Thursday, 1/8/26, Bill picked up Max, It’s Max’s prayer month, I went to therapy, went to Kroger afterward, Melissa and Hailey were there and saw me, we went to Tim Horton’s afterwards, filled all the bird feeders, put Induction burner in camper, made goulash, watched a movie called God’s Here

Hailey saw my text and sent me this cute picture since I forgot to take one today!

I made goulash tonight to have when the girls come over tomorrow.  I remembered to take out some plain for my Kimmy!  Can’t wait until tomorrow to spend the day with them.

I slept in bed until 2:30 a.m.  Then moved out to the recliner.  I decided to take a Melatonin so I could sleep good the rest of the night.  First time I thought of that since way before my surgery.  It worked great.  Now I am pretty caught up with my sleep.  I slept until 8:30 this morning.  I put a worship song Vikki sent me from last night’s worship service.  It was so good.  I played it twice.  Bill got up and came in to read his Bible.  I made me oatmeal and a coffee.  I put raisins and banana’s on my oatmeal.  I also made cinnamon raisin toast.  After I finished eating, I started reading my Bible.  I read until it was time to go to therapy.  Bill left first  to get Max at 11.  I left to get to therapy by 11:20.  Bill and Max walked in the door just as I was getting ready to go out the door.  Max said hi when he saw me and I hugged him like I always do.  I got to therapy and had Allyson for my therapist for the first time.  She was very nice.  It was a good workout.  I went to look for a birthday gift for Joan, our Pastor’s wife and a great friend.  I didn’t find anything, so just decided to give her money, so went to the bank and got some out.  I went to Meijer to get stuff for goulash, then tried to find an Amazon gift card, but they didn’t have any.  I decided I would go to Kroger and get one.  I was in the self checkout paying for it when Melissa and Hailey surprised me and came up and said hi.  It’s a good thing they came.  I needed help figuring out how to put the amount on this card.  I actually called for assistance, but then we saw where we could just peel the cardboard and the code I needed showed.  The lady came to help, but I told her we figured it out already.  I told them it was too bad I didn’t get there when they were done shopping.  They told me they were just getting stuff for Hailey to make salsa, and then were going to Tim Horton’s.  I shopped with them and we all went to Tim Horton’s.  Hailey wanted to ride with me there.  Melissa got parked in by an ambulance that was helping a lady that passed out behind her car.  We didn’t even see it, so didn’t find out until Melissa got to Tim Horton’s.  They got donuts and I got a bagel with cream cheese.  We all got Iced coffees and then sat by the fireplace in the comfy chairs and visited for a long time.  Sue called me and let me know Gary Hakes passed away.  He was a good friend of ours that came to our breakfast when we had it.  I was sad to hear about it.  Another friend of ours that was an area rep in CMA, Bubba, was on a ladder in his shed and fell and died a couple of days ago.  We were very sad to hear about him too.  I had wrote in my blog about him and his wife, and their CMA friends from Australia that rode the shuttle with me at the Colors Rally last October.  They were so nice and we all had so much fun riding around picking people up.  The driver’s wife, passed out scriptures and we all shared our scripture and what it meant to us.  It was just such a fun ride, talking with them and talking about Jesus.  

I’m so glad I have that memory with Bubba and Sue.

Bill and I ate late, around 7, by the time I got the goulash made.  Then we watched a movie.  It was sad in parts, but had a great ending.  It was a great message on forgiveness.

I worked on my blog afterwards and didn’t even get sleepy working on it. Yay!

 

Wed. 1/7/26, 6 months today since hip surgery,, went to Miles Market with Melissa, went to Walmart, I went to Vikki’s church for the worship/prayer service

Fun FaceTiming with Rehvyn this morning.  He offered Papa bite of this first.  Papa pretended he ate it. Then Kenzie told him it had cheese in it.  Too bad it wasn’t a real bite!

Melissa and I at Miles Market enjoying our Salted Carmel Crunch cookie. We also had a smash burger and some fresh fruit.  We had so much fun together.
 

This is the fireplace insert and wood we decided to get.  Bill ordered it today.

Maddy’s little guy Mason has been sick for around 4 weeks.  They just put him on his 3rd steroid.  Praying he feels better quickly. He sure isn’t his happy self.

