Wed., 12/22/21, Picked up last minute groceries for Christmas dinner, went to Kimmy's, Vikki and kids came over

Jacob, Adam and Eli in the window this morning when I stopped over

Isaac and Peyton...they had a contest to see who could open the kisses for our pretzel treats the fastest...Peyton won by a couple seconds...They sure were a great help doing that for me

Me and Peyton making more pretzels

After the kids left, I made a couple of batches of dark chocolate pretzel treats

Sweet thank you note from Paul.  He sent it to thank us for the Christmas Card all on his own.  He is such an amazing person.  We love him too!

Shannon sent me this picture of James with the card and stickers I sent him.  He was so happy to get his own card in the mail.  He's so cute!

 I went to Pat's to get some last minute groceries and then to some other stores.  Then I went to Kimmy's and dropped off some powder sugar, because the stores by her were all out of it. I dropped off some muffins too.  I had picked them up because I thought they were coming today, but Adam had a sore throat and stuffy nose, so they couldn't.  I'm pretty sure it's allergies because it gets better later in the day, but Kimmy didn't want to take any chances.  It sure was good to see the boys through the window.  I'm so happy I went, because Kimmy didn't have a vehicle, so Jared was going to come home to mail their packages.  I was able to do it for him, so he could stay at work.  He's been really busy at work Kimmy said.  I stopped at McDonalds and got an ice tea and a free double cheeseburger.  After that I dropped off some goodies at Bev and Dave's from church.  She is 91 and had Covid and was in the hospital for quite a while.  She didn't need to go on the vent though so we were all thankful for that.  She is doing good now Praise the Lord!  Her husband never got it.  I tried to drop off Marie's giving tree gifts at Life Clinic, but no one was there today.  I stopped at Melissa's to drop off some money I owed her for gifts she ordered for me.  Then I picked up a few more gift cards for Christmas and some pop.  We had yummy nachos for dinner.  I wrapped the last of the gifts and brought some down and put them under the tree.  I kept Melissa's upstairs in the closet til we go to her house on Christmas.  I checked on the gift I ordered for Kenzie because it hasn't come.  Bummer....I couldn't find it in any order, so I looked in cancelled and there it was.  They cancelled it for some reason and didn't even let me know.  Now I have to give her a picture of it and it will be here Jan 3.  Also, a package was delivered by UPS today.  The guy rang the doorbell and I went to the door to get the package he left.  The package was just the box it came in with a picture of what it was on it.  Bill was right behind the UPS truck, but it was too late.  I already saw it.  They should make sure things are boxed or wrapped in paper when they deliver.  Bill said he got another one that was just the box it came in.  Kind of upsetting they would do that.  Bill and I watched A Christmas Wish.  It's a good movie that we watch every year.  The little girl loves God so much it just touches your heart.  Love my texts from Adam each day. 

Tues.,12/21/21, Did some cleaning, laundry, wrapped more presents, Went to Melissa's, visited Marie and Roy

Evan greeted me when I got to Melissa's today

Bruce and Jack got home right after I got there

Dropped off some goodies for Marie and Roy

I did a couple batches of laundry.  Had my coffee and oatmeal, then did my morning reading.  Today's Psalm was Psalm 103.  It's one of my very favorite scriptures.  I always said the first 6 verses to Kenzie on our way to school.  She had it memorized by the time the school year was over.  I still write it out in every card I give her.  She always smiles when she sees it.  It is a great memory for us.  I got the house vacuumed and some dusting done.  I dropped off an early Christmas gift for Melissa and family.  Took some pictures of the boys while I was there and visited for a few minutes.  Evan came to the window and started waving right away, then came to the door.  Bruce and Jack got home right after I got there, and Jack came out to see me right away too.  I am so blessed with loving grandkids.  

I took a gift bag over to our neighbor across the street, then we left to go take some goodies to Marie and Roy.  We had a nice visit with them.  They sure are dear friends.  We went to Souper Cafe and picked up egg salad sandwiches and soup and brought it home to eat.  It was delicious.  I worked on dishcloths, then started a new one for Stacie.  Talked to the girls (all but Kimmy who didn't answer, but I texted with her later.)  Talked with Kenzie for a while too.  Bill and I watched the Movie, The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!  

 

Monday, 12/20/21, Happy Birthday to my Mom in Heaven, I sure do miss her

 

Thinking of my mom on her birthday in heaven.  I sure do miss her every day. She was the best ever!

Enjoying the tree while we watched the movie, The Preacher's Wife

Thought about my mom this morning on her birthday and I sure do miss her.  I found my favorite picture of her and did a face book post so it will come up in my memories each year.  I did my Bible reading and did my Advent devotion.  Had my coffee and oatmeal.  Went shopping for some last minute gifts, thinking Monday wouldn't be as busy.  I was wrong.  I ended up going to stores that were so busy and skipped the ones where the parking lots were full.  Got everything done, except a few gift cards which I am waiting to see if they are quadrupled starting Wed.  I wrapped gifts and put money in the money boxes for the kids.  

Face timed and talked with Vikki a few times.  Talked with Melissa too.  Texted with Adam.

Sunday, 12/19/21, Went to church, Quiet restful day at home

 

Selfie Kenzie and I took at the Christmas Party. She sent it to me today.

Isaac, Kenzie and Peyton with Lucy and Lenny

Kenzie and big Lenny!

