Thurs., 8/18/22, Vikki had her surgery, all went really well the dr. said, We picked, shucked, and froze the corn, Stopped to see Vikki, went to the fair

Isaac and Peyton were sure good helpers

Isaac, Peyton and Papa helping shuck the corn

Jack and Hailey stopped in before they went to the fair.  Hailey borrowed my fanny pack to wear on the rides so she wouldn't lose her keys or money.  

Nice apples coming on our apple tree finally.  It's been 2 years.

Jacob, Hailey, Adam, Jack and Eli at the Fair

Isaac, Peyton, and Papa at Culvers

Peyton when we stopped to see her mom

Isaac when we went to see Vikki

Adam, Eli, Isaac, Papa and Peyton in the parking lot after the fair

Bill, Kimmy, me, silly Jared, and Peyton watching the auction

Eli getting ready to show his sheep for the auction

Eli showing his sheep in the auction

Jacob getting ready to show his sheep in the auction

Adam waiting to show his sheep in the auction

Hailey and Peyton had lots of fun watching Little House.  Peyton was sure happy when Hailey wanted to spend the night here with her

I didn't sleep good last night.  I prayed a lot for Vikki's surgery this morning.  Rody called and said they took her up to do it at 9:30.  Peyton, Isaac and I picked the garden.  We heard from Rody that the surgery went perfectly.  We were all so happy and thanked God.   Bill came home with the grass catcher and picked up the grass.  It worked great.  We got the corn picked and shucked.  Bill and the kids did great helping.   Peyton and I took some corn, tomatoes and peppers back to the neighbor.  We went to Culver's and ate lunch and had concrete mixers, then came home and cooked the corn, cut it off the cob and put it in the freezer.  Got the kitchen cleaned up, then delivered corn to Melissa for their family.  Also gave her some freezer packages of corn.  We went to Vikki's next, because we got sweatshirts incase the kids got cold at the fair.  We were leaving, but then Rody came out to the car and said Vikki was awake.  He had us come back in the house.  She came downstairs and we got to talk to her.  She told me the doctor tricked her.  She was talking to the anesthesiologist and couldn't remember anything after that.  She was so serious and funny.  

We dropped corn off at Maddy and Alec's next, then headed home.  Breille comes home tomorrow.  Yay!  We got home and we went to the fair.  We found Kimmy and Jared and sat with them while we watched the boys show their sheep for the auction.  Jacob and Eli got $6.00 a lb. and Adam got $7.00 a lb for his sheep.  They all did a great job.

Jared took Jacob to his music lesson in Midland and Kimmy, Adam, Eli, Bill, Peyton, Isaac and I walked through the Merchant building and the 4 H building.  We were so happy when Adam texted and said he was coming back to walk with us, then Eli did too.  We had lots of fun.  We came home, and Hailey got here to hang out.  We had some snacks and watched some Little Houses.  

Wed., 8/17/22, Picked Jack and Evan up from Kimmy's, Went on motorcycle ride to Sterling with Sandusky Chapter, Peyton and Isaac spent the night, praying for Vikki's surgery tomorrow

 

Jacob

Adam and Evan

Eli, Jacob and Jack (with Steve)

Jack, Evan and Melissa.  Jack and Evan tested negative and are able to go home.  Yay!  Bruce tested negative too!

Bill and I on our ride

Met up with the Sandusky Chapter in Bay City to ride with them

Bill, Linda, Debbie, Paul, Konnie, Gary, Jackie, Dave and Berlin at Iva's Chicken Dinner's in Sterling

Peyton and Isaac playing 3-13....Papa got home from the Marine Corp League, so we started over so he could play with us.  We have to finish our game tomorrow.

Isaac and Peyton

Evan tested negative this morning, so I went to pick up him and Jack from Kimmy's before Kimmy and the boys had to be at the fair.  They sure had fun at Kimmy and Jared's.  A big thank you Kimmy and Jared for having them stay with you to keep Melissa safe and making it so fun for them.   I heard all about their fun time at Kimmy's and at the fair yesterday on the ride home.  When we got to Melissa's, they were all so happy to see each other.  Bruce and Max came home from dog camp for a couple of hours and they were all together.  Yay!

Bill and I went on the motorcycle to meet the Sandusky chapter in Bay City.  We rode with them to Sterling and ate at Iva's Chicken Dinner Restaurant.  The food was delicious and we had a great time visiting.  There was one dark cloud we noticed, and sure enough it rained while we were eating.  It was just a short shower and then the sun came out again.  Bill and I headed home because he had to be at the Marine Corp. League meeting.  

