4/23/18...Walked at SportsZone, Read my Bible in the Camper and played my worship music out there, Picked up Grand Club Turkey sandwiches at Arby's for Vikki, Melissa and I. Hung out in our hammocks until we had to pick kids up at school, Very concerned about Melissa, Kimmy and the boys stopped over

Evan and Max looking very happy with their new lego sets

Jack on his scooter.  Hailey and Bruce in the background

Hailey

Papa, Jacob, Eli and Adam....Jacob and Adam helped Papa split these huge logs with the wood splitter.  They sure worked hard!

Eli relaxing in the camper

            So nice seeing Jacob and Adam working so good together getting these big logs split.

Went to the SportsZone and walked two miles.  I am working my way back up to three.  Did get 16,000 steps in today though.  I made oatmeal and after breakfast, went out to the camper to read my Bible and worship.  Put bags in the camper that have stuff in them to put in the bathroom.  At noon, I went to pick up three Grand Turkey Club Sandwiches from Arby's for Melissa, Vikki and I.  Melissa and I ate ours at her house and then went to meet Vikki when she got out of work and went by the rail trail and relaxed in our hammocks.  Gave Vikki her sandwich there.  Melissa gave us a scare when we walked to get to the trees.  There were tracks where someone got stuck and lots of sticks.  She fell down, but didn't get hurt praise God.  We helped her walk and get in the hammock.  Being sick so long and having pneumonia triggered her hypo kalemia (sp).  She wasn't picking up her feet like usual and has had weakness in her hands and legs and clones.  She put her hand on my shoulder to get up her porch step and it brought back so many memories of when she used to do that all the time.  

She is changing doctors and is between both.  Won't go to her old dr. again and can't see the new one until May 8.  Praise God that a friend whose daughter goes to Hailey's school is a wonderful doctor.  Bruce's step mom, Brenda told Bruce he needed to do something when she saw Melissa the way she was.  She told him he needed to talk to their dr. friend when she brought Hailey home.  She had Hailey over to go to a movie and when she brought her home, Bruce told her Melissa's situation and explained about the hypo Kalemia and how Melissa needed to have a prescription for Diamox and Potassium.  She researched everything and called in a script.  God is always working things out for us in amazing ways. I picked up Jack, Evan and Hailey from school and took them home.  Melissa called and said her prescription was in so I was going to pick it up so she could get it right away.  Bruce had taken Max to his Orthodontist appt. and was finished already so was picking it up.  

Went to Salvation Army and then home.  Kimmy was in town because Eli had a dr. appt and the boys had dentist appointments.  I was very happy when they stopped in!  She had called earlier to see if Jacob and Adam could stay with me and I told her I would love it.  Then the dentist called because the boys had appointments.  Everything worked out for them to get there.   When they got here, Papa asked the boys if they wanted to help him.  They did and worked hard splitting big logs.  They are pretty amazing Russell boys!  Eli came in the camper and relaxed up on the loft bed while Kimmy and I visited.  Vikki and Misty stopped over for a while and visited with us too.  Bill had an Elder's meeting.  While he was gone, I cleaned the house since I am going to Melissa's tomorrow so have to get ready for small group ahead of time.  

4/22/18...Went to church, Went to Stacie's and D.J.'s, Vikki and Peyton came over and we relaxed in our hammocks, Wes, Gayla and Joel stopped over to see our camper, Watched When calls the heart

I was surprised to see some of my daffodils in blossom.  Thought it would be a while after the ice and snow we had last week.  I love daffodils!

Kody

Kudos being silly with the goggles

Peyton

Lenny and Vikki

Went to church early as I had to teach Sunday School.  The worship was super amazing today.  The Holy Spirit was moving in a mighty way.  I am so thankful for my church!  After worship about 20 some people became members.  We are growing so fast and getting lots of young families joining.  In Large Group, the wrong video got played, so they played the right one.  Then we went to our class and did our lesson activities.  We only had about 15 minutes before parents came to pick up kids.  Kelly was my helper and did a great job helping.  After church, I made chicken, mashed potatoes and corn.  We ate and then went to get some money out of the bank, stopped at Walmart for Bill to drop off Marine Corp League stuff, and then went to DJ and Stacie's to pick up our motorcycle.  Kody was super happy to see me and wanted to come to my house.  I was super happy to see him too.  Stacie took me to show me their new deck around their pool.  It's beautiful!  Came home and Vikki and Peyton were here hanging out in their hammocks.  I put mine up and joined them.  It was sunny and warm except when the wind gusted.  Vikki and I fell asleep in our hammocks until my alarm went off.  I hit the snooze and then when it went off again, we went out to the camper and Vikki and Peyton helped carry bags from the camper to the shed.  Wes and Gayla were coming and I wanted them to be able to walk through the camper and not trip over bags.  

