Sun., 10/23/22, Church, Bill gave Peyton a doll from Vietnam he had sent to his cousin, Melissa Gager’s baby shower, fun with Kimmy and Vikki going by our previous homes...a little excitement too!

Melissa Gager's Baby Shower

Eve, Melissa and Liv

Kim and Melissa

Hannah, Jessica, Melissa, Olivia and Andrea

Me, Vikki, Melissa and Kimmy

Melissa sent me this sweet text saying they were naming the baby after me.  What an honor!  My heart was really touched by this.

Fire was on the ground all over when Vikki called 911

Firetruck putting out a grass fire in the woods by where we used to live.  Vikki called 911 because no one was outside.  They came right away!

Fireman dragging the hose

Vikki and Kimmy by the creek they used to play in

Peyton and Papa with her Vietnam Doll he gave her.  

Our nephew, Mark

Him with his fiancé

We went to prayer, then church.  After church, Vikki, Rody and the kids came over and Bill gave Peyton a Vietnam Doll.  He had sent it to his cousin who was our flower girl in our wedding back when he was in Vietnam.  She didn't have any children, so sent it back so he could give it to one of his grandchildren.  Peyton is the right age to be excited about it, so he picked her.  We gave Rody a big grocery bag of candy we got on our trip.  Then we all munched on another bag we brought back.  That held us over until lunch at the shower.

Kimmy came over and brought Kit Kat's new cat house they made for her.  It is so nice and looks great out on the deck.  It was warm out, so Kit Kat didn't want to stay in it today, but will love it when cold weather returns.  I put her bed and her favorite blanket in it for her.  After that, Vikki, Kimmy and I went to Melissa Gager's baby shower.  We had to turn around because we forgot the present.  Bill met us at the end of our road to save us time.  We were only 6 minutes late for the shower so that wasn't bad.  The shower was beautiful and so nice.  Great food too!  Not too much Kimmy would eat, but Vikki and I like it.  The table was filled with people already, so we sat in the room at the end of it with all of the Gagers and kids.  We played a nursery rhyme game which I won.  Another lady did too!  We tied and both only missed 1.  We played an animal game too.  I didn't do so well on that one.  We had so much fun there!  We don't get to see them very often anymore, but it's always like we've never been apart.  They have always been like family to us.  Melissa got so many nice baby things.  We played Baby Bingo while she opened her gifts.  We visited some more after everyone left and then headed for home.  

We went down roads the girls had memories of on our way home, We also went by our two houses that were on the same road, the Krause's, and the creek the girls use to play in.  One pond we were going to stop at and the girls were going to get out by, had a fire near it in the woods.  There was a bunch of dried dead branches a some dead trees by where it was.  We didn't see anyone out by it, but saw a van and cars near where it was.  There was a house there too.  Vikki called 911 because as dry as it has been, it could have spread fast.  We were happy to see them come super fast and put it out.  We drove by at least 4 times and watched while we parked by it too.  Vikki was videoing it and finally we talked her in to leaving.  She is so much like her dad.  Many other favorite spots were on our ride home too.  So much fun and so many memories.  We all had chicken noodle soup with dumplings which Bill had made, when we got home. Talked with Melissa for a while today when I got home.   My nephew, Mark, is in Vietnam and let Vikki know he is getting married and wants us to make a video to play at his wedding since we are unable to go there.  He sent lots of great pictures.

Sat., 10/22/22, breakfast at hotel, traveled most of the day, dinner with Travis and Kenzie

Jacob's last high school Marching Band performance

Country Inn we stayed in

This was a really nice room

Kenzie and Travis met us at Greg and Lou's in Owosso for dinner

Jared working on building Kit Kat a cat house

Eli helping too

They did an amazing job on it

Their kitty love it

My sister, Brenda's granddaughter looks just like Brenda when she was little

Final total for the rally

Jerry did the worship for the whole rally and did was such a great worship leader and singer

We went down for breakfast at the hotel at 7:30.  It was the best hotel breakfast I’ve ever had.  Lots of fruit and cut up fruit mixed together besides scrambled eggs, sausage and lots more.  We headed out at 8 a.m. and did lots of texting with Kimmy and had a long chat with Melissa.  Bill, Melissa and I all prayed for Jacob on the phone as Jacob auditioned for the All State band at 10.  109 pages of name’s auditioning for this.  Jacob said he did ok but was nervous.  

