Sunday, 2/18//24, Went to prayer, then to church service, eggs, bacon, hash browns for lunch, went to Vikki’s....Kenzie and Rehvyn were there, Fun time!

Cute Rehvyn at Grammy Vikki's

Peyton, Isaac and Rehvyn

When I saw this on Vikki’s post it made me smile.  I love his sweet smile.

He’s just so precious

His Uncle Isaac loves him

So does his Auntie Peyton

I took this cute picture of Isaac tonight

My picture of Peyton didn’t turn out very clear

Yummy BLT Rody madę me

Isaac playing his clarinet for me.  He really plays well

He is sure gifted at playing the piano.  He’s my worshipper. 

My banana split Vikki made me...I got spoiled at their house

My great niece, Ahmeh’s, twins and 2 year old JJ

Thomas and Stefan...they just came home from the hospital.  They were born in January and were in the NICU.  Had to come home on oxygen.  I’m praying for these sweet babies.

We got ready and went to prayer, than to our amazing worship and church service.  Great worship and great message today.  We visited with friends afterward for a while, then headed home.  I made eggs, bacon, hash browns and toast.  We read our Bibles after that.  

We were relaxing, then Bill asked me if Kenzie was still at Vikki’s.  I called to see and she was going to be there until 5.  I asked him if he wanted to go with me, but he wanted to stay home and rest.  I took the mugs he ordered for Kenzie and Travis and gave them to Kenzie.  She was so happy and really loved hers.  I love all the thoughtful things Bill thinks of and does.  I got to hold Rehvyn as soon as I got there.  He was sleeping at first, then he woke up and was so smiley and so cute.  What a precious and fun baby.  Kenzie had to leave, and I was going to leave before dark, but then Isaac played his clarinet for me, then he played the piano for me, then Vikki talked me into staying to have one of Rody’s BLTs he makes really good, and then Vikki made me a banana split.  Plus we talked to Melissa for a while.  I have the best family!!!

I came home and organized some pictures, then worked on my blog.  Then I just relaxed with Bill.

 

Sat. 2/17/24, Bill snowblowed the driveway, then he went with Charlie, Marti from church and his son came to give us estimate, went to ABC warehouse, went to Maple Grill, went to Jack’s, Melissa and Bruce had water problem so Melissa. Kids and dogs came over

It was only 15 degrees this morning, very very windy, and more snow

Me and my Abby!  I sent Hailey a picture to show her my dog and me.  She texted back that her dog was so cute.  I love teasing her about Abby being mine.

Badger and Vader...two beautiful great dogs!

Bill at the Maple Grill...when I showed Melissa the picture she said they sat at the same table today when they were there

Evan warming up.  He had just gone on a long walk in the cold before he came to our house

Jack after he beat Papa at ping pong.  Yay Jack!

Papa relaxing after the game too

Bill was giving Max warm things to put on because it was only 21 degrees and super windy out

We had Vikki face time us so we could see Rehvyn.  He and Kenzie are spending the night there

He’s so sweet and we love him so much!  Nice seeing Vikki and Kenzie too.  Peyton was at a birthday party, so Vikki had to go pick her up after we finished.

Max in Papa’s coat too.  I told him know one would know who he was and he laughed and smiled a big smile...picture below

Jared’s Brine Shrimp Hatchery....so many shrimp!!!

We slept in til 8:30.  I had my oatmeal and coffee and Bill had his protein drink.  I looked out to see it had snowed and the deck had about an inch of new snow on it.  He went out right away and snow blowed the driveways and did the paths to the shed and around my bird feeders.  Charlie picked him up and they went out for coffee after that.  I did some cleaning in the kitchen.  

Bill got home and finished the shed driveway.  Then Marti we know from church and his son who have a home maintenance business, came to look at our stove and cupboards to see about making the space bigger so we can put a 30 inch stove in.  They are writing up an estimate.   Marti will talk to us at church tomorrow and let us know the amount.  Bill and I went to look at over the stove microwaves, because they are going to put one of them in for us too.  We are just going to let them pick one up at Home Depot for us because they just put one in for someone else that was the right size we need and he got it online there.

