Monday, 3/20/23, Maddy and I did our mentoring, We took the table, chairs and coffee table to Maddy's, Bill hung my vacuum holder,

Corner shelves Jared and Bill hung for me.  Vikki gave me one, and I got the other one

Vacuum holder is hung.  So nice because it holds the attachments too. It only has to be plugged in when the charge gets low.  

I made chicken pot pie for dinner.  Used Lela's yummy crust recipe.

 

I picked up Maddy this morning at 8:30.  Her mom watched Brielle because Maddy can concentrate on our lesson better then.  We stopped and she got a coffee at Creation coffee, then we came to my house for me to mentor her.  It went so well and is such a good book we are using.  We take turns reading Scripture and answering questions.  Then we have heartfelt discussions.  Today, after we were finished, I read verses in the Bible to her on being filled with the Holy Spirit.  We talked about it and then I asked her if she wanted me to pray for her to be filled with the Spirit.  She did and messaged me later with a great testimony of something the Holy Spirit helped her with that she knew was Him, that hasn't happed before.  What great joy!

Bill hooked up the trailer, then drove around and we loaded the table, chairs and coffee table up and took it to Maddy's.  They were using a computer table.  So thankful we had it to give.

Bill took a nap, while I read on my book.  I worked on the computer for a while and deleted some pictures.  Made pot pie for dinner.  It was yummy.  

In the evening we watched a movie!  Yay, I just heard that Lela is home and doing well.  I sure am thanking and praising God.

Sunday, 3/19/23, Went to prayer, then church service, Fred and Ashtyn had their first baby, Relaxing day,

No pictures today, even though we went out to eat with Vikki, Rody and the kids.  I forgot to take any.  Bummer!

First of all, I want to ask for prayer for Lela, Jared's mom.  They think she has had a mini stroke and are keeping her at the hospital overnight.  I am thanking God it wasn't a major stroke and have been praying lots for her.  So has everyone in our family.  She is a dear person and friend, not to mention part of the family since Jared married Kimmy.  

Fred and Ashtyn had their first baby.  It's a boy.  They named him Jobe.  6 lbs. 12 oz., 20.75 inches long.  So adorable.

We went to prayer at church, then into the service.  It was amazing worship and an amazing message.  After church we met Vikki, Rody, Peyton and Isaac at Denny's.  They already had a seat for us which was nice.  No waiting.  We all got breakfast.  It was big and it was delicious. We had fun visiting while we ate.  Afterwards, we all went to Bed, Bath and Beyond to check out sales.  I picked up another rug.

We came home and took a nice nap.  After that, I worked on my blog, worked more on learning my computer and then we watch a movie.  Went to bed at 11:30.

Sat., 3/18/23, Birthday 74, The girls and families, Charlie and Sue and Maddy, Alec and Brielle came over for dinner and cake and ice cream. Fun time and lots of beautiful cards and great gifts

Bill at the Marine Corp Breakfast this morning

Bill and I in the back corner at breakfast.  The restaurant gave me a free slice of peach pie for my birthday.  Of course Bill told them,

Alec, Maddy, Brielle, and Bill

Charlie, Jared and Sue

Melissa, Birelle and Hailey

Max and Abby

Me and Eli celebrating our birthdays

Me and Jacob

Eli, me and Peyton

Eli and I

Me opening the new computer Bill got for me.  I was so happy.  It was funny because he wrapped it in a new rug we got at Bed, Bath and Beyond.  I had given it to Sue an hour before, but he didn't know it.  I put in back in our room until Sue was going to leave.  He brought the computer out wrapped up in that rug.  Boy did we get a good laugh out of that.

Eli, Peyton and Evan

Hailey and Abby

Melissa, Jared and Kenzie

Isaac and Peyton...Isaac was taking pictures

Brielle loved Jared...she was so good and so cute with him

Vikki, Melissa, Sue, Charlie, and Kimmy

Hailey, Jacob, and Kenzie

Alec, Brielle, Maddy, Jacob and Hailey

Melissa, Kimmy and Vikki

Jared and Brielle

Jacob

Evan and Max eating

Melissa, Jared and Vikki

Isaac and Peyton

Me and Adam

Me and Brielle

Kenzie and Vikki

Max and Kenzie with Abby...Abby just got groomed

Max and Abby...Rody in background

Hailey and Vikki

Isaac and Rody

Adam

Bill and I went to the Marine Corp. League Breakfast at Riverside.  He told the waitress (and everybody else) it was my birthday.  The waitress let me choose the kind of pie I wanted a slice of for my birthday, so I picked peach.  I took it home because I was to full to eat it there.