Maddy posted a prayer request because Alec lost his job today.  Their baby is still in the NICU.  I encouraged her with Scripture and prayed for them.  She let me know baby Brielle got off the feeding tube today.  Then I found out from Bill that Justin from church got Alec a job where he works.  Talk about the Lord working quickly.  So thankful for these huge blessings.  

Vikki and Rody dropped Peyton and Isaac off to spend the night.  Vikki had us pray over her for her surgery tomorrow.  She is having a hysterectomy.  All prayer is appreciated.  We had fun playing 3-13 with Peyton and Isaac.  They sure are good at adding their scores now.  We had M & M's for a snack.  Peyton had a few chicklot chops too.  We watched the 12 Dogs of Christmas afterward.  So much fun having these two spend the night.  Sure am blessed with a wonderful family that I love so much!

Talked and face timed with Hailey and Melissa.  Evan decided to play soccer.  He didn't want to be pressured to play.  He said he tried at BayShore and wasn't good.  We told him when you are on a team and have a coach, they teach you how to play.  Jack said he wasn't pressuring him, he was forcing him lol.  We ended up praying that he would think about it and maybe give it a try and asked God to help him.  Melissa let me know he decided to play and went to practice and loved it.  Yay!

Tues., 8/16/22, Spent the day school and dorm shopping with Hailey and Melissa...so much fun!

 

Me and Hailey at Coco Loco's eating our favorite meal...Beef and Bean Nachos...1/2 order each
This is what happens when you go to the bathroom and leave your phone on the table ha ha!

Hailey shopping

Me, Hailey and Melissa in Kohls

Melissa, Hailey and I with Old Navy in the background

Read my Bible out on the deck.  It was a beautiful morning.  I walked down the steps of the deck to go turn on the pool filter, and two young deer came running by me only about 5 feet from me.  They sure scared me.  They ran back to the neighbors.  I wish I would have my camera ready.  Kit Kat didn't even move off the swing.  

I left to pick up Hailey for school shopping and lunch.  I stopped at Walmart first to get a flower pot that you can water from the bottom for Melissa's peace plant.  Mine do so good watering them from the bottom.  I couldn't find any potting soil, so will have to get some of that before we can transplant it.  I picked Hailey up at Melissa's and we went to the Mall and walked through some stores.  She only found one top she liked there.  We went to Coco Loco's at 11:30 for lunch.  We came back to my house so I could show Hailey some dishes I have so she could see if she wanted a few for her dorm.  She did, so we packed those up.  Melissa wanted us to wait and pick her up after that, so we headed to get her.  We stopped at McDonalds, and Melissa got some food and both of us got free Frappe's.  Hailey didn't want one.  After that,  we went to Target, Kohl's, Old Navy, Bath and Body Works and TJ Max.  Hailey ended up finding lots of nice things to wear and also things for her dorm.  It's always so much fun shopping with her each year.  I saw some outfits that looked like what I wore when I was in high school.  I showed them to Hailey and of course she kind of laughed at the styles.  Plaids and pleats were in back then.  It sure brought back memories of my grandma taking me school shopping.  We were sure happy Melissa could go with us again this year.  She's so much fun to have along.  We all had such a nice time.  When we got back to Melissa's, we went through everything with Hailey again and we watched her open up her Amazon packages with her dorm stuff in it.  I came home and set the live trap and staked it in this time.  It tipped the cage over last night and got the food without getting caught.  I am out smarting it tonight.  We ate goulash, then I ran Melissa and Hailey some to have.  Bill decided to cut the lawn after we ate.  Vikki, Peyton and Isaac stopped over to get her chair and get the fair money we had for them.  We always give each grandkid who goes to the fair $20.  We used to all go, but because of Melissa and Bruce camping during fair time, and Covid, we haven't been able to go.  It was nice today that Vikki and the twins, and Kimmy and her boys and Jack and Evan got to go ride the rides.  Jacob went with his friends today.

Listened to good worship music in the evening.  Amazing worship!  

