Friday, 8/26/22, Hailey moved into her dorm at CMA today, Made pancakes for breakfast, Jacob, Eli and I went to say goodbye to Hailey, Kimmy came over, Vikki, Peyton and Isaac came over, Kimmy and all the kids helped us close the pool. A big thank you to you all!

Eli, me, Jacob and Hailey

Eli and Hailey hugging

Jacob and Hailey doing their funny hug

Hailey and me hugging....I couldn't help but cry.  I am sure going to miss her! Love this girl so much!

Me and Hailey

Eli, Isaac, Peyton and Jacob

Jacob, Isaac and Peyton eating lunch

The kids playing and hanging out

Eli, Peyton, Isaac, Jack, Max and Vader

Jacob, Evan and Isaac

Jared and Bill working on fixing the truck

Isaac, Eli, Jack, Jacob, Max, Adam and Evan

Evan, Adam, Isaac, Eli peeking through, and Jack by our tall Sunflowers

Jack and Isaac

Adam

Evan

Adam, Peyton and Evan

All the boy cousins and Peyton

Hailey at CMU

Hailey with her dorm all organized

Her favorite stuffed animals she's loved for a long time

Bruce and Hailey

Hailey's roommate, Allison and Hailey...1st day meeting in person

Melissa, Hailey and Bruce...There is only one elevator that one cart could fit into.  They moved all of her stuff up to the 4th floor.  Not too speedy with that elevator, but they finished in time.  They were on a schedule because of the parking lot.

From the right....Max, Isaac, Adam, Peyton, and Evan.  Jack and Eli in the background on the left

Evan helping with the cover in the tiny spaces

Jacob helping with the pool cover

Instead of sleeping in, we all got up pretty early.  Charlie picked Bill up to go out for coffee. I made pancakes for breakfast, then the boys and I went to say goodbye to Hailey.  She has all of her stuff packed and Bruce and Melissa are helping her move into her dorm today.  We gave each other a few big hugs...just what I needed.  I couldn't help but cry.  I will miss her so much.  I sure am proud of her though and very proud of her for finding a good church that preaches the Word of God in truth and making plans for her spiritual growth.  Her friends she met at BayShore even said they want her to be on their worship team.  Hailey told me she wanted to do worship, then God opened the door.  

Kimmy came over to spend the day and help with the pool.  Vikki, Peyton and Isaac came shortly after.  Kimmy got us right at working on the pool.  She is such a worker and has a servant's heart, always helping others.  Everyone helped and it wasn't long before the pool was ready to put chemicals in and close.  Kimmy even made sure the pool deck furniture was put away for the winter.  She sprayed down the filter and got it so clean it was amazing.

We ate lunch, then Kimmy started working on bondo preparing Vikki's car and painting it.  It looks amazing.  Vikki was here and missed helping with the pool, but she can't do anything because of her surgery.  Kimmy, Vikki and Peyton went to pick up Adam from school, and Eli, Isaac and I went to pick up Evan and Jack from school.  Jack was so excited when he saw Eli.  When we got back, we got the pool covered.  Having so many help made it so easy.  Evan crawled in the small space between the deck and the pool and secured the cover there. Then they all had fun hanging out together and playing.  Kenzie called me and talked to me for a while.  I sure loved talking to her.  I have been missing her lots.  Jared came over when he got out of work.  Jacob and I went and picked up pizza and breadsticks.  We all ate, then Bill and Jared worked on fixing a noise by the truck wheel.  It is still making a noise.  Praying it's an easy inexpensive fix.  Melissa face timed us and showed us Hailey's dorm.

They met her two of her roommates and liked them.  Allison who will be sharing a room with Hailey was super nice and Hailey texted me later to let me know they took dance lessons together when they were 3 and 4 years old.  They were in the same recital.  It sure is a small world!  Hailey sent me a video of her dorm and it has her waving to us in the mirror. I always do that when I take a video of our hotel room and send it to the girls.  God sure answered our prayers.  Hailey said she is doing great when I asked her.  

Jacob and Adam were partners and Bill and I were partners for Skip Bo.  They beat us by about 1 card.  We couldn't believe it was so close.  We had so much fun and laughed lots.  We snacked on red licorice while we played.  We watched the movie Fireproof afterwards. It's such a great movie.  

Thurs., 8/25/22, Took Peyton and Isaac to school, Kimmy, Jacob and Eli came to Vikki's to visit her, I joined them,

 

Tallest sunflowers we've ever had

Jacob enjoying his Italian Sandwich at Tony's...It was huge...this is the half he couldn't eat and brought home

Eli, Jacob, me and Papa...we all got burgers and fries except Jacob.  His sandwich looked amazing.  I couldn't believe he would eat everything they put on it.  I was impressed.

