12/11/17 I got some very sad news today. Joey who goes to ur church passed away. Vikki and the kids came over and we baked Christmas cookies. She made a batch for them and I made a batch for us. The kids had fun helping. We went to Wes and Gayla's afterwards to play cards

Peyton rolling out the cookie dough with Isaac watching

Isaac rolling out the cookie dough

I made a few cookies like my Great Grandma Daisy did during the year when I was little.  She cut the dough in circles and then put a raising in the middle and sprinkle sugar on it.  YUM

I will sure miss Joey.  He passed away this morning at the age of 14.  He was always so sweet and I loved having him in my class in Kindergarten and first grade.  Even at 14 he would still come see me and talk to me and give me a big hug.  He was the most caring kid with his sister and brother.  God used him to touch my life in a very special way.  I am so sad, but rejoicing that he is with Jesus.

12/12/17...Went to breakfast, Stopped at Melissa's, spent day getting ready for party, took Bill to get remote starter for his truck for his Christmas Present, Bad news about his knee and ear, Fun party

Small group picture

Small group picture.  Kim Reminder is missing as her husband just had a kidney transplant

Andrea, Chuck, Ralph, Nancy and me

Bill, Penny and Dennis

Susan and Heather

Roy and Marie

Bill being silly with his hat and Marie laughing at him

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The Christmas Light show in Freeland was beautiful this year

Bill had a dr. appointment, so I went to breakfast by myself.  There were only eight of us.  We sure missed Bill.  Gayla passed out Reeses Peanut Butter Christmas Trees and we ate them and then ate our food and forgot to pray first.  Bill usually is the one who prays.  We prayed after we ate instead.

Kay came for the first time today.  Stopped at Melissa's to see her tree.  It looks beautiful.  Played with Nora for a while.  Came home and made meatballs, decorated Christmas cut out cookies and made cheesy potatoes.  Set up the tables and put tablecloths on and got everything ready for our party.  Bill got home and he has to go Thursday to Ann Arbor because his silicone earplug broke and a piece is stuck in his ear.  Also, had an Xray and his knee needs to be replaced again.  The glue is not holding....this is the third time for this knee.  YIKES!  Please pray no infection.  I sure am praying for him.  By the Stripes of Jesus he is healed!  We had great food and a fun time at our Christmas party for our small group.  We sand Christmas Carols after and shared our Christmas traditions and memories with one another.  Love our small group.  After the party, we all drove together to see the Christmas light show in Freeland.  It was so beautiful!  What a fun night!

12/10/17...Went to church, Went to lunch with Beemer's, Eisenlord's and some of Beemers friends,Went to Sam's and did some Christmas Shopping, Watched Hallmark Movies

Early Christmas present from Bill.  Now to figure it out!

We went to church.  Max was really excited to tell me about his new lego set that he put together.  He wanted to sit by Bill and I.  Another great message today and awesome worship.  We came home from church and changed and then met Vicki and Keven Beemer at Cozy's for lunch.  Marti and Mark were there and some other friends that go to Beemer's church too.  The food was great and we had such a nice time.  We went to Sam's Club afterward.  Bill got me the Ninja Coffee Bar for Christmas.  Can't wait to use it.  I had to wash everything and then run two cleaning cycles so won't try it till tomorrow.  It gets great reviews!  We watched some Hallmark Movies in the evening.

12/9/17...The kids ate Lucky Charms for breakfast, I made them hot chocolate, The girls and their families (all but Max, Bruce and Kenzie) came over

Evan, Jack and Isaac

Jack, Evan and Isaac

Isaac and Jack having fun in the basement

Evan wanted to play with legos

Isaac came upstairs while Hailey and I were playing tonk.  He looked at all the ornaments on my tree very carefully and told me which ones he liked the best.  So cute.

Hailey beat me at tonk

What a blessing to have all of these cookie decorators

Eli was making bunny ears for Peyton so we took another picture below.  Thought this one was really cute though

Isaac decorating cookies after working outside on the wood

Isaac, Hailey and Jacob

Isaac, Hailey and Jacob by the fire

Brass Lamp we got from Christine Holden who is moving

New triple light I got Bill for Christmas and gave him early.  It is so nice.  Has light diffusers in them.

