Tues., 10/5/21, Bill took garbage out, then went with Charlie, I did laundry, packed up things for the thrift store, went to Melissa's, went to prayer

Max...he sure has grown since I saw him a couple of weeks ago

Jack with his new nerf gun

Evan

Evan and Jack

Bill got up before me and got ready then took the garbage out.  Charlie came to pick him up for coffee.  Bill is a big encouragement to him while going through the adjustments of esophageal cancer.  I called Sue and encouraged her and prayed with her.  I got laundry going and then did my reading and praying, then made oatmeal and coffee.  I packed up lots of stuff I had in the camper that I no longer need.  Will be taking it to the Thrift Store.  Did a little cleaning, then went outside and washed some yard decorations I will bring in and store for the winter.  We ate our left over fish for lunch.  I went to Melissa's and dropped off the bowls Bruce's mom ordered for Bruce.  That was sweet of her to want to support Kimmy and Jared's business.  Max came out to see me, then Evan and Jack did too.  I read Melissa and Bruce the menu from the Grand Hotel we had at dinner.  Bruce knew how to pronounce more of the words than I did for sure!  When I got home, Bill was mowing the lawn.   I made Chicken Fried Rice for dinner, we ate, then I went to prayer.  Prayer was awesome.  Phyllis, who is going through cancer treatment, gave her testimony of how God has been with her, did miracles, and is growing her faith through this.  Prayer was so good.  Came home and we relaxed in our recliners and I worked on my blog and he was on his phone.  

 

Sunday, 10/4/21, Ate an amazing breakfast at the Grand Hotel, Packed up, Went to session which Gary Thomas taught

Waiting for breakfast to start

Gayla, Wes, Bill, me, Bob and Brenda at breakfast

Outside the window of the lobby

Cute joke on the screen at our morning session

Another cute joke on the screen

My sweetie and I on the porch of the Grand Hotel

Our view on the porch

Bill and I by the carriage

Brenda, Gayla, Wes and Bob walking with us on Mackinaw Island

Loved seeing the horseback riders

Bill on Mackinaw Island

We sat on the upper deck for the ferry ride back to St Ignace. (Bill, Bob and Brenda)

Bill on the ferry ride with the bridge in view

Brenda and Bob with the Mackinaw Bridge in the background

Bill and me by the Mackinaw Bridge

Wes, Gayla, Brenda, Bob and Bill at the Cross in Indian River

Loved seeing the elk in Gaylord

Beautiful fall colors where we saw the elk

I got ready,, then did my reading and prayer while Bill took his shower. We met all met downstairs, then went and had a super delicious breakfast with eggs, pancakes, amazing potatoes, many kinds of fresh fruit, and bacon.  It was super delicious. We went to our last session which Gary Thomas taught.  It was on cherishing your spouse  It was so good.  There was a 15 minute break, so Bill got a coffee and I got a lemonade and we went out on the porch and sat in rocking chairs which the whole porch is lined with.  We went back for the rest of the session, then we all walked down the main street in Mackinaw Island.  We took the ferry to St. Ignace and sat on the top deck of the ferry with Brenda and Bob.  Wes and Gayla sat below because he didn’t want to climb the stairs since he had knee surgery recently.  He wanted Brenda and Bob to get to experience the top though.   We docked, then got our luggage and drove across the Mackinaw bridge which we could see well today (even had some sunshine).  We ate at Darrel’s and had delicious food and yummy pie.  We stopped at Indian River to see the cross (largest one in Michigan).  We stopped in Gaylord also to see the Elk.  There were lots out so we loved seeing them.  We got home around 8:30.  We gave big hugs and then they left.  We sure felt like family with Brenda and Bob after spending  time with them.  What wonderful people.  Her mom, dad, sister who was married to Wes and Gayla’s son, Todd, were all killed when the plane her dad was flying iced up and crashed.  Such great losses, but such great faith these four friends have.  Very blessed to spend time together.

Sunday, 10/3/21, Got 3 1/2 hours of sleep, then got up and got ready to leave for Mackinaw Island Celebrate Your Marriage.

 

Luggage guy tagging our luggage for the ferry ride

Foggy ride...we couldn't even see the Mackinaw Bridge all day

Bill, Wes, Gayla, Brenda and Bob just arriving on the Island

Bill, Gayla, Wes, Brenda and Bob in front of the Grand Hotel

Me and Bill splitting our $14 sandwich for lunch. Gayla and Wes, Bob and Brenda...their sandwich is on the table.  We were so hungry after not eating since breakfast we paid the price and had a good laugh about it. Wes and Gayla just kept eating caramel corn lol

 Brenda with her half of sandwich

Bill and I were so tired from only getting 3 1/2 hrs. sleep after the concert and we couldn't get into our room until 4.  We took a little cat nap in the lobby.  Everyone else with us got into their rooms earlier.

Bill relaxing in our room at the Grand Hotel

Beautiful view from the porch

Bill, Brenda, Bob, Wes and Gayla

Brenda and Bob on the porch

Bill up on the porch

The new pool and pool house at the Grand Hotel

Bill and I dressed up for dinner

The Menu...We needed an interpreter, but had none...all too busy because of short staffing

My Kale Salad

Bill eating his Kale Salad

My salmon was delicious, the pea concoction was kind of yucky

Session after dinner.  We all had to be in dress clothes from 6 p.m. on.

Bill and I...We all took each others picture by this picture

Up at 5 after getting to bed at 1:30 a.m.  Wes and Gayla picked us up at 7.  Bob and Brenda, Todd’s wife’s sister came with us.  We stopped for breakfast at Big Boy in Clare.  Got to Mackinaw City at around 11:30. Walked around, the crossed the bridge to go to St, Ignas.  Bob and Brenda are from Pennsylvania and had never seen the bridge before. They didn’t see it today either. It was too foggy out.  We took the ferry over there to Mackinaw Island.  Couldn’t see the bridge all day.  We walked to the Grand Hotel and passed horseback riders, carriage riders and bicycle riders on our way. The hotel and grounds are beautiful.  Brenda and Bob’s room was ready so we went and saw it. Wes and Gayla and Bill and I had to wait for ours.  Theirs was ready nest and finally at 3:30 ours was ready.  We relaxed in chairs and took catnaps because we were so tired from so little sleep last night. We rested a few minutes in our room, then went to the first session.  Then we relaxed more and changed into dress clothes which have to be worn here after six, and went to dinner.

Dinner took almost 2 hours, then we went to hear Gary Thomas speak on marriage. He was really good.  We went to our room, read our Bibles and went to bed.  Yay.  Looking to a good nights sleep.