8/12/17...Spent the day at the Ark

Our group getting ready to pray before going to the Ark.  Such a fun group of friends!

In the Ark parking lot ready to get our tickets and go to the bus that takes us back to the ark.  

Matt and Rocindo on the bus across from us

Sabrina, Bill, Bill and me (Sabrina and Bill just received a picture of the embryo's implanted in Katelyn, their daughter.  We are celebrating their grand babies as we have prayed much for them.)  

The Ark...Its magnificent

Me and Bill

Isaac, Bill Smith, Dan, Rocindo, Bill, Matt and Wes

Bill and I

In the Ark....Wes and Gayla

Noah's family

Noah

Bill and I at the Great Door of the Ark

Took this picture so it would look like Bill was saying this ha ha

Me and Bill

Yolanda, Sabrina, Cheryl, Elaine, me, Barb, Renee and Gayla  .....also Matt and Isaac 

Group picture

Wes and Gayla

The Ark lit up like a rainbow that night.  We walked over just to see it.

We ate breakfast in the cafe of our hotel, then we all got ready, prayed and left to go to the Ark.  We were blessed that when Bill did a wedding a couple of weeks ago, we sat with the Brides Brother and his wife.  We told the wife we were going to the Ark and she said her daughter could probably get us discounted tickets.  Well a few minutes later, she brought her daughter over and we exchanged information.  We texted and she ended up getting us ten tickets for $20.  The regular price is $40, $31 for seniors.  There were only 5 of us who could get senior price.  We shared the tickets and everyone was really happy to have such a big savings.  So thankful to Stefanie and God!

We got on the bus which took us back to the Ark.  It was a wonderful day with much to see.  We ate an amazing meal.  There was a buffet with salad bar, desert bar and drinks included.  Got to spend a lot of time talking to a really nice family from Virginia.  The man was a pastor.  I shared about all God had done in our family and she shared about the miracle she is.  The whole day reminded us of what an awesome God we serve.  So thankful Jesus is the door for us to get to heaven.  

8/11/17....Met everyone at Meijer's at 6:30 a.m....Bill and Sabrina overslept so it was almost 7 before we took off

Bill and I waiting for the rain to stop

Getting prayer before leaving

Waiting for Rocino's battery to charge along the expressway...Patient and joy filled friends...God is Good

                                      Renee, Sabrina, Barb, Cheryl, Elaine, Matt and Dan eating at a great Mexican           restaurant by our hotel.

Bill, Gayla, Wes, Rocendo and Bill Smith

We left and had a nice ride in the morning.  We stopped in Ohio to eat and we were so thankful we missed the rain they had predicted in Michigan.  After we got done eating and were ready to leave, it looked like rain so we put our rain suits on.  It started raining right when we took off.  It rained for about 10 minutes, so we stopped at a gas station and went under the roof by the pumps.  It quit in about  5 minutes so we took off again.  No more rain after that praise God.  We rode mostly back roads, but had to get on the expressway a couple of times.  Bill and I were in the back and a semi came speeding up along side of us and honked.  Then it was along side the rest of the riders and a car was merging and they couldn't get over.  The semi slowed down and the driver's daughter who was about 10 pointed to the back of our bike.  Bill pulled over and got off and looked and saw that the bracket had come off our exhaust pipe.  By that time the semi was on the side of the road backing up to us.  The driver jumped out of the truck and came running back to us.  He told us he had seen the exhaust pipe was broken and was a biker too.  He didn't want the manifold of the bike to get ruined.  He asked if we had a hanger and we told him no.  He said he had one in the truck and went and got it and came back and got under our bike and wired it up.  We told him the pipe was hot and Bill said he would do it, but he didn't listen, just kept doing it for us.  When he finished, he said that should hold us till we get home.  Talk about angles unaware, I kept wondering if he was one.  Sure was a blessing to us.  By that time Wes and Gayla came back to see what happened.  They thought maybe he ran us off the road.  They were super happy to hear what really happened.
When we caught up to the others, they were on the side of the road waiting for us and Rocendo's bike wouldn't start.  Charged it and made it to the next town.  We sent the rest of the group ahead and Wes, Gayla, Bill Smith, Bill and I stayed with Rosendo.  Met some nice people there who were Christians and helped us too.  Bill picked up a new battery for the bike while we waited in this store (Dark Games) the people were running for some friends.  We talked to them about the Ark and that's when we found out they were Christians.  They sent us to a shop three miles away and they tested the wire and said the battery wasn't charging.  They didn't carry the part for his kind of bike. We headed out and made it about 50 miles.  Wes charged the battery again and we made it the rest of the way, Praise God.  We were so thankful.  We were almost directly across from the Ark.  Just a little ways over.  We joined the group that came ahead at the Mexican Restaurant down the road and up a hill.  The food was delicious.  Happy to go to bed that night.  We sure had a lot to be thankful for.  The 4 girls who drove their own bikes did an amazing job driving.   

