Friday, 10/24/25, Kimmy and Vikki came over, Kenzie and Rehvyn came over, Melissa and Hailey came over, Hailey brought us all delicous Chocolate Crinkle cookies, Vikki and Kimmy wanted to clean our garage, Bill helped lots, I helped some, went to Sombrero’s with Kenzie and Peyton, called Sue,

Hailey with Allison at BayShore.  She came over today with her mom, and brought delicous Chocolate Crumble Cookies.  Jared and my favorite.cookies.  They were so scrumptious.  She always surprises us with goodies.  She loves to bake.  I forgot to take a picture of her with her cookies today....besides they disappeared too fast lol.  Thank you Hailey for always blessing us with such delicious treats.  You are an amazing granddaughter and I sure am thankful for you and love you.  It was so nice hanging out with you.
It is amazing that she can kick so high...She had surgery for Spina Bifida when she was a year old and had to have 6 inches of her spinal cord surgically detached because it was tethered instead of dangling like it should have been.  She’s a miracle.  

Our garage after they cleaned it...Wow what an amazing difference.  Thank you Kimmy, Vikki and Bill. You all worked so hard and you sure did an amazing job.  I love you all and I am so thankful God blessed me with you.  What a kind, caring thing to do!  I appreciate it more than words can say.

Kimmy drained the outside pond, caught the fish, put them in a bucket, acclimated them to the basement pond temperature, than moved them into their winter home.  Thank you so much Kimmy.  That’s another major job to have done.  I love and appreciate you so much. They sure have grown and they sure seem happy in their winter home

These girls invited me to meet them at Sombreros.  Peyton ran out to meet me when I pulled in the parking lot.  She gave me the biggest hug.  It made my day! Kenzie said she asked her if she should run out and give me a big hug and Kenzie told her yes.  Such sweet loving girls.   I love these girls so much.  Such a fun time hanging out with them!  We were all going to go to Culver’s afterwards because Kenzie had 3 free sundae coupons.  We were all so full, we all forgot about stopping for ice cream.  Kenzie thought of it later and took Peyton, but Kenzie was too full still.  She got Isaac one and took it home to him.  

Sisters having fun!!!

Pictures from Hailey’s Unite Retreat at BayShore

Worship time at the cross 

Hailey became an intern for her Unite Christian College Group.  They had a retreat at BayShore which is Hailey’s favorite place.  She has gone to family camp there since she was a baby.  They all loved it at Bayshore.  

She has made so many great friends in this college group and now is serving and helping plan activities, retreats, etc.  I am so proud of her for serving the Lord like she does.  She is such a blessing!

Kimmy and Vikki came over in the morning.  We all sat in the family room and drank our coffee and had some Belvita snack packs of cookies.  We had fun visiting and catching up after us being gone so long.  We called Melissa to see if she could come and she said they would.  Yay!  Hailey is home and can come too.  Vikki was FaceTiming with Kenzie and Rehvyn and Kenzie said she was going to come and bring Rehvyn too.  Kenzie and Rehvyn got here first, then Melissa and Hailey came a few minutes later.  Hailey walked in with a big plate of Chocolate Crinkle Cookies for us all.  She also brought baggies with some in it for Kimmy and for Vikki with the sweetest notes in them for their birthdays.  What a thoughtful sweet girl she is.  

For lunch we had chicken noodle casserole.  We ate and I read the page in my journal where we were all gathering for my birthday in 2004.  I got a call from Hailey’s pediatrician and he wanted to talk to Bruce and Melissa.  He told me to have them page him as soon as they got here.  I prayed right away for Hailey, then when they got here told them to page him.  He told them Hailey had a fatty cyst on her spine and had what looked to be like a mild case of Spina Bifida.  We cried, prayed and then celebrated my birthday.  My mom and dad had made two cakes and sloppy joes and brought them over to have for my birthday.  They also brought all the plates, silverware and napkins.  My mom and the girls wouldn’t let me do anything.  We were trusting God to take care of our Hailey girl, and trying to have a good time together for my birthday.  Such a sad/happy memory this is.  We are so thankful Hailey had the best surgeon (who also had Spina Bifida and walked with crutches)  She separated the 6 inches tethered in Hailey’s spine and didn’t hit any nerves or arteries.  She ended up becoming the head of Neurology at U of M Hospital.  She is suspended when she does surgery.  She operated twice on Kenzie cousin and removed 2 brain tumors.  Her cousin is in there mid 20’s now and is doing great.  We thank God for all of the miracles he has done and continues to do.  What an awesome God.  