I watched Jacob’s final high school marching band videos Kimmy sent me.  He was awesome and the whole band sounded amazing!

We missed the exit for lunch at I Hop so snacked on 1/2 biscuit with blackberry jam which I spread on with a straw. It was leftover from Cracker Barrel last night.  We also had roasted cinnamon almonds and Oreos.  We decided to try to meet Kenzie and Travis for dinner in Owosso in the evening when we rode through there.

We sure were happy to see the Pure Michigan sign.  It’s always a welcome sight.  We met Kenzie and Travis at Greg and Lou’s at 6:45.  We had a great meal and sure enjoyed our time with them.  Kenzie took a selfie of us for me!  Sure do love this sweet granddaughter so much!  We headed home after that and talked to Vikki and Peyton on our way!  

Fri.,10/21/22, Left iron Mountain at 10:45 a.m., stopped in Little Rock at a Chic Fil A

  

Jared giving a great teaching on conflict in the morningt

Things were looking very dry and  the leaves on the trees were dried up and brown because of the drought in Arkansas

Sweet Brielle with her patch.  It will help keep her left eye working.

My favorite restaurant while we travel

Me and Bill eating our yummy chicken strips

No color on the trees.  Only brown!

Ate at the house, had our coffee, read our Bibles and then visited some.  Bill and I packed the car and then we all went to the morning service.  Awesome worship, then heard a great message from Doug South.  Said our goodbyes, then started heading for home.  We talked to Melissa and Max for a while which was nice.  I had to hang up to get directions to a Chic Fil a we were getting close to.  We stopped in Little Rock at Chic Fil A for lunch. Oooh so so good.  Bill drove until 4:30 then I took my turn for 3 hours.  Talked to Vikki for a while which was nice.We stopped in Marion, Illinois and stayed at a Country Inn that was very nice.  We went to the Cracker Barrel for dinner and had chicken tenders.  Yum!  Spent the rest of the evening relaxing in our room.    

Loved seeing a video Kimmy sent me of Jacob’s last marching band performance.  He sure is a natural and always puts time in to practice and do his very best! 

Thursday, 10/20/22, Went to rally, went on mountain ride, Lisa and Wayne came, Went to Papa’s Mexican restaurant

Beautiful sunrise off our deck this morning 

John Ogden Jr. gave a really good message in the evening
(I couldn't move this picture so it's in the wrong place)

Prayed with Eric and Stephanie...our prayer partners for the year who live in Wisconsin.  They are the best!

Ladies seminar that was really good

Evan sent me a cute picture of him and Belle

Bill driving Doug, Sue and I up the mountain.  Lots of big hills and curvy roads.

Doug, Bill and I 

Doug, Sue and Bill

Sue, Doug, Bill and I on top of the mountain

Bill by the graffiti wall next to my car

Ziggy in the Queen Wilhelmina Mountain Top where we had lunch'

Bill in his new hat!!!

Evening service

Total of people registered so far is 2073

We ate breakfast at the house, then went to the morning service.  Jared gave the message this  morning and did an awesome job.   We got done at 11 and met our prayer partners and prayed with them for each other and our families.  Then we headed out to ride with Ziggy, Doug and Sue up the Wilhelimina Mountain.  Ziggy rode his motorcycle and the rest of us went in our car.  It was in the mid 70's and sunny.  Such a beautiful ride up that mountain.  We ate in the restaurant at the top.  I got a reuben sandwich and it was delicious.  We got back and went to the How to handle Conflict seminar, then went to the last part of the women's seminar.  Both were really good.  Wayne and Lisa, our former State Coordinators, came, so we went out to eat at Papa's Mexican restaurant with them.  They moved to Tennessee last year so it was good to catch up.  They stayed at the house with us.