Ups and Downs....Mostly Ups!

Christmas eve service at Tabernacle was small and intimate.....and a wonderful way to begin Christmas. Allie sang beautifully while the candles were lit. Afterwards everyone shared laughter and food in the fellowship hall.
Christmas Day was SO quiet, but we expected that. And it was a good thing. Allie's shot effects really kicked in and it was like she had had chemo. We spent the day lounging and watching MAMA MIA and other videos, but she really began hurting later in the afternoon, early evening. After dealing with the side effects she fell asleep and rested for over 12 hours......
Next day....she was MUCH better! I had jumped up early to head to my favorite place, (not!) WALMART to get all the final necessary food items for preparing our big meal the next day. Al left to go to the Murphys....and she returned early evening with Drew. Jeffrey had postponed his arrival until the next morning.
Al andI began a cooking show that no one could match. Drew filmed a little. We baked a Chiffon Pumpkin Pie and a Krispy Kreme Bread Pudding . Spumonte and cooking and then bed.
Turkey was in the oven at 7am along with the yeast rolls rising. Jeff, Jon, Elaine, Jennifer and Eliz arrived about 11am.
We had lots of food and giggles and stories. *!%*! lava lamps that I bought for the nieces were lemons...gotta take them back!
Jeff had to leave at 1pm to head down to Seaford for the wedding rehearsal. Drew and Al had to leave at 3pm to head to Epiphany in Richmond for a baby christening.....Drew was the godfather. The rest of the gang left about 4pm. I layed across my bed and the next thing I knew John was telling me it was 6pm....WHEW!
I layed like a slug on the couch and watched the repeat of the opening ceremony of the summer Olympics in Bejing. I'm conserving my energy. Lots of travel, fun, relatives and more food tomorrow at the wedding!
Allie is really pushing herself.....I'm trying not to be a crazy mom!

TODAY IS WHAAAAAAAT?????

I just cannot believe that today is Christmas Eve.....I don't think I have ever been so unprepared! I hope this isn't an age thing.....that's it's just an up and down year!!! Guess the easiest way to catch up is to go backwards.
Last nite Drew and Al came down from Richmond to go to a neighborhood gathering with us....after a short evening of drinking and eating, we drove thru the Wood's Family Christmas lights.....yep, it's over a couple of acres of tacky lights that you can drive through....and it's just around the corner!
Al is feeling much better....so thankful! She will be home this afternoon. Drew is going to be with his family at Epiphany. Allie is going with her dad and I to Tabernacle for our Christmas Eve service at 5pm.
I went to look at a couple more houses for summer workcamp and after visiting one, I just had to pull over on the road and compose myself......It's a long story, so I will write about it after the holidays.
JR was blowing leaves off the pool (while no one was home) , and he said the next thing he knew he was under water! His work boots filled quickly and he had on heavy clothes. He was under the pool tarp in the deep end . He came up once more for a gulp of air and tried making his way to the shallow end....hitting his head on the pool steps. He had a colorful shinner on his left eye for a few days. I took him to get an xray on his swollen wrist, but all is well. The church folks are relentless with teasing tho. They want to sign him up for a certificate in the POLAR BEAR CLUB! John beat them to the punch on Sunday. As he stood up to announce the first hymn, he had on a pair of Al's swim goggles......the whole church roared!
Our Christmas day will be quiet. Jeff, Jon & family will come the 27th for a day of presents and eating. Then Jeff heads off to a wedding rehearsal and Allie and Drew head to a baby baptism at Epiphany. Drew is the godfather, so he is quite nervous because he has to carry the baby down the aisle during the ceremony. Everyone is telling him to hold the kid like a football under his arm!
Sunday we will all travel to Newport News for Brienne's wedding....
So the celebrations for us are delayed a couple of days. We will miss Paige , Grover and the gang now that Christy has moved to Tennessee. We hope to catch up with them on Jan 7th.
We'll head to Martinsville....I MEAN EVERYBODY.....on Jan 17th for food and fun at Aunt Janet's. We haven't see all our cousins from up there in quite a while!
P.S. Thank God for our woodstove!!

Things Are Good!

