Sunday, 11/12/23, went to church, went to lunch with Diane and James, and John & family, Bill picked up Max and spent time with him, I did a table with Megan for our Christmas Jubilee for the kids and families tonight

Tonight at Church we had the Christmas Jubilee.  There were around 100 there.  Families came to the story/craft ornament/and game tables together.  Everyone had lots of fun and they went home with lots of cute meaningful ornaments.  The pictures are from Megan and my table.  I taught a story about Jesus's family tree and Simeon and Anna.  Then everyone made Christmas tree hand ornaments and decorated them.  Megan gave them a Would you rather Game after the craft.

 

 

Nolan helped Bently and Brittany helped the girls

Harper didn't want to do it at first, but then loved doing it

 

 

Cassy doing the closing with all the parents and kids.  She did such an amazing job and Jesus was glorified.  Such a great message.

 We went to prayer, than to the church service.  When we were done praying and I opened my eyes, I saw Jenny was in the room praying too.  Bill had told her I was there and brought her back.  God has really been working in her heart and she was really moved by the prayer.  It was an awesome time of prayer.  

We went into the church for the service after prayer.  The Worship was awesome and the message was so very good.  I am going to listen to it again.  '

Bill picked up Max and brought him to our house to do a little target shooting.  I talked to him for a while, then I had to go to the church for the Christmas Jubilee.  I had to tell a story about Jesus and his family tree and explain the ornament we were making.  Then Megan and I helped while they and their parents made their ornaments.  They all did a great job on them and had so much fun.  Megan was a great help with the craft and passing out the game for them to take home.  We all had fun.

I came home and Bill and I relalxled and read our Bibles.  We were both tired so it felt really good to sit down and be comfy 

Sat., 11/11/23, Happy 26th Birthday My Kenzie!!!!!. We love you! Went to Faith Riders Chapter meeting, Rode around and got Veterans deals, Went to Vikki's a couple of times, went to Melissa a couple of times, went to Kimmy's

Happy Birthday Kenzie!  We love you so much.  So nice spending time with you celebrating your birthday!

Happy Veteran's Day Bill!  You are my love and my hero!
I love my Marine!!!

Bill

My dad was a handsome Army guy and my hero also!

At the CMA meeting, little Lydia wore the birthday candle hat and we sang to her.  She turns 2 on Nov. 24th

Bill got a free carwash for my car at the new carwash for Veteran's Day

Going through at the end.  You can see our car in the mirror.

Bill, Kenzie and Peyton when we dropped pizza's and pop off

Kenzie and I

Hailey when we dropped pizza off there too. 

Evan is very happy about how tall he is getting

Me and Bill at Applebee's.  He got his free meal, and a coupon for $5 off the next visit and I had an oriental chicken salad that was delicious.  I had a gift card for me!

When we went back to Vikki's for angel food cake, strawberries and cool whip, somebody got a hold of my phone and took this picture that made me smile.  Rody looks guilty.

The Birthday Girl!

This is the delicious food Vikki made.  This is Kenzie's plate. Bill and I were full, but I did eat a small chicken salad croissant. 

Kenzie with the baby hip carrier Bill surprised her with.  He didn't even tell me he got it for her.  Today he did mention he had a gift for her.  She tried it with Peyton's doll.  Baby looks pretty happy lol.  I love that Bill does these thoughtful things for the kids and grandkids.  We are blessed!

Kenzie with her Angel Food Cake and birthday candle.  We sang to her while she was holding.  Then she put the candle out with her fingers.  She takes after her papa.

Peyton, Kenzie, Eli with his hurt ankle, Lucy on his lap, and Isaac

When I was coming down the street I could see a light show in Bruce and Melissa's driveway.  Jack was having fun with his light saber.  He sure is talented with it. I picked up the crutches from their house to take to Eli

My welcoming committee when I got to their house.  Kimmy was outside too.  I was so happy to bring the crutches to Eli.  

I was sure happy to see Adam.  He stayed home today.  Nobody planned to be gone as late as we were.  Eli's foot changed plans.  

Lots of veteran's freebee's today.  So nice that they honor veterans like this.  Bill got a free breakfast sandwich from McDonalds.  Bill and I went to the Faith Rider's Chapter Meeting.  It was a great meeting with lots of activities planned to raise money for Run for the Son.  It is a very active chapter now with great officers.  Afterwards, Bill went to get a free haircut, a free oil change for his truck and some free food from Little Caesars.  I went to Vikki's to see Kenzie and visit for a little bit before I had to be home for Bill to pick me up.  

