9/8/17....Happy Anniversary to us! Wow 44 years already. God is good!

 Happy Anniversary to us!  YAY!  44 blessed years together!  So thankful to God that He brought us together and we have had so many wonderful years together.  Thankful for the wonderful family He has given us.

Bill gave me this beautiful card and the little card on the front comes off.  He told me I can carry that with me.  So sweet.  He had this candy bar there with it.  Then he told me there were two in it so we could each have one.  So cute!  

 Bill got up at 5:30 to walk at the Sports Zone.  I slept in.  When he got home he had a long list of people in the Marine Corp League he had to call to get volunteers.  I called Melissa to see if she wanted to walk the rail trail with me.  She did so we met by the township hall.  We walked over two miles and then were going to leave when she mentioned the nature walk by her house.  We decided to go there and walk a little too.  It was beautiful and so peaceful.  She took a path to the right and after we had walked a long way, decided it was the wrong path.  (It reminded me of when I took my mom on the wrong path and instead of it being a short cut like I told her, we ended walking at least 4 miles)  We walked back to our starting point and went down the other trail and then found the right trail she wanted that took us over the bridge and to the hill.

We took this selfie

Melissa by the bridge

This is the hill we climbed but it doesn't look as steep in the picture.  We passed two paths up the hill because they were steep and Melissa said there was a gradual way up that she and Ginny took.  Well, we came to the third path up and decided that was what we should take.  It was pretty steep and we almost slid back with every step.  When we made it to the top, we looked and could see the easy way up we should have taken.  We had lots of laughs though.

This was the gradual way we could have taken to get up the hill.

The hill from the top looking down

Melissa at the top...She would have gone down the hill if she backed up just one step

Me at the top

Me at the bottom

It was a beautiful hike

Went to see Kimmy after she got done working at the school.  I have missed her so was happy to get to spend time with her.  I picked up turkey subs from Subway and we ate lunch together.

I am amazed that Kimmy and Jared made this beautiful rug from the wool they got from their sheep.  It is absolutely beautiful and when I looked at the loom, I couldn't begin to imagine what to do with it without being personally trained.  They are an amazing team!  

Jacob's kitten was so cute.  Sure loved holding him.  When I scratched his tummy, he turned right over and was purring.  

The boy's kittens are adorable!

Left Kimmy's at 3 and came home.  Bill got ready and we went to Outback for our anniversary dinner.  We had steak, baked potatoes, salad and bread.  It was delicious.  We saw Marylynn and her husband there when we left.  We went to Home Depot after that and walked around.  We were going to go to Culver's after that, but by the time we got done we still weren't hungry.  We decided we would do that another time.  We came home and watched a movie while sitting in our new electric loveseat.  

9/7/17....Shampooed carpet, cleaned house, baked cookies, had officer's meeting at our house

Isaac wore the outfit we got him to school today.  He looks pretty cute in it!

Peyton wore the outfit we got her today too.  She looks beautiful!

Katelyn's twins!  We are praising God as we have been praying for her to get pregnant.  She had in vitro done like Vikki did.  Her mom sent me this picture.  Heartbeats are great!

When I got up, I vacuumed right away so I could get the carpet in the living room shampooed and dry before our officer's meeting at 7.  I used Bissell Professional 2X Ultra carpet shampoo and it took out stains that I haven't been able to get out since we've lived here.  The carpet looks great.  Cleaned the rest of the downstairs too.  I baked yummy chocolate chip cookies for our meeting.  Made pasties for dinner.  Luis, Matt, Bill Smith, Cheryl, Bill and I were the only ones who could make it to the meeting.  It was a great prayer filled meeting!  

9/6/17...HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY SWEETIES PEYTON AND ISAAC

HAPPY 6TH BIRTHDAY TO PEYTON AND ISAAC.  I LOVE YOU AND AM THANKING GOD FOR GIVING YOU TO OUR FAMILY.  YOU ARE BOTH SO SWEET AND SPECIAL!   

Birthday twins!  

Blowing out their candles

Licking off the yummy frosting

Ready to open their presents

With their Uncle Jay

With their doggie.  Peyton wearing her birthday crown from school.

