Sat., 12/9/23, Happy Birthday to Sister C, Kimmy, Jared and Adam came over, Bill and Jared got the new toilet in upstairs

Eli and Jack eating breakfast

We loved looking out the window and seeing all of the guys working together and having fun.  Fun to watch them shoot at the target too.

Bill, Jared, Bruce and Max

 

Adam...he was pretty tired when he got here (he played games with Jacob until 3 a.m.) He perked up later on so I took his picture

Jack looking very cool!

Our new toilet works so good.  It looks crooked in this picture, but it’s not

Our toilet paper holder was pretty loose and I was getting concerned it would fall off.  Kimmy fixed it today and it is a sturdy as can be

Bill got up early to go to the Marine Corp. League Sat. Breakfast.  Then he went and picked up our new toilet.  I let the boys sleep in.  I had my oatmeal and coffee.  I ran some chicken noodle soup over to Sue and Charlie.  Talked to Sue for a few minutes on the porch, then came back home.  Bruce called me at 11:15 and said there was a fencing tournament he thought Eli and Jack would like to go to.  I went upstairs and knocked very loudly on the bedroom door and finally after the 6th knock, I heard and answer.  The boys were getting up, so I went downstairs and made them eggs, bacon, hash browns, and toast.  I got some special glasses out of my china cabinet and poured orange juice for them too.  Bill got home and cleaned up the rest of the eggs.  

When they were done eating, the boys carried the old toilet downstairs and out on the porch and carried the new toilet upstairs.  Jared and Kimmy put in a toilet like it at their house last night, so they were coming to help Bill after they finished putting in the toilet they moved out of the main bathroom, in the back bathroom.  Bill fixed the water leak in the thing that hooks up to the toilet.  He did a great job.  He had everything ready when Kimmy and Jared came.  They had to run to Home Depot and got Bill’s discount for Kimmy and Jared by showing their receipt.  It saved them $38.  They were very happy.  We were very happy for them helping us and saving us money to have ours put in.  Bill had set up to have someone do it.  Bill called and had Jared talk to Kimmy and asked her to clean the wax off the ring upstairs.  I had just helped Bill do that with the last one, but Jared knew Kimmy just did it and would know what to do.  I told her I would, but she said she wanted to.  When they got home they got the new toilet in right away.  Great job everyone!  

Bruce and Max came over and they went out with Bill and Jared and practiced shooting.  It was so much fun watching them out the window.  It was a beautiful warm day around 60 degrees.  Max sure was happy hanging out with all of them.  They all seemed happy to be outside having fun together.  So very thankful for such a close family.  I made goulash and we all ate it except I made spaghetti'Os for Eli and Kimmy had chicken noodle soup.  Jack ate 2 bowls of goulash, then he went home with Bruce and Max.  They were eating Bruce’s homemade stew at home.  Kimmy and Jared went to Blue Thumb and came back with a fish  when they picked the boys up.  They had to hurry and get the fish home, but they took time to load our old toilet to dispose of it for us and the boys put the toilet we are taking to Kenzie in the truck for us.  

I talked to Melissa a couple of times, talked to Vikki and talked to Kenzie.  Kenzie and Vikki are feeling better today.  So happy about that.  

We watched the movie Silver Bells while I worked on my blog and Bill worked on the agenda for tomorrow’s CMA Christmas party.  I wrapped little Lydia’s Christmas gift to take and Bill wrapped his guy gift.  Vikki had already wrapped my girl gift beautifully.

Friday, 12/8/23, Kimmy and Melissa came over in the morning, Vikki was still sick so she couldn’t come over, went to dinner with Wes, Gayla and Joel,

Melissa sent me a picture...when she got home today, Bruce had the snowman up and was putting more lights up

Joel...with his M & M’s.  We celebrated his birthday tonight

Wes, Gayla and Joel

Gayla sent me this picture....ha ha it looks like I was the only one who knew the picture was being taken.  She takes pictures like Bill.  Doesn’t let everyone know so people aren’t looking.  Bill has a surprised look on his face.