Everybody wished me happy birthday and of course Bill told everyone my age.

We went to Bed, Bath and Beyond after that to see if we could get any deals.  I'm sad they are going out of business!  We got some of my favorite rugs for by the doors.  The keep dirt and mud from being tracked through the house.  They are great in the house and in the camper.  We also got a decorative board that I can put letters on for different sayings, scriptures, etc.

(Of course when Jared saw it hanging in the kitchen, he had to rearrange the letters from You are so special to us, to you aren't special to us). Oh no, I didn't think about him when I got it.

Bill also got me a Dyson small vacuum which hangs on a charger.  Yay!  We decided we had better leave and get home before the kids came over for my birthday. 

We got home and I hung the sign I got, then we put the rest of the stuff in our room til later.  We both shoveled on the sidewalk and driveway.  There was only about an inch of snow, but we didn't want everyone having to walk through it.  Vikki and family came first.  Rody said happy birthday 26 year old to me and made my day and of course won the birthday greeting of the day award.  Vikki brought a couple of roasts she had browned at home and 10 lbs. of potatoes, and lots of carrots.  She had had Bill preheat the oven before she came, so it would be hot when she got here.  She put it in the oven and it cooked while we all hung out.  Kimmy and family got here next.  She brought two cakes and strawberries.  Melissa, Hailey, Jack and Evan got here next, then Bruce and Max came later.  Charlie and Sue came and so did Maddy, Alec and Brielle.  Bill didn't tell me about them so it was kind of a shock, but so nice to have them here too.  I was really concerned about there being enough food, but God multiplied it and there was enough to feed 23 people.  It was so delicious!  Kenzie made the gravy and it turned out delicious.  I have always made the gravy, so this was a real treat too.  What a great day not having to cook at all and having everything so delicious.  Eli and I sat by the cake while everyone sang, then we took our one candle out and blew it out.  The cakes and strawberries were delicious also.  One was an angel food and the other was a yellow cake with chocolate frosting.  They both disappeared by the end of the night.  All three girls were such great helps and did pretty much everything. They made me sit down afterward while they everything cleaned up too.  

Eli and I opened our gifts after that.  We gave him a card with lots of writing in it and he read the whole thing.  We gave him money so he could buy what he's been wanting.  I got a Mac computer and a Dyson Vacuum with a charger.  I was so happy!  The girls and families got me a passport for storage so I can put everything on it and not have my computer overloaded.  I tend to take lots and lots of pictures.  Thank you girls and families.  I am so happy to have it. Charlie and Sue gave me a $50 to Kathleen's Restaurant at Apple Mt.  Such a great restaurant.  Alec and Maddy got me some amazing slippers earlier in the week.  I was so thankful for such great gifts.  I sure didn't expect so much.  

We charged the vacuum right away and started charging the computer.  Everyone sure had a good time hanging out together.  Brielle sure like Jared.  It seems like all the kids have always loved Jared, probably because he is always so much fun and so caring.  Charlie seems to be doing so much better.  It was so good to see him smiling more and staying longer.  Maddy and Alec stayed for quite a while too.  I'm glad they got to get to know everybody and everybody got to know them.  After they left, Kimmy started working on transferring my pictures and things from the old computer to the passport.  Rody and Bill set up the new computer.  Vikki worked on her computer while Kimmy was working on the old one and I was working on the new one.  Jacob helped both of us with some things we couldn't figure out.  Vikki got the same computer this week.  Now we can figure things out together.  Bill is getting my other Mac Computer.  Mac's are the best!  She transferred the stuff to my new computer.  The kids watched a movie.  Jacob worked on homework upstairs.  Everyone left around 11:30.  What a fun day with family and friends.  Bill and I stayed up for another hour then went to bed.

 

Fri., 3/17/23, Went to Bible Study, Jack came and spent the day, Melissa and Hailey stopped over, Went to Olive Garden With Vikki and Iain, Watched a movie, Read my Book

Jack and Kit Kat

Papa and Jack playing pingpong on the new table

Jack playing Sky Jo with us

Hailey with her air cast on

Vicki and Iain at Olive Garden

I put my green sweatshirt on and wore the green ring Kenzie made for me today.  I didn't want to get pinched.  Went to Bible Study in the morning.  It was our last study on the book of James.  We had breakfast and visited before we started our study.  We had a good discussion on chapter 5. 

