Monday, 2/9/26, Bill met Greg Young, I went to Marie’s, went to Fred and Lourdes’s for dinner and games

We sure had fun and lots of laughs playing Donkey with Fred and Lourdes

I got up at 8 and watched the first half of the 20 year celebration of Elevation church.  I had

seen the second half yesterday with Kimmy and Vikki.  It is such an awesome church that has touched so many lives.  They have done 38,000 baptisms in those 20 years. They have the best worship and the pastor preaches the Word of God.  It was an amazing 20th Celebration.  I am so thankful Bill and I got to go visit there a couple of years ago.  

Bill got up and got ready and then left to go Meet Greg Young at Leskow's.  It was closed, so they had to go find another restaurant to eat breakfast at.  I read my Bible and did my prayer books.  I ate some leftovers from last night’s snacks, then left to go visit Marie and Roy.  Roy had a few errands and then had a doctor appt. so he was only there about 15 minutes.  Marie and I had a great visit and then before it was time I had to leave, we prayed over each other.  I am so thankful for praying friends.  I headed home after that.  Bill was taking a nap when I got home, so I rested for 15 minutes then asked if we were leaving for his brother’s house.  We had told him we would be there at 4.  Bill wanted to rest longer, so we left at 3:30 instead.  I texted to let his brother know we would be coming later.  It was still light out and there were lots of deer and turkey in many fields.  I prayed for God to hold the deer back so we wouldn’t hit one. We got there and sat in the living room and visited for a while, gave their dogs some attention, and looked at baby pictures because Lourdes’s son Bernardo and his wife just had a baby girl two months ago.  They live in Washington State, but her two sons both just sold their houses and are moving back to Michigan.  Lourdes is very happy about that. Lourdes showed me where the plates, bowls etc were and I set the table.  She had made delicious vegetable soup and homemade Portuguese Bread.  Both were delicious.  We ate my butterhorns for dessert.  After we cleared the table, we played two games of Donkey.  Bill won the first one and I got stuck with the donkey.  I won the next game and Lourdes got stuck with the Donkey.  Both games were suspenseful but also included lots of laughs.  We left and got home at around 9:30.

I worked on my blog, then relaxed for a while.  Bill relaxed next to me on the loveseat recliner.  

I talked to Vikki today and Peyton texted with me.  

Sunday, 2/8/26, Went to church, made food for Super Bowl party, Kimmy, Vikki and families with new puppy came at 2, Melissa and family came at 4 with their new doggie, fun time

Isaac with Arnie Bentley....the new Russell puppy.  Rody next to him.

Prizes for our family Bingo game

Max, Eli, Isaac and Jack playing bingo

Melissa, Bruce, Peyton and Rody playing Bingo

Bill playing bingo

Eli brught cookie dough he made at home and baked us delicious chocolate chip cookies.  Thanks Eli...they were so yummy!

Jacob relaxing during the Super Bowl 

Jack was on the floor with his aunts 

Jared during the game

Bill during the game

Rody during the game

Peyton relaxing

We went to church for the early service.  I drove separately, because Bill was staying for the second service.  I left to come home and make more food for the Super Bowl.  I read my Bible after I got done with that.  Vikki and Peyton got here at 2.  Vikki brought yummy vegetable bean soup she made for all of us.  Thank you Vikki.  Kimmy, Jared, Adam and Eli came next and brought their new puppy, Arnie, a Standard Poodle with them.  We were all happy to meet him.  He is such a well behaved, sweet puppy. Just amazing.  I love how black he is.  Most of us adults ate soup and the kids ate pizza that Kimmy brought.  We had butterhorns and Oreos for dessert.

Melissa, Bruce, Max, and Jack came next with Vader and their new doggie Wookie.  Wookie was very sweet and very well behaved too.  What great additions these new puppies are to our family.  We all love them and gave them lots of attention.  Bruce ate some soup and Jack ate pizza.  Max wasn’t hungry and neither was Melissa.  Evan didn’t come because he was with Lydia and her family.  All of the dogs got along just great.  I love having all of these grand dogs.

