Thursday, 8/21/25, Doctor James Dobson diedBill had an appt. at the pain clinic, went to Kimmy’s, then to Clare Amish Auction, went to Roy and Marie’s, went to Melissa's

I took this as we passed this Amish Buggy on our way to the auction

Arriving at the Auction

Jacob by some beautiful plants and zinnias

Jacob with the basket of things Kimmy won the bid on.  Bill did the bidding. Papa behind him

Kimmy took a better picture for me.  

Kimmy and me at the auction

Caterpillars are now butterflies.  Always fun to see.  These ones are from our house.  Kimmy took them home and took care of them.  Thanks Kimmy

Bill, Jacob, me and Kimmy!  Kimmy’s first time at Cops and Donuts.

Bill was at it again...when we had him take a picture of us this is the picture he showed us.  Nice that Jacob was smiling so big.

Me and Kimmy at Cops and Donuts outside getting our pictures taken.  She was speeding and I was going to give her a ticket but gave her a coffee and donut instead lol.

Got up at 7, put a roast in the Crock pot to brown.  Got up again at 8 and added the carrots and potatoes.  Got up at 8:30 for the final time and stayed up. Put good worship music on.   Made a sheet cake with cocoa not cinnamon lol.  Got ready.  Bill went to his appointment at the pain clinic.  I made us egg salad sandwiches to eat on our way.  I cut us each a piece of the sheet cake too.  It’s really good made with the right ingredients.  Kenzie and Rehvyn FaceTimed me.  I loved seeing them and talking to them.  Bill called me and I knew I had to answer, so had to end the FaceTime with Kenzie.  Boo Hoo.  Bill asked me to make him some coffee and said he was almost home to get me.  I let Kimmy know.  

We headed to Kimmy’s.  I saw on my phone that Doctor Dobson died.  He is one of my heroes in the faith.  After we were born again in 1980, we started listening to him on Family Life Radio.  He helped us by teaching us how to raise our kids God’s way, teaching on marriage and parenting and so much more.  I feel like I have lost a family member and I have....a brother in the Lord.  What a great and of God and a great leader he was.  Our world is a better place because of him.  I’m praying for his family.

We left and went to Kimmy’s and picked her and Jacob up.  Then we headed to the Amish Auction.  We took the country route which is our favorite way to go there.  Fun to look at all the Amish homes and all of the laundry hanging outside.  We got to the auction and did lots of walking around looking at things for sale and things sold.  We saw Kimmy and Jared’s stuff they took there yesterday.  Most was sold.  Tomorrow the plow will be auctioned off.

Bill bid on a basket of stuff Kimmy wanted.  She would go up to $30 and with tax it was $29.  She got a nice set of drill bits in a cool case that she didn’t even know was in it, plus at the last minute they threw in 4 jacks.  She was pretty happy. 

Her finds in the basket efore she cleaned them

We went to Cops and Donuts after we were done at the auction.  We all had donuts and Kimmy and I got a dark brew coffee with good creamer to go with ours.  They had all the parking spaces on the street blocked, so we had to park in a parking lot a little ways away. 

We walked off our calories from our donuts I’m sure.  

When we got to Kimmy’s, Eli and Adam came outside.  I made sure to get pictures.  Eli was happy about all the tools Kimmy found.  He was excited to show us his workshop too.  It’s really nice.  I’m so happy for him.  He has many talents and will have his own work space now and his own tools.  

We left so we could get home in time for me to run the roast, carrots, potatoes and sheet cake pieces I made to Roy and Marie.  I had a really nice visit with them, and Marie showed me some slippers that she has and loves and they are wearing out on the bottoms.  She wants me to see if I can find her another pair at Kohls.  I will search there, and if I don’t find them search other places.  She had another opportunity to witness with a nurse that came this morning.  God keeps bringing her people who need to know him.  Marie loves sharing the good news.  

I came home and ate and then took Melissa a couple of pieces of sheet cake to try.  Hailey had made homemade brownies and had two in a container for Bill and I.  Yum were they ever delicious.  She’s loving her mixer.  She told us we would be getting lots of treats and she sure is providing lots.  I got to see Badger and pray over him.  The vet is giving him fluids which should help him.  I love that sweet dog.  

Read my Bible when I got home, and did my praying.  Worked on my blog after that.  

Wednesday, 8/20/25, Cool day, but sunny, went to Melissa’s and fed the guinea pigs and watered plants, trimmed lilac bushes, and ground cover that grew up over our deck, went to Menards, ate frozen watermelon

Kim, Shannon, me and Vicki R. working on the pot pies for frozen meal prep for church freezers yesterday

Laurie Vicki, Connie, Jessica and Lisa cooking....me and others were behind them chopping up ingredients for them to brown and preparing other parts of the meal.  It sure was fun all working together at church.