Eli giving Kit Kat some attention.  I had to get him the squirt bottle because she got too playful and was trying to bite

Hailey having fun with Evan before she leaves for college tomorrow

Jack and Hailey giving goodbye hugs

Jack, Hailey and Evan...they gave her lots of kisses

Evan and Hailey hugging goodbye

Adam playing with his team down in Lansing.

Adam is an excellent soccer player!  I can't wait to go to a game around here.  Love seeing Kimmy's pictures and videos

I got up early and stopped to get gas on my way to pick the kids up for school.   I sure enjoy my ride with them in the morning.  Kimmy called and was headed to Vikki's to visit her since she can't go anywhere.  I packed up the avocado, chicken lunchmeat, bacon, lettuce, tomato, and wraps and headed there.  We visited, then made wraps for lunch.  Eli ate pizza that Kimmy brought for him.  He ate some bacon I cooked too.  

After lunch, Kimmy washed some glue off the walls from wallpaper that was taken down.  Vikki didn't want her to work, so she came and visited with us.  Vikki took her and the boys through the house by them that is empty.  Rody came home on his lunch hour.  I left at 2 to get Peyton and Isaac.  I loved hearing about their day on the way home.  I packed up the food at Vikki's and Jacob, Eli and I headed to my house.  They are spending the night tonight.  Yay!

We went to Tony's for dinner.  Eli hasn't gone there with us before, so we wanted him to try it.  He loved it.  Jacob loved his huge Italian sandwich too.  We all loved our burgers and fries.  We were too full for dessert, so will have ice cream later, after Jacob gets home from his Clarinet practice with some people from the Midland Symphonic Band.  Afterwards,  we had our ice cream and then played Skip Bo.   Jacob and I were partners and we beat Bill and Eli.  They were ahead and then we had a come back.  We watched War Room after that.

Wed., 12/24/22, Happy Birthday Rody! We love you! Jack's first day of 8th grade! Took Peyton and Isaac to school and picked them up, Celebrated Rody's birthday, Bill caught two Voles in the traps

 

Happy Birthday Rody! We love you!  We are so thankful that you are part of our family!

Jack looking very handsome for his first day of school.  Sure do love this grandson!

Bill, Peyton, Rody, Isaac, me and Vikki celebrating Rody's Birthday

Peyton, Rody, Vikki and Isaac

Vikki making my coffee at her new Coffee Bar.  

Eating our cake and ice cream

Isaac put on a piano concert for us.  He plays by ear and is amazing.  Great gift from the Lord since he loves worship!

Isaac and Peyton when I picked them up this morning.  Love spending time with these great kiddos on the way to school!

Bill, Peyton, me and Isaac

Big Voles Bill caught in the traps today.  They sure do a lot of damage to lawns.

I picked Peyton and Isaac up and took them to school.  They were ready and waiting on the porch.  We always have a nice time talking and praying on the way to school.  I came home and baked a blueberry pie to have when Wes and Gayla come.  Cleaned the family room too.  Also washed down tables outside and blew off the deck.  Went out on the deck and read my Bible and spent time with the Lord.  Saw a couple of orioles at the feeder, so I put new oriole food in it.  I also saw one at the grape jelly feeder, so I washed and filled it.  

I was sitting on the deck talking to Vikki, when Wes and Gayla came walking out by me with Bill.  They joined me on the deck and we all had a fun visit.  We ate pie and ice cream which tasted yummy!  My alarm went off at 2 and they left and I headed to pick Peyton and Isaac up.  They saw my car and came out to it right away.  

When I got home, Bill showed me the voles he caught.  They were really big ones!  We took a short hour nap, and when I woke up to my alarm, I was a little panicky because I saw how bright it was outside.  I thought it was morning and thought I had slept too late to get Peyton and Isaac on time because if was so light out.  Ha ha, it was just an alarm to start grilling potatoes and burgers to take for Rody's birthday.  Glad it was that.  When everything was done, we took the food and some watermelon and ice cream over to celebrate.  I wanted to make a meal for Vikki since she had surgery and have been too busy, and I also didn't want Rody to have to make his own birthday dinner, so it worked out great.  We had such a nice time and enjoyed listening to Isaac play lots of songs on the piano.  Peyton was showing me how she was making a cute bracelet.  She does a great job.    I talked to Melissa to hear about Jack's first day at school.  He loved being back at school with his friends.  I talked to Kimmy and Jacob and Eli are spending the night tomorrow night, and Adam is spending the night on Friday night.  Yay!  I am so happy to have them come and so is papa.  Melissa called me later to see if I had a picture of all the addresses I wrote down for them when we were doing graduation party invitations.  She accidentally erased her picture of it and so did I.  After looking for a while, I found the original.  We were both sure happy about that.  