Vikki, Bill and I counted money from the Marine Corp League.  Vikki always times it so she is here to help and what a great help she is.  It was so nice seeing Joel. Wes and Gayla really liked the camper. We hung out in the camper for a while and then they took Joel home.  Bill and I had ice cream and then watched When Calls the Heart.  

4/21/18..Worked on the camper and got lots of stuff loaded. Went to Eli's game

Jacob

Adam

Eli...looks cute on the soccer field

He was on the move, trying to help his team win

He was the goalie in the second half of the game....looked cute in his orange shirt

It was a sunny, beautiful day out, so I worked on putting stuff in the camper.  I got lots done.  I talked to Kimmy and she said the boys had soccer games.  Adam's was already over (bummer) and Eli was playing at 4.  I was happy at least I could make it to Eli's.  Bill was collecting money at the door of Walmart for the Marine Corp League.  I finished working in the camper and then got ready, loaded up my chair, thermos of water and blanket, then headed to Eli's game. I was happy to see Jacob and Adam and get my hugs.  I gave them some money to go get some snacks. They are so sweet and such polite boys.   It was so nice getting to watch Eli play soccer, and he played so good.  He sure does move!  His team won so he was very happy.  So glad I talked to Kimmy so I found out about it and could go.  When I got home, Bill and I went to Applebees to meet Ralph and Julie who go to church with us.  We had a great dinner and visit.  Came home and watched a movie.

4/20/18...Bill and I walked two miles at the SportsZone, We worked on loading the camper, Very nice sunny day out, Went to Walmart, Took Melissa a Mocha and Donut, Went and visited Matt at the Rehab, Went out to eat with Vikki and family at Tony's, Worked some more on camper

Evan, Hailey, Jack and Max

Me, Isaac, Peyton and Papa at Tony's

We slept in this morning.  Got ready and went to the SportsZone.  We walked 2 miles.  Went to breakfast at Riverside after that.  It was the best breakfast I have ever had.  YUM!  Super big breakfast too.  We came home and I hauled all of the stuff from upstairs for the camper down and put it in my car, and then drove back by the camper.  Went through stuff in the shed that goes in the camper too.  Put everything by the camper door, and Bill passed it in to me.  Now to put it all away and organize it.  At 2, I went to Walmart and got some stickers for Melissa she wanted me to pick up for her for Nora.  Also got shelf stackers and a double drawer container.  I paid and walked towards the door, and the greeter asked if she could check my stuff with the receipt.  I let her and then went to load it in my car.  There were the stickers, caught under the kids seat.  I loaded stuff and took the stickers back in to pay for them.  The checker was so happy and told me not many would do that.  She said I must be a nice person.  You would think this would be very common, not rare.  I went and got Melissa a Mocha and donut and me an ice cap and donut and went to Melissa's to enjoy it together.  She was feeling better today.  I went to pick up the kids from school.  It was so beautiful out that I took them to get chocolate shakes from McDonalds.  Hailey got an Oreo McFlurry.  They were so happy and very polite.  Took them home, and Melissa said Wes and Gayla dropped off cinnamon rolls and rice Krispie treats.  She encouraged Melissa which was so nice.  What great caring friends they are.  I got home, and Bill and I left for the Rehab to visit our friend, Matt .  So many memories came back when I got there because of Melissa being in there so long.  I sure was thanking God for His miracle healing for her.  Matt is able to move his other side now which is good.  He has a long recovery, but so happy he is in such a good place to recover.  We met Vikki, Rody and the kids at Tony's by the Mall.  We ate and had fun together.  Came home and we worked more on the camper.  Watched  the news.

