Sunday, 4/5/26, Went to early service at church, Bill stayed for second service, Melissa, Bruce and family came to our church today, Everyone but Kenzie came over to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus. Abi came too! It was a blessed day.

Happy Resurrection Day!  Worship and church was awesome today!

Eli and Adam this morning

Jacob, Abi and Eli relaxing 

Revhyn excited about his Easter Basket

Looking cool in his sunglasses and holding his poppit lamb

Rehvyn with three little trucks that came with the bath bombs papa found online and ordered for him.  The bath bombs dissolve and there are cars in them.  What a sweet Papa. 

Vikki and Rehvyn

Travis and Rehvyn....Travis sure was loving and good with Rehvyn.  Kenzie had to go to an art show and sell their stuff

DJ on the left, Travis, Bill, Bruce and Max and Vader

Evan with his Basket

Kody with his basket

Going through the stuff in his basket

Kody with his cross necklace that came late for his birthday

Peyton with her basket

Jack and Wookie.  I didn’t get a picture of him with his basket...Kit Kat is in the window

Max and Vader

Hailey

Melissa

Stacie

Adam

Jared, DJ and Stacie

Melissa, Hailey and Kimmy

Jacob, Abi, Vikki, Rody, and Peyton

The kids getting ready to go out the front door to do the egg hunt.  Evan, Jack, Eli, Hailey, Jacob, Abi Peyton and RehvynThe back yard was too wet, so decided to do the front yard.  Jared put all the eggs out by himself.  What a blessing he is!  Bill and Travis went to look at a car for Travis and Kenzie, Bruce had to run home and wasn’t back yet.

Abi, Jacob, Jack and Evan during the egg hunt

Peyton gathering eggs

Grammy and Rehvyn hunting for eggs.  I love Hailey laughing and gathering eggs in the background

Yay!  Hailey wasn’t being bugged by Jacob and Adam this year.  Nana didn’t even have to help her get more eggs.  

Jacob, Peyton and Abi

Eli gathering eggs

Abi and Jacob

Rehvyn

Eli and Rehvyn

Melissa and Adam

Jacob and Abi going through eggs and counting their money and sorting their candy.  They did some trading with Hailey.  Hailey, Rehvyn, Peyton and Vikki are in the background going through their eggs.

Bill lost the first game when he, Melissa, Jack (playing for the first time) Jared, Jacob and Abi and I played.  Here he is doing his Hee Haw

Max playing Donkey for the first time with Papa, Melissa, Kimmy and Jared.  It was a wild game with Melissa and Max going back and forth giving each other wood tiles.  Max ended up winning and going out,  Melissa went out next because she gave Jared a lot of tiles, then Bill gave Jared lots of wood tiles too, Kimmy went out too.  Poor Jared got stuck with the donkey, and had to wear the hat and say Hee Haw

Jared and Max playing.  Max really liked the game and did lots of laughing

Jacob and Jared.....Jared’s stack was so high

Jared did a great job hee hawing and wearing that donkey hat. Abi thought it was pretty funny

Jacob and Arnie

Arnie and Isaac!  They match!

Jacob, Abi and Rehvyn

Hailey and Rehvyn...Rehvyn giving her a kiss.

Peyton and Rehvyn

Nice family picture of Melissa’s family...Evan, Hailey, Melissa, Bruce, Max and Jack plus family pets, Vader and Wookie

Evan and Hailey...Her baby brother is bigger than her now

We drove separately to church.  I only went to the early service and Bill stayed for both.  I had to get home and prepare food for dinner.  Jacob and Abi came early, so it was a good thing I came home.  I was so happy to see them.  They asked what they could do to help so I washed potatoes, Abi forked them, then put olive oil on them, then Jacob salted them, wrapped them in foil and put them in the big oven roaster.  We were a great team.  When I finished washing them, I offered to take one of their places, but they said they were having fun and wanted to finish.  They were such blessings and such a great help. They sure saved me a lot of time.  Jacob carried them out and put them in the roaster.  I started the roaster, figuring it would be about 1 1/2 hours before they would be done.  I had watched a video on it and she had said around an hour.  I had the sloppy Joes going in 2 crockpots already and had a sheet cake baked.  