After we were finished, Phyllis and I stayed and talked for a while.  When I got home, Papa and Jack were playing ping pong.  After they were finished, I spent time reading my book and Jack was on his phone for a while.  We watched the movie Facing the Giants after that.

Jack wanted to have spaghetti'o's and meatballs for lunch so I warmed some up for him.  I made him a strawberry shortcake for dessert which he really liked.  

Then he played SkyJo with Bill and I.  It was fun.  Jack was ahead for a while, but I ended up winning. I kept getting negative numbered cards. 

Melissa and Hailey came just before we finished the last hand.  We had fun talking to Hailey about her trip to Tennessee and seeing videos and pictures.  What a wonderful group of Christian friends she went with.  So nice hearing about the fun she had.  

Melissa, Hailey and Jack left and Bill and I headed to the Olive Garden to meet Vicki and Iain at the Olive Garden for dinner.  It has always been our go to restaurant, but we haven't been able to get together for quite a while now.  Nice to be together at our special place again, but we all sure missed Kevin.  He has been gone for a year now.  The hostess sat us at the same table we always sat sat with him without even knowing it.  

I read some on my book again, then Bill and I watched a movie about Christian Persecution.  So heartbreaking to watch, but sure helps build your faith to stand no matter what.

 

Thurs., 3/16/23, Went to lunch with Lisa, picked up Meredith and took her to work, Bill picked up Jack and Evan and go t new ping pong table set up, went to Eli's concert

Cookie I ate today

Jack, Melissa, Kimmy, Me and Vikki at Eli's concert

Eli playing the clarinet at his band concert.  He did an amazing job.  They sounded so good!

 

Eli and I

Vikki and Eli

Vikki, me, Melissa, and Kimmy..you would have thought it was St. Patrick's day as we all wore green.  Eli did too!

Vikki, Jack, Eli, Melissa and Kimmy after the concert

Jack and Eli after the concert

Bill went to pick up Jack and Evan from school.  They had a half day today.  They all went to Culver's and when they got to our house Jack helped Bill lift the table to finish settig it up.

I went to Fuzzy's for lunch with Lisa today.  I had a personal pizza that was delicious.  After lunch we went to a thrift store.  We both got some greeting cards and I found a CMU sweatshirt that was cute that I got and thought about Melissa when I got it.  I didn't know about the size.   I dropped Lisa off at her house, and then went to a small shop with lots of neat things for the house in it.  It also has beautiful ladies tops for reasonable prices.  I got a wicker basket that looks so pretty.  I went to McDonalds afterwards and picked up a Happy Meal for Meredith and then went to pick her up from school.  We had a nice visit and she was so happy to have food before I dropped her off at work.  She thanked me a few times and then even sent me a sweet text.  I went home then and Melissa and Bruce were  at our house picking up Jack and Evan when I got there.  I told her about the sweatshirt and found out she didn't have a CMU one, so gave it to her.  It looks like it will fit great. 

Vikki came over and had a strawberry shortcake.  Melissa and Jack came a little later and Jack had one of my special cookies.  Melissa wasn't hungry.  We all went to Eli's concert and was it ever packed.  There were people having to stand by the walls.  Kimmy saved two seats, but couldn't save more.  Vikki and I found two other seats way up high.  Then some seats opened up behind Melissa, Jack and Kimmy so we moved there.  After the first 2 concerts were over, some people left, so we were able to sit next to Kimmy, Melissa and Jack. All of the bands did great and it was such a nice concert.  Eli did a great job playing his clarinet.  We hung out for a while and took pictures after Eli was done helping move the band's chairs.  

On our way home, we saw something running out to the road, I said deer, cat, fox, and we all laughed because of the game Taco, Cat, Goat, Cheese Pizza.  The fox ran part way in the road, then turned around and went back the way it came.  It was so cool to see it so close.  

Melissa and I visited while Jack and Papa played ping pong.  I started playing with Jack because he asked me to, but then Vikki called, so papa took my place.  Jack is getting very good at ping pong now.  We had so much fun with him!