Monday, 1/20/2020, Slept in, walked, Got some groceries, Made noodle soup

Fed the birds....at least we didn't get as much snow as they predicted

Slept in as the first two days on our trip, I got up at 5:30 and then yesterday at 5.  It sure felt good to stay in bed later.  I was up by 8, showered and got my walking in.  Starting to go through last year's files and put them away and get the new 2020 files ready.  Did laundry from our trip.  Went and got some groceries and made homemade chicken noodle soup.  It was very yummy.  Vikki's ear is still hurting, so I'm praying it's better soon.  Adam texted me an said he went to school.  He said he has been sick for 4 days.  I knew he was sick for 2, but didn't know it was that long.  Thankful he is better and praying no one else gets it.  Got some bird seed and filled the feeders.  Talked to Kenzie, Vikki and Melissa today.  

Sunday, 1/19/2020,...Headed home....Got there at 7:30..Happy to Be home

We left our hotel at 7 a.m.  The parking lot was icy.  Bill picked us up at the door.  We drove on I-80 and headed to Gramma's Kitchen. It was by the largest truck stop in the world.  We saw 6 more semi trucks flipped over along the side of the highway along the same stretch that we saw the two flipped over on our way there.  So weird because the roads were totally dry when we went through.  We had a great breakfast at Gramma's Kitchen.  There were 10 of us who met there.  We all had the buffet.  It was amazing.  We ladies shopped in the little store in the restaurant after we were done eating.
We drove and had dry roads until we got to Michigan.  Phill was driving and did great.  The Toyota Highlander we rented together, did amazing in snow and on slippery roads.  The first half hour was snowy with slippery roads in Michigan.  We saw one accident and we're all traveling slowly.  We were happy when we saw blue skies ahead and the roads became clear.  We dropped them off in Owosso at 6 p.m. and headed home.  We ate at Culver's when we got to Shields, and then got home at 7:30.  The kernel burner started up right away.  The bed frame Vikki found and picked up for me is beautiful.  Can't wait to change the room around.  We watched a movie called Heavenly Deposit before going to bed.  It will be so nice to be in our own bed tonight.

Sat., 1/18/2020 Great teachings, good food, auction day, and decorate table day

The different states did a basket and table and had our chapters donate stuff too.  Our table had a military theme and looked amazing.  Bill picked up some nice things for it and we had so many beautiful donations.  The others also got beautiful stuff and neat stuff too, like a amo can filled with chocolate bullets, etc.  Five other states did baskets and tables.  Bill and a couple who were really nice were bidding on it.  It got up to $225 and I was telling Bill to let the nice couple have it.  He finally went over and wrote I Give Up on the paper.  The couple got a good laugh over that.  They were very happy to win it and all the money goes for Run for the Son Missions

This is the nice couple to won!  We had so much fun with them and this table sure helped us to bond with them.  Bill is so cute when it comes to stuff like this.

This is our group picture of all the State Reps.  Our State coordinators are  3rd and 4th over from the right and they were so nice to us.  Youth leaders are on the end at the right.  Everyone was so nice and made our time at the Leadership Conference so enjoyable.  Ziggy, behind me and to my left, stayed at a Bed and Breakfast with Bill and I and Wes and Gayla in Maine in 2012.  He was an airline steward.  We all hit it off when we stayed there and became friends.  He started coming to our state rallies after that and became a State Rep too.  We were all happy about that.  He does a great Mr. Rogers impression and is always so much fun,  The couple in back on the left are Phil and Julie, who we rode to Iowa with. They really looked out for us and told us ahead of time everything we would need and do and helped us so much.  Wonderful people and great servants of the Lord! 

This is a close up of the Mackinaw Bridge decoration

Every state had to decorate their table with something about their state.  We had a metal Mackinaw bridge, State maps, Pure Michigan tuff and lots of other things on the back two tables in front of Bill and Phil

Our National Evangelist, Jay, asked Bill to lead the Pledge to the American Flag and the Christian Flag.  He also led them in reading our CMA Motto.  He did a great job.  We had two screens up front with the flags on them. Bill is up front in the middle.

The Iowa worship team...They did amazing worship

Fri.,1/17/20, Ate breakfast with everyone in CMA at the hotel. Went to the church and spent the whole day there. Vikki found a beautiful king size metal bed frame and picked it up for me.

Bed frame Vikki picked up for me....Cute girl on that bed too!

Me sitting and my prayer partner for 2020,Jamie, standing next to me.
Dad's prayer partner, Jamie's husband Mark standing in the row ahead of me.  He did the sound for the entire weekend.

The Iowa worship team was amazing!  They sang Waymaker and other beautiful worship songs

Bill and Jeff walking to our vehicle after we were done at the church.  The ground was bare when we got there in the morning.  It was -7 degrees and very windy

Jacob front middle, first person to the left

Jacob front row, second person to the left of Mr. Shepherd

Fifth chair from left...looking very handsome 

Mr. Shepherd's father was the guest director

Jacob's band played in Grand Rapids today.  I sure wish I could have been there for it.  Kimmy sent me videos and pictures and they sure sounded great.  Jacob looked as handsome as can be.  He did great!  I am so proud of him.
No snow when we looked out our hotel window this morning.  Went down and had  a yummy breakfast. Sat with Bev and Ron.  Went to the church at 8:30.  We had great snacks and a delicious lunch...homemade vegetable soup and salad with lots of toppings to choose from.  It started snowing and we got about 5 inches before we left at 8:30. That night.  

