Saturday, 12/7/24, Celebrated Rehvyn’s first birthday, Happy 1st Birthday to our Sweet Rehvyn!!!! We went to Living Nativity

Kenzie helping Rehvyn blow his candle out

He loved his cake, especially the frosting

Papa with him

Travis, Rehvyn and Kenzie

Nana and her sweet boy

Grammy with Rehvyn

Evan and Rehvyn

Kenzie helping Rehvyn open his presents

Abi, Jacob and Rehvyn

Adam, Rehvyn, and Hope

Peyton and Rehvyn

Fireworks in the distance

18 of us waiting to go into the church

Hailey and Peyton singing while looking at themselves on Hailey’s phone.  They were so cute.

With our Shepherd listening to other shepherds by their fire

Rehvyn so cute with his present before he opened it

 Cookies and drinks afterwards

Our yearly picture always taken by the star

 I got up and put chicken in the crockpot that will be used in the noodle casserole we are taking tomorrow.  I went to Walmart and got a candle to go with the candle warmer I got as a gift to take tomorrow to the CMA Christmas party.  I looked for something for Bill’s guy gift and called him.  He told me he was coming there to find something.  I left and came home and made the pudding for banana cream dessert we are taking tomorrow to the party.

We went to Vikki’s at 12:45, so we would be there in time to give Vikki some frosting I had so she could frost the cake she made.  She made a yellow cake and Kenzie made banana cake.  Everyone came at 1 p.m. and Travis picked up lots of pizzas and ice cream.  When he got back we all celebrated Rehvyn’s birthday...his actual birthday is on the 11th.  He was just so cute holding his hands out to go to everybody, smiling so much, eating his cake, and opening his presents.  What a precious gift from the Lord.  We all had fun hanging out together.  Bill and I left and came home so I could turn the chicken off and let it cool down before we left for the living nativity.  We saw fireworks on our way to the Living Nativity.  We went in the room to wait and saved spots for Hailey and Jack who got there about 10 minutes after us. We all went into the church and sang songs, listened to musicians and singers, and heard the story of the birth of Jesus.  They dim the lights during it and always have a big angel show on the ceiling and tell part of the story.   We sang songs after that and then our shepherd came to the door and we, his family, followed him to Bethlehem. They had the marketplace and had a camel there.  We warmed by the fire of some shepherds a couple of times and they continued on with their part of the story.  Then as we got to the Inn, our shepherd knocked but there was no room at the Inn.  He told us we could try the stable he sent a young couple to earlier.  Then we saw the star and lots of people were excitedly telling us that a baby was born.  We turned the corner and there was Mary, Joseph and the baby along with, a miniature horse and a donkey.  It was 40 degrees out, but the wind picked up so it was cold where the wind was hitting us.   We ended up at a cross where we remembered what Jesus did for us at the cross.  Then we went in and had cookies and drinks.  

We stopped at Vikki’ s on our way home and she gave us some cake.  Then we stopped at Melissa’s to drop some ornaments off that I am giving Hailey.  Melissa came out to look at the Jeep and then Hailey came out.  We all went for a ride.  I let Melissa sit up front so she could try the heated seats out.  I read my Bible when I got home.   

Friday, 12/6/24,, Kimmy and Vikki came in the morning, Bill had a VA appt., met Maddy for coffee, went shopping, called Fred and wished him Happy Birthday

Wrapped Rehvyn’s birthday present and also lady’s Christmas gift for our party Sunday

While I was having coffee with Maddy, I received this picture of poor Kimmy’s cut finger.  Vikki had come over after work and had cut her thumb at work and had to go have it bandaged.  see picture below

I don’t like it when my twins do this kind of thing on the same day.

Another really cold windy day!  I got ready, then heard the girls come in.  I made coffee and Vikki and I had oatmeal with ours.  I gave them a light show with our Christmas tree lights and the 17 different ways the lights work.  After I realized there is a light show button on the remote that I could have just pushed instead of pushing each button.  Who would have ever thought!!!!!