All the girls and families were going to church, than coming over later.  They all got here close to the same time.  Melissa brought chips, Hailey made guacamole salsa, and cheese its that tasted amazing, Stacie brought deviled eggs, Vikki brought buns an Kimmy brought freezer corn from their garden.  The potatoes took longer than the lady said so after 1 1/2 hours, we decided to have the dad’s hide the baskets and let the kids find them.  I handed envelopes with money or gift cards from Bill and I to each of the grandkids and Abi.  Only six kids wanted baskets this year.  Those over 18 don’t get baskets anymore, but get gift cards.  They did get to eat out of the adult age candy container that I made up.  They were pretty happy about that.  I also put a bowl of colored hardboiled eggs out.  Kimmy had started the cooking the freezer corn in the microwave too and that took longer than we thought too.  That and the potatoes ended up getting done around the same time.  Finally we put things on the table, then prayed as a family and ate. We ate dessert afterwards.   Everything tasted good.  Travis and Rehvyn had left before we ate to go to Omi’s for her egg hunt and dinner.  He came back in time for our egg hunt and he ate before we did that.  He left with Bill to go look at a car.  Vikki fed Rehvyn, because he didn’t eat hardly anything at Omi’s.  Then all the kids lined up and went out the front door and did the egg hung.  Isaac, Adam, Kody and Max didn’t do it this year.  It was cold and windy out so the kids were fast getting all those eggs.  I took extra buckets out to them.  Rehvyn was really cute finding eggs.  They all came in and opened the eggs and counted the money they got.  Eli got the most with getting $10.50 in quarters.  

We had a great day hanging out and playing games.  It was so nice having all the family here and having Abi as a bonus. (except we missed Kenzie) The kids all enjoyed hanging out together.  I am so thankful we have a close family.  It was late when everyone left and Eli and Isaac spent the night at our house.  Jack and Evan wanted to also, but they had things going on in the morning.  Bill and I went to bed at 1:10 and the boys had to be in bed at 2 a.m. their moms said.  Phones went on the kitchen counter while they slept upstairs.  They are great kids and follow rules well.  I’m so glad they still like to spend the night.

Saturday, 4/4/26, Hailey and I went to Starbucks and picked up a mobile order, Vikki and Isaac picked Peyton up, Hailey went home, I made sloppy joes for tomorrow, colored eggs, went to Chris Seager’s retirement Party, made sheet cake

Hailey and I after going to Starbucks

Peyton and I...she didn’t want to go to Starbucks with us because she was tired.  She texted me her order though and we brought her a drink back.  She was the last one to go to bed last night.

I was happy Isaac came with Vikki today.  They took Eli home today.  They sure had a fun Easter break together 

Peyton and Hailey had to leave.  I colored eggs after they left

They sure are pretty colors.

Hailey and I were the first ones up this morning.  We slept in til 8:30.  Hailey ate some dry Lucky Charms.  She’s like those since she was little.  Peyton was still sleeping on the couch when we got up.  I asked Hailey if she wanted to go to Starbucks and she did.  Peyton still wanted to sleep, but she wanted us to bring her something back so Hailey did a mobile order on my phone and used a gift card and got us a good deal.  Hailey pretty much knows all the deals.  She is a good steward of her money.  I guess college kids need to be.  It was a very rainy day, pouring at times.  We went to Starbucks, then we went to Kroger so I could get a retirement card and I needed 2 more gift cards.  We took some pictures, and enjoyed our Starbucks drinks, then Vikki and Isaac stopped over on their way back from Kimmy’s to pick Peyton up.  Hailey took a shower, then she got ready and had to leave too.  I started browning burger for sloppy joes, so got the eggs ready to color.  I had plenty of cups to put the tablets in.  The colors sure turned out bright and beautiful.  After the burger was cooked and cooling, I colored the eggs.  With all the cups, it didn’t take long and the eggs were done.  