I have no idea who this "Santa" is....he was roaming the aisles at Donk's theater when we were there!
I have to say things are really feeling good around here. It was a long ordeal to wait for Allie's endometriosis to be mailed (it's like the Holy Grail).....round and round with the insurance company, but finally done! She got the shot Wednesday morning and is already beginning to feel more like herself! Yippee!
I can't believe it is DEC 20th and I have done practically NOTHING!!! Tree is up, few gifts under the tree and all I am doing is eating homemade fudge someone brought us!
Drew is home from Hampden-Sydney.....he and Al spent the nite one nite....good to have them here by the fire. I picked up Ellen from her last day and school and took her to Alicia who was handing out food baskets at their church in Colonial Heights.....that was fun and really put me in the Christmas mood.
Random trips to Walmart and Books A Million.....gonna try to order some things online today.
Christmas will be quiet around here......Jon and family usually come the day after Christmas, but will be coming on the 27th instead......Jeff too......then we are all going to Brienne's wedding on the 28th down in Newport News.
Talked with Paige yesterday.....she is retiring from her job after 41 years! Monday and Tuesday are her final days. She is flying to Tennessee to be with Christy and family on the 30th......we are hoping to all get together with them around the 9th.
And of course, we can't forget our Martinsville, VA family! Looks like ALL of us are going to Horsepasture, VA to Aunt Janet's on January 17th....probably for an overnight! I love being with all of them! We'll pass thru Farmville and pickup Drew on the way.
So, our holidays will be spread out over all the next few weeks.....
I am so thankful that Allie is feeling better.....praying for her.....
I pulled into the driveway last night and the back yard was full of deer. Gave Will a good "haircut" last nite. Geez.....I gotta get Christmas wrapping and shopping!
On the WORKCAMP FRONT....
- Karen Scott's mom fell and broke her arm and had to have surgery
- Dennis Allen's father passed away earlier this month
- It won't be long before the rush to see which churches get in this year......

A Whirlwind of Happenings

This is a photo of Jeffrey at the Donk's Theater Christmas Show this past Saturday. The Scudders traveled with me and we met Pat & Bud Hirsch down there. What fun! Such incredible music...festivities....a wonderful way to bring in the season! The next few things I am posting seem bizarre....only because of the broad spectrum of happenings! It has been quite a rollercoaster ride around here!
- JR was blowing and raking the leaves off the cover of the pool a couple of days ago when he was here at the
alone. He fell into the pool....deep end....trapped under the tarp....boots filled with water. After coming up
a couple of times for air, he made it to the shallow end....hit his head on the corner of the steps. He has a
black eye.....I took him to get his wrist xrayed today....really swollen, but not broken....it is in a brace now...
and they put him on antibiotics for a few days just in case. His big concern was trying to hide the evidence
because he knew I would be a force to deal with. I just thank God that he is in great shape....the sheer temp
of the water would have caused more distress in most people! I am still saying a prayer of thanks....
- Whitehall Jewelers is going out of business here locally.....Drew told me if there was an engagement ring that
Al saw there, to let him know.....Al picked out one....I got it....Drew and his dad are picking it up next week...
it is beautiful and a godsend for a starving college student to buy! Drew is excited....I believe he will propose
next summer....that seems to be the plan....the ring is hidden....
- There is a graduation dinner Saturday nite for a friend at church.....and JR has a funeral to facilitate Sunday
for a family at church. After the funeral there is a big dinner at church....yep, that's the way the country
folk do it!
- Al is actually feeling better. She is still awaiting "the shot" to arrive, but the other medication they changed
he to is actually helping also.....we are excited! Her professors have been great about posting an
"Incomplete" grade for her to give her extra time for exams and work. She has been such a soldier that most
of it is done already. And other news: She met with her advisor and when she graduates next December
she will have a degree in International Studies with a minor in French & a minor in Religion....she is so
thrilled and I think pretty amazed that she has really done all this with the health challenges she's had!
I will stop here....more soon...just tired of typing!

I've Lost Track Of Days....

Sorry, no photo....I'm just trying to catch up!
A week ago, I helped Al make her last visit to the Somali family that she has been interning for, and I was so excited to see her recieve the good news! Fahiyo and her three brothers are moving to Arizona to be with an uncle and his family! Such a good ending to a such a heartbreaking story!
Later that nite, Al became increasingly sick.....so much pain from the endometriosis....
We called her specialist, and arrived at the hospital about midnight at BonSecours.
They initially gave her a dose of Morphine thru an IV.....and she had quite a reaction to it! After a large dose of something else to counteract it, she was headed up to her room....
Over the next few days, they did an external and internal ultrasound....results all good.
Basically, she slept and let her body catch up....nausea and pain subsiding...
Yay, she was out of the hospital for Thanksgiving....Uncle Jeffrey drove up and spent the nite. JR had won a turkey at the Fort Lee Golf Course Turkey Shoot.....I hadn't had a chance to finish shopping, but we had most of the ingredients for a great meal!
Later in the early evening, Alicia, Ben, Ellen and Kent came over for a game nite...Drew was with his family.
So we have entered into the holiday season....Al has decided to continue with two classes, and take an "incomplete" for the others so that she can take their exams beginning next semester. There's no way she can juggle her health and a full load at this point in time.
We went to see "TWILIGHT" yesterday afternoon....us girls.....it's definitely a "teenie bop" movie.....Fun!

VMI, A Ball & The Blue Ridge Mountains

The weekend was filled with pomp & circumstance and planted deep in tradition. After all, the first Class Ring Figure Ball at the Virginia Military Institute began in 1929. Allie's childhood friend, Benjamin Allen Scudder was presented with his class ring from VMI on Friday nite. Allie was given the honor to escort him and to put the ring on his finger!

Alicia (Ben's mom), Allie and I stayed at a little Day's Inn on top of a mountain in Lexington, VA....we went out for a quick dinner, and then the transformation began. Al was required to wear a white evening gown and long white gloves. She was to wear his HUGE class ring on her thumb....if she dropped it prior to putting it on his finger during the ceremony, it meant that he would die in combat. YIKES!

