Wed., 9/27/23, Cool cloudy day in the 60's and breezy, Cleaned part of the house, picked Jack up and took him to Culver's, went to Jack's soccer game

Jack when I dropped him off at home after we went to Culver's for lunch

The birds love the water feeder Vikki made for me.  I love watching them on it.  Sometimes two at a time will sit on it.

Bill in his cool hat driving us to Jack's soccer game

Jack playing on the end and in front of where the team hangs out when not playing

Me, Jack and Bill...Great job playing Jack!

Jack and his Papa Dan

Bill went with Charlie for coffee this morning.  I called Outdoor Adventures because we wanted to go camping today through Monday, but they are filled up except for 2 spots because of Halloween.  We don't want to go when that's going on, so we decided to stay home.  

I had my coffee and oatmeal.  Pumpkin Spice creamer sure tastes good this time of year.  I cleaned the living room and dining room. I talked to Melissa for a while too.  She let me know Jack and his team from school were volunteering at the Children's Museum to clean and wash windows.  She was getting ready to take Max to school and wondered if Jack could text me when he got back to school and I could pick him up.  Of course I said yes.  

I put on good worship music and finished cleaning.  Melissa called later and said Jack was at the school.  I took the truck to go get him.  He was outside waiting, but wasn't used to me coming in the truck.  I waved at him and he came right away with a big smile on his face.

I asked him if he was hungry and would like to go to Culver's and he said yes.  We ate in the parking lot.  I finished first and he finished eating while I drove him home.  We had a nice visit.  He sure is a nice kid.  I'm glad he's my grandson.  I dropped him off and he was very happy to see the light sabre he ordered had been delivered.  I told him to be sure and send me a picture of it.  

I made sirloin burgers and sliced baked potatoes on the grill for dinner.  We ate, then had to get ready to leave right away for Jack's soccer game.  We parked right next to Bruce, Melissa and Dan.  We were very happy to see them.  We sat in our chairs and Melissa and I stayed nice and warm in our layers.  Melissa brought a blanket...I forgot mine, but wore my Copper Harbor super warm sweatshirt and also had a warm coat I used as a blanket.  They won their game 7 to 1.  The ref couldn't see well anymore because it was getting dark, so they called it with 5 minutes still to go on the clock.  

 

Tues., 9/26/23, Bill took the garbage and yard waste out, 38 bags of yard waste!!!, He went to breakfast with Ross, I cleaned Kernel burner, Went to prayer in the evening

 

All ready to clean Kernel Burner.  

Bill has been working hard and the grass has been growing fast.  38 bags of yard waste from the yard and garden!!!

Slept in til 9.  Bill took the garbage and yard waste out, then went to breakfast with Ross, a friend who goes to our church to spend time with him.  He was just diagnosed with Mesothelioma stage 2 or 3.  Praying for him and appreciate other's prayers for him.  

Is rained in the morning.  I ate my oatmeal for breakfast and had my coffee.  Then I covered the furniture and carpet in the family room, and started cleaning the Kernel Burner.  I was thanking the Lord a lot today, because it call went so well and the pieces went back together so easy.  

After lunch, I read my Bible, worshipped and prayed.  Bill got home and worked out in the shed.  It stopped raining so I put some things I had washed out in the camper.  I worked on labeling some CMA pictures from our chapters in Michigan.   Bill has to send them into our National Evangelist for the Changing of the Colors Rally in Arkansas in Oct.  We ate dinner, then I went to intercessory prayer in the evening.  Great turnout and powerful prayer time.  I took the truck and enjoyed the heated seats and heated steering wheel.  Jared texted me and they are making good progress on their car now.  They sure have went a long time now with just one vehicle.  I am happy it is almost done.  Bill and I had ice cream with nuts and he had chocolate chips and I had M & M peanuts.  

