A Few More Pics

Wayne at Tabernacle in my magic Christmas hat! Notice the feet kicking!
Yes, Al got a Snuggie for Christmas...but not just any Snuggie...A HARRY POTTER SNUGGIE!!!!

Jeffery with the fam playing a rousing game of BLOKUS!!

A Really Good Christmastime

We've had a very full few days and it's been wonderful! Allie & I had a goal to really fill our time with many Christmas happenings and we've done it!

Our next event was a neighborhood gathering across the street at Bookie & Chuckie Barksdale's. There were many neighbors there we hadn't seen in quite some time. Lots of good food and drink and memories. All the Deer Run "kids" gathered well into the early morn playing pool & reminiscing.

Next was some final shopping. Then Christmas eve was a small intimate service at our little Tabernacle Church. Of course, John made it meaningful and precious. Allie sang and that was so special. And of course, the ladies had lots of goodies in the fellowship hall afterwards. We love our Tabernacle people!

Allie & I traveled Christmas eve to Richmond to Our Lady of Lourdes for Christmas eve mass. It was very beautiful and God centered....a wonderful way to end the evening.

Christmas day is always quiet around our house. We did venture over to the Scudders to exchange gifts and laughs. We hooked up JR's new "ears" to the bedroom TV and it was a big success in helping him hear the shows. He also got some books, new pants,videos and his favorite SUSAN BOYLE CD. He dances to it in the living room! Allie got some new Dior perfume, a Harry Potter snuggie, videos, boots, books and many small delights. My favorite gift....a PEZ collection from the Wizard of Oz! Happy birthday Mom....

We all napped on and off all day. Then I hit the kitchen and prepped the turkey and cassaroles for the next day. Jeff, Jon, Elaine, Jenn & Lizzy got here about 1:30pm Saturday, the next day, just in time for a big sit down meal! We had a grand time playing games and laughing the afternoon away.

It's Sunday now....in a little bit Al & I will head to Newport News to spend lunchtime with Paige & Grover...I love seeing so much family during the holidays!

Few More Photos

The first is Alicia playing handbells at Immanuel...the second is of our newest little workcamper, Grayson...and the third is of the swimming pool at our house.

M E R R Y C H R I S T M A S ! ! ! !

Baking, Busch, & lots of Music!

The photos above are of our little Will in a sweater because it's 19 degrees outside and the second is of Allie & Ellen Rose at the penguin exhibit at Busch Garden's CHRISTMAS TOWN.

We are certainly celebrating Christmas in many different forms this season. Most of our evenings are quiet by the fire....baking cookies, wrapping presents and watching lots of Paranormal State. Al got to spend two hours with Ethel the other day which is ALWAYS a boost for her! We love Ethel!

I went shopping early to beat the crowds...only a couple more presents to get and I am finished. I also made a batch of the little workcamp angels out of paperclips....hard to explain....will take a photo & upload it. They are so cute.

Al & I headed to the VCU Bookstore ....Richmond was a mess....nothing had been scraped except Broad Street and they got a lot more snow than us. We grabbed a few things for the nieces & uncles & left.

Sunday evening was a fun time at Immuel's cantata. Our mission was to see Alicia playing handbells. They had a big choir and a full orchestra. All the music was loud and full on, like a Gaither concert, but it was really fun!

I had a chance to visit the Balmers. Erica & Jason are home with little Grayson. She had him dressed in his little WORKCAMP onesie...so cute! Iwill upload photos so you can see soon.

Then, our second type of Christmas experience was the "commercial" one. We headed with the Scudders to Busch Garden's Christmas Town. The park was adorned with lights & trees....so beautiful. We saw a show in the Abby Theatre with great music....had fun celebrating & drinking hot chocolate in the Festhaus....and saw a Muppet Christmas show in the Globe Theatre. It was cold and we were all bundled up. My favorite was riding the carosel.

We still have a big crust of icy snow covering the ground at home. Today we'll finish shopping, wrapping...and then we head across the street to Chuckie & Bookie's for a little neighborhood gathering. It will be nice with old friends and the neighborhood kids all together too.

Here's A Funny Photo!