We met Ben at VMI....he was in his dress grays. There was an arch of saluting cadets with sabers they walked under to get into the hall. There was a live band with ballroom dancing after each cadet walked with their escort thru the giant ring.....our little boy and girl did good!

You can go to my FACEBOOK page CONNIE EAGLE ROMAINE to see all of the photos! The mountains were cold (21F) and it was windy, but our hearts were warm with love and we are so proud of our "little Ben".

Mom's Feel Too Much....

Al's endometriosis reared it's ugly head this past weekend. I made an emergency trip to Richmond on Sunday nite....ended up calling her surgeon and then just throwing her in the van and bringing her home. He said, total bed rest, come see him.....or hospital down the road. We are SO fortunate to have such a terrific specialist for her.....Tuesday morning he spent one hour with her.....
I took her back to Richmond late yesterday afternoon.....part of my heart is there, because I know it is a struggle to keep up when u don't feel good.....Anyone that reads this blog....please pray for her healing and endurance.....
We are all excited about the holidays coming up! I have to hem a ball gown today...and lots of workcamp to catch up on....but it's all good......Oh,....and pack for VMI! There will be plenty of photos of this pinnacle happening. The day after the ball, Drew is joining us for a football game.....we will be wrapping Al in blankets, and all kinds of warm stuff....she is determined to go! She and Alicia and I will be having a girltime in the hotel room.....and we moms get to go to part of the ball to photograph! Ring Figure at Virginia Military Institute is quite a happening......we are excited and honored to be part of it!
JR is keeping us warm with the wood splitter.....don't know what we would do without our woodstove!
We are also making plans to maybe attend the UKROPS Christmas Parade in Richmond and then DONK's Theater's Christmas Show!
Ho, Ho, Ho!

Thank You, Facebook!

I have always thought this picture was so precious.....I remember the house and the crew...and the horrible mental and physical conditions these kids were living in. The "Rossing" girl in the photo, moved away to Minnesota. The house burned to the ground.....and God knows where the little children in the photo are today. Thanks to Facebook, we are all back in touch again.....Rachel Rossing is married with her own family. I love Facebook for that reason....it's bringing lots of old workcamp friends back in touch with one another.
Al and Drew traveled to Farmville for Hampden-Sydney's last football game of the season. It's Drew's last since he graduates in May.
JR made a trip to the local hospital to visit a dear soul from our little congregation.....it's doesn't look very good for him, so we are all praying.
And yep....I WRAPPED SOME CHRISTMAS PRESENTS!!!! Now I gotta get this DVD editing thing down so I can "create" some Christmas presents!

Here Comes The Rain!

(Yep, this policeman had actually "pulled" a car in downtown Richmond )

The rain is on it's way....glad we got a small pump to take the water off the pool cover. Ordered a white ball gown yesterday for Al to wear to Ben's VMI Ring Figure.....next weekend......BIGGGGG DEAL!!!

Yesterday was Aunt Janet's birthday....she's 71 and I just can't wrap my brain around that!

OK....take a deep breath, Connie. Lots of paperwork to do today for Workcamp! It's exciting tho....scheduling houses to visit, putting together the "lunch people" adopt list, and putting together all the packet materials together (picked them up from Staples yesterday) for the churches when they register JAN 2nd.

Another fun thing happening.....another spurt of "old workcampers" joined Facebook....have been sending out photos to them from 1988! REALLY fun to get their reactions!

Al Speaks At VCU

The past few days have been filled with many ups and downs. A highlight though was yesterday. A friend and I traveled to Richmond to the 14th Annual VCU School of World Studies Student Research Conference to hear Allie give a 20 minute presentation all in French. She spoke about Christophe Mbangi, her refugee friend from Angola and his challenges coming to this country. Yep, I was a proud mama. Afterwards we went to the Strawberry Cafe to celebrate.
The leaves continue to fall. We are all snorting and sniffing with sinus "stuff" during this season. Sometimes it's a chore, but I still continue to press on with water aerobics.
I learned that our dear friend, Cham Laughlin (has the studio and recorded all of Jeffrey's CDs) has regressed in his battle of cancer. We continue to pray.....
Nope....don't like the time change.....don't like the sun going down so early!!!! UGH!

Working Together......Love Can

I find it very telling that our theme for WORKCAMP 2009 was selected awhile back.......LOVE CAN....
What can move a mountain from the place that it stands?
What can calm the greatest fear with the touch of a hand?
What can turn an enemy to a brother and friend?
What can bridge the place between a holy God and a simple man?
Only one thing I know.......................Love can.....
It is crucial now that we all pray for one another....support one another.....and be open to one another's ideas..
Our new President will need our prayers and support as we begin to untangle our nation...
The world is watching....

