Sat., 9/16/23, Went to Faith Rider's meeting and breakfast, Rode to check out park, then to Hemlock for Sawdust Days,

Barb, Cindy, me, Don, Elaine, Mike and Jim leaving Bringer Inn

This picture is same people only Bill is in it and I took it

Jerdon and Lydia

Lydia was so cute at our meeting today.  She is almost 2 and is so smart and fun!

Bill took a picture of the bikes and me taking a picture of the CMA Booth Faith Riders put up

Me, Elaine, Jim, Don and Ron

Bill took our selfie...Don in background

Elaine, Jim, Don and Rod

Wes, Gayla, Ron and Bill

Me and Bill...we went out to the camper to put clean sheets on the bed and decided to play 3-13.  He was ahead and in the negatives and I was very positive up to the Jack round, then I started getting pat hands winning hands and ended up beating him by a lot!

Evan's class...Evan in in the middle in back of the kid in the middle that's sitting

Got up early and got ready, put many layers of clothing on, made Bill's coffee, then left on the motorcycle to go to Faith Rider's Chapter meeting.  It was 50 degrees when we left.  I stayed nice and warm with my layers and the heated seats.  There were quite a few missing as they were at Sawdust Days setting up the booth and working it.  The meeting went well.  Cindy led it because her husband Lew who is the president, lost his voice.  She did a great job and so did everyone else.  Elaine shared her testimony which was amazing and then gave the devotion.  Bill shared some about how we have to get back to doing more ministry for the Lord when we get together.   Lydia was there and was so sweet and so cute.  Her mom was at a Ladies retreat, so she was with daddy.  Jerdon is an amazing dad.  We left and 5 of us rode to the park where Seek and Ride is going to be to check it out.  It is a very nice spot to have it.   We all agreed on that.  It will be to raise money for Run for the Son.   

We went to Sawdust Days in Hemlock after that.  We found the CMA booth and Wes, Gayla and Ron manning it.  We talked to a friend of Hailey's grandpa who had been in Vietnam with Bill and was only a couple of miles away from him there.  Hailey had brought this friend home with her this summer and ended up finding out we knew her grandparents.  She sent a picture to Bill of them with her grandpa.  It sure is a small world.  

We walked around and talked to people we knew who had cars in the car show.  Bill saw some guys he used to work with and we saw Sherry and Bob and talked to them for a while.  We hung out at the booth for a while, then walked around trying to find Peyton as Vikki called and said she was going there with Morgan and her family.  We didn't see her anywhere, but there were lots of people there and it was a big area.  We did run into Stacie and Kody, and talked to them for a while.  We went back to the booth and sat for a while, and talked to people.  On our way home, we stopped and picked Vikki's sweatshirt for her that Stacie made.  We visited for a few minutes then came home.  I talked to Melissa for a while.  Her foot is doing a little better.  I sure was happy to hear that.  

The return address rubber stamp I ordered came so I tried it on the thank you cards I am sending out and it worked great.  I am going to love having that. 

We cut down all the raspberries and loaded garbage cans with them. Then we cleaned up and went out to put the clean sheets on the bed in the camper.  We had fun playing 3-13!  

Friday, 9/15/23, Worked on thank you cards, weeded around back of house, Walked Rail Trail with Hailey and Melissa, Bruce and Max came over, went to Vikki and Rody's for chili

Hailey, Melissa and Badger

Me pushing Abby her her new doggie stroller

Hailey doing a .5 picture of us.  She always does this!

Hailey pushing Abby

Abby loves looking ut the window of her stroller

Melissa, Badger, Me and Abby (looking through the window)

Ha Ha Abby thought she needed to see better so she stuck her head up

Hailey took a picture of this Praying Mantis...pretty cool looking!

So content in her stroller.  She is 14 years old so deserves this special care.

 

Abby kept her eye on Melissa and I on the way back to the car

Max doing some target shooting with Papa and Bruce watching

Vikki, Peyton, Isaac, Rody, me and Bill eating our delicious chili Vikki made and hotdogs Rody made.  Thank you guys!

Worked on thank you notes in the morning and did some weeding around the back of the house.  Melissa, Hailey and I went to the rail trail and walked a couple of miles.  We had fun and so did the dogs.  Melissa had problems with her foot a couple of times so we rested.  We probably walked too fast and to far because after she was home for a while it really started hurting her.  Prayers are appreciated for my sweet daughter.  It was so nice getting to see Hailey and us three hanging out together.  After we got home, we decided to go pick up Kenzie's invitations for Kimmy and I to Kenzie's shower from Melissa's.  Then Vikki called and wanted to know what we were doing.  I told her we were going to get Coney Dogs and she said she just made lots of chili and it was almost done so we should come eat with them.  