I talked to Sue.  She is going to go to her niece’s for Easter with Chuck’s sister.  I had invited her here.  I’m just glad she is getting out.  If they end up getting sick or anything she said she would come here.

I took a 20 minute rest where I just closed my eyes, then I read my Bible.  Bill had already read his.  We did our Prayer books/devotionals too.  I listed to Elevation’s last Sunday’s message and it was so good.  Vikki told me about it.  Melissa called me and said they were going to Hailey’s church by her college and Max wanted to go too.  I was so happy he wanted to go with them.  Then she called and said their basement was leaking.  There was nothing Bruce could really do, so they still went to church.  Melissa said it was a great message.  She grabbed a book, so they can listen to the whole series and follow along in the book.  I wanted to listen to that message tonight.  I will start it and probably have to finish it after Easter.  

Bill and I went to Chris’s retirement party.  We had a great time.  It was at G’s Pizzeria and the pizza, breadsticks and salad were all so delicious.  They had lots of different pizzas set out.  We talked to people we knew, then sat down.  Then we greeted Pastor Ken an Joan when we saw them come in.  They ended up coming and sitting across from us.  We had a nice visit.  Maddy texted me and had me pray that no water gets in the basement of their new house they close on Tuesday.  They have water coming in the basement of the duplex they are renting right now.  After all this rain, our back yard has lots of water in it, so we will have to do the Easter Egg hunt in the front yard.  Thankful no water is coming in the house though.  That is no fun.  We took a ride over two bridges and saw how high the water is and also the flooding all over.  Praying they take the rain out of the forecast the rest of the week.  We came home and I made the sheet cake.  Then I worked on my blog.  Now I’m ready for bed.  

Friday, 4/3/26, Cleaned the whole house, went to Good Friday service at church, Hailey and Peyton filled eggs for the egg hunt and are spending the night

Vikki and Kimmy put the word Donkey and the picture Donkey on all of these bags for us.  Thank you girls!  Great Job!!!!!

My sister, Brenda’s, puppy.  It’s the one on the right with the angel kiss on its head

Our Good Friday Service was Awesome!  So thankful for Jesus did for me and for the world.  For all who will believe and receive His free gift of salvation.

The portrayal of Jesus and what happened on that day was amazing.  Pastor gave a touching message and then 4 people went up front at a podium on the side with a light to read by and read the Crucifixion Story.  It was dark in the sanctuary except for the lights on the alter.  So moving.  We sang three touching songs too.  Such a special way to. remember what Jesus went through, plus praise Him for what He did for us.

 

Bill got up early.  I heard him getting ready, so I got up too.  He left to go meet Rich at Creation Coffee.  They saw Vikki’s pastor there and started talking to him and he joined them at their table.  I ate breakfast and drank my coffee.  Kimmy called me andI talked to her and Jared.  Jared helped with my puppy application. I had a copy of it in my email so I read what he added.  He did a good job.  My application was accepted and I am on the list for my puppy.  Yay! 

I started cleaning the house and got the whole downstairs done, so went upstairs and cleaned it too.  So nice to have energy and feel good enough and see good enough to do the whole house in one day.  That hasn’t happened in a while.  I put good worship on and spent an hour worshipping Jesus and praying because of how thankful I am for what He has done for me. 

We went to the Good Friday service, then prayed for people afterwards.  Then we went to Souper cafe afterward.  We had half sandwiches and 8 oz. soups.  We called Debbie and Jeff to see if they wanted to join us, but their phones were off so it was too late when they noticed.  

We got home and I boiled some eggs.  At 8:30, Vikki brought Peyton and 5 minutes later, Hailey came to our house.  We put good Christian music on and filled lots of eggs for the egg hunt.  Hailey is super fast, Peyton is fast, and I am normal paced at filling them.  It didn’t take long at all. We have 3 containers for Rody, Jared and Bruce to put out in the yard.  That’s tradition.  I am so thankful for these girls and how they help me every year with doing this.  