I woke up at 5:30, so decided to spend the rest of the morning in the recliner.  I didn’t want to keep Bill awake if I couldn’t get back to sleep.  It sure felt good sleeping so good for most of the night.  It was 8 a.m. when I got up for good.  Yay, it’s been 6 weeks since my hip surgery.  I fed Kit Kat and gave her fresh water, put a couple more Christmas decorations away upstairs and then made me a coffee.  Bill got up and I made him a coffee too.  We read our Bibles then.  I am reading the Book of Daniel now.  It is such a great book showing God’s love and awesomeness. 

Bill left to go to the Kernel Burner to order our fireplace insert.  I went to pick up Melissa and then we went to Miles Market and had smash burgers, share fresh fruit, and shared a salted caramel cookie.  It was so good and we ha such a fun time hanging out.  After I took her home, I went to Walmart and got Lisa’s gift for her.  Owen and Alex Galsterer saw me and came up and talked to me for a while.  I had them both in my Sunday School class when they were in K-1st grades.  Now they are both in college.  

I warmed up some chili I had made for the freezer for dinner.  We also had nacho’s and Vikki’s yummy homemade salsa.  After dinner, I went to Grace Valley for the worship and prayer service.  I met Vikki, Rody, Peyton and Isaac there. The kids wet to youth group and Vikki and I went into the service.  Rody was taking some pictures for the church.  The service was awesome.  We worshipped, heard scriptures, prayed, worshipped more and continued doing this until the end of the service.  Then we all went up front to the alter and prayed and worshipped together.  

I came home and Bill and I watched a movie called Unexpected Angel.   

 

Tues., 1/6/26 My skin doctor’s office cancelled because he is sick, put all the Christmas stuff away, and tubs in the attic took Bill for a ride in my car...first time driving since my surgery, drove to therapy, drove to prayer

Me taking Bill on a drive.  My first time driving since my surgery.  Yay!

We found a gas fireplace insert we like at the Kernel Burner.  It gives off a lot of heat and is so nice.  Plus there, they are letting us trade our kernel burner insert in and giving us a good price for it.  Bill didn’t get any bites on Facebook for it.  The Kernel Burner knows we always had ti cleaned and took good care of it.  They are also giving Bill $200 off for a military discount.  They will be putting it in February.  I am so looking forward to it.  It’s going to be so much easier.  Debbie and Tom love theirs and said it’s the best thing they’ve done.  The birch wood looks beautiful in person.  

This will be the outside cover for it.  It’s dark black.  Looks kind of silver in this picture.

I got up early and made my coffee.  At 8:30, I got a message from my doctor’s office that my appointment was cancelled because Dr. Boyce was sick.  I called and rescheduled like it said to do.  I got in in February.  I sat in the living room and waited for Bill to wake up.  It’s garbage day, so he won’t sleep in so long.  It’s a rainy yucky morning.  Happy it’s not freezing here.  They cancelled lots of schools up north.  

Bill got up around 8:30.  I emptied stuff out of the refrigerator for him to throw away.  He had lots of recycling with all the Christmas boxes we had.  

I had my last bowl of Kenzie’s yummy soup at noon.  It sure was good.  I got a lot of good meals out of it.  

I asked Bill if he wanted to go for a ride with me.  I wanted to try driving, but wanted him with me.  We drove to where I have therapy, then he needed to go to Battery +, then we went to Sam’s and got gas for $2.29.  He filled it for me.  We headed home then, but then he wanted to stop at the Kernel Burner and look at gas fireplaces.  They had so many there and the guy working there knows Bill and was so helpful.  It was so smart of Bill to go there, because they are letting us trade our other one in.  That means they will take ours out.  I didn’t know how that would work with someone just buying it and trying to move it out just themselves.  I feel much better about k. Then Bill thought about a military discount when we got home and so he called them and they are giving him one. 

I went to therapy at 4.  I had Mia and she was the sweetest girl.  She told me she really liked my sweatshirt with the cross in front and Psalm 91 written on the sleeve.  I got to share about how God did miracles for Melissa and took scar tissue from her lungs.  I always love telling of what great things the Lord has done!

I went to the bank and to Aldi after therapy, then came home and made scrambled eggs, potatoes, bacon, and cinnamon toast for dinner.  Then I went to prayer.  Worship was so good and it was so good to be able to be back praying with everyone.  The sidewalk was a little slippery when we left, so I walked in the grass to get to my car.  I didn’t have far to go. 

The roads were still good.  It is supposed to snow and sleet tonight.  The temperature was 37 when I came to prayer and 34 degrees when I left.  There’s so much water on the roads that it will be a mess if it freezes.