We did and it was so good.  Yum!  Rody made hotdogs on the grill too.  They always are so hospitable.  She made me the best coffee with cinnamon in it too.  Vikki and I sat out in the sunroom and drank our coffee.  It was so relaxing.  When we were done, we went in the family room with the guys and kids.  We watched a show Peyton really likes.  We left after 8 and headed home.  Got all my motorcycle stuff ready for our early morning cool ride.

 

Thurs., 9/14/23, Met Maddy and Brielle at Bob Evans, Went to Ann Arbor with Charlie and Sue, Went to sleep at 5:30 for a nap and ended up sleeping til 8 in the morning

Brielle with her piggy pancake

Kenzie with all the stuff for her shower.  She is going to have it decorated so pretty!

Charlie, Sue, me and Bill at Granny's Restaurant in Oakley

Met Maddy and Brielle at Bob Evans for breakfast.  We haven't been able to get together for a couple of months with everything going on organizing the State Rally, lots of birthdays, and camping.  It was so good to be able to catch up with each other.  After we left there, I came home.  Bill was supposed to go with Charlie to U of M Hospital at 1.  He told me Sue was going and asked if I wanted to ride along.  I said yes and called Kenzie to let her know I couldn't meet her at her mom's. Charlie and Sue picked us up and we had such a nice time talking on our ride down to U of M.  We had lots of catching up to do to.  It was a beautiful day for a ride.  We got in some heavy traffic, but it didn't last long.  They did valet parking and we went inside.  It took a while to find out where we had to go.  After going 2 places, we found out they never scheduled the procedure to stretch Charlie's throat.  It was a little frustrating for Charlie, but we all made the best of it.  We headed home on the back roads and stopped at Granny's Restaurant in Oakley on the way home.  We all had Shepherd's pie and coleslaw except Bill had applesauce instead with his.  Charlie ordered some carrot cake to take home and gave me a piece.  Bill doesn't like it.  I ate it later!  It sure was delicious.  I feel asleep around 5:30 in the loveseat because I was so tired.  A couple of hours later, I told Bill I was just going to lay down in bed for a little while.  I ended up sleeping until morning.  Bill checked on me a couple of times because he was worried about me.  I have just been on the go so long and busy, up early lots and up late every night.  It sure did me good to catch up on my sleep.  I felt so good when I woke up.  

Wed., 9/13/23, Bill went for coffee with Charlie, then took my car in for oil change, he picked the corn, pulled down the corn stalks, mowed the grass, picked up the grass, I wrote thank you notes, went to dr., stopped at Lisa's, cut off corn and bagged for freezer

Lots of turkeys in our yard this morning.  They were out there over an hour!

Kit Kat watching them from behind my plant

She decided to leave them alone.  Smart decision!

14 of them in this picture

Can't wait for December to get here and meet baby in person

Vikki took some great pictures of Kenzie and Travis.  She posted more on Facebook

Corn in bag ready to be cooked, and corn in container ready to be cut off and put in bags

This is the other picture Rody gave us that he took and had enlarged and framed for us

Beautiful Thanksgiving decoration Lisa gave us.  She knows me well!  She gave Bill some M & M's for his birthday....she knows him well too lol!  He was already eating them when I called so we could thank her.

Bill and Charlie met for coffee.  Then Bill took my car in and got an oil change for me.  I sure appreciate him.  He worked hard all day too.  He picked the last of the corn and took the corn stalks down, then mowed the lawn and then went around again and picked the grass up because it was so long.  Lots of yard waste in the cans.  I picked the 3 last cucumbers.  At 3 I had a doctor appt. to follow up on how I am doing with the eczema.  He said I am doing 70 percent better and he believes he can get me to 100% better.  I made a list of all the improvements and things I don't have to deal with any more and it was amazing.  Thank you Jesus!  On my way home, I went to Lisa's to pick up the gift she had for us for our anniversary and also Bill's Birthday gift.  She has been dealing with an itchy rash and is on a steroid. The specialist said it isn't contagious.  I sure know what it is like to itch though.   I prayed for her in her driveway.  When I got home, I saw all the corn picked and ready to be done.  I grilled burgers and we had mashed potatoes and corn to go with it.  I went out and put some stuff in the camper and sat out there for a few minutes.  I put the water on for the corn while we ate.  When we were done, I cut off the corn and put it in freezer bags.  I was happy to get some for the freezer.  I went outside and Bill had already moved the grill back and covered it for me.  Yay, I had relax time sooner than I thought!  I talked to Melissa, to Kenzie and to Vikki today.  I ordered a rubber stamp with our return address on it like Melissa has that she loves.  I used it once and it works great.  

Tues., 9/12/23..Happy Birthday in Heaven Dad! He would be 107 yrs. old. Went to Sam's Club, to lunch with Kenzie, Travis and Vi kki

Kenzie and Travis at Sombrerro's.  They treated Vikki and I on Taco Tuesday!