Eli and Jack are spending the night

Got up and had my oatmeal and cappuccino.  Kimmy got here and I made her a cappuccino too.  We called Melissa and talked to her.  I took some soup over to Vikki’s and dropped it off on her porch.  Rody came out the door as I was pulling out of the driveway.  I rolled my window down and talked to him for a minute.  Melissa was coming over to my house, so I hurried back home.  She was there when I got home.  We ate chicken noodle soup for lunch, then had fun hanging out together.  Kimmy and I helped Bill put the new toilet in upstairs.  It wasn’t what Bill liked and Kimmy and I agreed, so Bill went toilet hunting.  He saw a Kohler at Home Depot and told me that’s the one he wants to get.  He wants me to look at it tomorrow.  Kimmy had to leave, then about an hour later Melissa had to leave and I had to get ready to go with Wes and Gayla.  Bill got home and got ready quick, then Wes and Gayla picked us up.  Eli texted me to see if he and Jack could spend the night.  I told them yes.  He said he knew we were gone, but he knew how to get in.  I texted him that he could get in the front door.  Then I texted him and told him they would have to use the potty on the front porch lol.  We went to pick Joel up, then went to the Cracker Barrel for dinner.  We celebrated Joel’s birthday, which was in August, a little late.  Our waitress was nice and when she asked if we were celebrating anything, I told her his birthday, but it was a while back.  She still bought Joel a big piece of cake and some ice cream.  He was so happy, which made us all happy.  Everyone got fish but Joel and I.  I got chicken and Joel got ham.  Gayla told us Wes told her this morning that Bill was his best friend.  That was so sweet and sure made Bill happy.  They are all like family to us.  We dropped Joel back off on our way home.  

Jack and Eli were there and greeted us, then they went back outside.  They were out there quite a while, then came in and played ping pong.  They had lots of fun together.  Kimmy sent me a picture of her new toilet Jared put in tonight.  It is the same one we are getting tomorrow.  She knows how much we love our flat sided toilet.  I know she will love having it too.  

Bill and I watched a movie while the boys hung out in the basement.  They came up and found the Oreos and Nilla wafers and crunched them up and had them with milk.  They are two wonderful boys and I’m thankful they are my grandsons.  

 

Thus., 12/7/23, Moved a shoe rack upstairs to the closet, then moved summer shoes upstairs and winter shoes downstairs, went shopping with Bill, cleaned Kernel Burner, made chicken noodle soup

Chicken noodle soup all made

Kernel burner all back together and burning nicely.  

Charlie picked Bill up to go to breakfast.  I made yummy oatmeal and had coffee with it. The “Total Clean” message came on the screen of the Kernel Burner.  Bill said it was going to be pretty warm out today, so I decided to turn it off, let it cool down and clean it after we went shopping.  We went to T.J. Max, then Burlington’s, then Meijer.  We were looking for something for our area reps. for Sunday’s Christmas Party.  We ended up getting wafer roll ups at Burlington.  We got Lydia a toy for Sunday’s party too.  We wanted her to have something to open when we grown ups play our gift exchange game.  I ran off 21 trivia games to play at the party.  

We read our Bibles and did our Advent devotion.  Such a good devotional.  My Bible reading in Joshua was really good too.  

Kenzie called me.  I was happy to talk to her on her due date.   She has so many things to decide with her sick, Travis sick and Vikki sick.  I feel bad for her.  She was feeling better today so I was happy about that.  It’s just hospital rules make you stay away for 7 days after you’ve been sick if you aren’t the parent.  I have been praying because I know how much Vikki was looking forward to seeing her first grand baby be born.  I know how much Kenzie wants her there too.  Kenzie and Travis had to go to Med Express so Kenzie could be tested for Covid and the Flu.  She had to have this done before her doctor appt. today.  She gets the results tomorrow.  I just want her healthy when she has the baby and want the baby to be born nice and healthy and stay that way.  Continuing to do lots of praying.  

I talked to Vikki and she still isn’t feeling well.  No one else at her house has gotten it, and none of the rest of us have been around her.  

I covered all the furniture, cleaned the Kernel burner.  I don’t think I got one of the pieces in correctly last time, even though it looked like it.  We had super big flames and it looked a little weird.  I was happy to get it cleaned really good and have the pieces go in the right way.  It started right up and had a nice even flame.  Nice job to have done before Christmas.

I made chicken noodle soup after that.  I put carrots, celery, potatoes and chicken in it.  Bill sampled it when it was done.  I added a little more salt and poultry seasoning.  Then he said it was just right.  I had a bowl after it cooled.  