Vikki visited until she had to leave for work.  She got a Sadie Robertson podcast ready so Kimmy and I could watch it.  We started another one after that was over, but Bill got home from his appointment and we decided to take Kimmy for a ride in the Jeep while it was still warm.   We rode around, then saw and estate sale and went to it.  We didn’t see much that we liked, but I did find a nice broom and dust pan and Bill bought a tool box full of great tools.  Then Kimmy said there was an estate sale in Freeland, so we went there.  Everything was 75% off and we all found stuff we liked and paid the right price for them...cheap.  When we got back home, Kimmy went through all of the tools and cleaned them.  

Vikki came back over after she got out of work.  She told us about cutting her finger at work and it bleeding really bad.  She had to go have it bandaged up.  I baked a pot pie for lunch and we ate it and some bread.  Bill was snowplowing the driveways and had some when he got done.  I told him it was too cold to be doing that today, but he did it anyway and did a great job.  Vikki really liked the tool box and things in it.  I had to leave to go meet Maddy at Biggby.  We had coffee and muffins and a great visit.  After an hour and a half, we left there and I went to Battery Plus to get a battery for Bill’s Jeep KeyFob and then toTarget to get Rehvyn’s birthday present.  Then I went to Aldi and got two bags of hash browns.  They only had 2 left.  The other store was completely out, so I was thankful to get them.  I use them to make my cheesy potatoes.

When I got home, Bill wasn’t hungry and neither was I, so I wrapped Rehvyn’s gift and a girl’s gift I have to take to our CMA Christmas party on Sunday.  It’s a busy weekend with Rehvyn’s party tomorrow, then the Living Nativity tomorrow night, then church on Sunday and the Christmas party after church.  We called Bill’s brother, Fred, and left him a Happy Birthday message.

I am knitting dish cloths in my spare time, which is a tradition to give the girls each Christmas.  

 

 

Thursday, 12/5/24, All schools in the area cancelled, The Kernel Burner guy came, Bill got a Jeep,, we went to Vikki’s, Souper Cafe Bread bowls, Zoom meeting

Yay, the Kernel Burner is cleaned and working now

 

Bill’s Jeep....Him and I in the front seat and Isaac and Peyton in the back seat. It rides nice and is super comfortable

I came into the living room and Bill was sleeping.  I sat in my recliner and saw this beautiful sunset out the window.

My bread bowl with potato soup in it.  Vikki told me how good these were at Souper Cafe, so Bill and I tried them.  She was right!  They are delicious.

I got up and took a shower.  Bill got up after I was done.  I was glad to see the schools were closed so no one had to be out on those icy roads.  Bill had to go pick up our Jeep, so he went out on those roads.  The Kernel Burner guy came.  He said he was glad we were so close, so he didn’t have to be out on those roads long.  He cleaned it and found a dead bat that came down the pipe and was blocking it.  He waited to make sure it worked before he left.  It’s so nice to have a nice warm cozy fire.  

Bill got home, so he took me for a ride in the Jeep.  It rides really nice and is very comfortable.  We went to Vikki’s to show her.  Peyton, Isaac and Vikki got in the back seat and we took them for a ride.  Isaac sure loved it.  He was so cute pointing out all of the great things about Jeeps.  I sure do love that boy.  Peyton brought out a little duck for papa to put in his Jeep.  She gave her dad one, and said she has one for Uncle Jared.  She’s so thoughtful and loves to to kind things.  I sure do love that girl too!

We came home and Bill was tired so he took a nap.  I had to clean up suit from the Kernel Burner Cleaner.  I wasn’t too happy with him because he always has called before and let us know ahead of time that he is coming.  That gives me time to cover everything.  Didn’t have the time to do that today, so I had to take everything off of all the shelves and dust them and wash them.   That wa a lot of extra work that could have been avoided.

Bill dropped me off at Aldi while he went and got the truck washed and picked up dinner for us at Souper Cafe.  He picked me up afterwards.  

We came home and he got ready for his Zoom meeting with our National Evangelist and all the other State Coordinators in Jay’d nine states.  Their meeting went good.  Vikki called me so I went in the other room and talked to her.  She is busy making everything nice for Rehvyn’s Birthday Party on Saturday.  She and Peyton got to see Rehvyn take 3 steps last night on FaceTime.  I figured he would walk before his first birthday.  I can’t wait to see him.  Kenzie Video called me today, but I missed it.  I forgot my phone at home when we went on our ride.  

