Thursday, 8/6/26, I pulled weeds in front of the shed, Bill and I went to Costco, went blueberry picking with Vikki and twins, talked to Kimmy and Jared lots

Me blueberry picking

Vikki picking blueberries

Isaac and Peyton blueberry picking

Vikki and I finished picking

The four of us when we finished picking

We got up at 8:30.  I read my Bible right away.  Bill joined me and started reading his Bible.

I played worship music when we were done reading.  

Bill had BelVita snack crackers and I had a protein breakfast bar.  We both drank protein drinks.  

I went outside and pulled weeds by Bill’s shed deck.  It rained yesterday so they came out easily.  I only did half way across.  Then I came in and got ready to go to Costco with Bill.

We got some great deals.  We bought 4, 18 count protein drinks for $23 each. We drove home the back roads which was nice.

I made baked potatoes and chicken fries for dinner.  The chicken fries were from Aldi’s and were so good.  I ate more cucumbers with my potatoes.  Vikki called and wanted to go blueberry picking.  She left to come here.  I cut up more cucumbers and soaked them in salt water to soak for a couple hours while we're gone.   We went to Backwoods Blueberry Farm.  It’s my favorite place to pick and they are so nice.  Peyton and Isaac picked for me.  

I got a couple of big containers when they mixed theirs in with mine.  Vikki only wanted the bucket she picked.  

We talked to Melissa on our way home.  I let her know we would be coming to BayShore on Wednesday while they are at dog camp.  I told her I would try to call her back when I get home.  Tried buy didn’t get her, but left her a message to call me back,.  fee

I got home and put the blueberries in the refrigerator to take care of in the morning.

Kimmy and Jared called and we talked for a long time.  It was fun.  She is looking for a new 

stove.  Kimmy told me about Jared being embarrassed when he gave the salesman Bill’s information.  He so cute!

I worked on my blog after that.

Wed., 8/5/26, Bill had to go to the VA for lab work, texted Maddy and she wanted to get together this evening, went to visit Angie and Carol, went to Old Town Drive in for coney dogs, fries and root beers

That hand giving Bill the peez is his sister Carol who didn’t want her picture taken.  She bought the peez (her way of spelling) and even though she doesn’t like peez, was going to try them in macaroni tuna salad.  Then she got out the peez and just couldn’t bring herself to put them in it.  When we were there today, Bill said he loves peez and would take them.  Good thing it was peez and not cheeze lol!

Our Limelight Hydrangea tree is so full of blossoms.  It has been blooming for a month now.  I love how long the blossoms last.

Me and baby CJ at Biggby’s.  He is the happiest, smiliest, baby.  What a sweetie!

 Bill had to go to the VA for lab work this morning.  I got up and read my Bible.  I am trying to get up earlier and read my Bible first thing.  I put on some good worship on You Tube on the tv to worship with.  I got ready to go visit Angie and Carol after that.

Bill got home and read his Bible.  Then we headed to McDonald’s in Bridgeport and picked up two Mocha Frappe’s for Angie and I, and a black large coffee for Sister C.  Bill had already picked donuts up at the Butter Crust Bakery, when he got done at the lab this morning.  We went to Sister C’s after that and were happy to see Angie from Kansas and also Carol who I haven’t seen since November.  We got there around noon and stayed until 4:30.  What a great visit and great time we had.  Lots of laughs happened.  

We stopped at Old Town Drive in on our way home.  We love their coney dogs, fries and Root Beer.  We each ate one and split the third coney dog.  YUM!  I texted Maddy to see if we were still getting together tonight.  She said she could so we made a plan to go to Biggby at 6:45.  When we got home I hoed a row and a half of onions.  Then it was time to leave.  

I was happy to see Maddy and happy she brought Baby CJ with her.  I held him almost the whole time we were there.  He is such a good baby.  He has to have therapy 4 times a week, now has to wear a helmet, 2 hours on and 2 hours off, and tomorrow has to go to one of his many U of M Children’s Hospital appointments.  He always keeps smiling through everything.  He is a little heart melter.

Maddy and I had a good time catching up.  I shared with her how God protected Jared, Jacob and Eli too.  She was so thankful too.  Biggby closed, so we went out and sat in my car and continued to visit til 8:30.  She is such a great mom to her kiddos.  

I came home and tilled the last row in the garden which was weeds.  Bill thought some zinnias were still going to come up, but they never did.  I think he tilled them the first time he tilled the garden.  Oh well.  I am enjoying my little zinnias from Lela in my flower garden.  So many blossoms are coming all the time and such pretty colors.  