Tues., 12/23/22, Peyton, Isaac and Evan's first day of school today. Jack tested positive still for Covid so couldn't go.

 

Isaac and Peyton's first day of 5th grade

Evan's first day of 6th grade

Vikki's new cabinet

I picked Peyton and Isaac up at 7:10 and took them to school.  Vikki can't drive for two weeks so I get to see them and pray with them on the way to school.  Yay!  I came home, told Bill good morning and gave him a kiss, then he was off to pick up Alex and pick up a cute coffee cabinet for Vikki.  She wasn't going to get it because she didn't want to bother Bill.  I showed her where I thought it should go and talked her into getting it.  It sure is nice now that Rody made it really sturdy and she put all of her stuff on it.  

I cleaned the living room, dining room and bathroom downstairs.  I notice spill stains on the carpet, so got my shampooer out.  It made the carpet look like new.  At noon, I picked up Turkey, Bacon and Avocado wraps for Vikki and I from Coty's.  We ate them, but got full pretty fast, so save half for later.  Rody came home for a few minutes.  It was nice to see him.  Vikki and I sat out on the porch for a while, then I came home to do more cleaning.  Stopped and picked up frosting for Rody's birthday cake Peyton is making him tomorrow.  

At 2, I went to pick up the kids.  I got out and they came running over to me.  We talked to Vikki on the way home.  She called to hear about their day.  We both were excited to hear how it went.  They both had a great day, and liked their teachers.

I made BLT's for dinner when I got home.  Love fresh tomatoes out of the garden.  

I went to intercessory prayer in the evening.  We worshipped, then Mikayla, our youth leader at church, came and shared about what God did during the Youth campout/serve/and VBS at our church.  God moved in an amazing way and the youth had an amazing worship night...two songs were planned, but they worshipped until 3 in the morning so added extra.  We prayed for Mikayla and prayed for the kids she is teaching.  What a sweet person she is.

Came home and Bruce and Max stopped over to pick up some Nesquick I picked up at Sam's Club for them.  Vader stayed in the car because Kit Kat met them when they pulled in the driveway.  Cats rule I guess lol.  They left, and I face timed with Vikki to see her cabinet all done with the stuff on it.  It looks great and sure will be handy to have.  I cut up a watermelon after that.  It sure is red and juicy.  YUM!  I texted with Adam a few times today, talked to Kimmy and Melissa too.

 

Monday, 8/22/22, Delivered veggies in the morning, spent time at Vikki's, Went to Melissa's and visited with her and Hailey,

Selfie me and Melissa took

Isaac

Peyton and Isaac playing

Evan

Evan...he used to look little in this tree...now he sure is looking big

Peyton

Peyton looking pretty with her new haircut

 
Bill went with Charlie for coffee at Tim Hortons.  I put my muck boots on and picked the garden.  I washed and bagged veggies up for Charlie, Lisa, and Vikki and then went and delivered them.  I had such a nice visit with Sue on her porch.  I haven't talked to her in a while so it was sure nice to catch up.  She is doing so good with her walking after hip surgery, but is having trouble with her knees.  Talked to Lisa for a few minutes outside too.  She invited me to a ladies outing at church, but I had too much going on.  Next, I stopped at Melissa's and visited with her a few minutes.  Then I went to Vikki's and stayed at her place for a while.  She let me do a few things to help her.  I will be glad when she is feeling good again and can do what she is used to doing.  No fun going through that.  Isaac helped me fill her bird feeders and sure was an amazing help.  I didn't have to do much at all.  Isaac played the piano for me and plays so good.  I love listening to him.  He sure has a gift.  

I grilled chicken with green peppers and onions, and warmed up the rest of the grilled potatoes from last night.  Also cooked corn on the cob.  YUM!  Bill had an elder's meeting in the evening.  I went to Sam's Club to get ink for our printer so he can print off some things for the State Rally he is planning. I forgot my phone which had the number of the ink I needed, so guessed.  I had the right one in my hand and at the last minute, I switched it for a different one.  I should have stuck with my first choice.  I have to return it for the right one tomorrow now.  I stopped at Melissa's afterwards and visited with her and Hailey.  I got to see more stuff Hailey got for her apartment.  She's getting excited now that she's texted with her roommates and went to church where she'll be going.  Her friends that go there, heard she was there and told her they want her to be on their worship team.  I am so happy.  We've prayed for God to open a door, because Hailey loves to worship.  God is on the move!