Monday, 10/26/20, Watched Amy Coney Barrett be sworn in, Vikki brought the kids over, we went to get free wood

My Compassion child, Rahemet!

She is growing up so fast.  Last picture is from April 2019

Melissa sent me these pictures in a text saying,  eating super duper long licorice makes schoolwork more fun!  When I seen these pictures, I believe it.  They are so cute!

Jack

Max

Evan

Vikki and I unloaded and stacked this wood.  

Bill met Charlie for coffee.  He said he was doing good.  They have moved his surgery to Nov. 20 so he can get stronger after his chemo and radiation.  I did our 21 days of Breakthrough Prayer Devotion our church is doing together.  Read my Bible and prayed, then did some cleaning.  Went shopping at Jack's, Meijer and Aldi's.  Not many people out and everyone I saw was wearing a mask which was nice.  It took me a while to sanitize everything since I got quite a few groceries.  I made spaghetti for dinner.  Bill got a call from his brother, Fred, and he told him his half brother, Fred also, died two years ago.  He and his wife came to Melissa and Bruce's wedding.  Now the other half brother, Greg, is dying and his friend Tom, said he wants to talk to Bill.  Praying for this to go well and Greg to accept the Lord into his heart before anything happens.  Praying for his healing. Vikki and the kiddos came 15 minutes before Bill had to go to an Elder's meeting.  Vikki had seen lots of free wood on her way here, so we took the truck and got the wood and Bill took my car to the meeting.   The wood was pine and was really sappy.  The couple came out and asked if we needed help after we had the truck half loaded.  We told them no because it was so messy, but they both insisted on helping anyway.  We filled the truck right up and then headed to our house.  There was still lots of very large pieces of wood there.  Vikki parked the truck back by the shed and she threw the wood off the truck while I stacked.  She stacked the last of the wood while I went in and dished up Peyton and Isaac's spaghetti.  It took a while to wash the sap off my hands.  I also threw my coat in the washing machine.  It took two long washes with presoaks and warm water to get the sap off.  We watched two episodes of Full House with Peyton and Isaac.  I read the Bible with them and tucked them in.  They went to sleep really good again.  

Sunday, 10/25/20, Listened to church online, Vikki and the kids came over, Melissa, Bruce and the kids came over

 

Sure looks different than when I left a week ago The tree looked red back then.

Isaac face timing Rody so he can see Vikki take the surprises we brought back out of the bag.  Peyton holding the big Kit Kat (32 oz.)

Vikki painting Peyton's nails with my favorite polish

Peyton and Isaac eating their lollipops

Rody, Isaac, Peyton and Vikki (Vikki took this for me when she got home)

Hailey, Max, Jack, Bruce, Melissa and Jack with their treats we brought back

Max, Jack and Evan eating their lollipops

Hailey dropped her lollipop so I took a picture!  Bill in the background

Hailey came to visit too

Pumpkins I bought from Kelly to help her raise money for her two compassion girls

Got ready, then watched our church service.  Another awesome message from Pastor today.  We read our Bibles afterward.  Vikki called and she and the kiddos came over.  We were so happy to see them.  She brought my pumpkins that Kelly made and gave to Rody to give me.  They are beautiful!  We visited for a while, and then gave them their surprises we brought them.  Vikki face timed Rody so he could watch as she opened.  The kids started eating their lollipops right away.  We watched an episode of the Chosen with Vikki, then they left.  A short time later, Melissa, Bruce and the kids all came over.  Bruce checked out his trailer hitch, and we got to see their new Honda vehicle.  It is so nice. The boys had fun running and walking in the yard.  We gave them their surprises too.  The kids started eating their lollipops too.   After Hailey had been eating on hers for a while, she accidentally dropped it and it broke into pieces.  Bill had me take a picture.  Everyone loved the huge Kit Kat and Extra long licorice.  They also got a Ammonite rock in their surprise bag.  It was so good to visit with everyone.  Can't wait to deliver Kimmy and her family's to them.  Bill and I watched 3 more episodes of Chosen.

 

Sat.,10/24/20, Left our hotel in Illinois at 6:30 a.m., Got home at 6:10 p.m.

Went by the St. Louis Arch.  I was texting with Isaac at the time so I sent him a picture and told him to show his mom and also told him about us going up in it when she was a kid

I was so happy to see there was still lots of color in Michigan.  We saw color on our trip, but there's no color like in Michigan

Took this after getting in to Michigan                                                                                   

One branch down plus lots of little ones when we got home

My mum is opening and is beautiful.  

Kind of weird how both of our maple trees are turning color in stages this year.  This one is starting at the top instead of all over like usual.

