Thurs., 4/18/24, ate breakfast at our hotel, read our Bibles, headed to Minnesota, arrive at Country Inn Hotel in Woodbury at 12:30., hung out with State Coordinators from our northwest region

Bill this morning at our hotel continental breakfast

It was a cute breakfast room

Kenzie Facetimed me while we were driving so i had fun talking to Rehvyn and listen to him make cute sounds trying to tell me how much he likes his piano and also I’m sure telling me how much he loves me❤️

He was so sweet and precious

I love this little sweetheart so muc

Lobby at our hotel

Our room

Even a balco

I love the ceilin

Dinner at Wild Bills….me, Rikki, Jane, Cheryl, Linda, Carrie, and Tracey

The guys…Brian, Jim, Ralph, Bill, Bear, Jay, and Ro

The guys were in the Jailhouse lol

 We ate breakfast at 8.  It was good and the lady working did a great job keeping everything filled and the tables clean. We went back to our room and read our Bibles. At 9 we left for our final trip destination.  I drove first, than Bill, than me, and then Bill for the final stretch.  We got to our hotel at 12:30 and checked to see if we could get into our room early.  She told us it was ready, so checked us in.  It’s a beautiful hotel.  There are new owners, so the have remodeled and now are working on the first floor.  The pool is beautiful.  I will take a picture of it tomorrow.

Jane texted me when they were 110 miles away to see where we were, than Linda texted me to say they were here.  We met them in the lobby for fresh cookies (chocolate chip and sugar cookies) and coffee.  We visited as others from our group got there and joined us.  Jane and Carrie asked if I wanted to go to a couple of thrift stores so I did.  The prices were high for thrift stores. I didn’t see anything I wanted for the prices, neither did Jane, but Carrie found a couple of things. We had fun.  We got back to the hotel, just in time to leave with everyone for dinner at Wild Bill’s.  Bill wasn’t too wild lol.  The food was yummy.  We visited lots.  Melissa called me and I couldn’t hear her good so I told her I would call her back.  We got backed to the hotel and went to the breakfast room and played two different games, the penny game and the donkey game.  Both were fun.  I got to our room and remembered I didn’t call Melissa.  I felt really bad, but it was 11:23 here and it’s an hour later there.  I texted her to call me tomorrow.  It was a fun day!

4/17/24, Got ready, packed last minute things, made sandwiches, then left at 9:30 on our trip to Minnesota, Stopped at Pat’s, then Walmart, Stayed in Wausau, Wisconsin

Jacob holding a Silkie Chicken when he was little. So adorable!

Jacob got some really nice sweatshirts and a shirt. Vi love all of fhem but this is my favorite!  He a great witness for the Lord.

Hotdog in Mackinaw City! It looked good enough to eat lol!

Lake Hiram at the Bridge. Lots of waves 

Cloudy day at the bridge.  Construction so we had to drive on the opposite side

 We got ready, then packed the last minute stuff.  I made egg salad sandwiches for our drive today, so we wouldn’t have to stop as long.  Bill picked the kind of sandwiches.  Those are his favorite.  I packed the cooler and then we left at  9:30.  Bill drove to Sam’s Club and filled the car up.  Then I asked if he wanted me to drive so he could rest.  He was coughing and wheezing last night.  So I drove.  I talked to Kimmy while I drove.  I could see it was getting pretty dark ahead, so I talked to Kimmy till is started raining heavier.  Then I hung up and it poured.  I drove to Gaylord, then we switched.  Bill drove over the Mackinaw Bridge, then when we got down US 2 a ways, I drove again. I texted Rody and he was just getting the car from the parking lot to get Vikki and take her to Souper Cafe to eat, then home.  She was about starving she said when she called me.  She said her colonoscopy went well and she didn’t have any polyps.  Yay!  Charlie had surgery on two toes and that went well too.  I thanked the Lord for both going well and prayers being answered.  Melissa called  to have me pray because she heard they were having MSU students  go to the basement or hallways because there were tornado warnings.  I talked to Kimmy after and Jacob was ok and thought it was pretty cool to watch. He sure is like the rest of the guys in our family lol. 

