Sat., 4/15/23, Finished weeding around the shed, then did around one side of the house, Jack and Evan came over, found Bill's phone, Vikki came over, went to Adam's soccer game

 

The really tall plant is my crown of thorns plant.    Below is what it looked like when I got it.  It was in a small plastic cup.  Sure is a big difference.

It's just amazing what a day of nice sunny weather does

Papa and Evan playing ping pong, Jack watching.  Papa can no longer skunk these boys.  They are improving all the time.

Jack and Evan were having fun outside with the light sabres, but it got too hot.  

Evan sitting across from us.  It was cool in the shade of the gazebo.

Jack and I hanging out on the swing

Bill's phone the boys found and I picked up in the middle of busy Midland Rd.

Adam with his team and coach at the game

Adam made lots of good plays

Bill, Adam and I after his game. I always wanted to be short and now I am lol.

I went outside right away this morning and got busy at finishing the 3 foot area by the shed deck.  Then I did the other side and also around one side of the house.  I finished right before the workers came to aerate our yard, plant some grass and fertilize our lawn.  The young guy working was doing such a great job and was working so hard that I went out to see if he needed anything to drink.  He had just got some water he brought.  I talked to him for a minute and told him he was a really hard worker and was doing a great job.  We talked for a few minutes, then I asked him if he knew Jesus as his Lord and Savior.  He said he did and went to show me the cross he wore around his neck, and said he forgot to put it on today.  What a nice kid.  He worked for 2 1/2 hours walking really fast pushing that big machine.  Then after that he spread the grass seed where it needed to be put.  His dad got here then and drove the machine around and put the fertilizer on the lawn. 

Bill went to coffee with Charlie.  Then they went to Verizon to check about getting a new phone for Bill.  They ordered one that will come on Monday.  When he was done, he went and  put brake fluid in Hailey's car, then picked up Jack and Evan to come spend some time at our house.  Melissa, Bruce and Max went to visit Bruce's parents.

When the boys came, I was talking to Vikki.  She told me I should see if the boys want to walk down the road and look for Bill's cell phone and get $10 if they find it.  They both did.  They walked down to the corner and back, about 2 miles, and didn't find it.  Bill walked to meet them when they were coming back.  They played ping pong, then had spaghetti'o's for lunch, then I gave them each some brownies I had made while they were on their walk.  Evan and Jack went outside for a while, but it was pretty warm in the driveway where they were playing so they came to the back under the gazebo where Kit Kat and I were sitting.  Bill came out to sit with us too.  It was cool and comfortable there.  We watched lots of birds and talked about different things.  Evan had me text Adam about his Minecraft problem.  Adam is going to help him later.  We texted Hailey to see if she was home, but she didn't answer, so we thought the boys had better get home to let a dog they are watching, Badger, outside.  When we got to the end of our road and turned onto Midland Rd. Jack said there was a phone in the road.  Evan said he saw it too and it had a bent corner.  I turned around and we went past, but missed seeing it.  We turned around again so we could look again.  We saw a metal shiny thing, but the cars were going so fast and we really couldn't tell what it was.  I took the boys home, and on the way Hailey let me know she was home.  I was wishing I had brought her a brownie, because I sent one with each of the boys.  I headed back home, and pulled on to our road and pulled over to see what the boys saw in the road.  It took a while, because the traffic just flies down that road and it's a 5 lane highway.  I finally got to the middle, and it didn't look like Bill's phone.  It was metal, was purple so I was almost sure that wasn't hs,  and didn't even look much like a phone from the view I had.  I grabbed it though and decided to take it home to see.  Bill didn't think it was his phone either and neither did Vikki.  Bill started looking on line and saw that his phone did have purple underneath and hit measured the same size.  Then I sent a picture to Rody and he thought it was.  I called to let Jack know he and Evan would each be getting $10.  I can't believe they saw this thing all smashed. It is just nice to know where his phone is and that no one can get any information out of it.  Good thing he has insurance. I told Hailey I wished I would have sent a brownie for her, and she told me Evan gave her his brownie.  What a kindhearted kid he is.  Vikki came over to drop my phone case off that came today, and wanted to go look where the phone was to see if we could find the case.  We were just going to do that.  We all went and Bill walked down one side of the road and Vikki and I walked down the other side.  I found a couple of Jesus loves you cards that I knew were Bill's.  Then Vikki found some and motorcycle cards too.  Then I found his Tim Horton gift card which made him happy.  It's bent, but they cans still use the number off it.  It had $11 on it still.  We never did find the case.