We came downstairs and Peyton ate the candy bar she brought and Hailey had chips and salsa.  Bill had some chips and salsa too.  

They are spending the night, so we all watched an episode of Little House. It’s so much fun hanging out together.  I sure do love them!  

This is them while they were watching an episode of Little House lol!

 

Thurs., 4/2/26, Went to eye appt., put six Easter baskets together, and also big container of candy for Adults for Easter, Went to Culver’s with Max and Bill, went to the bank, went to Sam’s Club,

Rehvyn’s Easter basket (Papa found those bath bombs that turn into cars and ordered them for him)

Easter Baskets all ready for those who chose baskets

Adult Easter Basket

Kimmy found a good breeder in Michigan, so the girls and I filled out an application to get a puppy probably end of summer/fall.  I like the black and white ones, but I like the other colors of them too.  I am so excited!  

Got up and ate breakfast and had my coffee.  Bill left to go mentor Jeremy, then was going to the pain clinic afterward.  I took my shower, and got ready, then went to my eye appointment.  My eye appointment went well.  I was looking for someone to give a card to and invite to church for Easter, but my eye doctor and her assistant were already going to their churches.  I was happy to hear that.  It opened the door to have a nice talk about God’s goodness.  My eyes checked out good and no inflammation and pressure was normal.  Yay!

I came home and made a Panini without buttering the bread.  It turned out so good.  Much better for me.  I talked to Kimmy and she found a really good breeder in Traverse City, so she got the application and we talked over the phone and she filled it out for me with my answers.  Sounds like this breeder is a Christian so that makes me really happy plus her daughter works with her and is a vet tech, so that’s great.  I am pretty excited!

Bill had picked up Max and they called and invited me to meet them at Culver’s for dinner.  Of course I couldn’t turn that down.  Bill ordered my food and it had just got to the table when I arrived.  We had fun hanging out.  Max told me he wants to get his driver’s license now.   I am so happy for him.  It’s important to know how to drive and be independent.  I told him I was ordering my puppy and he was very happy.  I sure do love him!

I picked up 2 Culver’s gift cards, one for Max and one for Adam for Easter.  I had picked up other gift cards for the other grandkids, but Kroger’s doesn’t carry Culver gift cards. I also stopped at the bank and got $60 worth of quarters for the Easter egg hunt.  Hailey and Peyton are coming tomorrow night and filling the eggs for the hung with money and candy.  They are always great helpers and super fast at it.  Plus I love hanging out with them.  I went to Meijer’s because Peyton wants Lifesaver mints in her basket.  Went to Sam’s Club for big paper plates and protein drinks for Evan’s basket.  Got some buns there too and some chips.  Now I am all set.  I have the baskets done and have the money in envelopes for those who chose money, and the gift cards for those over 18.  

Decided to work on my blog and got it done.  Now going to put drops in both eyes and then I’m going to read my Bible.  

  

 

Wed., 4/1/26, Vikki called and said Kimmy was at her house and invited me over, Melissa came there too, went to Jack’s, Aldi’s, and Meijer,

This years’s Birthday ornament from Bronners

Cute chickadee on my window feeder

Naughty Kit Kat coming down from the top corner of the gazebo.  I played it live and she sure stretched out jumping down.  

Got up early and read my Bible.  Ate a banana and had a cup of coffee.  Vikki called me and said Eli spent the night at her house, so Kimmy was there.  She invited me over.  I left and went there and had fun hanging out with them.  Got my hugs from the grandkids who were having fun hanging around together.  Melissa came over later and we had fun hanging out with her too.  Arnie got a shot today so wasn’t quite himself, but he was still cute and fun and very well behaved.  Lucy was cute and fun and well behaved too.  Vikki made us coffees in the morning, then made us PB&J’s for lunch and Cranberry cocktail juice.  Yum!  The kids hung out in the sun room.  Rody took them to an Estate Sale, but they all came back saying it wasn’t a good one and it was way overpriced.  Kimmy ordered Adam’s knee braces on Amazon and could use my over the counter card.  I was happy about that.  Melissa tried Vikki’s knee brace and it helped her lots, so she was going to let me know what color so I could order hers later.  I had to leave to go to Jacks, Aldi’s, and Meijer’s for some things need for Easter.  When I got home, Bill helped with groceries so I could start making dinner.  I cooked sirloin burgers on my new grill.  They turned out delicious.  I bakes omelette potatoes and made peas also.  Bill helped clean up, and when everything was done, I ordered Melissa’s knee braces.  I let her know they will be here on Saturday.  Kimmy stopped over on her way home and brought the Donkey game bags Vikki made for us.  They are so nice.  