An Angel Gone & A New President Arrives

Willie Mae Smith -1046 Halifax st, Pburg

I attended a funeral downtown yesterday....Willie Mae Smith was a friend of workcamp since 1993. She influenced many, many teens by allowing them into her home to help with repairs. I visited her in the hospital earlier this year as she battled her illness. She was a kind,gentle and loving woman that influenced so many teens....her home was crumbling, but her heart and generosity was so strong.

I reflect on this as I watch the Presidential election. The crowds of thousands gathering to celebrate...I feel sure that none of the thousands have been as profoundly and deeply affected as deeply as those who spent in Willie Mae's home. Numbers mean little to me tonight while I look back on the changed lives that walked into her home on Halifax Street. There were only about 50 people at her funeral....no splash of the media....but as I sat on that back row, I knew in my heart what had happened. I thank God for Willie Mae and her life.....I count it a real gift to have called her a friend......

Tonight....God Bless All The People of Every Country....and our new President .......

Boo!

W O R K C A M P
- Yes, we will be teaming up with Elderhomes again next summer....this past summer we installed 14
wheelchair ramps and stoops....no counting the handrails, etc....all of this was in addition to the normal
repairs that workcamp makes for it's residents......48 houses in 2 weeks!!! Here we come!
- We have limited the number to 16 from a church this summer in the hopes that it will allow more churches
that at new and smaller to be a part of WORKCAMP 2009. This is causing much anguish from the larger
churches, but we are believing that God is gonna work it all out. We can only take 360 so hopefully this will
make the wait list a little shorter!

THE ROMAINES
- Al and Drew are heading down this way for a Halloween festivity this evening so we'll get to see them a little
- It's COLD!!!!
-

The Pool Is Covered

(Brother & sister, Eason Bailey & Jessica Bailey-Mauger)

The pool is covered. I hate looking down there and not seeing the water. But, I try to put a positive spin on it...this means Thanksgiving and Christmas are just around the corner! The tarp we bought ended up not being quite big enough, so we had to jerry rig it with bungie cords....

Hopefully we'll get to still use the fire pit at some point.

Al drove down and we went to the courthouse and filled in absentee ballots...yep, we have voted. JR wants to get up and the crack of dawn and stand in line and talk with people.....I think I'll just stay in bed under the covers!

It looks like we may have guests for Thanksgiving....the Somali brother and sister that Al is mentoring may be joining us for our meal. It should prove to be very interesting.

The reason for the photo of EASON & JESSICA....

- Eason proposed this past weekend and is engaged to be married next year

- Jessica (Asst Commonwealth Attorney for PG) is expecting her first child and found out this past week

that she is having a little boy! William Avery Mauger.....can't wait!

Their mom, Debra is a good friend....and all of the family is involved in Workcamp....Deb is on the board.

Life's Random Happenings

(JR sharing cider with brothers and sisters in Vic's kitchen in NY)

Life is full....full of random happenings.....

- In the water everyday at the YMCA doing aerobics....now if I could just get the diet thing down

- Al is coming home today after classes....we'll run over to Prince George Courthouse to see if she can get an

absentee ballot....lines will be long next week and she has class

- The monitor on the desktop computer finally went, so I'm heading out to replace it....funny how the

computer runs a good part of our lives!

- The leaves are beginning to really turn....and the pool STILL needs to be covered!

- Jr is preparing to preach again this Sunday....our trip to NY juggled the weeks around...I love the first

Sunday of the month....church and then we all eat together covered dish....lots of fun and good

conversation

- JR and I are heading to the local hospital this afternoon.....our dear church member WILLIE is there and

we just gotta see him!

- Took Will to the vet yesterday...our 11 yr old little fellow picked up a cough somewhere....which is odd

since he doesn't come in contact with any other dogs.....

- Nov 1st is a mile marker....I start looking at houses for next summer....and pulling paperwork together...

- Am going to work on a special Christmas gift for family....TIME, TIME, TIME!!!

Busy Weekend

The weekend was packed with lots of events and people. I had a chance to talk with Tim, Jenny, Michael and Edith in England on Saturday. Cousin Stuart spent the weekend with Allie in order to attend a portfolio sharing at the art school at VCU. Alyssa was supposed to come down from NY, but it didn't happen.
JR spoke at Tabernacle on Sunday on the Book of Hebrews....he was terrific! Then we hurried home for a Workcamp Board meeting and then a wrap up meeting with about 25 folks from the workcamp staff. I LOVE seeing all of them! Jeffrey couldn't come because he has a bad sinus infection.
I would imagine that the phone is going to start ringing now that I have mailed the 2009 workcamp brochures and there have been a few changes.....

SLOW & STEADY

(Cousin Alyssa, Grandma Harriet and Al in NY)
Still easing back into real life after our trip to NY.....
There is much to do and it's time to get into gear! JR & I fixed the front gutter, he's stacking wood, I painted the woodstove, water aerobics, updating all the files to get ready for workcamp, put together the info mailing for workcamp.....and the list goes on!
Cousin Stuart arrives in Richmond tonight to stay with Al and show his art portfolio to VCU on Saturday. Al made her first beef stew in her new crockpot....
And we still haven't covered the pool.....it's just to pretty!
JR preaches on Sunday, Workcamp Board meeting at 1pm.....then the workcamp staff gang arrives at 2:30 for a wrap up session and some Halloween cupcakes! Boo!
I start looking at houses for camp on NOV 1st.....can't believe it's here already!

