Wed., 1/29/25, Took Jeep in, breakfast at Leo’s, Melissa and I spent the afternoon with Matthew, prepared food for tomorrow night’s dinner, listened to CMA officer training video’s,

My new Yeti 10 oz cup.  

Maybe this is why Kit Kat wants to come in the house every time she sees me through the windows or door. She lived in the garage when we first got her and I let her in to play and so I could hold her.  

I forgot to take a picture of Matthew,  Melissa and I like I wanted to, but did get this one of Sheraz lying on the couch

5 pretty red cardinals in this picture.    

Good size for me to hold and just the right amount of coffee in it.  Bill took his Jeep in to get the right part on for the trailer hitch.  They had put the wrong one on.  I followed him and we went to breakfast at Leo’s afterward.  He had eggs, bacon and pancakes and I had an omelet, hash browns and toast.  I shared the potatoes with Bill.  When we were done eating, Bill was paying and we saw Randy French.  Then we went to the other side and talked to his wife Nancy for a while.  We picked the Jeep up after that.  When we got home, we read our Bibles.  Then Jim called Bill and wanted to meet for lunch with him at Bringer Inn.  I called Melissa to see if she was available to go visit my Nephew, Matthew with me.  She said she could, so I texted Matthew to see what kind of food he wanted me to pick up for lunch.    

We finally decided on Cracker Barrel, so I called in our order while I was at Melissa’s and it was ready when we got there.  Melissa and I got grilled chicken tenders and Matthew just wanted a salad.  When we got to Matthew’s we visited while we ate our yummy lunches.  Then we hung out and listened to some good Christian Rap songs Matthew likes.  The words were amazing!  Then I played my favorite song for him.  He liked it too.  We talked a lot about the Bible and Scripture.  Matthew showed us all the Scripture he has memorized on a Bible app he has.  We talked about our memories of when he was little too.  It was such a nice afternoon together.  We dropped off some beads and bracelet cord that I had ordered for Peyton and then I took Melissa home.  When I got home, Bill was at his MRI appt.  I baked an angel food cake for when Wes and Gayla come for dinner tomorrow night.  We are late celebrating her birthday.  I also cooked burger and got the spaghetti sauce cooked, so when Kimmy comes to visit tomorrow I won’t have to do it then.  We listened to CMA officer training videos since we will be training people at Houghton Lake Saturday.  

Tues., 1/28/25, Went to get groceries, Bill picked up wood pellets, I picked up Peyton and Isaac from school, went to prayer

 

This was the only picture I took today.  I took it to show my Sister, Brenda, the Peace Plant that I got from her daughter in law, Sara’s, shower almost 25 years ago.  She also wanted to see the Crown of Thorns plant.  

Had coffee and Christmas cookies for breakfast.  I read a chapter in John that Maddy and I are doing each day.  Made a grocery list out to pick up things needed when Wes and Gayla come to dinner Thursday evening.  We are going to celebrate her birthday.  She doesn’t know it though.  I went to Jack’s, Meijer, and Aldi.  When I got home, I saw that Bill picked up the rest of the pellets.  He could only get 10 bags, last week because they were out.  He had them all stacked in the garage.  I went in and saw him and he asked if I needed help carrying the groceries in.  I told him he had already done lots of hard work and should rest.  

I didn’t have that many groceries, so I just brought them in and put them away.  I did need his help to carry in the 50 lb. bag of Wild Bird Seed though.  The birds were just about out of everything.  I refilled all the feeders and they were happy again.  Bill and I each had two Clementine oranges.  They were so good.

I went to get the cloths out of the dryer, and Bill had them out and folded already.  So sweet of him.  I was sure happy.  I called my sister, Brenda, and talked to her about 45 minutes.  She’s having an MRI tomorrow at 6 p.m. because she is having back pain.  I prayed with her and then we talked more.  She always prays for us too, and will be praying for Bruce’s hand surgery on Friday.  My phone alarm went off, so I had to hang up so I could go pick up Peyton and Isaac from school.  Vikki had therapy, at the time they needed to be picked up.  

I forgot to bring the rolls she asked me for, so we stopped at my house to get them.  I had them in the freezer.  We went to their house and was using my key, when Vikki opened the door and was home already.  I went in for a few minutes, then headed back home. 

When I got home, the beads and cord I had ordered for Peyton was on the table.  I wanted it to be here when we came here.  Just missed it by a few minutes.  

