Sat., 9/18/21, another day at the Veterans Rally, wonderful visit with Doug and Lela, ice cream and pie in the evening

Beautiful place to sit with friends and eat pie.

     Great visit with Lela and Doug and great pie!

I took a selfie group pic before we left 

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 Helicopter rides given at the rally. We didn’t ride this year, but sure enjoyed it last year!

Bill and I took the golf cart at 6:30 and went to take showers.  It was a long way from our camper, so we were very thankful to have lights on the cart to see the road.  Started out with hot water, but could tell it was starting to get cold, so finished quickly.  We came back and walked to breakfast with Jim and Bev.  We had eggs and pancakes.  We walked around after breakfast and then went back to our campers.  Our friends, Diane and Steve’s generator quit working right before bedtime, so they couldn’t use their C-pap machines.  Bev and Jim didn’t have any water left and have been waiting for the guy to come since yesterday.  We ran out of water last night.  The guy finally came today and filled their tank and ours so we are all set now.  We had to pump gas into our generator too.  Nice to have the gas pump right in the outside of the camper.  

We ate egg salad sandwiches for lunch and then sat outside for a while longer.  We left at 1 to go visit Jared’s parents, Doug and Lela.  She had made an apple pie and had coffee ready for us too.  We carried it out to the patio to eat.  Doug was an amazing door opener as we took plates, coffee cups, etc out.  We enjoyed a nice visit while we ate our delicious pie and drank our coffee.  It was beautiful and peaceful on the patio.  They are the nicest people, and we feel like they are family now.  They have had quite a year with health issues, but both looked and were doing amazing.  We are very thankful to God.  Many prayers were answered as many  people have prayed.  We walked around the garden before we left and got a great tour.  There are many beautiful flowers and plants. We said our goodbyes and headed back to the campground.  Diane and Steve’s generator wasn’t fixed yet.  Bev and Jim lent their gas can to them and now couldn’t run their generator because it was out of gas.  Jim got the gas can back and went to get gas. He came back and before long his generator was running and the air was back on.  We went to dinner at the ministry tent.  Steve came and said their generator was working now.  Praise the Lord!  Bill bought a flag which is made in America.  It is sewn in several  places across the end which is nice.  We had pie and ice cream for dessert.  Bev picked up a pie. It sure didn’t compare to Lela’s homemade pie.  Bill and I played 3-13 and then went to bed.

Friday, 9/17/21, Second day at rally, went to CMA State Rally and walked around. Nothing going on while we were ther, but we did get to see our friends Al and Lucy.

Bill, me, Bev and Jim

Bill taking a picture of where the service for the CMA rally will be held

Me, Bev, Jim, Lucy and Al

Lucy, Al, Bill and I

Jim and Bev in their CMA Booth by our campers

Hanging out waiting for Lucy and Al to come see us

Bill sharing his vision with Bev and Jim

Bill and I

Bill and I by the goodies store. It was closed

We ate scrambled eggs and pancakes outside at Tim Griffin’s Ministry.  Met an evangelist there who told us his testimony of how he was a wild kid with addictions and a pretty girl at school asked him If he wanted to go out for pizza.  He said yes and later found out it was at youth group at her church.  God used that to save Him and now he’s traveled to many different countries and shares the Gospel wherever he goes.  He is working at this ministry that is serving free food both natural and spiritual.  We went to Indiana’s State Rally and walked around.  There was a bunch of motorcycles pulling out when we got there.  We went in the dining hall an sat and visited. Bill shared his vision from God with Bev and Jim.  Saw Al and Lucy for a few minutes before we left.  

Came back and had meatloaf and mashed potatoes down under the tent.  Sat at our camper visiting outside.  Played 3-13 and beat Bill bad!

Thursday, 9/16/21, Left to meet Jim and Bev and Steve and Diane in Mt. Morris to head to Kokomo, Indiana for Vietnam Veterans Campout.

Bill after a long drive

Me

                              Our camper all set up

Bill relaxing

Tic tax toe three in a row…our friends and our campers

New decks of cards…much needed!