When I got home, Bill had unloaded the dishwasher for me.  Then he loaded it with the dishes I made dinner with and what we ate off of.  He had them in the dishwasher and the cycle had just finished.  I wasn’t going to really put my new Ninja pan in the dishwasher even though it says you can, but it came out really shiny and nice still, so guess I will from now on.  It was sweet of him to have everything cleaned up.

I worked on my blog and fell asleep really sound again.  It was 11 when I woke up and Bill was still sitting next to me on his recliner.  I decided my 6 week post op day is tomorrow, so I would try sleeping in the bed.  I slept so much better.  I could lay on both sides with a pillow between my knees.  I don’t think I will need the pillow for long.  How wonderful to be back in bed.  I didn’t even get up to go to the bathroom until 5:30.  I have been getting up every two hours in my recliner.  I felt so rested this morning.  Thank you Lord!  That and driving were two of my therapy goals.  I only have one more to accomplish.,,,going up our stairs easier.  That should happen soon.  

Monday, 1/5/25, went to VA in Ann Arbor for Bills MRI appt, went to 5 Guys,

Bill driving us to Ann Arbor

This was a beautiful drive on our way after his appointment to 5 Guys for lunch

 I got up early and took my shower, the did my hair.  I made coffee and then had a bowl of Kenzie’s soup for breakfast.  We both read our Bibles.  I made Bill a cup of coffee before I started.  He started reading a while before me.  We left at 11 to go to his VA appt. in Ann Arbor.  It was kind of messy with cars splashing us on the way there in the beginning of our trip.  Then the roads dried up for the rest of the trip.  We took my car which was good for it.

It didn’t take long for Bill to have the MRI.  Probably 20 minutes total.  We walked to the Patriot Store in the hospital afterwards.  We didn’t buy anything, but it’s always fun looking.

When we left, Bill asked me if I wanted to eat at Chic-fil-A or Five Guys.  I picked Five Guys, so he had me put it in my phone to see where the closest one was.  It was a nice ride there.  We each got a burger and split a fry because it’s a big amount.  We had a pop too.  It was so good.  Their hamburgers are my favorite other than smash burgers at Miles Market.  I forgot to take a picture of us.  

On the way home, I took a short nap.  When I woke up, I asked Bill if he wanted to share a dessert.  He asked what and I told him a Snickers candy bar.  We split one.

I talked to Vikki on our way home for a while.  The kids had dentist appointments today.  It only took 20 minutes Vikki said.  Peyton brushes her teeth twice a day faithfully.  She always gets compliments on how easy her teeth are to clean and how wonderful they look.  Isaac told the girl that did him that he hadn’t brushed his teeth for 2 weeks since he’s been on Christmas break.  The girl said she wanted to trade for Peyton lol.  

We got home and Bill wanted to snow blow the driveway before it got dark.  I tried sitting in the car on the driver’s side to see if I could drive.  Bill wanted me to back up the car a couple of feet because he parked up too far.  I tried moving my foot from the gas pedal to the brake and it was super easy.  I moved the car.  Yay!  I will be able to drive now.  I will start with going to prayer at church tomorrow night because that’s nice and close.

I have two appointments tomorrow, one with my skin doctor and the other for therapy.  Bill is taking me to both.  

I did my therapy when I got home and it sure makes my leg feel super good afterwards.  We did lots of walking today.  1.46 miles for me.  My leg was bothering me a little because of doing all the walking I did when I shopped with Kenzie and Peyton.  It didn’t bother me at all after I did my therapy exercises.  

Bill told me today that he like the chocolate covered strawberries I made to have at Vikki’s for New Year’s Eve.  I can’t even believe he tried them because he doesn’t like things mixed.  I made some more tonight for us to have.

I talked to Kenzie today.  She liked the pillows I gave her and put them on her couch.  She sent me a picture.  I talked to Melissa today too.  I told her about our friend Kurt being on his mom’s post for being in the spotlight for helping people who need leg braces etc.  He had Guillian Barre’ Syndrome when he was 8 and need braces and still wears them.  He loves working and helping people.

Sunday, 1/4/26, Went to both church services, the youth had a coffee bar to raise money for their mission trip, Pastor is teaching on the Holy Spirit and his message was so good, great worship too, went to Sam’s Club and Meijer

Kenzie’s delicious Cream of Broccoli Soup.  It was amazing!  She left the left over soup with me.  So sweet of her!