So back in November I sneeked into the bathroom at St Mary's Hospital and changed into the bunny suit. I visited my friend Sally D. when she had her knee replaced. I thot I had lost the photo somewhere on the computer, but here it is!
We have homemade potato soup in the crock pot to share with the Scudders and are awaiting the big snowstorm! I found a blow up tube in the garage and the four wheeler is ready to go! I hope we have enough snow to have some fun rides and we'll ignite the firepit for some marshmellows! Now if only the weather will cooperate!

Where Has The Time Gone!!!

I have no idea where the time has gone. I don't think I have ever been so unprepared for Christmas. I STILL have shopping to do! We really want to get together with Paige sometime. We won't be having our annual Christmas gathering at her house because they have their hands full helping out Mr. Lilley now that Mrs. Lilley has passed on. Then they are heading to Tennessee right after Christmas.

We ended up not going to DONK'S. The drive that night was going to be a killer...so we helped out a little with Alicia's children's Christmas program Thus the photos....it was really quite neat. She had folks sign in with the census and then pay their tax in Bethlehem and then visit different venders.....then they ate and heard the Christmas story.

Al had a beautiful candlelit prayer service at Our Lady of Lourdes last nite. She has her first PRS meeting on the 28th.

I take the supervisor test for the census on the 28th in Wakefield, altho I am not sure that I could in reality do it and also handle all the WORKCAMP planning. We'll see.

John is busy planning the Christmas Eve service. We are supposed to get SNOW tonight into Saturday....and then again on Christmas Eve! Our congregation is older, so if that happens, there'll be no services for either. I loved it at Walnut Hill when Glenn always said that the church would hold services NO MATTER WHAT!!!! Some of those services were the BEST!

I have made the biggest find EVER in my genealogy in about 15 years. I traveled to the VA STATE LIBRARY in Richmond but was only able to be there a couple hours. Then, I found photos on Ancestry that I had never seen. The owner returned my call from OHIO and is sending me copies. One is of my g grandfather that I have never seen. I can't wait for the mailman to come!

Edyth's last day at her church is DEC 24th and then she is on leave for 2 months with pay. She is so excited....I hope we get to spend a little time with her and Cass. They would love to go to Disneyworld, but the $$$$.

Al & I gotta quit cooking chocolate chip cookies in the evenings! Oh, Bah Humbug!

HO, HO, HO!!!

Here's Al & Ben at the Prince George Parade last Saturday. Alicia , Kent & a few friends were all there.
This week really has gone by quickly. Al moved thru her finals with flying colors! Looks like May is going to be the graduating date!
The phone has started ringing....youth groups making sure of registration dates....residents wanting their homes to be assessed.
Alicia & I took the US Census exam....we both hope to work the 2010Census. After all the genealogy research, I really wanted to be part of one census!
I found a tidbit on my most distant relative the other nite. It was the first clue I have found in more than 15 years! It was a note at the Richmond Virginia State Library. A small hand written note by someone appointed in Amherst to write for ROBERT ANDERSON EAGLES....asking the status on his claim with the US Disability and Artificial Limbs commission. Apparently his application had been lost and he never received any compensation for his serious injuries in the Civil War. I could go on and on!!!!! It was dates Oct 1874. I plan to go up and get a copy of it ASAP!
There is an exhibit in old towne Petersburg tonight. Edgar Allan Poe & his wife honeymooned in a building down on W. Bank Street. An artist has done a painting and is signing prints there tonight ....would love to get one for Al for Christmas....will see.
She and another Protestant friend are going to Shabat (nite one of Hannakah) tonight at temple in Richmond just to say they have been to one! O these crazy Religious Majors.
The house is all Christmased out.....I am organizing the attic as I take things down for Christmas. The attic and the meemaw room are going to look really good after this holiday.
Praying for my dear friend Darlene in Ohio. Her sister was just diagnosed stage 3 cancer.....it's going to be a challenge for all of them....Darlene is one of my "life friends".....I love her & Randy dearly.....
Jennfer's basketball game was rescheduled so it looks like we will head to NC on Tuesday.
Well, gotta wish "Buzzy" Brian Romaine, John's brother a happy birthday today!
AND WE ARE HEADING FOR DONK'S TOMORROW NITE!!!! Ye Hawwwwwwwwwww!

Christmas Tree & A Parade

Today was a terrific day. First of all, the sun was out! JR & I headed to Tabernacle Church....his sermon was on ANTICIPATION. So good! Then it was the first Sunday of the month, so we all ate together in the fellowship hall. We all eat together every first Sunday. It's so like family.

