Monday, 3/23/26, Went to breakfast with Maria, went to Melissa’s, went to Jacks,Bill went to Mike McNally’s, a marine friend’s funeral, Bill had an elder’s meeting in the evening

It was a nice sunny morning, 32 degrees outside.  I love the sun coming in the window now.  It is nice and warm this time of year

This is the church group Peyton, Isaac and Eli traveled with.

Our group at Gateway Church 

Isaac and Eli’s room their shared with Casey and another kid

In Session one

Peyton and Hannah with Martin Sedra, one of the speakers

Isaac and Eli with Martin Sedra too

Peyton, James Cowell a speaker from the UK, and Hannah

Peyton, Millicent Sedra, and Hannah.  Millicent gave a great message for the youth.

Peyton, Pastor Dave Krist, and Hannah.  He had such a heart for the Lord and for Worship

 

Peyton and Hannah having fun taking selfies

The kids had so much fun hanging out with all of the
speakers.  Millicent talked to Peyton for a half hour 

Isaac and Eli are in the back in this video...Eli brushes his hair back.  Isaac is on the left of him.

Isaac took these amazing pictures of my Kit Kat

I took my shower, than got ready, read a worship devotion and then left to meet my friend, Maria from church at Nori’s for breakfast.  She led our small group Bible Study.  We got there at the same time.  We ordered the house omelets with pancakes. Toast came with it too.  We talked lots and got to know each other better.  Our food was delicious, but we ended up taking more than half of it home.  We visited for 1 1/2 hours, then left.  I stopped at Melissa’s to give her a blue candle for her bathroom she just got new mats and towels for.  The candle will match.  She was just heading out the driveway, so I left and went to Jacks to get some meat and also stuff to make Panini’s.  I want to try my new Panini’s maker the girls and families got for me.

I got home and Bill was at a Mike’s funeral.  I put stuff away and then listened to another message from the youth conference.  It was another good message!  Bill got home.  I ate the rest of my omelet and gave Bill the left over pancakes.  I made sure not to get any syrup on them so he would eat them.  I warmed the toast up in the air fryer and it was so good too.

We both read our Bibles and did our prayer books and devotions.  I love reading Acts.  

I talked to Melissa and she loved the candle and said it matches really good.  We talked for a while, but we were both cooking and had to hang up so we could finish.  I talked to Vikki a few times.  Mykenzie tried to FaceTime me, but I missed it.  Boo Hoo.  I texted with Hailey, and got dates she’s available for getting her bridesmaids dresses altered by my friend Barb.  We are going there Friday at 7 p.m.  I am glad that is all set up for her and she wants me to come with her.  It will be fun hanging out.  

 

Bill went to an elder’s meeting at 6.  I listened to another I am One message.  It was good too.  I worked on deleting some pictures for a while.  Bill got home and brought me a piece of apple and also pecan pie that was left over from his meeting.  Yum!  The apple was great. I was too full for the pecan.  That will be for tomorrow.  

Sunday, 3/22/26, Went to both services at church, listened to Session 4 from the kids youth conference, “We are One”, Kimmy and Jared met Vikki, Eli and Isaac at our house to take Eli home. We had a nice visit before they left and I loved hearing from the boys about their trip

These three were pretty excited about the We Are One Youth Conference they went to in Inlay City, MI.  Peyton and Eli got cool shirts there.  I am so thankful to God for how He moved in their hearts.  

Ally and Hailey...Best Friends since kindergarten....Hailey and some of their other friends went to Visit Ally.  Hailey sent me these pictures.

Hailey and Brooklyn

It looks like they had lots of fun!

We got ready for church, then went to the 9 a.m. service.  Worship was awesome!  Pastor Gabe (he used to be in my Sunday School k-1 class) preached and did an amazing job.  I was so proud of him and how he is letting God use him!  We prayed for Ambrosia and Jeremy at the altar after the first service, then visited with lots of friends until the second service started.  We stayed for the second service too.  We prayed for Nathaniel and Emily after the second service.  We visited with friends after the second service too, then left for home.  We ate lunch, then Bill took a nap and I listened to the 4th Session of the kids youth conference.  It was so good.  Great message, great worship and moving altar call.  I was in tears.  It made me even more thankful that the kids went.  I still have to listen to part of session 3 and then 1 and 2.  

