4/30/18...HAPPY 7TH BIRTHDAY TO MY SWEETIE EVAN! Went to the Sportszone. Cleaned a few weeds out of my strawberries, Went to Melissa's and had lunch with her, Met Vikki to hang out in hammocks for an hour, picked Evan, Hailey and Jack up and went to McDonald's for shakes to celebrate Evan's Birthday. picked up personal pizza's for Melissa and the kids

Emily, me, Breanna, Pat and Joel....Wednesday night kids teachers at church

Love this precious picture Vikki took of Peyton

Evan lost his tooth on his birthday!  He was pretty excited

Evan and Jack

Evan

Jack, Hailey and Evan

Silly picture of them

Hailey came home with me and did a sewing project for school.  She had to make a little blanket for a bed she made and also a pillow case for a little pillow she made.  She did great sewing.  I think she is going to take after her other grandma who sews really good.

First pen Bill made.  I was so happy when he gave it to me.  

Bear that was running around in Midland.  It was caught on Harper St. when it ran into a garage

Went to the SportsZone and walked two miles and rode the bike one mile.  Came home and got a few weeds out of my strawberries.  Spent some time reading my Bible and relaxing outside in the beautiful sunshine.  Supposed to be in the 70's today.  Went to Melissa's for lunch.  After I left there, I went to Walmart to get a little something for Evan for his birthday to give him on his special day.  He won't get his big present until we celebrate at his party.  Bruce is gone to Hartley with Max on a school trip and won't be back until Wednesday.  They celebrated at McDonald's yesterday.  I went to KFC and then met Vikki and we hung out in our hammocks for an hour.  Left to pick up Hailey, Jack and Evan.  Took them to McDonald's and got Frappes, Shakes, and McFlurry's.  Went to Jack's and I got a jam for Melissa.  Wouldn't you know, strawberry was the kind she wanted and that's the one they were out of.  Got different flavors and Melissa was happy with that.  Picked up personal pizzas the kids had coupons for to get free.  Took the kids home and then brought Hailey to my house so she could sew a blanket and pillow case for her project for school.  She did great!  Took her to her track practice at 5:30. Came home and made turkey breast, potatoes and green beans for dinner.  Bill gave me his very first pen he made.  He did a great job on it.  It is out of a deer antler.  Love that I get to this pen and have such a great memory of it.

4/29/18...Went to church, Went to Tim Hortons, then Lowes, Gander Outdoor, and Home Depot. Came home and did some yard work and Bill cleaned the shed. Bruce, Melissa, Max, Jack and Evan came over. The boys picked up sticks for Bill.

Went to church.  Great worship and great message.  "Having great faith is not as important as having faith in a Great God"!  This was a quote Pastor shared.  Faith the size of a mustard seed with do great things.  We sang a song about miracles and I am sure believing for another one for Melissa.  Stacie and Kody were there and Vikki, Rody and the twins.  We prayed for Stacie after church as she is having problems with her neck again.  We are believing for a miracle for her too.  I was so happy to get to talk to Bev after church.  They just got back from Arizona.  She is 90 years old and active and a great example for the Lord.  Bill was supposed to meet Ralph at Tim Horton's, but he was going to be late so they picked a different place to meet.  Bill and I had sandwiches at Tim Hortons which were very good.  We went to meet Ralph and then went to Lowes, Gander Outside and Home Depot.  We looked at things for our bathroom that we will need to get for the remodel.  We came home and Bill cleaned out his shed and I raked and pulled dead stuff out of my perennials.  It sure looks a lot better. Melissa, Bruce and the boys came over and the boys picked up sticks for Papa.  So thankful for sweet grandsons who love helping their papa.  Bruce went through the camper and looked at it as he hasn't got to see it yet.  Melissa and I visited in the camper and had the heated seats and managers on.  I forgot to take any pictures of the kids, because we stayed in the camper most of the time.  Melissa is noticing some improvement!  Her hands are doing a little better and no more heart arrhythmias the last couple of days, so that means the treatment is beginning to work. Yay!  She is still having a lot of difficulty walking so we are still praying.  She walked out to the camper with help today.  Said my yard isn't as bumpy as hers!  She's so cute. We watched the Benji movie on Netflix in the evening and I did my Newsletter for Faith Riders.  

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.