SOUTHBOUND

The photos are of Amy & Joe's little restaurant "THE GATHERING". What a really neat place!
We are home....we left Sunday morning about 5am and beelined it home!
Saturday was a beautiful day. We picked up Alyssa at her apt and us three girls headed to a big mall in Syracuse. Alyssa needed to buy a dress for a wedding....IN VIRGINIA! Yep, she is headed to VA this coming weekend to look at Mary Washington and VCU.....she and Deanna are hoping to finish up college in VA next year. Al is delirious....they love each other so much!
Buzzy came down and visited....then we ALL went out to dinner at the cafe. Grandma Harriet went with us. It was so good to be with family and friends.
Back to the grind! Going to fill the crockpot first!

NORTHBOUND

Thursday morn at 5:30am, Al, JR and I hit the road to upstate NY. About ten hours later we pulled into Vic & Betty Romaine's driveway. It's magical up here. The air is crisp, the leaves are gorgeous and we run into family EVERYWHERE!
After hauling in our gear, we headed to Grandma Harriet's house and chatted awhile. She just celebrated her 90th birthday and is still going strong! Her house is filled with knick-knacks and African violets. Back to Uncle Vics for dinner and to bed early.
JR was up early for a walk down to the diner on Main Street for coffee and then he walked over th Grandma's to borrow her car for our visit so Al and I could have wheels. While he golfed, we went down to THE GATHERING, Amy and Jo's little cafe. It's so wonderful and the food incredible.
We found a neat little shop owned by a photographer and he printed up special "Moravia" shirts for us....Gracie came from Cortland along with Mike who had driven down from near Buffalo. It was an afternoon of coffee and childhood stories. Al and I ran by the local pharmacy and connected with her cousin Alyssa. We are heading to Syracuse with Alyssa and mom Lori tomorrow to help find a dress for a wedding.
All of my photos so far on on Facebook....Al took some fabulous photos......she will post them when we return home on Sunday.

Candles & Bill at VCU

The past few days have been hectic and filled with ups and downs. It's all good though.....
The bad stuff....flat tires and other yuck...
The good stuff.....
- I am loving water aerobics at the Y.....it's fun with Alicia!
- Al came home and we went to a Celtic service at Christ & Grace Episcopal in Pburg late Friday afternoon....it was lovely....hundreds of candles....communion....a single flute for the music....litergy....they have one once a month, so we will definitely go to the one in November.
- Then we headed up to VCU ( along with thousands of others) to see Bill Clinton speak in the commons area of the college. We met Paul B. and wandered around the blocks trying to find the end of the line (which was about 4 deep).......Al was wearing her "smartie pants" and directed us to the lower level of the commons building......we had front row seats on the inside of the building....couldn't hear, but prime seats inside the plate glass. We ducked out early to beat the traffic......Al came to PG, printed out her French paper (her printer is acting goofy) and then she headed back home to Richmond.

And The Acorns Keep Falling...

(A mural in Ocean Springs, MS painted on the building we stayed in last Feb during Hurricane Katrina Recovery)

The past few days have ended up being one of our "Book of Job" adventures. Most of the time we are blessed with our lives making sense and moving with reason. That has not been the case for the past few days....thus, I haven't had the chance to write. The acorns from the big oak tree in the back yard are dropping and banging relentlessly on the deck and roof....much like the chain of events happening around here!

This past Monday, a 26 year old young woman associated with our church took pills in a suicide attempt....she was taken off the respirator yesterday with extensive heart, lung, and kidney damage and pneumonia. JR is in constant touch with the family.....the outcome is in God's hands.

I had the chance to speak to a large women's group Monday nite.....it was a good thing

Tuesday, the craziness began! We awoke to water in our basement from one of our large hot water heaters "cracking" on the inside. The valve to turn off the water was frozen open, so we had to turn off ALL THE WATER from the well pump. No washing or flushing toilets til late the next day! When the workers came to install one finally, they couldn't figure out how to get it in the basement door....(these things are huge because this is how we heat our house!) It was finally remedied late Wed afternoon.

Tuesday, I accompanied Al to Dr. Cain's office in Richmond to get her "endometriosis" shot...The next two days have been "horrible" because the shots cause symptoms to intensify for about 3 days. So she has been taking care of business with her doped up and me as her driver. School stuff, visits with Fahayo, and another annual visit to another doc that happened to fall on the same dates. We did have fun lunches at THE VILLAGE CAFE and then one day at ALADDINS (a family run all middle eastern foods on Broad Street). Most of this was done in a rental vehicle.....next paragraph explains...