We went to the early service.  The youth was working so we could enjoy cold brews or lemonade today.  The are raising money for their mission trip.  I looked ant Nathanial and his hair was cut.  It was longer than Eli’s and for a very long time.  He looked so different and so handsome.  I complimented him and told him so.  I told him I would have to let Eli know.  He agreed.  We prayed for Sarah H’s friend’s daughter with Sarah after the service, then visited with friends between services.  I saw Peter there with his grandma, so went and talked to him for a while.  He is 17 now.  I had him in my Sunday school class when he was in Kindergarten and first grade.  He was a great kid and when ever he would visit after he moved, he always came and talked to me.  We had fun catching up.  He goes to Dow in Midland now and loves being in track.  I told him to always remember to put the Lord first and he agreed.  He has an inch to go and he will be 6 feet tall.  He is a very handsome guy too.  I was so thankful to see him and hear how well he is doing.  I also talked to his grandma and grandpa for a while.  We went to the 10:45 service too.  I took notes in the first service and finished them in the second service.  We prayed for Brooke Parks for her dad after the second service too.  My friend Melody did a video presentation on missions and her recent mission trip to India.  She did such a great job and her heart for reaching the lost sure came through her message. 

We came home and Kenzie FaceTimed me.  She and Rehvyn were headed to Great Lakes Crossing to shop.  I talked to them for a while, then had to go make Bill some food for lunch.  He ate the rest of Vikki’s yummy bean dip and scoops.  I had a big bowl of Kenzie’s soup and scoops.  So delicious.  We both took a nap afterwards.  Before I fell asleep, Kenzie called me again.  We just talked this time.  She told me she got two more pair of earrings with her gift card because the ones she got yesterday don’t hurt her ears.  She was happy to be able to wear earrings again.  Bill and I both slept after that.  When we woke up, we decided to go to Sam’s Club.  Protein drinks are $5 off up to 10 packs of them.  We got other stuff we needed too and some goodies to take to put out in the snack area at the church we hold our leadership conference at. We got gas at Sam’s after that, then went to Meijer and took the Vanilla beans I had got back.  They didn’t have a price by them, and when I looked at the receipt about 3 short sticks were $10.59.  Wow!  I had called Hailey and she couldn’t answer, so didn’t know if that’s what she used to make her cinnamon rolls.  She told me later she just uses regular vanilla.  

Bill unloaded stuff and I put stuff away when we got home.  Then we read our Bibles and did our prayer books and devotions.  

I wished Cathy Krause a happy birthday and texted with her for a while.  She’s such a dear friend.  I told her I will be driving soon and able to come help her again.  

I caught up on my blogs after that.  Always good to be caught up.

 

Saturday, 1/3/26, Bill went to pick up Max at 10, Kenzie and Peyton came over and helped me take the tree down, plus organize ornaments, Kenzie made cream of broccoli soup in the crockpot, we girls went shopping, Vikki and Rehvyn came over to eat and visit, Melissa and Hailey came over, roads got slippery so they all left

Rehvyn looking at their cat, Katness while Facetiming with me

Peyton and Kenzie got here in the morning after Bill left.  They helped take all the ornaments off the tree and pack them away after taking many pictures of all the ones given to me and who they came from and when.  We put them in ornament storage containers and got rid of many boxes, but I wanted pictures so

I can always remember the memory of getting them and who gave them to me.  Kenzie was an amazing help taking the pictures, I packed them in the boxes and Peyton put them in the storage container.  We had a really good system going.  I forgot to take pictures of the 

girls until we were done.  They posed by the empty tree though.  They hauled everything 

upstairs for me too.  Lots of work, but lots of fun doing it together.  I am so

blessed with granddaughters who love helping me.  

So cute!

Isn’t Rehvyn just the cutest here.  He was at his grammy Vikki’s and she sure dressed him up cute.  He loved it.

Rehvyn loved playing with the dog Bill got me for Christmas.  We decided to 
call him Happy.  Rehvyn gets so excited when he plays with him.

 

Kenzie, Peyton, and I went shopping after we finished the tree. Kenzie drove my car.  I was glad because I was thinking in the morning that it hadn’t been driven for a few weeks and needed to be.  Kenzie did great driving it.  We had 3 hours to shop before the soup was done.  We went to the Home Goods store first.  We walked all over it looking at everything.  Kenzie kept saying I was so fast at walking.  She would look and I would be way ahead of them.  I take after my grandma Rosella and my mom.  They both were fast walkers and always ahead of me when I was young.  We went to TJ Max next.  I let the girls each spend $20.  Kenzie got a pair of gold earrings that are very pretty.  She bought another pair with her money too.  Peyton bought some lipliner in colors she liked.  I got 2 spice racks for the kitchen cupboard that have 2 shelves and just lift out when I need them.  I also got a little waste basket with a lid and pedal for by the Keurig for the empty pods.  It was so much fun shopping with these girls. We went to Bath and Body next.  They girls tried lots of smells on them.  I got a gift card for my friend Lisa from church.  