Melissa and Hailey had to leave.  Then Kimmy and Vikki decided we should clean the garage because it was such a nice day out.  I wrote about it above.  Then we did the pond which I wrote about also, then they left.  They stayed late because Jared was sweet and was picking Eli up and Kenzie was sweet and was picking Peyton and Isaac up.  Kenzie called and I met her and Peyton for tacos which I wrote about too.  I worked on my blog and called Sue to see how she was doing.  She seemed much better than this morning.  Then Bill and I watched a movie called Arms of Hope. Kenzie called and I talked to her.  We both said we had the best day.  She hung up so I could finish watching the movie with Bill.
What an amazing love filled day!

Thursday, 10/23/25, Visited Marie and Roy, pulled part of the invasive plant growing into my fish pond out, went to visit Sue, put more canned goods, boxed food away that was in camper

My new niece Rylee

Big sister Emma holding baby sister Rylee...They are so cute!

It has rained the last two days, and it rained quite a bit today too.  It was raining when I got back from Sues in the evening

I got up at 8 this morning.  Bill slept in until around 8:30. I made my coffee.  It was pumpkin spice and tasted so good.  I ate Golden Grahams for breakfast. I put chicken breasts in the crockpot.  Then I read my Bible and did part of my Bible Study lesson.  Next week is our last week.  Worked on my Sunday School lesson for this week too.  Last night when Bentley saw me at church, he asked me if I was going to teach then.  I told him no, but I would be teaching Sunday.  He looke disappointed that I wasn’t teaching because I was going to Bible study.  He is the sweetest kiddo. 

I got ready, then worshipped some.  There is so much awesome worship music to worship with.  

I went to Marie and Roy’s.  They were happy to see me after almost 3 weeks.  I was happy to see them too.  I took Marie the slippers I ordered on Amazon for her.  She was so happy to get them.  They fit just right too.  Yay!  I tried them on and they are so comfy.  I am going to put them on my Christmas list.   

We had a really nice visit, then when it was time for me to leave we had prayer for each of us.  She is a great mentor and friend.  The sun was shining when I left which was nice.

I did run into rain on the way home though.  

When I got home, I shredded the chicken in the crockpot and added cream of chicken soup, while the noodles were cooking.  Then I cooked the peas and added them.  I went outside while waiting for stuff to get finished and pulled some of the invasive plant growing into my fish pond out.  It has lots of roots so is a pain to get out.  It was pretty wet, so I just did one area and will see if it is better tomorrow.  I went back in the house and mixed the noodles in, then Bill and I ate.  After we were done,  I took some over to Sue.  She had a pacemaker put in and has been feeling down.  Her niece who helps her a lot fell and broke her hip and had to have surgery and is in Rehab.  Sue has had a lot going on lately.  I visited with her when.I took the food to her and she seemed to cheer up.  It was nice visiting friends who I haven’t see for a while because of being out of town.  

I came home and put some of the canned goods from the camper away.  Also cleaned out part of a cupboard and put boxes of flavored coffee in them.  Only have one part of a close basked of food I am taking to the basement tomorrow.    I worked on my blog, then watched some news stories on CBN.  It is amazing how revivals are breaking out among college students and Gen Z young adults.  So encouraging to see.  

Wednesday, 10/22/25, Rainy morning and early afternoon, Slept in again, Caught up on my Bible studies, Started moving Summer clothes upstairs and winter clothes downstairs, Went to lunch with Melissa, went to Bible Study

I looked out this morning and saw 4 big Tom turkeys right by the back garage door.  I told Bill, but he kept asking me what I said.  I talked louder and they walked out to the yard behind the pool.  He watched for a while and took pictures.  He said there were 12 big Toms altogether.  They were amazing to see.  We need one on our Thanksgiving table.  

Melissa and I at Miles Market. 

Bill stopped in after we had been there quite a while

Beautiful color on my drive today...The heavens and the earth declare the glory of the Lord.  The Bible says because of this man is without excuse.  He is the Lord of all. People need to read His Word and see what the Creator of everything says His Will is for us. Know what God says...don’t just take what a pastor says as the truth. Many are deceiving the people today.  Get it straight from God and compare it to what you hear from pastors.  The Bible says in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God.  People are accountable to read and know what God says.  His Word is Truth.

Mykenzie and Rehvyn above, Vikki and Rehvyn below.  Lots of similarities!

Evan and his friend Lydia on Pink day at school.

Rehvyn saying motorcycle....this was from last night when I saw him

We slept n again this morning.  I did the last load of laundry, then made Bill and I a coffee and joined him in the living room where he read his Bible and I did my Bible study which had me reading lots of the Bible.  I worked on catching up from our trip and it took me all day except the time I spent with Melissa.  