We all played bingo.  Everyone had won, except Bill and Max, so he said we had to keep playing the one game until they won and only they could bingo.  Max got a bingo right away, so then only Bill could bingo.  We all laughed at that new rule.  He loves to come up with his own rules.  It took him a while, but he finally got a bingo.  We had $5 Starbuck cards, tubes with chocolate kisses with a heart on top, and lottery cards that the first bingo of each game could choose from.  Then other bingos for that game chose from the candy container or donut container. Jared was the caller and did an excellent job.  We played a couple of speed games which he went really fast for and no repeats.  We also had coverups and those winners got to pick from the best prizes.  It was fun and lots of laughs.  We finished and then put all the snacks for the Super Bowl out on the table.  We had ham rollups, some with cream cheese and onions and some with cream cheese and pickles.  Also some just onion for Bill.  We also had hickory stick, cheese and crackers, hardboiled eggs, chips and salsa, chocolate covered strawberries and different kinds of chips.  

We were all for the Seahawks and they played great and won.  Most of the game, the other team didn’t even score, but in the last quarter they did.  We watched Turning Point USA’s half time show because the half time show in the Super Bowl had Bad Bunny who is not good entertainment, but cross dresses and doesn’t even sing in American.  They need to get back to having family friendly halftime shows, or we and many others won’t be watching.  We FaceTimed with Kenzie and Rehvyn.  Rehvyn was hiding in his favorite cupboard on us.  He was so cute.  

Everyone helped pick up and the house was nice and clean when they left.  It was such a fun and enjoyable day.  I love my family.  

Bummer of an ending to the evening.  Jacob hit a deer on his way home on Stark.  He’s ok but shook up.  Kimmy said the damage to his car is not good.  I feel so bad for him and them.  That makes 4 deer he’s hit since he’s been driving which isn’t that long. 

Jacob’s car and the damage the deer did

 

 

Sat. 2/7/26, Slept in til 8:50, Made dough for butterhorns, made chocolate covered strawberries, Vikki came over, Bill picked up gift cards, organized candy for Bingo tomorrow, walked on walking pad, finished the butter horns, took some to Bruce, put some in the freezer to take to Fred’s Monday,

Butterhorns rising

Butterhorns cooling

Butterhorns frosted and sprinkled with nuts
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This is one of my favorite memories of Wyatt that came up in my memories today.  I sat in that chair and got up to get something and he got up in the chair and smiled at me like he was saying ha ha this is my chair.  He was such a great dog.  I am glad they have a new puppy to enjoy and make memories with.  I am so excited to meet him tomorrow.

We slept in til almost 9.  I got up and washed a couple of blankets, then ate some toast and drank my coffee.  Bill started reading his Bible.  I made the dough for Butterhorns and then put it in the refrigerator for 2 hours.  I’ve always put it in overnight like the recipe says, but it was too late when we got home last night and I didn’t feel like making it.  I looked at a different recipe in my Bronner’s Cookbook and this one said to put it in the refrigerator for 2 hours. I was happy to see that. 

Melissa and I did our Parable Devotion together over the phone. They are so good. Then I walked on the walking pad.  Vikki had to pick Peyton up at a friend’s, so she came over and visited with me until time to go get her.  She brought some Nutter Butter’s that were left over from New Year’s Eve.  She’s always thoughtful and generous. We had fun hanging out.  She left to go pick up Peyton.  Bill picked up some gift cards for us because they are 4x gas points.  He also got some $5 Starbuck gift cards for Bingo.

I made chocolate covered strawberries for tomorrow’s Super Bowl party.  I was going to make Jared’s favorite cookies, but it took so long for the butterhorns, that I ran out of energy.  I am still going to do it though. When the butterhorns were all frosted and had nuts on them,  I packed up some for Bruce like I do every year, (I know he shares).  I also put one in for Peggy to try because she was at their house when Melissa and I FaceTimed and she hadn’t heard of them.  I told her I would put one in for her.  Before I left home, I let Bill test a couple and I tested one.  