People really like the recipes we have been preparing.  Such a great idea to have the ingredients listed and also the instructions for preparing it at home when they get them.  

I made this big sheet cake for Bill today.  He ate two and said it was really good.  I ate one and then checked the cocoa container because I tasted cinnamon in the cake and frosting.  Ha ha, I had used cinnamon.  It was from the amish and was in a container like my cocoa.  I don’t remember buying cinnamon in that kind of container.  I have a tall container of cinnamon on the next shelf up.  Glad Bill likes it.  It tastes good, just not like the chocolate sheet cake I expected. 

Bill moved our small shed to his deck on the big shed.  Then he parked his trailer where it was.  I couldn’t believe when I looked out and saw he had moved and was taking the dolly out from under one side.  He’s pretty amazing. 

The shed he moved is in this picture but doesn’t really show how big it is.  

We ate nachos tonight and drank out of Kimmy and Jared’s mug and tumbler.  They make coffee and water taste even better.  Hailey was just saying that she loves drinking water at our house because she always uses one of their tumblers and it makes the water taste so good.  Guess we are all great fans of theirs!

We got up at 8:30 today.  I did some things around the house, then read my Bible and Bill read his Bible.  He went outside and I put worship on and then boiled some eggs for egg salad and also made a sheet cake.  Bill loves  sheet cake (his sister Carol’s recipe) so I wanted to surprise him and have it ready when he came in.  I looked out and saw that he had moved our shed back to where it used to be on his shed deck.  He had his new trailer parked where the shed had been.  He is such a hard worker.  He had told me he wanted to do that, but I told him to wait until the boys came.  He said he might ha ha!  I should have known he wouldn’t have patience to wait.  

He came in and was really excited to see the sheet cake on the cupboard.  He ate a piece and said it was really good.  Then he took another piece and ate it.  I sat down and ate a piece after I had the kitchen cleaned up.  I tasted cinnamon, but not real strong.  I decided to look at the cocoa container label and that’w when I found out it was cinnamon.  Bill still ate more later so I guess it is going to disappear.  I limited myself to one piece today.

I went to Melissa’s and fed the guinea pigs and filled their water bottle up.  Then I watered her inside plant and the hanging baskets outside.  When I got to my road, Melissa called me and asked me to pray for Badger.  He wasn’t eating anything and wasn’t his perky self.  Of course I prayed with her right then.  We all love Badger.  All prayer is appreciated for him.  

She did let me know he ate some watermelon and some cucumber.  He loves veggies and even though he only ate 4 pieces of the watermelon and 1 cucumber it’s at least something.  Bruce cooked burger and rice, but he didn’t eat that.  

I talked to Kimmy and Bill and I are going to pick her up tomorrow after his doctor appt.  Then we are all going to the Auction in Clare.  Kimmy and Jared go every year, but Jared has to work tomorrow.  We are looking forward to it.  Eli’s workshop is coming along nicely.  He’s getting more things for it.  They went through a tool box he got after my dad passed away.  It had a hammer in it with the initials G.G.  It must have been my dad’s dad who originally owned the hammer because those are his initials.  Pretty cool!

I brought a watermelon in today to cut up.  It felt really heavy and I figured it was frozen.  It was in the refrigerator in the garage.  I’m thinking when Bill put it on the top shelf, it rolled and bumped the temperature control to coldest.  Nothing else was frozen.  Only bottled water in there and some pop and protein drinks.  Bill cut it up tonight and we enjoyed a bowl of it.  It was like eating a watermelon popsicle.  I had to eat small bites because it was so cold on my teeth.  It tasted yummy though.

Tuesday, 8/19/25, First day of school for Peyton and Isaac, and Eli, went to church to prepare meals, Finished pulling all the weeds in front, loaded some things in the camper, Bill got a new trailer

Bill sold his heavy trailer a couple of days ago.  Got an aluminum trailer which will be so much lighter to pull and so much easier for him, especially on our long out of state trips.    Happy Birthday Bill!!!  I guess it’s from me lol.

Had to get a picture of him by his trailer...He’s so happy to have it and I’m so happy for him

Melissa sent me some pictures from their camping trip.  I borrowed 

Melissa and Hailey camping at Tawas

Cute hat Hailey is wearing...Cute girl wearing it!