At 1, I picked Melissa up.  It was pouring on my way there.  It let up when I pulled in her driveway.  Good thing!  She came hurrying out and didn’t have her nice raincoat on.  I had mine on.  We went to Miles Market and I turned in the wrong drive.  I was blessed that that business had a driveway going to where we were eating.  Yay!  I didn’t have to cross two lanes of traffic on the busy road to go there.  We shared a smash burger and split a huge Salted Carmel cookie.  Both were so delicous.  Now we will be craving those cookies besides craving their smash burgers lol.  We had a great visit.  It’s been 2 1/2 weeks since we’ve seen each other and it was too busy with everything going on in Arkansas to really talk very much.  It sure made my heart happy to have this nice visit.  Bill surprised and stopped in.  He got a coffee and a sugar cookie.  He also bought Melissa and I another cookie to share.  It was fun having him hang out with us too.  I started following Bill and heading home and remembered I had to take Melissa home.  We turned around in her doctor’s parking lot. (he just moved to a new location this month so it’s a good thing)

It looked like a lake in his old parking lot.  There wasn’t anywhere hardly that anyone would have been able to park.  There was just enough room I could turn around, but I had to back up to do it.  People would have needed Waders to get to their appointment if he still was there.  

The drive home was so beautiful.  I took some pictures.  The colors are amazing.  

I am so thankful to be able to enjoy it.  There’s hardly any color in Arkansas and we didn’t see much on our way back through Michigan until we got close to our area. 

I got right back at doing my Bible Study homework.  I finished just in time to make a quick dinner and then head to Bible study.   Bible study was great.  It was such a good lesson.  Many good ideas I am going to practice.  the Bible says when you seek God, you will find Him.  It sure is true!

I came home and worked on my blog.  Then I went through some more mail that we had held while on vacation.  Tomorrow I need to get busy at pulling out some invasive plants from around my fish pond.  I also have more plants to pull out and also cut own.  Have just had rain since we’ve been home, so tomorrow I will get busy.  

Tues., 10/21/25, Did lots of laundry, Put more stuff away from camper, pulled up onions out of the garden, picked some green peppers, went to prayer, went to Vikki's

I set the live trap last night to catch the piggy possum and he dug underneath it to eat all the cat food.  He set the trap off, but he wasn’t in it.  I was excited when I saw the trap door was closed this morning, only to see he outsmarted me.

I went and saw my sweet Rehvyn after prayer tonight.  He such a heart melter.  So cute and just the sweetest little guy.  What a blessing he is!

I sure was happy to see Isaac.  It’s been 2 1/2 weeks since I seen him and gotten a hug

It took quite a while to get a picture of Rehvyn.  He wanted to be on the move.

Rehvyn putting the pacifier in the dolls mouth.
 

We slept in until 9:15.  It sure felt good.  I started a load of laundry right away.  Kit Kat was waiting on the deck for me to set her food out.  She is happy I am home.  She doesn’t have to worry about Piggy Possum stealing her food.  Bill took the trash out and I took a shower.  It was so nice to take one in our beautiful shower.  The camper shower was nice an we never run out of hot water, even though we both took showers.  

I went out to the camper and brought the Kerug coffee maker in and also Bill’s tennis shoes that he forgot.  I made us both a coffee.  We read our Bibles and did devotions and prayers.  Did laundry steady most of the day.  Nice to get it all caught up.  It looked like a storm was coming, so I pulled the onions, picked the peppers that were ready, washed the onions off, then got inside just as it was starting to rain.  Our rain gauge had 6 inches in it from when we were gone.  I emptied it so we can see how much rain we get this time.  The wind really blew hard for about 15 minutes, then went back to normal.  

Kenzie FaceTimed me.  Rehvyn was eating a cucumber dipped in vinegar.  He sure likes healthy stuff.  He was cute and so fun.  He wanted to see papa, so I put papa on.  Papa was happy he wanted to see him.  We talked for quite a while, then hung up. 

We both took a short nap.  We are catching up on some very early mornings and late nights.

It feels so good to get rested up.

Bill took the portable air conditioner hose out of the upstairs window.  It’s getting cool outside so that is a good thing to have done.  He moved his summer clothes upstairs.  I moved some of mine upstairs yesterday, but have lots more to move.  

I made hot dogs, chips and corn for dinner.  Then I had to hurry and get to prayer.  It was awesome tonight.  Worship was so amazing.  We prayed over Laurie’s daughter for healing.  We also prayed for her son who is very concerned for his mom.  We prayed for Laurie as she takes care of her while she is dizzy.  Prayer was powerful and we are believing for her healing In Jesus Name.  They left and we did our regular praying for revival and a great awakening, for the men’s retreat coming up, and for the His House ministry at the college by us.  

