Sat. 5/17/25, Shampooed living room and family room carpets, Bill took my car in to have the brakes fixed, we went to Eli’s soccer game, I went to Walmart with Melissa

Shampooed the Living room carpet today...It sure looks lots better 

Did the Family room too.  Both were so dirty and came out like new.

Eli was Goalie today and did a great job!  A couple of times I yelled that’s my grandson!!!

Bill took a selfie of him, Jared, Kimmy and I.  Kimmy and I are protecting ourselves from the wind with her umbrellas.

It was a great game.  They lost by 1 point.  They would have tied but a the ball hit a kids foot on Eli’s team and accidentally went in the other teams goal post....giving them a point not deserved.  The coach just said that happens.  I felt bad for the poor kid though.

Jared with the chain saw, Jacob, Adam and Eli.  They are great workers and definitely great helpers with a tree like this.  I speak from experience and their help at our house.  They have helped with many for their young age.  Happy this is going the opposite direction of their house.  In this picture is the Dream Team for taking down trees!

Hailey and Evan rescued two baby bunnies from the lawn mower

So cute of Hailey....she sure wanted to keep those bunnies

Stacie texted me and wanted to know if I wanted to go to garage sales in Hemlock.  I did, but knew I had to get my carpets shampooed.  I have been gone so much I haven’t done them in a while so they needed it badly.  I already had Bill bring the shampooer downstairs.

I got them done and they look so much better.  I am thankful I don’t have to look at dirty carpet any more.  It’s pretty amazing how good they clean up since it is the same carpet we had when we moved in here in 2003.  Bill took my car in for me while I vacuumed and shampooed them.  I called him to see if I could take the Jeep and go to Eli’s soccer game.  He said yes, I started getting stuff ready.  He called me back and said he just had to pay and then he would head home, so if I wanted to wait for him he would go too.  Of course I waited.  I put another chair in for him, got some snacks, a coffee for Bill and my water in the Jeep.  Put in two blankets too.  When we went to leave, Bill saw the chairs and said are we going to a soccer game.  I told him yes and he said, he had better get his Jacket then.  He had a tee shirt and shorts on.  I tried to talk him into changing into jeans but he said he’d be fine.  Well I wore my winter coat, took gloves and a hat.  It was 55 degrees and very windy.  Kimmy had two umbrellas with her so we both used one to block the wind.  That worked really well.  I took my blanket and covered Bill’s bare legs up.  He said he didn’t need it, but looked pretty happy to have it.  I was plenty warm with my winter coat, gloves and hood. Kimmy gave me an extra blanket she brought so I used that too.  She comes really prepared!

It was a good game and both teams played well.  Tense and exciting!!!  Sure wish they would have gotten another point.  

We came home and Bill ate my left over spaghetti and his salad from last night, I ate my left over soup and chicken tenders.  After I finished eating, I met Melissa at Walmart.  She was waiting for me in her van, because I was trying to find Kimmy’s movie camera cord.  I didn’t find it and Kimmy needed it to charge her camera so she could take pictures on Adam’s birthday tomorrow.  She couldn’t go in the store because there was a handwritten note on the door saying, Sorry we’re closed.  I got there a few minutes later and she had checked and the other Walmart was open. I had Melissa pray with me that Kimmy would find her charging cord.  I was going to meet her half way and give her mine to use, but didn’t plan on having to go way over to the other Walmart.  I knew it would make me later getting my cord to her.  She called and said she found it.  Melissa and I were so happy and so was Kimmy.  It was in her regular camera bag, instead of her video bag.  Yay!  I Melissa  ride with me, and we went to the other Walmart and got her over the counter stuff, my stuff, Kimmy’s stuff and Vikki’s stuff. I took her back to her car and she listened to videos Vikki sent me of Peyton singing parts of two worship songs.  She loved them too.  We both went home.  She called me and said Hailey made rhubarb/blueberry crisp and it was amazing.  Hailey wanted me to come over and try some, but I had to read over my Sunday School lesson again, take my shower and do my blog and it was already 8:30.  It was tempting though.  Bill and I had the last two pieces of our rhubarb crisp alamode.  We looked through the dates on our calendars for July, Aug and Sept and I wrote the dates we would be gone on Sundays.  The ones I can’t teach on had to be given to Cassy so she could put out our Sunday School Teaching Schedule.  They had to be in by tomorrow and today is the first day I saw it.  I worked on my blog after that.

