Sunday, 5/12/24, Mother’s Day, Said goodbyes, then left for home. Kimmy & family and Vikki and Peyton were at our house, We ate pizza, Bill, Eli and I went to Jack and Evan’s play, Matilda, came home and Kenzie and Rehvyn, Rody and Isaac were here, Stacie, DJ and Kody came too, then Melissa and family.

Kenzie face timed me while we were riding home from camping this morning.  She was sweet and wished me a Happy Mother’s Day and Rehvyn was the cutest! It made me so happy!!!

Evan’s wife in the play

Jack and one of the directors of the play

Evan with the director

Evan, Melissa, Jack and Bruce

Eli in the picture with them

Jack, Hailey and Evan

Jack, me, Evan and Bill

Jack and Evan with their Papa Ron and Grandma Debbie

Eli, Evan and Jack

Jared and Kimmy prescreening our screen door while we were at the play.  Kit Kat clawed it   up last year after we moved her outside from the garage

Hailey loves her second cousin, baby Rehvyn so much and is so good with him.  He loves her so much too!

Isaac, Kenzie and Peyton

Eli, Bill, Hailey, Rehvyn, Peyton and Jared

Stacie and Rehvyn...another one of our family who loves Rehvyn

Jacob and Kenzie

Grammy Vikki and her Baby Boo

Adam, Eli, Kimmy and Jacob

Peyton, Hailey, Jacob and Adam taking a 5 point selfie

Hailey and Peyton looking like twins....such fun girls together

Me, Hailey and Melissa doing a 5 point

Nana and Hailey

Me and Melissa

Me with my beautiful, kindhearted, wonderful daughters

Hailey, Evan, Jack, Melissa and Max (Vader in the picture too)

Pictures of Hailey and Rehvyn

One of my orioles

Me and my sweet baby

Me and Kenzie watching Rehvyn feel the grass.  He loved it!

Kenzie put Rehvyn on my little bridge...She sure loves her baby boy and he sure loves his Mommy.  Kenzie’s first Mother’s Day 

Peyton, Vikki, Rehvyn, Isaac and Kenzie

Grammy Rody and Rehvyn

Peyton and Rehvyn...she loves him so much too and he loves his Pey Pey

Beautiful plant on my shepherd’s hook that Bruce, Melissa and family gave me.  I look forward to getting a plant for the front each year from them.  They never disappoint!  Always pick the most beautiful plants out.

We got everything packed up, closed the camper up, said our goodbyes to everyone, then loaded the motorcycle in the trailer,  We ate snacks on the way home.  We also watched our church service which was very good.  I loved having Kenzie Face Time me so I could wish her a Happy Mother’s Day too since it’s her special first one.  Rehvyn sure smiles and is so fun to Face Time with.  We took the scenic route home which was nice.  The girls all called to tell me Happy Mother’s Day.  I told them Happy Mother’s Day too!  They are the best and most loving mom’s ever!  I love that they are teaching our grandkids about God, how important it is to read His Word, and to follow Him always.  God sure has blessed us by having such wonderful daughters and then giving us such amazing son in laws also.  We never have to worry about our grandkids being very loved and cared for. 

