at the Golden Corral.

We got there and ate great food, then visited, then did a white elephant

Gift exchange.  We had fun.  On our way home it was snowing pretty hard and the trucks were salting the expressway.  When we got to our road, we slid past it.  

Made another batch of chocolate crumble cookies and put them in the refrigerator for overnight.

 

Wed., 12/18/24, Wrapped more gifts, made cookie dough, went to Church to drop off butterhorns, went to Evan’s Christmas program

Kit Kat sticks right by me when I go out to feed the birds

Evan with his mom and dad

Bill and I with Evan

Evan is to the far left in the front playing percussion

Picture Bill took with his camera that zooms in good

Back to my camera

Bill had to take his sister, Carol, for a blood test, so he left around 8:30.  I put some worship music on and added two songs to my playlist that are so good for worship.  I read my Bible.  Than I had my coffee and shredded wheat.  I went outside after than and fed my hungry birds.  They sure are eating lots.  I went down to the basement and fed my fish too. I texted with Joan, our pastor’s wife, and then dropped off some butterhorns for her and pastor at church.    I take them some everytime I make some.  She was so happy to get them.  Tina was at the church working and I talked to her for a few minutes, then headed back home.  I made chocolate crumble cookie dough up.  It has to be in the refrigerator overnight.  Will bake cookies in the morning.  I got more wrapping done for Christmas.  Bill took a nap when he got home.  He really worked hard two days in the garage cleaning it and moving stuff around.  He did a great job too.  

In the evening, we went to Evan’s Christmas Program at church.  We parked next to Bruce and Melissa and I gave Bruce his butterhorns.  He told me that’s what he wanted for Christmas.  I always take some to him when I make them too  He did a great job!  The kids in the choir sang lots of beautiful Christmas songs.  Evan loves to sing and has a great voice.  We enjoyed the program and then enjoyed talking to Ginny and her family.  Bruce came up to me and gave me a hug and thanked me for the butterhorns.  

We came home and relaxed in our recliners.  Melissa called me to tell me the butterhorns were good.  Then she said Bruce took Jack for a ride in the cool air to help his asthma.  Then she thought about when Bill worked helping put compost in the new flower garden and started coughing bad, had to go to Urgent Care and got on an antibiotic.  Jack helped Bruce with stacking wood that was really dirty.  That’s when Jack noticed his asthma was acting up.  Now Melissa is wondering if it could be something he got from the wood, like Bill did from the compost.  All prayers for him are appreciated. This Nana sure is praying.

Tues., 12/17/24, Happy 21st Birthday Hailey! Bill had an ultra sound on his heart, Made butter horns, Kenzie stopped over, went to Isaac’s concert, wrapped more Christmas gifts

Happy 21st Birthday Hailey!  We love you so much!

Kenzie FaceTimed me and showed me the butterhorns she made. They look delicious.  Rehvyn was so cute!

More fun pictures of Hailey celebrating her birthday in Grand Rapids with Melissa and Grandma Brenda

The butterhorns I made today

Isaac on the left of director, first chair

Isaac and Kenzie after the concert

 Bill took the garbage out in the morning. I ate breakfast and drank my coffee, then got the dough out and started making the butterhorns.  Bill left to go to his appt. to have an ultra sound on his heart.  He got the call giving the results of his CT scan and they said that was good.  We are praising the Lord for that good report.  Once I got the butterhorns made, they had to rise for 1 1/2 hours.  I went to Walgreens to pick up my prescription. That took a while.  By the time I got home, the butterhorns were ready to bake. Nice that I can get two cookie sheets on one shelf in the oven.  Kenzie came and dropped off some of the butter horns she made off for me, plus a beautifully decorated cut out cookie.  Yum.  She knows I like to give some away she said.  It was so sweet of her.  I set my timer for less time for baking them.  They still were nice and brown on the bottom. because this oven heats better than my old one.  I was glad they didn’t burn.  Bill sampled a couple and said they were really good.  

We ate our left overs from Olive Garden for dinner.  We ate butterhorns for dessert, plus I ate my cookie.  When we finished, we went to Isaac’s band concert.  We sat with Vikki, Rody, Kenzie and Peyton.  He plays the clarinet and is 1st chair, so we could see him really well.  He did a great job!  

When we got home, I made frosting and frosted the butterhorns and sprinkled nuts on top.  Then while the frosting hardened some, I went upstairs and wrapped a couple more gifts.  I read my Bible after that and did my Advent devotional.

