Tues., 4/9/24, Caught up on laundry from our trip, Bill took the garbage out, then went with Charlie, Vikki came over with Rehvyn, Watched my Rehvyn while Vikki worked,

Rehvyn and me

Papa and Rehvyn

I love him and I love his shirt

Rehvyn’s first time in the grass at Nana's

Rehvyn was interested in the rototiller

Weeded this flower garden and did some edging today

Weeded along the deck and dug out along the edging

 Got up early and started the laundry while I read my Bible and listened to worship music. Vikki got here at 9 with Rehvyn and stayed til she had to go to work.  She is sure a good grammy.  Bill left to go get coffee with Charlie and also to pick up his truck.  He had some dents fixed by DJ while we were gone on our trip.  Someone hit him in a parking lot, but will never know exactly how it happened.  DJ always does great work.  It looks amazing.  

Vikki fed him right before she left for work.  Rehvyn was so good for me.  He only cried about 1/2 hour before it was time to eat again.  He seemed so hungry.  I walked around with him and also rocked him.  I fed him 10 minutes early.  He was so happy to have his bottle.  He did a little cry for about 3 seconds when it was gone.  Then he was back to his happy self after that.  He watched Barney, played with toys, loved the light up music toy I got out of the attic for him, and he loved going outside.  I walked around with him and looked at my plants and flowers.  Kit Kat was really interested in him when we sat on the deck.  She put her paw up by his foot to check him out.  He took a nice hour nap on the couch.  He woke up about a half hour before Vikki got here.  We were sitting on the deck outside again.  Vikki sat outside with us.  We walked around outside together too, and took some outside pictures of Rehvyn.  When it was about a half hour before time for him to eat again, he started to fuss, but Vikki sat him on the couch with his pacifier and he started sucking on it like it was a bottle.  He was so funny, but it sure kept him happy.  She kept her arm right by him too which he liked.  He didn’t cry at all.  He was really happy when it was time to eat again though.  Vikki had to go pick up the kids after she fed him.  I helped pack up stuff so she wouldn’t be late.  I love getting to visit with her too.  We talked to Kimmy for a while.  It was so nice talking with her.

After they left, I worked on weeding around the deck and digging along the edging so you can see it good again.  Then I went out and worked in the new flower garden, edging some and getting the grass and weeds out of it.  I still have some more edging, but it’s supposed to be nice tomorrow again, so will do more than.  I was tired when I came in and I rested a half hour before making dinner.  We just had eggs, potatoes, bacon and toast.

In the evening, I talked to Gayla for a long time and caught up.  She’s been in Florida and then the day after they got home, we left for our trip.  We will see each other at the Faith Rider’s meeting on Saturday.  She wants to get together to celebrate my birthday, but both of our calendars are busy at opposite weekends.  May be a while, because she wants Joel there too to celebrate and he can’t come this weekend.  Wes had his hand surgery for the dupeyton’s contracture.  It went well, and his fingers are straight.  The doctor who did it does lots of them.  I am seeing how he does and then will probably have mine done.  Wes is going to have his other hand done too.  I’m thankful it’s only in one hand.  The doctor told him the sooner you have it done the better, so I’m not going to put it off.  

Bill and I watched the Elevation Church service we went to on You Tube!  So Good!  

Monday, 4/8/24, We all checked out of our hotel, met at Bob Evans that was super close for breakfast, went together to Bowling Green, Ihio to watch the total Eclipse,

Ha Ha, Evan wasn’t too excited to order off the kids menu when his birthday is at the end of the month

Jack, Evan and Melissa enjoying breakfast at Bob Evans in the morning after we checked out of our hotel

Max and Bruce enjoying their breakfast.  I didn’t take a picture of Bill and I but we sure loved having breakfast with precious family

Max letting Vader eat a pup cup from Starbucks when Melissa

Cute Missy and Bruce ready to watch the eclipse

Max and Vader, Bruce, Bill, Me, Melissa, Jack and Evan ready to watch

Max and Vader, Jack and Evan with their Eclipse Bags

Melissa made the boys up Eclipse bags....they had eclipse gum, sun chips, capri sun drinks,
moon pies, starbursts, and milky ways in them.  I’m probably forgetting something.  Such a cute idea and the boys loved them.