Kenzie, me and Travis...thank you for buying our lunch.  It was great spending time with you.

First pumpkin out of the garden

Evan when I stopped to drop off Bruce's pint jars

Zinnias are still beautiful.  Lots of grassy spots since we were gone and now getting all this rain.  

In the morning, Bill ate cereal and I ate oatmeal with blueberries and walnuts.  Then we read our Bibles.  It was raining out so Bill wanted to wait to go to Sam's Club til it let up.  We went to Sam's Club while it was still sprinkling.  Got our few things we needed, then headed home.  Kenzie called and told me what time to meet them for our Taco Tuesday $1 Tacos. She and Travis are going to have Vikki take pictures of them today.  One is going on the invitation for their baby shower.  We met when Vikki got out of work at Sombraros.  We enjoyed our tacos and getting together.  We saw Bruce and Max go into Yogurt Yeti.  I went next door and talked to them for a few minutes.  I came home to pick a pumpkin and wash it for Travis and Kenzie to take when they came.  They all went to Hobby Lobby, then to Vikki's, then to the park for pictures, then to my house.  They took some cute pictures here too.  They also ate some chicken from our party and mashed potatoes from last night.  Bill and I had stuffed peppers Kenzie made and brought us.  They were delicious.  We sat and visited in the family room and then looked at all the pictures Vikki took of Kenzie and Travis.  They turned out so good.  They left, and I started working on writing out thank you cards. 

Monday, 9/11/23, Happy Anniversary Vikki and Terry, Remembering 9-11, Went to visit Jacob,

Eating lunch at Olive Garden

Walking to Jacob’s dorm.  Bill had us turn around for a picture 

Papa and Jacob 

Jacob unlocking his door for us to see his dorm 

His side of the room was pretty clean

Vikki took this picture of Kit Kat when she left

Jared, Kimmy and Eli relaxing...Bill an I were relaxing in the recliner loveseat

Eli relaxing in the two camping chairs put together

 

Picture Rody gave us is hanging on the wall.  He took it our 50th Party and surprised us.  Thanks so much Rody!  What a great idea and a great surprise.  We love you!

Jacob's snack area.  He isn't going to go hungry

Bill went to meet Charlie for coffee.  I got ready and when he got home at 9:30 we were ready to leave.  We had a nice drive and it didn’t rain like they said it was going to all day.  It was even sunny in Lansing when we got there. I called Jacob and he came out to go to lunch with us.  I got out of the truck and gave him a big hug, then let him sit up front with Papa.  We were going to go to Pot Belly Sandwiches because Jacob said they were really good but there were no parking places. We decided to drive to Olive Garden 3 1/2 miles away.   We got in and we’re served quickly. Jacob and I got lasagna and Bill had spaghetti.  We had Jacob get the dinner size portion so he could take some back to his dorm.  He didn’t want soup, but we got some and I’m taking it to Kimmy.  It took me 4 cards for Bill to pay.  I thought one was a $50 but it wasn’t.  They covered all but a dollar of our bill.  I didn’t put one of many new gift cards from our party in.  

We laughed and Jacob offered to take the last partial gift card I found up to the waitress for me.  We left and went and saw Jacob’s dorm.  He’s got it set up somewhere nice and showed us everything.  Then we left because Bill was worried about our truck getting towed away.  

We had a nice ride home with a few sprinkles now and then, but not much.  When we got home, I called Kimmy to let her know I had Jacob's soup (he didn't want it, so I had him still order it so we could pack it up for Kimmy since it was included with his meal).  I was going to try to meet her somewhere in Midland when she was out, but she said they could come here and help us eat more leftovers before Eli's soccer practice.  I was happy about that.  

I emptied Bruce's pint jars we had flowers in for the party, so I could wash them and get them back to him.  I also made mashed potatoes because I didn't know if we had enough of the left over ones.  They called and asked if I could make up a plate for Jared, and warm up two pieces of ham for Eli.  Then they could eat quick before they went to practice.  I had them ready when they got here.  They ate fast and went out the door, and came back in a few minutes later.  Practice was cancelled because it was raining pretty hard.  Gee, they could have eaten slow.  We were glad they could stay.  The rest of us ate, then we all really relaxed in the living room.  We were all tired.  Kimmy goofed around with Jared and kept talking to him telling him he had to visit.  He didn't get much rest until Kimmy rested for a few minutes.  The Ring door announcement went off, and Vikki and Rody came in.  Rody made up two wonderful pictures of Bill and I from our 50th party.  What a great surprise.  I hung them right away, one in the living room and one in the family room.  I FaceTimed Melissa and showed her the pictures and she loved them too.  Thank you so much Rody.  What a special thing for you to do for us.  They are so wonderful!  We love you!