Sunday, 2/26/23, Met Ziggy for breakfast at the hotel, went to Ogemaw Hills Free Methodist Church, snacks afterward, left for home, stopped at Kimmy's, stopped at Midland Hospital, went to see Jesus Revolution

Wyatt wanted to be in the picture with Jacob

Adam

Eli and Jack having fun.  

Jacob, Jared and Bill...nice day, almost 40 and sunny

Watched this squirrel while eating at the Riverside

We met Ziggy for our continental breakfast at the hotel.  After breakfast, we went to the 8:45 church service. Great worship and a great message.  They had snacks, coffee, chocolate milk and orange juice after church for everyone.  We said goodbye to our friends, then headed home.  We listened to our church service online on our way home.  We stopped at Kimmy and Jared's on our way, since we were close to their house.  I sure was happy to see them all.  

It was a special treat to see Jack too, since he was there spending time with Eli.  We stopped to pray for Lew at the hospital on our way home.  He is our friend who will be having 3 bypasses done this week some time.  He is only 62 and just found out at his regular doctor appt. he has heart problems and has had 2 small heart attacks.  We also thanked God for his protection over him and not having a major heart attack.  His wife Cindy was there and prayed with us.  We all had a nice visit.  Before we left, their daughters came so we got to meet them too.  

We stopped at Riverside Restaurant and Bill had breakfast and I had a Chicken Cordon Bleu Sandwich that was so good.  We were happy to get home sweet home.  Kit Kat came to greet me.  I gave her some snacks. 

We unpacked everything, called Vikki to let her know we were going to the Jesus Revolution movie so she could go with us if she wanted, then took a short nap, until it was time to go to the movie.  Mike and Katie were coming out of the movie theater when we were going in.  We were happy to see them.  Mike told us to take lots of kleenex in with us.  They loved the movie.  We saw his mom, dad an sister Ann inside.

The movie was so moving.  I did cry through it and God used it to touch my heart.  We both thought it was an awesome movie.  It was a based on a true story, and we remember all this happening.  This movie needs to be seen by everyone.  We saw Pastor Rick Webb on our way out and talked to him.  He had his son with him and 3 other kids he said were like sons. They had seen the movie and loved it too.  He had taken a large group of youth to see it on Friday in Midland, but these kids didn't make it so he didn't want them to miss out.  He has an amazing ministry to youth.  What a blessing!

We watched a couple of You Tube videos Vikki had sent us to watch which were very good too.  

 

Sat. 2/25/23, Breakfast at the hotel, last day of Seasons at church, dinner At Lumberjack’s, Ziggy passed on State Coordinator stuff to Bill

Kimmy and Jared’s sheep had twin lambs today.  They are so cute!

Our Faith Riders group at Seasons- Luis, Eva, Bill, me, Ron, Barb, Elaine, Don, Isaac, Jerdon, Michelle, Gayla, Mike, and Wes

Kathy and Jeff leading worship 

Great picture someone took of worship time

Ziggy with motorcycle in background. Last event as state coordinator.  He did a great job!

Bill leading the pledges and mission statement.

We got ready, did our Bible reading and prayer time, then went and had breakfast with Wes and  Gayla in our hotel.  Went to the church afterwards and had time of prayer, worship, and a great message from Jay.  Lots of other good stuff from our Run For the Son ministries we support.  This year CMA will probably reach the 100 Million Dollar amount that has been raised through RFS for the Jesus Film, Mission Ventures and Open Doors. There were 170 registered for this including children which was great, especially with the snow storm!

The youth put on a wonderful potato bar and chili for our lunch.  The lunch was just by donations that all went to the youth of the church. They cleared $2,000 after expenses were subtracted.   

After the closing service, the officers had their training.  Most of the rest of us helped pack up Goodies and then the guys loaded Al and Lucy’s trailer with the stuff.  

22 of us went to Lumberjack’s for dinner.  We had a fun time visiting.  We came back to our hotel room and Ziggy came to bring Bill the State Coordinator stuff he had.  Bill is going to be acting State Coordinator and they submitted an application for him to be approved by the Board of Directors to become the State Coordinator.  I am very proud of him and how he is always willing to serve the Lord.  We prayed over Ziggy as he will be taking care of his 96 year old mom with his sister to keep her in her home that she loves.  

I talked to Vikki and FaceTimed with her and messaged with Kenzie!  

Friday, 2/24/23, Breakfast at our hotel, set up Goodies, Lunch at Big Boy, Seasons of Refreshing started, went to Made in America store, Worship and Service, Pizza

Posting of the Colors 

Jane sharing a message 

Michelle and Lydia…Lydia in her CMA Kid vest

Evan’s first time skiing! He did great. His clas went to Snow Snake Sik Resort. Bruce went too.

 

Thursday, 2/23/23, snow billowed and shoveled again, Bill had VA appt. , Came to West Branch, ate at G’s, relaxed, went to Lumberjack restaurant for dinner

Looking out our sliding glass door this morning 

Me at G’s by the bear.  Reflection of window from behind Bill

Bill relaxing! We are sleeping close to the bridge tonight!

Bill snow blowed the driveways and I shoveled a path on the deck and the front porch. I talked to Vikki for a while.  Bill showered and then went to his VA appointment.  It was a good appointment.  All his pre test results for his upcoming bladder and prostrate tests were good and they told him his chances of having cancer are small.  Great news!  Thanking Jesus!

When he got home, we finished packing, had some toast and coffee, and left for West Branch.  The roads weren’t too bad, slushy in some spots.  We got to our destination at about 1:40.  We couldn’t check in to our motel until 3, so we looked for a car wash because the truck had so much dirty snow on the sides of it.  One looked too small and the other car wash was closed.  Bill decided to go in one where you wash it yourself.  Nice to have all that cleaned off.  We went to G’s pizza and each got a 7” pizza!  Yum! It was delicious.