Me and Bill watching from our car.  We had a blanket under us and pillows behind us.  

It was so cool to watch the eclipse together in Bowling Green Ohio where it was a total eclipse

Our neighbor had a super cool telescope, but also had glasses like ours

His headlights came on when it started getting dark,

The parking lot lights came on next

The temperature dropped 10 degrees and Melissa and I had to put our sweatshirts on.  Then it got so dark and was very cool

Isaac by my flowers

I borrowed these eclipse pictures from a friend who had a special lens and was in Ohio too. It’s just how it looked to us.  The heavens and the earth declare the Glory of the Lord!  That is the truth.  God is just so awesome and His creation is amazing!  Thank you Lord for such a beautiful wonder in the sky to behold.

Peyton

I’m glad I made it home while they were still so pretty

Peyton with Eli’s sheep, Sausage

Eli helping Rehvyn sit on Sausage, his sheep

Isaac

We got ready, read our Bibles, then I went to get Bill’s charger out of the car while he took a shower so he could charge it before we left to watch the eclipse.  I took a suitcase out with me, because two didn’t want to stay on the luggage rolling rack very good last time.  I saw Bruce by the elevator, so told him just to have Melissa call me when she was ready since we weren’t in any hurry.  She called and they were checking out, so we checked out too and met them at Bob Evans which was only 2 minutes away.  We had a good breakfast and nice visit, then left to go watch the Eclipse in Bowling Green, Ohio.  We were following Bruce and Melissa, and we got off at an exit because Bill thought it was their van ahead of us.  He asked me if that was their van and I looked and it wasn’t.  We had to wait for a long light, then got back on the expressway and Bill went a “little" faster to try to catch up with them.  

We passed a semi truck that had been by us when we got off at the exit.  We still couldn’t see them.  We passed a Sandusky exit, then were coming up to a New Sandusky exit.  Melissa called me and said they had just got off an exit to go to the bathroom.  I asked which one and she said Sandusky.  I said we just passed it, and asked her if it could be New Sandusky.  Bruce said yes, so we got off the exit just in the nick of time.  We all got back on the expressway, and kept together this time.  We stopped once to discuss if we wanted to go farther than Findley to see the eclipse so we would be closer to home, since the weather was supposed to be the same. We stopped at a Rest area.  It was pretty packed, but there was room for both of us to park by each other.   The guys went to the bathroom, and took Vader to go too.  When they got back, Melissa, Bruce and the kids set up their chairs, I got our car ready for Bill and I to sit in the back and we watched the eclipse and took pictures of us.  A parking lot neighbor next to us took a group picture for us.  It was so amazing watching the eclipse so clearly.  Then when it was almost totally covered, it got much cooler.  Then lights on cars started coming on, then the parking lot lights came on and it got pretty dark.  The guy next to us let us look at the eclipse when it was still a total eclipse through his big telescope.  It was sure cool looking and the light on the edges was amazing.  That was really nice of him.  We finished watching it and when it was done, Melissa and I went to the bathroom, then came back and we all got ready and then left.  There wasn’t much traffic at all getting to that rest area, but all the way through Ohio, it was slow moving traffic, and then again in Michigan for quite a while it was slow moving.  It sure was worth it though to have such a wonderful experience with family.  When we got home, we started unpacking.  Vikki called me and asked if I wanted to come see them in our drive way.  Of course I said yes.  I met them outside.  Vikki came in to use the bathroom.  I kissed Rehvyn’s forehead in his carseat in the car.  He opened his eyes, and I said hi, it’s nana.  He looked for a couple of minutes, then went back to sleep.  He sure is precious and I sure was happy to see him.  I was very happy to get my hugs from Peyton, Isaac and Vikki too.  I sure did miss them while I was gone.  I texted with Kimmy too.  I sure did miss them too.  Happy to be home, but sure had a great time.  Vikki called when she got home and Travis and Kenzie had a blowout and have to wait 4 hours for the wrecker to come.  They are in Oklahoma.  We sure are praying for them.  I get to watch Rehvyn while Vikki works tomorrow.  I am so excited.  I also get to spend time with Vikki while she stays here after taking the kids to school, and then while she waits after work to pick them up.  