Kimmy called me and we talked for a while.  Melissa called later too, then Vikki called while I was talking to Melissa, so I answered her call.  

Monday, 12/16/24, Wrapped Christmas gifts, Bill moved things in the garage around, met Lew and Cindy at Olive Garden, made the dough for butter horns

Set my wrapping station upstairs.  Wrapped presents while I listened to Phil Wickham’s Christmas Album...so good!

Bill moved things in the garage around.  Pellets are right outside the door that goes to the garage from the house

 Started a load of laundry first thing.  We read our Bibles and devotional for Advent.  It got up to 49 degrees today, but in the evening got really windy.  I went to get the laundry out of the dryer, and Bill had already got it out and had it folded and the shirts hung up.  That sure made me happy.  

I talked to Kenzie a couple of times.  I love that she calls almost every day.  She made cut out cookies and also made butter horn dough to be in the refridgerator over night. She had me send her the recipe.  I wrapped gifts for Christmas upstairs. I like doing it up there because I can just leave all of the wrapping paper and other stuff out until I’m done with wrapping.

I came downstairs and went out to the garage and Bill had the pellets moved to the other side of the garage where the house entrance is.  He moved the stuff that had been on that side to there other side.  It looks very nice, and made more room for the Jeep and also a shorter trip for him to bring pellets in.  I went upstairs and got back at wrapping gifts.  

Eli texted me at 4:30 that he had a concert tonight.  Bill had set up with our friends Lew and Cindy two meet at Olive Garden for dinner and go over the requirements and job of area reps.  They are thinking of becoming Area Reps and would make great ones.  This would help Bill out lots.  I sure was bummed that we couldn’t go to the concert.  I told Eli I was sad about missing his concert, but we need a little more notice than the day of, so we can plan around it.  I’m sure it was the Christmas Concert which I love.  

We met Lew and Cindy and went over everything and had a delicious meal too, plus time to just visit.  We had a great time. When we got home, I talked to Kenzie, then made dough for butter horns and put it in the refrigerator for overnight.  I guess we will both be making butter horns tomorrow.

Sunday, 12/15/24, Icy out, Went to prayer, went to church, went to lunch with Nancy and Ralph, Opened Amazon packages and designated who they go to

 No picture taken today.  We woke up to icy conditions outside.  The temperature when we left for prayer was 34 so some melting was happening, but it was still pretty slick on the roads.  Intercessery prayer was amazing.  Then when we went into the service, the scriptures we spoke in prayer were the same ones pastor talked about in his sermon.  Worship was amazing too.  

After church, we prayed for people.  We went to see Tina and Jeff, Debbie, Bill and I along with her family prayed for her miracle healing and other things God put on our hearts to pray.  We all hugged afterward.  We talked with others as we were heading out of church.  Ralph and Naney invited us to go to Levi’s to eat with them, so we did.  We had a very nice visit.  We all got breakfasts.  Ralph is a miracle.  He was dealing with cancer and was very weak.  Now he is back to playing pickleball.  So thankful to the Lord!  Nancy got diagnosed with Ezcema around the same time as I did.  We have the same kind, so we did lots of speaking the Scriptures and praying for each other.  Such great friends the Lord put in our life.  We saw Debbie, Jeff and Lisa there too and talked to them for a few minutes.

We came home and took naps.  Then we ate and I opened up all of my Amazon packages that have come and got my list out and labeled whose each gift was.  I plan on wrapping them tomorrow.

Kenzie FaceTimed me so we got to see Rehvyn.  He was smiling but we could tell he was really tired because his eyes kept trying to close.  I talked to Sue today too.  

Sat. `12/14/24, made cheesy potatoes, went to Faith Rider’s Christmas party, delivered pies and cookies to the girls from Fred and Lourdes, ate with Vikki, Rody and Issac

Faith Riders Christmas party

Eli in Papa’s leather jacket he has saved for years

Evan came outside when we delivered the pie and huge cookie from Fred and Lourdes

Jack was outside to greet us too

I got up early and made cheesy potatoes for the Faith Rider’s Christmas party.  I went outside and filled the bird feeders and then got ready while the potatoes were baking.  