I headed to water aerobics at the Y and the van wouldn't start....dead battery! Out of the blue! So I went in and began working on the computer. It was late....the phone rang, and a friend of our's is going through chemo and needed nausea medicine....I took off in JR's car and took some med to Colonial Heights....It must have been ordained by God, because I normally would have been in the pool at the Y. Plus we hope to head to upstate NY next week and there were other things that needed fixing on the van that could have caused havoc on the trip. There were other incidents with the lawnmower, blood pressure medication, empty boxes of checks and the van. WOW.....thank heaven's our lives are usually more normal.....

WORKCAMP NEWS

Cassidy Pruitt is appearing this weekend in CHARLOTTE'S WEB in Valdese, NC! She'll be receiving a big bouquet of balloons at the theater from her workcamp family!

The Hanchey's in TX are investigating the possibility for our college workcampers to help with the recovery in the Galveston during Christmas or spring break.....nothing concrete yet,....will keep u posted

COTTON FIELDS & A LITTLE CHURCH

When I turned onto Malones Road in Dinwiddie County yesterday the first thing I saw were fields and fields of cotton in bloom. We were on our way to Tabernacle Methodist where JR is the pastor. I didn't have my camera, so I picked a couple of branches on the way home.

It was the first Sunday of the month, so of course, we all had potluck lunch at the church...boy, those ladies can cook!

The rest of the day was a lazy Sunday.....

WORKCAMP NEWS

Tonight I am speaking at an associational dinner and meeting of the Baptist women. It's held at Immanuel Baptist in Colonial Heights.

Into The Woods

JR and Jerry have been working diligently cutting up and splitting the tree that he cut down about 2 weeks ago. They pulled the long splitter around to the front of the house. Jerry uses a wood stove for heat in the winter also.
I put together the "fire pit" down by the pool so we can stretch out the days a little longer ....going to have the Scudders over for hot dogs and smores.
I am excited....I have started on CHRISTMAS surprises!!

TAKIN' CARE OF BUSINESS

(Here's a little guy from 1999.....wonder where he is now.....)
Thursday was just a day of takin' care of business......groceries, pharmacy pick-up, bank, .......I did talk with Edyth. I really want to go down to NC to see Cass in her play. She has a speaking part in CHARLOTTE'S WEB. But, we leave for NY the following week, so it's a matter of pacing ourselves and rationing gas. There was no water aerobics instructor at the Y, so Alicia, Ellen and I did an hour of the exercises on our own....fun! Talked with Jeffrey Bean too.....he was on the way to Donk's for rehearsal.....
Then....9pm.....glued to the tube to watch the VP debates.....God, I hope the US is smart enough to know what they were witnessing!

Mormons, Water Aerobics & A Nun

(Al & Drew at Ashlawn-Highland this past weekend)
Yesterday was quite a variety of happenings. Al had spent the nite with us because she was under the weather. She and I got up early, met Alicia, and we drove to Richmond.....dropped Al off at class. Alicia and I then headed up Monument Ave to the Mormon church to check out their genealogy library for a few hours. I hadn't been there in over 20 years! We did lots of digging and had loads of fun!
We met Al and went to the Village Cafe for lunch in the middle of the VCU campus. Good food...lots of laughs.
We all drove back to Pburg where Al went immediately to bed and waited for a call from the doc.
I am so proud of myself....went to water aerobics and to my surprise, the water held two friends! One was a mom from our old days at VACS (VA Assn. of Competitive Swimming) when Al used to swim year round. The other friend.......SISTER PATRICIA from the convent around the corner! Yep, I am doing water aerobics with a nun!
Al started feeling better, so she headed back to her little nest in Richmond....she was home only temporarily for some TLC.
I CAN'T WAIT for the VP debates tonight! This is going to be a hoot! I'm popping corn! It might be as entertaining as Couric/Palin on SNL!

WORKCAMP NEWS
October is here!!! That means Wrap-Up meeting, mailing list update and getting ready to roll NOV 1st to begin looking at houses!!!! WHEW!

A Bit Of A Tough Day....AGHHHHHH!

Yesterday started off well....and then slowly deteriated into a real challenge. After her morning classes, Al drove home because she wasn't feeling well. I took off to do errands....Debra signing checks, P.O., bank, .....about 2pm Al called me in excruciating pain.....the endometriosis had cropped up with a vengeance. I spun into Walgreen's....they called Dr. Cane....and by the time I got home, Al was really bad. Thank God for pain medication......
While she slept.....and her dad napped....I headed for the YMCA. Yep, I joined and did my first water aerobics class since I had my knees done. We bobbed and did orchestrated drowning for an hour.....ran by Ukrops and got big salads for all of us and headed home.
Al was stirring when I arrived.....she sent off a paper to one of her classes over the internet.....then we all crashed.
Speaking of crash....about 1am a horrific storm passed over. One huge boom and all of the electricity went off.....came back on at 4am.....
So with little sleep and a doped up daughter, we girls head to Richmond....drop Al off at class (she can't drive on the meds) and then Alicia on to the Morman library for genealogy! We are gonna make this a GOOD DAY!
Jerry is coming over to finish chopping up the tree that John cut down last week.....Jerry does the work and gets half of the tree. I am thankful for Jerry!