Bill and I went to Adam's game and enjoyed watching it, although I was concerned about Adam and prayed for him the whole game.  When he came out the first time, he told his coach his head hurt.  Then I saw him looking at his hands and bending his fingers, like something was wrong.  Kimmy had said he hand numbness in his hands that day during his first soccer game and his head was hurting.  After the game was over, we went to take a picture and we all laid hands on Adam and prayed for him.  His neurologist appt. got postponed until June.  I sure love that boy.  Love all the wonderful grandkids the Lord has given me.  Want to see them all healthy and doing well.  We stopped at Home Depot and got some more grass seed because Bill wanted to put more in some places. (Grass seed is super expensive these days!  Wow $69 for a 20 lb. bag.)  That was the cheapest.  When we got home, I turned the sprinklers on where the grass seed was already down and Bill put the other grass seed down.  I put the cushions away because it is supposed to rain tomorrow.  Then I made us peanut butter and jelly sandwiches which were requested by Bill and sounded good to me.

 

 

Friday, 4/14/23, Got taxes done, Bill took Max to Frankenmuth, weeded more, worked on Sunday School lesson, read Bible, went to Vikki's

 

Cute picture of Brielle Maddy sent me...she always makes me smile

Blossoms coming on our tree by the deck

Lots of birds coming to feeders today, chickadees, nuthatches, woodpeckers, goldfinches, house finches and more....so fun to sit on the deck and watch them

Kit Kat laying next to me while I read my Bible

When I got up she didn't even notice!  She a good sleeper for sure!

Peyton and Isaac entertained me when I went down to the basement 

Isaac does great with his heelies on

Abby in her cozy bed

Evan and Jack by Bruce's fire at their house

Eli made this beautiful cutting board from scratch in Industrial Arts.  He did an amazing job and I love his name on it.  

Jacob got his class ring back after having it resized....it actually fits the right finger now.
Very cool ring!

Adam and Claire went to see the Super Mario Brothers movie today

Bill worked on organizing our tax stuff I had in envelopes. I got a couple of forms he needed and more donation receipts from last year's giving.  We had our coffee and I ate my oatmeal, then left to have our taxes done.  Bill found a checkbook in the parking lot and took it in to the office and it was another guy's who was getting his taxes done.  He was very happy to have it. Must have dropped it on the way in.  

We came home and did some more research and account finding for Bill in hopes that he would find his phone.  He went to pick Max up to take him to the Military Museum in Frankenmuth and also out to eat to Hungry Howie's.  I worked on weeding and turning soil over after shaking grass off it, around the shed.  Only about 3 feet to go now til I am done.  Started when it was in the 70's, and then it went to the 80's and got too hot.  Quit and will continue later.  Did some watering too as things are getting dry around here.  Filled the bird bath too.  Sat on the deck with Kit Kat and did my Sunday School Lesson for Sunday and also read my Bible.  It was about the Pharisees, they came up with so many laws and weren't teaching what the Scriptures said.  Jesus told the disciples, the Blind were leading the blind and both would fall into a pit.  It's a warning not to just follow a pastor who isn't teaching what is actually in the Bible or we will fall into the pit with him.  A great reason to read the Bible for ourselves so we know what God's Word actually says.  Jesus covers everything in His Word.  It's just amazing.  After I finished reading, I sat and watched the birds.  What a great way to relax. 