After lunch I headed home, picked up Al and we took off for Prince George Courthouse for the BIG PRINCE GEORGE CHRISTMAS PARADE. There were lots of old cars, cub scouts, firetrucks....and Santa was pulled by a John Deere tractor.

Then back to the house where Allie & I decorated the Christmas tree, watched a little Paranormal State, the finale to THE AMAZING RACE & then Al studied for her Taoism exam tomorrow. Quite a combination of activities.

I had bought our Christmas tree from the old Petersburg Lions group at UKROPS. Epps Rainey was there! He was a handyman for us out in Dinwiddie back in about 1990. He is 85 now and on his 4th pacemaker. We sat in the trailer in the parking lot and chatted for quite awhile before he & his friend loaded up my white pine into the back of the van.

O yes.....Harry Potter comes out on DVD on Tuesday......

Long Time, No Blog!

First of all , imagine me thirty pounds lighter....Such fun! Jeffrey & I onstage at workcamp in 2008. I don't think we'll do the LIGHT & FLUFFY skit again! Jeff had way too much fun! Well....I had a bit of fun too!

Jeff came up for Thanksgiving. JR made a quick trip to Newport News to see family. The Scudders came over later in the evening for a short visit.

Allie & I have made a couple of trips to the mall to have lunch with Alicia & to talk to Santa. The two of us are considering working as census takers in the spring. It really pays well, but the big thing is the genealogy. Our family history hunting has made both of us anxious to be part of the 2010 Census.

Last nite was quite a storm. We got three inches of rain. I went to pick up Ellen from school and several of the roads were covered with water....I watched the vehicle before me to make sure that they could be forded.

I should go get the Christmas tree....not much dry time before it is going to rain again. We are planning to go to the Prince George Christmas Parade this Saturday, but it may not happen because of cold rain....we'll see.

I have done a smithering of Christmas shopping.....it's so hard to walk by the sales. Had to fork out a big chunk of money for property tax today, so shopping is postponed a bit.

Next week is Al's exams and then she is finished for the semester, with only one semester to go! So proud of her. She was really hit hard this week with some news from a "friend". I am so proud of her taking the high road. She is my example....I have to take my lead from her even tho I want to hurt some folk.

I will begin looking at houses this month for camp. I usually try to get about 5 under my belt before January. This year is going to be a fantastic summer! I am so thankful for each year that we celebrate with other workcampers.

Next Friday we hope to go see Jennfer's basketball game in NC....and then Donk's Christmas show on Dec 12.

Al has some incredibly exciting "paranormal" activity that will happen soon....I don't want to steal her thunder, so I will wait to write more.

It's all good....Now I just have to repair some "popcorn" ceiling .....ugh!

Gobble! Gobble! Gobble!

The turkey is in the oven. The rolls are rising. JR has traveled to Newport News to visit and will be back soon. Allie is still asleep. Will is waiting for a morsel to fall from the kitchen counters. Jeffrey is on his way here.
All is good. I am very thankful......

Ahhh! Back to Normal!

Back to normal! JR has gone out to the golf course a couple of times...taking it easy, but he is really doing fine! He's bringing home a Butterball from the course today...gift from the course. Allie is still back and forth to Richmond....love having her here! We curled up last nite & watched old shows of Paranormal State.
Alicia is "Santa's Helper" at the mall & photographs the kids with Santa. We went to visit her. She started screaming, " I KNOW HIM! I KNOW SANTA!!!" Thanks, buddy the elf!
I'm so looking forward to Thanksgiving....it's my favorite holiday. Jeffrey is coming up to eat with us. I miss him. We are together 24/7 in the summer, and then our visits are few & far between during the year. We all hope to go up to Aunt Janet's sometime during the holidays. Also still trying to set a date for Jennifer's basketball game!
Donk's Christmas show is first Saturday in December...same day as the parades!

What In The World Is Going On!

Jon David in North Carolna after his tree escapade
&
JR's back after his fall....u can see a little of the bruising

OK, I don't know what in the world is going on, but the planets aren't aligned or something! John is getting better each day. The weekend was terribly hard and his coughing excruciating. He saw our family doc yesterday and got some help with the pain and coughing. He is resting much better and has his eyes set on going to the golf course next Monday.

