2/14/19....Happy Valentine's Day! Went to Veteran's Valentine Dinner/Dance

Beautiful card, flowers and yummy candy from the love of my life

Bill, me, Debbie and Tom 

Vicky, Jeff, Bill, Me, Pat, Rich, Charlie and Sue

We had fun in the photo booth with Debbie and Tom and Pat and Rich

Isaac and Peyton writing their Valentines at Vikki's

Adam, Wyatt, Jacob, and Eli

Jack, Hailey, Bruce, Evan and Max celebrating Valentine's

Ava

Claire

James

Kenzie sent me this cute picture of her in her kitty sweatshirt and her kitty

Got a call from Vikki at 6:40 in the morning.  Peyton was sick throwing up, so Vikki needed me to pick up Melissa's kiddos and take them to school.  I got ready fast and picked them up and dropped them off at school.  Texted Jared to wish him a Happy Birthday.  He is such a great son in law! An amazing husband to Kimmy and such a wonderful dad to my grandsons.  We are so blessed to have him in our family.  I thank God for him lots.  Went shopping for Bill's Valentine's gift.  Got him a shelf for his closet for more shoe space.  He had one, but mentioned yesterday that he would like another.  Got him a heart shaped cake too.  He got home while I was upstairs doing my hair.  I came down and he told me he got me the yogurt on the cupboard for Valentine's Day and handed me a card.  The card was super sweet and it had a note that my gift was actually in the garage.  I went out and there were a dozen red roses and a box of Stoeffer's chocolates with nuts in them.  We both ate a couple of chocolates and they were delicious.  I got all ready for our date tonight, so all I had to do was change my clothes when I got home from taking Melissa to therapy at 3.  She had Katie and did really good again today.  Got home at 3:30 and quickly got ready so we could leave in 15 minutes for Horizons.  

It was nice honoring the Veterans again.  The food was delicious, with a fabulous raspberry cake for dessert.  We had lots of fun with sister Debbie and Tom and all of our friends who came.  Lots of laughs in the photo booth.  Great way to celebrate Valentine's Day!  

8.1 total inches of snow now. Went to doctor with Marie, Had ice cream with Bill and Sabrina

I planted my Amaryllis from Debbie yesterday

Lots of snow out there and lots of birds

Lots of wind too....the flag if whipping and the snow is blowing

Bill got up early and went to the SportsZone to play cards and walk.  I don't go as early, so didn't want to drive on the bad roads.  I put the dried strawberries in containers and did laundry.   I was going to walk my two miles in the basement, but Marie called and she and Doug were heading here to pick me up to go to the Dr. with her.  She is changing to Dr. Stevenson who is Melissa and Bruce's doctor.  I went in with her to help her remember what the dr. said.  Doug wheeled her back for me and then took the wheelchair and waited in the waiting room.  The doctor was so nice and caring.  We both liked him.  He also told her she was taking the same medicine, only different names for heartburn and that doing that could cause kidney failure.  He took her off one and added another that works in a different way and is safe to take with the one she is on now. 
Bill had the driveway all cleaned off by the time Marie and Doug came.  He does a great job keeping up with this snow and ice.   In the evening, we took stuff and dropped it off at Bill and Sabrina's for the Faith Riders Meeting tomorrow night.  We are going to a Valentine's Dance so Bill is covering for my Bill at the meeting.  They met us at Tony's afterward and we had ice cream and a great visit with them.

2/12/19...5 1/2 inches of snow overnight, Took Melissa to therapy,

Max holding Jeffrey Peanut, Abby, and Jack

Hailey

Love this picture of Wyatt, so I borrowed it from Kimmy.  So Cute!