Bill got home, and we did some more working on finding his phone.  No success.  I called Rody and he was going to be home and said to come over to see if he could help.  He's out techie guy.  We packed the computer up and headed over so Rody could help him.  I visited with Vikki.  She dished me up some pasta salad to eat which was delicious, and then gave me an ice tea.  She ate with me.  We went out to sit in her sunroom.  It's a fun place to sit and watch everything going on in the neighborhood, while visiting.  Vikki and I walked over to look in the windows of a house across the road from her.  A lady she met is flipping it.  They are making progress.  Can't wait to see it when it is done.  Another couple came to the house next door which just sold.  Vikki went to introduce herself, but the lady wasn't too friendly.  Her and her husband moved a big chair in the house.  Vikki was going to help, but didn't know from the lady's first reaction, if she would want help.  After dropping her end, the lady and her hubby finally got it in.

Melissa came to get Jack and Evan who had stayed with Vikki while Melissa and Bruce ran some errands.  They were having fun in the basement, after they got too hot playing basketball.  Melissa visited with us out on the porch.  Vikki made everyone who wanted one a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.  Jack told her they were the best and I have to agree.  Jack had two.  Then Vikki was offering juice boxes and granola bars.  She is generous and a wonderful servant who is very hospitable.  We were hoping our new phone cases would get there, but they didn't.  They were supposed to get there by 7.  We got the same cases and both of ours turned brown on the edges.  We won't ever get a clear edged case again.  

It was a fun evening.  Maybe not for Bill and Rody.  Rody spent a lot of time helping Bill.  They found out Bill is locked out of Google for 30 days.  Yikes.  When Bill got home, he paid a dollar to have his phone found, and it shows it about 7 miles away.  He tried to email the guy but the email didn't go.  The guy is 75.  Hopefully, tomorrow when Bill ch. ecks it out, he will get it back.  Stacie was sweet and posted on Facebook, trying to get help finding his phone.  They tried one of the things that was in a comment.  Thankful for everyone's help, concern and prayers.  We are blessed!

 

Thurs., 4/13/23, Walked and rode the exercise bike,Bill went to mentor a friend, lost his phone, we searched all day, haven't found it yet, I'm sharing my phone

Bill and I rode the motorcycle looking for his phone as we retraced his route

Peyton found this cute CMU sweatshirt today.  Glad Vikki sent me a picture as I had only taken one today.  

Walked on the treadmill.  Went two miles, then rode the bicycle in the basement for a mile.  Bill went to mentor Ross for church.  He went to put his phone in the trunk of the motorcycle. then decided he wanted it out.  He set it on the back of the bike, then put his helmet on and forgot about it.  He went to Tim Horton's and when he got there realized he didn't have his phone.  He came home and we went on the motorcycle retracing his route to see if we could see it.  We didn't.  He mentioned that he thought he had heard something fall when he got to the end of our road.  We searched extra good there, getting off the trike and walking around.  We went in a business there and they said they heard something about a lost phone at the sawmill, so we went there.  They didn't have it.  Came home and spent all day on the computer and also looking for the phone.  I couldn't get on the Verizon acct. because it would send the code to his phone.  Then I chatted with someone on Verizon for a long time and finally got help changing it to my account so I could change that password that he didn't have.  I had the wrong one in the computer.  

Marie called me and had me put there on the church prayer list because she was having awful back pain.  She said she was going to try to get in to the Chiropractor and if she couldn't was going to go to the ER.  I prayed with her, then posted it on our church page for her to get prayer going.   I saw an update on my page saying the pain had subsided a lot and she did get into the Chiropractor.  I called to check on her and she was doing much better.  What a difference in her voice.  She is just taking it really easy and will continue to go to the Dr. as long as it helps.