Jon David wrecked his car the first part of last week. A freaky thing where a trash bag blew behind him and touched him on the neck, startling him and causing him to hit the accelerator and go into the car in front of him. Then he called Saturday nite to say he fell 12 feet out of a tree trying to put his deer stand in a safer spot. He has stitches under and over his eye where his glasses cut him.

Talked with Edyth. Alisha had someone pull out in front of her the first part of the week. She's OK. Her boyfriend at the end of the week, hit a racoon and, I don't know what happened, but it literally ravaged his car!

What is going to happen next....????? Who knows!!!

Gravity Works!

(John's best buddy, Will, is hanging close by him on the bed)

OK, I shouldn't have called the previous blog "bumps"!
John fell yesterday and broke three ribs. He was trying to climb up something....put a 5 gallon paint can out to stand on....reached up for a support post and the can slid out from under him. He spun around and slammed into the 4x4 post and then to the ground.
The drive to the hospital was precarious because of the gusts of wind and rain from the remnants of IDA.
After almost 7 hours in the ER at SRMC, the doc wanted to keep him all nite to watch him, monitor his pain meds and also to make sure he was coughing and deep breathing so he won't get pneumonia.
We vowed to do the same at home. He's been a good patient. He's eating, sleeping & resting. The pain is really excruciating when he trys to cough tho....and he needs to cough.
I'll keep everyone updated......we are going to hunker down this weekend.....

Bumps & Thumps

The photo is of John's sister Lori and his step-mom, Grandma Harriet Romaine. Grandma is in the hospital while they remedy her breathing....she is 91 years old and kicking it!
John was out in the weather today and fell .....keeping a watch on him, but he might have injured his back ribs....I think he's OK....really pulled some muscles!
Allie is feeling MUCH better...her antibiotics kicked in and she is off and running. She's with friends in Richmond now and going to a special event at Our Lady Of Lourdes tonight for her small group of converts.
The remnants of Hurricane Ida are blowing around outside. I see that an old pine tree has fallen. Some folks have lost electricity. We are in good shape tho....wood stove & gas grill....kerosine lamps....bring it on!

We're Family!

The photo is of Ruth Eagle and her daughter Jordan with me. We met at the Jones Memorial Library archives in Lynchburg, VA yesterday to do family research. Ruth has been digging into the Eagle name since 1986 when we communicated by written letters before the computer! We had a great time "digging" but came up with little. That's the nature of genealogy tho.
Allie has been really ill......a couple of trips to the ER at St Mary's in Richmond. Even had to have an IV with antibiotics in it....and she's still recouping. So looking forward to her feeling better. She has been feeling so good physically lately.
Jon David was in an auto accident....he's OK tho. Edyth was in an accident....someone ran a red light and plowed into her. She's good....her car is a goner.
Grandma Harriett isn't well. John is staying in touch with her and with Lori. She's having breathing problems but doesn't want to go to the hospital.
The edges of Hurrican Ida is hitting us. Lots of rain and wind, but more annoying than anything. Leaves are EVERYWHERE!
Ok....so this post doesn't sound very positive. It sounds a lots worse than it is. It's just been a bit of a challenging week.

Love These Photos!

I love these photos. The first is JR studying for a sermon and Will is attached to his side as usual! The second is a photo of Allie as Audrey Hepburn on Halloween. Love um!

Edyth P was involved in a serious auto accident yesterday. A girl ran a red light and plowed into the drivers side of Edyth's car spinning her around a couple of times. Thank God, she was hit in the back door and not in the driver door. Everyone is OK.....her car, not so good!

The pool is officially covered....that's all I want to say about that.

Went to see "PARANORMAL ACTIVITY" yesterday and the whole way thru it I was thinking that someone was making a lot of money off of us dummies! The two main characters ended up on Jay Leno last night and gave it away that Spielburg wrote the ending of the movie that was supposed to be real life. $$$$ thru my fingers!

This week is speeding by....

