Monday, 10/18/21, Happy Birthday Kimmy and Vikki! Called and the also got to FaceTime with my birthday twins. Had breakfast with Ziggy, who we later foun out is our new State Coordinator. Great leadership sessions all day, with lunch and dinner served in boxes again. Evening worship and service

Beautiful sunrise this morning, but 47 degrees out

Happy Birthday to Vikki and Kimmy!

Vikki took Melissa a mocha and they celebrated Vikki’s birthday together.  Jack wanted to visit with her too because he was missing her.

I

Peyton and Isaac ready for their trip to Hartley Nature Center today!

Jay, our National Evangelist sharing at the conference 

Ziggy took this selfie with us in the background.  They just announced today that he is our new State Coordinator! He will be great and will serve the Lord well.

Happy Birthday Kimmy and Vikki.   I love you both so much and I am so thankful to have such loving, kind and godly daughters!  God gave me the best! Delicious breakfast with Ziggy at the Skyline Cafe.  We had great teachings all day.  We also heard the amazing statistics of what the ministries supported by our Run for the Son fundraiser is doing for the Lord. So thankful we are part of this ministry.  We rode our motorcycle back to our hotel, and got a face time from Vikki and Kimmy.  We talked to them for a couple of minutes while we were riding in the campground, then face timed them back when we got to our hotel.  It made my day!  We shopped at the Goodies store and used our gift certificate we were blessed with.   Picked up our boxed dinners.  It was chicken fettuccini and Bill ate all of his and liked it.  I didn’t mention cheese.  We had a good worship and teaching service after that.  Face timed Vikki when we got back to our motel.

Sunday, 10/17/21, Left our motel at 9, Got to Mena, Arkansas at around 1, Went for motorcycle ride, Went to leadership conference for CMA

 

Cotton field we passed on our way to Mena

Got to the Mountain Top Resort and unloaded the Trike

Bill at Iron Mountain where our conference and rally will be. He called to see if our room at our hotel was ready and it was

Our peaceful beautiful room 

Bill in our little kitchen area

Our cute bathroom 

Bill eating our leftovers for lunch. Yummy chicken and yummy biscuits!  Had to use toilet paper for a napkin.  Will get paper towels and plates tomorrow.

Our view out our patio door 

We left our hotel at 9, after we had our delicious hot breakfast. I talked to Melissa a long time, and we prayed for Hailey’s safe trip home from Muskegon.  She went there to babysit her little cousins.  After that we listened to our church’s live service on my phone. It was such a great message.  We got to our hotel at around 1.  It felt like home because they treat us like family here and are so kind. That why we are staying at the same place as last year.  Check in isn’t til 3, but she told us she would have someone get our room cleaned right away.  We took the trike and went to Walmart, then rode through the CMA Campground on Iron Mountain.  The campground is full.  We came back, unloaded our stuff, ate our leftovers, then relaxed.  We went to the conference at 4.  We forgot they were going to feed us.  They had meals all boxed individually for people.  Great food.  The worship was just amazing and John Ogden Sr. gave a great message.  We had eight of us from Michigan there; not as many as last year.  We came back to our motel, relaxed and then went to bed.  I listened to Hailey’s favorite worship song right now that she sent me.  I love it too! It’s called Only Want to Sing by Hillsong Young and Free.  Texted  lots with Adam today.

  

Sat. 10/16/21, Ate breakfast at our hotel, Left at 8:15, went through Kentucky and into Tennessee, and then made it to Forest City, Arkansas.

Riding through Kentucky 

Jacob was a referee for Eli’s game!  Very cool!

Jacob with the other refs

Jacob sure is a great referee and a very handsome one

Jacob

Wow, Adam is a handsome referee too

Adam was a great referee too!

Our room ..this helps me remember for next year.  I look it up to see where we stayed

Crossing the Mississippi River 

Faith Riders Color Tour. Ron, Barb, Elaine, Don, Bill, Sabrina, Kevin, Vicki, Lou, Cindy, Dawn, Mike and Wes.  We couldn’t go because we are going to CMA changing of the colors rally