Melissa called me to tell me she and Bruce went to the Maple Grill and used the gift card we got them for Christmas.  She said they have pot pie there today and it was super delicious.  They also had delicious mashed potatoes and parsnips for sides with it.  She said she and Bruce should have split one because they were huge.  She also told us they would probably be closing early because they were running out of food so many people were coming.  We went and ate and it was all delicious.  It’s the first time I’ve tried parsnips.  Bill wouldn’t even try them.  I showed Melissa the picture I took later and she told me we sat at the same table they did.  What are the chances?

I was talking to Melissa on the phone, and all of a sudden she screamed and said there was water every where.  I told her to go take care of it and call me back.  When she called back, she said sewer water (it was clear though at least) from upstairs came pouring down in the kitchen and then was running down to the basement.  Poor Max was in the basement and came running upstairs and the sewer water poured down on him.  Bruce had had problems with the toilet and put a snake down because the plunger wouldn’t work.  He had Melissa throw towels down, then had her leave and bring the kids and dogs to our house.  He worked on cleaning the mess up while he waited for the plumber he called to get there.  It would be at least a two hour wait or more.  Max took a good hour shower when he got here.  The bar of soap disappeared so we know he scrubbed lots.  Poor kid.  I washed his dirty clothes.     Melissa went home to pick up Jack and Evan.  They were on a walk when everything happened.  The boys played ping pong with Papa and Jack finally beat him.  He was so happy.  We had pizza for dinner and Evan had Spagettio’s.  Max put on a hat Bill gave him.  It was a MSU hat, so I sent a picture to Jacob.  Then Bill gave him his Marine Corp. jacket to wear.  He also put glasses on.  We were laughing saying no one would know who he was.  Then he was laughing too.  Vader, his service dog, didn’t even recognize him at first.  He and papa went out and shot a couple of times, then came in because it was just too cold at 21 degrees and strong winds.  They were out there around 7 minutes.  

Melissa took a couple of fans I had here home for Bruce to use to dry the floors, etc.  Evan and Max went home with her and stayed there.  Jack stayed with us.  Melissa came back.  We talked to Kenzie for a while, because she called and wanted to know what happened.  

I talked to Kimmy and Jared after they dropped Jacob off and had gone to a fish store.  Kimmy sent me a video of the Shrimp Hatchery. I couldn’t believe how many baby shrimp there are.  They said their fish loved eating them.  

Bruce let Melissa know the plumber is on his way at 9:04.  Yay!  Praying!Jack, Melissa, Bill and I had some cashews and M & M’s for a snack.   He got there around 9:30 and finished around 10:05.  Fixed the problem quickly and it was only $125, so prayers were answered.  Melissa and Jack left for home once he was finished.

Friday, 2/16/24, Kimmy, Melissa, Adam and Vikki came over

My Christmas Cactus two years after I got it.  I started it from one leaf.

My same cactus today 8 years old

Cactus Kimmy gave me a year ago

Same cactus fit on the bottom left.  Just a couple of leaves.  The green thing that is tall is the glass thing Kenzie made me. Also, Crown of Thorns isn’t even up to the middle of the window in this picture.

A year later, it is passed the middle of the window.  I must have them in the right spot.

Me and my sweet Missy

My Sweet Adam too

Got up at 8 and got ready, ate my oatmeal for breakfast with bananas, raisins, blueberries and walnuts.  Offered to make Bill coffee, but he already made his.  I made mine and enjoyed it with breakfast.  The doctor at the VA told Bill he needs to eat more fiber, so he asked me to make him some oatmeal.  He ate his plain.  Spent time in prayer while Bill was reading his Bible.  Kimmy got here so started visiting with her right away.  We listened to Jacob’s SALT Pastor’s message from the night Hailey went.  It was on Pride and was very good.  Pride says, I am God and you are not.  Pride doesn’t follow what God’s Word says and thinks their way is better.  The Scriptures he gave were taken out of the book of Zephaniah in the Bible.  However, God does say,  "I am God and you are not”, and He is perfectly right.  He is the one who made everyone and everything.  There is a warning about those who don’t repent of being prideful.  In the end, great hope was spoken of because of what Jesus did to redeem us. Jesus paid the price for our sin.  We must be humble and follow Him, obey Him and try to be more like him.  It was a great message.  Hailey had told us it was the best message she has ever heard.  I am so happy for the way they teach the truth of God’s Word and are bold about it.  It will be life changing for these college kids and all who listen. It’s up to us to know the Word of God and make sure our church is teaching it.  If it isn’t....run from there fast.

