Friday, 3/21/25 Happy Birthday to my sister in heaven, Vikkiu and Kimmy came over, Went to Frankenmuth to meet my BFF Vikki, went to Vikki’s, went to Evan’s Musical .

Me and my best friend Vikki at Zehnders....my Vikki was named after her

Bruce, Evan and Melissa

Hailey and Evan

Bill, Evan and me

 Kimmy and Vikki came over around 8:45.  Vikki made the coffee and she and Kimmy ate oatmeal for breakfast.  I didn’t eat anything because I want to be really hungry for lunch today.  We had fun hanging out together.  They left to go pick up Peyton and Isaac from school.  Their teacher asked Isaac to play the piano for the residents at Edgewood again and Peyton went along to help the residents do a craft.  The resident who donated the piano only comes out of his room when Isaac comes to play the piano.  After they picked up Peyton and Isaac, they went to pickup Eli because he only had a half day too.   

Bill took my car to run it through the car wash.  He went kind of late, because I had to meet my friend, Vikki, when she was getting close to Frankenmuth.  She texted me, so I called Bill and I drove the Jeep and met him. to trade him for my car.  I love my Prius and love the great gas mileage it gets.  It still feels like a new car to me and it’s 10 years old.  Vikki came in her Prius too.  Hers it two years older than mine and still looks new and it has 290,000 miles on it.  Mine has 150,000.  We both have only had to replace brake pads and nothing else.  I spotted her car right away because she has a cross hanging from the mirror.  I parked next to it, then went inside to meet her.  We were celebrating our March birthdays, so we both got free family style chicken dinners and  sundaes for dessert.  It was so good.  We had so much fun talking and catching up.  We had lots of food left, so our waitress brought us boxes to pack all the left over food up to take with us.  Vikki had told me she couldn’t go to her moms because her sister had gone there, then a day later came down with a bad case of influenza.  Her mom didn’t want Vikki to get it.  I told her I could take all the left over food to her and drop it off on her porch.  She thought that would make her mom really happy.  We took a picture together, then we left.  I dropped the food off to her mom, and then went to Vikki’s to hang out with Vikki, Kimmy, Eli, Peyton and Isaac.  Peyton had to leave to go on a retreat with her youth group.  We relaxed while Eli walked on the treadmill, then Kimmy walked on it.  I came home so Bill and I would have time to eat before we went to Evan’s Musical.  He had a sub and I had leftover spaghetti from the Olive Garden.  He read his Bible in the morning, so I had to read mine before going to the Musical.  I also walked a mile on the treadmill.  We had about 15 minutes to relax before having to leave.

Melissa and Bruce came to Evan’s Musical too and I was so happy and surprised to see Hailey with them.  We all sat together and really enjoyed it.  Bill and I picked up some popcorn and candy bars.  I also had brought three candy bars from home.  I gave Melissa a Snickers, Bruce an Almond Joy and Hailey a Snickers with Almonds.  Hailey and Bill ate the popcorn.  It was such an enjoyable evening.  

  

Thursday, 3/20/25, Visited Diane, went to theater to see The Last Supper, went shopping at Meijer and Kohl’s for top for Marie, went to hospital to see Marie