I worked on yesterday’s blog and this blog when I got in the house.  Now I am ready for bed.  It’s 10:40 so plan on being in bed at 11 tonight.  It has been 12:30 before we’ve gotten to bed the last two nights.  

Tuesday, 8/4/26, Primary Election Day, I met Jared at 7 a.m. to get cinnamon roll, got back and went back to bed til 9, pulled weeds in front of house and around the one side around plants, fed fish, went to visit Chris, stopped at Stacie’s, went to Meijer for a return, Saw Sue there, dropped off food for Sue, went to prayer,

Yummy cinnamon roll Kimmy and family brought us from the Hilltop Restaurant.  One of our favorite stops in the UP.  We can only eat a forth of it a day.

Yum, I warmed it up and put some nuts on top and it was so delicious

Our rose of Sharon bush is blossoming.  We got it last year

Rody turned our picture into the 80’s.  We look pretty groovy.

Yay Kimmy and Jared voted.  Bill and I dropped our absentee ballots off yesterday

Yay, I got to see Kody today!  He is taller than I am now!  

I got up at 6:15 and went out to the living room and read my Bible.  I went to meet Jared to get the cinnamon roll.  He was parked and got out of the Jeep to give me it and I had to give him a window hug since I was so happy to see him after his close call.  He is like a son and I sure am thankful to have him in our family.  Not to mention he’s a great husband to our Kimmy and a great dad to our grandsons. 

  I went back to bed for an hour after I got home.  Bill and I enjoyed eating a 4th each of the cinnamon roll.  It was so good.  It was shaded in front of the house so I decided to go out and pull weeds where they had come while we were on vacation.  The preen had helped lots so there weren’t too many so I was thankful for that.  

My friend, Chris, texted me and wanted to know if we could get together today.  I was happy to hear from her and had time in the afternoon to go to her house for a visit.  We visited in her living room for a while, then went in the kitchen and she made us hot fudge sundaes with mint chip ice cream and put pecans on top.  That tasted so good.  Had a small dessert bar with it.  I left after that because I had to go to Stacie’s and drop off a canning jar she sent sour kraut home with us in.  Also had a return for Meijer.  

I enjoyed my short drop off visit with Stacie and Kody.  I was happy Kody came out and stayed the whole time I was there.  He’s growing up fast and is always so sweet to me.  He gave me a big hug, then we realized he was taller than me.  We had to capture a picture of that.  

I stopped at Meijer after that.  I walked in the door and looked and almost didn’t believe my eyes.  Sue was just getting a shopping cart and ready to go in to shop.  I went over to her and said hi, then looked to see who brought her.  Praise God!  No one.  She drove herself.  She hasn’t driven in a very long time, so this made me very happy.  Josh had stopped over and checked her vehicle and said it was ok to drive.  The check oil light was on, but she had lots of oil.  She just hasn’t gotten an oil change for a very long time because of not driving it.  She dropped off her absentee voter ballot, then stopped at Meijer.  I told her I was thinking of her last night when I made stuffed peppers.  Last time I made them I took a meal to her because she told me she likes them.  I came home and made baked potatoes.  Bill and I ate, then I packed up a stuffed pepper, a baked potato, and some cucumbers with vinegar, water, sugar and onions that I had made from cucumbers out of our garden.  I had to do a quick drop off because I was on my way to prayer and was running behind.  She came out on her porch so I could quick give her the food.  I left to get to prayer, and got there 2 minutes late.  I was happy I wasn’t later.  The lights were all green for me.  Yay!  I had prayed that the Lord would help me.

Prayer was so good.  The Holy Spirit sure flows.  I got to share afterwards about how God protected Jared, Jacob and Eli.  Everyone was so happy they were all ok and thankful the boat came and Jacob didn’t have to go out again to help Jared while he was exhausted.  God is so awesome!

Monday, 8/3/26, Picked cucumbers and green peppers in the garden, blew the deck, the sidewalk and driveway off, watered some plants, Had Ruby vacuum the downstairs, made cucumbers with vinegar, went and prayed for Andy P., made stuffed peppers and corn on the cob for dinner, tilled most of the garden

Veggies I picked this morning

My Hibiscus is getting lots of blossoms

Zinnias from Jared’s mom are beautiful

I got up at 8 and worshipped with Elevation worshippers on TV.  Then I read my Bible.  After that I made an iced coffee.  I opened the windows and doors and let the cool 58 degrees cool the house down.  I turned on the attic fan which brings the cool air in the windows nicely.  The house was nice and cool by the time it got to 70 degrees out.  It stayed cool the rest of the day and we didn’t even have to turn our air on.  