I worked on my story for our Christmas Jubilee at church tomorrow afternoon and read my Bible.  Bill got home and we left to go get a free carwash for my car and pick up some more free food.  He also got a gift certificate to go to Texas Roadhouse for a free meal anytime before May 31, 2024.  That is really nice that they do that.  He got a free pulled pork sandwich and fries from Famous Daves.  He also got 2 Arby's Roast beef sandwiches.  

He will be enjoying pizza (got some made special with no cheese) for today and tomorrow.

I enjoyed a piece too, but mine had cheese on it.  One Little Caesars gave him a large pizza because they ran out of lunch combo's.  Monday we get to go to the Golden Coral and veterans get to eat free there too.  

We came back to our house to relax for a while, then at 4:30 went to Applebees for his free meal there.  He will have to go on a diet after all this good food.  We went to Vikki's for angel food cake after that.  We were going to go earlier, but Eli hurt his foot at the youth retreat at our church and had to go to urgent care to get it check out to see if it was broken.  It was really swollen bad an very painful.  The radiologist has to read the X-ray.  The girl there didn't see a break, but said she thought it was sprained.  It was very painful for Eli to get around when he got back to Vikki's.  I thought I had crutches in my attic from Bill's broken foot experience, but I didn't.  I called Melissa and she had some there.  I let Kimmy know, but they had been gone so long they wanted to get home to Adam.  They had gotten in backed up traffic because of an accident so that took more time.  I didn't tell Kimmy until I was 5 minutes from her house that I had picked up the crutches and was bringing them there.  I knew she would tell me not too.  I was so happy I did though and Eli was sure happy to get them.  Kimmy told me I shouldn't have with all the deer out right now.  I knew she would say that.  They all were out on the deck and greeted me when I got there.  That made it worth going even more.  I love my family and loved spending time with all of them today...Missed my Jacob though.  I will see him when we celebrate our Thanksgiving though and get to go to his Eddy Band Holiday Concert too.  Yay!

Friday, 11/10/23, Kimmy, Eli, Melissa, Hailey, Evan, and Vikki all came over today. Went to the Marine Corp. Ball, Happy 248th Birthday to the Marine Corp.

We were blessed having Hailey come again this week since she was home from college

Fun and silly cousins

Evan and Eli played lots of ping pong today

Vikki took a picture of Bill and I before we left home

Oldest Marine serving the youngest Marine (only 17) Marine Corp. Birthday Cake

The previous Marine's of the year finding out who this years Marine of the year is 

Now they all are going to find this year's Marine of the year in Bay City Detachment, and someone will put their hands on their shoulders to let them know.

Bill on the hunt

Handsome previous Marine of the Year looking for this year's Marine of the year.

Saginaw Detachment's Marine of the Year

Jen and Brad...God has really been working in their lives in amazing ways

My Marine and me

Happy 248th Birthday to the Marine Corp League!

Got up early and went to Big Apple Bagel to get bagels and flavored cream cheese for lunch today.  Came home and made a cappuccino and had a bowl of Honey Nut Cheerios.  Read our Bibles and listened to some awesome worship.  

Our electric blanket we ordered came today.  It wasn't supposed to come until the 14, so we were very happy it came early.  We started putting it on right away and Kimmy and Eli got here right as we were working on it.  It only took us a few more minutes, so Kimmy worked on scanning receipts while we finished.  I made Kimmy a cappuccino and we sat and visited.   Melissa, Hailey and Evan got here shortly after and I made her a cappuccino.  Abby and Badger came too.  I gave them some attention and gave them some treats.  Badger's getting more used to me and came in the living room to greet me.  He's pretty timid til he gets to know someone.  Evan and Eli had fun playing ping pong together.  We all ate toasted bagels and then shortly after we finished, Vikki got out of work and came.  She ate too and I made her a cappuccino.  We sat in the family room visiting for a long time.  Then Vikki and Kimmy worked on a Little Christmas Tree Vikki found for Kenzie, straightening the branches.  It didn't take them long.  Vikki made some tassels she knows Kenzie likes for it to and put a little bow at the top.  I made an angel food cake and cut up strawberries, but we decided since Kenzie's coming tomorrow, we would have it then for her birthday.  Can't wait.  

Melissa and kiddos had to leave to go pick up Jack from school.  Eli took a shower upstairs while Bill showered downstairs.  Bill and I got ready for the Marine Corp. Ball. 

Everybody left, and we went to Horizon's to the Ball.  We had a good time sitting with Brad and Jen, Linda and George, and Maddy and Alec.  We ate great food, listened to the speaker, and then danced a couple of dances and left.  We turned our electric blanket on when we got home.  It will be a warm bed tonight.  