When we got home, Kimmy, Jared and the boys were here and Vikki and Peyton were here.  Mykenzie and Rehvyn were here too which was a super special surprise, because Kenzie didn’t think she was going to be able to come.  It made me so happy.  I fed my birds right away because the food was low and some was out.  My oriole jelly was empty so I filled that first.  I went in and had a piece of pizza that Kimmy and Jared brought.  Rody was on his way with more pizza and also a cheeseless pizza for Bill.  We had to leave before he got here because Bill, Eli and I were going to see Jack and Evan in their play, Matilda Jr.  It was a musical.  The boys did outstanding acting and singing in it.  We were so proud of them.  There was lots of clapping and cheering during the moments in the play where it was appropriate.  Melissa, Bruce, Hailey, Bruce’s mom and Step dad were there too and we all sat together.  The boys had a Cast party afterwards, so we came home.  Jared mentioned a mouse trap in the screen door on the deck’s sliding glass door.  I said it was there to keep Kit Kat off, even though he told me it wasn’t set.  I never looked at the door.  Well I went inside and then came out that door and couldn’t believe the screen was new they had done it for me.  What a wonderful gift too.  We all sat on the deck and I opened my gifts from Kimmy, Vikki and their families.  First I got a toolbox loaded with tools to keep in the garage for ME.  I needed those believe me.  It was super heavy to open.  Vikki told me the next gifts weren’t heavy.  Well the little one was a concrete lady bug that was heavy for a little package.  Then the last one I almost dropped because it was a medium sized concrete goose and was super heavy.  I caught it on the edge of my chair.  I sure loved everything.  Stacie, DJ, and Kody came over and brought me a beautiful plant for outside.  Hailey came over soon after we got home.  She wanted her Rehvyn time before Kenzie had to leave.  Melissa and the rest of the family got here a little later after the boys cleaned up from being in the play and wearing makeup.  Everyone had fun relaxing and hanging out together.  It was a beautiful  sunny 73 degree day.  All who wanted pizza had pizza and later we had drumsticks.  Everyone had to leave, so I read my Bible and then worked on catching up on my blogs after I caught up on a few things around the house that needed tending to since I was camping.  What a great day and what a wonderful family God has blessed me with.

5/11/24, rainy morning, Chicken in crockpot l, Ride at 11 on motorcycles to bike blessing., 46 degrees in the morning, Fixed dishes for potluck, Chrissy came for a visit, potluck, campfire and meeting, Northern Lights viewing

Group picture of all of us at the bike blessing in Kalkaska

Jeff speaking about Run for the Son and CMA

My Sweet William

    The brave ones who went on the ride to Lake Michigan...Ron, Bev, Jeff, Lucy, Al and Bill

Sweet friends Ron and Bev

Our fearless leader on all of our rides up by Cadillac...Jeff know so many beautiful and scenic roads for motorcycle rides

At our campfire behind our motorhome

It was a big circle with 24 of us

The Northern Lights around 11 p.m. Such a beautiful gift from the Lord to watch

It rained until about 9 in the morning.  I looked at the weather and saw cold temperatures and high winds for the day, so decided not to go on the motorcycle ride at 11.  Bill went with Jeff, Al, Lucy, Bev and Ron.  I rode with Jeff, Doug and Sue in the truck.  Because of it being cold out, there weren’t many at the Bike Blessing.  Last year there were so many because of the nice weather.  There was a bake sale there to raise money for RFS, so we all bought stuff.  We opened in prayer, did the Pledge of Allegiance, then there were three speakers.  The bike blessing was at the end.  I talked to a guy named Jeremy who came late, and he told me he was going to a fundraiser for a girl who was really sick in Gaylord.  I told him my Nephew was the Under Sheriff there and is running for Sheriff in Antrim County and asked if he knew him.  He did.  He went to school with Matt and had just seen him a couple of days ago.  I also talked to someone else who lived up there who said he was going to remember my Nephew’s name when it came time to vote.  I texted my sister, Brenda so she could let Matt know.  We went back to the campground and the others went on the ride.  I had put my chicken in the crock pot in the morning so it would be done in time for the potluck.  I had also made my banana cream pudding dessert last night, so I just needed to put cool whip on it.  It was pretty cool and windy out, so I put the awning in and relaxed in the camper, reading my Bible, praying and then listening to a podcast.  Chrissy came over for a nice visit while her hubby took a nap.  I put the water for my noodles on to boil on the induction burner in the camper.  It works so nice.  Bill got back to the camper and came in and visited for a minute with us, then Chrissy had to leave and I had to mix my noodles, chicken and cream of chicken soup together.  Then I added cooked frozen peas.  We carried everything over to the pavilion.  There was a homeless man who lives in a tent in the campground Kathy and Jeff invited.  He came to our campsite when we got to the campground and offered to help if Bill needed help.  Kathy and Jeff know him well now and have been trying to help him.  Bill talked to him earlier and he accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior.  He was talking to me about it and about his estranged family.  He was in tears, but said he knew to trust in the Lord.  I encouraged him and I know as he talked to others they did too.  He was so happy to be invited and cared about.  Love how God sets up divine appointments.  We all ate fast because it was so cold, then we had a campfire and had a group meeting which Bill did a great job leading.  We sure have amazing Area Reps who are great helps taking care of CMA chapters.  Some of us went in and warmed up and came back out and some stayed in their campers.  At 9:30, we bundled up and went to watch for the Northern Lights by the lake.  The two Jeff’s, Doug and Sue and Bill ended up leaving.  Paul, Debbie, me and Bev, sat on a bench together and waited until 10:45....We saw some beautiful colors.  Paul and Debbie went in and Bev and I waited until 11.  We saw some beautiful flashing pinks in the sky after they left.  It was the first time I’ve actually seen the Northern Lights.  We got cold too, so we headed back to our campers.  Bill was waiting up for me and wanted to play our game of 3-13.  He beat me bad, but we sure had fun.  Such a great night!