I got up first and got ready, then the boys got up.  Shortly after, Hailey came down from upstairs.  They all wanted Lucky Charms for breakfast.  I asked them if they wanted hot chocolate and they did.  They wanted big marshmallows in it too.  Of course we had to put ice cubes in it to cool it down so they could drink it quicker.  Hailey watched When Calls the Heart and the boys went down to the basement and played air hockey.  I played Isaac a couple games of fuzeball.  He's pretty good at it.  They all played with the legos for a long time. Melissa, Jacob and Adam came too.  Bill came home with yummy donuts.  Kimmy, Jared and Eli came and brought yummy donuts too.  We enjoyed them so much.  Jacob, Hailey and Isaac went outside to do a big job for their Papa.  They moved all the brush from the two trees we took down and stacked the wood.  They were such great workers and did an amazing job with wonderful attitudes.  Very proud of them.  Kimmy went out and helped them and got the wheel barrow for them.  I made up frosting and the girls and kids inside decorated Christmas cookies.  What a wonderful job they did.  Kimmy and Vikki went outside to help the kids with the wood afterward   The guys moved furniture from Christine's.  What great guys our daughters married.  Very hard workers and always willing to help.  Kimmy got a very nice dresser for their room and a curio cabinet.  Vikki got a coffee table and matching end tables and a recliner, plus a nice bed for Peyton.  We got a nice brass lamp and some decorative vases.  I ordered pizza's from Hungry Howie's and Melissa, Adam and I took Vikki's car and went to get them.  Everybody was hungry and it all disappeared.  It tasted great.  Everybody left and Charlie came over to bring us some turkey noodle soup he made.  It is delicious with potatoes, carrots, Amish noodles and turkey in it.  He sat and visited and we had cookies and coffee.  I packed up some cookies for him to take home since he and Sue love them so much.  I ended up giving Bill his Christmas gift early because I wanted to put the brass lamp out and since it was the only one, I needed the light so I could get rid of the two glass lamps I had on the end tables.  I lamps are so nice and look wonderful.  We watched When Calls the Heart afterward.

12/8/17..Went to Veteran's Christmas Luncheon, Went to Max's Birthday Party, Eli had to get 5 stitches in his face (OUCH), Jack, Evan, Isaac and Hailey spent the night with Papa and I.

Went to Vikki's to spend time with her and Kimmy so took this picture of these two cuties who got out of school early today

Poor Eli fell into the wall at Max's when they were playing.  It was Max's party!  He had his friends from school over and Jacob, Adam and Eli.  Glad Kimmy was close by at Vikki's so she could get there fast when Melissa called to say she thought he needed stitches.  He sure looks sad in this picture.

Looks much better after being so brave and getting 5 stitches

                               Max's 12th Birthday Party!  

Melissa, Max and Bruce

Hailey photo bombing

Papa, Max and Nana

Evan, Adam and Jacob watching Max open his presents

Hailey was in charge of taking pictures with my phone and she took a selfie

Love Max's expression when he opened the lego set we got him

Jack posing for Hailey

Max, Adam and Jacob

Max was sure excited when he opened the Acu-strike
Nerf Gun from Jacob, Adam and Eli

Jack and Evan getting ready to have popcorn and watch a movie.  

Isaac camping out while he watches the movie

Hailey watching a Hallmark Movie with Papa and I

Evan fell asleep right after Isaac fell asleep.  

At 11 I met Bill, Charlie and Sue at the VA Center for a Christmas Luncheon for veterans.  It was really nice.  We had meatballs, white chicken chili, pulled pork sandwiches, coleslaw and dessert.
Bill had lots of errands to do so I came home and got some Christmas gifts wrapped.  Got some boxes
out of the attic for Melissa for Max's birthday party for the silly string game.  Went to Vikki's since the kids only had a half day and Vikki didn't have to work.  Kimmy came there after dropping the boys off at Melissa's.  We got a call from Melissa saying Eli had ran into the wall and she thought he needed stitches.  Kimmy went there right away and met Jared in Midland at Urgent Care.  Eli wanted to go to the ER so Kimmy had to tell him it was UCER.  He needed 5 stitches.  Poor Eli.  He was much happier after the stitches were in but still couldn't come to the party.  He wanted me to take a piece of birthday cake for him to have at my house for the next day when he came.  Went to Melissa and Bruce's for Max's birthday party.  We had yummy pizza and breadsticks from Hungry Howie's.  It was delicious.  Then we had cake and ice cream which was delicious.  Max had his cousins Adam and Jacob, friends from school -Luke, Carter, Amari, at his party.  He was so happy.  We took Jack, Evan and Hailey to our house with us and then the rest of the kids played the birthday games. Melissa and Bruce sure had some fun games for them.  Vikki was at our house with Isaac when we got home. Isaac spent the night with Jack, Evan and Hailey.  The boys wanted to watch the movie "The Twelve Dogs of Christmas".  Hailey, Bill and I watched a Hallmark Movie.  We all had popcorn.  Isaac said he was tired, so I got sleeping bags out.  He fell asleep shortly after he laid down.  Soon after Evan was asleep.  Jack watched the whole movie and wanted a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and Hailey wanted a turkey (from Jack's) sandwich.  We all went to bed after that.  What a fun night!

12/7/17...Baked cookies, went to Melissa, Went to Aldi's, went to the bank

Cute ugly Christmas sweaters Vikki found for the kiddos for school.

I got up and started making Christmas cookies.  I made two batches.  Waiting for Kimmy to find out if we are all going to be able to decorate together like usual.  Went to Melissa's for a while, then went to Aldi's, the bank and then home.  A couple of lights weren't working in the outside nativity so I replaced them.  It snowed but just a dusting on the deck.  Still kind of windy, but not near as bad as the last two days.  Sure am praying for those affected by the wildfires in California.  Their winds are supposed to get up to 80 mph.  Can't imagine losing everything in a fire.