Sat., 12/24/22...Christmas Eve! Talked to Melissa to see how she was doing, Vikki and Family and Kimmy and Family came over and spent the day,

Eli and Peyton

Hailey and Peyton

Adam

Eli while watching Frosty the Snowman

Peyton playing pictionary

Isaac

Peyton, Hailey, Adam and Jacob playing Haileys game....Taco, Cat, Goat, Cheese, Pizza.

Jared, Hailey, Adam and Jacob (Jared reading directions so he could learn how to play the game)

Beautiful snowman Vikki made for Kimmy

Hailey while we played her game

Adam, Kimmy, Jacob, Jared and Hailey...we had so much fun playing Hailey's new game.  

Jacob

Short video of us having lots of fun playing Hailey's game

I didn't sleep good last night because at around 3 the radio alarm in the living room went off.  I got up to see what alarm was going off.  I had unplugged the surge protector and plugged it back in and somehow it had set the alarm.  I shut it off, then went back to bed, but couldn't sleep.  I was just falling asleep, when it sounded like another alarm was going off.  I got up and after looking around, discovered it was someone plowing the neighbors driveway and doing a lot of backing up which caused the beeping sound.  That was at 5 a.m.  I did some praying, then went back to bed to try to get to sleep again.  I finally fell asleep at 7 and got up at 9.  Bill got up at the same time.  Hailey slept until 10:30.  I made chicken noodle soup for Melissa and family.  I had offered the day before yesterday, but she wasn't feeling like eating then, so she said she didn't want me to make it.  Last night, she told me she would like some.  I am so happy she is eating.  Hailey had a bowl of soup for lunch and so did Bill.  

Another awful cold, windy day.  Bill tried to snow blow the driveway, but it wouldn't start.  It was froze up.  He took a heater out to put by it.  Vikki, Peyton and Isaac came over and brought stuff to make chicken noodle soup too.  I helped her cut up some vegetables for it to make it go faster.  Her soup was yummy.  Kimmy and family came over next.  Not good weather to travel in, but Jared is a great driver, even though he drives a little fast lol.  We ate soup, then Vikki made mac and cheese for fussy kids who didn't want soup.  Hailey, Kimmy, Vikki, Jacob and I played a game of 3-13.  Peyton was the winner and Jacob was a close second.    

Melissa called me to say she loved the soup.  We talked several times today.  I can't wait until she is better and I can see her again.  

Jared, Kimmy, Vikki, Rody, and Bill and I played Skip Bo.  We had fun!  Kimmy and Jared got amazing cards and were the winners.  I got tons of 4's during the game.  I had 4 in a row in my pile once.  We had lots of fun though.    Next we played Hailey's fun game.  We laughed so hard.  Kimmy and I messed up the most, but got better at it after we played it a while.  Such a fun time.  

We watched Frosty the Snowman, then played Pictionary which Peyton wanted to play.  We had fun doing that too and us older people won.  What a fun day with family, even though we didn't celebrate our family Christmas!  We can't wait to celebrate on the 31st with Melissa and family.  It is supposed to be in the 50's that day too which will be a welcomed change.  Everyone helped clean up the house before leaving even though I told them to just leave because the wind was still howling and blowing, they had Christmas stuff to do tonight to be ready for tomorrow,  and I also wanted them to get home safely.  They insisted though and with everyone helping it was sure fast.  Thank you dear family!

Friday, 12/23/22, Snowing and Blowing and 7 degrees without the wind chill. Good day to stay inside and watch movies. Thankful my family and friends are all safe and warm.

Hailey spending the day with us.  We watched Silver Bells, a really good Christmas movie.

Lots of birds were looking for food that had fallen from the feeder on the ground, so I put more there for them since it was bare ground protected by the tree.  Hard to tell what are leaves that have fallen because of the high winds and what are birds

The flags are really blowing today and so is the snow

Big drift where I shoveled.  Trying to keep it cleared by Kit Kat's house and a path
shoveled to the end of the garage.

