4/28/18..it was 36 degrees out when we left for our first motorcycle ride to the Shepherd Maple Syrup Festival! Stayed nice and warm with all my layers. Just a little too windy. Thankful God kept the sun shining!

Dan, Gayla and Renee before we took off

We had eight bikes on our ride today.  It was cloudy when we got to Meijer's

Before we took off, blue skies and sunshine...Group picture
Mike, Don, Elaine, Renee, Dan, Wes, Bill, Jerry and Gayla

Mike and Dan

Jerry and Bill

Joel

Dan and Renee

Bill and I

Renee was the 100th ticket so she won some Maple Syrup.  Elaine was very happy for her

Bill, Joel, Wes, Dan, and the rest of our group waiting in the long line for our pancake breakfast.  The line moved fast.  There was a sweet lady and her hubby.  She would sit in a chair and then she would stand and someone would move the chair and she would walk with help to go sit in it.  Bill helped keep her chair moving and Elaine and I would help her husband walk her.  She would grab our hand.  Such a sweet lady.  She loves the Maple Syrup Festival!  He told us this would probably be her last.  Made my heart sad, but happy we were by them to help out.  

My hyacinths are beautiful and smell so good.   They were my moms and she always loved them.  Brings back great memories.

We got ready for our first motorcycle ride of the year.  We wore lots of layers.  I wore my leather jacket I found at the garage sale for $15.  It kept me nice and warm on this cold day.  We went to Meijer's to meet up with everyone.  We were happy to have 11 of us going on such a cold day.  God brought the sunshine out and that helped to warm things up.  We had a nice ride to Shepherd, although it was a little windy, but didn't get cold so I was happy about that.  We had two girls ride their own bikes.  I was praying for them to stay warm and be able to drive good in the wind.  They did great.  We got to the school for the breakfast and there was a huge line like always, but it moved fast.  We had fun visiting along the way.  We got to all sit together which was nice.  The food was amazing.  I love their sausage there!  They kept bringing more if we wanted some.  Great service and attitudes.  We were blessed. We walked through the gyms and looked at all the crafts afterward.  I bought a couple of things for the camper.  It was warmer on the ride home.  Bill and I both took a nap on the way home.  I talked to all three girls on the phone.  Still praying for Melissa's strength to return.  I'm concerned, but am just casting my cares on Jesus, for He cares for me and my family!

Bill and I watched a movie called, Beach House, on the Hallmark Channel.

4/27/18 Kimmy, Viki and I went to more garage sales. Amy and Dennis joined us for dinner at the SportsZone fish fry, We came home and played cards afterward. I went to Melissa's and took the garage sale stuff

We all met at Pat's in Freeland and went to more sales.  It was cool but very nice out.  We went back to a place I was at yesterday that I liked and we found some stuff. Bill picked up Peyton and Isaac from school.  They had a half day today.  He took them to McDonalds and then dropped them off at Melissa's for her to watch.  We have such a great family and everybody helps each other out.  Bill let me keep shopping and picked up Melissa's kids too.  We didn't find much in the afternoon.  Next year we are just sticking to the subdivisions where we find great stuff.  It rained a little, but not real hard.  Then the sun came out and it got warm.  Not too many at the garage sales yesterday and today.  Not sure why.  Yesterday was beautiful!  We found a Columbia jacket for Max that was only $3.  Melissa was really happy about that.  Vikki left at 12:30 to go to a safety meeting for her work.  She met up with us and we did some more shopping.  I had to leave at 3:50.  They continued to shop.  I came home and got ready to go to dinner with Dennis and Amy.  We went to the Fish Fry and it was packed.  They had so many tables and chairs in there that you couldn't hardly move around.  The food was delicious as usual.  This is a yearly tradition.  We saw Wes, Gayla, Joel, Dorothy and Gary there. Afterward, Dennis and Amy came to our house to play 3-13.  We had fun.  I won the first game and Bill won the second.  He was ahead that first game and then I got a pat hand and went ahead of him.  Could hardly believe it! Amy and Dennis went to Davidson to pick up a ladder at 8:30 and I went to Melissa's to drop off her garage sale stuff.  She loved it.  Max came down and gave me such a long loving hug.  Sure love that boy.  Hailey and Jack were up watching a show and gave me nice hugs too.  Poor Jack is having Asthma problems so I prayed for hem.  Came home and watched a movie with Bill.

4/25/18..HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR SWEET DAUGHTER MELISSA!

Melissa was such a precious little girl and she still is precious

My Sweet Melissa (and Lucy)

Happy Birthday Melissa! Love this picture of her and her sweet kiddos

Poor Peyton ran into a wall at school and now she can't open her eye all the way!  We prayed for her in our class.