 I took my shower and got ready, then Bill got up and took his.  The shower was amazing.  I read my Bible while he got ready, then he came and sat by me and read his.  We watched the weather channel to check how it was going to be today. Supposed to be beautiful out.  We ate our hot free breakfast,  which was good.  He went out to hook up the trailer and I put stuff back into the cooler.  We went through the rest of Ohio, Kentucky and got into Tennessee. We stopped at a Cracker Barrel for a late lunch.  I talked to Kimmy and family on speaker phone.  Adams soccer game got cancelled because the field was too wet.  Adam was a referee for a game, and Jacob was a referee for Eli’s game.  Kimmy took some nice pictures for me. I texted lots with my Adam.  Sent pictures of the Mississippi River when we crossed it.  Peyton and Isaac loved seeing it, and so did Melissa’s boys. Melissa said Evan is studying about how La Salle was the first to travel the Mississippi River all the way down to the Gulf of Mexico.  I just sent it to Adam and forgot to send it to Kimmy to show the other boys.  Adam texted me that he wanted to come with us because he was outside all day in the cold and wind.  He wanted to come here where it was 70 degrees.  Bill drove until we got to Forest City Arkansas, then we stopped there and stayed at at Holiday Inn Express.  No upgrade tonight, but it was a very nice room.

Friday, 8/15/21, left a Day early for Arkansas. Kimmy’s boys got their surprises in the mail from us, stayed at Fairfield Inn in Troy..

 

Ready to leave

The TV even had William on it

Very nice shower.  Even has soap, shampoo and conditioner in dispensers

Coming in from entrance

Looking from the bedroom

Couch in living room area

Bill when we stopped at Frickers to eatt

Living Area!  My cute guy is in the picture too!

King size bed

Vanity 

Vanity 

Bill came home from having coffee with Charlie and asked me if I could get ready in time to leave today.  I went into action and so did he, and we were ready to leave by 1:40.  We hit light rain in Flint.  Then it was clear until we got to Ohio and drove in a few long stretches of downpours.  We saw three accidents after it was done pouring.  One looked bad so we started praying.  We listened to worship music on my playlist, snacked, and visited on our way.  The truck is really comfortable to ride in. It ran great the whole way.  We checked out two hotels and decided to see if w

E could find a cheaper one.  I was looking up ratings on my phone when Bill went into the Fairfield.  We got a room with a king size bed because it had great ratings and the price was much better.  There were two small beds in the room so Bill went to tell him and he upgraded us to a really nice room for the same price.  While Bill was telling the guy, Adam called me to thank me for his card and surprise, then Kimmy called and Jacob and Eli got on speakerphone and thanked me.  So fun to surprise those sweet boys.  We went to check out eating at Texas Roadhouse but it was a 2 1/2 hr. Wait to went to a place called Frickers instead because it wasn’t real busy and had good ratings. Yay for cell phones.

Thurs. 9/14/21, Bill took truck in, Got my Covid booster and flu shot, Breakfast with Bill, Kenzie and Travis came over, Faith Riders meeting

 No pictures today.  I forgot to take any when Kenzie and Travis were here.  I talked to Kimmy in the morning.  Bill took the truck in because the sensors were acting up.  I picked him up after I got my covid booster and flu shot.  I prayed before I went that God would show me if I wasn't supposed to get it.  I got there and there were only two cars ahead of me and two behind me.  We all pulled in the Sears Automotive Garage as it was a drive through.  I filled out my information and looked in the review mirror just as a truck smashed into the big garage door.  I   took it as a clear message from God that I was supposed to because I was in the garage already.  If I were behind that truck, I would have taken it as a definite no.  There was no way they were getting that garage door open the way it was bent.  I felt a little weird after I got the shots.  Then I remembered I hadn't eaten anything.  When I got home, I drank a protein drink, and ate a granola bar and then headed to pick Bill up.  We went to breakfast as he hadn't eaten anything either.  I felt great after eating and had no problems from the shots.  Kenzie and Travis came over for a visit.  It was nice having them.  They left to stop at Omi's, and then were going to Vikki's to give her her birthday present.  We picked up the truck.  They reset everything.  They didn't find anything wrong.  We took it where Jared takes his vehicles.  They only charged us for 1 hour labor instead of 3.  We were thankful.  We went to the Faith Riders Chapter meeting.  It was nominations night for officers.  We can't nominate or vote because we are State Reps.  There were 4 new members there.  Talked lots to Kimmy today.  She threw me off because she had Jared's phone and Jared had hers.  Poor Jared.  I called Kimmy's phone a couple of times and texted it.  He sure was nice about my boo boos.  