Kimmy made her a cup of coffee and showed me how she does is with just ground coffee.  I was packing mine too tight and water must not have been able to pass through easily so the coffee was weak.  I tried making me a cup after she left and it was much better.  

We watched President Trrump’s speech and are so thankful for the action he has taken and kept America free from Iran’s terrorist regime.  Such a quick and efficient war to protect our nation and many other nations.  Some people say No Kings, but we have a president who was elected by a great majority, so it’s kind of looney what they say.  Blinded and don’t know what the Word of God says, or they know and just want to do what they want instead of what God’s will is.  God is the final authority no matter what they think.  

I go to my regular eye doctor tomorrow.  Can’t wait to find out what they say about my eyes now.  I see so clearly it’s amazing.  Today I went down to just a drop in both eyes in the morning and then again at bedtime.  Yay, that makes is so much easier.

 

Tuesday, 3/31/26, Stormed last night, Went to Kroger, Went to Vikki’s, Eli and I went to Zehnder’s for his free birthday meal, went back toVikki’s, more storms, picked up sub for Bill, went to prayer

Eli relaxing at Aunt Vikki's

Isaac with Arnie

Me and Eli at Zhenders for Eli’s free Birthday Dinner.  We had a wonderful waitress who was always checking to see if we needed more food brought out.  These are all of the appetizers.

He’s eating their yummy chicken soup!  It’s the best!

After the only appetizers he tried being the soup and a slice of bread, Eli’s plate was clean when the waitress cleared our plates off the table.  Then she brought him a platter with 3 pieces of chicken, dressing and mashed potatoes.  His expression when he saw the chicken was priceless

He was saying how stuffed he was, but he sure finished off his hot fudge sundae dessert.  It’s his favorite dessert

This was our window view at the end of our booth

I was taking a selfie at Bronner's, trying to get the soldiers behind us in the picture.  I accidentally hit the arrow on the camera and it had me in it but not Eli.  I started over and Eli said here let me take it.  I let him.  You sure can’t see much of that soldier...only part of his uniform lol.
So thankful we share the same birthday.  We decided going to Zhenders will be our new tradition.  

Getting ready to go over the Covered Bridge in Frankenmuth

It is entirely made of wood and has large wooden pegs holding it together

On our way home, the temperature was 58 and some of the fields were steaming after the rain. 

Peyton snacking on chips our in the sunroom

Isaac relaxing out in Vikki’s sunroom porch with Peyton and Eli

Our church’s Hope Tote collection for the Rescue Mission

Got up a couple of times in the night because the thunder was so loud and lightening was so bright.  Went right back to bed after I looked outside.  We slept in until 8:30.  Then Bill started gathering the trashes in the house and took the garbage and recycling out to the road.  Bill read his Bible and did his devotion/prayer books.

I talked to Kimmy and she and Eli were about 10 minutes from my house.  I was checking to see if I had time to go to Kroger’s before they got here.  I went there yesterday and got gift cards and they didn’t quadruple because I accidentally clicked on the wrong 4x fuel points on gift cards one.  I wanted to make sure I got them added in.  Kimmy said they could stop at the post office before coming here.  I went to Krogers and they said I just had to call the number on the back of my card.  Vikki called and wanted us all to come to her house since Eli and I were going to be leaving anyhow.  I went home quickly and changed before going there because we were going to Zhender's.  I got to Vikki’s and Kimmy uploaded the Zhender’s App for Eli.  Then Eli and I left to beat the crowd at Zhenders’s.  