Friday, 5/10/24, Went for motorcycle ride, relaxed and visited with friends who were here and more as they came, ate dinner in town, sat around campfire, facetimed with Melissa to see the northern lights

Riding up to Torch Lake today

Sue and I on the bench with Doug and Jeff standing behind us.  Jeff lives here and always leads us on great rides!  

Torch Lake

Thursday, 5/9/24, Fed birds, orioles were here but didn’t see bluebirds, packed last minute stuff, went to Walmart, Headed to Manton in the motor home, arrived at campground, Dave came over, Kathy and Jeff came over. Sat around campfire at Jeff’s

Wed., 5/8/24, Wes’s Birthday! Kimmy and Jacob came over, Put outside furniture out, went to Klucks, Kimmy and I weeded and planted plants, I have bluebirds, Kimmy edged my flower garden, we emptied the pond and leveled it, packed some for our trip tomorrow in the motorhome, Vikki came over in the morning & when she got out of work, Bill mowed with our new tractor, Jared helped him find the fuel hose problem, Wes & Gayla stopped over

Papa and Jacob by Bill’s new tractor.  Jacob helped him get the mower on.  Thank you Jacob 

Bill mowing the grass...He’s pretty happy on his John Deere

Jacob and Kit Kat

Kimmy was working on edging the garden and saw bluebirds.  She took all of these great 
pictures for me.  I was picking up Jack and Morgan from school and taking them to play practice.  Thank you for such great pictures Kimmy

Hailey and Evan at his band concert.  He did a great job and got lots of compliments. We didn’t get to go, but on the 17th we get to hear him play the songs at the music festival.  So excited after seeing the video.  I would post it, but it’s blurry

Jacob and Kimmy helped put the furniture where it goes.  We sat out there today, but I put the cushions away since we are leaving in the morning

Debbie called early and wanted to thank us for being there to pray for her yesterday.  I was just happy to hear from her.  No thanks was needed.  She is in lots of pain, but doing ok.  Tomorrow should be lots better I pray.  Kimmy and Jacob came over at 8:15 this morning.  We went outside and moved the outside furniture where it goes, so we could sit out there and enjoy the nice day.  Kimmy and I got to say hi to Abi when Jacob was talking to her.  She’s sweet!  Jacob also got my bike down for me.   Thanks Kimmy and Jacob. Vikki came over and she and Kimmy went to do something they needed to do for Mother’s Day.  I went to pick up a tension rod and got some drumsticks.  When they got back, I made Vikki a coffee and she had 15 minutes to visit before going to work.  Jacob was a great help to papa with putting on the mower to the John Deere.  They are a good team.  Kimmy and I saw orioles and the Rose Breasted Grossbeak was here too.  Vikki & Rody gave Kimmy and I a $200 gift certificate to Klucks Nursery they got when his mom passed away, since she has all the plants she wants and doesn’t have room for more.  Kimmy, Jacob and I went to Klucks and walked around.  It is a big place.  Jacob finally went and sat in the van because the blister on his heel was hurting him.  We were there three hours.  Kimmy got a Hydrangea, an Azalea, and a Clematis.  I got a flat of ground cover....I gave Kimmy 3 of those so she could plant some too.  I wanted to give her more, but it was all I could do to get her to take 3.  I will have lots soon, with all the plants we planted today.  Our total came to $198.15 with my $20 senior discount.  We sure got close to the amount.  The girt card expires May 12th so we had to get what we wanted now because I am going out of town.  We stopped at Tim Horton’s for Ice Capps on the way home.  First time Jacob had one there.  He liked it.  We tried to find the post office in Shields, but my GPS took us to Meijer’s.  That’s not the post office we wanted.  Kimmy decided to mail her stuff in Freehand on her way home.  