Bill went to his Retirees breakfast.  After that he had to go to the VA to sign papers so he would get gas pay back for his trip to the VA dentist in Lansing.  He picked up some ground chuck at Jacks for me before he came home, so I could make stuffed peppers tonight.  

I found a swollen gland that was sore on my neck, so I’m trying to figure out what’s going on with that.  Prayed and believing it will go away in a day or two.  If not I will have to make an appointment to figure out what’s going on.  

I was texting Phyllis because her husband Andy was in the hospital yesterday with possible stroke.  I was letting her know we were praying and she thanked me.  Then I asked if they wanted us to come over and pray over Andy and they did.  We got ready and went and had a good visit and a good time of prayer.  They don’t know if it was a stroke or just dizziness.  He has some metal in his head so they couldn’t do an MRI.  He was doing good except had to use a walker to walk in case he gets dizzy again.  They sent him home with three meds and said if he doesn’t get any other symptoms he doesn’t need to come back in.  Just needs to take the medicine.  I was so happy he could talk clear and wasn’t confused.  Another Praise the Lord!

We came home and I made the stuffed peppers and put them in the oven.  Bill had got corn at Jack’s too, so he shucked it and then I got the water going on the stove.  I went out to till the garden, because weeds were growing again.  I started the Mantis and tilled all but the onions and around the outside of the garden.  I called Bill to put the corn in to boil and he had already done that.  He turned off the stuffed peppers too.  I put away the Mantis and will finish tomorrow.  We ate and everything tasted good.  

I worked on catching up on my blog again.  I talked to Kimmy a couple of times today and talked to Vikki.  I am meeting Jared in Freeland tomorrow morning at 7 to pick up a cinnamon roll they got me from the Hilltop.  Yum!  How sweet that they thought of me.  They know I love those yummy cinnamon rolls.  They are so good to me.

Sunday, August 2, 2026, Went to first service at church, Pastor J.W Ruff’s first official day as pastor, had cookies to celebrate, Kimmy, Jared and boys are on their way home!!!, Bill and I went to Bob Evan’s for breakfast, our round mirrored shelf fell sometime in the night, took naps, cleaned up the mirror mess, a few things broke, rehung the mirror shelf securely, went to Vikki’s to see Rehvyn, talked to Kimmy and Jared and heard about their adventure that almost took Jared’s life, cried and thanked God for his protection over all of them, Bill and I caught up on our devotion book we missed reading during the busy week at BayShore.

Rehvyn got to spend the night at his Grammy Vikki's

She fixed his hair really cute for church.  I thought he got a haircut when I saw this picture

Peyton Pierced a second hole in each ear.  Yikes, I could never do that myself

Kimmy, and family crossed the bridge...yay they are in lower Michigan 

This shelf fell behind the couch during the night.  Neither one of us heard it.  I got up this morning and noticed my angel Kenzie and Travis made and gave me a couple Christmas’s ago was lying on the new solar cover I had laid on the couch last night because Roomba Ruby was going to vacuum.  I forgot to start her so no vacuuming happened.  But I noticed the angel was lying on top of the solar cover which is like sturdy bubble wrap.  Then I looked up and noticed the shelf was off the wall.  I looked behind the couch and it had fallen back there.  It looked like stuff was broken, so I told Bill we would wait until we got back from church to get it out from behind the couch.

This is the angel from Travis and Kenzie that fell

This is the solar cover I had lying on the couch that it fell on

Bill put a new faucet in the camper bathroom.  The old one was a trough and when you turned the water on after hooking the hose up it would spray water at you or just spray the floor.  Nice change!  Good job sweet husband.  

We went to the early service at church.   It was J.W Ruff’s first Sunday officially as one of our pastors.  Worship was awesome and pastor’s message was great.  There were cookies after church at a table where everyone could meet Pastor Ruff.  I had already talked to him before church.  We have known him for a long time.  He and his family used to live in the house Bruce and Melissa live in.  Vikki went to their Bible Study back then.  They moved to Virginia and now are back.  

Bill and I went to Bob Evans for breakfast after church.  We came home and read our Bibles and caught up on a weeks worth of devotions in Billy Graham’s Wisdom for Each Day.  They were all good.  