Monday, 8/15/22, Went to the fair to watch the Russell grandkids show their sheep, Melissa, Hailey and I went to BayShore to visit Bruce, Max and Vader

 

Jacob showing his sheep

Adam showing his sheep

Eli showing his sheep

Evan and Jack

Adam, Eli and Jacob

Claire and Adam 

Melissa and Hailey out at the point

Hailey and Nana

Hailey and Melissa

Max and Vader

Bruce, Melissa, Max, Vader and Hailey

Peyton in her new room

Peyton and Hailey

Isaac with his treasures

Went to the fair to watch the boys show their sheep.  I loved watching them.  They did a great job.  Adam's sheep acted up, but he didn't have much time to really work with him with being at Copper Harbor, being at BayShore, then staying with us so he didn't get Covid and could go to his soccer tryouts.  Eli got 6th place and Jacob got 3rd place. This judge was the quickest judge I've seen there.  He didn't even take time to talk to the kids and give them pointers.  Really weird.  Jack and Evan were happy to see them show their sheep. Jack tested negative for Covid today. Yay! Evan had just a very light line, so probably will test negative next time. It took a long time to see all the sheep today because there were almost double the sheep from last year.  I watched all of it except when the boys showed their sheep in the group of sheep born in Midland.  I had to leave to take Melissa and Hailey to BayShore to take a heater for the tent.  I didn't want Bruce to make a trip home, where he has been so busy, and has been also having to deal with Covid himself.  Kimmy and Jared are such a great aunt and uncle to have the boys this long and still want to keep them.  What a great family we have!  I picked Melissa and Hailey up, and we went to McDonalds and used our codes to get some deals for lunch.  We ate while we traveled to BayShore.  We had a nice time visiting with Bruce and Max, walking out to the point, and playing carpet ball.  Of course, Hailey found some friends to say hi to.  I am thankful she has helped there so much and got to know people.  We left around 4.  We stopped at Vikki's on our way back to visit for a few minutes and look at the rooms she changed around.   Rody was working on a graduation book for some friends of his, daughter he took.  He does beautiful photography.  He gave me Maddy and Alec's pictures he took so I could give them to Alec today when he stops over.  Rody did a great job on them too.  I took Melissa and Hailey home, and showed Melissa how to use her new shampooer like mine.  She started shampooing her carpets and I headed home.  She really likes the way the shampooer works and how light it is.  Kimmy, Vikki and I have one just like it and it does the best job on our carpets.  

Bill and I had goulash when I got home.  We changed the old sheets on the bed because his side ripped.  We put a new set on that Charlie and Sue had given us because they don't have a king size bed any longer.  

I sat outside and read my Bible more and gave Kit Kat attention.  Watered some flowers and plants.  Then Bill and I sat on our recliners and had some red licorice for a snack.  

  

Sunday, 12/14/22, Happy 52nd Birthday Joel! We love you! Went to church, picked Joel up and went to Baskin and Robins for ice cream

 

Joel got in and out of my Prius pretty good.

Me, Joel and Bill

Happy Birthday Joel!

We got hot fudge sundaes to celebrate Joel's birthday

Bill and Joel going around the flea market in Bay City.  

Birthday cake we got Joel to share with his friends 

We went to prayer, then into the church service.  Hailey sat with us and so did Vikki and the kids.  Rody worked in the tech room.  They showed pictures of the serve week and VBS.  It was nice seeing the pictures.  Nice seeing Vikki in them this year.  She was an amazing helper.  After that, we went to help out with the kids in kids church.  The time went by so fast.  I was so blessed to have one of the kids I was assigned to pray for for Sports Camp all week.  He doesn't have a church affiliation, so I was happy to see him there.  He was so sweet and sure loves Jesus!  

After church, we went to pick up Joel.  We had left a message to see if we could take him to lunch.  No one responded, so when we got there we talked to the girls working.  Joel had just finished eating a BLT, but they told us we could take him out for cake and ice cream.  We took him in our Prius and went to Baskin's and Robins.  We were the only customers in there.  The workers were all so nice.  They got the door for us when they saw us coming and took pictures for us.  Bill and Joel got hot fudge sundaes and I got a banana royal!   YUM!

After we finished there, I called to see if it was ok if we walked Joel around the flea market they were having down by the river.  Joel enjoyed that too.  Bill and I took turns pushing him. He's always so thankful and polite.  We got him some kettle corn to take back with him.  We also stopped at Kroger and bought a cake for him to share when he got back home.

We had fun with him.  He sure is a joy to be around.  He's just like family and we sure do love him.  We took him back, and they were happy to see he had a cake to share with them.

Roy called me to tell me he and Marie stopped into a gas station on their way home from church and got gas for 3.25.  He was so happy and excited to tell me about it.  It was the same gas station, Vikki told me about where I got the great price (for these days) on gas.

It was so special of him to call and want to let me know.

I talked to Kimmy, Vikki and Melissa and texted with Adam.  We sure are missing Adam.  

Baby Brielle is in a crib now and is eating at 58%.  When she starts eating consistently at 80-90%, she gets to go home.  I can't wait for them to have her home with them.  We sure are praying.