We checked into our motel and relaxed in our nice room for a while.  In the evening we went to the Lumberjack Restaurant and ate dinner with Ziggy and Tiny.  I had the half order of pan fried cod.  It was so good.  Jay and Jane called to say they and Al and Lucy were coming to the restaurant we were at in a half hour.  We waited for them and while they ate, we had half desserts.  I had strawberry shortcake and Bill had brownie and ice cream dessert.  We visited for a long time, then came back to our hotel and relaxed more.

Wed., 5/22/23, All the schools in our area were closed, Bill had an appt., I worked lots on my Bible Study, made cookies, watched a movie

Big difference from sunshine yesterday.  Today it's snow on the windows.

A squirrel decided to eat with the birds.  Cardinal and woodpecker on the feeders

I shoveled the deck off to help Bill.  He tried to come finish,  but I had him go in because I was almost finished

Bill snow blowing with the tractor.  All the paths are what he did, plus the driveway, sidewalks and back by the shed

Baked Chocolate Crackle Cookies 

We slept in this morning.  We had about an inch of snow and it was still snowing and really started blowing.  Bill had a follow up  appointment at the pain clinic.  I worked a lot on my Bible Study lesson, and got lots done.  So good studying the book of James. 

I fed the birds early so they could eat lots before the really bad weather came.  There were so many birds eating out there.  I need to get more bird seed now.  

Talked to all of the girls!  Nice they didn't have to drive in this weather.  I baked cookies after dinner to take with us to Seasons of Refreshing.  We watched a couple of movies.  One was another Left Behind movie.  

 

So nice eating lunch and seeing the sun shine brightly in.  Cardinal is on the bird feeder out the window.

Vikki found these three things at Goodwill for me.  She always finds the best stuff.  Below are pictures of where I put them.

 

 

 

Bill went out with Charlie for breakfast.  I'm so glad Charlie can swallow better since his surgery.  He is also feeling much better after they took almost 2 liters of fluid off one lung and I'm not sure how much they got off the other.  I made a couple of eggs and some toast for breakfast to have with my coffee this morning.  I called the doctor to make an appointment.  I was able to go a couple of hours later.  I got a really itchy rash on my back from something.  She said we may never know what it's from, but ordered me a prescription for some itch cream and also had me get Zertec to take.  We are planning on going to our Season's of Refreshing for CMA on Thursday, so wanted it taken care of before then.  

I got some groceries while I was out since it looks like a good storm is coming for certain tomorrow and Thurs.  I got everything I needed from Aldi's, then headed home.  Read chapter 3 in James for my Bible Study lesson. 

Bill and I went to get gas for 90 cents off a gallon, went to the bank, went to the township hall, and then went to Midland to drop some papers off.  Vikki called me.  She found some really nice stuff for my house at Goodwill.  She is always so good at remembering what everyone of us needs or is looking for when she goes there.  She finds great deals for us.  Today was no different.  She found great stuff for great prices.   Got a car wash on the way home because after Jacob's concert last night, someone passed us on the expressway and they were spraying oil all over and our car got covered.  It looked like a cloud around them it was spraying so much.  It smelled so bad when we pulled into our garage.  I was sure glad to have it nice and clean again.  

In the evening, Bill met with Alec to mentor him and I went to intercessory prayer.  Prayer time was amazing and Bill said his meeting with Alec went great.  When I got home, Bill and I watched a movie.  We didn't like it and didn't like the swearing in it, so turned it off.  It sounded like it would be a good one.  

Monday, 2/20/23, Jack spent the day, Jacob's concert in the evening, watched a movie

Bill and Jack saw this awful accident this morning.  Praise God, the person is ok, just bruised up a little

Jack learned to play our new game today.  We had so much fun!  Another handsome grandson.

Jack and Bill playing ping pong.  Bill taught Jack lots about the game today, and took him to get new paddles which we really needed.  I played a game with Jack before they played. 

Daffodils are poking through

Beautiful sunset on our way to Jacob's concert

Jacob walking to his seat.  Isn't he handsome!

Jacob and his two friends

Jacob playing...Their songs were amazing.  The whole concert was great.  Jacob did an awesome job!

Wonderful close up pictures Bill took

 

Mr. Shepherd applauding the symphonic band.    Jacob is second on the left from the conductor's stand 

 

Me, Jacob and Bill after the concert.  Jacob got out of his tux as fast as he could lol.  

I was going to walk on the treadmill after I ate my oatmeal and drank my coffee, but Melissa called and Jack had the day off from school, so we were blessed to have him come spend the day with us.  I got my exercise playing ping pong with him.  Then I got my mental exercise playing Skyjo with him and Bill.  I was the winner, so it really gave me exercise lol.  Bill played lots of games of ping pong with Jack after that.  They wanted spaghetti for dinner, so I started making it.  Kimmy called and let me know Jacob had a concert at 7.  I called Melissa right away to let her know Jack wanted to go home instead of going to the concert.  I quickly finished dinner and made sure Jack ate before Melissa picked him up.  She visited for a couple of minutes, but we had to leave pretty quickly after she got her so she didn't stay long.  It was nice to see her if only for a few minutes though.  

Bill and I made it to the concert 10 minutes early and Kimmy and Jared were there saving seats for us.  It was sure an amazing concert with great songs and much talent.  We loved watching and listening to Jacob play.  He sure is talented.  He did great with his solo part.

We waited for a while for Jacob to come out after the concert.  He took his tux off and that's what Kimmy told me he would do.  Mom knows her boy well.  We were happy to get to tell him how much we loved his concert and playing and also got a good hug.  

We came home and watched the movie, Second Chances.  It was good.