We took a nap after that.  We needed one after our week at BayShore.  On the go most every day with early rising and going to bed late.  I slept for a couple of hours.  Bill got up before me.  Kimmy and Jared called.  They both shared their adventure they had on Friday.  We are blessed that God strengthened Jared, Jacob and Eli when they got caught in wind and high waves after setting out in kayaks in peaceful still waters.  They have to tell it to really take it all in.  I cried when they were telling me about it.  I can’t thank God enough, for giving Jared and the boys strength to paddle against those high waves to get back to the Island they left Kimmy and Arnie on.  He also had the water temperature warmer that day so Jared didn’t get hypothermia when he fell in,  Kimmy was going to send Jacob out to rescue Jared, but she knew he was super tired from rowing all the way across the harbor in those waves.  He said he could do it though.  Jared was trying to keep his head above water with those waves coming at him.  He had seen the charter boat earlier but hadn’t seen it yet so figured it was done for the day.  He was trying to hang on to the Kayak, the paddle and keep his shoes on all the while trying to keep his head up.  He lost his flip flops....ok with that.  He looked up and there was the charter boat next to him.  The running it had been doing charter rides for 20 years.  He got as close as he could without being concerned about hitting the kayak.  He figured if someone saw a kayak floating with no one around it they would think someone drowned.  He told Jared to swim to the boat.  Jared tried, but those waves were making it too difficult.  The boat came closer.  Jared made it to the ladder and the guy told him not to try to get in the boat, but to hang on to the ladder and take some breaths.  Then he was able to climb up and get on board.  One of the 3 ladies on the boat told him Welcome Aboard.  He asked permission to come on board.  I am so thankful God provided this charter boat to come get Jared (by the way, the name of it was Noah’s Ark Charter)  The guy operating the boat said if it had ben July 1st, the water would have been so cold Jared would have gotten hypothermia.  Jacob didn’t have to go try to pull Jared out of the water which could have been so dangerous for both of them.  They made it back to Kimmy.  Eli carried Arnie over big rocks with his flip flops on and made it ok.  What an adventure.  It is also a good thing when Jacob and Eli wanted to keep going farther on the Lake Superior side, that Jared said they had to turn around and go back.  They would have had to be in that rough water longer if they would have continued.  God was there in so many BIG WAYS.  I just couldn’t imagine if something had happened to Jared.  We all love him so much and know how important he is to his family and how loved by them.  Thank You Lord for watching over all of them.

I went over to Vikki’s to see Rehvyn.  He gave me such a nice hug and kiss.  He is so sweet and so loving.  He brings us so much joy.  He’s just who I needed to see after hearing their adventure.  Vikki wanted to know what happened, so I told her to call them while they were still driving on their way home.  They shared what happened with Vikki and Rody came in to listen too.  What a testimony of God’s provision and faithfulness and never failing love.

I had fun spending time with Vikki, Rehvyn, Peyton and Isaac.  

I came home and worked on catching up on blogs.  Seems like I am always one or two behind. 

Nice and calm when they started out

Rough waters on the way back

                                        

Video showing how rough the waves and water was that they were rowing against to get back to the Island Kimmy and Arnie were on.  Jared was way behind the boys because he had Adam’s kayak that you sit on top of.  Plus he had tried to bring a huge rock he liked back with him.  The rock didn’t make it.  

The next day everyone just wanted to relax at the campsite as they were tired and sore.  Adam had been at the campsite when all of this was going on.  

         

Saturday, August 1, 2026, Started bringing in stuff from camper, Vikki & Rehvyn came over, Bill mowed the grass, I brought the rest of the stuff in fr om the camper, cleaned cupboards, went to Culver’s,

Rehvyn was sure happy to see everyone today

This is Rehvyn seeing papa after he said he was coming out to the camper

Just noticed this field of sunflowers by us.  They just all opened up while we were on vacation.  So beautiful!

Bill shaved his beard off today

Bill and I at Culvers....I had 10 slips for a free happy meal and I also had 2 free scoop slips.  I had chocolate with strawberries and they sure put lots on it.  It was so good.  Bill had hot fudge

Rehvyn at Vikki’s wearing training pants.  He is doing so good!

I got up at 7:30.  Rainy morning outside.  It poured and when I looked afterwards there was over an inch in the rain gauge.  I read my Bible early so it would be quiet with no interruptions.  I love highlighting things that touch my heart and a want to work on in my life.  Sometimes I feel like I want to highlight everything because God’s Word is so good. It is life changing and it is the living Word and gives life.  

 I took some clothes baskets and bags out to the camper and started unloading stuff.  Vikki called and was close to my house, so she and Rehvyn came over to get Peyton’s guitar.   She helped me carry some drinks in and put them in the garage refrigerator.  We sat inside for a little while, while Rehvyn played with the new toy Vikki found on the side of the road while we were at BayShore.  She had someone coming to buy something, so went home.

I ate breakfast after that.  I had a hard boiled egg and a bagel with cream cheese.  Bill just had a hard boiled egg and a protein drink.  Bill went out to mow the lawn, and I went out to bring the rest of the food and my stuff in from the camper.  I brought it in the house and ended up having to clean out our big pantry cupboard.  I had some things that were expired that I had to get rid of and freed up other space by reorganizing.  Then I put the stuff from the camper away.  He had to go over the lawn twice because it had grown so much.