No pictures today!  It snowed for quite a while, but didn’t stick long.  Bill and I read our Bibles, then he made homemade toast for us.  The bread was from Panera and it was so good. Kenzie FaceTimed me.  Rehvyn was just so cute and his smile is so big, it makes me smile.  He said Nana real clear, but he was looking at bananas.  Oh well, at least he cans say it.  We went to visit Diane B.  Her knees were healing well after she broke them in a fall.  She is able to walk with a walker some now.  The doctor is concerned that the incision could be getting infected so they are watching that.  We prayed for her while we were there.  She is so cheerful and sweet even when going through trials.  We enjoyed our visit.  After we left, we went to pick up Bill’s MRI results.  That didn’t take long.  We decided to head to the Midland Cinema to watch the movie, “The Last Supper”. It was good.  I was really thanking Jesus for what he went through for me and for everyone,  It was hard to watch and hard to think about all he went through and suffered for us.  He is the way, the truth and the life. No man comes to the Father but through Him.  He paid the biggest price...He paid it in blood.  After the movie was over, we went to Culver’s.  Marie called me and left a message, but I couldn’t understand some of it. I called her back, and she needed me to buy a really large blouse for her that would fit over her broken shoulder and arm without hurting her.  I picked three up for her to  choose from and will take the other ones back.  It took a long time to find the right size and material that she wanted.  I got to the hospital 5 minutes before visiting hours were over.  I took them up to her right away.  They were changing her sheets, so that took pretty long, then Marie was tired out from having to move, so I told her she could just try them on in the morning.  She had sounded on the phone like she would go home tomorrow, but when I talked to her there, she didn’t think she would go home tomorrow.  I left at around 8:40 and headed home.  Bill was in a zoom meeting with our National Evangelist and all the state coordinators. Vikki called me and I talked to her.  Bill came and told me that Lew and Cindy were approved to be area reps.  Yay!  I congratulated them, then called Vikki back. I went in to relax with Bill after that and worked on my Blog.

Wed., 3/19/24, Melody came over at 10, Wes and Gayla took us to lunch for my birthday, then we played 3-13, took Max to college, went to the hospital to stay with Marie

Wes, Gayla, Bill and me at Olive Garden

This was my free dessert platter for my Italian donuts to go on!  The waitress wrote happy birthday on it with the raspberry dip.  She was such a nice waitress.

Evan came out when I picked up Max.  He always runs out and greets me and I love it!

Can this sweet Rehvyn boy get any cuter!  I sure don’t think so.  Love that Kenzie sent me this cute picture of them

I got ready, filled the kernel burner, then made a coffee.  I filled the bird feeders and set a chipmunk trap because I saw one this morning.  Roy called me when I got in and said he took Marie to a Covenant Med Express to get checked out for pain.  He got the wheelchair out, locked the brakes, hung her purse on the arm of the wheelchair, then Marie got out and was going to sit down.  He looked away for a minute and turned around and the wheelchair had fallen backwards with Marie in it and she hit her head on the cement. God had someone there who prayed for Marie right away.  Another person was from the medical facility and called an ambulance and checked Marie out.  She was having headaches.  They were at the ER when he called again to give me an update.  She cracked her skull and also had a bleed.  The doctor thought everything would heal and the bleed would stop.  They admitted her to keep observing her.  I put it on the prayer chain at church and also sent it to our prayer group.  Bill and I prayed right away.  Melody got here at 10 and we visited, and prayed and talked about how good the Lord is.  We discussed what we’ve each been reading in the Bible.  She is such a sweet friend and I love our mentoring time.

She left and Wes and Gayla came about 10 minutes later.  Bill asked them if they wanted to ride in the Jeep because they had mentioned it a while back.  They did, so they moved their van and hopped in with us.  They enjoyed their ride.   We got to the Olive Garden and got seated right away.  Bill and I got spaghetti, Wes got Chicken Parmesan, Gayla got soup and salad.  They all had salad and I got soup.  I got the free Italian donuts because of my Birthday.  There were 8 of them so we could all have two.  Yum!  We came back to our house and played 3-13.  I was the big winner.  Happy Birthday to Me....  Bill had a dentist appointment, so we stopped at the King round, so he could be on time.  Wes and Gayla left, then and I went to Barb and Ron’s to buy some more prayer hearts for Sue.  They were packing and getting ready for their trip to Texas.  She showed me the new woodwork and doors Ron had put up.  He sure did a great job.  I prayed for their dog because Susie is usually so friendly and today she was just wanting to rest and wouldn’t eat and was throwing up.  I went in and saw Melissa and the boys.  Evan had already greeted me outside.   Melissa and her family gave me the sweetest card when I was there. 

It is such a perfect card because me and how I am towards all my girls

Max got in my car and told me Happy Birthday right away and thanked me for sending him Birthday Cake last night.  He said it was good.  That made me so happy.  He couldn’t make it over last night.  I took him to school and he told me where to go when we got in the driveway of the school.  I dropped him off and thought about how proud I was of him when he and Vader walked down the sidewalk to go to class.  