Cut up strawberries to dehydrate

Can't wait till they are done, Kiwi will be next

 We got lots of snow overnight and it was still snowing when I got up.  Melissa didn't want to miss therapy, and I didn't want her to.  They called to see if she was coming and we talked it over and decided to try it.  They did move her appt. back from 8:30 to 9 a.m.  I was going to go to breakfast for a half hour, but the roads were awful and even the main roads (State, Center, Michigan, etc weren't plowed yet), so I changed my mind and called Bill to let him know I wasn't coming.   I couldn't see very well because my windshield wipers need to be replaced.  I reminded Bill I needed new ones.  I was trying hard to stay in the tracks of other cars.  Not many cars were out on the roads.  I made it to Melissa's and was happy to get there.  I parked in the garage so Melissa could get in easy without slipping.  I was happy to get to see Max and Jack.  Evan got up and I was happy to see him too.  They were the only ones up.  Jacob sent me a text to let me know they didn't have school. What a sweet grandson he is.  We left a half hour early and didn't see one plowed road even in town.  Bummer!  Melissa told me that there was a snow scraper that fell out of someone's car and got smashed by their van.  Found out it was mine!  What a day to be without a scraper.  I dropped Melissa off and parked.  Walked down the hill to therapy and it sure was windy and slippery.  I stayed with her while she had therapy and really enjoyed watching her.  She had Adam for the first time.  He usually works with just kids, but they had lots of cancellations and were short handed so he got Melissa.  He had just taken a class on what to do to help loosen tightness.  He really helped Melissa and had her standing nice and straight and walking much better.  He was so nice too!  She had therapy for 75 minutes today.  We talked to Shawali and let him know Thursday is Melissa's last day.  He wanted to know how she was doing at home and if she was just using the quad cane now.  He was very happy to find out she was.  While she finished walking down the hallway, I went out to start my car and let it run for a while since I didn't have a scraper.  I used my umbrella to get the snow off the windows where the wipers didn't get.  On our way home, we passed 4 snowplows going the opposite direction.  We were wishing we had one in front of us.  Finally when we got close to Center, the roads were plowed.  Her subdivision wasn't though.  I got to see Hailey when I dropped Melissa off.  I left right away, because I wanted to get home.  I decided to stop at Aldi's to get a couple of things I needed.  Their parking lot was terrible and not plowed yet either.  I was so happy to get home.  Melissa called and messaged me to check to make sure I was home safe.  What a sweetie.  I talked to Marie and Roy was doing good after his surgery.  He could move a little so that was good.  I cleaned out another cabinet and sorted through some papers.  We cancelled care group tonight.  I warmed up the chicken in the air fryer and it made it taste just like it did when first cooked.  Nice and crispy too.  YUM. Watched the news and game shows on TV.

2/11/19...Came home from Marie's, went to dentist, Went to breakfast and spent the day with Melissa

Using my nice Air Fryer that Vikki won and gave to me.  This is the first time I have used it.

The chicken had to cook for 25 minutes and was crispy on the outside and tender inside.  So delicious.  Can't wait to use it again.   Thank you Vikki!!!

 Left at 6:30 in the morning.  Went out to clean the snow off my car, and saw that Jerry, who lives in their basement, hadn't left at 5:30 like he said he would last night.  He was parked behind me, so I had to go to the basement and ask him to move it because I had a dentist appt. and I needed to get home and get ready for it.  The roads were slippery and I didn't know how long it was going to take me to get home.  The roads were bad until I got to Saginaw.  I went to the dentist and then Melissa and I went to Riverside for breakfast.  Bill called me and I ordered his breakfast and he came to eat it while we sat with him.  He had to got to Bay City to see if they were going to do surgery on Roy.  They had 20 people scheduled ahead of him and he was a standby.  Melissa came over and we looked at old pictures and then we took naps.  Bruce picked her up.  Bill called and said he was heading home.  I made chicken in the air fryer and scalloped potatoes.  It turned out really yummy.  Vikki stopped to borrow the truck and was just in time to eat the first air fryer meal.  Bill and I watched a Hallmark movie.  Roy called at 9:37 and was going to be having surgery in an hour to an hour and a half.  Bill headed up to the hospital to be there for him as Marie can't go because of her back problems.

2/10/19..Went to Bethlehem to hear Hailey and Ally sing for worship. Went to our church, Went to Marie's.

Amy texted me and told me I didn't need to come to Marie's until noon.  I got to go hear Hailey and Ally help lead worship at Bethlehem.  They did great.  The sermon was really good too!  I left and got to our church two minutes late.  It was hard to find a parking spot.  The church was packed.  Isaac came and sat by Bill and I until he went to Sunday School.  Our worship was amazing and it was a great message too.  I left a few minutes early so I could get gas and pick up something to eat and make it to Marie's on time.  When I got there Amy had a ham going in the Smart Pot. She made chicken and I made bean soup with the ham.  We froze some stew and some bean soup so Marie and Roy would have meal size portions in the freezer.  We also did some laundry for them.  Amy left and I helped Marie with what she needed and also organized her freezer in the basement and wrote down what she had in it for her.  We ate chicken and noodles and then had bean soup later.  Didn't sleep real good because I slept in the bed next to Marie's hospital bed.  She kept the big light on and the TV so I didn't sleep real well.

2/9/19..Went shopping, Went to Jack's game, Went to Isaac's game, Went to Marine Corp. Banquet in Flint

The pictures went on and posted the last pictures of the banquet first and this mornings pictures last. Didn't want to let me change them so just keeping them like this.