4/19/18. Bill and I went and got got gas, I picked up an ice capp and donut and took it to Melissa, Brought Melissa to my house, Picked up the kids from school, Vikki and I went to Midland to look at a leather jacket, ate out in the camper, Went to Community Village, went to Tim Hortons

This woodpecker sure likes my new bird feeder

Chuck, Gayla, Wes, Mark, Marti, Bill, Luis and Eva at Tim Hortons

Read our Bibles as usual.  Bill and I went to get gas at Krogers.  It was $2.60, but we got it for $1.60 with our $1 off up to 35 gallons.  Sure was happy to save that.  Filled my car, his truck and some gas cans. Bill took the gas cans home and then went to volunteer at the VA driving patients.   I picked up an ice capp and donut for Melissa and took it to her.  We packed up the stuff she needed to bring to my house and came and spent the day here.  We watched Hillsong Worship on the tv and read her testimony of all God had done for her.  Many miracles for sure!  We ate Chicken Salad sandwiches and noodle soup for lunch.  After lunch, we went out to the camper and sat and visited with the heated seats on and massagers going.  Fireplace was on and worship music played on the Bluetooth.  I was so happy to have her over so she can get out on such a nice sunny day.  Not fun to be sick and cooped up for so long.  We left before I had to go pick up her kiddos, so I could take her home first.  Picked up Hailey, Max and Jack and took them home.  Headed for my house and met Vikki and the twins here to go to Midland and look at a leather jacket. Lucy looks so good without her cast and is doing so good too.  The leather jacket was too small.  Looked like a kids size M.  We went to Tim Horton's and got turkey pretzel sandwiches and the kids got chocolate milk and Timbits. Brought them home and ate them in the camper.  Spent some time out there and then they left, and Bill and I I got ready to go to Community Village to help the residents with bingo.  They always love playing that.  Nice that they are getting to know us.  One lady took me and another helper there to her room to show us a picture of her by a huge elephant holding his trunk.  We left there and went to Tim Hortons and all had coffee and visited.

4/18/18...Went to the Sportszone, Went to Birch Run and walked through the Camper Store, Went to the outlets to the Kitchen Store, Went to the Tool Store, Ate at Cracker Barrell,

Jack got right in the tree when I dropped them off.  The kids all love climbing this tree in Melissa's yard.

Sweet book Lyra in my class made for me.  She is 5

Sweet card and bag of candy Morgan made for me. I have the sweetest kiddos!

I went to the SportsZone and walked for 3 miles.  It felt good to be back there.  Christine was in town and Bill had told me she was there today.  She was leaving and saw me walking so came to walk with me.  It was so nice walking and talking with her.  Miss her since she moved to Ludington.  We saw her and her husband in Olive Garden when Hailey and I were there.  I left there and came home and made oatmeal.  Ate and then Bill and I went to Birch Run to walk through the camper store.  It was fun and we picked up a few things for the camper.  Went to the kitchen store after that and got a couple of more things for the camper.  Then we went to the Tool Store.  Bill told me I could go in a different store while he walked through there, but I told him I would go with him.  Well we only came out with one thing...they had a hoover wind tunnel 2 in 1 cordless vacuum regularly 149.00 on sale for $39.00.  It was small, light weight, has a hand held vacuum attached.  We picked one up for the camper.  It is nice because you can have the brushes going for the carpet and stop them for the hard floor.  So funny that I went in a tool store and found something to get.  On our way home, we stopped at Cracker Barrel for lunch.  I had the grilled chicken tenders and Bill had the sirloin burger.
We got home and relaxed for a few minutes.  I went and picked up Hailey, Max, Jack and Evan.  I dropped them off at their house and went in to check on how Melissa was doing.  She looked better and said she was doing a little better, but still congested and coughing up stuff.  Bill went to the Marine Corp League Meeting and I went to teach my class at church.  So much fun with my kiddos.  Morgan made a card and put candy in a ziplock and gave it to me.  Lyra made a book for me and then read it to me.  My kids are so sweet.

4/17/18....Went to breakfast, Took Max's medicine to him at school, took Evan to the Dentist, then to McDonalds, Picked up kids from school, Worshipped and then watched the movie, What If for small group.

Yay, Lucy got her cast off today

Max, Evan, Hailey, Abby, Jack

Evan way up at the top

Evan enjoying his happy meal at McDonalds after the dentist

We went to our breakfast at Sullivan's.  Nine of us were there.  Came home and got the house and things ready for small group tonight.  Took Max his medicine at school for his itching from the scarlet fever.  After I gave that to him, I picked up Evan and took him to the dentist to get a small cavity filled.  We went to McDonalds after that and he got a Happy Meal and a Shake.  I got a $1 frappe with a coupon.  He played after he finished eating.  We stayed there until we had to pick up Max, Jack and Hailey from school.  Took the kids home and then came home and ate.  Got the coffee going and everything set for our movie night.  We spent time worshipping together.  Then we watched "What If".  Everyone loved it.  It's such a great movie. Very fun night!