12/4/15 Our favorite family tradition...Went to the Living Nativity tonight. Year 13 for us.

Bruce and Evan looking at the camel as they walked through the town of Bethlehem

Shepherds along the way let us warm up by their fire

We had to take a paper to go on our journey and get stamped.  Hailey just got hers

At the the end, there was no room in the inn so they sent us to the stable and we saw this, Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus

Peyton and Isaac looking on!

Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus

Isaac and his daddy

Peyton looking so beautiful

Peyton and Vikki

Vikki and Isaac

Jared, Bruce and Rody at cookie time afterward

Max and Kimmy

Peyton, Rody, and Isaac

Isaac and Evan

Peyton and Kenzie

Jacob and Kenzie

Max and Kimmy....love Max's expression!

Peyton and all her goodies they gave her

Isaac and Kenzie

Bruce and Evan

Vikki and Kenzie

Isaac

Kenzie and Cole

After I got ready this morning, I packed stuff for Bill to take to the VA hospital.  I messaged Kenzie to see if she and Cole wanted to go to the Living Nativity an she answered right away that she did.  I gave her the time to meet me if they wanted to ride with me.  Got there around 9:30.  He just got finished with therapy and breakfast.  I took a coffee with me and I Biscotti that Kimmy and her family gave Bill from the monastery in GA.  It's delicious.  His chaplain came in and introduced himself and prayed for Bill.  We really liked him.  Then Crystal came in with two police officers who acted like they were going to arrest him as a joke.  Of course Bill just put his hands together and said take me.  They were funny and so nice.  We talked to the lady making up the extra bed too and she was an on fire Christian.  Such a blessing to have God surround us with believers.  I visited for a while and then Bill and I went for a walk in the hallways.  After that we went to the lunch room.  They had tole me I could eat for nothing too.  They do so many special things there.  Bill received a quilt, a hat, a cute cloth bag of goodies and they always bring kids ice cream if they are there.  We had  chicken and potatoes for lunch.  Pineapple upside down cake for dessert and Bill had Shebet.  The girls came and the kids had ice cream again.  We went back to Bill's room and visited and then we noticed Bill was getting tired.  I asked if he wanted to take a nap before therapy and he did.  We left and went to Vikki's and stayed there till Kimmy had to leave.  I went to the Family Christian Book store and exchanged a DVD I had gotten that was violent for a good movie. I left there and went to Meijer's to get the rest of the stuff I need for the Christmas Party Tomorrow Night.  Came home and let Mocha out and then ate a chicken sandwich and got ready to leave.  Kenzie didn't come so I figured she wasn't going.  I got to where the Mall is and got a phone call that they wanted to go and were at Ed's car dealership.  I turned around and went to pick them up.  Kenzie told me about Cole's grandma Diane who has a tumor the size of a football in her stomach and is going to have it out.  They asked me to pray.  We did and then Cole asked Kenzie if she took her medicine.  I asked what was wrong and she said her stomach was upset.  We prayed together for her too.  Then she wanted to know if I wanted to hear the good news or bad first.  I said good news.  She told me she had insurance on her car.  Then she told me she was getting her car fixed at her poppi's dealership.  Then the really bad news she said was she got a tattoo. Then she showed it to me and told me what it stood for.  God is greater than the ups and downs.  I was happy that's what she picked.   We were only a few minutes late getting to the Living Nativity.  Vikki, Rody and the twins weren't there yet.  Wes, Gayla and Joel were waiting for us when we got there.  We all sat in church together.  Took up 3 rows.  Wes, Gayla, Joel, Jacob, Kenzie, Cole and I were in one group and everyone else was in the next group.  Missed having Bill with us.  We had cookies and drinks afterward and then Kenzie, Cole and I left to go see Bill. Cole thanked me several times for taking them and said how much he loved it.   I started to go on the expressway like normal instead of staying on Michigan like I should buy no one was coming so I backed up and went the right way.  We got to the VA and Bill was waiting in the hallway by the door we came in.  We had a nice visit and ate more Biscotti.  They loved it too.  Came home and watched the movie I had gotten.  It was a really good one.

Pictures I took from Melissa's Facebook page of the Living Nativity

12/2/15

I got ready to go to Detroit to see Bill and then I went to let Mocha out before I went.  She pooped right away, but wouldn't do her other job. She took forever so I was getting a little irritated with her.   I decided to put my coat on and let her loose in the yard.  She went after she ran for a minute.  I called her and put her in the house. It ended up being a good thing because just as I got in the car and started it to back out of the garage, Bill called and told me not to come because they were going to transfer him to our VA hospital.  YAY  I was so glad I hadn't already left.  I went to the store to get the stuff I need for the Christmas Party on Sat.  Then I came home and called Vikki to see if she would come over.  She was still in bed and sounded a little down.  I called Kimmy and she said she would come over and Vikki could come and we would spend the day.  I had tried to call Melissa but didn't get her. She told me later she was driving for a field trip for Hailey's class.  They went to Bruce's work.  Vikki and the kids ended up coming over and we all had a good time.  Melissa and Evan came later.  The kids loved the Christmas tree and decorations.  They played nicely and then we ate turkey sandwiches for lunch.  Bill called and said the ambulance was 20 minutes away and wanted us to come so the kids could see him get out of it.  We hurried around and left in three different cars.  We got there about 3 minutes before the ambulance got there.  We were so happy to see Bill and have him close by.  They took him into his room while we waited in a room for them to get done.  One lady brought ice cream in for the kids.  They were pretty happy.  Shortly after, Bill came down the hall.  He was walking very normal with his walker.  We couldn't believe it as we thought he would be going very slow and would have someone following him with a wheelchair.  He was doing amazing.  We went to his room and visited him.  He was so happy.  Then a guy came in and started asking him all sorts of questions and giving him things to remember, giving him math problems and having him list all the animals he could think of in one minute.  The guy should have been professional and had us leave the room but he didn't.  When he got to the animal part, Bill listed about 5 and then his mind went blank. He choked up like he was crying.  We left then so we wouldn't be distracting.  When we came back, he never smiled again.  Weird because he was over joyed in Detroit and when he first got here.  Stacie went to see him and took him ice cream, a donut and coffee.  Bruce stopped in too.  I went to our officer's meeting for Faith Riders as he wanted me to be there.  I called when I got home and no answer for the 5 times I tried.  I left a message.  About 10:15 he called and said he was really down (I could tell by his voice)  he said the medicine was causing depression and they were going to change it.  Can't wait till he is back to the way he was when we first saw him.  Really praying for my sweetie.  I watched a movie I got from the Christian Book Store called Angels in Our Midst.  It was so horrible.  Lots of violence and bullying.  I still feel upset from it.  Just what I didn't need after already feeling upset about Bill and upset about Kenzie.  Praying for peace.