Hailey and Papa during our 3-13 game

Picture Maddy sent me of Brielle looking beautiful in her cute Christmas outfit

It was nice sleeping in this morning although I did get up a couple of times early to check on the weather conditions and also check on Kit Kat.  I went back to bed until 8:30 which is sleeping in for me.  I went out and shoveled around Kit Kat's house, food and water dish, and also shoveled a path to the end of the house.  Then I did my Bible reading.   Bill got up next and went outside to snow blow the driveway and some paths to the shed.  I told him I would just wait until the wind died down, but he always likes to keep up with the snow.  The whole top cover that protects him blew off once.  I went out to help him get it back on, but by the time I put my hat, gloves, coat and boots on, he had it almost back on.  Hailey got up and came downstairs around 10:30.  When Bill came in, I made eggs, bacon, hash browns and toast.  Hailey wanted to wait and just have lunch.  Kit Kat came to eat in the morning, but didn't get in her cat house that I had protected with a tarp which I secured really good and also put a stepping stone on top so it wouldn't blow.  She wouldn't go in it though.  I didn't see her the rest of the day, but did see footprints where she came to get a drink of water.  Hopefully I see her before bedtime.  She usually comes to eat around 9 each night.  I put a handful of food down and bring in her feeder so no raccoons eat her food.  She loves eating that handful of food.  

I talked to Melissa.  She was feeling a little weak today but she ate some protein and took extra potassium and that helped.  I can't wait til she is better.  Sure am praying for my sweet girl.  Max's cough was worse today too.  Can't wait for him to get better too.  Lots of praying going on.  

Bill, Hailey and I watched the movie, Silver Bells.  It is such a good movie with a great message.  We all liked it.  Hailey hadn't seen it before.  We ate and then we played 3-13.  Bill was ahead until the last round.  I went out fast and he got stuck with lots of points, which won me the game.  We watched the movie, The Most Wonderful Time of the Year afterward.

Thurs, 12/22/22, Hailey and Breanna left to go to Hailey's dr. appt.Took the Christmas lights down and put the Nativity away,

Eli took this picture at the school when we picked up Jacob.  It is pretty cool.  He took the next two pictures too and sent me them.  What a fun kiddo!

 

My face when I saw how Bill caulked the new doorbell.   I forgot it videos!  It sure caught my first opinion of it and recorded it.  This picture with my expression says it all lol.

The doorbell.  

Got up early so I would be up before Hailey and Brianna.  They got up about a half hour later.  Hailey ate cereal, but Brianna just wanted coffee.  They left with their coffees to go.  Hailey's appt. in Ann Arbor was at 8:30.  She texted me to let me know it went good.  They stopped at Bob Evan's before heading home.  I went to Meijer for a few things, thinking it was 7:30 and wouldn't be busy.  Boy was I wrong.  Everybody was there with the same idea I guess.  There were several bins with no food in them in the fruit and veggie section.  I got what I needed, then left. 

I talked to Melissa and she was worse.  Bruce called the doctor for her, but she has to wait until he is done with his patients to call her.  We prayed that he would give her an antibiotic, because when she gets congestion, it usually ends up with her getting pneumonia unless she gets on an antibiotic.  

The girls got back and helped me carry all the empty boxes for the outside nativity pieces downstairs.  Then Hailey had to take Brianna home, and was going to see Brooklyn.  Bill wanted me to help him take all the Christmas lights down before the big storm.  It was in the mid 30's so it was a nice day to take them down.  We got them all rolled on reels and packed away.  Bill worked on getting the generator started while I washed the nativity pieces off and packed them in the boxes.  Then I took them upstairs and put them in the attic.  I am very thankful for walk in attics.  

I put some things that I didn't want blowing around in the garage.  They are saying this is to be quite the storm/blizzard.  I talked to Kimmy a couple of times, and talked to Melissa a couple of times.  The doctor did order her an antibiotic and another medicine.  I am so thankful.  I put her on our church prayer list.  I talked to Vikki and FaceTimed with her.  Hailey came home, but I heard a dog barking like yesterday which was Bill's phone actually, so I thought he was home from helping Vikki.  He met her at Home Depot and hauled a rug back to her house for her.  It was Hailey at the door.  He had changed the doorbell to a barking dog.  Hailey called me to let me know it was her at the door, so I let her in.  We had a good laugh over that one.  

Bill and I started a couple of G rated movies, but they were pretty boring.  The other G ones we have watched were so good.  We decided to forget trying to watch a movie.  

Wed., 12/21/22, Went to Kroger, Walmart and the bank, Hailey and I went to Burlington's, Bill took James to Jays Sporting Goods, Melissa was feeling worse today,

Happy to have a fire in the Kernel Burner again

I was the first one up again.  I wanted to get my Bible reading done before I went shopping.  Bill got up next, then Hailey.  Hailey and I ate breakfast together and had a nice talk.  She left to take Brianna to her appointment.  Bill left to pick up James and take him to Jays Sporting Goods in Clare, and I went to a couple of stores and the bank.  Got all of my Christmas shopping done and wrapped.  Talked to Melissa a couple of times, talked to Kimmy a few times and talked to Vikki a few times.  Talked to Sue also and messaged Stacie.  We are postponing our family Christmas celebration on Christmas Eve because we want to wait till Melissa and family can come too.  Melissa was feeling worse today, so got lots of people praying for her.  Every one agreed that we want them to be at our Christmas even if we have to wait.  Now it looks like the weather is going to be so bad they want us to stay off the roads anyway.  I was glad when we changed it because even though I know the girls hubby are great drivers, I didn't want them trying to make it here in bad weather.  

