Sunday, 10/18/20, Happy Birthday Kimmy and Vikki, Made it to Arkansas

Happy Birthday Vikki and Kimmy

Pretty cotton field we passed!

Iron Mountain

Cows running along side our car! Yikes!

Bible open in the room.  Had an open Bible at their front desk too!

           Vikki and Kimmy face timing with Mrs. Bilby.  She was their teacher at Shield of Faith!

Vikki and Kimmy’s Birthday celebration picture they sent me!  Love this

Love the name of this street in CMA’s Campground! It’s all about Jesus!

           CMA Iron Mountain Entrance 

Our Faith Rider Banner.  They have every chapter in the United State’s banner hanging in their building. It’s a huge building!

Sign as you leave!

We left Tennessee at 8 am!  We split my chicken breast from the Cracker Barrel for breakfast on our way.  Also drank our protein drinks.  We called Kimmy , then Vikki to sing Happy Birthday!  Kimmy was born a minute before Vikki so we went in that order.  After an hour of driving, we stopped for our coffee.  We had a couple of Oreos I brought too.  I watched and Bill listened to our church service.  Very good!  Lots of baby dedications today!  We got to FaceTime with the girls  on their special day too!  When we were close to our destination, we saw cows in the road ahead of us.  We went slow and they moved off the road.  When we were close, they started running along the road.  I was a little nervous they might go back in the road, but we made it by fine and they crossed after we were past.  We checked into our motel and then drove to CMA at Iron Mountain 8 miles up the road.  We drove around Mena, and I got a soft shelled taco and ice tea.  Came back to our hotel and rested for a while. Went to the leadership service at CMA.  They had dinners hot and packaged up.  Jared and Jennifer McPherson and their son Zelenograd did worship. It was the most moving and awesome worship.  John Ogsteen gave the message and it was super good.  Came back to our hotel and relaxed before bed.

Saturday, 10/17/20, Left for CMA Leadership and Colors in Hatfield, AK

 

It was beautiful driving in Tennessee. Loved the hills 

We got up a 4 a.m., got ready, packed some water bottles and protein drinks, and some snacks and loaded everything. We left at 5:15.  Dad drove the first 4 hours to Marion, Indiana and I drove from there for the next four hours.  We did get lunch at Arby’s on my time though. Dad finished driving after that.  We talked to Vikki for a while.  Texted Kimmy, Melissa and Adam.  We hunted for a hotel in Jackson, Tennessee.  Finally decided on Howard Johnson’s.  Got dinner at a Cracker Barrel.  Came back to our hotel. Nice to have a fridge to put my extra piece of chicken in.  By the way, dad loved the chicken dinner from Zehnders’s you girls blessed him with yesterday!  We relaxed and are going to bed early tonight!  

Friday, 10/16/2020...Celebrated Kimmy and Vikki's Birthdays since we will be gone!

Bill with his wonderful Marine Corp. mask from Lela

She made two of them for him

Vikki and Kimmy celebrating at Zhenders

Granny Oakley shooting a bug on the post...I got it too!

 Kimmy, Vikki, Peyton and Isaac came over.  We gave Kimmy and Vikki their birthday presents.  They both wanted Bug Salt Shooters.  We shot some bugs outside and sure had fun.  I only tried once, but got the bug.  I couldn't believe it!  Pretty amazing!  Kimmy and Vikki got theirs every time.  No batteries and it takes regular salt.  We went to Frankenmuth to celebrate their birthdays.  Zehnders was very careful and we watched as they wiped everything down on the table when people would leave.  They had us spaced good and had moved lots of tables out.  We were missing Melissa this year.  I tried the potpie this year and it was good, but I am sticking to my half hot chicken sandwich from now on.  We visited Debbie at Bronner's afterward and got our free ornaments.  I got one too since they were closed during my birthday month.  I got $3.00 off my meal too.  We went to see Matthew and Tom after that for about 10 minutes.  It was so nice to see them.  We came home and sang Happy Birthday to the birthday girls, then had Angel Food Cake and Strawberries.  Yum!  Kimmy shared some left over food from Zhender's with Bill for him to heat up later which made him very happy.  He watched Peyton and Isaac while we were gone.  He played 3-13 with them and Isaac won.  Peyton was the big loser with over 200 points.  Bill got McDonalds for them to eat for lunch which made them happy.  He's always fun!  Everyone left because Kimmy had to be home for Adam's soccer game and Vikki had to let the dogs out.  I talked to Marie for a while, then started packing more for our trip.  I called Melissa and talked to her for a while since I know I am going to be missing her lots.  So nice spending time with family and talking on the phone.  Went to Wes and Gayla's to play 3-13 and visit.  Bill has his Rotorcuff surgery on Nov. 10, Charlie has his esophagus surgery on Nov. 6 and Wes has his partial knee replacement on Nov. 5.  The 3 amigos will be recovering together.  Praying for all of them!  