 

When I got home, I put some in the freezer to take to Fred and Lourdes’s when we go to their house for dinner and to play games.  They taste just as good when you eat them after they have been frozen.  Melissa called me and said Bruce was very happy and said thank you.  He always says mine are the best.  That’s probably why he gets some every year lol.

I worked on my blog after we finished talking.     

   

 

Friday, 2/6/26, Snowy out and roads were slippery, Vikki treated me to breakfast, went to Jacks, Meijer and Aldi, Kimmy, Jared and Family got their dog Arnold (Arnie), a black Standard Poodle, they FaceTimed with me on their way home, went to Wes and Gayla’s at 3, picked up rest of prizes for bingo, got Google workin again

Vikki and I at Tony’s.  She treated me to breakfast.  We had so much fun talking and eating together.  Thank you so much Vikki!

Me Faicetimeing with Kimmy while she held Arnie on the way home from getting him.  Isn’t he just so cute!  I love him already!

Adamwith Arnie

Eli with Arnie

Jared with Arnie

I would say Arnie has become part of such a wonderful family and he is happy and knows he is very loved already

I woke up early, so got up 15 minutes before my alarm went off.  I took my shower, then dried my hair and tried the straightening brush Vikki left here for me to practice with.  It worked great and was so fast.  She asked me if I wanted to go to breakfast with her and she would treat me.  It was a good thing I got up 15 minutes early.  I was able to meet her at 8:45 after she dropped the kids off at school.  We had a great breakfast and did a lot of talking too.  I love spending time with her.  Thanks again Vikki.  

I went to Aldi, then to Melissa’s for a minute, then to Jacks, and Meijer, and then to the bank.  I saw Wes and Gayla in Meijer and we talked for quite a while.  Bill had tested me to tell me we were going to their house at 3 today.

I was praying for Kimmy and Jared because the roads were bad in the morning.  They got better, then the wind started up and tonight they are very icy in places where the wind blows across.  I was happy when Kimmy FaceTimed me to show me their new puppy.  They named him Arnold and call him Arnie.  What a cute sweet dog!  I can’t wait to meet him in person.  We have the best dogs in our family!

We went to Wes and Gayla’s at 3.  It was super windy by then.  They had the door unlocked for us so we could get in fast.  Joel was there too.  We always love seeing him.  Wes was doing good recovering from his hand surgery.  They got granite countertops put in their kitchen yesterday and the day before and they are beautiful.  We all played Donkey.  Joel could play by himself.  He loves numbers.  He did a great job.  He has a brain injury from an accident and he’s doing so good now.  Bill won and Gayla got stuck with the donkey.  She got it and couldn’t get rid of it.  Poor Gayla.  We had coffee and coffee cake after we played.

Vikki found me a straightening brush like hers for $15 and it’s in the box.  Was used 1 time.

They are $40-60 in stores.  Vikki always finds what I need.  Jared is picking it up for me tomorrow in Midland.  Such a great son in law. 

 

Thursday, 2/5/26, Kimmy and Eli came over, Vikki came over until she had to go to work, we played Donkey, met Pat and Rich at Olive Garden, went to Peyton’s play, snowy and slippery out

Eli in the rocking chair....red cardinal on the window feeder

Kit Kat snoozing after trying to get our attention in all of the windows.  

Eli loved the donkey game.  He won 2 out of 3 games...no wonder he loved it!


Peyton was in a play at her school called the Un-Ducky Duckling.  It was a cute play and Peyton acted and sang so well.  We were so proud of her!

Rehvyn was so cute watching and clapping.  When a group would leave the stage, he would say goodbye quietly and wave.  

 I got up at 7:30 and started getting ready.  I cleaned the kitchen sinks.  Then I made my coffee.  I decided to start a load of laundry too.  I got side tracked so much, I thought it was too late to do my hair.  Then I looked at my text from Vikki and she told me not to do my hair because she was bring her new straightening brush.  I was glad then that I ran out of time.  Vikki got here first and did my hair, showing me how to use the brush.  It worked so amazing and was so easy and fast.  She always gives me great tips and shows me the easiest way to do things.  Kimmy and Eli got here and Eli had made chocolate chip cookies yesterday and brought us a bag full so we could all enjoy them.  They were so delicious and they disappeared fast.  Nice to have another great baker in the family.  I should have taken a picture of them.