Lovin' The Fall

The Wrap-Up meeting was terrific. It was so good to see good friends! We generated lots of really great ideas for 2010 also. Which reminds me.....the residents will probably start calling today since it's NOVEMBER!!!
I visited Sally D at St Mary's after she had one knee replaced. Or should I say, the Get Well Bunny visited her! Yep, I put on the rabbit suit and visited her. The nurse took a photo, and AGHHHHHHHHh I accidently deleted it when I was trying to transfer it to the computer!
Have been going to the YMCA on and off....got to get into the rhythm of it!
We set a couple of new dates. I am going NOV 10th to Lynchburg to do some genealogy with a really distant cousin that I have never met....Ruthie Eagle.
Then, we are going down to NC to see Jennifer play in a school basketball game on Friday, Nov 13th.
Al dressed as Audrey Hepburn for Halloween.
I went with Allie to Our Lady of Lourdes service yesterday. They had a service of Intention for the folks that are going to convert. It was a really precious service and felt intimate, even tho there were about 250 people...a full house.
Gotta get the pool covered.....the leaves are pouring down!
Tomorrow VOTE, VOTE, VOTE!!!!

What A Difference A Day Makes!

The photos are of Allie & her new haircut and the leaves changing in the driveway. Can't believe we had the woodstove going last week and today we had to turn on the air conditioning! It's so muggy! It's beginning to look beautiful around here tho with fall coming into view!

Allie is at the Celtic Festival & Games up in Doswell with some friends. I am readying the house for our group of workcamp staff tomorrow. It's our big Wrap-Up meeting and it is always so good to see everyone! There will be about 25 folks here. It's hard to push thru a meeting because we all want to chat and catch up with one another!

We will finally cover the pool this week. I think this is the latest we have ever left it open. I HATE to cover it but the leaves are beginning to fall now!

The new brochures for WORKCAMP 2010 have been mailed to key churches. There have already been several new inquiries. And the residents will begin calling November 1st. AND WE'RE OFF & RUNNING!

I miss Edyth terribly after traveling down to see them. I just can't get over THE SOUND OF MUSIC! And yes, we are still looking at applying for the AMAZING RACE! My weight has hit a plateau, but I have been fudging on my dieting a little....so, I must get back to being a little more strict!

I keep finding more friends from my high school class on Facebook. Our 40th reunion is next May 10th and I am SO looking forward to that!

We've settled on a music theme for camp next summer. It is by a group called NEEDTOBREATHE and the song is called "Lay It Down".......our theme will be a "water" theme and the tshirt will say, "Let's wade in the river!!"

Looks like I might make a trip soon to Lynchburg to see a very distant cousin (never met) who also is doing genealogy on the EAGLE family.

I continue to be amazed at my daughter. She is certainly a strong , beautiful, and determined woman!

We're Back in VA

We're back in VA. We left on Wednesday for Drexel, North Carolina to spend a few days with Edyth & family. Boy were they a busy bunch. Edyth is directing the play THE SOUND OF MUSIC at the local community theater and Mike is directing another play for the Halloween season....NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD.

Thursday nite, we headed for the outdoor amphitheater for a rehearsal of Mike's play. It was cold and misty and a perfect night for zombie activity! Edyth had taught the cast of about 25 the Michael Jackson THRILLER dance to perform at the end of the play. It was terrific! We saw Joseph & Leah.....Joseph is in the performance.

Friday we had a houseful of people. Added into the mix was Edyth's nephew, wife and little two year old Baxley. I got to braid Cass's hair for her part in THE SOUND OF MUSIC and Allie did her makeup. It was opening night and it was incredible for community theater! Afterwards a group of some of the cast came by the house for a little food & drink.

All of the photos are in an album labeled TRIP TO EDYTH'S on my facebook page.

The trip is about 5 hrs driving time. Everytime I do the trip, I am reminded that Edyth does this drive twice during the month of JULY for camps.

Al has one more midterm on Monday. She is doing amazingly! JR preaches at Tabernacle tomorrow. I was not good about eating the right stuff while in NC, so I really have to get back in line!

Tough Week....Great Timing

Big ups and downs this week. Al has finished all her midterms and with flying colors. So thankful she has done this in the middle of her tough time. She & Drew have called it quits. We are so proud of her standing her ground and being level headed enough to look into the future.
With that being said, it is perfect timing for us to head to NC. We had been planning a trip this weekend to Edyth's. (That's Cass in the photo, altho she looks quite older now!) Mike is directing a Halloween play "Nite of the Living Dead" - musical) and Edyth is the director for "THE SOUND OF MUSIC" so we'll be hanging with the Pruitt's and seeing their plays! So excited to see all of the NC workcamp gang!
John is feeling MUCH better since they changed his BP meds. World of difference!
Let's just say, I am very thankful!