 

Friday, 5/16/25, Picked Melissa up and went to Music Fest at Valley, great time listening to kids sing, play instruments etc, Evan did great! Bruce and Hailey came at Noon, Bill got there around 12:30, Evan did amazing singing his solo, Daniel did too.Travis dropped Rehvyn off at Vikki’s, went and spent time with him, much storm damage by Kenzie’s house, Visited Diane and took Olive Garden take outs for us to eat with her, Kimmy’s power was off when she got home from Vikki’s, Much lightening by Kimmy and Jared's

We got 3 inches of water.  The far end of our flower garden was under water this morning

Grandma Schmidt’s 100 plus year old Irises are ready to blossom

Our minor storm damage...branch off this tree down

Stuff from tree blew all over the deck

A dead medium branch was down on the other side of the house.  Needless to say, we were very thankful after having tornado warnings to have such a tiny mess to clean up.  So thankful we were all protected.

Our rain gauge with 3 inches in it..Yikes that was a lot of water

I took this picture of Jack when I picked Melissa up because I thought I might not get to at the school since he was there to work at the Music Fest.

Choir getting in position and getting ready to sing.  Even in back row to left of director

Evan singing part of his solo..I love the applause at the end.  It’s the loudest applause I’ve heard since we started going to this Music Fest

Melissa, Ally, Hailey and Ginny...all friends since the girls who just finished their 3rd year of college were in preschool

I always have taken pictures at any event these girls have been at in school.  Now that they are in college I don’t get to take them as often.  Every time I have the opportunity though, I am back at it!

Lots of trees down and a power line by Kenzie’s house.  They are without power from what looks like a tornado touch down.  It just missed their house. Yikes

 

Rehvyn looking at his Jesus doll.  He sure loves it and gave it a big hug.

Playing with drumsticks

He practically runs around the house now

 

My Oriole on the feeder

The house finches were loving the sunflower seeds.  Four tried to get on it at a time.

I got ready and then walked outside to see what damage happened after last night’s thunderstorm/tornado warning night.  I was happy there was hardly anything to clean up.  Thanking the Lord for keeping everyone safe and protecting from damage.  

I went to Melissa’s and talked to Jack about the storm while I waited for her to finish getting ready.  It was a pretty exciting evening last night for sure.  Melissa and I left and got to the school in time to hear Evan and the choir sing.  They did a great job.  We listened to Daniel sing his solo.  He did an amazing job and got a 1 which is the best.  We sat out in the cafeteria and got a pretzel with salt and cheese.  We watched Tyler, Ally’s brother, working on them, putting the salt on and then he brought them out to us. We went in and listened to the band play two songs.  The second song was really good.  Bruce and Hailey got there after that.  They had already eaten, but Bruce got me and Melissa each a walking Taco from the Mexican Food truck outside.  That was so nice of him to get me one.  Bill came and had a hotdog which was cooked inside.  Bill and I sat and ate while Bruce, Melissa and Hailey went and listened to a group of boys sing.  After that we all went in and listened to Evan sing his solo.  He did amazing.  He got the loudest applause I have heard since going to the Music Fest.  Of course it made him happy and all of us happy.  We were so proud of hi.The judge really complimented him a lot and asked if he would be going to Valley next year.  When Evan said yes, he said he was really happy to hear that and was going to love having him in choir.  He said he could really make the song his which he did, but could even do more with it and he knew he had someone to help him.  He looked at Hailey.  He had her as a student in choir and in impact. 