Bill read his Bible in the morning and I read mine tonight.  I finished Amos.   

Wednesday, 12/4/24, Moved more summer clothes upstairs, made applesauce, went to Subway,

What we woke up to this morning

So thankful for the kitchen aid peeler/corer attachment!  It sure makes the job of peeling and coring apples easy

Lots of apple peels for the garden

Yummy applesauce cooking

5 containers of applesauce and 3 bags of apples for the freezer

Got up, made the bed together as we always do, Bill started reading his Bible. I put a load of clothes in the washer while my coffee was brewing, then I ate a bowl of cereal.  I read my Bible and Advent devotional.  Listened to some good worship songs.  

Bill went to Home Depot.  He wanted to know if I wanted to go do anything, but I had to get the half bushel of apples done, so just stayed home.  I got the apples done and bagged some for the freezer.  I made applesauce with the rest.  Happy to have them done.  They sure are nice apples and were such nice shaped apples it went fast with the peeler/corer attachment.

He went to Home Depot and also went to check out a couple of Jeeps.  He test drove the red one he liked.  I have two twin daughters who called me and want us to get it.  They love their dad and want him to be happy and stay young.  I guess a Jeep would help with that!

I put more suet out for the birds as the other one was empty today.  The birds are sure happy to be eating lots of good food. 

I talked to Kenzie.  We were going to go shopping together, but then found out there was a winter weather advisory and it was supposed to ice up the roads, then get a couple of inches of snow on top of that.  We decided it would be best for Kenzie just to go home after the vet visit.  She took her beautiful cat, Katniss, in because she was coughing and threw up.  They gave her medicine for a hair ball so she can get rid of it.  We are praying for quick results.

I was going to go to one store, but when I saw it was already misting and freezing, I decided to just pick up our subs and head back home.  When I came out a young guy told me to be careful because the sidewalk was icy and he almost fell.  Just then he almost fell again.  I took his advise.  I was leaving the parking lot, when I saw a girl get out of her car and she fell.  I waited and  yelled to see if she was ok.  She said she was.  I just wanted to get home after that.   We watched a good movie.

Jack and Evan are loving the snow....Evan ran off so Melissa only got a picture of Jack!

 

Tues. 12/3/24, Fed the birds, blew the leaves off the deck, Bill picked up Max and brought him over, I took him home, I went to prayer, we watched a Movie in the evening

The leaves are finally all off the tree

Bill and Max practiced shooting,  It was too cold for me, but I did go get a picture.  Max wasn’t cold and he was in shorts

Max and Bill cleaning the guns afterwards

There was lots of frost on the ground this morning.  I made my coffee then went into the living room and read my Bible.  Bill was already reading his.  I am almost done reading the book of Amos now.  

Bill had to go into town.  I ate Mac and Cheese that I got at Aldi’s and it was just like homemade.  Yum!  When I was done, I went outside and filled all of the bird feeders.  Of course, Kit Kat had to come get some attention from me.  I got the blower and blew the leaves off the deck.  There weren’t many so this will be the last time doing it this year.  Bill came home and had Max with him.  I was talking to Kimmy on the phone and she wanted to tell Max happy birthday.  Max sure smiled when he heard her and then he said thank you.

He and Bill went outside and practiced shooting for quite a long time.  Max said he wasn’t cold at all.  

They came in to clean the guns.  I offered to make hot chocolate for Max, but he didn’t want any.  After they got done, I took Max home and went in and visited with Melissa for a few minutes.   Then I went and got gift cards at Krogers since today was the last day the points were quadrupled.  I got all the ones I know I need for Christmas, plus some for Bill and I to use places we go.  When I got home, I made eggs, potatoes and bacon for Bill and I ate my left over pizza from last night.  Then I went to prayer at church.  It was snowing so hard, I couldn’t see with my bright lights on, so turned them on dim.  Prayer was awesome, and when I left it wasn’t snowing anymore.   I came home and we watched a good Christmas movie.  Sue called me and I talked to her for a while.  Then I unpaused our movie and we finished watching it.