Kenzie and Rehvyn FaceTimed me.  Rehvyn was showing Bill and I how he knows how to use the sound/and picture hanging chart we got him.  He sure is a smart little guy and as cute as can be.  I love it when we get to FaceTime.  Melissa called and I talked to her for a while.  She got to hear Bill snoring in the background.  He always says he is just resting his eyes.  Now I have a witness he actually does sleep.  I’m glad to see him get rest though.  He has been staying up really late and getting up really early.  I got done with the session around 4:40, so didn’t bother taking a nap.  I was looking forward to seeing everyone when they got here which was right around 5.  The kids told me about their conference and Isaac showed me many great pictures he took.  Peyton didn’t come because she went with Rody to look at Guitars.  We had a fun time hanging out and FaceTimed with Kenzie and Rehvyn more.  I offered to make chicken fried rice, but the Russells had to go home for ice cream and popcorn night and Vikki went home to eat with Rody and spend time with him.  

Bill and I read our Bibles and then did our prayer/devotion books.  Now I am starting the book of Acts in my yearly chronological reading schedule.  Amazing....I get to Acts right when our Pastors are preaching on the book of Acts and we have our journal books Pastor ordered for us that are the book of Acts with places to write notes on the sermons.  God is Awesome how he does this.  Out of the whole Bible, I am reading right what we are studying now.  I love it when He does that.

I worked on my blog after that, then texted with Maddy.  Tomorrow morning I am meeting with Maria from church for breakfast, and then Tuesday I am meeting my best friend, Vikki at Zhender's to celebrate our birthdays with our free meal from there.  I am looking forward to both.  

 

Sat. 3/21/21. Happy Heavenly Birthday to my Sister Linda, Bill went to Lapeer Chapter meeting, I did laundry and some cleaning, Melissa, Evan and Lydia came

Evan and his girlfriend Lydia

Bill, Evan, Lydia and Melissa...we taught Lydia how to play Donkey.  She did really well.  We three girls went out first.  Evan got stuck with the Donkey.

 

Evan having to say Hee Haw while holding up the Donkey.  We all had a good laugh.

Happy Birthday to my Sister, Linda in heaven.  She would have been the same age as me for the last 3 days.  She always teased me as a kid, but when we got older, it was nice to know I was younger the rest of the year.  

Bill left at 6 to go to breakfast with Jim and then they went to the Lapeer Chapter meeting.  I slept in til 8.  I washed more cupboard doors, unloaded the dishwasher, cleaned the Ninja Oven/air roaster, and vacuumed.  At 1, I picked up Lisa and we went to the Dollar Tree.  We brought her walker.  She has tests at U of M on the 29th so they can figure out what’s going on.  I feel bad for her being concerned about seizures and feeling weak.  Praying for her.

Bill got home and he read his Bible.  I baked brownies to have when Lydia and Evan were here.  They came around 3:30.  We visited for a while, then played Donkey.  She liked the game and loved adding to Evan’s pile.  It was a fun game.  I got low numbers for once.  I did get a couple of 20’s.  I passed one to Bill, then the other one ended up being the only wooden number block I had left.  I finally was able to give it to Evan, and went out.  Yay!  Such a tense game sometimes.  You can only put a donkey on 20’s so I was a little nervous.  Melissa went out next and then Lydia.  Evan got stuck with the Donkey.  He did a good Hee Haw for us.  We all had a good laugh.  

We ate spaghetti, green beans and garlic toast for dinner.  Then we had brownies for dessert. Evan had 4 and Lydia had 3 and said they were very good.  The kids went outside to play basketball for a while.  It was 48 degrees and sunny out.  Melissa and I did our devotions.  

I showed Melissa the pictures and videos I had from Eli at the I Am One conference.  She enjoyed seeing them.  I am going to watch the teaching Videos Vikki sent me from there  later.  They are pretty long.  She said they were very good and the 3rd one is the best message she’s ever heard and she cried.  Eli said he genuinely cried last night.  It must be a very touching conference with great messages and awesome worship.  I am so glad the kids went.  

The kids went for a walk around the yard at 7:30.  When they came in, they got ready to leave because Melissa was taking them to Starbucks on her way to take Lydia home.  Lydia sure is a fun and sweet girl.  We really like her.  

I worked on my Blogs catching up after that.  Now I am going to listen to the 3rd message that Vikki sent from the conference.  Yay! 

Bill went to bed at midnight and I stayed up to read my Bible reading for the day.  Then I went to bed.

Friday, 3/20/26, Kimmy came over in the morning, Melissa came later, Kimmy, Jared, Evan, and Melissa cleaned up the yard and picked up all the sticks! Thank you so much!!!! Great Job! Bruce drove Melissa, Jack, and I to Flint and I met Bill and went to Mark Farmer and the American Band Veteran’s concert, They honored Bill and 4 other vets,

Isn’t Arnie so handsome

Kit Kat and Arnie....they didn’t want to be friends today.  Maybe another day!