I went to prayer in the evening at church.  It was so awesome.  We worshipped and prayed for people in our congregation and family members who needed prayer.  Gene came for the first time.  He is our electrician and friend.  We had a good group there tonight and Jeff did a great job leading it.  He had everyone pray for me too healing of eczema.  Such a blessing to have people care and pray.  I am sure blessed.  

Vikki called me and had read a good book.  She told me all about it and did a great job explaining it.  She tells it in such an interesting way.  I did my “read the Bible in a year” reading.  Job 4-11 were the verses for today. 

Bill and I had chocolate covered almonds and nuts for a snack. 

Monday, 1/27/25, Kimmy came over, I met Maddy for coffee, Vikki came over to visit with Kimmy, Kimmy and I took our tree and Christmas decorations down, Bill had an elder meeting, Melissa came over

 

Sunrise out the upstairs window this morning

 Christmas stuff put away in the attic
Behind all of those tubs are boxes with the Nativity figures in them

Living room back to normal

Family room back to normal

Bedroom back to normal.  This room had the floor pretty much covered with Christmas tubs and Nativity figurines.   

Dining room back to normal

Bill looking very cool in his leather jacket before he left for the Elder’s meeting.  Keeping in style like the grandsons 

I got up early and got ready to go meet Maddy.  We met at Biggby for coffee and a muffin.  It sure was windy out.  Snow was blowing over the road where the open fields were.  We had a nice time talking and planning.  We are going to start reading a chapter in the Bible each day and then get together once a week to discuss them.  

When I was leaving this morning, Kimmy pulled in the driveway.  I rolled my window down and talked to her for a few minutes.  She said Vikki was almost here.  

When I got home, Kimmy was pretty relaxed in the lazyboy with her favorite blanket of mine over her.  We watched a video of Dennis from Copper Harbor when he made baskets.  I enjoyed watching it.  Boy, he sure is a hard worker, cutting the right trees down and then peeling the bark off, and getting good wood for the basket.  Very interesting.  The baskets were beautiful.  

After we watched that, Kimmy asked me if I wanted to take our Christmas tree down. I said no, but then she said it would be lots easier to do it together, so I changed my answer to a yes.   She worked, making lots of trips  bringing tubs downstairs and taking the decoration filled ones upstairs. I did a few light ones, but she did lots more and some heavy ones.  Then when we had the ornaments put away in all the labeled boxes, she wanted to put all of the other Christmas decorations away.  We did that.  Bill brought in all of the Nativity figurines.  Kimmy wiped off the bottoms of them, then carried them all upstairs.  The room was filled with all the tubs and figurines.  I should have taken pictures.  Thank you so much for all of your help today.  We ate leftovers for lunch.  Kimmy went to leave, but then found out that Eli wanted to stay later and work out at his school.  Bill wanted to play 3-13 while we ate our strawberry jello with strawberries in it.  Yum.  Bill was the big winner, I was next and Kimmy was last.  She had told us before we started playing that she was having a winning streak with Jared.  She sounded kind of sure that she would beat us too.  She had to leave after that.  I sent some plates that were left over from the party for her to take and use.  Also sent ham and dark meat turkey home with her.  It was so windy, with gusts up to 45 mph.  I told her to let me know when she was home.  She did and I was happy to hear it.  

I looked at my pictures, and put everything back on the end tables and shelves.  I took pictures so it would make it easy, and it did.  Then I packed all the nativity pieces in their boxes, and then put all the tubs of Christmas decorations away.  What a great job to have done.  Thank you so much Kimmy.  You are the hardest worker and are so much fun to do stuff with.  

In the evening, Bill went to the Elder’s meeting.  Melissa called and was taking Jack to fencing.  I told her she should come here and wait for him.  She said the roads were getting drifts because of the blowing snow.  She said Midland road was good, but when she went to turn on our road, it was slippery and she slid, then there were big drifts and also it was misting out and freezing.  They need new tires on their vehicle, plus a new wiper on the driver’s side.  She could hardly see at times.   I had been praying for her because I figured it would be bad out when I looked out the sliding glass door and saw that the deck was white with snow.  I was also praying that she wouldn’t get caught in a whiteout.  I was so glad when she came in the door.  We both had a bowl of ice cream.  We come up with a different route for her to take on her way back to get Jack.  She went on country roads and then got back on Midland road.  She called me when she got to the fencing place and told me the roads were much better that way.  She also let me know when she got home. I sure was happy to hear that too.  

Sunday, 1/26/25, went to prayer, than church service, Vikki and family came over for leftovers, Bill hung out with Max, watched the football game

Rehvyn fell asleep, so Vikki laid him on the floor.  He sure is a wonderful blessing!