Great speakers and teaching.  We had roast beef, huge baked potatoes and salad for dinner.  Very delicious.  Vikki found a beautiful metal headboard for the king size bed upstairs.  Then she took my jar of change in and got the money for it, used our truck to pick it up, and even called Rody to set it up with her.  Never expected that.  So sweet of them.  I love the picture she sent of it.

Thursday, 1/16/20....left at 5 a.m. for Owosso to pick Julie and Phil up to go to Iowa

I got up at 3 a.m. and Bill got up at 4.  Showered and got ready. Packed last minute stuff and then left at 5  to go to Owosso and pick up Julie and Phil.  We got to their house at 6 a.m.  We helped them put their stuff in the back and then left.  It was a beautiful day with lots of sunshine and clear roads.  It was 31 degrees when we left Michigan.  It kept getting colder the closer we got to Iowa, and was 7 degrees when we got there at 1:40 p.m.  We had visiting as we rode and got to know each other better.  They are a very nice couple.  We ate at Culver’s at noon.  We saw two smashed semis flipped over along M-80 and one car.  I found out later from someone that there was a heavy frost and a lot of slick spots on the road.  We rested for a while when we got to our room.  Went down later for fellowship and snacks, then out for pizza.  After that we went to church for our leadership meeting.  It was very good and encouraging.  We shopped at the goodies store and got some new CMA shirts that just came out.  Came back and relaxed for a while and then went to bed.  

Wed., 1/15/20...Walked 2 miles, Packed for trip, Picked Hailey up from school, Went to Taco Bell

Toyota Highlander we rented for our trip

Evan eating some of his Trix cereal from Aunt Vikki

Jack

Hailey and Abby

Max...he was in a hurry to get to his basketball game, so couldn't get a really good clear picture

I walked 2 miles while listening to worship music.  Did all the laundry and packed for our trip.  

I talked to Vicki B., Kay, and Melissa Burns.  Kenzie called me and told me she picked me up some of her favorite chapstick.  It made me so happy.  She is so thoughtful and sweet.  She told me she told Travis how she used to love going to youth group, our care group, and BayShore.  She said someday they will be going to BayShore again.  Sure made me happy.  Love that sweet girl so much.  Lucy was throwing up in the morning, so Vikki had me pray for her.  I was happy to hear she was doing good when Vikki got home.  Talked to Vikki for a while, then I went and picked Hailey up from school.  I asked her if she had time to go to Taco Bell with me and she said she always has time for Taco Bell.  She loves their Nachos Bell Grande's.  I tried one too, because the don't make my double decker supreme that I always got.  Had a nice time with Hailey, hearing about her school, her friends, and everything she shared.  She is such a sweet girl and I sure had fun with her.  I love this sweet girl so much too.  I sure am blessed with wonderful grandchildren.  Going down the line again with Nana time with grandkids.  Love getting together with each of them and having nice talks. I went in to see Melissa for a few minutes and got lots of great hugs from the kids.  Bill had to go to his Marine Corp League Meeting.  I finished packing everything but the last minute stuff.  Bill asked our neighbor to watch our house and get our mail.  

We've done that for them a few times, so she said she would be happy to.  

Tues.,1/14/20..went to breakfast, Kenzie and Travis came over, Vikki, Peyton and Isaac came over

Kenzie and Travis having a snowball fight.  I joined in after taking a picture and video

Kenzie and Peyton playing

Cross Isaac made out of magnets.  My picture is a little blurry

Peyton wearing the necklace she made

Travis and Isaac

Me and Kenzie

Kenzie and Travis

We went to our breakfast.  Wes and Gayla brought us a goodie bag with lots of treats in it for us, Phil and Julie to enjoy on our drive to Iowa.  It was so sweet of them.  I came home and made goulash for Kenzie, Travis and I to have for lunch.  Kenzie had a dentist appointment is coming over after it.  They got here and were hungry, so we ate right away.  Then we had a snowball fight which was lots of fun.  We looked at pictures of Pam and Dick's house and cabin, and all the furniture Dick made and Travis and Kenzie were amazed.  They are both so talented.  We looked at Christmas pictures after that.  They liked the pictures of the Living Nativity and said they want to come to it next year. That made me so happy.  Bill got home and we started playing 3-13.  After the first hand, Vikki, Peyton and Isaac came.  We played two more hands and decided whoever won those was the winner.  We wanted to have fun with Vikki, Peyton and Isaac so that's why we quit.  I beat Travis by 1 point.  Peyton's magnetic sculpting balls came.  They are smaller than the other kids so that was a little disappointing, but she likes them.  She made a necklace and Isaac made a cross.  We all decided to have a snowball fight and had lots more fun and got lots more exercise.  What a fun day with family!  After they left, we ate and then got things ready for small group.  Some were sick, so there were only 6 of us, but it sure was a good

lesson and good discussion.