Friday, 10/18/19...HAPPY BIRTHDAY KIMMY AND VIKKI!

Happy Birthday Kimmy and Vikki!  I love you both so very much!  What blessings you are to me always!

Kimmy Twin A on left, Vikki Twin B on right

My Beautiful Birthday Twins today

Melissa with her therapists on her last day

Isaac's school posted this today.  His artwork is so cute!

They put this one on too with Peyton in it

Peyton when she came to Aunt Missys

Isaac at Aunt Missy's

Called Vikki and wished her Happy Birthday.  I knew Kimmy was already at work, so I just sent her a Happy Birthday text.  I was happy to hear back from her and know she saw it.  I took Melissa to her last therapy session today.  We took Abby too.  Melissa's therapist wanted to see her and told Melissa she should bring her.  The therapist came out to the car to see Abby and pet her.  I took Abby home after that.  I came home and shortly after, Kimmy and Wyatt came to visit.  We had coffee and visited.  While we were in the driveway, we had Kimmy open her card, so she could get her gift card from us for Home Depot. Afterward all three of us went to Home Depot, and got drawer sliders Kimmy wanted for her birthday with Bill's discount.  They were short one slider....Kimmy needed 4 and they only had 3.  Kimmy said she would stop in Midland and get one on her way home.  Kimmy headed to Melissa's, Bill left, and I went to pick Melissa up.  All her therapists wanted a group picture with her and asked me if I would take it.  I did and then took one on my camera for Melissa too.   They are always so nice to Melissa.  She's pretty sweet, so I know why.  They brought her cupcakes to have there with them, and all signed a nice card for her.  They sent the extra cupcakes home with her.  She watched Peyton and Isaac while Kimmy, Vikki, Bill and I went to Tony's to celebrate their birthday.  Bill surprised Kimmy and picked up the 4th slider for her drawer at the other Home Depot.  Kimmy was so happy.  What a wonderful dad he is.  Kimmy had a grilled cheese sandwich and the rest of us had breakfast.  Vikki opened up her card and both of them opened their little gift bags with Magic Eraser Sheets and Bumble Bee headbands.  I saw them and figured they could wear them to work since they are busy as bee's always.  Kimmy mentioned she was going to wear kitty ears she had wore last year.  When I went in the dollar store, I laughed when I saw these.  They were the only kind they had and they were perfect, since my lunch lady daughters are always so busy.  They tried them on after opening them.  They looked really cute, but Vikki accidentally erased the picture.  Bill and I got gas afterward, Vikki and Kimmy went to the Mall and to Starbucks.  At 6:30, I met Vikki, Rody and Isaac at Hopevale for their night of worship.  It was an amazing time of worship and praise to the King of Kings!  A guy behind us took a picture of Isaac up worshipping and asked Vikki if he could send it to her.  Woody and Joyce sat in our row.  I was surprised to see them.  I talked to Matt and Lupe after the service was over.   They are such a nice couple.  Matt is doing great after his motorcycle accident and is driving again.  

Thurs.,10/17/19 Had to have pest control come and spray bee's nest, Went to Rhonda's going away party

We all had fun at Rhonda's going away party

Rhonda and Scott who she witnessed to at the park

Bill had a dr. appt in the morning.  I watched Elevation sing their new worship songs on TV.  Cleaned the bedroom upstairs.  Talked to Kimmy for a long time which was such a blessing.  She worked while we talked.  She is so busy with redoing her kitchen, plus working, and other daily things that come with being a mom and wife.  In the evening, Bill and I went to Rhonda's going away party at Timbers.  There were a lot of couples from church there.  She is moving to Texas.  One guy, who is in our small group, was there.  Rhonda saw him in the park, shared her testimony of what God has done for her and led him to the Lord.  He is getting baptized Nov. 3 and is so thankful God has changed his life.  She sure will be missed.  She has touched our lives and a lot of lives in such a special and amazing way.  I read a 2004 journal my mom kept.  She was such a loving and special lady.  So many memories come back as I read her precious journal.  I was blessed to have her for my mom and friend.