Max at 5 Guys with Bill.  

We went to prayer before the church service.  Bill prays with Pastor and the Elders, and I pray with the intercessors.   Vikki, Rody, Peyton and Isaac, Hailey, Rehvyn and Bill  were sitting down when I went into the service.  Worship was so awesome.  Pastors message was really good too.  Rehvyn was so good in church.  Vikki gave him one cheerio at a time and each time he would give a big smile.  He is just the cutest and sweetest little boy.  He took turns coming to us all.  Vikki rocked him to sleep while the rest of us warmed up our food, then she laid him down and she fixed her plate.  Bill left to go pick Max up and spent the day with him.  They picked up a part for the Jeep down by Detroit.  It is supposed to improve gas mileage.  Then they went to Cabela’s and then to Five Guys to eat.  I was happy Bill took a picture.  He said Max thanked him for the fun day.  

After church, Vikki, Rody, Peyton, Isaac and Rehvyn came over for leftovers which is our tradition.  Kimmy and family were going to come too, but Kimmy decided she would come tomorrow instead, since Vikki had to leave early and take Rehvyn home today.  Since I was here by myself, I decided to take a nap.  It sure felt good.  

Bill and I watched the football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo.  It was a really good game.  We were happy KC won!  They are the AFL Champions.  They are a great team and I love how Patrick Mahomes always gives glory to God.  

 

Sat. 1/25/25, Schaard Christmas party at our house today, lots of fun, lots of food and lots of love and serving.....so thankful for Kimmy, Vikki and Melissa. being such great helps.

 

Aunt Debbie giving Rehvyn his Christmas Ornament

All of the grandkids opening their ornament from Aunt Debbie

Peyton, Hailey, and Jack with Kenzie, Isaac, Travis and Rehvyn in the background

Jack, Jacob, Evan, and Eli in front, Isaac, Peyton, Kenzie, Hailey, Debbie (holding Rehvyn), and Adam....yearly ornament picture!  Debbie has been doing this since all of them were little.

 

All of us girls and Rehvyn

Bill with his present from his sister Debbie...Cheetos shorts....

Debbie with snowman from Vikki, Kimmy and Melissa...they make such cute ones

Snowman for their Uncle Fred and Aunt Lourdes

Shani, Steve and Bill playing Bingo

Tom,, Kimmy and Bill playing Bingo...Jared called the bingo numbers

Hope and Adam with their bingo chip eyes lol

Isaac, Evan, Jack and Eli playing Bingo, and Jacob on the floor playing

Bill with grandsons Adam and Jacob

Jack with some of his bingo winnings and Eli

Matthew, Jared, me and Melissa

Hailey, Rehvyn and Matthew

Jared with Rehvyn

Oh no, what is Uncle Jared teaching him

Bill and I with the cute ornaments Debbie and family got us

Sisters...Kenzie and Peyton

Isaac, Kenzie and Rehvyn

I got up at 6:15, got ready, and then started getting the stuffing made and in the crockpot.  Baked the cheesy potatoes.  Put the turkey in the oven, and ham in the crockpot going.  Filled the candy dishes and put nuts in the bowl from Dick that he made. Set the tables, made coffee and put it in the carafe. Made up the two pies.  

Kimmy and Vikki got here early and offered to help with anything.  Kimmy brought corn from their garden, a delicious apple pie and two batches of rolls.  Vikki brought her delicious strawberry jello with strawberries in it.  Vikki made the punch.  Fred brought an apple pie and a cherry pie, and Debbie brought a veggie tray.  Hailey brought some delicious chocolate chip cookies she made.  Kimmy and Jared mashed the potatoes.  They always do that and they sure do a great job.  Bill carved the turkey, I made the gravy and Melissa warmed up the rolls. We all have our jobs down. We all set the food on the table, then Bill prayed and we all got our food and ate.  Kimmy, Vikki and Melissa made me sit down while they cleaned up everything and put the food away.  Shani and Debbie packed up food to take to sister C.  

We all played Bingo afterwards.  Jared was the caller and did a great job.  Bill did a good job passing out the prizes.  He picked them up from Sam’s Club and got lots of candy bars, a variety of chips.  He also got gift cards to Starbucks and Chic Fil A which is supposed to open here soon. There was lots of laughing and we all had fun!  

After everyone left, I read my Bible, then went to bed.  Such a fun family day celebrating the birth of Jesus again.