Thursday, 10/15/2020, Did school stuff with Peyton and Isaac, Kimmy, Jared and the boys came over, Jared blessed us with washing the rubber roof on our camper

 

Jared came and washed our camper roof for us!  He is such a blessing to us!

Peyton, Isaac and I ate breakfast, did our morning routine and then started school.  I rang that bell they love (not) when it was time to begin.  We worked on spelling.  They did good and knew them all when we were done.  We finished reading The Prince and the Pauper.  They read their book to me after that.  Only two more chapters and they will be done.  They read the Picture Bible to me after that.  We played 3-13 and Peyton was the winner again.  She has won the last three games I have played with her, and she won when they played with Papa last night.  Vikki came after work and ate an egg salad sandwich and squash.

Well I had 4 grandsons and one granddaughter here today and totally forgot to take pictures of them.  I did get a picture of our amazing son-in-law, Jared, working hard on washing our roof of our camper.  What a wonderful, generous, kind hearted and hard working person he is.  Someone we know raised a fine son, and we are sure blessed he is our family.  It was only 51 degrees out and pretty windy.  We tried to talk him out of doing it on such a cold day, but he got right at it.  What a difference it made.  We now have a white roof again.  We can't thank you enough, Jared.  You are so good to us.  Thank you, Jacob and Adam for assisting him.  You are always such great blessings to us too.  I loved talking to Eli and listening to all his cute stories.  Thank you Vikki for antiquing my bench for me.  Thanks for your help on it too Kimmy.  More blessings!  Kimmy and Jacob went shopping for a sweatshirt for Jacob and Vikki and the kids left.  When Jared came was done, we had coffee and donuts.  When Kimmy and Jacob got here they had some too.  They delivered two Marine Corp Face Masks Lela made for Bill.  He was so happy, and tried them on right away.  They fit perfectly.  Jared has a very sweet and kind mom too!  Kimmy, Jared and the boys had to get Adam to soccer practice so left right after that.  I took pops out to the van for the boys as I knew they would be thirsty from the donuts.  It was so nice having them all here.  Packed some of my things for our trip.  

Wed., 10/14/2020, Beautiful sunrise, Painted the utility room bench, Walked 3 miles, Papa watched Peyton and Isaac while I went to watch Jacob in the marching band

The sun shining on the trees across the street was beautiful even though it was a little hazy out

Beautiful sunrise this morning

The bedspread and shams I ordered came today

 Cute Eli (I borrowed these pictures from Kimmy's blog

Thought it was funny...Adam looks taller in this picture

Jacob looks taller in this picture!  Those boys!  They sure are handsome and lots of fun!

Gave the bench a coat of paint.

Jacob in the marching band behind the last drum

 

Jacob did great in the marching band.  He is 2nd from the back

Jacob in the middle, back row

Such an amazing marching band

Jacob in the middle

I had so much fun watching Jacob.  So thankful I could go!  Very proud of this boy!