8/10/17 Faith Rider's Meeting

George, Dutch, Bill and Rocino at the Vietnam Vet Pinning

Bill receiving his pin

These girls put on a great concert for the veterans and their wives

Bill doing a great job leading the Faith Riders meeting at Pizza Hut

Packed and got ready for our trip to the Ark tomorrow.  Went to take Mocha to Vikki's and Bill called me and asked me to go to the VA hospital for a Veterans pinning ceremony.  He had just found out about it.  We went and it was so nice.  They had healthy fruit and veggies to snack on and then had a couple of speakers.  They also had two girls who put on an amazing concert.  So proud of Bill and all these veterans.  In the evening we went to our Faith Rider's Chapter Meeting.  There were 32 there and is was a really nice meeting.  Lots of excitement about our trip tomorrow morning.  We finished packing when we got home

8/9/17...Bill watched Peyton and Isaac while Vikki and I rode the rail trail, Debbie stopped in, Vikki the kids and I went to Haithco, made dinner and relaxed with Bill

Biking with Vikki down the rail trail while Bill watched the kids

Love this bridge and their is a nice fishing dock with a ramp on the left down by the water.  I wanted to take a picture of Vikki, but she took one of me instead

Stopped in and saw these sweeties while Vikki picked up her water bottle and other stuff from Melissa's. 

Two sillies at Haithco

Fun for these two on the beach

Debbie surprised us and stopped over for a little while

Isaac, me and Peyton 

Relaxing day for Vikki and I while watching the kids

After I read my Bible, I called Vikki to see if she wanted ride the rail trail with me.  She got back to me and said she did, so Bill watched Peyton and Isaac while we headed over to Gratiot to get on the rail trail.  It was so beautiful out and such a nice ride.  We went 5 1/2 miles and then turned around and came back.  We didn't want to leave Bill too long watching the kids.  We want him to want to do it again for us.  We did stop at Melissa's for a few minutes for Vikki to pick up her water bottle and other stuff.  We got home and made lunch (Vikki cooked eggs for sandwiches) and started to eat when Debbie stopped in.  I offered to make her a sandwich, but she didn't want one.  We visited for a few minutes and Debbie left for Melissa's.  Vikki and the kids went to Haithco, so I went there shortly after.  We had a nice time relaxing in our hammocks, watching the kids play in the sand.  

8/8/17....Happy Anniversary to Bruce and Melissa, Kimmy and Vikki and kids came over, watched Evan and Jack

Happy Anniversary to Melissa and Bruce.  19 years already.....Love this amazing couple and am so proud of them.  Glad they are my family!

Bill, Fred and Fred's friend

Bill and Fred at Northern Strike.  So nice of Fred to invite Bill and Charlie there to watch the military maneuvers

Watching a bomb go off

Charlie and Fred

Jacob and Adam trying the new furniture

Kimmy and Eli putting the pen kit together,  Adam painting the paint by number painting

Eli and Isaac

Eli, Peyton and Isaac in front
Jacob and Adam in back

Evan at McDonalds

Jack

Evan

Jack being silly

Jack and Evan

Evan

Max

Missy and her daddy

This bird flew into Melissa's window.  She thought it was dead, but then saw it move a little.  Max went out to help it and moved it in front of him on the deck and gently petted it.  It had its wing out and couldn't move its leg very well but after a few minutes it moved up on Max's lap using it's beak to move.  It stayed there a long time and it was if it was telling Max thank you as it let him pet it.  It finally flew into a tree and Max was so happy. He has such a kind heart with animals.