He had a zoom meeting after that with our National Evangelist, Jay, and all of the State Coordinators for CMA.  It went well and they all prayed for each other’s family needs at the end.  Great group of godly men who lead well.

Wed., 12/6/23, Went to Walmart, cleaned bird feeders and fed the birds, went to Melissa’s for cake and ice cream

Celebrated Max’s Birthday tonight

Jack and Badger

Max and Papa

Evan

Jack, Papa and Evan

Max opening his gifts

 

 

 

 

Bill got up early and went to two appointments at the VA.  I slept in til 8:30.  I called Kimmy to see if she would look and make sure she didn’t have my Humana cards.  I remembered telling her I had to keep them, but then we were both tried to pay the $3 extra.  I was sure I had put the cards away, but thought I would check with Kimmy to see if she remembered what I did with them.  Well, I called Walmart and they had my cards.  I went to Walmart to pick them up and I sure did thank God.  I had prayed lots for Him to show me where they were. 

I got home and cleaned out the bird feeders, then filled them with the bird seed I got at Walmart.  Bill got home and ate cereal and I had oatmeal.  He had a coffee and I had an iced coffee Latte I got from Aldi's to try.  They looked good and are lots cheaper than Starbucks.  It was really good and I liked it just as well.  I don’t buy them often, but they are so good once in a while.  We read our Bibles and did our Advent devotions afterward.  

In the evening, we went to Old Town Drive In for coney dogs, fries and root beers.  I had two coupons to use there.  It was delicious as always.  One of our favorite places.  We went to our church afterward, and Bill gave a retired pastor who goes to Haiti and trains pastors over there, money the church donated combined with some Bill raised for a motorcycle for him to present to a pastor in Haiti.  So thankful for how God provided so quickly and very proud of Bill for how he lets God use him and thankful for our church being so generous.  We went to Melissa and Bruce’s afterwards, and celebrated Max’s birthday. The cake was delicious and so were the cake and coffee.  We had fun watching Max open his gifts and visiting with everyone.  Bill had fun playing ping pong with Jack and Evan and said they had really improved a lot.  

Kenzie called and said she was still sick.  They called and wanted to know if she wanted to be induced today.  She told them she wasn’t feeling well and said no of course.  Praying she feels better fast and so does Travis.  Want her to feel good when she has the baby.  Tomorrow is her due date.  Sure am praying for her, Travis and baby.  Texted with Adam.  So thankful for my family! 

Tues., 12/5/23, Did some knitting, made an ornament, went to prayer

 

This peace plant was from my niece’s wedding shower in 1999.  It was just a very small plant and she gave everyone there one.  It has grown so much this year. It is looking amazing and is getting the biggest blooms on it.

We ate breakfast and had our coffee, then read our Bibles and did our Advent Devotion.  I worked on knitting a dish cloth.  Bill took the garbage out.  We took a little nap in the afternoon.  I did more knitting.  Bill went to meet Alec and I went to intercessory prayer at church.  

When I got home, we watched a movie.  It was pretty boring, so we started a different one.  It was boring too, so we started a 3rd one which was based on a true story.  It was a true story about a young husband and dad that got sepsis.  He survived, but had to have hands, feet and part of his face cut off.  His wife and family stood by him, but it was so sad what he had to go through.  I am thankful Melissa had heard Dr. Oz talk about sepsis on his program, so when Hailey had symptoms, even though Bruce thought it was nothing, Melissa knew she needed to go to the hospital for treatment.  She had it in her hip, but they caught it fast and she was fine in a few days.  So thankful to the Lord.  

I didn’t know anything about it before that.  It’s good to know what the symptoms are because it has to be treated really fast or organs begin shutting down.  I didn’t know it could get as awful as it did for the person in the movie.  

Monday, 12/4/23, Went shopping, Stopped at Melissa’s, typed up trivia game for Christmas party Sat.

 

Hailey’s back from Nebraska

Made my oatmeal with walnuts, raisins and bananas.  Had a cappuccino with chocolate on top and broken up candy cane.  Put worship music on.  Bill went with Charlie for coffee.  Sue called and talked to me for a while.  

Bathroom drain needed to be cleaned out, so I helped Bill work on that.  Got the live trap from outside and put it under the pool deck.  It is so we outside it was like walking on a sponge.  It was a beautiful sunny day today so I was very thankful for that and that the rain stopped.  

