Friday, 1/24/24, Went to Cathy’s in the morning, made rolls, made pudding for pies, cut the ham up, peeled potatoes, made cheesy potatoes,

No pictures taken today.  I started two batches of dough to make rolls.  Then I listened to the Bible on my phone in the morning. I got ready, then left at 8:30 to go to Cathy’s.  Our road was icy and then it was all clear the rest of the way until I got on Cathy’s road and it was icy just like ours.  Char was still there and I got to talk to her for a few minutes before she left.  She is a sweet friend who has been Cathy’s caretaker for a long time.  I stayed a half day today to help Cathy with whatever she needed me for.  It sure was nice visiting and catching up on our families. We go way back to meeting in the 80’s, going to church together, then being close friends, then close neighbors and then becoming like family.  She and Tim even had legal papers drawn up that if something happened to them, the kids would come live with us.  The kids are grown now and have their own families.  Cathy has had Parkinson’s for a long time now so needs help.  She had a lump removed under her arm and it was cancer she told me today.  I prayed over her right away as soon as she told me and am believing for healing in Jesus Name.  Her mom had cancer five times and lived to be 98.  We talked about all of the miracles we’ve seen and all of the answered prayer over the year.  Then I played a couple of worship songs for her that she hadn’t heard.  Her OT therapist came to give her therapy.  Tim got up and made coffee and visited with me while Cathy did her therapy.  He is on a swing shift which is really hard for him to get used to.  He was so kind and thoughtful doing things for Cathy.  She is blessed with a good husband.  The therapist is working with her hands so she can move them better and also had her sit on the couch and put her arms up and bring them down quick so she could stand.  The second time she tried she did it. Tim and I were so happy to see her do this.  Cathy told me Melissa was her hero because she has seen Melissa go through so much and seen God do so many miracles.  

I left at noon, and came home and started making rolls and letting them rise.  I started reading a New King James Bible and am doing a Chronological Plan for reading it in a year.  Melissa and her family are doing this plan, so I had her send me it.  I read three chapters in Genesis today.  I baked the rolls, then made pudding for a chocolate banana pie and also for a banana cream pie.  Bill brought the table in from the garage, so I got the tablecloth on it all ready for tomorrow.  I made cheesy potatoes which I will bake in the morning.  I talked to Melissa for a while and had her start praying for Cathy too.  Melissa said, She loved Cathy and commented on how she taught her so much.  She, Vikki, and Kimmy were at their house a lot, and Melissa’s first babysitting job was watching their daughter Brittany.  They were our kids second family!  I had Vikki start praying too and I know Kimmy will read this tonight and start praying too.  Cathy told me that Vikki sent her a worship song last week and how much it meant to her.  

After dinner, I peeled lots of potatoes for mashed potatoes tomorrow.  I covered them with water.  I was so happy when I found out I could do that ahead of time.  I also cut the ham off the bone and put it in the crockpot.  It was a spiral sliced ham, but still needs lots of cutting up pieces.   At 9 pm, I sat in my recliner by Bill and relaxed and worked on my blog.

Thurs., 1/23/25, Snowed last night, a little warmer temps today, made pie crusts for party, cleaned more rooms, Bill picked up pellets and plowed the driveway,

I love these cute mug covers from Kimmy and family.  They keep my coffee warm and in the summer will keep unwanted things out of it when I am outside.  

Woke up to snow this morning.  It’s pretty, but I can do without any more this year.

 Bill had to get up at 6:30 to go to an appt. at the pain clinic.  They are going to give him more injections and are having him have an MRI of his neck.  Prayers are appreciated.  

I slept in til 8:50.  It was so nice and warm and cozy in bed.  I fed Kit Kat and gave her some treats.  Then I dressed warmly and went outside and filled bird containers.  They were getting low.  Kit Kat always follows me around and tries to rub against my leg or against the feeders I am trying to fill.  She needs attention because she’s not getting as much with it so cold.  

I made two pie crusts for my pies I make tomorrow.  Then I did some more cleaning, and I wrapped a couple more Christmas presents for the party Saturday.  It is supposed to be in the 30’s that day.  Yay!  That’s going to seem like a heat wave.  

Bill called to order pellets.  He can only get 10 bags today and the rest will come in by Monday they said.  The price came down quite a bit, so we are happy about that.  We just are finishing the last of what we had from last year.  It seems to burn much better after sitting that long.  He picked up the 10 bags and stacked them in the garage.  Then he went out and snowplowed the driveways.  He came in and put his cold hands on me to show me how cold it was outside.  Brrrrr.  