Kenzie and Peyton going to spend "sister time" shopping

Starbucks fun

Peyton

Went to prayer before church, and Bill went to pray with the elders over pastor.  I helped out in kids church today.  Love all of the kiddos and had so much fun with them.  After we ate, we took a nap and relaxed.  Later I watched our online church service.  I texted with Adam and messaged with Kenzie.  Face timed with Vikki and Peyton.  Peyton had so much fun with Kenzie shopping and hanging out.  She was excited to show me what Kenzie got her.  

Vikki made a really good meal for them too!  

I talked to Marie and she is doing good.  She has to wear a heart monitor for 30 days.

She had a few problems with it, but a neighbor quite far away, just had stopped to bring a meal to Roy while she was in the hospital.  Marie had met her but they really didn't know her.  She is a retired nurse and has been stopping in to help Marie with the problems she was having that needed a medical person.  God is so good and so amazing how he sent just who she needed to look in on her and know how to help.  She couldn't get a visiting nurse to come for a week.  I talked to Melissa for a while a couple of times today.  Bill and I watched a good movie based on a true story of a Tournament of Roses Princess.  It was an amazing story of how she, her brother and sister were adopted by a Christian family.  

Sat., 12/18/21, Schaard Christmas Party at Debbie and Tom's

Travis and Kenzie

Debbie and Kenzie. Kenzie decorated this Christmas tree for her

The Schaard Christmas Crew...Jacob, Adam, Jared, Kimmy, Peyton, Eli, Shiraz, Vikki, Issac in first row...Kenzie, Travis and Rody in second row, Bill, me, Debbie, Matthew, Debbie, Sonny, Mike, Tom and Jean Rhodes

Isaac, Adam, Peyton and Papa Bill

Isaac, Peyton, Rody and Vikki

Jacob

Peyton and Debbie

Vikki and Debbie

Peyton, Rody and Isaac

Jacob, Tom, Eli and Shiraz

Mike and Vikki

Mike, Jean, me and Bill

Isaac and Uncle Mike playing bingo

Everyone playing bingo...Jared calling the numbers

Adam's spot to play bingo

Jacob, Rody, me and Bill (Rody and I had the bad corner.  We didn't win until the very end just about.)  Jared on the left calling all the wrong numbers lol.

Matthew, Jared, Rody, Jacob and Adam eating dinner 

Me, Bill, Debbie, Mike, Jean and Debbie

Kimmy, Matthew, Jared, Rody, Jacob and Vikki with some bunny ears

Isaac, Peyton and Uncle Tom

Me and Kenzie

Matthew and Vikki

Kimmy and Vikki....Kimmy has bunny ears thanks to Jacob!

Isaac, Peyton, Rody and Jean

Tom and Debbie with their gifts

Bill and I with our gift from Debbie and Tom...Debbie in the middle

Jacob photo bombing...but at least I don't have bunny ears lol!

Kimmy and Vikki with their twin ornaments from Aunt Debbie (Debbie's in the middle again)

Adam, Travis, Peyton, Kenzie, Isaac, Aunt Debbie, Jacob and Eli with ornaments from Aunt Debbie

Debbie with ornament from Travis and Kenzie they made

Debbie and Isaac

Eli and Shiraz

Jacob and Adam

Debbie with goblet Travis made

Matthew

The lights were beautiful in Frankenmuth.  It was snowing when we drove through!

Got up early to get the dip made for the veggies and then cut the veggies for the Schaard Christmas Party today.  Bill went to his Therapy Evaluation.  They said there is some improvement so that is good.  He got home and we did our reading and devotions.  We got to the party at 2.  Debbie surprised us and had Mike (our ex brother in law who we always loved and who just moved back to Michigan) and his wife Jean there.  We were happy to see them.  Kenzie and Travis were there already too.  Kenzie took my coat for me and got me a pop.  She was a very sweet hostess.  Kimmy and family got there right at the same time we did so the boys helped carry stuff in.  Debbie had her neighbor come over and take a family picture of all of us by the tree.  Then the kids all opened their ornament from Aunt Debbie because Kenzie and Travis had to leave at 3:30 to go to Omi's Christmas party.  Debbie asked me to mash the potatoes, but Kimmy and Jared always do it for me, so I asked them if they would.  It was a job believe me....Debbie asked me if they wanted to use a hand masher or a hand held mixer.  Neither one was a real good idea for all the potatoes that had to be mashed.  Kimmy spotted a Kitchen Aid Mixer and asked if they could use that.  Debbie said yes, but then couldn't find the right beater to it.  They ended up doing all those potatoes with a hand held small mixer.   They did a great job!  Debbie Minar made the gravy, and I washed the potato pot, beaters, strainer and some other dishes to get them out of the way while we were waiting to eat.  We ate and had a great chicken dinner with all the fixings.  Everyone loved the potatoes!  We all played fun games of Bingo then.  It took Rody and I forever to Bingo, but we finally did.  Everyone else said bingo lots of times.  Jared let Bill take over calling numbers.  In the end, Jared won the cover all and grand prize of $20.  We visited more and then all headed home.  Bill asked me if I wanted to drive through Frankenmuth to look at the lights which of course I said yes to.  Vikki called to see if we were ok.  There were lots of police cars and lights on the exit by 675.  I told her we were fine, then she called Kimmy to make sure they were ok.  We were happy to hear they were good.  There were two cars with very smashed front ends.  When she posted it on Facebook, she found out Kristen and her family from church was in the car in front of them and Vershon, Rody's cousin was behind them.  I sure am thankful none of us were involved in that accident.  I prayed for whoever was.