More relaxing 

3-13 and snack selfie

Me by the CMA booth in the tent

Our meal the ministry provided

We got up at 4 and left at 4:50. Taking Toy Hauler for the first time.  We prayed before leaving.  We met up with friends and followed each other.  Lots of traffic until 7 a.m.   Bill did amazing driving.  We got to the campground at Kokomo at around 1.  Set up was super easy.  I was so happy for Bill.  Inside set up was fast too.  Nice that Bill can put the slide outs out with a remote and also the awnings.  It also locks and unlocks the doors which is nice.  We had to use our generator because there’s no electricity here.  It’s permanently in the camper storage in front and turns on with a button inside the camper.  There is also a button to push to show how much gas is left in it.  

We drove a golf cart around that some friends got for us.  We walked through the big tent where vendors are selling things and found CMA’s booth.  Lots of people serving Jesus and doing ministry here.  We ate outside where Grisholm ministries is feeding people outside for free and sharing the love of Jesus.  We visited outside with friends and then came in and Bill beat me by 3 points in 3-13 in the last hand.  We FaceTimed with Vikki during our card gameI texted lots with Adam.

 

Wed., 9/15/21, Shopped, Stopped at Melissa's, Dropped things off to Salvation Army, Packed rest of camper and Bill has it hooked up and ready to leave

Evan with the flower he made for his mom...He has a great imagination

Looks like its a spinner now

It's a fine umbrella

Now he is at the beach with his tropical drink and sun umbrella.  He wanted his mom to take a picture of him "at the beach", but then said, "Wait, I should be relaxing better than this at the beach, I need a footrest".  Melissa Face Timed me so I could see him.  We talked for a while and he was so cute and talked so grown up.  I told him he was making me want something cold to drink, because I had been hauling stuff to the camper and I was pretty warm.  He was the highlight of my day!

I got up early so I could go grocery shopping while stores were pretty empty.  I got to Aldi's right after it opened.  After that, I stopped at Melissa's to drop off some Maple Syrup I got Bruce.  Also dropped off a Maple Syrup Bill got for Bruce. We each got one at the State Rally.  I picked up one because I heard Jerry say it was his last bottle.  I didn't know Bill had already got one.  Oh well, I guess it's a double blessing for Bruce.  Evan came running out to say hi to me and send me an air hug.  I went to drop stuff off at Bethesda Thrift Store, but they weren't taking drop offs today.  Went to Jacks, Meijer, and then went to Salvation Army to see if they were taking drop offs today.  They were, so I got rid of lots of stuff I had packed in my car.  I got home and packed everything but the food in the camper.  Bill told me he read that I needed to turn the refrigerator on 8 hours before putting food in.  At 6 p.m., our  8 hours was up, so he helped me carry stuff out and put it in the refrigerator.  Then we closed up the camper (he used a remote to put the slide outs in...very cool) and he hooked it up and parked it where we can just quickly pull out in the morning when we leave at 5 a.m.  Talked to all the girls today.  I will be missing them and the grandkids while I'm gone.  Talked to Lela today too, and will hopefully get to pay them a short visit while we are in Indiana.  

Tues., 9/14/21, Did laundry, packed some for camper trip to Indiana, Went to Melissa's, went to Flint in evening

I was happy to see Evan today

 Jack showing me Zoey in her banana bed.  She sure loves it!

So happy to get to see Jack today

Clouds on our way home tonight

Woke up early so got up to do my reading, drink my coffee and eat my oatmeal.  Did laundry and ran the dishwasher.  Went through some baskets and bins of things we took out of our old camper and put stuff away.  Went to Melissa's so she could pick out which set of nesting bowls Bruce's mom should order from Kimmy for his Christmas present.  I was so blessed and happy to see Melissa carry a set of bowls from her garage, up two steps into the house to see which color would match best, and then back out again.  She didn't have her braces on when she did this walking with the bowls and did amazing.  God is awesome!  He is healing her again as He did before.  I am sure thanking Him!  She is always so determined and really works hard to achieve her goals.  I got to talk to Jack for quite a while, and then Evan came out and talked to me.  Sure love those boys! We got some downpours during the day.  They didn't last long though.  In the evening, we went to celebrate Bev and Jim's birthdays with them and another couple.    

Monday, 9/13/21, Breakfast with Charlie and Sue, Euchre, and a tour of our camper. Jacob drove Jared to our house

 

Some new happy friends...Squishies for the pool.  The kids and us adults like throwing them to each other in the pool and at the beach.  