Sad news today.  A 17 year old girl that goes to school at Adam’s school, died in a car accident today.  She was driving and lost control on icy roads.  I have been praying for her family and friends.  

Wed, 1/22/24, -22 with the wind chill today, No school for the kids again because it’s so cold, Got groceries,

Lots of birds at the feeders today.  I just took this picture from in the house.  Didn’t want to go outside only when I had to today.  

Bill got up first.  When I noticed he was up, I got up.  He had made his side of the bed and I didn’t even hear him.  I made my side and then we both did the pillows that go on top of the bedspread.  I set Kit Kat’s food out for her.  She didn’t come to the door.  I left some treats out for her too.  I made a coffee and then read my Bible.  Bill had already started reading his.  I warmed a blanket for Kit Kat and called her.  She came running, so I put it in her igloo and she went in really fast and got comfy.  

I went to Aldi and to Walmart to get groceries I need for the Christmas party Saturday.  They were out of big bottles of Vernon’s.  Everything else got checked off my list.  I had forgot my list at home, but Bill sent me a picture of it so I would know what I needed to get.  I was glad to get home and be where it was warm.  

I talked to Melissa a couple of times and prayed with her.  She had to get a bridge that broke taken care of.  It was a 4 hour appt.  They were concerned about decay underneath it.  Our prayers were answered and she didn’t need a root canal.  Thanking the Lord.  She wasn’t feeling very good when she got home, so we prayed about that too.  She called me a while later and was feeling good and sounded so much better.

Bill and I relaxed and snacked on chocolate covered almonds.  We both wanted to stay under our heated throws.  Kenzie and Rehvyn, Vikki and Peyton FaceTimed with me.  Rehvyn sure walks all over now.  He had the little outfit with the motorcycle on it that we got him.   

Tues. 1/21/25, No school again because of cold temps, went to Texas Roadhouse to write out our vision for 2025

Our friends, Doug and Sue gave Bill the Cheese Ball ornament.  He had me put it on our tree right away when we got home.  Sure gave us a good laugh while we were in Iowa.

It was another cold day, -3 when we got up and blowing wind made it even colder.  A good day to hibernate.  I set Kit Kat’s food out and she came out of her house right away.  I picked her up and gave her some attention.   Bill and I read our Bibles, drank our coffee and when we were done, we ate some cereal for breakfast.  I put blueberries in mine.  

Bill went into town to deposit a check in the bank.  I swept all the hard floors and then cleaned the bathroom, washed the rugs, and then mopped the floors. That’s a job I like to do when he is gone.  I always feel better when it is done.  I was all finished by the time he got home.  We relaxed for a while, then he asked me if I wanted to go to Texas Roadhouse to which I said yes.  I got ready and then we left.  On the way there, he asked me if I brought the cards to write our vision on.  I thought he got the stuff together because he always has, but he didn’t this time.  We got in right away at the restaurant and had a really nice waitress.  We each had sirloin steaks, a baked potato, and a salad.  Then they always have the best rolls and butter.  We had a coupon for a free appetizer so we used that and got boneless chicken wings.  They are like small chicken strips there and were so good.  We have one more coupon for a free appetizer to use from our fundraiser order for Evan.  When we got to the Jeep, Bill saw that we got ducked again and told me.  It was a cute little beach duck with sunglasses.  Just what we needed to see in these cold temperatures.

We came home, went through the mail, and changed into comfy pjs.  When I went to sit down in the living room, Bill had turned my electric throw on for me so it was nice and warm.  He does that a lot for me and I sure do appreciate it.  I do it for him too, if I’m the first one to sit down.  I worked on my blog and he took a short nap, although he was holding his phone, like he was using it.  

 

Monday, 1/20/25, Happy Birthday to Stacie!!! We love you! Inauguration Day! Yay! We slept in, watched the Vice President and President being sworn in, went to Vikki’s,

Happy Birthday Stacie.  You are beautiful and so caring.  We love you!

                                                                                 

Adam, Isaac, Peyton and Eli at Vikki's

Christmas Cactus has been blossoming since Thanksgiving.  Still has more buds coming.  Behind it, the tall Crown of Thorns plant has blossoms too.  They must like that window.

President Trump being sworn in for the second inauguration, 45TH President and now 47TH president.  Praying God uses him again to Make America Great Again!

Vice President Vance being sworn in! This is a great day in America!  Going back to being one nation under God.  It’s about time.  Thankful that God moved in the hearts of most of the people in the United States to vote for Trump and thankful he spared his life when he was in Pennsylvania!