Wed., 10/16/19...Cleaned some closets out upstairs, Went to Jacob's Marching Band Showdown

Vikki sent me these cute pictures of Peyton at her house

Peyton wanted to make more scalloped potatoes to eat.

Sure wish I had a good helper like that when I make them

Bundled up to watch all the marching bands.  It started misting a little so Put my hood up to keep my hat Kimmy made me dry

Cute Russell couple sitting next to me....Thanks for the hand warmers Jared...sure kept my hands warm

Jacob in the Meridian Marching Band...he did great and the band was amazing

Jacob in the back row

Jacob in the last row on the 40 yard line

Jacob second from the left in the back

I cleaned some closets upstairs today.  Went through some old stuff from the attic.  Bill and I killed 25 bees that are coming in the family room.  They are moving very slow and easy to kill.  Called and checked on a lady from our small group who just got out of the hospital.  She was doing well.  Kimmy called and told me Jacob's Marching Band Showdown is tonight, so I am going to dress warm and go.  Bill has his Marine Corp League Meeting tonight.  Peyton had her Neurologist appt. today for her headaches.  They are trying different medicine and will watch to see how it goes.  She has big tonsils and the doctor thinks she could have Sleep Apnea.  Praying this new medicine takes care of the headaches.  Sure love that sweetie.  Met Kimmy at Salvation Army and headed to the school where The Marching Bands were going to play.  She is always so wonderful and fun to be with.  It was very windy out, but we sat in front of a building in front of the 50 yard line only at the top.  It wasn't windy where we sat.  Jared got us some hand warmers to use.  They really work good.  I will have to use them when it's cold and I'm on the motorcycle.  We ate some candy corn and dark chocolate M & M's while we were there.  I got in free because I'm a senior.  There are some advantages to getting older.  The bands did a great job.  Jacob's band didn't start until 8.  They did amazing and I was so proud of Jacob and how well he did.  He sure loves band and you can tell.  I sure love him.  They saved the bigger and better bands for the end.  The last band had 250 kids in it.  Wow...they were amazing.  I can't wait to go again next year.  It was so much fun watching them and listening to them play.  When I got home, Bill had the outside lights on for me, my electric blanket on, and the fireplace loaded with pellets and both buckets full.  What a sweet husband.  

Tues.,10/15/19, Went to our breakfast, Went to Melissa's

Went to our breakfast.  Merijo was able to come this week again which was nice.  I went and spent time with Melissa afterward.  We visited and she taught me some things on my phone.  I went to Kroger and Aldi's when I left her house.  I forgot to wear my fitbit too!  Bummer!  Checked the camper out to make sure they fixed stuff right.  Bill and I killed at least 10 bees in the house today.  They were mostly in the family room.  I sprayed the eaves where they were coming in, but they are coming in the house somehow now.  They are moving very slow and easy to kill, but I sure hope that's the end of them.  We don't have small group tonight because we had a "Serve Saturday" where our church served the community last Saturday.  We did have one person in our group show up though.  We watched the news, Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune.

10/14/19...Organized Attics, Picked Royce Grandkids up from school, Went to Jack's Hockey Game, Melissa had Neurologist appt. in Grand Rapids

Jack playing soccer

Hailey with Sadie

Ally and Hailey

After we read our Bibles and did our devotions, i worked on cleaning the walk in attics out.  Got rid of three big boxes of junk. Moved stuff from boxes to plastic tubs.  Bill sorted through one box of his stuff for me.  I picked the boys and Hailey up from school because Melissa had a dr. appointment in Grand Rapids. They are meeting Bruce's Dad and Brenda afterward for dinner.  Bill called me and said the camper was done so he was heading to pick it up.  I brought the kids to their house so Jack could change into his soccer uniform.  Max stayed home with Evan, and Hailey and I went to Jack’s soccer game.  They played a great game, but lost 1 to O.  We picked up pizza and bread sticks from Hungry Howie on our way home and went to their house and ate. After that, the kids all did their homework.  I practiced spelling words with Evan.  Practiced Max's scripture verse with him.  Bruce and Melissa got home around 8:45, so I headed home after getting my hugs from the kiddos.  Bill watched the Lions game while I did my blog.  