We ate our sandwiches and had snacks.  Stopped to get gas another time and stopped a couple of times to use the bathroom.  He drove the last stretch for the day.  We stopped at Art and Pat’s our UP Area Reps. House.  Art was working, so we stopped at Walmart to surprise him and see him.  After that we came to Wausau and stayed at the Stoney Creek Hotel. It is very nice.  We got here around 7.  Bill said he was feeling better today but was still tired and weak when the VA checked on him.

We read our Bibles, talked to all three girls, then went to bed.

Tues., 4/16/24, Walked around yard to look at new plants, Went to VA Urgent Care with Bill, Picked Peyton and Isaac up from school, packed for trip

Our Ornamental Pear Tree is so pretty the girls and families got me a couple of years ago

Isaac when I dropped him off at home

Peyto

Added a few more things to the new garden

My Clematis is amazing.  This all looked dead a few days ago and now green leaves are coming all over it and blossoms are on it already

I didn’t sleep real good again because I was listening to make sure Bill was ok during the night.  I got up at 7:30 and took a shower, then started reading my Bible.  Bill got up and started reading his Bible too.  Then he asked me if I wanted to go to the VA Urgent Care with him.  Of course I did.  I was so happy he was going to get checked out.  I had been asking him to go, because I didn’t want to ride in a car all the way to Minnesota with him and catch what he has because he sounds awful.  I also didn’t want to have him go around the group of State Coordinators we will be hanging out with if he was contagious.  We got in really fast, and the nurse checked him out first and said she could hear a crackle in his lungs.

The doctor came in after the hour was up for the results for the Covid, RSV and influenza test to be read.  He said everything was negative and Bill isn’t contagious.  We were happy about that.  He said it was most likely from the compost and diagnosed him with Bronchitis.  He sent him home with an antibiotic.  Lots of people are praying for him.  We came home and I did some weeding outside.  I moved some more things into our new garden and looked at all of the plants to see how they were doing.  Everything looks good.  

 I left to go pick up Peyton and Isaac from school.  I had offered to do this because Vikki had to prepare for her colonoscopy she’s having tomorrow.  I was happy to see them and they were happy to see me.  They were so talkative and cute.  I took them home and on my way back to my house, stopped at the bank and got some money out for our trip.  I talked Vikki and she feels the same way as I do about preparing for a Colonoscopy....Yuk!

I worked on my blog, then I am going to bed early because we are leaving at 9:30 in the morning and I have to get up early to finish backing all the last minute things and want to pack the cooler and a lunch before we leave too.   

 

Monday, 4/15/24, Kimmy came over, she brought me plants we planted together, went to Klucks, Boehlers, Home Depot and Menards, My BFF Vikki came over, Met Kimmy at Boat Launch, Went to Aldi and Walmart

Got a new Pink Clematis today

I planted it in the back by the garage entrance door

Also Planted the fern in the middle today

Kimmy and I planted the plants she brought throughout the garden before we left for Klucks

I put my angel from Vikki E. in the garden.  It looks so pretty.  It looks pretty lit up when it dark too

I didn’t sleep much last night because I was concerned about Bill and the cough he has.  I got up with him and got him Motrin because he had a headache in the night.  Vikki called in the morning and asked if I wanted to meet at Kluck’s to use her gift card for there.  Then she called back and said Kimmy wanted to go, so Kimmy came to go there with me instead of Vikki going.  Kimmy got here and surprised me and brought some plants she dug up from her house.  We went out and planted them right away and watered them.  They are so nice and that was sos sweet of her.  We went to Kluck’s and walked through one of their buildings with perennials in it.  Then we walked towards where he said there were more.  A guy pulled up on a golf cart and got off to talk to us.  He asked me if I went to New Life and I told him yes.  I didn’t recognize him, but he recognized me and said he knows Bill.  Then he told me who his wife was and I knew who she is and also know their daughter Grace.  He talked to us for a long time and told us we should come back May 1st because they would have all of their perennials out then.  Right now they just a small amount out.  We looked at them and they looked nice, but decided we would come back when they were all out.  We went to Home Depot after that to look for a Solar Water Bubbler for the pond.  They didn’t have any and neither did Menards when we stopped their later.  We went to Boehlers and looked at all of their stuff.  They had beautiful and very cool things, but expensive.  They didn’t have many plants out yet either, but we looked at what they had.  