Melissa got here shortly after we finished listening.  Bill left to pick Adam up from school because he only had a half day.  We girls visited more, then we warmed up scalloped potatoes, chicken and green beens that were left over from our meal last night.  Adam and Bill got back, but Adam had ate a McChicken at McDonalds, so he wasn’t hungry.  We also ate Valentine Cookies.  Kimmy fixed my blog, so we should be able to click on pictures now and should be able to make them large.  This feature hasn’t been working for a while.  I just checked it when I finished the blog and only the last 4 with enlarge.  So weird.  It probably is because I took the first 4 pictures before Kimmy fixed it.  Hopefully, tomorrow all of them work.  We visited more, than Vikki got here and she ate.  Jared had picked up Jacob from college and took him to his Orthodontist appt.  He also picked up Eli, so Kimmy got to stay longer.  Melissa’s boys had play practice, so she didn’t have to pick them up either, so she got to stay longer.  Everyone left, when Vikki had to go pick up Peyton and Isaac.  They get out pretty late so it sure was nice having them all hang out longer.  It sure was nice having Adam here.  

Bill and I had a zoom meeting in the evening with our Michigan Area Reps and Prayer Team leads.  It was a good meeting and all but one couple was able to join.  The couple from the U.P. even got on with us which was the first.  

    

Thurs., 2/15/24, Bill got a good report from his prostrate biopsy...no cancer! Praising God! Most schools cancelled because of snow storm, did some cleaning,

Woke up to this...pretty, but didn’t want more snow

 

 

Bill snowplowing the driveway

Picture of Bill with his sisters Pam and Debbie and graduating brother Fred 

Beautiful picture Bill’s sister Pam posted of the mugs she bought from Kimmy and Jared

Jared after he opened his birthday present from us.  Now he’s got the job of assembling it

Jared and Eli adding brine shrimp 

 When I got up and saw how much snow we had, I checked to see the school closings.  All of my grandkids had the day off except Eli and Adam.  Didn’t quite understand that because Midland is supposed to get more snow than Saginaw.  I talked to Kimmy and she said it was really bad driving Eli to school.  I don’t know about the college grandkids, but I’m pretty sure they had school.  

There was an accident by the railroad track by us this morning on those roads.  Someone in a truck couldn’t stop for the stoplight that is right by the tracks, and it hit another car and it went and landed on the tracks.  The girl in the car on the tracks was able to get out just before a train came and hit her car.  The guy in the truck was able to get out to and it was a good thing because his truck caught on fire and was completely destroyed.  So thankful they were all ok.  I didn’t go out on the roads all day and neither did Bill.

I had some fruit from the edible arrangement Bill got me.  It is so delicious.  I also had a couple Valentine’s cookies.

Bill got the driveway snowblower and also paths.  I gave the bathroom a good cleaning and scrubbed the floors.  Also cleaned the kitchen and vacuumed in the living room.  Did 3 loads of laundry too.  

Kimmy FaceTimed us so we could see Jared open his birthday gift from us.  He was cute opening it.  We got him a Brine Shrimp Hatchery and some accessories.  It will be fun for us to learn about it.  Thanks to Kimmy for wrapping it for us.  We are so thankful for Jared and the huge blessing he is to our family.

We watched a good movie in the evening.  It was called A Walk With Grace!

Wed., 2/14/24,HAPPY BIRTHDAY JARED! WE LOVE YOU! Happy Valentine’s Day, baked heart.shaped cookies for Bill, He told me he forgot it was Valentines Day, Went looking at stoves, Went to Harvey’s, Frosted cookies, worked on Seasons of Refreshing stuff,

Happy Birthday Jared!  We love you.  Kimmy better get a bigger cake pan so she can add more candles to the edge....You’ve outgrown that one

Thanking Jesus for the best LOVE there could ever be

Melissa sent me her pictures...this is her table set beautifully with Kimmy’s plates she made them

Ready to eat...Jack, Max, Bruce and Evan

Angel food cake Bruce made

YUM

Edible Arrangement and a bag of candy from my sweetheart!

 The card he got me was beautiful and so sweet

I didn’t think to take a picture of this until after we had eaten some of it.  It was beautiful and is so delicious.  

Ha Ha, I lost my favorite gloves and when I went to get milk, I found them.  They were on the worshiping figure Fred and Lourdes got me for my birthday a few years back.  I right away thought of Jared, but he said he was innocent this time.  He did get a good laugh when I showed him the picture. 