I went to Vikki’s and hung out with her, Kimmy, Travis for a little while, and Rehvyn who is spending the night.  He was so cute and smiley as always.  He puts his hands out and comes right a way to all of us.  Just the sweetest boy!  Melissa, Hailey and Evan came over right away when they heard he was there.  I left and went to the bank to get some money out and then noticed I had Peyton’s travel cup in my backseat.  I was close so I went back and dropped it off.  Rody was out by the road.  I gave it to him.  Then Peyton came out with Rehvyn and I got to give her a love tap on her head.  When I was leaving Rody noticed my car was making a noise.  I had Bill listen to it when I got home and he is taking it in because he thinks it is the brakes.  We got ready, I ordered meals for each of us at Olive Garden online, then we picked them up and went and ate with Diane who had broken both of her knees. We went and sat in the living room afterwards and had the nicest visit.  She is such a sweet kind lady.  We came home after that.  I went out on the deck and read my Bible.   It was 77 degrees still.  Kit Kat joined me.  I stayed outside about 1 1/2 hours.  Then came in and we had rhubarb crunch alamode for our treat.  Kimmy called me and said she got home today and they didn’t have any power.  She had just picked up ice cream for Adam’s birthday.  She was going to see if Jared could hook the generator up to the little freezer.

She will probably be coming here tomorrow to bake his birthday cake.  Power isn’t supposed to be back on until Sunday which is Adam’s Birthday.  She and Jared were driving home from Home Depot in Saginaw where they got a red bud tree.  Kimmy had picked one up, but they gave her a cherry tree instead of a red bud tree.  When they got in Midland, it was lightening out lots.  There was heat lightning and also streak lightening.  Kimmy was screaming some, because she didn’t want any trees on Stark to fall on them.  Yikes.  It sounded like she was a some beautiful fireworks, instead of just riding home.  I talked to Melissa a few times and texted with her.  Texted with Kenzie too.

 

Thurs., 5/15/25, Went to U of M in Brighton, went to Dunkin Donuts, back to U of M, went to Cracker Barrel for lunch, dropped Melissa and Hailey off, came home for 1 1/2 hours, picked Peyton and Isaac up and took them home, back home.

Hailey, Melissa and me at Cracker Barrel

Rhubarb Kimmy and Vikki picked and did today.  Wow!

Kimmy and Vikki with the Rhubarb Crunch they made

Got this cute metal small bird bath at Cracker Barrel today

Cute bird bath I got there too.  Such great deals, then 25% off of that for everything.

Cute fountain I got there too.  

Peyton with all the bags of clothes Hailey gave her

Isaac after we got the door unlocked...there’s a story to that below

I picked Rhubarb too...I still have more out to pick in a couple of days.

Rhubarb Crunch....Bill really liked it. He said it was really good twice. 

Flowers in front of the house are so pretty right now

Got up early, got ready, then went and picked Melissa and Hailey up at 7:30.  It was sunny and warm already when we left.  We played worship music on the way down and back.  It was cloudy when we got to Brighton.  We went in and Hailey had her first test done, then we left and went to Dunkin Donut and had a delicious specialty iced coffee and a donut.  We went back to U of M after we ate our donut.  Hailey had another test done, then had a blood text.  We left after that and went to Cracker Barrel for lunch.  It was only 5 minutes away Maps said, but with all the construction and heavy traffic, it took about 15.  We got seated right away.  Hailey had pancakes and French fries and Melissa and I had grilled chicken tenders.  We headed home after that.  It was sunny and 82 degrees out now.  It was a nice ride back.  I dropped Melissa and Hailey off, then came home for a while.   I put the things I got from cracker Barrel outside.  Filled the fountain with water and plugged it in.  I went and picked Peyton and Isaac up from school, then took them home.  Isaac tried unlocking both doors with my key.  I tried after that and it wouldn’t unlock.  Then I said IN THE NAME OF JESUS and immediately it opened.  I looked at Isaac and he looked at me and we knew Jesus had helped us.  We couldn’t quit smiling.  I came home and sat out on the deck and read my Bible.  Watched birds for a while after that.  Bill and I went and looked at a Rubbermaid storage thing, but it was smaller than he thought, so we came home.  Watched a movie, a friend from Vikki’s work said was good.  It was.  We ate some Rhubarb Crisp with ice cream.  Yum. We both liked it.  Vikki sent me a couple of videos of Peyton singing Christian songs.  She has such a beautiful voice and did an amazing job singing these songs.  