12/1/15

We were in uncomfortable chairs in a waiting room until we heard Bill was out of surgery and we could see hime in 2 hours.  After that we went to a waiting room we had walked by and Charlie had seen lounge chairs in.  We had no idea they were chairs that gave a leg, back, etch massage.  How comfy and nice.  In one hour, Bill's nurse rolled him by.  He noticed us in the room and looked at us and smiled.  The nurse said we could go to his room in 5  minutes and visit him.  We were happy, but sure hated to leave our chairs.

Bill looked great when we got to his room.  He was looking at a menu.  On our way there,  Charlie went in a room he thought was Bill's.  I followed him and he pulled the curtain back and there was a strange man with hardly anything on.  Needless to say, he was shocked and so were we.  How embarrassing.  We went down a few more doors and saw Bill.  Sure am thanking God for His hand upon Bill and bringing him through the surgery so amazingly.  Thanking Him for everyone's prayers too.  We are so blessed with family and friends who pray.

Sent this picture to Bill of my warm brownie and ice cream I had at care group.  Emily had made them and they were delicious.  Wanted to show him what he was missing, but he was having lots of ice cream with his meals.

Took a picture of our care group to send him too!  Great care group with almost everyone sharing.  Dennis did a great job leading it.

Christmas Decorations are up!

Bill made this beautiful stable for our nativity.  I hung the star today and took this picture as Bill wanted to see it.  Can't wait to go to bed and catch up on my sleep.  Can sleep in tomorrow.

11/30/15

Bill ready for surgery

Wes took this picture right before we went to the waiting room.

This morning I got up at 2:30 and got ready so Bill could have the last hour in the bathroom.  Wes and Gayla picked us up in their van and Wes drove to Detroit.  We left at 4 a.m. so not much traffic at that time.  We got to the hospital at 5:30 so were plenty early as Bill didn't have to be there till 6:30.  We went to admitting and Bill signed in.  Then we went to the surgical floor and they took Bill and got him ready for surgery.  The marked his right leg so they would get the right one.  The anesthesiologist came in and talked to us and asked me if I needed anything.  I told him no and that I had prayed and was trusting God.  He said he was with me on that.  He was very nice.  While we waited we went to the cafeteria and had breakfast.  Then we walked through the store.  After that we went back up to the 4th floor to wait.  I asked the guy behind the desk if the board was right because it didn't show Bill in surgery.  He told me the Dr. had been trying to find me because they couldn't start the surgery because of a hole in the table.  The instruments weren't sterile anymore so they couldn't proceed till they were sterilized.  I assume it was a hole in the paper covering the table but really don't know details.  We went back to see him and he told us they were going to do it in 3 hrs.  Then the lady behind the desk said it would be 4 hours.  We left to go to lunch because Bill wanted to rest.  Right when we pulled in the restaurant parking lot, my phone rang.  It was the hospital saying they were canceling the surgery until tomorrow.  Bummer!  We were all prepared and now had to come back the next day.  Poor Bill.  We didn't eat but headed back to the hospital to give Bill back his phone and wallet.  The hospital said they would pay for a hotel room for me, but I didn't have a car and didn't want to be walking in downtown Detroit at night by myself.  We headed for home, stopping at Cracker Barrel to eat in Flint.  I had a chicken salad sandwich, cole slaw and beef noodle soup.  Very good.  Came home and got everything ready for care group for tomorrow night as I have to be up by 3:45 in the morning and don't know how much time I will have when I get home from Detroit.  Watched a movie.  Missing my movie buddy!

11/29/15

Peyton and Isaac in front of their pretty Christmas tree!

Mocha is always happy to go to Vikki's.  Peyton and Isaac put a princess crown on her! Ha Ha  No wonder she loves it there.  They treat her like a princess

Love my slippers Vikki gave me today and my headband from Kimmy.  They are so talented to make such nice things for their mama.

Went to church.  We were happy to see Kenzie and Cole there.  They sat behind us.  Good message today.  "If you lie to your fellow man, you lie to God."  God made everything and owns it all.  He owns us to.  He is the owner and we are the manager of what he has given us.  After church, I got my Sunday School lesson prepared for next Sunday, then Bill and I went to Bob Evans for dinner.  He got the Farmer's Breakfast and I got the senior Turkey dinner.  We were full after that.  Went to get more Christmas lights for outside at Sam's, then a light checker from Walmart.  Also stopped at Meijer's to get more yarn for dish cloths.  Came home and watched two good Christian Christmas movies.  Going to bed early as tomorrow is Bill's knee replacement surgery.  Second time for this knee.  Sure am praying for a successful surgery and amazing recovery with no complications.  God is Awesome!