Sunday, 3/5/23, Went to prayer, church, taught Sunday School, Went to CMA Day of Prayer, Kimmy and family came over, Vikki and Peyton came over

 

Jack and Eli watching Hopevale Church online

 

Praying with Faith Rider friend for our community, nation and Israel.  Wonderful time of shared prayer and thanksgiving

Great turnout for prayer and a beautiful 45 degree day with sunshine

Little Lydia came too and is walking so good for just starting.  Such a cute little sweetheart!

Jack and Eli in their fencing attire.  They were so happy getting it.

Papa getting in on it with his sword 

Adam relaxing

Peyton relaxing

Bill, Adam, Vikki, me and Peyton

Poor Peyton lol!

Poor Adam lol

Jacob and Peyton relaxing and matching nicely today

We played 3-13 with Vikki's new rule.  I got the "directions" card for the first time and then got it in the next hand too.  If you get this card, you get the -10 points.  The person who goes out gets 0.  If another person gets the second "directions" card, they get -10 too. Jared was the winner.  I played with Vikki and Peyton yesterday and didn't get the card once.  They both got it.  It wasn't good! 

Hailey and the Christian group she is with.  She is behind the guy in the orange and two over to the left.

Hailey and her friend in Tennessee.  Hailey got lots of sun it looks like.  

We went to prayer, then to church.  Four babies were dedicated today.  I went back to teach the K-1 class.  There were 7 baptisms today also and lots of new members.  It was Celebration Sunday.  I have to watch the church video yet.  Alec got baptized and Bill baptized him.  Bill has mentored him, is is friend and a father figure to him so it was very touching.  Sunday School was great.  We ended up spending most of the time in large group, because after the kids video about Jairus's daughter getting healed and the woman with the bleeding getting healed, she explained to the kids about when we pray for people after church.  She did an amazing job teaching them and explaining it to them.  The Holy Spirit was moving.  I was in tears it was so touching.  

After church there were cookies and coffee.  We visited some, then came home and I watched the Hopevale church service with Jack and Evan.  I made them pizza afterwards.  

I had written directions for how to heat a frozen Aldi pizza, because I always have to go back out to recycling and look on the cardboard for the directions.  Eli came out in the kitchen and saw the recipe card with directions and thought I had left.  He was messaging me because he thought I was going to put in the pizza.  He sure was happy when he walked in the family room and I was still here.  I told him not to worry, I was making it and wouldn't leave without telling him.  After the church service was over, Bill and I left for CMA Day of Prayer.  It was awesome!  Such great prayer, songs and thanks to God.  Nice to have so many come out for it.  Nice that God blessed us with such a nice warm sunny day too.  

We came home and the boys were outside enjoying the nice day.  Kimmy, Jared, Jacob and Adam came and right after, Vikki and Peyton got here.  Kimmy brought the fencing stuff they had picked up and the boys had lots of fun with that.  Bill took his sword out to show them too.  He's so cute.  We had a nice family day hanging out together.  We had fun playing 3-13 Vikki's new way.  Then we had spaghetti and a couple of the boys had pizza.  

Everyone left at the same time.  Vikki took Jack home.  Bill did his Bible reading and I worked on my blog.  I had two days to do.  

Sat., 3/4/23, Went to Frankenmuth for Jacob's band festival, picked Jacob up after his bus ride back to school, Picked up Eli from birthday party, Melissa, Evan and Jack came over, Jack and Eli spent the night

 

KitKat looked at the window with the mouse traps by it and decided not to even try to get on it.  She went and climbed up on the swing frame instead.

Jacob sent me this in the morning reminding me of his band festival and asking us to come if we could.  He told me he loved me, was thinking of me and was praying for me.  What an awesome, caring grandson!

Jacob...1st Chair Clarinet player....so proud of him!

Jacob and Mr. Shepherd having a good laugh

Claire and I....I was so happy to see her.  Her band did great too and got all 1's also.

Jacob when we walked into the sight reading room.  They had to play a song they had never seen before and they did amazing

Papa, Jacob and Nana

Jacob and Aunt Debbie

Jacob and his friends

Jacob and more friends

Jacob after find out they got all 1's for scores.  Way to go!

Pointing at their scores

Adam in is very blue room

Jack and Eli are spending the night

Breakfast and coffee, did our Bible reading, I worked on my Sunday School Lesson, read up on Israel to see ways I need to pray for Israel tomorrow at CMA Prayer Day, then got ready to go to Jacob's Band Festival in Frankenmuth.  I texted Debbie on our way to see if she could come.  There was a mix up about Eli's Birthday Party location, so Kimmy and Jared called to have us save seats for them.  Debbie had us save her a seat too.  Kimmy and Jared cut it close, but made it on time before the doors closed.  We all enjoyed the band performances so much.  They did an excellent job and Mr. Shepherd is an amazing director.  

They got a standing ovation at the end.  Wow!  Just an amazing band.  