It's Been Awhile

I ran across this card and it brought back a flood of memories from our time in Biloxi helping repair after Hurricane Katrina. I guess I will work my way backwards in info.
Yesterday was Morgan Allen's wedding day. It was such a sweet ceremony! It was good to see all the Gregory Memorial friends and especially to see Beverly Bullock!
The info brochures for next summer are copied and the applications ready to be stapled to the covenants! Yep, I do a lot of this busy work during my down time during the fall. Al and I continue to enjoy "knitting" with our looms! All of you family members expect homemade Christmas gifts!
The pool is still open....I hate to cover it, but it is going to be a must do in the next couple of weeks. I enjoy sitting down there and listening to the owls at nite.
Al is finishing up her midterms and we are heading to NC next weekend to spend it with Edyth and family. She is directing the musical "THE SOUND OF MUSIC" so we'll be attending the play also. I can't wait to see all of them!
Alicia & I are supposed to be back to the schedule at the YMCA, but she has had a bout of flue/brochitis....in fact, all of the Scudders have been ill.
Bob Scudder had a horrible happening about 10 days ago. He is retired now and works the nite shift at the local Holiday Inn front desk. He was robbed at gunpoint....a terrible happening. Believe it or not though, they caught the culprits. They had video tape and enhanced the license plate on the car has it was driving away.
I STILL haven't finished painting the kitchen, but have taken 3 bags out of the "mee-maw room" to Goodwill. Trying to get it together before the holidays.
Saw the Michael Moore movie, "CAPITALISM: A LOVE STORY".....wow! Went with friend, Sally Driscoll. Terrific movie, but I am not very good at economics. Need to see it again to take it all in!
Ordered an old video camera off Ebay so that we can transfer all the little 8 mm tapes of the family before they corrode. Yep, another project!
I think I have decided on the theme and song for WORKCAMP 2010...not ready to commit to it yet tho. Maybe in a couple of more days. I keep listening to it in the car......
HOOKED ON THE AMAZING RACE!!!!

This photo is of Paige, Caroline & Ellie at Christmas 2007. Of course the girls are a lot bigger now & living in Tennessee, but I wanted to put up a photo of Paige since I saw her this past week. Allie & I met her in Wmburg at the Blue Talon for lunch. That seems to be a bday tradition for us. It was so good.
Allie & I went in a couple of outlet stores and found a couple of Christmas bargains and then headed home.
Now the push begins for WORKCAMP 2010. I plan to go to Rainbow Books this week to listen to music for possible theme songs for next summer. Need to submit paperwork for using the Colonial Heights Middle School next year also. We have a big WRAP-UP meeting at our house the last Sunday in October. It is a working meeting, but it is also like a little mini reunion of all the staff and key people.
I went to Sacred Heart to mass with Allie on Saturday nite. Good music....good service. They are having their fall festival....even had helicopter rides!
The pool is looking really good. The mums that Alicia gave me for my bday look terrific at the end of the diving board....yellow & bright. I hate to cover the pool!
Well....it's Monday....back to work!

Baby, Baby, Baby!

Yes, he is only 5 days old! Quite a little bruiser. Liam Patrick Spears is Sally Driscoll's new grandson and the son of Matt Spears & Lindsay Driscoll-Spears. Allie and I skipped up to Midlothian and had lunch with Sally at a little cafe and then went over to visit Liam & his mom and dad. There are more photos on my facebook page.

As the weather cools, we are deciding when to close down the pool....my vote, is in October. I love looking at it and going down there in the evenings with the firepit.

Go Royals!

We hadn't been to a PG football game since Al was there. Ellen was in the marching band so we went to keep Alicia company. Miracle of miracles, we won the game against Thomas Jefferson High School of Richmond! I remember Allie's senior year, the team never won a game. It was fun, but nostalgic. We knew none of the parents and very few in the crowd. Of course, Ms Joy was there with her confetti and Marie Hawks in the ticket booth!

That's Life!