WORKCAMP NEWS!!!
Took a $500 check by Colonial Heights Middle School as a gift....we aren't in this to make money....right!!??? Let's give it away!

The Race Is On

Yes, Jeff Long is the Biggest Loser.....losing 180 lbs +, he's hard to beat. The bet is on though, BFF Pruitt! I am joining the Y today and starting a walking regiment and water aerobics! Uh Huh...next summer I will be lean and mean....ready for JULY Workcamp 2009 and then Al, Jeffrey, Drew & I are heading across the pond to see my British cousin Tim and wander around England, Ireland and Europe......no more dragging "Mama" around!
Today is filled with running errands.....
The photo is from Donk's Theater around the first part of September.....Lynda Smith had a little boy a couple of weeks ago....ADAM WALKER GRIEVE.......a bunch of us are planning to head down for the big Christmas show........and yes, I am already Christmas shopping!

A Lazy Sunday

I was beat yesterday from all the driving on Saturday.....and by the photo you can see that both JR and Will were happy to take a snooze during late Sunday afternoon. Al came down for a short visit. We chatted by the pool and then the two of us went to THE MAD ITALIAN......Dede wanted some veggie pizza and we neededto get a decent meal for Al before a lean week at VCU.

Tomorrow is back to the grind.....I used to love Mondays.....the key words there are "used to".

A Wedding In the Foothills of the Blue Ridge

The journey to Charlottesville was so beautiful. First I made my way to Farmville where Allie and Drew jumped in the van after we purchased some unbrellas. The day was gray and we didn't want to take any chances of getting soaked.
We REALLY took some backroads as we traveled north to Charlottesville....skimming along the foothills of the Blue Ridge until we reached our destination......Ashlawn-Highland, the home of President James Monroe. Guests trickled through the gift shoppe and followed the hedge and brick pavers to a huge outdoor building overlooking the skyline. Originally the ceremony was to be held in the gardens, but everything had been cautiously moved under roof. There were sheep, cows and peacocks....
Attending from the workcamp family.....the Philipkoskys & Adlers from Grace Lutheran in Chester, Daniel Taylor and the Fields from Norfolk.
Eliza was stunning in her "antique" dress....her hair adorned with a small peacock feather and her great grandmother's cameo was pinned to side of the dress. The ceremony was a mixture of new age and pagan..... readings and small ceremonial rituals from around the world. None of us had been to a ceremony quite like it. The music for the ceremony was a flute, cello, mandolin, violin and dobro......
At the end of the ceremony the two mothers opened a box and released butterflies. As Eliza and Bruce kissed for the first time as husband and wife, the monarchs fluttered in the air around them.
Al, Drew and & had lots of fun traveling together...lots of laughs and singing.
I've gotta learn how to use the Picasa web album so u can see more photos!

Rain, A Funeral & Brazilian Dancing

The Tom-Tom directed John and I to Stony Creek, VA yesterday.....we traveled to the land of mullets, long acrylic nails and McCain/Palin yard signs. Mr. Elmo Goodwyn passed away at 93 years of age. John had never met him, but apparently he was an old member of Tabernacle Church and they needed the pastor to say a few words. It was raining, so a graveside service in the field was too muddy....Mr. Goodwyn was laid out in the living room of his old farm house. About 30 people had gathered....there was a mixture of suits and camoflage. Afterward, they cleared the hallway to carry the casket to the hearse awaiting just outside the front door. We took the long way home through the back roads instead of the interstate....

Al experienced Brazilian dance/marshal arts in her Dance Cultures Around the World class last nite. She called and said she is now a Brazilian ninja and loved the whole tribal thing! She is driving to Hampden-Sydney this afternoon....Reality check: childhood friend, Leigh Barksdale is expecting .....

I am gathering steam for the weekend....packing...

W O R K C A M P N E W S

Pete A's paperwork paid off....Thrivent for Lutherans is giving us $5000

A Change In Plans

Alicia called early...she woke up in the wee hours of the morn with the stomach flu! Needless to say we don't want to go near her and her family! I will travel to Richmond around noon and have lunch with Al. Then she heads off to mentoring.

(Ben & sister Ellen at the Spring Cotillion at the Pburg Country Club....Happy Birthday, Bennie at VMI!)




W O R K C A M P N E W S....

Today is Ben Scudder's & Jared Carlson's bday....

I went to the Colonial Heights School Board Meeting last nite....Bob and Karen were there. The Kochuba family was there because KATIE was being honored as senior of the month. Stephanie Colb sat on the board last nite as a student representative. Dr. Kim Evans was there also. I thanked the board profusely....gave them all workcamp lanyards and stat sheets. It's not official, but I believe strongly that we will be at CHMS again next year!

Many are joining the Facebook group, PRESBYTERIAN ENERGIZERS ARE LIKE CLUBBING WITH GOD! It's great....we may even be able to pick up a few new ones for next year.

No,....we will not be making a trip to the gulf coast of Mississippi in February....

We talked about helping in Texas, but it's SO far away....

We will do another SMOKE DETECTOR BLITZ in Petersburg after the first of the year tho...