After I dropped him off, I called the hospital to find out what room Marie was in.  They connected me to the room and I talked to Marie and told her I would come up and stay with her so Roy could go home and get some rest and eat.  He had been there with her since morning and wouldn’t go down to the cafeteria and get something to eat.  I passed him on the road when I was almost ready to turn into the hospital parking lot.  A neighbor, Pat, was visiting with Marie.  She had to leave, so I stayed with Marie the next four hours.  I thought she would probably want to sleep, but she visited the whole time, and we shared Scriptures and prayed together.  She said Roy would have one of the cabbage buns when he got home.  They are in their freezer and all he needs to do is get one out, wrap it in a paper towel and heat it for 50 seconds.  She said he really likes those.  I made sure everything she needed was close and got someone to fill her water cups with ice.  Then she thanked me and told me she loved me and I told her I loved her too.  She and Roy are like family to us and are so special.  

I got home and heated a cabbage bun up for me too.  It did taste good.  I was hungry too.  Bill was at the Marine Corp League meeting and was eating there.   When Bill got home we had ice cream with bananas and hot fudge.  

  

 

Tuesday, 3/18/25, Celebrated my 76th Birthday, Breakfast with Bill and the girls, Space X amazing rescue of 4 astronauts, Cake and Ice Cream,

Us at breakfast this morning 

It got in the mid 60’s....I read my Bible on the deck...Kit Kat joined me

Cute Apron Lisa from church made for me for my Birthday.  She gave me a cute ceramic egg with the word HOPE written on it and a cute decoration about Jesus and his resurrection.

We watched the return of the four astronauts to earth....It was amazing.  Thankful for Elon Musk and Space X.  What an amazing accomplishment!  Thanking the Lord for the wisdom He gave them and His protection for their return

I walked 1.01 miles on the treadmill today.  Next week I will increase my distance Lord willing

Loved having everyone over for my birthday celebration.. Thanks Bill for arranging it!  I love you!  Fun pictures with my grankkids who could come.  

Kody is going to be taller than me soon

Adam was the first one to send me a Happy Birthday text.  Jack was next to text me, then Peyton, then Isaac, then Hailey, then Jacob.  Such sweet grandkids!!! Eli was going to text me, then he realized he forgot his phone Kimmy said.  Kimmy came here in the morning to ride with us to pick up Melissa and then meet Vikki at Tony’s for breakfast.  Our food was delicious, and we had around 1 1/2 hours to sit and visit  and eat and drink our coffee.  Melissa had juice.  When it was time for Vikki to go to work, we left and took Melissa home, then Bill, Kimmy and I came back to our house.  Bill took a nap while Kimmy and I looked at mats for under our treadmill.  I found a really nice one for a good price and ordered it.  Kimmy went to order the same one and they were out.  I got the last one in stock.  After that, Kimmy and I took thread rippers and took the velcro tabs off from the cushions to the outside swing.  She put tear aid on a couple of rips in the material of the worn side.  After we  got the tabs off, we could put the cushions with that side up and it was like new material.  We should get a lot more use out of them.  We were so busy working on it, that Kimmy was late to leave to go pick up Eli who was getting out of school at 1.  She was looking at our clock in the family room that hasn’t sprung ahead yet.  I thought she had her watch alarm set, so I didn’t pay attention to the time.  She left quickly, but couldn’t have Jared text Eli to let him know that she was going to be late because no phone...  Eli waited and walked around while he was being patient.  Poor boy.   I got a text from Eli as soon as he got home wishing me a happy birthday and telling me I should spring ahead lol.  He told me he was going to bring his gun in case he saw a squirrel here.  He never saw one.