Max trying the furniture

Jack and Evan in the tree

Bill and Charlie went to Grayling at 6 a.m.  Fred got special passes for them to go to Northern Strike to watch the military maneuvers and spend the day.  Bill was pretty excited. about going.  He drove the Prius and I drove the truck today.  I went to our breakfast at Sullivan's.  There were seven of us there.  After breakfast I went home because Kimmy and the boys were coming over.  I was very excited to spend time with them after not seeing them for a couple of weeks.  Vikki got there shortly after with Peyton and Isaac.

 We had a nice time together.  Melissa was babysitting and couldn't make it.  We walked in the woods and Bill has done a great job getting rid of the poison ivy.  Lots of good trees to hang our hammocks out there.  Vikki hung hers up and she, Kimmy and I tried it. We love our hammocks.  Kimmy and Eli put a pen together that we got at the Veteran's thing in Frankenmuth.  Adam started the paint by number painting and Jacob made a parachute cord bracelet and a water bottle holder.  Vikki and I had to leave at 4:20 so she could take  Hailey to her school open house to babysit Max's teacher's children.  I picked up Jack and Evan to watch while Bruce and Melissa took Max to his appointment. While he is at it they are going to celebrate their Anniversary.  Wow 19 years already.  I am so thankful and happy God brought them together.  What a blessing they are!  I took the boys to Mcdonald's for dinner and to play.  They ate good and had lots of fun playing.  Afterward we came home and they played with legos, jumped on the trampoline and watched a little TV.  Charlie and Bill got back and Charlie came in to see our new furniture.  He really liked it.  Everybody here tested out the electric furniture today.

8/7/17.... walked three miles at Sports Zone. Did some cleaning, Rode the rail trail with Vikki and Isaac.

Isaac in TSC

This little guy was a great rider on the trail tonight

Vikki took a selfie of her with Isaac and me coming behind...my light is brighter than his!  

Went to Sports Zone and walked three high speed miles.  When I got home I sat with Bill and read my Bible.  Did some cleaning.  I made some vegetable soup and cut up a watermelon.  Thought about Kimmy being really busy, so I ran some soup, watermelon, Ritz Crackers, Animal Crackers and Starbursts to her house.  I was so happy to get my hugs from all of them and see their happy faces.  I have missed them so much.  I didn't stay very long because I knew Kimmy and Jared were busy.  They were shearing sheep all morning.  In the evening I met Vikki and met her and Isaac and went to the bike trail. Isaac sure did a great job keeping up with us.  We rode 5 miles.  When we started, I got my bike out of the car and both tires were really flat.  Vikki called Tractor Supply Co. which was close by and asked if they had something to blow up bike tires.  The girl was really nice and said yes. We walked my bike there and they took us to the back room and a young guy put the air in both tires.  He was so nice.  So happy I could ride.  We had so much fun.

8/6/17....Went to church, Went to Vikki's, Went to Applebees and came home and relaxed. So excited for Kimmy to come home from Copper Harbor

Rainy when we got home from Vikki's.  

This Maple tree only gets little leaves and is very thing every few years.  

My limelight hydrangea is growing fast and is beautiful

My boys are home YAY!  I sure have missed them.  They had a surprise when they got home....baby kittens....this makes for some very happy boys!

Went to church.  Worship was amazing!  Terry Kuhns gave the message and did a great job.  We prayed with a few people at the altar after church.  We went to Vikki's so Bill could look at her screen door to see if it would fit.  She bought it and it was made to open the wrong direction.  She looked on line and figured out how to change it.  Bill said he could hang it so that was good.  We stopped at Applebees for salads on our way home.  We ate half and brought the other half home.  Got a message from Kimmy when they crossed the Bridge.  Called and talked to them and then they sent me a text when they were home safe and sound.