We left and got to the Fire Station by our church where the party was held.  After greeting everyone, we sat down and Isaac read Luke 2 about the birth of Jesus.  Then we went around all the tables and everyone said something they are thankful for.  There were tears shed by some who were so thankful for what God has done, and everyone knew Jesus was the number one thing we were all thankful for, but we had much more we were thankful for too.  Jesus is the one who gave us family, health and many more things that were mentioned.  Elaine gave a great devotion.

We ate after that.  There was turkey, ham, meatballs, cheesy potatoes, baked beans, corn, salads and delicious desserts.  Everything was so good.  Elaine led us in singing Christmas Carols.  Then we did some games and won some prizes.  It was lots of fun.  We all helped clean up afterwards.  

We came home and read our Bibles.  Then Bill hooked up some cool lights he got for the wheel on the back of the jeep.  He had me come out to step on the brake so he could test them.  Then he stepped on the brake so I could see them.  Pretty cool!  He blew the leaves off the deck, then we left to deliver pies and big cookies to the girls from their Uncle Fred.  We met Kimmy and Eli in the parking lot at the Family Thrift Store.  We missed seeing them when we went by and also missed them again on our way. back the other direction after Kimmy called and let us know where she was.  We thought they were at Joann Fabric.  Good thing Kimmy saw us go by and called us.  I put the pie and cookie in the backseat.   Eli tried on the leather Jacket Papa gave him.  It fit perfectly.  We said our goodbyes, then went to Melissa’s and dropped her pie and big cookie off.  Jack and Evan came out and greeted us and were so joyful.  

We went and got a carwash after that, then went to Battery Plus because Bill’s key fob didn’t work and we had just got a new battery for it there.  They just took the battery out and put it back in and it worked.  Bill said we only had 16 miles we could go on the gas left in the tank, so we went to Sam’s Club and got gas for $3.02 a gallon.  We went to Vikki’s after that and took her pie and cookie in.  Isaac came right away and showed me his new phone.  He showed me how to do stuff on it too.  Pretty cool!  Vikki had made bean dip and we all ate some on taco shells with lettuce and cheese.  It was delicious.  Yum!  Thank you Vikki.  

Vikki had to go pick Peyton up from a friends so we headed home.  We watched a movie called Christmas Miracles that was good.  

 

Friday, 12/13/24, Bill did Marine Corp fundraiser, went to Fred and Lourdes’s house.

Wow! Kimmy baked all of these cut out Christmas Cookies.  She called me and said she was baking my Christmas cookies this year.  She is just the sweetest kindest person.  I am so thankful she’s mine!

This is the decorating team that decorated all those cookies, plus Kimmy and Jared helped too!  Thank you so much everyone! I love you all!

Hope and Adam decorating

My wonderful and amazing son -in-law Jared made the frosting....I think he was trying to frost himself with all that powdered sugar on him.  He’s always joyful and kind!

The finished cookies....Vikki dropped them off at our house a little after midnight last night.  How blessed I am to have the family God has given me!

My breakfast this morning....Enjoying my coffee in my Kimmy mug too.  

Fritzy with his stuffed dog....He’s intent on watching a dog on television lol!

Fred and Lourdes fixing our plates.  She made delicious tacos for us.  

Lourdes made the best taco’s.  Then Fred put lettuce and guacamole on our plates then the taco’s went on top.  YUM!

I got up and got ready.  Bill slept in a little. Longer, but was reading his Bible by the time I was done with my shower.  He got ready and went to Pat’s to volunteer and help with the fundraiser. I talked to Kimmy to let her know how delicious the cookies were and thanked her again.  Best and yummiest cookies for sure! Debbie Davis  called me and we talked for a while about how we can help our friend who was diagnosed with cancer.  I messyTina S and sent her two great worship songs and chatted for a while to see how I can help out.  Kenzie called me and talked for a while. She as making my grandma Daisy’s cut out cookies.  

Bill got home and went to visit Fred and Lourdes.  They were so welcoming and happy to see us.  And we were happy to see them.  So thankful they moved back to Michigan.  We took a tour of their additions to their new home.  Everything is beautiful there and the new office and bedrooms look amazing.    We visited and listened to some Christmas music, then played Phase 10. We had lots of laughs and some good conversation while playing.  We stopped and ate tacos and then had key lime pie.  Yum!  Then we finished our game.  It was so much fun.  Bill ended up being the winner.   We said our goodbyes, gave hugs and then left for home.  We went by some beautiful Christmas lights Fred had told us about.  There were three houses with so many lights.  Really Pretty.  Such a fun evening. I read my Bible and devotion when I got home.