Monday, 9/25/23, Bill went to coffee with Charlie, I slept in, 15 turkeys roamed in the yard, watered grass seed, fed birds, Jared stopped over, Bill had Elder's meeting

Had 14 turkeys come spend lots of time today

They were looking for leftovers in the garden

Bill got up early to go meet Charlie for coffee.  I slept in.  Made my oatmeal with raisins, nuts, bananas and blueberries and drank my coffee with Pumpkin Spice Creamer.  I brought a couple of coolers up from the basement and took everything out of the refrigerator and freezer and cleaned it good.  Then I put everything back and put the coolers back downstairs.  That is a job I'm glad to have done.  Tomorrow I am hoping to get the Kernel Burner cleaned.  I started watering the new grass right away in the morning and moved it around.  It is quite a big area they seeded.  When Bill got home he mowed the grass.  We were reading our Bibles, and I went out when the timer went off and moved the sprinkler.  Jared had pulled in the garage with my car and said hi and startled me a little.  I had just texted Kimmy that they should keep my car at least until Friday.  I texted Adam to tell him to have her look at my text.  Jared said I should have texted him.  I don't like to bug him because I don't know when he is working or at meetings.  We had a nice visit and Bill and I told him to keep the car.  There is rain in the forecast and we don't want him having to walk a mile each way in rain.  He said no, but then I told him I had texted Kimmy.  He called her and she was saying no at first, but when I talked to her and told her rain was in the forecast, she agreed to keep the car.  We don't need it and it sure helps them to have 2 vehicles.  Bill had to leave to go to an Elder's meeting at church.  Jared hung around and was visiting.  

I told him to take fruit slices home with him for all of them to have.  Jared ate a few here while he was waiting, because he still thought Kimmy was coming.  He thought I was joking about her saying yes.  He called her and she verified it.  Then he noticed I changed the John 61:3 back to John 3:16.  I never noticed it, but Kimmy told me last time she was here.  He called her to find out why she told on him.  He wanted to see how long it would take me to notice I guess.  It might have been a very long time.  He left for home.  It was raining out so I didn't have to move the sprinkler any more.  Yay!  Thank you God for rain. I read my Bible more than when Bill got home he read his Bible more.  I talked with Vikki lots today and talked with Kenzie.   

 

Sun., 9/24/23, Breakfast at the Hen House, stopped in West Branch on way. home, met guy named Bill and got to pray with him, Max, Bruce, Melissa came over,

We all went to breakfast at the Hen House Restaurant in the morning.  We had to wait outside for about 15 minutes for a table big enough for 8.  Bill, Jean, Kathy, Jeff, Mel, Betty, Bill and I went out by the road to wave when we saw Phil and Julie going by with their 5th wheel.  They rolled down their windows and were yelling back to us and waving.  We got a table shortly after that.  Our breakfasts were yummy. 

We all packed up after we got back to the campground.  It didn't take long to be ready to go.

Bill drove the motorcycle up and got it latched in right away.  I helped put the tie downs on.

Mel and Betty came over to say goodbye.  We finished the last minute stuff, then went to everyone's campsite and told them goodbye.  Then we went and dumped our tanks and left for home.  We stopped at a Walmart in West Branch to find UTZ brand chips.  All they had was pretzels, so we got those.  Kathy told us she get them at a Walmart in Florida and they are so good, especially the barbecue chips.  On our way in, were walking and saw a guy getting off his motorcycle.  We said hi and started talking.  He told us how his dad just died and how he had 10 days with him before he passed to talk with him.  He also started telling us about his grandma who was a Christian.  He had lots of good memories of her.  We asked him if he believed in Jesus and he said yes.  He said he hadn't been going to church though. We told him about CMA and how there was a chapter in West Branch.  He was excited to get the information so he can go.  He wanted nice people to ride with.  I asked him if he wanted us to pray with him and he said yes.  We prayed about all the things we had talked about and for God to lead him and guide his steps.  It was definitely a God moment and we were so thankful for God doing that.  He was going in for snacks and so were we.  When we came out he was by his bike again and we said goodbye.  Then we left and headed the rest of the way home.  I went back and made ground bologna sandwiches and got some chips to go with it.  Also got a few Milky Way miniature sized bars for our dessert.  So nice to be able to fix lunch while traveling.  I did wait for Bill to get off the expressway and on a country road.  We got home and unloaded the camper right away.  It went so fast and isn't so tiring with only two steps instead of 5.  Bill carried the heavy baskets of freezer and refrigerator stuff.  I did laundry right away.  Melissa called and Bruce and Max were heading over to shoot with Bill.  She was driving separate because she was going to stop at Tim Horton's and get a coffee and wanted to know if I wanted one.  I had already drank coffee so didn't have her get me one.  It sure was sweet of her though.  She and I played 3-13 in the camper while the guys got everything ready to shoot and practiced using the skeet shooter.  They called us to come watch after we were done with the Kings.  It was fun watching them shoot and hit some of them.  That seems like it would be very hard to me.  