We got ready, grabbed coffees, and then headed for home at 6 a.m.  We split my chicken breast from the Cracker Barrel that I couldn't eat last night.  We also had a granola bar.  That was our breakfast on the road.  I texted with Isaac, Peyton and Evan for a while.  It was so sweet when I got a text from Isaac that said I love you Nana.  Such a sweetie!  It made my heart so happy!  Bill drove until 10:30, then we filled up with gas and I drove from there.  Our total gas for the trip was $118.63 and we still have some in the tank.  We drove and only stopped at around 3 to get something to eat.  Ate at a Bob Evan's and had their pot pie.  It was great, but was so hot, I had to wait for it to cool some before I could eat it.  Ate half and took half home.  Bill had a big breakfast.  I drove from there and we came the rest of the way home.  We were happy to get home sweet home.  I did a couple of loads of laundry while we both unpacked.  

10/23/20, Started heading home

Bill on a scenic stop on The Piggy Trail Scenic Bypass

One of the many hairpin curves

View along the Piggy Trail

Granny’s Restaurant 

Entering Missouri 

World’s largest gift shop 

Bill looks pretty small in comparison to the gift shop

Bill shopping In the gift shop

Bill in Branson.  That is a mural on the side of the building, but at first it looked real to me

Bill in Branson 

Me in Branson 

Bill ivy the Marine Corp Emblem in Branson

Face timing together...Adam and Jacob aren't shown

Jacob has a mouse head thanks to his very talented Uncle Rody

We left at 8 a.m. When we were on Highway 23 in Arkansas close to Missouri, we were on some very steep and curvy roads that were pretty thrilling!  Lots of low clouds on the mountain tops and some pretty colors.  The road runs through the Ozark Forest and is nicknamed Pig Trail Scenic Byway because of its steep hills and hairpin turns.  We got into some heavy fog.  I started praying!  Thankfully it only lasted a couple of miles!!! Thanked Jesus immediately!  Stopped at Granny’s Restaurant for lunch.  It was in the middle of nowhere but had great food.  We stopped in Branson, Missouri and walked through some shops.  It was in the low 40’s so we had to put our jackets on.  Didn’t see many people, but those we saw were wearing their face masks outside.  We walked through a couple small shops and ended up getting some good deals at a really nice Christian Store.  Where we were the shops were on a big hill.  We walked down one side and up the other.  It was steep so we got some steps plus exercise.  Kimmy called (yay) and we talked to her for a while when we saw signs along the highway advertising the world’s largest candy store and largest gift shop 9 miles ahead.  We told her we had 9 miles to talk ha ha.  We stopped and the gift shop was huge and fun to walk through. The candy store was pretty amazing too.  We only bought at the candy store so are coming home much sweeter.  I drove the next few hours. We stayed at the Baymont in Sullivan Missouri.  We watched CMA’s nightly service on live stream. Got a great surprise after that! Got to face time all together with Vikki, Rody, Peyton, Isaac, Kimmy, Jared, Jacob, Adam, and Eli!This sure made us happy How fun to see everyone and talk together!  Rody put some pretty cute animal faces on him lol. Melissa didn’t answer to get on with us, but Vikki and I did a three way call with her afterward!  Rody said we can have up to 32 people face timing together!  

Thursday, 10/22/20 Went to the morning service at Iron Mountain, Drove on the Talimena Scenic Drive, went to evening servicewent for drive on Talimena scenic drive, went to evening service

Bill by all the bikes!

Scenic view on our Talimena drive 

Another picture with a beautiful view behind me and behind Bill in the next picture 

Bill with the beautiful scenery behind him

We pulled off for a Scenic view picture!  Ha ha the see I’m standing on Trump 2020!  Pretty happy!

Restaurant at the top

Sign for Talimena Scenic drive as we went in to Oklahoma A

We went a little ways past the restaurant and found we were in Oklahoma 

Bill and I relaxing outside our room 

Me in front of our hotel 

Another pond by our hotel! There were three of them

Bill walking to the pond 

Me on the dock

Bill with the beautiful scenery behind him

Went to the morning service and heard a great message.  Sat by the open garage doors with Fran and Kenny.  We went for a drive on the Talimena Scenic Drive.  It was up a mountain and was beautiful! We stopped at scenic lookouts and took pictures!  Stopped a restaurant up there and went into their small gift shop.  We got candy bars and Pringles to hold us over.  Only two people were allowed in the gift shop at a time. Nobody was around but us though.  We went a little further on our drive and pulled off on another scenic view spot.  When we came out on the other end of the drive, Bill noticed a Welcome to Arkansas sign.  We drove back down the road and turned around so we could go by the Oklahoma sign and get a picture!  Didn’t drive far and then turned around and headed back. To our hotel for a while.  We went to Iron Mountain and walked around to see what venders were there and also walked through the campground.  Nice to get some steps.  Bill forgot his phone at the hotel, so we came back  and relaxed at the hotel until 6:30.  Got a nice long talk in with Vikki!  So nice!  Went back and heard an amazing message John Ogden Jr. preached.  We sat back by the garage doors and got a nice breeze. It was 82 degrees out today!  Stopped for Sundaes at McDonald’s.  Came back to the hotel and watched the rest of the debate.  Melissa called and we had a nice talk. Evan won the monopoly game!  So happy to talk to her!