Kit Kat out the window sleeping

Arnie sleeping

Wookie getting ready to nap too

Jared, Kimmy, Evan, Melissa cleaning up our yard which was covered with leaves and sticks.  The Sycamore tree always gets rid of leaves all winter.  We want to take that tree down.

Doesn’t the yard look great.  A HUGE THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU HARD WORKERS 

Melissa and Evan ate with us.  Evan cleared the table and rinsed all of the dishes without even being asked.  THANK YOU EVAN!

Jack when we got to his house

Bill when I got down to Flint to the Capital Theater.  He was at a celebration for veterans.  I joined him.dd

This is my VIP Concert Experience Pass I wore around my neckd

Bill with Mark Farner.  He and his band put on a concert.  They played a couple of songs we knew.

It was a beautiful Theater

Bill and I...we split a coke, had a box of popcorn, and each had a snickers

Bill and Jim Flickingerf

Me, Jim and the other couple at our table

Bill and I in the theater in our seats

The veterans chosen being honored

Bill and the other 4 veterans with the band

The played the Locomotion which was one of the two songs we knew that they played

Outside waiting for Valet Parking to bring our vehicles

Picture Eli sent me of Isaac at the Christian Conference

Another picture Eli sent me

Worship looks like it was awesome

Kimmy and Arnie came and hung out in the morning.  We visited together, then talked to Vikki for a while.  Arnie still drools while riding here, but he sure is a great dog here.  He loves his toys and plays so good with them.  Kimmy and I went for a walk around the yard.  Bill asked if we would pick up the sticks while we were out there.  There were tons of them from all the wind we have had.  I told him I didn’t think it would be good for my surgical eye if I kept bending over and straightening up.  Also picking up piles of leaves with sticks would probably get dirt in my eye.  I don’t want to do anything to have a set back where my eye is doing so good.  Kimmy wanted to do it, but it certainly was too big of a job for one person.  She headed for the shed, but I wouldn’t let her do it.  We came inside.  Melissa came over and brought Wookie.  Arnie was so excited to see Wookie again.  He tried chasing and jumping on him, but Kimmy had the leash so didn’t let him get to wild.  He got used to him and then after that, both dogs took naps.  They do that every week.  They are so cute and funny.  Kimmy had to leave to go home.  Jared was picking Eli up early, then they were bringing him and dropping him off at Vikki’s to go to the Christian Youth Conference.  Kimmy and Jared came here afterwards and said they were having a date night and they were going to do our yard together as part of it, before going out to eat and to the Fish Store.  I didn’t want them too, but they insisted.  When Melissa left, she said she would bring Evan back with her after picking him up at school and he could help.  She did that and she helped too.  I tried helping put the sticks and leaves on the fire, but the first time I did I could tell it was too much dirt even with glasses on.  I came in the house and made spaghetti for everyone.  It didn’t take them long and they had it looking nice and finished.  

Kimmy and Jared didn’t eat any spaghetti, because they were going to Chic Fil A.  I did have them pack some up to take home for another meal the next day.  After they left, Melissa, Evan and I ate.  Evan loved the spaghetti, especially because it had lots of meat in it.  He cleared the whole table and then rinsed off the dishes.  So sweet of him.  Bill called really excited because he found out I could come to the concert because it wasn’t just for veterans.  He had a ticket for me that they gave him.  He wanted me to find someone to take me down there.  I don’t want to ask anyone, but Melissa called Bruce and he said he would drive me.  That was so nice.  I really wanted to go just because Bill was so excited to have me with him.  Melissa drove me to her house and then Bruce made everyone who wanted coffees one, then we went to Kroger and he got gas and then we were one our way.  He dropped me off close to the theater and I talked to Bill while I crossed the street to get to the theater.  He gave me directions to come to the door where he was waiting.  He gave me a great big hug when I got to him.  Then they checked my purse and used a wand to wave around me.  They gave me a VI P tag to wear around my neck and we went down to where we had pop and snacks.  When the concert was about ready to start we went upstairs and into the theater.  It was a beautiful theater.  The concert started and it was a rock kind of concert.  We couldn’t understand the words and it wasn’t our type of music, but was nice they were honoring Bill and all the veterans with free tickets.  They played the Locomotion and we knew that song.  Then for the last song they called the 5 veterans up to the stage.  Bill started walking and after he left, I decided I would see how close I could get to the stage. Lots of people were standing right up by the stage.  I got a spot right at the opposite side of the stage he was on and leaned on the stage while taking a video.  I was happy to get so close, because I knew it would make Bill happy to have a good video.  They sang I’m Your Captain, which was a song lots of Veterans liked back during the Vietnam War.  The end says I’m getting closer to my Home.   It’s a 9+ minute video, so I didn’t post it, but may go back and post a sort part of it tomorrow.  We left after that, and they brought our Jeep to us.  It was a nice ride home, especially because car lights don’t bother me anymore since my surgery.  No more glare.  Yay!  I talked to Melissa and they stopped on their way home at the Pot Belly Pig restaurant for a date night.  The three of them love the subs there.  I know Jacob loves the one in Lansing.  I was happy to hear they made it a fun night.  I sure appreciated the ride.  I looked at videos and pictures Eli sent me and Isaac sent Vikki when I got home.  I could tell from Eli’s message he was having a great time and his heart was really being touched by the Holy Spirit.  Nothing makes me happier.  Peyton and Isaac’s hearts were being touched too.  I can’t wait to take to them in person.  What a fun night, and how touching that Bill wanted me to come be with him so badly.  I love my family and my family loves me.  Thank you again Kimmy, Jared, Evan and Melissa for cleaning up the yard for us.