Sunday, 10/13/19....Went to church, went to Ellen's Baby Shower, Watched Leadership DVD for CMA

Beautiful drive to the shower

Melissa and Hailey

Kyle and Ellen pulling a clothes line with lots of baby clothes on it....It was in a hamper and went three times as long as shown

Joy, Kimmy, Peyton, Vikki, Melissa and Hailey at Ellen's shower

Vikki and Bentley

Me and Bentley

Melissa and Bentley

Cathy kissing her grandson

Peyton, Kimmy, Vikki, Hailey, Melissa, me, Ellen and Kyle

Bill ate out which church friends while I was at the shower

 We went to church. Awesome worship and a great message.  Went to Ellen's baby shower afterward. Kimmy and Melissa met us in the parking lot.  Kimmy was sweet and drove us there.  The fall colors were beautiful on the way.  The shower was beautiful and so nice.  Ellen was so sweet and so was Kyle.  We were happy when Brittany brought Bentley over for us to hold.  Such a cute baby.  Going through the stage where he likes to know mommy is close by.  Joy from church sat with us too.  Her daughter, who is good friends with Ellen,  is living in France for 3 years, so Joy came to represent her.  They sure got lots of beautiful things.  The food was really good and the dessert was fabulous.
Bill went out to eat at Levi's with church friends after church.  When I got home, we watched a DVD for CMA Leadership.  It was really good.  We took a little nap and then watched a movie called, Good Sam.  It was real good.

Saturday, 10/12/19...went on our Faith Riders color tour...it was a cold day but we still had a great time

Ready for take off for our Fall Color Tour...10 bikes and 12 riders

Picked up two more bikes in Bay City and 3 more riders

Our first stop was McDonalds in Standish

There was some color on our ride, but not a whole lot yet

Entering Tawas

We ate at Mangos Mexican Cuisine

Delicious wet burrito supreme

Bev and Marsha...Bev and her hubby are from the Flint Chapter and Marsha and her husband are from the Bay City Chapter

Bill and I at the restaurant

Group picture after we ate and were ready to ride again

Me and Bill...Wes in front of our bike

Lumberman Monument view

Group picture at Lumberman's Monument

Gorgeous scenery

Bill and I at Lumberman's Monument

My handsome husband

Wes and Gayla on our trail to find eagles

Lots of CMA back patches

Wes and Bill

Bill Smith, Don, Mike, Elaine, Bev, Greg and Cheryl

Greg, Cheryl and Bill

This is where we ended up to look for eagles. It was beautiful

We got home and started the Kernel Burner...Felt great after such a cool day of riding

We met Mike, Bev, Jim, Greg, and Bill Smith at Tony's in Shields for Breakfast.  Their breakfast was huge!  We met everyone at Meijer at 10 am.  There were 10 motorcycles to start out.  Wes, Gayla, Bill Smith, Daryl, Mike, Bev, Jim, Greg, Don, Elaine, Bill and I were all riding.  Gayla and I were on the back of our hubby's motorcycles. Everyone else drove their bikes.  We stopped in Bay City at UNO's and Cheryl, Jim and Marsha joined us.  Two more bikes so now we had 12.  Three more riders so our total was 15 of us.  We stopped at Standish at McDonalds and most of us got hot coffee to warm us up.  We headed to Tawas after that.  We ate at Mangos and had delicious Mexican food.  We went to Lumberman's Monument after we left there. It was beautiful with lots of color their.  We took lots of pictures.  On our way home, we stopped in Pinconning at Purtell's to have dessert.  Bill had a hot fudge sundae and I had raspberry pie and ice cream. We rode home after that and were happy to get home.  We started a fire in the fireplace as soon as we got home, and Bill turned my electric throw on so it would be warm for me when I got in the living room.  He is so sweet!