I went to Aldi, to Burlington’s, the Dollar store, the Home Goods Store,  and TJ Max.  I went to Melissa’s for a few minutes after that.  All three Shelties greeted me at the door with Melissa.  They are watching Ricter this week.  I was happy to get to see Hailey.  She was doing her laundry and was heading back to college after it was finished and she ate dinner.  I saw Jack when I was leaving.  He was going on a bike ride.  I couldn’t get a picture though.  I called Bill to see if he wanted to meet me to eat somewhere.  He had picked up Max and was heading to Flint.  I talked to them for a while, and told Max I should have sent his birthday gift for him with papa.  He told me there was cake at his house and I would have to come over.  He was so sweet.  I asked them if they were going to eat at 5 guys, but Max ate pizza before Bill picked him up, so he wasn’t hungry.  I ended up getting an olive burger and fries at Culver’s and taking it home to eat.  It was yummy.  

I checked batteries in some candles I have out and the first one didn’t turn on, so I thought the batteries were dead.  I tried the next three and they all worked, so I tried the one that didn’t work once again after taking the batteries out and putting them back in.  Yay, it worked.  

Kenzie called me and talked to me for a while.  I called her back while I was shopping to see if baby needed anything.  She said no and Travis confirmed it.  I found a couple of things while I was out thought, so got them.  I can always get diapers for baby when he comes home because babies always need lots of those.  

I messaged with Brittany from church afterward.  She started singing on the worship team a couple of Sundays ago.  I wanted to let her know she is doing an awesome job and how much I love the way she worships while she is singing.  

I put on worship by Jesus Image.  It is so worshipful and lifts Jesus up in such an amazing way.   His presence just fills the room whenever I play it and worship to it.  So Awesome! I read my Bible and did my Advent devotion after that.  Bill got home right as I was finishing and then he read his Bible and did his devotion.  

Texted with Adam.  I am so glad his concussion is better and we text more now again.

Sunday, 12/3/23, Went to church, went to Faith Rider’s Christmas party, went to our Church Leadership Christmas Party

Pictures from Faith Rider Christmas Party

Cindy taking a selfie of all of us at the Faith Rider Christmas Party

 

 

 

 

 

Faith Riders Officers for 2024

Elaine sharing a devotion about Christmas

We went to prayer, then to worship.  I taught Sunday School and Peyton was my helper.  Briana taught with me.  She is learning to lead teach.  It was a good lesson with fun things to do.  Bill, Rody, and Isaac sat together in the service.  Vikki had breathed in a lot of dry wall dust and cat hair when she helped Kenzie clean their house that has been being 

remodeled. 

After church, we went to the fire station next door to our Faith Rider’s Christmas Party.  It was lots of fun with great friends celebrating the birth of Jesus and good food being shared.

We played fun games and did some fun stuff with the kids who were there.  We appreciate this CMA chapter and all they do so much.  We helped clean up afterwards, then went home for a couple of hours.  I listened to our church service on line.  Bill worked on changing lights in Joseph and a shepherd in the outside nativity.  

We went to our New Life Leadership Christmas Party at 5:30 at Timbers.  We sat with Debbie, Dale, Harmony, Matthew, Dan Dickerson (who is going to be ordained as our associate pastor soon) and his wife Amber.  The food was great and the pies were amazing.  We played a fun trivia game about toys.  They gave prizes away.  I just made getting a prize with 6 right answers.  I got a gift certificate to Chic Fil A.  We are getting one in our town soon so I was pretty happy about that.  Debbie had 8 answers right and Amber had 6 like me.  We all won the Chic Fil A gift cards.  We had a choice of an Amazon gift card, or Home Depot gift, of Chic Oil A.  We had such a nice time visiting and seeing everyone.  We came home and watched a good Christmas Movie about a boys orphanage.  Forgot the name of it.  We read our Bibles and started our Advent devotion.  So thankful God has given us His Word both in book and in Jesus being the Word.  So awesome!

Kenzie decided to not go in the hospital and be induced tomorrow.  She’s going to wait to see if the baby comes naturally.  I’m happy she’s waiting for a little while and praying lots for her to have an easy safe labor and delivery and healthy baby.  I sure love that girl and her baby.  I’m so excited to meet him.