When we got home, we ate turkey and cheese sandwiches.  Jacob took a shower. Afterward he showed me his foot.  I gave him a bandage and Neosporin to put on his blister.Then Jacob left when it was time to pick up Adam and Eli. He also had an orthodontist appt.  What did Kimmy and Jared do when he wasn’t around to be so helpful.  

Kimmy planted a firecracker plant (I can’t remember the actual name) in my flower garden.  Kimmy and I weeded the bricked area by the bird bath and bridge.  Then I dug holes and placed plants by them and Kimmy planted them.  We were quite the team because it didn’t take long at all.  Vikki came while we were working to visit again.  We finished up and it looks so nice.  I left to pick up Jack and Morgan to take them to play practice.  I stopped at Jack’s and got more turkey and a few other things I need for our camping trip.  When I got back, Vikki had left 15 min. before I got her and Kimmy was edging the new flower garden.  She called me over and showed me some pictures she took.  Yay!  I have bluebirds.  I was just saying I hadn’t had any since the second year we lived here.  The pictures are so beautiful.  Kimmy wanted to empty our pond and level it, then fill it again.  That girl has so much energy and is such a great help.  She filled buckets and I dumped them on plants, then on the grass. Then she caught the two fish and put them in a bucket of water.  I was going to scoop some water from the middle to help, and I put my foot down on the first level with the stones and my foot slipped because the pond was slippery from the algae, and down I went.  I didn’t have far to fall since I was already pretty low.  I was laughing so hard I couldn’t get up.  I fell right on the cushy plant Kimmy had planted earlier.  Kimmy came and helped and Bill got off the tractor and came to see if I was ok.  I finally got where I could get up myself.  I didn’t get hurt, so was very thankful for that.  Bill helped hold the pond up, while Kimmy pushed dirt under at one end.  They got it pretty level.  Then we filled it with water.  Bill’s tractor wasn’t running good after mowing the grass, and he still had to pick it up.  Jared got here and the two of them started working on the problem.  They found out it was the fuel line.  They got it to work.  Bill will have to replace it, but it sure did an ice job picking up the grass.  They left after that.  I gave Jared a Pepsi, and Kimmy a can of Lemonade to take.  After they left, I went to Meijer and got mealworms and put them out.  I want my bluebirds to stay.  Charlie and Sue stopped over so Charlie could look at the tractor Bill got.  I talked to Sue while she sat in her vehicle.  She still is healing up from her knee replacement.  We had a nice visit.  Kimmy sent me pictures of where she planted her plants.  They look so nice. Wes and Gayla stopped after his birthday dinner in Frankenmuth.  Gayla was tired so stayed in the van.  They pick us up some Molasses and Sugar cookies from the Amish store in Clare.  Yum.  We gave Wes his birthday card and gift.  Then I went out to talk to Gayla and Bill visited a few minutes with Wes.  I made chili for camping.   Bill sampled it. 

I took a shower, talked to Melissa, read my Bible did my blog.  Now it is almost 1 am, so I am going to bed.