Bill and I went to another Verizon, but they can't do anything until they can get into his google acct.  Bruce was sweet and found a phone finder for 99 cents and tried to find it.  Melissa said he should join our apple I phone club lol.  We have been telling him how much we love our apple I phones.  They can be found too!  He said he is thinking about it now.  We went to Texas Roadhouse for dinner because I was spending so much time searching things for him I didn't have time to cook.  Pretty good excuse.  It worked.

 

Wed., 4/12/23, Beautiful 75 degree day but windy, went to Jim and Connie's, Worked outside in flower gardens

Bill's brother with his first grandson

Hung the bedding outside this morning.  It got so windy, I ended up having to take it off the line because some of it was blowing off.  Only had to finish drying for 10 minutes.

Big red bellied woodpecker on the feeder

Yesterday I edged and didn't see any blossoms open on the hyacinths, today they were almost all opened up.  What a difference a day makes!

Some closeups

Kenzie had an ultrasound today.  The baby is healthy.  She could see the heartbeat, but couldn't hear it yet

Beautiful sunset out our front door and through the window

 Bill met Charlie. I washed our sheets and hung them on the line outside.  I ate my oatmeal and had my coffee.  The wind picked up and I noticed a pillowcase about ready to blow off the line.  I went out and decided to take everything down.  Just as I grabbed the fitted sheet, it blew off.  Glad I had a good hold on it.  I had to put everything in the dryer for 10 minutes to finish drying.  I made the bed up before Bill got home to surprise him.  Usually we do it together.  

He read his Bible inside.  I decided to go outside because it was in the 70's.  It was too windy on the one side of the deck, so I sat there a few minutes petting Kit Kat, then moved to a chair on the other side of the deck where the wind wasn't blowing.  Did my reading, then Bill and I went to my Cousin Jim and Connie's house to watch a DVD on the History of our Country.  It was put together by the Patriot Foundation and was so interesting to see how the first thing they wanted to do was pray and have a Bible study.  President Washington spent much time on his knees praying and so did many others.  Also loved how Kirk Cameron explained the Monument to the Founding Fathers in Massachusetts.  So amazing to learn about.  We are going to watch 7 more videos.  So interesting.  I never cared for history back when I was in school so enjoyed this so much.  Wisdom comes with age.  We walked around outside with them afterward, then left for home. 

We came home and Bill and I worked on outside stuff.  I pulled weeds and turned over dirt around the shed.  I got so windy, I quit and will finish the rest tomorrow.  

Melissa and I had a nice long phone visit in the evening.  

 

Tues., 4/11/23, Bill mowed grass and took big branch off birch tree, I dug by edging in front, Vikki stopped over, Carolyn came and picked up some birch branches,

 

Birch tree with big branch growing sideways cut off.  

Edging on one side is done. Will pick up my piles tomorrow after they dry so I can knock more dirt off before throwing them in the trash

Cute Brielle....she reminds me of her mommy here.  Usually she reminds me of her daddy.

We both slept in this morning.  Bill got at taking the trash out and had me get out anything in the refrigerator that needed to be thrown away.  He started reading his Bible while I made oatmeal for my breakfast.  I also had my coffee.  He didn't want any breakfast.  He started mowing the lawn.  A little early, but I know he wanted to try out his new tractor he got in the late fall.  I tried reading my Bible outside, but it was way to windy which made it cool even though it was 63.  I came in to finish reading.  Kit Kat always come and lays by me when I'm outside.  She loves getting attention.  I went upstairs and  put all of the Easter baskets, grass, bows, packaging and eggs away and then put them in the attic.  I went outside afterward

and worked on weeding the front, and doing some edging where the grass had grown over.  Bill started cutting the big branch off the birch tree while I was digging.  When we were done, he came in and put his clothes in the washer and started the load.  Then he headed for the shower.  Vikki came over to bring me some magnets I am using to hold a garbage bag over an opening in the 5th wheel hitch that I want to keep robins out of.  The last two years, they have made a nest and had babies in there.  They were just ready to fly and leave it a couple of days before we went camping.  This year we are going earlier, so don't want to take chances.   