We came home and Kenzie added the cheese to the soup.  It took about 20 minutes and it was all melted and ready to eat.  Peyton had a bowl before the cheese went in.  She loved it.  Vikki and Rehvyn got here and ate with us.  When we were able to eat ours with cheese in it, we loved it.  It tasted soooo good!  Thank you Kenzie for making it.  We watched Rehvyn play in the family room afterwards.  We called Melissa and Hailey and let them know Rehvyn was over.  They decided to come over.  We had fun hanging out and enjoying Rehvyn.  At first Melissa and Hailey were too full to try Kenzie’s soup, but later Hailey did try a little bowl.  She loved it too!  Amazing that I have two amazing granddaughters that cook so good.  Such a blessing!  Peyton and Kenzie went to Alta and when they got home, Kenzie said it was getting slippery.  Everybody got ready and left after that.  I didn’t want them driving on bad roads and they didn’t want to.  Kenzie called me on her way home and said the roads weren’t that bad.  I was happy to hear that since she has the farthest to go.  What a fun day!  Bill and Max had fun going to Lansing too. They ate at 5 Guys and that is always a great place to eat.  

I answered a group text, so Melissa saw that I was awake at 11.  She called me and we talked for 1 1/2 hours.  I love talking to her.  

Friday, 1/2/25, Kenzie was going to come over, but roads by her were slippery, another relaxing day, called Chris Turner, went to Texas Ro adhouse, went to visit Marie and Roy, took them vegetable beef soup from Bob Evans

Nice sunshine coming in the windows.  It’s about time!

Me FaceTiming with my Rehvyn.  I love his smile!!!

Finally can light the star at the top of

Me relaxing enjoying the tree.  It comes down tomorrow

Reading our Bibles just like we do every day 

Kimmy sent me this picture.  She likes her Squishmallow!

Bill and I at the Texas Roadhouse for dinner.  We
were going to do our visions for 2026l but it was
too noisy in there, so decided we will do them at home

Kenzie was going to come over this morning, but her road 

wasn’t plowed, so it was too slippery out.  She is going to

come Friday instead.  My friend Chris Turner messaged 

me her phone number today so I called her.  She is a great

friend, but when we moved, we would see each other once 

in a while, but then didn’t see each other for a few years.

Her son called Vikki to talk to her because his dad is sick 

not expected to live long.  I wanted to reach out to Chris to 

let her know I am here for her if she needs me.  It was so 

good to reconnect.  We picked up from where we left off.  

That’s what’s so great about great friends, 

Kimmy and Jared went to Birch Run to take some Crocs 

and get a different size.  Then they went to the Blue Thumb 

Fish store, and then came here to do a porch pick up of things

here that came for Christmas, plus Kimmy’s blessing 

Squishmallow for all of her help and love during my recovery.

Jared is feeling 90 percent better today.  Yay!  That makes 

me so happy.  

I am so thankful Jacob, Adam and Kimmy haven’t got what 

Jared and Eli had.  Continuing to pray they don’t get it, but they

are getting into the safe zone soon.  

In the evening, Bill and I went to the Texas Roadhouse for dinner.

We had a delicious steak, potato and salad meal.  The meat was

so tender and so yummy, and so was everything else.  We 

decided it was too noisy to do our vision for 2026 there, so we 

are going to do it at home or at a quieter restaurant.

We talked to Marie and told her we wanted to come visit them.  

She said to come right away. We asked if she wanted us to

pick up some Vegetable Beef soup from Bob Evans and she

said that would really be nice.  Bill got a loaf of banana 

bread for them too.  We got there and Marie was going to

eat while we visited with her, but Roy wanted to wait.  They 

were very happy about the soup and banana bread.  Marie

decided she would wait too.  We all went to the living 

room and visited.  It was a two hour visit, then we all prayed

for each other and our church.  It was such a great prayer time.

We left and they were getting ready to eat their soup.

Fell asleep when it was time to do my Blog and slept for 3 hours. 

Just doing my blog now.  

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