I went to the SportsZone and walked 2 miles.  I came home and made oatmeal for Bill and I.  I went to Northwoods and looked at camper stuff and then went to Dolney RV and took our chair in for them to fix.  One of the legs was missing a little circular wood piece on the bottom.  They fixed it for me and I came home.  Melissa was going to go with me, but though it might wear her out and she wanted to be rested to celebrate with Bruce and the kids.  I feel so bad to see her go through this.   Bill and I picked up Melissa to go to lunch at Tony's.  I took her a cupcake that Marie had made for our small group and stuck a Happy Birthday sign in it and a candle.  Melissa and I had hamburgers and fries for lunch and Bill had breakfast for lunch.  We had a nice time with our birthday girl.  I picked up Hailey, Max, Jack, Evan and Hailey and took them home.  Then I headed to Vikki's dentist to pick up Peyton and Isaac.  I brought them home with me while Vikki had her appt.  I called Vikki to see if I could keep them and take them to kids small group with me.  They were so happy when she said yes and so was I.  We ate and then went to class.  They helped me by setting up the table and chairs.  Class was fun!  They made picture frames with sticks glued on.  The youth were going to go clean up a park in the community.  Some didn't bring jackets and it was pretty cold out, so I let Stacie take my coat for someone to use.  Melissa called me laughing because she went to blow out the candle I put in the cupcake after the kids sang and it wouldn't go out.  I had accidentally put a relighting candle in it!  The kids thought it was so funny.  

4/26/18....Went to the Freeland Garage Sales by myself in the morning. Kimmy met me after she got out of Work and she shopped with me. Vikki came when she got out of work and we shopped more. Showed a movie at the Rescue Mission and a young man asked to receive Jesus! Thank You Lord!

Peyton and Isaac

Eli with the new bike Kimmy found at a garage sale for $5.  It's so nice

Max came down when I got to Melissa's house.  

Melissa watched these three sweeties today!

I went to garage sales by my self until Kimmy got out of work.  I found tons of great stuff for Melissa's kids (because she couldn't shop for herself this year) and I found lots of stuff for the camper.  I went to meet Kimmy at Pat's when she got to Freeland.   We went to another subdivision that we always love by the school and found more stuff.  We walked through that one and got lots of steps.  We were so blessed to have the carts Vikki got us to put stuff in.  I found a big box of legos with some still in packages for $20.  Bruce said they were worth at least $200.  Kimmy found a table saw for Jared, so they stayed there (Vikki had a huge garbage can on wheels she found) and I walked back to get the van.  The girls carried the table saw out and we got it in the van.  They took me back to my car and I left as I had to get ready and then pick up popcorn at Fashion Square Theatre they were donating for the movie tonight.  We headed over to the rescue mission and 16 guys shows up for the movie.  They loved the movie and were making comments and giving good reactions to it.  We showed "The Encounter".  One young man received Jesus and his Lord and Savior.  Bill prayed with him and we were in agreement.  So thankful to God for this ministry. They were asking when the next movie would be.  It amazes me how these movies touch their hearts.  The Lord are uses them.  I went to Melissa's after I got home to take her the stuff I got for her kids and she loved all the stuff.  So did Max and Hailey.  They both gave me hugs and told me thank you.

4/24/18...Went to breakfast, went to Melissa's, Went to Aldi's, Got stuff ready for small group, great small group

Evan looking very cute

Max eating his cookie

Abby...got my doggie time in today

Hailey holding her cute dog

Jack...he is the one always outside after he gets home. Loves playing basketball.

We went to breakfast at Sullivans.  There were 14 of us there today.  The restaurant was packed so they set some people at a table in the back room where we are.  After breakfast, I went to Melissa's to be there to help if she needed any with Nora.  She didn't need my help, but I could tell she was pretty tired out. Nora is such a good little girl and Melissa loves her so much.  I left when Nora took her nap and came home to get some stuff ready for small group.  At two thirty I left to get the kids.  I stopped at Vikki's on the way to drop of a couple things to her.  Happy to see the kids, Lenny and Lucy.  Picked the kids up and Evan came out carrying his walker.  The principal had Vikki go home this morning and get it because she didn't want Evan hopping on one foot all day.  I was happy to see him walking on it when school was out.  Melissa checked it when he got home and it was still pretty swollen.  The medicine must have helped him.  Went home and made burgers, hash browns and string beans for dinner.  Small group was great.  Lots of good discussion and very caring people.

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.