We watched the Splash down which was very cool.  It was especially cool to see all the dolphins swimming around it.  The kids were outside playing basketball.  After we saw the 4 astronauts, Butch Wilmore, Suni Williams, Nick Hague and Aleksandr Gorbunov, come out, everyone sang Happy Birthday to me and we ate cake and ice cream.  Kimmy made a delicious white cake and decorated it really cute, and I made the angel food cake because I know Kimmy loves that kind.  I thanked everyone again for the treadmill, which I am getting exercise on.  I needed to get back at it.  Kimmy and family gave me a really cute mug from their unique clay.  It is dark brown on the outside and light tan on the inside.  It is so cool!  I should have taken a picture of it, but I put it in the dishwasher so it’s clean tomorrow to use.  I love the Russell mugs.  Bill went in on the treadmill and also got me a gift card to Outback, a picture of a swivel to put ,on my lazyboy...he has one on order that he needs to pick up, and a snickers bar.  It was funny because I put a snickers bar in his drawer yesterday.  I thought he had found it and gave it to me in my card.  He hadn’t seen it yet.  We both had the same idea...I had to snicker a little lol.  We hung out more, and the kids hung out in the basement.  They helped clean up, then left for home.  What a fun day.   

 Bill and I relaxed after that and I did my blog.  Tomorrow Melody is coming for mentoring at 10, then Wes and Gayla are picking us up to take me out to dinner for my birthday.  Thursday I’m getting to gather with Maddy, and Friday I am getting together with the girls, then going to meet my BFF at Zehnders for our birthday dinners...Monday I am meeting my friend Sue to go out for my birthday dinner.  I am so blessed with wonderful family and friends.  I am going to really have to be walking on that treadmill.

Monday, 3/17/25, 43 degrees as the high today, Bill went to dr. appt., I met Marie and Roy at her doctor’’s office, went to Meijer to get ice cream and a few other things, cleaned downstairs, talked to Marie,

Two geese in our yard today.  One is mostly hidden behind the tree

Goose taking off

Ate my left over meal from yesterday.  So much food.  I still have more left for tomorrow. Monterey chicken and mashed potatoes.  Lucky’s food is so good and you get so much.  Three meals is pretty good for the price

Bill got up before me and went to his dr. appointment.  The shots in his neck didn’t work, so they are giving him a referral to see his brother’s surgeon.  She is an amazing surgeon so we are thankful they referred him when Bill asked.  I got up a half hour after Bill left.  There was a dusting of snow on the deck.  I walked a mile on the treadmill, then ate breakfast.  

So thankful to be walking again.  I cleaned the downstairs while Bill was gone.

Kimmy texted me to let me know the bank is repaying the money stollen out of their Etsy account.  I am so so happy for them.  It’s crazy how people scam and steal from people these days.  

I made a coffee and then read my Bible.  Bill read his later after he got home.  He called me when he passed me going down State Street.  I told him I was picking up some dry shampoo for Marie and taking that and some cabbage buns to Marie.  I went to her doctor’s office and saw their car was parked close to the door.  I went in and said hi to Marie in the waiting room and then Roy came outside with me and I put the things I brought for them in their car.  I went to Meijer after that because Bill said I needed to pick up more ice cream for tomorrow.  I got 8 jars of Meijer spaghetti sauce on sale for $1 each.  Regular price is 1.69,

so it was a good savings.  Kimmy called me while I was in the store to get Fred’s address, so I told her about the great sale.  I also got strawberries for 99 cents.  Kimmy had told me about that deal yesterday.  She also told me Steve the cat was doing good.  Yay!

The girls are meeting Bill and I at Tony’s for breakfast for my birthday in the morning.  I am looking forward to it.  Sue called and wanted to go out to lunch this week for my birthday, but between the two of us, no day was open.  We are going next Monday now.

Gayla called me in the evening and she and Wes want to take Bill and I out Wednesday at noon for my birthday.  Thursday my BFF from Grand Haven wants to go to Frankenmuth to Zehnders to celebrate both of our birthdays.  Busy week of celebrating ahead.  It’s so nice to have so many loving friends. 

I talked to Marie in the evening and she was doing good after her doctor appointment.  Her doctor is having a visiting nurse help her.  She can’t wash her hair herself with her broken shoulder.  I told her she needed someone trained to help her because of her shoulder.  I am so glad it all worked out.  

I heated a couple of Cabbage Buns up for Bill.  In the evening he and I relaxed in our recliners.  