This time we share a meal together too! Fun day...

THE LAST DAY OF SUMMER

Yesterday was the last day of summer. The hummingbirds are gone south, the acorns have fallen from the big oak tree by the back deck and we'll be covering the pool when the leaves start to fall....

JR received a phone call last night. A member of our congregation passed away and his sister requested that John do his funeral....it will be a small graveside service out in the country. John didn't know him.....he was an elderly man that had been shut in for years. It reminds me of a "country" funeral that John did this past summer. After a few brief remarks, JR had to climb aboard a small skiff as the son "poled" out to the middle of the pond to scatter his father's ashes.

Allie says that her brain is "french-fried"....

W O R K C A M P N E W S

- Jennifer Cunningham (Larry's daughter) is marrying in October in Charlottesville where she is working on her doctorate at UVA

- Ricky Heinzman is a father ...little Alexander was born yesterday (Drew's his godfather)

- Pete A is working on the Thrivent Grant.....I'm working on the Pburg grant

- Gearing up for my presentation tonight at Colonial Heights School Board

- Another NEW church phoned for info to register 20 in January

Here we go!

(Anna Rossing , Minnesota - WORKCAMP 1991)

The Romaines.....Workcamp.....blogging.....

This is new territory for us, so here we go! Thanks to "Massimo" for sharing his blog and showing us how to share to LOTS of info, fun and news.

This will be a space for the Petersburg Romaines & WORKCAMP news since we are so entwined that we have no idea where one ends and the other begins!

This will probably be the longest entry since I am bringing everyone up to speed.

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The Petersburg Romaines have been both busy and enjoying the "down time" after this summer's workcamps.

J.R. has been in demand. First is his congregation at Tabernacle Methodist....his tight little congregation in Dinwiddie County, VA. They used to be a circuit riding church, so he only ministers there on the first and third Sundays of the month. Every first Sunday the church eats together afterward, and boy can those ladies cook! The last Sunday in August he spoke to a large congregation at Prince George Christian Church....much fun!

Then, September 14th he was asked to Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church to speak to annual catichist retreat about "the Word". Some of the folks had heard him daily at the adult sessions this summer at workcamp, so they quickly invited him to their church!

J.R. now has a cold/flu.....but did that stop him from golfing this morning????? Not!

Allie is moving in about 100 directions at the same time. This is her last year at VCU (Virginia Commonwealth University). It's her plan to graduate in May '09 with a degree in International Studies w/ a minor in French. So, now the push is on for her. She lives alone in Richmond in an interesting old apartment only a block from campus. This semester she is taking a French grammer class and French literature/culture class... both are taught totally in French.....she is picking up her last science credit with an Astronomy class....and her final art credits with a class on Dance Cultures Around the World. She was snatched up for an internship with the Richmond Catholic Diocese office on REFUGEE & IMMIGRATION assistance. She works in the refugee area. Most of the refugees coming in are Iraqi women and children who have lost their sons, husbands and homes because of the ongoing war. Allie has had a year of Arabic & also Islamic studies so she understands the culture. As it turned out, she has been assigned a young Islamic family from Somali. She mentors an 18 year old young woman and her 21 year old brother. They have 2 younger siblings that have been placed in a foster home situation in Richmond. Their parents were killed in front of them and the children were brought here out of harms way after trying to survive on the streets. As their relationships grow, I will keep u posted! We are so proud of Al and her ability to see and feel globally. Allie continues to see and love Drew Murphy who graduates from Hampden-Sydney in '09 with honors. She anxiously awaits the DVD of Sex in the City!

I'm enjoying the "down time" if u could call it that. I've gotten back into genealogy again after 21 years (put it away when Al was born because it was TOO time consuming!). Alicia S. and I went to the state library in Richmond to do some research last Wednesday....then she , Al and I went for lunch at the STRAWBERRY CAFE. We're heading up to the Morman Library in Richmond this coming Wednesday and lunch with Al. Saw the moving "Ghostown" the other day with friends....don't bother...it was really bad. Bought a small portable fire pit to go by the pool so hope to set it up this coming weekend.....Speaking of weekend, Al, Drew and I are heading to Charlottesville for a big wedding at ASHLAWN...our sweet Eliza D. is getting married and it is going to be quite the happening.....can't wait to post the photos on this! See, this is where it all gets fuzzy....Eliza is one of our Workcamp daughters......so, now on to workcamping news...

WORKCAMP NEWS! Tomorrow nite I address the Colonial Heights School Board and express gratitude for the use of their buildings this past summer. It is our hope not to return to Richard Bland College but to stay in Colonial Heights for 2009! So, lift up your prayers! New churches from around the states are emailing for info for next summer, so I predict that the rush will be on January 2nd. It is a difficult time but exciting time to see who makes it in......Last summer we had over 360 campers and staff....repaired 48 houses.....built 14 wheelchair ramps......and installed smoke detectors . Looks like the old bandmembers to LIVEWIRE have joined up again, so they will be joining us in 2009 both Tuesday nites.