Wed., 10/13/21, Bill Watched Peyton and Isaac, Celebrated Kimmy and Vikki's Birthday at Zhenders, Went to Jacob's Marching Band Showcase

We took several pictures on a selfie machine at Zhenders

Kimmy, me and Vikki....We sure had fun and some laughs

Vikki took a selfie of us with her phone to see how it compared

I loved this chicken made out of plants so Kimmy took my picture by it

Kimmy, Aunt Debbie, me and Vikki

Aunt Debbie and the Birthday Girls

Me, Vikki and Kimmy at Zhenders.  Vikki and Kimmy got their free birthday dinners.  We all missed Melissa this year.  Hopefully

Vikki took this picture because I thought the guy by the fire place and the guy on the other side of the wall looked a lot alike.  Ha Ha, it's a mirror and the three of us are in the mirror too.  A funny moment to remember.

Matthew

Shiraz

Vikki, Matthew, Kimmy and me

                               Jacob is the 2nd one to the right from the 30 yard line in front

 Got up early, showered, got ready, did my morning reading.  Vikki got here around 9, and Kimmy came at 9:30.  We had coffee and listened to good worship music on the TV.  Bill took Peyton and Isaac to Tim Horton's and met Charlie there.  We went to Frankenmuth, signed up on the list to eat lunch, then walked through the gift shop while we waited.  Vikki used a selfie machine they had and took pictures of us and a video.  We had some good laughs, but she finally got down what to do really good.  When Vikki's timer went off, we went back upstairs and waited to be seated.  They got their free meals and I got my half hot turkey sandwich with mashed potatoes and stuffing.  I got to eat some of their side dishes too.   I had $3 off my meal because I never went in March with Covid.  We had a great time and lunch was delicious.  Lots of left overs went home to Bill, Jared and the boys.  We went to Bronner's afterwards and got our free Christmas ornaments we get yearly for our birthdays.  We had them get Debbie for us so we could see her for a few minutes.  She was happy to see us and we were happy to see her.  After we left there, we went and visited Matthew.  We had such a nice time with him and loved spending time with him.  We talked about his worship concert he went to and ours.  We also talked about his trip to California a couple of weeks ago to go to his cousins wedding.  Vikki found out he was only 5 minutes from her friend, Jenny's house.  His aunt lives in the same town.  It's a small world for sure. It was nice seeing Shiraz too.  She's such a great dog.  When we got home, the girls opened their birthday gifts from us.  Then they left, and shortly after, I left to go to Jacob's Band Showcase.  Bill picked up Adam from Kimmy's van and took him to youth group.  Then he had to meet with a couple to do the CMA training.  They attend Faith Riders.  The youth pastor took Adam to Culver's and Bill took him home from there. Jacob's band did amazing and Jacob did great.  I can always spot him, because he marches so well.  All the bands did great and it was so enjoyable.  The weather was great and we didn't even need jackets or blankets.  Last year we needed hats and mittens.  It was such a fun day today.  

Tues., 10/12/21, Bill had VA appt., Jared stopped over, Vikki, Peyton and Isaac stopped over, Trimmed some bushes

Evan standing on the pumpkin

Jack standing on the pumpkin

Some rose buds I picked before I trimmed my rose bushes yesterday.  They are opening nicely and smell amazing

Rain again this morning.  Bill got up early and made his side of the bed.  I slept in 15 minutes longer.  He went to his VA appointment.  I drank my coffee and ate my oatmeal.  Put good worship music on the TV.  I did some laundry. Keeping it up for our trip.  Put some fans away.  Won't be needing them when we get back most likely.  Got Kimmy and Vikki's Birthday gifts ready.  We are celebrating tomorrow.  Yay!  We will be in Arkansas on their birthday Boo hoo.  Dropped off cards to Melissa's for Max, Jack and Evan.  Visited for a little bit cuz it was their lunch break.  Trimmed a couple of Weigela bushes when I got home.  One more to go.  This weather sure has made them grow.  They look much healthier since I trimmed them last time.  I sorted through lots of pictures on the computer.  Amazing how many were blurry back in the day.  Cameras sure have improved.  So many cute and wonderful pictures!  Lots of memories came flooding back.  We had a cute knock on the door and were surprised to see Jared when Bill opened the door.  He was meeting Vikki here to pick up an ugly Christmas sweater that Jacob needs for school tomorrow.  Vikki was still picking up the kids so it took her a few minutes to get here.  Bill looked to see if he had an ugly sweater, but couldn't find one.  We had a nice short visit with Jared, then Vikki got here.  Jared left, and Vikki and I listened to a couple of worship songs.  The kids ate M & M's for snacks.  They played upstairs for a while. Vikki left, then Bill went to meet Kevin for a little while.  He doesn't want to be president of Faith Riders any longer, so he let Bill know.  Bill already knew.  He hasn't really done much a president, so we are hoping to get someone in there who gets more rides going, fellowship and witnessing.  He works and has a wife and kids, so it isn't as easy for him.