After prayer, I called Vikki to see if Rehvyn was still at her house.  He was so I went over to visit.  She had called me earlier and told me to call and see if they were still there when I got out of prayer.  I was happy to get to see Vikki, Rehvyn, Isaac and Rody.  I sure have missed my family.  I enjoyed spending time with them and it was so fun to see how cute Rehvyn is, and how much more he is saying.  Fun to see Isaac run his remote Jeep and have it climb over his remote truck.  Then it was on top of the truck and he had the truck drive it to the end of the table.  

I came home, packed all of the laundry that goes back in the camper in the camper laundry hamper so I can take it out tomorrow and put it away.  Then I washed some travel mugs out and then worked on my blog.  

 

Monday, 10/20/25, Left at 6:35 this morning, had to turn furnace on, traveled all day and got home at 5 p.m., unpacked camper, Bill mowed the grass, unpacked stuff brought in and put it away, was happy to see Kit Kat, read my Bible, had to change my Facebook password

 

This is the hand Bill dealt me on the 3 round when we played 3-13 last night.  I was so happy when I got to lay it down.

We stopped at a Flying Jay’s and I warmed up our leftovers from last night and we ate lunch.  It tasted just as good as last night.

I was so happy when we got to Michigan that there was still some pretty fall colors

 

It got down to 44 degrees last night.  So thankful the furnace keeps us warm.  I slept in til 6 a.m.  Bill got up at the same time.  We got ready, packed up what needed to be put away, then left at 6:35.  I was glad it was sunny out.  Not used to this cold weather.  Missing nice warm temperatures.  Bill did a great job driving all day.  We listened to our church service at New Life.  It was a great message and the worship was so good.  We listened to my worship playlist after that.  It’s nice how it comes through the camper speakers.  I sat back in the lounge chair in the camper living room when the sun was so bright it was hard to see out an hard to see my phone.  

We drove for quite a ways, then stopped and I went in and got Bill and my morning coffee. It was good an we were ready for coffee.  I ate some Belveta crackers with it.  I moved back up front for a while til my leg starts hurting from sitting in the same position.  I sat in the recliner in back an it felt really good again.  Plus it is good for me to move around.  I don’t want anymore blood clots, so I try to remember to move lots.

I took a little nap, and when I woke up Bill said we were in Michigan at a Jay’s close to Lansing.  I was so happy to be in Michigan.  I loved seeing trees with fall colors.  I love Michigan, even if it is colder here.  I talked to Gayla for a while and we caught up since we haven’t talked since we got to Iron Mountain the first night.

We got home around 5 p.m. and after unloading the bike, and parking the camper, Bill help unpack the camper and carried the clothes baskets and bags with stuff in them to the car for me.  Then he carried them into the house and I put my stuff away and the food away.  He mowed the grass and I went out and emptied the food cupboards, and anything else that can’t stay in the camper for winter months.  Bill was done with the grass when I finish and he unloaded all the stuff I put in my car.  I sure am thankful we worked together and got it done.  We take it in next week to be winterized and get the new slide out shade put on.  

I didn’t get everything unpacked, but will finish tomorrow.  I will also o the two hampers of laundry tomorrow.  It is suppose to rain so it will be a good day to do it.  

I called Kit Kat, but didn’t see her until around 7:30 at night.  I gave her some food (a possum has been eating so much of her food), the girls have had to give her more food and move it to different spots so she finds it before the possum.  I have the live trap set tonight.  She sure was happy to see me and I was happy to see her.  I gave her treats which really made her happy.

I read my Bible and prayer books, then worked on my blog.  Ready for bed now.  It’s ll:42 pm.  I had nice talks with Melissa and Vikki today.  Sure is nice to be home and have time to talk with them again.

 

 

Sunday, 10/19/25, long day traveling, stopped at Lamberts, got to Effingham, Il and stayed at a Cracker Barrel at 8:30, Lots of texting and praying for all CMA family traveling home yesterday and today,

Rehvyn at church

Stopped at Lamberts in Sikeston

Bill is ready to catch the roll this guy is going to throw

They have pass around dishes where someone comes an asks you if you want what they have in a huge bowl.  I said yes to fried Okra and she gave me so much.  I packed some in a bag for later

Their drinks were huge too!  We were glad we just got water!

This was the food I actually ordered....Pot pie, baby carrots and homemade mashed potatoes with white gravy on the sign.  Everything was the best ever!  Yum!