We went to Harvey’s for our Valentine's Dinner.  Used a gift card Charlie and Sue got us.  We had perch and it was delicious

I put frosting on his cookies when I got home and decorated them

I called Bill out to the kitchen to get some cookies. He liked them!

 

Kenzie sent me a cute picture of my new Valentine, Rehvyn.  Aww, he’s so cute

Lela, if you read this, I want you to know I check every night to see if you posted.  I am missing reading about your days.  Can’t wait til you get the problem with the computer fixed and are back to blogging.  You are missed! 

When I got up, I thought about it being Valentine’s Day and thought I would go pick up a cake or cookies for Bill.  Then I thought, gee I can make cookies for him. He was at the VA for an appointment he had at 8:30.  I started making the cookies and my oven kept showing an error and turning off.  It has done this once in a while for a long time, but on Super Bowl Sunday it did it over and over and today the same thing happened.  I finished baking the rest of the cookies in my Ninja Foodi Oven.  It took a little more time because it is smaller, butt it worked just fine.  Bill got home and saw the cookies and told me he forgot that it was Valentine’s Day.  He has never forgotten, so I told him that was ok.  I had his card, but I hadn’t filled it out yet either. After the cookies were all baked, Bill and I went to look for a new stove.  When we went out to the garage, he said let’s take the car.  We have always been taking the truck lately, so I said ok.  When I went to get in, there was an edible arrangement on my seat and a bag of candy with a card on the other seat.  He did remember!!!  We came back in the house and of course I had to eat one of those chocolate covered strawberries.  Then we went back out and took the truck and went to several places to look for a stove.  Ours is a spacesaver drop in and is only 27".  They still make them, but they are $1,700.  We found a 30 inch once we liked that is $971 on sale plus we get Bill’s military discount on top of that.  We decided to have a friend from church who has a home maintenance business come look at ours on Sat. and see if he can cut some cupboards and make adjustments for a bigger stove.  Bill thinks it will be easy for him.  We prayed for God to lead us to the right stove before we left home, so believing this is the one.  

We came home, and I told Bill I was going to frost and decorate his cookies.  I went to get the milk out and it was two days over the use by date.  I smelled it and it was starting to turn sour, so I went to Aldi and got new milk.  Then I came home and did the cookies.  He was very happy that all those cookies were for here.  We both had some and they were yummy.

He worked more on the Seasons of Refreshing Agenda and I checked it afterward.  We watched the news for a while when we heard about the shootings in Kansas City.  Our nephew and his wife were at the parade.  We were so happy to hear they were safe, but so sad that this horrible thing happened and one person lost their life and so many others were injured.  Praying God exposes whoever did it.  So senseless and cruel.

Tues., 2/13/24, HAPPY 20TH ANNIVERSARY VIKKI AND RODY, Went shopping, made soup,

Happy Anniversary Vikki and Rody.  I love you both so much!

Bill took the trash out.  I cleaned out my sort of junk drawer in my room.  Sent some stuff to the Thrift Store bag.  I texted Vikki and Rody to wish them Happy Anniversary.  I called Vikki when she was out of work to wish them it over the phone.  God has sure blessed them and I am sure happy for them.

I ate my oatmeal for breakfast and had my coffee.  Bill made his coffee when he came in from outside.  Then we read our Bibles.  Good reading!  Life changing Word!  

Bill went to pick Max up and brought him over to put the scope on his gun.  I take to Max for a few minutes.  Then they went downstairs and worked in the basement.  I went to take my wrong sized phone case which came today,  to Kohls to their Amazon Dept. to return it.  I called Kimmy because I thought it was the one we thought was the right size and it still didn’t fit.  It ended up being the one we tried to return yesterday, but it was too late.  Thankful that Kimmy thought of that and told me.  Then I went to Hobby Lobby, Aldi and then the $ Store.  I restocked up on my cards for my card box. The cashier told me thank you for putting the code facing up where it shows so she could scan it easily.

My new phone case came.  Yay! It fits perfectly and it looks so nice.  Kimmy, Melissa, and I all have the same clear sparkly phone cases now.  It looks pretty on all the phones.  

I made vegetable beef soup for dinner.  I put lots of yummy stew meat in it.  It tasted so good.   Bill and I watched the movie, Always A Winner.  It was really good.

I texted with my Adam.  He is such a sweet thoughtful grandson.