Went to the Sportszone to walk this morning.  After I walked almost 3 miles, I went outside and walked be hind the building to see where the new rail trail went.  It ended in back of the building.  I can't wait until they connect it to Hackett Rd. so I can just ride my bike and get on it.  I did laundry from our camping trip and hung it out on the line to dry.  Also started cleaning the house.  Praying for Amy's daughter, Amber, who is on an island that is in the eye of Hurricane Irma.  She got a couple of calls, and her daughter said it was really bad, but then they lost their connection.  After Vikki got out of work, I met her and we went by the rail trail and hung our hammocks on some nice trees and relaxed.  When I got home, I put the kids birthday gifts in bags and filled out their cards.  I thought I had a granddaughter card, but I didn't.  Had about 5 grandson cards though.  I used a regular card that had puppies on it and just wrote granddaughter on it.  I put lots of cute stickers on their cards.  We got to Vikki's at 6 and the kids were so excited.  Vikki had the house decorated really cute and a little table with their two chairs with balloons set up for their gifts.  Rody's mom, Ann and Jay got there shortly after we did.  Rody cooked hot dogs and we ate and then had cake and ice cream.  YUM!
The kids were so excited when it was time to open presents.  The present from Vikki and Rody for Isaac didn't get there on time so Isaac got Walkie talkies, a hammock, a bike bell and the rest was clothes....lots of clothes.  Peyton got a beautiful ballerina doll, a barbie that you can style her hair, a hammock, a bike bell,  and clothes.  After Isaac was done opening, he said, "I was hoping I wouldn't get so many clothes".  He was so funny!  After a while, he and Peyton modeled everything for us. They look great in their new clothes.  It was a fun night!  I came home and updated the CMA Website for Faith Riders.

9/5/17 HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO BRUCE! Kenzie stayed at Vikki's last night, so she and Vikki came to breakfast this morning. Finished freezing the corn in the garden

Kenzie and Aunt Missy with the guinea pig  We stopped at Melissa's after our breakfast

It's these cuties first day of school.  Can't believe they are in 1st grade.  Excited that their birthday is tomorrow.  Will be big 6 year olds!

Handsome grandsons ready for their first day of school.  Eli is a 2nd grader, Adam is  5th grader and Jacob is a seventh grader

Adam and Jacob in front of their school

Cutie Eli in front of his school

I borrowed these pictures above from Kimmy and Vikki.  I borrowed the ones below from Melissa

Hailey and Max camping at Outdoor Adventures

Hailey, Jack, Max and Evan

Bruce, Max, Jack Evan and Melissa on the train at the train museum in Standish

Bruce and the boys on the firetruck

Evan ringing the train bell

Max likes the bunks

 Got up late because my alarm didn't go off.  I took a shower and then got ready upstairs so Bill could take his shower.  Went to breakfast.  Vikki and Kenzie were already there.  There were so many people there that Vikki, Kenzie and I sat at a booth.  Don, Loraine, Phyllis, Andy, Louise, Wes, Gayla, Sandy, Dennis, Charlie and Bill were all there.  Louise just got back from Alaska.  She went there with her children and their spouses.  After breakfast, Vikki, Kenzie and I went to Melissa's for a few minutes.  I took Kenzie home after that because she had a lot she had to do.  I got her a smoothie at Tim Hortons and me a cappuccino.  Came home and Bill went to a movie with Charlie and I picked the rest of the corn and froze it.  Vikki came over and we ate chicken, beans out of our garden, salad and watermelon.  Vikki and I went to Walmart and I got more waterproof bandages for my thumb there.  Got Peyton and Isaac an outfit for school for their birthday.  Came home and balanced the checkbook.

9/3/17 Sandy and I drove Barb home in Sandy's van. Elaine followed with Barb's motorcycle so we could get it home for her. One hour and 41 minutes one way.

Bill, Arnie and Cheryl

Bill, me and Cheryl

Nick be congratulated after they announced he got his CMA Colors.  He's 18 yrs. old and in our Faith Rider's Chapter of CMA

Nick

Elaine singing....her voice is absolutely beautiful

Elaine and Renee sang the song, "I will Trust in You"  They did amazing.

This kid rustled the most animals, so his grandpa told him he was going to take him outside and string him up.  His grandma wanted to take him for ice cream.  Here is grandpa stringing him up.