Evan and Hailey

Melissa and Evan who sure is taller than her now

Jack and Melissa

Jack

Max and Vader

Evan

Jack and Badger

Evan, Jack, Hailey, Max and Bruce...having fun around the campfire

We both slept in until 9.  It was a rainy day and our rain gauge said we got about 2 inches.  I love how green everything is again and how well my plants are doing.  Bill took the garbage out when we got up and I put worship music on and took my shower.   We both read our Bibles and then ate cereal.   

I went to church at 1 to prepare freezer meals with Joan C. Vicki R., Kim M., Connie W. Lisa L., Tina S., Dawn O., Jennifer W., Shannon F. Laurie W., and Connie B.  It was so much fun and went so fast.  Each team had their 4 meals prepared in 45 minutes.  I made nice big pot pies with Vicki and Kim.  Pot pies are the most requested meal Joan said.  Vicki is a neighbor so it was fun working with her getting to know her better.  Kim’s husband had a kidney transplant, so it’s been a long time since I’ve seen her and sure enjoyed spending time with her.  Everybody was so nice and we sure enjoyed working together on such a wonderful project.  

I went to Aldi afterward, and picked up some fruit and also stuff to make Nacho Supreme’s.  

When I got home, Bill left to go get the trailer he got.  I made the Nacho meal and then when I finished, I checked to see what time he would be getting here so I would know whether to leave the food out or not.  He said he was home already and out by the shed.  He came in and ate.  I put stuff away and then went out to look at the trailer.  Bill went with me and helped me carry some things out to the camper on our way.  It’s a really nice trailer.  I went with him last night and looked them all over.  

I weeded the rest of the way in front of the house.  So happy to have that done.  It was easy after 2 more inches of rain.  I went out and used the 3 prong thing to loosen the dirt in my flower garden and it took care of the tiny weeds.  I washed my tools, my hands and my feet and then came in the house.  We were going to watch a movie, but didn’t find any we liked.

It took a while to go through just the one list.  We split a Snickers Pecan candy bar.  Yum.

Monday 8/18/25, went to the dentist, went to Menard’s, went to Vikki’s, Kimmy and Eli came to Vikki’s, Bill painted Motorhome mirror trim, Kimmy and Eli stopped to get anvil for Eli’s workshop, had last of the corn, Bill sold our trailer, went to look at aluminum trailer

Picture Eli sent me of his new workshop beginning

Isaac...he was so sweet today and made me a delicious coffee

Eli...we had lots of laughs with Eli today

Peyton was too cold to take the blanket off for the picture.  Later we moved to the sunroom and were just right.

Eli and Isaac

Peyton relaxing and looking cute and quite comfortable

Lucy...Vikki had shaved part of her and had to finish, but I thought she looks so cute like this

I texted Abi to send me a picture of her and Jacob on their date today

This was their cute lunch

The last of the corn.  It was too small to pick a week ago, but boy did it grow.  

Ate the leftover Flatbread sandwich...It was so big I couldn’t even finish this half

Kimmy brought Eli to pick up the anvil

Eli in his workshop by his anvil from Papa

Eli sent me pictures of his anvil attached to his workbench

I got up at 7:30, got ready and went to my dentist appt.  Had X-Rays and then a cleaning.  My dentist came in to check my teeth and noticed a tiny start of a cavity under my crown.  He said the crown was good and wanted to fix the cavity.  The hygienist took me to check out and set up an appointment for next week.  She had me wait in the waiting room until the receptionist was off the phone.  Then another girl came and got me and said if I wanted my tooth fixed today, the she would prepare a room and the dentist would do it right away.  I was happy to just get it done while I was there.  It was so small, he just gave me two shots of Novocain.  He asked me if it felt numb and I said no.  Then he poked my gum a couple of times and I didn’t feel a thing.  He fixed it and it didn’t take long at all.  I was very happy that he just numbed what he had to and my whole mouth didn’t feel numb.  My dentist is so nice and a great dentist.  

I went to Menard’s to pick up paint and frog tape because I was going to surprise Bill and paint the metal around the Motorhome mirror.  

I went to Vikki’s and hung out with her, Kimmy, Eli, Peyton and Isaac.  I FaceTimed with Melissa right when I got to Vikki’s.  They are going to Tawas camping and I am going to take care of their guinea pigs and water her plants.  I got good instructions, plus enjoyed talking to Melissa for a while too.  It was a nice relaxing visit with a delicious cold brew coffee from Vikki and then a hot coffee Isaac made me.  Vikki made a pizza.  I took the left over potato salad and Kimmy and I split that.  I left some in the refrigerator at home for bill.  We sat on the sun porch at Vikki’s for a while after sitting in the living room.  I was happy to be in a warmer spot for a while.  Then we moved out to the front porch and sat there for a while.  We came back in and I left shortly after. getting all my hugs before doing so.  It sure was fun at Vikki’s.    Eli is sure excited about his new workshop.  While they were cleaning it up, they found out it used to be an apartment.  It had carpeting they had to tear out and it even had a place for a toilet, which went to the septic.  That would have been something to see when it was all together. 