We left to go to the sight read room and passed Claire on our way.  We were so happy to see her.  I stopped to get a hug and a picture together.   Her band was playing later.  We didn't make it to listen to her though.  After the concert, we had some refreshments and got to spend time with Jacob and take some pictures.  He sure looked handsome.  Kimmy and Jared went to pick up some fencing stuff for Eli and Jack in Indiana right after this.  Bill and I went home and he got out to stay there because Jack was coming.  I went to pick Jacob up from his school, then visited for a while with him and Adam, then picked Eli up from a birthday party, which he had lots of fun at.  We went back to Kimmy's so Eli could get his stuff to spend the night, then we headed to my house.  Melissa, Evan and Jack were already there and Jack was playing ping pong with Papa when we got there.  Melissa and I had a nice visit, then she went with me to Kroger to get milk so there would be enough for the boys in the morning.  We had to wait for deer to cross the road again.  The field was loaded with deer.  Yikes!

Kimmy called me on her way home and talked till they were almost home.  The boys had so much fun hanging out together playing ping pong and going outside to play with the saber lights.  They stayed up very late watching movies.  Bill went to bed at around 11, then I went to be at midnight.  That's when they started watching their movies.  

Friday, 3/3/23, Went to Bible Study, Kimmy, Vikki, Peyton and Isaac came over, went to write downour visions

My yummy oatmeal

Kit Kat after the mousetrap snapped by her and scared her

Bill and I at the Texas Roadhouse

Kit Kat peaking in, but scared to get up by the mousetraps

She put a paw up and touched one of the mousetraps
and got super scared so jumped down right away.  Kimmy had a great idea.  

Got up early and had my oatmeal and coffee.  Bill left to go mentor Ross.  I went to Bible Study at church.  It was really good.  After Bible Study, I went home and Kimmy, Vikki, Peyton and Isaac were already there.  Peyton and Isaac got out of school early, and Vikki didn't have to work because of the winter weather warning.  We ate yummy bagels Vikki brought and yummy cream cheese.  Kimmy brought the rest of Eli's birthday cake and Bill was having the last piece when I got home.  I had bought an angel food cake yesterday and strawberries, so we had that with cool whip on top.  We all got nice and full and had fun eating together.  

The girls and I went to the Dollar Store/Hardware store and got mouse traps to set up on the window edges outside to keep Kit Kat down.  We want her used to staying away from the windows so our screens don't torn up by her when we put them on.  The girls and I put them out when we got home.  Kit Kat touched one and it went off and really scared her.  She flew off that window edge fast.  She didn't come by them again til after dinner.  Then she just looked up, pawed one and it scared her again even though it didn't go off, so she got down from her cat house where she was peeking in the window from fast.  

After everyone left, Bill and I went to the Texas Roadhouse for dinner and to make out our Vision cards for 2023.  We are a little late this year, so happy to do that and have it in my Bible.

We watched a movie about the Rapture of the church in the evening.  Carmen was in it so that was a pleasant surprise.  People should sure be reading their Bibles themselves so they know exactly what God's Word says.  He says in Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.  

It didn't start snowing until about 7:30 instead of 4 like they were saying.  It is coming down pretty fast and the wind is blowing.  

 

Thurs. 3/2/23, Happy 13th Birthday Elijah! We love you! Went to Costco, Meijer, got gas at Sam's

 

Happy Birthday Eli! 3-2-1-0....that's how I always remember your birth date.
So thankful God gave you to us!  You are an amazing grandson who brings us so much joy.  We love you!

I didn't take any pictures today.  Kimmy is supposed to send me one of Eli and his cake.  

It was a very quiet day. I walked on the treadmill this morning.  Got two miles of walking in.  

Oatmeal with raisins, blueberries, bananas, and cashews for breakfast with my coffee.  Prayed and did my Bible reading.  Did some laundry, gave Kit Kat some attention outside, and then got ready to go to some stores with Bill.

We went to Costco first and got more steps walking through the whole store.  We bought some Starbuck coffee beans and ground them in the store.  Also got a few other things.  Bill made me a little nervous because he was having bad chest pains.  He had them two days ago and went in to urgent care at the VA.  They did an EKG and his heart is fine they said.  The chest pain may be caused by his neck problem, or he could have pulled something after moving the furniture because that's when he first started having chest pain.  I wanted to just go home, but he said it's better when he moves.  Glad it isn't his heart, but prayed for him because he looked like it was so painful.  Prayers are appreciated.

At 8:45pm I thought about the deer and decided to look and see if it was there again tonight.
It was.  I opened the blind and startled it, so by the time I got my camera it had started walking across the yard.  You can just see its back end behind the apple tree.

Wed., March 1, 2023, Happy 10th Birthday to Kody! We love you. Peyton, Isaac and Lily came over while Vikki and Rody went to Vikki's appreciation dinner

Happy Birthday Kody!  We love you!
Our Kody turned 10 today! He is sure special to our hearts and we love him tons!  Sweet, kind, smart and wonderful kiddo.  What a blessing from the Lord to be his Nana and Papa and have him as a bonus grandson.  

Maddy took this picture at Biggby's this morning.  I couldn't save it, so could just took a screen shot of it because she added it to her story instead of a post.  Brielle was such a happy girl this morning and so much fun.  I sure love her!