 

Monday, 12/2/24, Met Melissa at Tim Horton’s, Sorted some gifts to be wrapped, picked up Evan and Jack from school, Badger had a great check up at the Vet, watched a movie

Jack when I dropped him off at home

 We read our Bibles and Advent Devotion.   Kenzie FaceTimed me.  Rehash was so cute and just so smiley.  It always makes my day to see them. 

I put some batteries in the ornament of Peyton, Isaac and McKenzie’s recorded voices with a Christmas greeting.  Kenzie gave it to me for Christmas when she was little.  I love hearing their young voices on it.  It got erased once, but worked out great because now I have all three of their voices on it.  I love my voice recorded ornaments from Jacob, Adam and Eli and also one from Hailey, Max, Jack and Evan.

 Bill is returning the Wi Fi we tried that he got from Verizon, so I got the box out of the attic for him.  He got ready and went to breakfast with his retiree friends, then returned the wifi box afterward.  He had an hour wait before getting waited on.  I met Melissa at Tim Horton’s to pick up the number I need for my car when I pick Evan up later today.  We went in and had Vanilla Dip donuts and she had a Mocha and I had a Cappuccino.  We had a nice visit in the comfy seats by the fireplace.  Sue called me, but I forgot my phone, so I had to talk on my watch.  She had a doctor appt. in the afternoon, so I told her I would pray.  She hung up and Melissa and I prayed right away for her.  Then I noticed that she hadn’t actually hung up and she heard us praying for her.  I talked to her a little more and then we really did hang up.  We left after that and each went home.  

I went through some boxes of things I ordered for Christmas and wrote names on them.  Tomorrow I will wrap them.  I am going to try to keep up wrapping right after the gifts arrive. I took the wooden turkey feathers out of the pumpkin on the porch and took the pumpkin to the garden.  I cleaned them off, glued the hat onto the turkey head better, and pack them away for next year.  I left to go pick up Evan from school.  After he got in my car, we headed to get Jack from his school.  On the way home I asked them if they wanted Frosty’s from Wendy’s or shakes from McDonald’s.  They said no thank you.  That was a first.  I think they were just excited to get home and hear what the vet said about Badger today and how his tests came out.  Melissa called me later and said two of Badger’s numbers were great and in the normal range.  The third, which is the one that was off the charts before, was now in the high end of the normal range.  Melissa said he is completely back to normal with how he acts at home.  Thanking God more!

I made pizza’s for dinner.  They were yummy.  During dinner we watched an Andrea Bocelli Family Christmas Movie on Prime. They sang my favorite Christmas songs that were about Jesus.  After that, we watched a good movie.  Can’t remember the name of it.

Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024 Happy 19th Birthday Max! We love you!Went to prayer and then church service, went to Culver’s after church, went to Max’s Birthday Celebration,

All of us at Culver’s for lunch

Happy Birthday Max!  We love you and are so thankful you are our grandson.  

Evan and Jack, Vader looking at the envelope on the floor.  He found a dollar that was left in it.  Smart doggie!

Max opening his cards with Vaders help...Abby watching

Hailey trying to look taller than Evan.  She reminds me so much of Melissa in this picture.

 We went to prayer, then went into the church service.  Vikki, Rody, Peyton, Regan, Isaac, Hailey and Evan were already seated when we came in.  Prayer was amazing, worship was really awesome this morning, and Pastor Ken’s message was so good.  We prayed for people after church, then visited with people.  We all went to Culver’s after service.  We had fun talking and enjoyed the good food and yummy sundae’s.    We came home and I got Max’s card and money ready, then we went to Menard’s and got a few things, and then went to Melissa and Bruce’s to celebrate Max’s birthday.  He asked for a white cake with white frosting this year.  It was super good and so was the ice cream.  He opened his gifts and cards after that.  Badger was doing amazing again today.  Tomorrow is his vet appointment.  Praying that his kidneys are working properly now.

We read our Bibles and our Advent devotion.  I love this time of year.  God is so awesome and I love the Christmas story in the Bible.  We watched a good movie, Love Covers All.