Ziggy and Jay (our National Evangelist) having fun

Dave did an amazing job explaining all Run for the Son does when we raise money for our missionaries for CMA

Zeke speaking at the rally.  He is a National Rep for the Fast Lane of CMA.  He didn't use any notes and did a great job.  You could tell he has a heart for the Lord and what he does.

Karl helping at the pool

Karl driving the train and making a lot of kids happy

Our campsite

Jane and Jay with the hats they were just given.  The theme this year was  FarmVille

Cut my hand really bad when my Thermos Carafe exploded and glass went all over.  Cut it in 3 places.  Ouch!  Bill bandaged it up nicely for me.

Packed Barb up and took her home because she was in a lot of pain and couldn't do steps.  We had breakfast with Sandy, Wes, Gayla and Ziggy and Sandy said she could drive her van to take Barb home.  So nice of her.  We ate a big breakfast and then went back and packed Barb things for her.
Sandy drove and I rode up front with her.  Barb stretched her leg out in the back.  Elaine followed on the motorcycle.  After almost 2 hours, we got her home and dropped her bike off at her apartment.  Then we took her to Rite Aid to get her prescription.  It only took 20 minutes which was good.  We went back and hauled her stuff in and put it away for her.  Left to go back to BayShore.  Stopped at Akron because Bill tested me and told us too and then went to the Lamplighter Restaurant to eat.  Went back to the campground and Arnie and Cheryl came there as soon as we got back.  Bill and I  took them for a tour of the campground on the golf cart. We all got our left overs from the potluck out and fed them and then went to the evening service which was CMA's got Talent.  Elaine sang a patriotic blend of songs and then sang, "I Will Trust in You" together.  They did so good.
Arnie and Cheryl left after that and Bill, Sabrina, Wes, Gayla, Elaine, Dan, Renee, Bill and I played 3-13 and ate snacks.  Matt and Lupe came shortly after too.  I won for a change.  Got back to the trailer and decided to wash out the coffee carafe so I could put coffee in it again tomorrow.  I went to start cleaning it and it exploded (made a loud noice and glass went everywhere including into my hand.  Ouch.  It hurt so bad and was bleeding badly.  Bill bandaged me up good.  Will never get anything but metal from now on.

9/4/17...Packed the camper and got slide outs in, Went to morning service, helped Bill and Sabrina close up our motorcycle camper they used, Elaine and I vacuumed the hospitality room.When I got home I picked Mocha up at Vikki's. I was so happy to see Peyton, Isaac and Kenzie too.

Look at how the people across from us packed up their Motorcycle.  They have to ride all the way to Kalamazoo

I couldn't vacuum because of my thumb, so Elaine vacuumed while I moved all the chairs from the tables.  I had packed up some stuff last night and put the bunk house slide out in.  This morning I made coffee and we ate oatmeal.  After that I packed the rest of the inside and Bill did the outside stuff.  It didn't take long.  I put the slide outs in and then we went to the morning service in the tabernacle.  It was a good message.  After that, Elaine and I went to the hospitality room to clean it. A lady said she had just finished.  We noticed stuff on the carpet, so we told her we would vacuum it for her.  Usually Faith Riders is the group responsible for cleaning it, so it was a nice surprise.
We also have had to drive around on golf carts and empty the trash cans and turn them upside down.  The BayShore maintenance guy said they would do it this year.  That was wonderful news to hear since it would be hard for me to help with my sore thumb.  We all got out of there much faster with all the other chapters helping out with cleaning too.  We all dumped and then headed out around the same time.  Dan and Renee pulled off the road in Sebewaing and then farther down the road, we pulled off to eat at the Lamplighter.  We had breakfast and it was delicious.  We got back on the road with Bill leading and we got down the road about 15 miles and stopped for gas.  Bill filled his truck and then we headed the rest of the way home.  When we got home, we unloaded the camper and got the slide outs back in before it rained.  I left to go to Vikki's to pick up Mocha.  She had picked up Kenzie, so it was nice to be able to spend time with her too.  Vikki made me a footlong hotdog for dinner.  Kenzie put a new bandage on my cut finger. She did great.  I got hugs from all my kiddos.  Sure was happy to see them.  Mocha was really excited to see me.  She wanted me to hold her all the time.  While she was there she followed Vikki all over.  So thankful Vikki watches her for me.