After I did my devotion and prayer time, we went to Bill's doctor appt. for his shoulder.  The doctor said there is a small tear in the rotor cuff.  He said he could do outpatient surgery to mend the tear which will help the pain Bill has been in.  Said there is some arthritis, so we are praying that doesn't get worse.  Said Bill has lots of strength in that arm which is good.  We really liked the doctor and he has great reviews.  Surgery is set up for Nov. 10.  After that he dropped me off at Vikki's while he went to the VA to get a blood test since he already had fasted.  Vikki and the kids were doing their online school, so I got to watch.  It wasn't long and Bill picked me up.  We ate breakfast after that, then I painted the bench we have in the utility room.  My comforter came, so I put it in the dryer to get the wrinkles out and then put it on the bed upstairs.  So glad Vikki told me she liked the darker grey.  It looks so nice.  I was going between the light grey and that one, but I sure love the dark grey on the bed.  Kimmy called and said Jacob said he can have four at the Marching Band Performance on the football field.  Bill stayed home because Vikki was bringing Peyton and Isaac, and he wanted to play 3-13 with them.  Vikki couldn't go with me, so I headed there.  I thought I was going to be a little late since I got Kimmy's call at 5:40 and she said it was at 6:30.  I warmed up noodle casserole for Bill and for me.  Got my warm clothes on and coat, hat, mittens, blanket and bleacher seat in the car.  I ended up eating my dinner on the way, since I knew it would take me a while to get there.  I was happy when I got a call from Kimmy saying it didn't start until 7.  I was able to get there early and sit by Kimmy and Jared.  I just loved watching Jacob and the band.  He is very talented and does a great job.  When I got home, I got a nice greeting and hugs from Peyton and Isaac.  We all snacked on some grapes and watched Full House.  We had lots of laughs.  We read the Bible, looked at an Amazon Toy Catalog Peyton brought, prayed and then I tucked my sweeties in.  I gave the bench a second coat of paint after that.  Bill and I watched the news.

Tuesday, 10/13/2020, Fun having Peyton and Isaac, Cleaned and shampooed the inside of my car

 

Peyton and Isaac having breakfast and hot chocolate with marshmallows.  He loved his black New Life mug and she loved her precious moments mug

Peyton teaching Isaac how to do Cat in the Cradle

I was up for a while before Peyton and Isaac woke up.  It was a little chilly in the house, so they wanted hot chocolate with their breakfast.  I had mint flavored hot tea.  They got ready and brushed their teeth, then we started our spelling.  I rang the bell as usual.  After we studied spelling words and they wrote them 5 times, we did our reading.  I started reading The Prince and the Pauper to them. They read Pirate's Island to me.  We also read the picture Bible.  They asked to play 3-13 after that.  I let Peyton sit in my winning seat.  Big mistake!!! She won.  I let Isaac sit there last night and he was ahead until the very last hand.  He got a lot of points and Peyton won then too.  I and sitting in my winning seat from now on.  I lost twice when I didn't sit there.  I had won at least 4 times in a row.  They sure are good little players and they sure like playing.  We had M&M's while we played.  Isaac showed me that his bear has Rody's baby outfit on.  I got out Papa's baby outfit, and they loved seeing it.  Rody's has a boat on it, and Papa's has anchors and lighthouses on it.  We had a fun day!  Went and got some new jeans that fit today and some slacks for church.  I got to the store and saw Bill's truck in the parking lot.  I went up and asked him if he needed help, and he told me no, he was just looking. Ha Ha!  Then he noticed it was me.  He didn't get anything.  He was going to get some cologne, but he gave me the coupon and I checked out while he was still checking out the cologne.  The girl let me keep the coupon, so he can go back and use it.  I washed the inside of my car really good and vacuumed it.  Then I shampooed it.  So nice to have a clean car inside and out.  Relaxed with Bill and read on my book. Shared some peaches he cut up for us.

Monday, 10/12/2020, Put our summer clothes upstairs and brought our winter clothes downstairs, Went for a 2 mile walk, Peyton and Isaac spent the night

                                                                               

Can't believe the woodpecker made the hole bigger in this bird house!  It's one of my favorite from Kimmy, Jared and the boys

Lots of birds on the feeders and suit feeders while I read my Bible outside today

Such a pretty fall this year

Me on our walk

Bill on our walk

We moved summer stuff from our closet and drawers upstairs, and brought our winter stuff downstairs.  We got rid of a lot of stuff and Bill took it to Salvation Army.  Got chicken going in the crockpot so I can make noodle casserole tonight.  I cooked another squash.  Trying to do one a day and put it in the freezer.  Bill and I took a walk down the road.  Walked two miles.  Bill tried the motorized bike he got when we got home.  The battery wasn't charged enough, so will have to try videoing again when he tries tomorrow.  We ate noodle casserole.  Vikki dropped Peyton and Isaac off.  We played 3-13.  Peyton won.  They are so much fun to play with.  We had licorice for our snack.  We watched a Full House and then I read the Bible to them, we all prayed,  and I tucked them in.  They go to bed great here.