I didn't take any pictures today.  Bill went to meet Charlie at 8:30 and I went to meet Maddy at 10 at Biggby Coffee.  We had coffee and bagels with cream cheese.  We stayed there about an hour and a half visiting and drinking our coffee.  We are going to start reading the Bible and going over it together which I am so looking forward to.  

Vikki called me and Lily is coming with Peyton and Isaac today after school.  I am looking forward to getting to spend some time with these kiddos before they go to Youth Group at church tonight.  Will have to remember to take pictures to post afterward.

Peyton and Lily having fun

Peyton and Lily eating pizza

Isaac relaxing 

We had fun with Peyton, Isaac and Lily here.  Isaac was a big help figuring out more things with the television.  The girls had fun playing games.  They were all very good.  We had Little Caesar pizzas from a pizza kit for dinner so everyone had the toppings they wanted.  

We called Kody and all wished him happy birthday.  He had one more present to open.  I asked him what it was and he asked if we wanted him to open it and he would tell us what it was.  He's the sweetest.  Always so thoughtful and so polite.  

I took the kids to church for youth group after we hung up from Kody.  When I got home there was a deer eating out by our shed.  Four more deer ran across our backyard.  The fields were full of them around here tonight.  The one by the shed stayed there at least a half hour.  

Lots of deer in the field next to us when I came home from taking the kids to church

When I got

When I got home from picking up the kids from church there were two deer eating by the shed.  The one's been here over an hour now

Brielle had her first swimming lesson at Delta today

Tues, 2/28/23,

 Beautiful peaceful morning.  Pretty Cardinal looking pretty in the sunshine!

Hailey, Melissa and me at Buffalo Wild Wings before the concert!

Me, Melissa, Brenda and Dan

Hailey in the middle, ready for the concert to start

Hailey playing her French Horn in the University of Michigan Band.  She did a great job!

Picture after they were done playing

Hailey's Grandma and Grandpa Royce, Hailey and me

Dan, Brenda, Hailey and Melissa

Melissa and Hailey after the concert with the music building in the background

Deer along side the road a little ways before our driveway on my way home.  I had just been telling Hailey grandma and papa about how I always pray that God holds the deer back and how he has always done that for me.  The first time I started was in the 1980s when about six deer surrounded my car when I was driving and it was almost unbelievable how I didn't hit any of them  I thanked God and I have been praying and seeing him protect me from them ever since.  I had been telling them about God's protection after the concert when Brenda mentioned hoping they wouldn't hit any deer on the way home.  She had hit one not too long ago.  This was exciting to have happen the same night and see them just stand there for a long time and go back the way they came.

They took about 4 minutes to decide where they were going to go so I took more pictures

They finally ran back the way they came.

Our friends, the Wades use to live in this house on the blueberry farm.  Yesterday it was on fire.  So sad!

It was a beautiful morning, in the mid 30's with the sun shining.  Bill took the garbage out, then went to meet Ross for mentoring.  Ross ended up calling him to say he couldn't make it til later, so Bill went to Sam's to get protein drinks.  I had my coffee and oatmeal which was yummy.  Kimmy's boys didn't have school because the roads were still bad.  They got lots more snow and wind than we did.  I'm glad Kimmy didn't have to drive on the roads.  Yesterday was stressful enough for her and many others too from the pictures I've seen.

Bill came home and we did our Bible reading and study.  We watched a couple of Ozzie and Harriet episodes, then Bill left to meet Ross and shortly after I headed to Aldi, then Salvation Army Store, then to pick up Melissa at 4:15.  It was 39 and sunny out and just a beautiful day for a drive.  We got to U of M around 5:20 and picked Hailey up by the Library.  Hailey picked Buffalo Wild Wings to go eat at. She got a burger and Melissa and I each got the 3 piece chicken tender meal.  Yum:  Best chicken tenders I've eaten.  We also got the sampler nacho chips with Salsa, Guacamole, and Queso.  Yum again!  We all were sure full when we left there.  Hailey showed us how to get to the Music Building, then we took and dropped her off at her dorm so she could get ready and we went back to the Music Building to get good seats.  The wind band, the Symphony Band and then Hailey's band played.  They were all amazing.  Hailey did great and I am so proud of her.  She's going to both services at her church now so she can teach 5th graders and then in the other service, just be in the service.  She is going on Spring Break with her Christian friends to Tennessee.  

She is pretty excited about that and I am excited for her.  When the concert was over, we waited for her to finish talking to her friends, then we took pictures with her.  Melissa and I went to dropp her off at her dorm after she said goodbye to her other grandma and papa after the concert.  They had a 2 hour drive back to Muskegon.  We got to Hailey's dorm, and Bruce called asking us to drop her off at Texas Roadhouse.  Her other grandparents decided they wanted to spend more time with her instead of going home right away.  So nice for all of them.  Hailey ran her French Horn and Music upstairs to her dorm, then came back down and we took her to drop her off to eat with them.  Melissa and I headed home.  When we got to Hemlock, we used a coupon and Melissa treated us to Mocha Frappe's.  We talked to Vikki before we stopped there and then again after we were on the road again.  It was such a fun night.  Bill was sleeping when I got home at 11:15.  I went to bed around midnight.