Bill and I 

 Bill looks so nice in his Marine Corp. Outfit

                         Sawyer shaking Bill's hand after she gave him a hero rock she painted

Sawyer was the speaker for the evening and did an amazing job for a 9 year old

                                        Bill presenting Sawyer with a $200 check from the Saginaw Detachment

                                        Group picture of the Marine Corp. League of Michigan

                                           A very nice 91year old man having his picture taken with Sawyer.  He was in the Marines when he was 19.  He fought for our country, yet where he was stationed, they wouldn't let him eat in the restaurant with the white soldiers.  So sad and hard to comprehend.  He was such a kind gentleman to talk to and didn't seem bitter about it at all.

Bill and I with Sawyer

Jack #1 Playing Basketball with his team, the Chargers

Hailey and Ally

Isaac playing basketball #7

Got up with Bill and made him breakfast and coffee before he left for the Marine Corp. Rally in Flint.  I went shopping and then went to Jack's basketball game.  Melissa, Bruce, Evan and Hailey were there.  They won their game.  Evan was cute.  I gave him a dollar and he went to buy something and came back with two blueberry muffins for me instead.  It was so sweet of him and he was so excited about getting them for me.  Melissa and I each ate one.  I gave him another dollar to spend on himself and he got popcorn.  It was on sale now, so he got two gatorades and gave one to Luke and one to Daniel.  He sure is a giver!  I came home and ate and then went to Isaac's game.  He is really catching on to the game now, and did really good.  Love watching the grandkids play sports.  Bill came home to relax.  I was happy because I was going to drive down to Birch Run to meet him so he wouldn't have to drive all the way home.  Vikki was sweet and offered and was going to drive me there in her car so Bill and I could ride home together.  Now it worked out nice because I can just ride with him to the Banquet.  It's a formal banquet, so we have to dress up.  Bill came home and had a chance to relax before we left for Flint.  Right before we left, we found out Roy fell and broke his hip joint.  He will be having surgery on Monday, and should be home on Wednesday.  So thankful Amy and Dennis Ward were there when it happened so Amy could stay with Marie and Dennis could go with Roy.
Marie has been sick since last June and Roy has been so good and kind taking care of her.  I am going to spend the day and night with Marie tomorrow.  The banquet was very nice.  Little Sawyer was so sweet and so very kind to all the veterans.  She has done much during her little life ministering to veterans and showing how thankful she is for them.  She has spoke to congress, to Homeland Security, and has received the Presidential award 4 times.  She walked 12 miles for Suicide Awareness for Veterans and did 22 pushups for 22 days.  It was amazing listening to all that she has done for our veterans. Her brother is a Marine and that is what started her doing this.

2/8/19...Took Melissa to therapy at 8 a.m.,Very cold and windy outside, Picked up Tim Hortons, Bill spent the day in Flint getting ready for tomorrow nights banquet

Poor Jacob fell by the school bus.  Ouch...looks pretty painful!

Hailey before going to school.  It was pajama and hat day today.  

Adam took this selfie with Wyatt

Got up early and got ready to go pick Melissa up for her appt. at therapy at 8.  I left at 7 so I would have plenty of time.  Bill left right after me to go to Flint to get ready for the Marine Corp Banquet for tomorrow night.  He has to be there all day.  It was so cold and so windy out.  Our driveway was mostly ice other than where Bill chopped up the ice and cleared it.  Our road was pretty icy too.  I was a little nervous the wind my blow my car off the icy road.  I got to Melissa's could hardly stand on her driveway it was so icy.  I was worried about her making it to the car with her walker, but she had me park in the garage so everything worked out and I didn't have to worry about her falling.  The kids were all still home so I got my hugs before they left for school.  I sure was happy to see them.  I stayed at therapy and watched.  I was amazed at how much Melissa has improved since the last time I stayed.  She is amazing.  We stopped at Tim Horton's on the way back to her house and picked up a bagel, donut and Mocha.  We ate at her house and visited for a while.  I came home and and turned the kernel burner up higher to keep the house warm.  I got some cards ready to send out.  I could hardly stand on that ice to put them in the mailbox.  I walked on the grass wherever I could but couldn't avoid the ice totally.  I was sure glad to get back in the house.  Then I had to go back out and get the mail.  That wind nearly blew me down on that ice.  Jacob texted me and showed me where he hurt his wrist by falling the ice today by the bus.  My poor boy.  Sure felt bad for him. Bill called to check on me.  I sure am praying for him to have a safe trip home tonight.