We all picked up the pieces we found in the yard afterward.  It was lots of fun.  Max is so happy getting to do this and so good at it.  I love his big smile while doing it.  He held Kit Kat on the deck after they were done cleaning the guns.  Melissa and I finished our last hand of 3-13.  I won, but she sure caught up and almost tied me.  We had so much fun.  I talked to Vikki a couple of times.  I texted with Jacob and I'm praying he feels better quickly.  I sure do love my family.  

 

Sat., 9/23/23, Breakfast with CMA friends for RFS donation, nice motorcycle ride, pizza at Buccilli's, motorcycle ride around Houghton Lake and by Higgins Lake, Chili dinner and potluck, campfire and devotion

Breakfast cooked by the West Branch Chapter to raise money for CMA through donations

Peyton at her friend Ava's house

Eli at the Tim Hawkins concert with the lead singer who sang Big Big House

Our Saturday Ride with Jeff Wheeler leading.  It was in the 70's and such a beautiful ride

 

 

Some pretty color

 

 

 

Houghton Lake

 

In the parking lot of Buccilli's

Having good pizza at Buccilli's

After we ate, Jeff took Bill and I on a motorcycle ride around Houghton Lake.  It was just beautiful.  We went by Wes and Gayla's campground they stayed at at Higgins Lake

Adam putting Claire's corsage on her.  Lots of pictures from Homecoming night that Vikki took.  They went to Outback afterward and Adam texted me that he loved the bread.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sawyer, Adam and Claire

Claire and her dad

 

 

Cute picture of Kimmy and Adam 

 

In the morning, we went to Julie and Phil's campsite for breakfast cooked by the West Branch chapter to raise money for Run for the Son.  They took donations for breakfast.

We had pancakes and sausage.  At 10, Jeff, Don, Dawn, Marie, her hubby, Tony, Bill and I went on a 130 mile motorcycle ride, then met up with the people who rode off road vehicles

for lunch at Buccilli's for pizza and breadsticks.  It was delicious.  There were 30 of us there.  After we ate, Jeff Wheeler, Bill and I went for a motorcycle ride around Houghton Lake and then by Higgins Lake and the campground Wes, Gayla, Barb and Ron stayed at.  They had already left for home by that time.  When we got back to our campground, we sat outside and visited for a while, then we started getting things ready for our chili/potluck.  I had chili going in the crockpot, then also had more in containers in the refrigerator.  I put that all in a pot and warmed it up on the induction burner on the stove in the camper.  It worked so great.  

I will be using that lots.  The girls and families had given me one for Mother's Day one year and I always packed it in bubble wrap and kept it in the camper.  Now I have that one for an extra burner when we have big get togethers and don't have to all it but can keep it at home.

This camper is so easy and so much fun to stay in.  Julie came over to see if she could help with anything and carried the carrier Vikki had given me over to the potluck.  I had it filled right up.  I made some Cole slaw and Banana Cream Pudding dessert so Bill came and helped me carry that and the chili over.  Julie made white chili which was really good but a little spicy for me.  I ate it but my mouth was burning a little.  The banana cream pudding dessert was a big hit.  We cleaned up afterward, then all sat around the campfire til 11 at night.  Mike gave a good devotion.  Such a fun and caring group of friends.