Sue, Bill and Charlie ready to play Euchre

Another tree down in our woods after the storm

Played some good worship music by Sovereign Grace Worship today.  Behold our God is one of my absolute favorites.  Had breakfast with Charlie and Sue, then played Euchre.  They came to see our camper.  It was fun spending time with them.  They won one game, and we won two.  The tie breaker was a close one.  We won by 1 point.  I did laundry and since I looked at the weather and it wasn't supposed to rain until 4p.m., I hung them out on the line.  When Charlie and Sue were here looking at the camper, it started raining.  I took the clothes down quickly and put them in the dryer to dry.  Bill had a fourth of the yard mowed when it started, so he couldn't finish it.  Plans seem to be changing lots today.  I got rid of my hanging plant today.  It was starting to look bad.  I also emptied 3 pails on my stacking planter.  I worked some in the camper.  Did my reading later today, while Bill was doing his.  He went to Flint to a friends house and picked up a chock to go in the camper to hold his motorcycle in place.  I texted with Adam, and talked to Kimmy, Stacie, Vikki and Melissa today.  Jacob drove Jared here to deliver some pottery for Vikki and also dropped off some nesting bowls for Melissa to look at to pick out which one she likes or let Kimmy know if she wants a different set made for Bruce.  They are beautiful of course!   It was dark out, and Jacob was getting some of his driving hours in.  It was nice seeing them even if it was only for a few minutes.  I was happy when I heard they were home safely.  

Sun., 9/12/21 Went to church, Vikki taught Sunday School for the first time at New Life, Kimmy, Jared and the boys came to help close the pool, Thunderstorms in the evening

Eli, Jacob, Jared, Adam, and Bill (other side of pool) helping close the pool

Jacob doing his Delta College work

Pizza on the deck...Jacob, Jared, Bill, Adam, me and Eli

Eli and me...he looks as tall as me now

Some fun pictures Melissa posted of their Labor Day Weekend Camping Trip

Papa Dan, Bruce, Max, Evan and Jack going for a bike ride

Hailey kayaking

 Melissa and Evan Kayaking...Jack swimming

Evan, Bruce, Max, Hailey, Abby and Jack 

                                                                                    

 Evan ready to bat

Evan at batting practice.  He loved it so much he did again instead of going on the go carts another time.

Jack on his go cart

 Evan on his go cart

Max driving his go cart

Melissa drove a go cart too!

Hailey playing her guitar

Hailey teaching Evan how to play a chord on her guitar

 We brought our stuff in from the camper and started getting ready for church.  I went to prayer which was amazing.  Vikki went in to the Children's church room to get ready to teach.  Peyton went with her.  Hailey was in church waiting for me when I got out of prayer. I gave her a pack of gum and talked to her for a few minutes before service started.  After church, we prayed for some people, then we came home and started draining the water out of the pool to lower the level and doing things to close the pool that we could get done before Kimmy and family arrived.  They came shortly after and all worked hard and fast to get the pool closed and cover on.  They also put away table umbrellas and a swing. Kimmy and Jared cleaned the floor of the storage ends under the deck so we could put things in there on a clean floor.  We ate pizza and breadsticks on the deck.  We were all pretty hungry by the time we ate.  When Kimmy and I went to pick up the Hot and Ready Pizza's from Little Caesars, they weren't ready, so we picked up our order at Hungry Howie's.  In the parking lot by little Caesars, was a motorcycle and on the seat was a little Jack Russell Terrior laying down.  It wasn't on a leash or anything.  Kimmy told me to look at it.  It looked at me and wagged it's tail happily, but stayed right where it was.  When we were done at Hungry Howie's, we came back to Little Caesars and the dog was still there on the seat. The guy whose motorcycle it was, came out and I told him what a good little dog he had.  I told him we ride a Honda Gold wing, and invited him to come to our Faith Rider's Meeting next month.  He asked me to repeat the details and said it would be nice to ride with people.  He just rides alone.  Bill kept his no cheese, and I kept a slice of pizza for dinner, then we sent the rest of the pizza home with Kimmy.  Jacob did some work for Delta he had to get done out on the deck with his computer.  Vikki and Peyton came over to get Peyton's shoes.  They stayed for a while and we went out to the camper so she could face time Paul and show him our camper.  He is always so kind and caring.  He wanted us to pick him up in our camper.  

Kenzie face timed me and showed me her new bunnies and quail, dog cage and bunny cage she got today.  Melissa and I had a nice long chit chat too.  Kimmy called me when it was storming here.  Not bad, just rain, thunder and lightening.  I typed up a report for our CMA Rally, we had to turn in.