Sunday, 4/7/24, went to Elevation Church in Ballantyne N Carolina, traveled to Columbus Ohio, stayed at Double Tree with Melissa, Bruce, Max, Jack And Evan (and Vader too) Going to watch the eclipse tomorrow

Driving into Elevation Churches parking lot.  

Bill waiting in the lobby

Me waiting in the lobby for the doors to open to the sanctuary 

Going in

We sat in the 5th row

We sat next to our new CMA friends, Becky and Gary, who we met while we were waiting in the lobby.  They are good friends with our good friend Ziggy.  We exchanged numbers and became facebook friends.  They go to CMA Colors in Arkansas like we do each year. They were so nice!

Me and Billy

Right before worship started

Pastor Furtivk sang the last worship song with the worship band

Vikki watched the service online and found us. She sent this picture.  I had sent her a picture and she also recognized Bill’s CMA patch which helped her to find us.

When we entered Virginia 

Bill reading the Bible in our hotel room

They had a sign for first time visitors (VIP’s it said) to put their flashing lights on, then directed us to the closer parking lot.  A nice church volunteer came up to our car and talked to us and told us there were going to be 125 baptisms after the service, told us Pastor Furtick would be preaching today, and shared about classes we could join on line if we wanted to.  He walked us inside where many people greeted us, then had us go into an area where new visitors were waiting to go in.  He told us they

Wanted first time visitors to be able to sit close up.  We sat in the 5th row from the front.  They sure showed the Love of Jesus!

The morning service at Elevation Church was amazing with awesome worship and an amazing message on the Holy Spirit and how we need Him, who the Bible says He is, and what He does.  We all have a story and the Holy helps us tell it.  We need to see our life through His lens so we can see how God has moved through what we go through. The girl who sat next to me was so sweet, had such kind gestures and was so on fire for Jesus.  God had prepared ahead of time who we should sit by.  It is very cool, that I just started reading Acts when we came on our trip and read the same scriptures a couple of days ago. I ha

D read in Luke too on Goid Friday.  I love how God does that.  In my Bible at home I have been reading the Old Testament.  

I only took a couple pictures and really short videos because I just wanted to worship with them and then listen to the message.  I will watch this service again online when we get home! I couldn’t wait to call and talk with Vikki after the service was over. It was so amazing.  I sent all of the girls pictures.  

We stopped and got foot long subs at Subway for lunch and saved our other halves for dinner so we could just keep traveling.  We are staying at the same motel as Melissa, Bruce and the boys. They stayed there last night too.  We talked on our way and then talked again when we were 15 minutes from the hotel.  Melissa, Max and Vader met us in the lobby, then we went and looked in the pool room and saw the other boys swimming.  Bruce was in there too and came out to talk for a minute.  Max and Melissa walked us to our room and came in to look at it.  After we unpacked a few things, we went to their room and looked at it and also looked at the boys attached room.  Melissa showed me the nice pictures they took at the zoo today and a video of two leopards, one who was very interested in following Vader.  It sure growled at the other one when it started looking at Vader.  She also had the coolest picture of a polar bear swimming where they watched it under water.  

We came to our room, Bill read his Bible (I read mine this morning).  Tomorrow we are all going to Bob Evan’s for breakfast.