Thurs. 3/19/26, Kimmy came and hung out for a while, then took me to my aunt Bobbie's funeral in Gladwin, We came home and ate peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, I went for a re check appt. on my surgical eye, Great report, washed some cupboards, and some spots off walls now that I can see lol.

Kimmy driving us in my car to Gladwin to my Aunt’s funeral.  We couldn’t go to the funeral because I had my eye doctor appt. to check my eye after surgery.  They had visitation for 2 hours before the funeral started

Loved going by all of these Amish farms on our drive.  There is a horse and buggy going down the road in this picture. 

My step dad that died when he was 38 with his sisters, my Aunt Bobbie and Carolyn

This is how I remember my aunt looking when I was young.  She was 91 when she passed away, but I hadn’t seen her for a very long time

I caught Bill sleeping tonight...I took a picture and sent it to Melissa lol and told her to send it to him and say we look like twins lol.  

Kimmy and Jared’s cute fenced in chicken coop.  No more eating Kimmy’s nice plants!!!!

Kimmy came nice and early after she dropped Eli off at school.  I was all ready so we hung out until it was time to go to my Aunt Bobbie’s showing before her funeral started.  I hadn’t seen her or my cousins in a long time, but she was really special to me, my mom and my sister when I was a kid.  She came to our wedding and we saw her a few time now and then since than.  Her daughter was a close cousin to us when we were kids too.  Kimmy did a great job driving me as I can’t drive until after my appointment today getting my eye rechecked. It was a nice relaxing drive.  We got there a few minutes early, so we went to the Dollar Store and I found some cross suckers for Easter baskets.  Not many things out there that actually are about the true meaning of Easter.  Very Sad.   I got those and also a cute wind chime for my friend Vikki that I think she will like.  

We went into the funeral home, went up to the casket and my Aunt looked good, then we watched the slideshow.  It was fun seeing all of the pictures and sure brought back some memories.  I finally saw someone I thought I remembered, and went up to her and it was my cousin Cheryl’s oldest daughter.  I remembered her name and talked with her a few minutes.  Then she showed me where her mom was sitting.  I went and talked to her and she remembered me and we cried and hugged.  She loved my mom and I loved hers, plus each other because of playing together so much when we were kids.  She introduced us to her youngest daughter, who was really young the last time I saw her.  I showed them some old pictures of us I brought with me and they loved seeing them.  We said goodbye and left after that so I could be home in time for my eye appt.  It was a great ride home, seeing Amish homes.  When we got back to my house, we ate peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and had Fritos with it.  I called Bill who was out in the shed and told him we had to leave to go to the eye doctor.  Kimmy had to leave soon to get Eli.  Bill ordered a nice big slider tray for my new coffee pot to sit on.  It slides out so easy to fill and looks so nice.  He ordered it last night and it came today already.  

My eye appointment went great.  The girl tested them and I could read all but the very last row of letters.  She said it was amazing I could see so clearly already.  Then she told me not to worry if after surgery on my other eye, it is blurry for longer because it is very unusual to have it this clear the day after surgery.  Wow!  Such great news.  Then the doctor came in and looked through the machine at my eye and said my vision was almost 20/20.  He said it still clear up a little yet.  He was happy I did so good after surgery!  I was thankful and told him so.  

We came home, ate round steak and mashed potatoes for dinner, then I washed some cupboards that I could actually see some dirt on now.  I also noticed some spots on the walls I washed.  My house will be a lot cleaner now that I can actually see when I clean it.  

I texted with Maddy, talked with Melissa a couple of times, talked with Kimmy and then FaceTimed with Kimmy and Jared so they could help me with my AirPods.  I talked to Vikki for a little while, talked with Sue and also with Laciey.  Worked on my blog and now ready for bed.