It was a nice sunny ride to Zhender’s.  We got a parking place right by the door which doesn’t happen often.  Eli said it was his first time in Zhender’s and loved walking through the bakery/gift shop area on our way upstairs to the dining area.  We only had a 5 minute wait and the restaurant area wasn’t busy at all.  I asked for a booth and we got a really nice spot.  The waitress wrote down the numbers Eli had on his app for their and then left to get our drinks.  Eli was pretty happy he could have all the Pepsi he wanted.  Then our waitress brought his chicken noodle soup. He started eating that and also had a slice of bread.  She also brought cranberries, mixed green beans and carrots, coleslaw, cottage cheese, garlic toast and cheese.  I enjoyed all of that as the waitress bought me a plate to share his sides.

When she picked up our plates, Eli’s was totally clean.  Eli commented about how much he was looking forward to their chicken.  She brought out his platter with mashed potatoes, dressing and three pieces of chicken on it.  She brought out a side of buttered noodles too.  They are Kimmy and Vikki’s favorite.  He didn’t want any of those either.  He tried a pea sized bite of the dressing, but didn’t like it.  He loved the chicken so much.  He didn’t eat his potatoes either.  The waitress bought out 3 more pieces of chicken on a platter for him.  He only ate one more piece.  Then Eli and I packed up the containers she bought us with all the left overs.  I had half of my half hot chicken sandwich, dressing and potatoes left, so I packed those up too.  Eli and I were both kind of moaning that we were too full.  Then the waitress brought Eli’s hot fudge sundae and he ate it and really liked it and then he moaned that he was too full again. 

We took our coupon and went to Bronner’s next.  As we drove through town, Eli kept commenting on things and how he loved Frankenmuth and would love to walk through it with his friends.  We got to Bronner's and he was amazed at how large it was.  When we got inside, we took a selfie, then he looked at all of the many shelves of ornaments and said it sure would be hard for an ADHD person to walk through there.  We got our cute ornaments and walked around the whole store.  We decided we needed to after all we ate.  

We drove by both huge waterpark hotels.  Bavarian Inn’s is the newest and is the largest in the USA.  He thought they both looked very cool.  He also liked the River View Shopping Center.  He had walked through that before, but would love to walk through it with friends he said.  We drove over the covered bridge after that.  He loved that too.  He was so much fun!  I told him about the Glockenspiel at Bavarian Inn Restaurant.  It had already gone off before we got there.  While we were riding back to Vikki’s, he took some pictures of the steaming fields we went by for me.  It was very cool to see a field every now and then steaming.  

We got back to Vikki’s and took the food into Kimmy and Vikki.  They really were happy, especially about the noodles.  They ate the potatoes and dressing and then were taking the chicken to Jared.  We visited as it down poured outside.  I pulled my car in the garage in case it started hailing.  Only got rain!   I left around 4 because I was picking up a sub for Bill and we had to go to prayer later.  Bill had picked up water from Shays and also paid the water Bill. 

Prayer was absolutely awesome.  Emily, our worship leader who started as a teenager and has been leading worship for 20 years now came to share a message the Holy Spirit had given her which she had written out.  She read it and it’s amazing.  She was very humble and wanted prayer about it for her and the worship team and for the congregation.  We have been praying about the same thing for quite a while in intercessory prayer.  So awesome to see God moving like He is.  We watched a short worship video clip and before Emily shared and then worshipped to a couple of songs after.  Then Emily sat in the middle of the room and we all prayed over her as the Spirit led.  There were a few Words from the Lord spoken over her, one given by Bill.  Emily was in tears and our hearts were all moved.  We are so blessed to have her as a lead worshipper.  God has brought many more lead worshippers who are being trained up.  Amazing things are going to happen as we worship the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Came home and read my Bible and Prayer and Devotion books.  Then worked on my blog.  I talked to Melissa, and Bill and I FaceTimed with Mykenzie, Travis and Rehvyn.  It was a great day!