The rolls were huge and tasted so good

I also took some pasta with tomatoes that was delicous when someone came with a pass around bowl

I took a selfie of our fun experience.  What a fun place

Bill catching a roll!  They threw them so fast and hard, I let Bill catch mine for me.  One fell on the bench Bill was sitting on, so they told him they would give him another one, so he didn’t have to eat that one.  Everyone was so nice there.

Got up and got ready at 4 so I could make sure Ziggy had food to take with him on his trip home.  We read our Bibles, then he put his stuff in his car, came in and prayed for us all to have safe travels, and everyone else who left. He thanked us for letting him stay with us an we told him it was a blessing to have him.  We are all like minded in Jesus and love talking about the Lord and encouraging one another. After that, he left.   he left at 5:15 am..  I up the bunk up and locked it, then washed the table and countertops.  When Bill was done getting ready, I put the stuff in the bedroom that needed to go in there.while we travel.  Then I made our coffee and packed the coffee pot away.  It sure makes coffee fast and was so handy to have with 3 of us drinking coffee every morning.  

We had to turn our furnace on last night.  It got down in the 50’s.

It warms up fast in here with the furnace and the fireplace.  We end up just having the fireplace going once it’t the temp in here we want.  

Bill emptied the tanks and put the slide outs in.  Then he had me push the button to level it.  He backed it up to the trailer easily and hooked up, then we left at 8:02 this morning.  Sue and Doug left at 6:30, so she texted with me to let us know good routes around construction and where the exits with gas stations were.  There was a stretch of highway that didn’t have many. Teri texted with me too and so did Cindy.  Ziggy let me know when he was home.  Cindy and Lew made it home tonight too, after two blowouts on their toy hauler and having to skid to miss a dear.  Thankfully God protected them.  They sure had some scares.

Kenzie FaceTimed me for a long time and we had a nice visit.  Then Vikki joined us on FaceTime.  It sure was nice to have time to FaceTime again.  We were so busy, we couldn’t doo that  at Iron Mt.  We stopped for gas once and used the restroom, then traveled more until we got to Lamberts in Sikeston, Missouri.  We got seated right away, then the waiter took our order right away too.  While we were waiting, Waiters would announce hot rolls and then they would throw them to whoever had their Hand up.  They really whipped them toward the back.  I was nervous about how they threw them, so had Bill catch mine.  He’s a good catch.  Me not so good111. If someone missed and it landed on the bench they would throw them a different one.  These were big hot rolls and they were delicious.  We had to wait 20 minutes if I wanted pot pie which I did, so Bill ate more rolls.  One was enough for me.  They would go around with what they called pass around food.  One girl asked me if I wanted fried Okra and I said yes.  She put lots down on a napkin I had spread out.  I packed up half of it to take home.  Our food came and we had huge portions.  I took a picture because it was so much food.  It was all delicious too, and the mashed potatoes were real and so was the white gravy I got on the side.  I ate all of my carrots, then someone brought some macaroni and tomatoes.  It was like a pasta and was delicious.  She put it where the carrots had been.  Bill ate about 4 rolls, then ate his chicken strip meal.  We ended up taking most of our food back to the camper to eat tomorrow.  I had 3/4’s of my pot pie left.  It was the best but I was just too full.  Bill could only eat half of his chicken strips, which is really unusual for him.  He usually eats everything. He took his peaches home in a container too.  The waiter also brought dad a big container full of hot rolls.  It was the side of a cake pan only higher with a lid.  They didn’t charge anything for them either.  Dinner was 16.99, for me and 17.99 for Bill, but we sure did get our money’s worth.  What a great experience.  We saw Ivan, the CMA leader in Canada, but he kind of heard someone yell, then looked, but didn’t see us. Bill was getting up to talk to him, but he was too slow.  He told me he must have been going to the bathroom, but we didn’t see him come back.  After we packed up all of our food, we went and looked at the room he went into.  No bathrooms, it was an arcade and an exit.  He went out the exit.  Al and Lucy let us know they got there an hour after we were there.  Everyone wanted to see pictures of us at Lamberts so I texted friends the pictures.  

We traveled until we came to Effingham, IL, then stopped and parked at a cracker barrel. Set up took about 5 minutes at the most.  So easy.  

Bill read his Bible and I  worked on my blog.  I read my Bible and did my Bible Study while he drove today.  We played 3-13.  He was ahead by 60, then I got some good hands and slimmed his lead down to 20.  My first hand was 3 threes.  Wow!  I wish I could have kept that up.  

I got a really nice text message from Jacob today.  I was so happy to hear from him and that things were going pretty great.  I sure love that grandson of mine.