 We slept in.  Started laundry when I got up.  Fed Kit Kat and fed the hungry birds.  Watered my plants.  They did good while I was gone.  Ate breakfast and drank my coffee.  Vikki called us to invite us over to watch the inauguration at her house. Kimmy, Jared, Adam, and Eli were going to come too.  She said she was going to invite Melissa too.  

President Trump was going to be sworn in in 6 minutes, so Bill and I didn’t want to miss it, so we watched it and then went to Vikki’s.  She ordered pizzas for us.  She forgot she had to go to Therapy today, so when she left, the rest of us got ready and left shortly after.  

Bill and I went to Bay City to pick up an electric wrench he found of FaceBook Market Place.  We stopped and picked up my prescription after that.  We also went to Sam’s Club to get prizes for BINGO.   Ordered a couple of Christmas gifts for this Saturday’s Schaard Christmas Party.  We got home and relaxed. 

We called Stacie to wish her happy birthday and sing it to her.  We talked to her for a long time since DJ and Kody were at soccer.  Will be getting together with them next week hopefully.  

Sunday, 1/19/25, could get sound on our live church service, stopped on I-80 at Gramma’s Restaurant. Had great roads til we got on 94 in Michigan, got the girls praying,

Yay! Pure Michigan!

Ran into bad weather and bad roads with whiteouts a short time ago after we got in Michigan 

Bill driving on the bad roads.  Accident just happened on the other side of the expressway

Bill and I at Culvers enjoying our food and concrete mixers

We got up early, got ready, got up and packed the Jeep, got our coffees from the breakfast room and left.  It was -8 degrees out and -29 with the wind chill.  It made my face hurt.  At least Bill had warmed up the Jeep.  All but Teri and Bill and Jeff met at Granny’s Restaurant for breakfast.  We all had a great visit and the food was delicious.  I told the Waitress it was Debbie’s birthday and she bought her a big brownie with ice cream and for big swirls of whipped cream on the corners on the plate.  It looked really good. We were all so full she shared a little with whoever wanted it.  Bill took the scoop of ice cream.  Then we turned it into a Run for the Sun fund raiser and everyone who took some gave her a $1 for a donation.

We said our goodbyes, then each couple headed home.  We wives were texting each other as we traveled.  When Bill took I-94, I couldn’t believe it because Mel had just told us he looked it up and there was lake effect snow and a winter weather advisory for that area.  We got a text from Sue and she said they were on the same road and were in snowy conditions.  We were about 15 minutes behind them.  We got into it and it started getting worse with icy conditions and whiteouts.  Sue and Doug were about 10 miles from their house so offered to let any of us stay the night if we wanted to.  We all wanted to get home so kept going. Debbie texted next and said she had just woke up and Paul was on the same road as us and hadn’t consulted her.  We ladies all heard Mel, but the guys who were sitting on the same side of the table with him didn’t hear.  Mel and Betty ended up on the same road too.  If we would have went farther east and up, we would have missed all of this snow.  We were all praying for each other.  I texted Vikki, Kimmy and Melissa to get them praying too.  After a half hour, the roads were clear and we could see a long way.  Yay!  We let all of the couples behind us know.  We let each other know when we were home.   I texted Teri and they went up through Wisconsin because they live in the U.P.  So did Art and Pat.  They all had sunshine and good roads the whole way.  Bill and I stopped at Culver’s when we got close to home.  We saw Christopher there.  We headed home after that and were so happy to be home  sweet home.  We unpacked everything and put stuff away.  The laundry will get done tomorrow.  

Saturday, 1/18/25, ate breakfast, went to church, awesome worship, great messages from the Word of God., great food and great fellowship! 7 degrees in the morning with high winds, high of 22 degrees. No snow at least

 

Dining hall

N it was time 

John Jr. Is an anointed Evangelist

We ate breakfast with all our friends at the hotel!  Then we went to the church.  It was really cold this morning and the wind was really blowing which made it colder. The church was nice and warm.  We worshipped first, then we heard more state coordinators share great messages. We had lots of time to visit and meet new people.  Had delicious food and lots of yummy snacks. After our chicken dinner with baked potato and a salad, we hung out more,  I helped Lucy, pack up their candy, fidgets, and other stuff on their table and then it was time for

worship for the closing service.  Afterwards we all helped take down our tables and haul them to the storage area.  Teri and I worked together folding and carrying the table.  That was done in no time with everybody helping.  We made plans with everyone to leave in the morning and meet at a restaurant 2 hours away to eat together.  We watched the Lions game!  Bummer that they lost.