We had a nice time visiting and drinking our coffee.  Eli found some Oreo’s and was happy.  He ate the last of those and we girls had Lorna Doones.  I picked up some at Sam’s Club because that’s what Kimmy had after her colonoscopy and she shared them with us.

Vikki had to leave for work.  Eli and Kimmy filled my bird feeders for me.  Eli shoveled paths on the deck for me too.  Now I will be able to feed the birds, if it stays cleared.  It is supposed to get in the mid 30’s tomorrow so it should melt even more outside.  I am sure thankful for their help.  I have an amazing family!  So blessed!

While they did that, I put a pizza in the Ninja oven.  I made a freezer lasagna for me.  Eli and Kimmy picked pizza. Eli really loves Dajourno pizzas, so that’s what I bought.  We all ate, then we played Donkey.  Bill read the directions, so we played the right way.  It was so much fun.  Eli said he love the game.  Kimmy, Eli and I played another game while Bill read  his Bible.  Eli won 2 games and Kimmy won the third game.  I had the donkey, but gave it to Eli and then I went out so I was the second winner.  We sure had fun!  Eli wanted to play again, but Bill and I had to get ready and leave to go to meet Pat and Rich at Olive Garden. Vikki was on her way back here to visit more with Kimmy.

We had a great time and great food with Pat and Rich.  They are always fun to get together with.  They love Jesus so much and have so many miracle testimonies of what God had done that it’s uplifting being around them.  We share lots about what God is doing in our family too and they love to hear that.  I took about 3/4’s of my chicken fettuccini with broccoli home with me.  Bill took half of his home with him.  

It was snowing and the roads were getting slippery.  We came home and dropped the phone off.  I read one chapter in my Bible, then we left for the play.  Kenzie pulled in right behind us, so we walked with her.  Papa carried Rehvyn in.  Vikki was waiting inside for us with Isaac.  The play was so cute and Peyton sure did a really great job acting and singing.  She has an amazing voice.  There were 2 more plays other kids did after that, but Kenzie, Bill and I left.  Vikki kept Rehvyn with her,

We came home and relaxed and I worked on my blog.

 

2/4/26, Bill had to meet Bill Howard at 9, I filled ground coffee containers, cleaned kitchen, walked 1 mile on walking pad, did devotion with Melissa on phone, Vikki came over

This is a cool picture I took of the lady leading worship while I was watching the National Day of Prayer and Repentance.  Cool that the people she is leading showed up in the background

So moving to see legislators pray and worship

This goes with the one below.  Our forefathers called for days of prayer and repentance regularly.  That’s what our nation needs and I was so happy to watch and be a prat of that today.  So much pride, hatred, sin, rebellion etc in our nation.  There was personal repentance, then repentance on behalf of each state by legislators, pastors etc.

 

Vikki and I were looking up churches for Kenzie and this is a pastor at a church that really sounded like a good one to us.  Maybe this is a big confirmation from the Lord.  He is the one who prayed for Michigan today.  He is the pastor below, whose name is Josh

We got up at 8.  I made scrambled eggs and toast for me, and Bill left to meet Bill Howard and have breakfast at Nori’s.  I decided I should fill the empty ground coffee containers.  The decaf was ground coffee, but the regular was coffee beans.  I got my grinder out and ground those up.  Wanted to be ready so I can make a pot of coffee for Super Bowl and not just Keurig cups.  I put good worship music on and walked on my walking pad.  Went 1 mile at 3 mph.  For the last little bit, I slowed down to 2.7 mph because my knee hurt a little.  

It felt fine when I was done and walked on it.  

The low was 9 degrees today and the high was 21.  Sure feels better than what we’ve had, but still cold.  I was on Facebook an saw that the National Day of Prayer and Repentance for our Nation was about to start.  I watched it and prayed and repented along with them.  Every State got prayed for by either a legislator, or pastor, or ministry leader.  It was so needed and was awesome.  Our founding Fathers knew the importance of this and called for it often.  It seems like it went for about 3 hours, but I didn’t really look.  Bill got home when it was almost over.  