Vikki left, but turned around and came back because her boss, Carolyn, wanted the birch tree small branches for Christmas trees she is making.  She, Vikki, Bill and I all worked together getting the branches, cutting them, trimming them, and picking up the small left over pieces.  

Carolyn was very happy to have them.  We were happy to give them to her. I was happy to finally meet her.  She was very nice.  

I texted with Ashtyn and she sent me pictures of their new baby.  He is so cute.  Texted with my sister, Brenda, too, plus a few friends from church. Texted with Eli in the evening.  He and Jared were at our house and so was Jack and Melissa.  Bill and I forgot it was fencing night for the boys.  Kimmy had to take Adam to soccer practice so she didn't come.  Bill and I went to Old Town Drive In for coney dogs and root beer, then we went to see "Come Out in the Name of Jesus at the movie theater.  It was very good.  We felt bad about forgetting fencing night, but sure am glad we went and saw the movie.

Monday, 4/10/23, Vikki, Peyton, Isaac, Evan, Kimmy, Jacob, and Melissa came over, Jack and Eli got up at 7:30, Bill took kids to Super Mario Brothers Movie, Kids all helped with yard and getting things out that were store for the winter and putting them on the decks

Jacob, Peyton, Papa, Isaac, Evan, Eli and Jack....right before papa took them to the Super Mario Brothers Movie

Jacob, Evan, Isaac, Jack Eli and Peyton

Jacob starting the fire for papa

Jack, Peyton, Eli, Evan's yellow shirt, Isaac in the tree...Helpers working on picking up sticks in the yard.  There were lots!  Thanks kids and Kimmy (best supervisor and helper ever!)

Isaac with his Heelies on

Adam after got out of school. He was sad he missed out on going to the movie.  Papa said he would take him and Max

Peyton and Eli

Eli and Jack

Evan...he stuffed an Oreo in his mouth when I was taking the picture

Jacob

My sister, Brenda, sent me a picture of their dock today.  When we were up there a few months ago, the lake was covered with ice and they were ice fishing.  Time sure flies.

 

The boys were up early here this morning.  They went outside to play and also played some ping pong.  I made them scrambled eggs, bacon and toast for breakfast.  They were pretty happy about that.  Bill went to have coffee with Charlie.  I sat outside to read my Bible because it was so nice out and in the 60's.  Vikki, Peyton, Isaac and Evan got here first.  Kimmy and Jacob came shortly after that.  Melissa couldn't come til later.  Bill decided to take the kids all to see the Super Mario Brothers Movie.  Kimmy started working on my new flower garden, so I got a shovel and went to help her when she wouldn't quit like I asked her.  Vikki and I wanted her to just relax and enjoy her time here.  She is fast and a very hard worker.  We all three sat on the deck and visited afterwards.  Bill and the kids got home.  None of the kids would say anything about the movie when they came outside by us.  Bill had told them not to.  It didn't last long though, and Jacob told us he loved the movie.  Then all the other kids said the same thing and started telling some things about it.  

The younger kids picked up all the sticks in the yard (there were lots) and Jacob, Eli and Jack helped put tables and chairs, the gas fire pit, and glider chairs on the decks.  They were such great helpers.  Eli and Jack helped pick up sticks with Evan, Peyton, Isaac after that.  Kimmy went to supervise and ended up helping.  Thank you kids and Kimmy.  Great job!

Melissa got here.  She had to have Evan home so Bruce could take him to his piano lesson at 4:30.  We girls started a game of Sky Jo and Melissa played until she had to leave.  After she left, we finished the game with just the 3 of us.  I was the winner today.  We enjoyed our time together and had a fun day hanging out.  Kimmy, Bill and I cleaned up the banana cream pudding dessert.  YUM!  Eli sent me a sweet text before he went to bed.  So thankful for my family and love them so much.