I got home and decided I had better ask him if I should do it because it would be dry to handle in 9 hours which would be good, but not considered totally dry until 24 hours.  We are supposed to get rain around 3 a.m.  Well, he told he he had already done it.  There is no surprising him for his birthday whether you buy him something or plan to do something.  What a stinker.  I went out to look at it and both sides looked great.

He told me he sold the trailer today to a guy at church.  Kimmy and Eli came over for a quick stop to pick up the anvil that was Bill’s dad’s or grandpa’s.  I ran out to quick take a picture and at least say hi.  I just caught them as they were about to drive out the driveway.  So glad I did and could get a picture.  We went to look at an aluminum one he saw that he liked.  It is really nice and so much lighter to hall when we travel with the motorcycle.  We’ve been praying for a nice one and a good price.  He’s going back tomorrow to see if he can wheel and deal.  He’s pretty good at that.  

We came home and I watered some plants, and washed some dishes that couldn’t go in the dishwasher.  

Sunday, 8/17/25, went to early church, taught Sunday School, went to prayer, went to second service, went to S.S.volunteer picnic, went to Liz’s retirement party at BayShore, went to Lamplighter with Paul and Debbie

Sunday School Volunteer picnic

Cassie did a great job blessing us all with a Sunday School volunteer picnic.  Her prayer at the beginning was beautiful.  She is one of the nicest people I know.  She’s young and does an amazing job with the kids and all of us.

I sat by Kris.  She is one of the nicest friends and is always willing to trade when someone needs to 

Our first selfie with Liz.  Paul photo bombed us so we had to take a 

Liz, me and Bill

Me and friend Debbie...She and her husband are our Area Reps.  We all got to Liz’s retirement party at Bayshore at the same time so hung out together.

This is the picture Bill showed us he took when he actually took the one above.  He’s so silly.

We stopped at the Lamplighter in Sebewaing since they didn’t have any food at the party.  Debbie and Paul met us there.  Debbie and I both got a flatbread club sandwich.  It was so big.  We each took half home.

We both drove separate.  Bill left about 10 minutes before me because he had to pray with Pastor and the Elders before the first service.  I got there and went to my classroom and made sure everything was ready.  Worship was awesome this morning.  Vikki, Rody, Peyton and Isaac sat next to us.  I went back after worship and taught Sunday School.  I had eleven kids.  It was a fun lesson on how much Jesus loves us.  The kids were all so good and so much fun.  After church I went and prayed with our prayer group.  It was an awesome time of prayer.   After that we went into the second service.  We sat up front by Merijo and Greg.  

It was another great message on faith.  

After church, Bill went to get gas.  I went to the Volunteer picnic.  We had hotdogs, potato salad, fruit, veggies and desserts.  I didn’t each much because I thought they were going to have food at the retirement party I was going to.  I didn’t eat any dessert.  They had us introduce ourselves and say what grades we taught.  Then Cassie drew names for gift cards.  I won a $10 Amazon gift card.  I sat by Maryjane, Rachael, Mikayla and Mrs.  We all had fun visiting.  I left so I could meet Bill at 1 and leave to go to BayShore.  He hadn’t been able to find a retirement card, so we stopped in Sebewaing at the Dollar store and found a beautiful Christian Retirement card for Liz.  I filled it out and put money in it in BayShore’s parking lot, then we went into the party.  We were surprised that there were only small bags of chips and mini red licorice packs.  We expected at least to have cake lol.  Good thing Bill had picked up a candy bar at the Dollar Store to eat.  He hadn’t had anything for breakfast or lunch.  We went to the Lamplighter Restaurant and Paul and Debbie joined us.

On our way home, we stopped and saw Roy and Marie.  We always go by their house on our way to BayShore, but usually have the big camper and can’t stop.  We had a really nice visit. 

Roy came out and looked at the Jeep when we were leaving.  He really liked it and said it was the nicest one he’s seen.  He’s so sweet.  

After I got my car and got home, I packed up some potato salad and dropped it off at Melissa’s.  She only wanted a little because they are going camping tomorrow.  I took Hailey a couple of avocados and also some cilantro she forgot here.  Evan met me in the driveway to come get the stuff and take it in.                                                                                                                                                   

I filled bird feeders.  It was sure cool and windy outside.  I came inside and read my Bible and prayer books.  Bill had read his when I was gone.