Addicted to the Winter Olympics

Loving the olympics, but find myself not always rooting for the Americans.

Someone gave Alicia an older flat screen monitor and they couldn't use it, so I am and it is wonderful!

Think I am going to surprise an old high school friend tomorrow...will see and then post it!

A bag full of wonderful little daffodil pins arrived from London today! I ordered them from the Marie Curie Cancer Foundation in Britain! I plan to hand them out on Easter Sunday and also at my high school reunion.

Too sleepy to post anymore! I AM WHOOPED!

Brother Love & VCU Basketball

How fun was today!? I scurried around this morning and cleaned the house. Jon David & family arrived about 1:30pm and we all went in the van to Richmond. We picked up Al in front of her apartment and headed for the parking deck on Broad Street. We killed time by browsing in the VCU bookstore and then walked across the street to the Siegel Center for the men's basketball game - VCU vs OHIO. Great game...we won. Great music and entertainment. Afterwards Al guided us all to the Carytown Burgers. The place was full, so we sat and ate our on the "veranda"....cold, but definately memorable.

Al is attending a service at Lourdes tomorrow for a young man to become a priest. John is preaching at Tabernacle and then has an afternoon appointment with a couple that he is marrying next month. Me....I may just nap all day!

I am so excited about the Workcamp website. It is phenominal if I do say so myself....I can't wait to get it up and running online. Hopefully it will all be working by next weekend! The address is http://tcworkcamps.org/ . Keep looking at the address....it should be up soon!

A Wonderful Valentine's Day!

What a wonderful day! First of all, we met Jeffrey's new "friend"...Brooke...and she is precious. Then about ten of us headed to Our Lady of Lourdes for Allie's first communion and her becoming a Catholic. There was a wonderful, worshipful service....terrific music....and friends: JR & I, Alicia, Ben & Ellen, Jeff & Brooke, Handyman Bob H., Paul Bagley and Allie's BFF from VCU, Elle.

After the service we all headed to ROMA'S for a loud lunch! How fun!

It was the beginning of a wonderful week!

Sally Photos from Port Au Prince

Here are photos of our Sally during her medical mission to Haiti. The first photo is of Sally & their drivers. The second is of her in the clinic. I hate it that the photos are so little. I will try to post more later.

Friends & a Ferry

Today was just plain fun! In celebration of our 25th wedding anniversary John and I decided to take a little road trip. First we made it down to Toano, VA to visit and have lunch with Dr. & Mrs. Glenn Plott (aka: Glenn & Sheila). Glenn is the minister that married us back in February 1985 and he is John's spiritual mentor. We yakked and ate and had the best time with them. Even tho we were there a couple of hours, the time flew & it went by so quickly.

We then found our way to Jamestown to catch the ferry and ride across to Surry, VA. The ferry ride was fun and made John recall trips on the Staton Island Ferry, NY. We left the ferry smiling and with a little seagull "poop" on the windshield.

We checked in at the Surry Carriage House Restaurant & Inn and tried to nap a little, but after about an hour, we hopped in the van to check out the surroundings. Surry is very quaint....and quiet. We did find a small church if John should ever want a "smaller congregation" in the future! (see photo) Ha!

As the sun went down we enjoyed a quiet old fashioned meal with real homemade yeast rolls. We talked about heading back to the small room. John, who had been up since 4am was ready to "hit the hay" and I would sit and watch TV. After we went over that scenerio in our minds, we both looked at each other and thot "why are we going to this tiny room, when we could be enjoying our own home with a fire & king size bed! So, we headed home and were very excited to get there.

It was a very special day.....very special!

Yep, it's that time of year again, so I HAD to put up my favorite photo! It brings back such cherished memories of the Gulf Coast.

Our anniversary excursion was postponed until tomorrow. We awoke to a blizzard this morning. VCU and all the schools in the area shutting down. Roads icy. Of course, now it's sunny, but at the time it was a good decision to move our travel until tomorrow.

Aunt Janet called from Martinsville to tell of a horrible happening. She and Uncle Doug were sitting downstairs....generator hooked up to the house and in the back of the pickup in the back yard. A neighbor called and told them to get out of the house. The generator had caught on fire...totally burned up the truck. It blew the windows out of the kitchen and bathroom and the vinyl siding trim melted. Thank God the two of them are OK!

I am trying to discipline myself to type up these houses I looked at yesterday, but I'm not having much success. I would rather try to find old GHS 1970 classmates on Facebook!

It's Warm & Toasty In Here...

I thought these photos were so cute of John and Will. Our dogger was just waiting for a morsel to fall!

I finally started back to the YMCA with Alicia today. We went this afternoon. As we walked to the pool, we passed by the hot tub. A woman was sitting in it fully clothed, washing her socks. I really don't know what to say about that.....

Sally called today and I was SO excited to talk with her about her trip to Haiti even tho our time on the phone was limited. I really want to jot down all that she told me so that I can share it....both here and on my Facebook page....I just don't want to steal her thunder.....I hope to have lunch with her sometime next week.

I talked with Glenn & Sheila Plott today and we are so excited to be stopping by their home on Wednesday to share lunch and conversation. It's been awhile since I have seen them....and quite awhile since John has seen them! Glenn is the minister that married us 25 years ago.

I'm trying to finalize the list of staff & jr. staffers for this summer...hard choices...

And More Snow!

I just had to load in some photos of our magical winter wonderland after this second snow! It is so incredibly beautiful! Of course, no church today. Last nite Ben's car's battery died in the Walmart parking lot, so I "slid" over there to help him out. We had just finished playing BLOKUS and watching Paranormal State over at the Scudders. Fun time topped with warm, freshly baked chocolate chip cookies. Thanks Ellen Rose!

Wonder if there will be school tomorrow. Oh, and Sally gets home from Haiti today!

Let It Snow!!!!!

The flakes have just begun falling and another round of snow is on the way! Love it!

I just ordered tickets for the VCU RAMS basketball game for FEB 20th....Jon and family are coming down for it. Such fun! Jeffrey's first show at DONKS is that nite & he is bringing a special girl, so.....I don't know if we can pull it off, but maybe we can hit all of the activities.

John and I are planning a special time next week for our 25th wedding anniversary...more details to come. I better get to Staples today and get some blank invites and get them out for Allie's confirmation service at Our Lady Of Lourdes on the 14th! Yep, it's on Valentine's Day!

Sally will be home from Haiti on Sunday & I can't wait to talk with her.

The photos above are from behind Colonial Heights Middle School on the hill. It was completely iced over, so sledding was fast and fun!

I better get some clothes on and head out for supplies and such. I know it's going to be a madhouse. Hopefully the "ya-yas" will be over later for board games. Mmmmm....fire in the woodstove, something in the oven and time with friends. I feel like we are on a permanent vacation this week!