We stopped to Menard’s after that and both found plants for 3.99 we liked, plus each got another Clematis to plant for 13.99.  Kimmy found a really cute curved trellis for her’s to put around half of her pole.  She sent me a picture and it sure looks cute.

 

Kimmy’s new Clematis and trellis

Cute rock decorations for the garden at Boehler's

When we got back to my house, Kimmy set my plants by the garage and I came in the house and got ready because my best friend, Vikki, had called and was on her way.  Kimmy had to leave right away to go pick up Adam.  I was carrying the plants back to the back deck when Vikki got there.  We walked around the back and she looked at the garden, the pool which she hasn’t seen, and then we came in the house and sat drinking our pop and visiting.  She had been to her mom and dad’s who are in their 90’s to clean their house.  She stayed for about an hour and then had to leave because she has a long drive back to Grand Haven.  It was so good to see her and spend time with her.  

Melissa called me to pray that she finds their keys to the van.  It’s their only set.  I was headed to Melissa’s to help her and praying on my way, when she called to say she found them.  Abby their dog, was laying on them.  We thanked the Lord, then instead of going to her house, I went to Aldi’s to get some things I need for our trip to Minnesota.  I went to Walmart to and got a few more things, and some of my free over the counter items from my insurance.  I got Bill some Robitussin and then went to Culver’s and got him a large Concrete Mixer which he had called to request and also got myself a small one. 

We sat on our loveseat recliners and enjoyed them.  I read more in my Bible and so did Bill.  

Worked on my blog and relaxed the rest of the night.  Bill thinks he’s feeling better.  He had a temp of 100.5, but then it went down to 99.0.  Praying he is better quickly.

Sunday, 4/14/24, Went to prayer/church, Celebrated my March birthday with Wes, Gayla and Joel, Walked outside, pulled a few weeds, washed my muck boots

Pastor Ken gave a great message this morning

Joel, Gayla and me with my birdhouse they got me for my birthday.  They know me well!

Fun time playing 3-13

Bill was super happy!  It was really close between him and Gayla!

False Forget Me Nots are growing nicely

Funny video Kenzie sent me of Rehvyn

Kimmy’s cute pots she made with cactus starts in them to sell at the store.  They should be a real good seller.  Just beautiful Kimmy.  People will love watching the plants grow too.

Lucy got a hair cut!

I was talking to Kenzie tonight and she sent me these pictures.  I love how he’s holding her finger.  So sweet!

Mykenzie and Rehvyn

Kenzie and Peyton!  They are quite the artists.  I love their chalk art.

We went to prayer, then into the sanctuary for worship and the church service.  It was awesome!  We prayed with people after church.  On our way home, we went through the car wash with the truck.  We came home and changed.  I walked outside for a while, then came in and read my Bible.  At 1, our dear friends, Wes, Gayla and Joel, who are family in our hearts, had us over for dinner and wouldn’t let me bring anything or do anything because they were celebrating my Birthday. They had missed it when they were gone to Florida for the month of March. Wes cooked yummy burgers on the grill, Gayla made potato salad and corn. Then she brought me in a strawberry shortcake with a candle and they sang Happy Birthday. Everybody else had strawberry shortcake after I blew my candle out. Everything was super delicious. They gave me a beautiful birdhouse that I can’t wait to hang. They know me well! We played 3-13 and spent the day catching up and enjoying each other’s company. You would think they would let me win at 3-13 too, but they didn’t lol. They are such blessings from the Lord to us and always so kind and caring. We had so much fun today.  We left at 6 to come home.  It was in the mid 70’s, so I walked around outside again and pulled some weeds.  I love looking at the flower garden and pond all looking so beautiful.  Just amazing how fast it got done with how much work it was.  I am certainly enjoying it lots already.  Bill is coughing after working in the compost.  I prayed over him.  Prayers are appreciated that it goes away quickly, and if he should see a doctor before our trip, he does.  

I texted with Kimmy today, Vikki, and Adam.  I talked with Kenzie.  Mylee ran off and now she isn’t moving her tail.  Pray for her too please.