I spent most of yesterday at Johnston-Willis Medical Center with my friend Sally Driscoll. Her daughter & son-in-law, Lindsay & Matt were there to have their first child. It turned into a LONG ordeal.....I got a text from Sally this morning. Lindsay had a C-section at 4:45am....little William Patrick Spears weighed in at 9lbs 3oz.

John says he's a LINEBACKER!

We also got word that John's 91 year old step mom, Grandma Harriet, has breast cancer.

Fort Story & Friends

John's brother, Buzzy, is working in Richmond for a couple of weeks for his company, so he came down and visited on Wednesday evening. We built a fire in the pit and sat by the pool. It was so good to see him. He is coming back this coming Wednesday for a cookout.

I went with Allie to acupuncture on Thursday.....it was difficult.

We packed up early Saturday morning and headed to Fort Story with Alicia and Ellen for a Birthday time away. We stayed at the inn on the base, and the beach was basically ours. We sat in the sand til after 10pm....there were even fireworks across the bay.

The next morn we checked out the lighthouses and headed down to Virginia Beach for a little bit.

Great girls weekend! It was good to laugh. For more photos look at my facebook page.

Log Cabin , Knitting & Pansies

It's raining....rained yesterday. I hope it finishes before this weekend. I booked a log cabin at Fort Story for a girls nite this weekend for my birthday. I truly can't remember the last time I was at the beach. A quiet beach and friends....yep, that's the best!

During the holiday weekend Allie & I planted pansies. Allie started loom knitting and is going to town on it. She pulled me into it too. We got the idea from Ellen Rose .

Alicia's surgery went well. She's been a little tired, but up and going!

We started watching the HBO series "Six Feet Under". Think it's going to be good. JR & I finished all the SOPRANOS last year.

I heard that Walnut Hill Baptist Church is closing it's doors in six months.....that makes me very sad.

Waiting for Lindsay & Matt to have their baby.

I am really loving this down time before the rush of workcamp begins again. I've just about finished tallying the finances...now to go thru the paper files and get ready to clean them out and get ready for 2010. People are already calling and asking about the dates.

JR continues to preach every Sunday. We had Tabernacle this past weekend. Love that little church. We had lunch together afterwards. I was tickled because Lois noticed my weight loss.

Al & I did a little Labor Day shopping yesterday. Can't remember the last time we went shopping together.

Jerry finished installing new lattice around the bottom of the deck and it looks so much better. Hurrican Isabel took it down, so u can see how long we have left it in shambles! I installed new solar lites going down the sidewalk to the pool too.

Lots of birthdays this month. Next week is Kemps & then Sheila's.

I am like a squirrel running around here. I know it's because of my change in eating habits and weight loss. Who knew that I was diabetic! I feel so much better (didn't know I was feeling that bad!) and have so much energy! I am loving it!

Rookie Driver Of The Year & JR's BDAY!

FIRST OF ALL....HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY DEAR JOHN!!!!!!! He received lots of phone calls and cards...he giggles like his sister Gracie on the phone!

I made a surprise trip to Newport News this past Wednesday. As you can see from the photo of the crowd, it was for a big deal! Jeffrey was awarded Rookie Of The Year - best school bus driver for the City of Newport News employed by them for under five years. They kept me hidden in the back of the auditorium until he went on stage to accept his award. He was shocked....both that he got the award and that I had surprised him.

When he competed in Roanoke at the state level, his administrators talked with cousin Susan and told him he was receiving the award. So........I went down & represented the family.

He is such a special brother. He drives the bus with special needs children and this year, he is called to a big challenge. In the afternoons he drives the middle schoolers and high schooler to class. In the morning tho, he will be driving 5 special needs pre-schoolers to and from their school. They are called "PEEPS". He has to carry each of them onto the bus.....none of them are over 4 years old. He was scheduled to meet their parents today. I am so proud of my brother and the kind of person he is!

Weekend is Over

Here's a photo of Morgan Allen at her bridal luncheon this past Saturday. I kept busy by making the "bow bouquet" for her as she opened her gifts. Debra, Ruby and Jessica planned the event.
I am an ox. I have trimmed all the hedge going down to the pool and now am attacking the sidewalk. It looks terrific and is a great workout too.
I went to the workcamp "boathouse" for the first time yesterday. One of the residents had a shovel that had gotten mixed up in our "stuff" in the boathouse. I can't believe how our folks got all those walls and materials stacked in that tight space! It's amazing to see!
JR's birhday is this coming Friday. Al and I have some special books for him. I am looking at maybe going to Fort Story overnight for a girls nite the next weekend for my bday. We'll see.
The acorns continue to fall and the hummingbirds continue to stay.