Hailey and I went to Burlington and it was packed.  They only had three registers open.  Joel called me when we got in the car.  It was so nice to talk to him and Gayla.  He thanked us for the Christmas card and gift card.  They leave in the morning at 6 to go to Maryland to his brother's house for Christmas.  

I called the Kernel Burner store because Bill has called 3 times and they haven't come yet.  It has been over a month.  They have a part for our kernel burner.  The guy said we can still use it though.  It wouldn't ignite, so we have been using our furnace.  I decided with the storm coming, I wanted to have it going, so called to see if we could start it manually.  He said we could and told me what to do.  I did what he said and it took some time, but it finally started.  Yay!  Nice to have it going again. 

Hailey went to pick up Brianna and bring her here to spend the night.  She is going with Hailey to Hailey's appt. in Ann Arbor tomorrow.  Tonight they are going to spend some time in Frankenmuth before coming here to stay.  Hailey doesn't want to catch what is going around so she is staying with us until all are healthy at her house.  

Bill and I watched the movie, Christmas Lodge.  It was a good one.

Tues., 12/20/22, Jared, Kimmy and Adam came before Adam's appt., I picked Jacob and Eli up from school, Vikki, Peyton, Issac and Rody came over, went to see Christmas light show

Bill and Jared after they finished eating a couple of warm chocolate crinkle cookies

Chocolate Crinkle cookies for Jared

Got Christmas cookies baked

Tina from church sent me this picture of her daughter's wedding.  They went to every table and got their pictures taken and tried to finish before the song stopped.  They did it!  Ha ha, I don't know who those weird people are behind the napkins.    Well, I might be married to one of them lol!

Jacob

Peyton, Eli, Isaac, Adam and Jacob decorating Christmas cookies for us

Bill and I helping out with the cookies

Vikki, Hailey, Peyton, Isaac and I went to the light show in Freeland.  

We got our oranges from the band fund raiser today.  They are huge!  We also got grapefruit and it tastes delicious!

Melissa called me and she isn't feeling well now.  I sure am praying for her.  Evan is feeling better today.  He just has the cough left.  So thankful he wasn't sick long.  I got up early to make Christmas cookies.  I wanted to make some Chocolate Crinkle Cookies for Jared because he loved the ones I made last year.  I used Bill's sister, Pammie's recipe.  I was just putting them in the oven, when Jared got here.  Kimmy and Adam got here shortly after.  They came to visit before they had to take Adam to his Neurologist appt.  I am so happy it is finally here.  I have been praying for him, so will be glad to get him started on a plan to get him better.  They left to get there early.  Jared dropped Adam off after his appointment.  Adam needs to have an MRI.  Thankful they are going to figure out what is the problem and what to do about it.  At 2, I left to go pick up Eli and Jacob from school.   We came home and Vikki and the kids were here.  Kimmy got here shortly after.  I made goulash and we all ate, then we decorated Christmas cookies.  Kimmy and Vikki frosted them, and the kids all decorated them.  Bill and I helped with a few for a photo shoot.  Rody stopped over.  Vikki warmed up the rest of the goulash for him.   He was really blessed a lot at work by people for Christmas so was very happy.  I sure am happy for him.  Kimmy and the boys left because she wanted to get home before dark.  

Vikki, Hailey, Peyton, Issac and I went to the light show in Freeland.  It was beautiful and the lights were amazing.  Vikki and the kids left, then Hailey and I hung out for a while and I made her some food.  Bill and I watched a good Christmas movie.

 

Monday, 12/19/22, Went to Kroger, went out to lunch with Wes and Gayla, watched a Christmas movie

Hailey in her new sweatshirt she got for her birthday

There was a fire in Hemlock last night at the elevator.  The corn caught on fire.  29 fire departments were there to fight the fire.  This was it today.  

 

I got up early and got my Christmas cards ready to send out.  Bill went for coffee with Charlie.  Hailey got up around 10.  We hung out for a while, then Hailey went to hang out with her friends and I went to Kroger to get some gift cards to put in a few of the cards I was sending out.  I had to hurry and get back so we could meet Wes and Gayla at Riverside for lunch.  We had such a great time!  They are just the best friends and they're so thoughtful and kind.  They got us a beautiful gourd Nativity ornament from Costa Maya when they were on their cruise.  They also got us a box of fancy chocolates individually wrapped.  