  

 

Sunday, 3/16/25, went to prayer, than church, went to Lansing to meet two CMA couples to plan State Rally, visited Fred and Lourdes, watched a movie

Snow/rain mix....Kit Kat picked this for her spot to lay

I was happy to hear this morning that Steve is eating and drinking now.  Yay!  We went to prayer before church, then went into the service.  Worship was so awesome this morning.  Pastor Ken preached a great message too.  We visited with friends after church, then headed home to pack up the cabbage buns and lemon pie on ice to stay cold for our long day of riding and visiting.  When we headed out it was cool, windy and rainy.  We met Bev, Ron, Sue and Doug at Lucky’s in Okemos for lunch and then to start planning for the CMA Michigan State Rally.  We had a great time together and got lots of planning done.  After we left there, we went to Bill’s brother Fred’s house to visit him and Lourdes.  They were happy about the pie and cabbage buns, and cashews.  Fred is doing so much better after his back surgery.  Still having some pain, but not as much.  He said it was better than his first back surgery.  We were happy to hear that.  Lourdes had a piece of lemon pie right away.  Fred had just ate a chicken dinner from Frankenmuth that he had Debbie bring him so he was full. We visited for about an hour, then left for home.  It was snowing while we were at Fred’s and it snowed part of the way home.  We talked to Vikki and Kimmy.  Marie left me a message she was going to ER.  Waiting to hear how it went.  We watched the movie, In the Blink of an Eye.   

 

Sat. 3/15/25, Hail storm during the early morning hour, made 2 lemon meringue pies, made cabbage buns, walked a mile on treadmill, went out and sat on swing for a few enjoyable minutes,

Had a Flicker visit this morning

Poor Steve is what got caught in Eli’s trap and wandered off.  Sure am praying he gets better fast!

They are taking good care of poor kitty.  His foot is bandaged nicely.

He’s in the house getting lots of attention.

The two lemon pies I made

Maddy sent me these cute pictures of her kiddos

Brielle trying to tell the stray cat to go in her play house.  She loves cats.

Bill walking his mile on the treadmill.  My turn was after he was done.  I got lots of steps while baking and cooking in the kitchen too.

The first picture is the size of the hail early this morning.  I was sleeping and the sound of it hitting the metal roof of our gazebo was soooo loud it woke me.  I screamed Bill what’s that noise; what’s happening to the house.  He didn’t answer, so I looked out the windows and saw it was hail.  I talked to Kimmy in the morning and she told me about Steve getting caught in Eli’s trap.  It made us all sad, but he is getting the best care.  I asked her if they had hail and she said no, but they had lots of wind.  It blew their deck furniture all to one side of the deck.  There was a wind advisory all day in Midland.  We had high winds here, but not as bad.

  

I was going to make bread dough and realized I hadn’t got the flour I thought I had.  I went to the store and picked some up, then came home and made two batches of dough.  Then I cooked the burger, onion and cabbage so it would be cold by the time I needed it to make the cabbage buns.  After that, I made two lemon meringue pies, one for Bill’s brother Fred and his wife and one for us.  It’s Fred’s favorite kind and we are going to go visit him.  I also am taking some of the cabbage buns for them.  I had Bill taste test everything and he said it was good.  Bill got his mile walk on the treadmill in.  I went outside and sat on the swing on the side of the house without the wind hitting.  When everything was finished, I did my walking on the treadmill.  It sure feels good to be at it again.  Such a wonderful health promoting gift.  

I called Marie to check on her.  Her phone was off the hook last night when I tried.  She said she slept the whole night after getting everyone to pray.  She thought she might have to go to ER because the pain was so bad when I talked to her.  We were praising the Lord together for the good sleep He gave her.  The pain is tolerable now too!

Bill had to work out some matters with a CMA chapter so was on the phone.  God blessed him and gave him wisdom (I sure was praying for that) and the person ended up being really humble and apologized and said he wouldn’t be creating a problem any more.  Thank you Lord for working that out so quickly.  

After I finished walking, I did my Bible reading.  I went through another highlighter, so need to get a new one.  When I was done, Bill and I had a piece of pie.  Bill said it was really good to the last bite.  

Melissa and I had a good laugh.  She had the day of going to Girls of Grace wrong and said she couldn’t go when she could have.  This morning I found out I had the date wrong and it wasn’t today, but is April 12.  Like mother, Like daughter.  

I texted with Maddy for a while in the evening.  I texted some more with Kimmy too.