 

Thurs., 11/9/23, Bill got wood pellets, checked on Wes to see how he was doing after his hip surgery yesterday, Cooked a big squash, cleaned more of the house, picked Peyton and Isaac up from school, they packed the shoeboxes

Our big Maple tree is finally starting to turn colors

Lots of stuff to go in shoeboxes

Peyton with all the stuff she has to fit in that little shoe box.  Can she do it?

Isaac with all the stuff he has to fit in his little shoe box.  Can he do it?

Here we go!

Here we go

Snack time after they were finished.  They both did a great job filling their boxes.  All but one small thing fit in, so they each got to keep something.  Yay!  Great job Peyton and Isaac! They are getting to be pros after all these years of doing shoeboxes.  What a great ministry Operation Christmas Child is.  

We got up early.  Bill took his shower, while I ate my oatmeal and had my cappuccino.   Then he went to have coffee with Charlie.  I took my shower, then cleaned a couple of more rooms while Bill was gone.  When he got home, we read our Bibles and listened to worship.

I cooked a squash for Thanksgiving and put it in the freezer.  It tasted yummy!

I called Gayla to check up on Wes after his hip surgery yesterday morning.  He came home last night which seems way too fast.  He fainted last night and that was pretty scary, but went to sleep afterward and was doing good this morning.  

I picked up Peyton and Isaac from school and brought them to my house to pack the shoeboxes.  They had lots of stuff to fit in, but packed it like a puzzle and fit everything but one item in.  It's always amazing to see how much you can get in a box.  They have been helping me with shoeboxes since they were real little.  I have to look up and see how long it has been.  So much fun and such a great thing to do to touch lives with the Love of Jesus.

We had chips and M & M's for a snack when they were done.  Sweet and salty!  Then I took them home and visited with Vikki for a while.  She sent some yummy cream of broccoli soup home with me.  Yum!  Thanks Vikki!

I talked to Kimmy for a while.  We discussed shoebox stuff.  I baked another angel food cake to have tomorrow and mashed up some strawberries for on it.  Kimmy missed out on the angel food cake the other day.  Jacob sent me a really good song to listen to.  Adam texted with me.  Bill picked up pellets.  Isaac helped him unload them.  It was a great day!

 

 

Wed., 11/8/23, Wes had his hip surgery this morning. I Moved more clothes upstairs, went shopping for groceries, and for shoebox stuff for Operation Christmas Child

This morning it was sleeting and hailing outside.  Lots of ice on our outside table

It didn't stop the turkeys from visiting

 

Isaac and Peyton while we were shopping for Shoebox stuff

Had my oatmeal and cappuccino, then we did our Bible reading.  Enjoy this time so much.

Moved more summer stuff upstairs and brought sweaters downstairs.  Think I will just be needing warm clothes from now on. It would be nice if I was wrong.

I went through my coupons, then clipped digital coupons and headed to JoAnn's, Aldi, Meijer, and Kroger.  Got some ideas at JoAnn's for shoebox stuff when I take Peyton and Isaac later.  Got a soccer ball at Meijer and a pump for Isaac's boy box.  Then I got a couple of items from Aldi, $100 worth of items at Meijer...turkey for 49 cents a lb. plus groceries and the shoebox items and therefore got a $10 coupon to use later.   Got another turkey at Kroger for same price and also lots of coupon items plus gift cards that were quadrupled.  After that, I picked up Peyton and Isaac from school and we went to Meijer so they could pick out more items for shoe boxes.  Peyton picked out a cute Squishmallow.  She loves this so much and wanted the girl who gets her shoebox to have one.  Good thing they come in different sizes.  We got some games, marbles, pop its, cars, markers and other stuff.  Then we went to JoAnn's and got a couple of more things there using a 40% off coupon.  We went to Hobby Lobby and got a couple of more things there.  We headed to my house after that and went to the bathroom.  Then we went to McDonalds and got some food and shakes. We ate, then came back to my house and waited for 10 minutes before heading to take Peyton and Isaac to Youth Group at church.  During that 10 minutes, we ground up coffee beans.  

I dropped the kids off, then Bill and I hauled in the groceries and put them away.  Two 22lb. turkeys went to the basement freezers.  Tomorrow I will pick up Peyton and Isaac again so we can pack the shoeboxes.  

Melissa called and we had a nice long phone visit.  We had some good laughs while we talked.  She is going to come over Friday when Kimmy comes.  It's so nice having our Friday girls day.  Evan doesn't have school so he will be coming along and I'm sure will be playing ping pong with Papa.