Hailey was at our house when we got home.  We hung out for a while, then Hailey went upstairs for a while.  I talked to my Best Friend Vikki for a long time.  We haven't talked in quite a while so it was so good getting to talk to her. 

We ate, then watched the movie A Christmas Wish and had popcorn, chips and M & M's.  We each picked which one we wanted for our snack.  The movie was really good! 

After the movie, I asked Hailey if she ate her chili.  She said she forgot.  I asked her if she wanted me to heat it up for her, but she said she would.  She asked me where a microwave cover was.  I told her I would show her so she would know the next time.  I showed her and got a cover for her.  Then the rest of the covers fell somehow, hit a plastic cup in the cupboard which fell also.  We didn't quite see what happened because it happened so fast, but the cup hit the glass bowl of chili Hailey was going to heat up and flipped her bowl upside down on the cupboard with all of the chili contained under it.  We scooted it over a couple of inches onto a heavy duty paper plate and then dumped all the chili back into her bowl.  It was amazing how the bowl didn't break on the cupboard or fall off the cupboard and break.  It was also amazing how the chili just stayed neatly under the bowl.  We sure did laugh, and I sure was happy there wasn't a big chili mess to pick up.  Thank you Lord!

 

Sunday, 12/18/22, Went to prayer, then helped with the kids Christmas party in Sunday School, Hailey, and Vikki and family were at church too, Jacob played Christmas Music with the clarinet ensemble of the Midland Concert BandHailey spent the night

Me learning how to Macrame a wall hanging

My finished project with lots of help from Vikki

It looks nice having on the wall

Peyton and Isaac

They were big helps and unwrapped a big bowl of kisses so I could make my candy.  They sure saved me lots of time

Bill was ready for church before me for a change.  We did leave right on time though.  I went back to prayer.  When I came into church, Hailey, Vikki, Peyton and Isaac were all sitting with Bill.  Rody was working in the sound/video room.  I went back and helped with the kids Christmas party.  The kids sure had lots of fun.  There were lots of games they had to move to, so it was really hard to get my K-1st graders to listen good with all of the other kids moving around.  They had fun even though they missed some of the directions though. They really liked the nativity bingo and also the game where they toss the air filled rings and try to get a ring around the reindeer antlers.  They had cupcakes, then got little Christmas activity books, crayons, a cross necklace to color and make, and a bookmark.  A couple of the boys wanted me to play tic tack toe in their activity books with them.  Time went really fast with all of that going on.  

After church, we went to Olive Garden with Diane and James.  Melissa let me know Evan wasn't feeling good, so we could pray for him.  He is so good about wearing a face mask to protect his mom and so kind.  I sure am praying he feels better really fast and that no one else catches it.  As soon as he woke up and felt sick, he put a face mask on.  What a great kid!  There was hardly anyone at the Olive Garden when we got there, but by the time we were ready to leave it was filling up.  I had lasagna and Bill had spaghetti.  It was delicious!  We both brought some home.  I have at least two more meals I will be eating from those leftovers, and Bill has one.

When we got home, I called Vikki because Bill wanted to hook up our new video doorbell and modem, and I needed some help with my new phone set up.  What would take us days to do, Rody does in a very short time.  He got us all set up.  We are so thankful for him and how he always comes to help us with techy stuff.  He's amazing.  Vikki, Peyton and Isaac came too.  Vikki taught me to Macrame and we had fun working together on my first project.  Vikki is a good teacher and a great help.  It turned out so nice and looks so good on my wall.  Thank you Vikki.  Thanks to Peyton and Isaac for unwrapping a big bowl of kisses for my pretzel candies I am making tonight.  What a big help they were!

Kimmy sent two videos of Jacob playing with the Clarinet Ensemble of the Midland Concert Band, and they were absolutely amazing.  I never knew clarinets could sound so good together without other instruments.  Jacob did an awesome job!  We were all so proud of him when we watched the video.  

After everyone left, I made the pretzel kisses candy with M & M's.  Hailey came around 8 to spend the night.  I watched the video from our new doorbell of Vikki and family leaving and it was cute because Peyton turned around and waved.  Hailey was cute when she came too because she was looking right into it.  Fun kids!  Bill, Hailey and I watched a movie.   Hailey ate some of her dirt that was left over from the party last night.  She took a shower, then we all just sat around relaxing.