Melissa called me and I called her back after the program was over.  We did the Parable Devotion together over the phone.  She read part, than I read part, then she read and then I read.  We prayed at the end together.  We are going to do this together each day.  Kimmy and Vikki did it and loved it and we love it too.

Vikki stopped over after her mammogram.  She waited here because she had to go get the kids in an hour.  We loved having her.  She was super happy because her shoulder pain is gone....she was supposed to have another injection and called about it because of the pain.  The time came for her to have it, but she didn’t need it.  Also her foot pain is almost totally better.  I am so thankful to God and happy.  God is doing amazing things in their lives and family as they have been going to their church and seeking to be closer to God.

Bill and I read our Bibles and did our prayer books/devotions.  We went over our memory verse for tonight’s Bible Study too.

I made pancakes for Bill.  I had one, but ate a late lunch so I wasn’t real hungry.  After we ate, we got ready and went to Bible Study at church.  It was awesome again.  We came home and relaxed and I worked on my blog.

Tues.2/3/26, We got up at 8:30, Bill took the trash out, put awesome worship on Vikki sent me, talked to Kimmy, talked to Vikki, cleaned out old 2025 files and started new files, walked a mile on walking pad, Rody came over to help Bill transfer info from old computer to new, I went to prayer

Yay, Maddy’s baby is off the vent and breathing on his own.  Thanking God

Was watching worship and this puppy was advertised.

Ha Ha...I should get this puppy...he never grows, he doesn’t need to go to vet, he doesn’t eat.  He is just soft an cuddly and playful.  He is an AI dog.  I really would never get anything AI.  Don’t trust it and never know what is true or not.  

Dreary day, but it got up to 25 degrees so thankful for that

We slept til 8:30.  Got up and got ready.  I brought down the trash from upstairs and Bill gathered the rest and put it in the big trash and put it out by the road.  I put some awesome worship that Vikki sent me on.  It’s my favorite song they sang at her church the other night.  

I talked to Kimmy.  She said she thought I would like a Havaneese dog.  I looked at them and that’s just what I’m looking for.  They are so cute and sounds like they have great personalities and long life spans.  I started looking at lots of pictures.

Bill went out to snowplow, so I walked a mile on the walking pad while he was outside.  I walked at 3 mph.  I played the new worship song Vikki sent me.  When it was over, I had already walked 4 tenths of a mile.  Yay!  That seemed fast.  Both legs felt good and no soreness.  I had sore muscles after walking on Vikki’s the other day.  I have done lots of walking the past few days with going to Frankenmuth both days.  Must have gotten in shape.  

Gayla called to let me know Wes was doing great after his surgery.  They are having new Granite countertops put in today.  Wes called Bill later to talk to him.  Bill offers to help him with anything he needs.

I moved all the old 2025 files to a box and put them in the attic. Then I filed the new 2026 things.  Got rid of old papers I didn’t need anymore.  That’s a job I’m glad is done.

I warmed up the sirloin burgers, potatoes and carrots for dinner.  Rody came over to help Bill transfer his stuff from his old computer to his new one.  Rody said he already ate when Bill asked him.  I had to leave to go to prayer.  I said goodbye, then headed to church.  I was early, but pretty much everyone was there.  It was an awesome time of worship and prayer.  Jeff, who is an elder, does an amazing job leading it.  His wife was back tonight after having knee surgery 2 months ago. We were all happy to have her back.

Kimmy called me and found a breeder called Heavenly Havaneese.  She sent me the link and the pictures of all of her puppies and dogs are so cute.  I sent it to Melissa and Hailey  so they could look at them too.  They thought they were so cute too.  

I texted with Adam.  He is my prayer grandson this month.  I’m glad he’s doing well after hitting the deer.  Also happy he likes his job and is doing good at it.  He sure is excited to get their dog this week.  I am excited for them all.

Bill’s brother Fred called him and he and Lourdes want us to come over Monday to eat and play games afterward.  It will be fun.  I am going to see Marie at 1 that day, so it will be a busy day.