 

Wed., 5/14/25, Met Debbie at DaVinci’s for breakfast, pulled more weeds, Sat on the swing and drank my coffee and read the Bible, went to Kimmy’s, went to Isaac’s band concert

Bill and I met Bill’s sister, Debbie at DaVinci’s for breakfast to celebrate her birthday.  Loved spending time with her.  Love you Debbie.

Bill drove into the parking lot of the Candlelight Bowl which. just burned down recently.  His mom and brother Kenny used to live across the road and Kenny loved waling over and bowling there.  Bill’s sister Debbie had her wedding reception there.  Many memories made there.

Enjoyed sitting on Kimmy’s deck watching many birds come and go.  There is an oriole in this picture.

Loved seeing Jacob an Adam today and getting my hugs.

The rain sure has made our grass green!

Rehvyn looks so serious here!  Cute Bed head...

I am more used to seeing him like this with his big smile.

Isaac did a great job at his band concert.  We were happy he could still play since he hurt his finger last night.

Bill, Isaac and I after his band concert.

Bill and I got ready and went to Frankenmuth to meet his sister, Debbie, at DaVinci’s Restaurant.  We were taking her out for her birthday and buying her breakfast.  We loved spending time with her and our breakfasts (we all got the same thing) were huge and delicious.  She gave us a donation for Run for the Son which was sweet of her.  

We stopped in the parking lot of the Candlelight Bowling Alley on our way home.  I thought we were going by, but Bill pulled in.  I’m still sad that it is gone.  Many good memories were made there.

When we got home, Bill read his Bible inside and I read my Bible outside on the deck.  I love sitting out there.  Kit Kat always joins me.  After I was done, I watched the birds for a while, then it looked like rain clouds, so I put the cushions away and decided I would try to get the small flower gardenI weeded before it rained.  I managed that.  Bill got the hose splitter on, so now I have my own hose out there too, so I don’t have to undo the sprinkler each time.  I moved the False Forget Me Nots to the woods.  I had moved some there last year and they look so pretty, I decided I wanted the rest there.  Lots of ferns are coming up and I have been seeing new ones each day.

Vikki sent me a video of Forest Frank’s testimony last night.  It was such an amazing testimony of God’s love and faithfulness.

Kimmy called and thought I was coming over to look at her flower gardens.  I had mentioned it, but communications got mixed up.  I got ready and went there and enjoyed walking around seeing all of her amazing plants and things in her gardens.  I loved seeing Jacob and Adam too and enjoyed sitting outside on the deck under the gazebo.  It sure is relaxing and so enjoyable to watch all the birds coming to the feeders.

I left around 2:30 because Isaac had a band concert in the evening and I needed to get some stuff done before going to it.  It was looking pretty dark ahead of me, so I stopped at the Country Creamery and had a single Black Raspberry ice cream cone.  By the time I was ready to leave, it looked bright the direction I was going, so I continued on.  I noticed it said I only had 3 miles left on my tank of gas.  I panicked at first, but thought about Costco and it was 3 miles from where I was.  Yay!  I filled my tank.  I had been still waiting so we could fill up together, but we decided to use it for the motor home.  I am taking Hailey to Brighton in the morning, so I wanted to have a full tank.  My empty light and signal aren’t coming on, so I need to make sure and check how much gas I have.

When we got home, we shared the rest of my big breakfast and were both full.  We relaxed for a while, then. went to Isaac’s band concert.  Vikki and Isaac were parked next to us when we parked.  Rody came later.  Isaac played really well.  It was a good concert, but the six graders seated after they played first were sure noisy.  

I got home and worked on the blog.  Going to bed early since I have to leave early in the morning to get Hailey.