I brought all of his hanging clothes in and filled an Aldi bag with his jeans and shorts, plus everything else he had in the drawer beneath.  He was happy when he found out I brought his in.  

Bill asked me if I wanted to go out to eat.  I sure did.  We went to Texas Roadhouse because we had a gift card, but it was too crowded and there was a 40 minute wait.  We went to Culver’s, got our food right away and I used 10 meal slips to get a free happy meal and two scoop slips to get our little sundaes which were just the right size.  We came home and I took my shower.  Then I worked on my blogs to try to catch up.

  

Friday, 7/31/26, Happy Birthday to my sister Brenda, Last day at BayShore, Went to classes in tabernacle, Hailey took Peyton and Isaac to coffee shop, Vikki, Hailey and I went to coffee shop, packed stuff to go home, Rody left after we took Clam down, went to evening service, Bill and I left for home, Vikki and kids left a wile after the service

Peyton’s friends came to visit in the morning...Bridgette, Kinzie, and Selah

Vikki...this was taken by BayShore

Our morning teacher on the book of James

Peyton and Hailey on their walk to the coffee shop

Isaac, Peyton and Hailey with their coffee from Mast Coffee Shop

Vikki, Hailey and I had Mast Coffee Shop.  

Hailey worked in the nursery during morning Bible Studies

 

Peyton in Impact

Peyton eating pizza in the evening...she has sparkles on her face.  She is so cute and so sweet

Vikki, Paul, me, and Bill at the evening service

Justin, the camp dean welcoming everyone to the service

Our worship leader, Jimmy.  He had a kid playing guitar and the kid playing the drums also. 

Our good friends Becky and Dave at the evening service

BayShore took these worship pictures during the worship service

 

The kids Impact Leader, Jessie

This guy played the regular drums but on our last night played the box drums.  He did such an amazing job playing them.  He reminds me so much of my grandson Max

I wished my baby sister, Brenda, Happy Birthday.  Hailey and Peyton slept in this morning because they were out with Dustin and friends til Midnight.  We let them sleep and we ate breakfast, then Vikki started packing some stuff.

The girls got up and ate breakfast, then got ready.  Peyton left with her friends, and Hailey went to work in the nursery.  Vikki, Rody, Bill and I went to the classes in the tabernacle.

We had cookies between the classes and talked with friends.  After the last class, we talked to Justin for a little while, then came back to the camper.  The kids didn’t want lunch, so went to hang out with their friends.  Rody helped Vikki and I take the tent down, and then Bill joined us and we took the Clam down.  It went pretty quickly.  Rody had to leave for home after that.  Isaac had taken Vikki and my hammocks down in the morning before he went to class.   During quiet time, Hailey took Peyton and Isaac to the Mast Coffee shop to get drinks.  Peyton and Isaac were so happy she took them.  Hailey is such a sweet thoughtful girl.  They almost got hit by a train on the way walking back.  Hailey said she’s never seen a train in the daytime at Bayshore, and I can’t remember seeing one either, but the trained honked and was getting pretty close.  Yikes.  Their a a number of tracks there and only a stop sign.  You really can’t see if anything is coming unless you get right by the track.  We thank God for his protection on our family.

After the kids got back, Vikki asked me if I wanted to go to the coffee shop.  I said yes and Hailey said she wanted to come but not drink anything.  We had a fun time hanging out and our specialty coffees were delicious.  We came back to the camper and packed up more stuff.  I washed the sinks, refrigerator, and whatever else needed washing while we were hooked up to water.  I packed the rest of the stuff in the camper so we could put the slide outs in, Isaac and I got the stabilizers out from under the jacks, and then Bill, Vikki and I rode with him to the dump station and he dumped our tanks.  He drove us back to our campsite, then parked and turned on the generator so we could keep the air running.  

We ate left over pizza from the Village Pizzeria for dinner.  Clean up from that was super easy.  Then we went to the last service.  It was a great service with awesome worship.  

We had told friends goodbye already, because Bill and I had to leave before service was over so we could get home and he could park the camper before it was dark.  Vikki, Peyton and Isaac stayed until around 11 so the kids could hang out with friends longer.  It was the best BayShore Family Camp.  We say that every year though.  We all love BayShore and how it reaches out to people to come to Jesus and strengthens our relationship with Jesus.  Every year they get the best pastors, teachers and evangelists to share God’s Word.  It is amazing who God brings across their paths to have come.