Step By Step

(Brother John at Tabernacle Methodist Church - we love our little church!)

John is getting a lot of preaching and teaching in lately. Of course, we are at our little church in Carson on the first & third Sundays. There is a church in Hopewell that is going thru a lot of changes, and JR has been speaking there on the other Sundays. Basically, he's speaking EVERY Sunday.

Allie began her Catholic conversion classes Wednesday nite at Our Lady Of Lourdes. She is so happy and loves the folks there. She loves her classes and professors this semester also. Never thot she would end up a Religious Studies major! She & her dad are two peas in a pod!

I am loving working in the yard and painting. I have the kitchen about 1/4 painted, but it involves cleaning as I go....the CRUD behind the refrigerator.....AGHHHHHHHHHH!!

The acorns have begun falling. I hear them bouncing off the deck all day. Little squirrels are gathering their stash for the winter.

Tomorrow at 11am is a briday luncheon for Morgan Allen at Gregory Presbyterian. Going out later to get a gift. Each person attending is bringing a recipe card with their favorite on it. Most of u know that is a challenge for me!

Can't find my key to the boathouse!!!!!!!

Ups & Downs

So our little Will is 12 years old. He's still spry and playful and we love him to death!
I am beginning the challenge of painting the kitchen today. One room at a time is my goal. It really is fun to focus on "our nest".
The workcamp insurance auditor came yesterday. Glad he did...answered some questions also for next year.
My longtime neighbor, Debbie Daniel and I headed to Donk's this past Saturday. It was a terrific show! Getting back at midnite tho was a lot for us old ladies!
The "pool guy" was here again yesterday....one of the gears broke on the pump and he will be back today to fix.
I ordered John some books from amazon for his birthday coming up on Sept 4th. He is really fascinated in meshing quantum physics and theology.....it makes me yawn and nod. I know he'll love the books.
Hope to weedwhack some today also! LOVE IT! I love this lull, but am also excited to begin WORKCAMP 2010!

Oh Baby!

(Lindsay & Matt heading in to their baby shower at the clubhouse in Walden Lake, Midlothian)
(Lois & John admire newest little baby in the church, Olivia)

Babies are everywhere! This past Sunday, Amanda Pecht brought her new little OLIVIA to church for us to ooh and ahh over. Amanda is so tiny....Olivia is SO LONG!!!

Then the same afternoon, I met Drew & Allie in Midlothian for Lindsay & Matt's baby shower. The received oodles of great gifts....and it was so much fun to see many of our workcamp buddies! Lindsay originally was due on my bday, but now the docs are saying Sept 4th.

The day before, Allie & Drew returned from their week with the MURPHY clan in Nags Head. The Scudders had come over to swim and sit by the fire by the pool and Ben brought his new girlfriend, Jennifer. When Al found out they were down, she and Drew made a beeline down so they could meet Jennifer. It was terrific having everybody here. I taught Ellen Rose the rest of the Lord's Prayer in sign language so she could lead the children from Camp Kehukee in a performance for their worship service .

I finished painting the middle room. There is fresh carpet in the room. Now today I want to finish repairing the popcorn ceiling. Cross your fingers!

Took Alicia to a doctors appointment in Richmond. There was a hitch, so she needs to have some outpatient surgery later this month. All is well tho.

Al has connected with Our Lady of Lourdes and our "workcamp buddies" from the congregation. She begins confirmation classes on Sunday! Yay! They will be married there. Now I am looking up venues for a reception near the church. Al and I are having fun browsing the internet on wedding plans. We hope to have a small engagement party near the end of October.

Al begins classes at VCU today..

I'm having fun connecting with old high school friends on Facebook. Our 40th reunion in Gloucester is next year!

John is even on facebook now. He is hoping to connect with old buddies also.

Had breakfast at THE YANKEE yesterday with Al & Drew and then on to errands.

Just A Tidbit

(Allie & Drew were given these buttons at Disney)

Painted half of the center room in the house.....really looks good, but these high ceilings are gonna be a blister! New carpet remnant in that room also....woo hoo!