Just Some Tidbits!

- We now have HEAT!!! Yep, the pump finally came in and we are living like normal people.....the house is
warm and we have shed layers of clothes!
- It's back to the YMCA for Alicia and I .....gonna do it! Gotta get in better shape for this summer!
- JR just had a good report on his physical at the doc...he's working on a really good sermon for Sunday!
- No more science classes for AL! She passed the PHYSICS exam and is DONE with science!
- My search for residents is on for the summer.....I am meeting some interesting people for the teens to be
spending time with....I love this part of getting ready!
- Looking up flights, etc....in August me, Jeff, Al and Drew are planning to cross the pond and spend some
time in London....think Al and Drew will take a little side trip to Ireland....and of course, we'll all go to Paris...
ANYONE HAVE ANY FLIGHT MILES THEY WANT TO DONATE??
- I'm still driving a little rental KIA.....the van should be ready by Monday...I miss my big TANK!
WORKCAMP:
I am loving this FACEBOOK thing....have over 850 some workcampers from the past 21 years all linking together. It is SO neat! I'm hearing from "kids" from years ago that now have families of their own.
Getting ready to order the rubber ID bracelets for this summer....they'll be orange this time!

Good Family

I awoke this morning ready to chomp out a lot today.....only to find that it was MLK day and my major points of encounter were closed! I did visit a new resident and assess her house for this summer and then headed to UKROP'S to get some eats for us and for Al's apartment. Allie and I spent a little time at her apartment, but I was so task oriented that I literally was making her crazy! She was trying to regroup after expending a lot of energy this weekend and needed to just veg out.....She is pretty amazing at juggling this endometriosis and all of the side effects of the meds she has to take! I am so proud of her....especially the person she has grown to be. She is so beautiful and doesn't have a clue she is!

This past weekend....it was a hoot! We went to Horsepasture (Martinsville) VA to see relatives that we hadn't seen in couple of years.....some we hadn't seen in 10 years!! It was kind of a Morton get together without a funeral....that's usually when we get to see each other! There was lots of good food and chatter....it was freezing outside, so we ALL HUNG OUT IN THE BASEMENT and swapped stories.

Tomorrow I will spend the day recording the inauguration.....Ben Scudder will be marching in the parade playing the bagpipes with VMI!

It's supposed to snow/sleet tonight!

Guess who is joining us at WORKCAMP 2009 both weeks this summer....RIDGEWAY ADDISON!!!!

What A WEEK!!!!

( Jeff, Lynda, Deanna & Uncle Jimmie in the receiving line at Cham Laughlin's Memorial service)

(Jessica Bailey Mauger & mom, Debra at the big baby shower)

Boy has this been a roller coaster ride the past few days! Life, death....u name it! First of all, the van is being fixed. Long story, but I caused an accident last Friday. It was my fault, but thank God, I didn't get a ticket. It happened on Crater Road in front of the bank...had to tow the van because the bumper was ripped off. Anyway, it's all good. It's being repaired. Nobody hurt. Just feel really stupid!

Saturday was so up and down. First there was a baby shower for Jessica Bailey (Mauger) held at Gregory Memorial Presbyterian Church. She got lots of loot and it was good to see everyone!

I left the shower about midway to go to Cham Laughlin's memorial service. The place was packed. They had 6 of his friends singing accapella....it was beautiful! Jeffrey, Deanna, Lynda and Uncle Jimmie were there too.

Drew is back at Hampden-Sydney and Al is back in class at VCU. She's feeling really good!

WORKCAMP:

- Pete Adler is taking a group to Galveston in February to help with hurricane relief....he's got a group of 10

- Both workcamps are full to the brim with waiting lists...

THE WOODSTOVE IS PULSATING!

(Ellie & Caroline in Tennessee with their new Christmas kitty, LILLY)

Much, much, much is happening! The woodstove is really cranked high because our heating system needed some repairs. It should be completed by Wednesday!

I started back at the Y this week doing about 50 minutes of cardio in the pool. Gotta get with it before the summer camps start! I do not want to be the "sweaty beast" again this year!

Had lunch in Chester with Drew and Al yesterday...it was good to see them!

Our dear, dear friend CHAM LAUGHLIN passed away yesterday morning of colon cancer. Jeffrey called me and was quite stunned. We never imagined it happening so quickly.....the memorial service is Saturday.

Jessica Bailey Mauger's baby shower is Saturday also, so Allie and I will be juggling our time.

BOTH WORKCAMPS ARE FULL.....no more room for any more campers!

This past Friday evening, Alicia, Ellen and Jan (Drew's Mom) and I all met at Al's apartment to watch MAMA MIA together! We had the version with the lyrics running along the bottom of the screen, so we were loud!

John had an excellant sermon for New Years this past Sunday and of course, there was lunch at the church!

Tim called from ENGLAND! It was so good to hear his voice!

Happy New Year!

(This is a photo of brothers Jon David & Jeffrey at Brienne's wedding reception)

I traveled down to Newport News on Sunday the 28th for Brienne's wedding by myself. Allie was totally exhausted and still experiencing some of the side effects of her shot. The wedding was in a small church near Yorktown and was precious. The church was packed. After the ceremony, everyone made their way to the Newport News City Park where the cars were treated to driving through the park's Celebration Of Lights. A shuttle from a parking lot carried guests to the reception at The Pavilion near the golf course. I opted to say my goodbyes before the reception and began my game of "dodge the deer" on my trip home.

New Years Eve came and went quietly. It's been a wonderfully quiet few days to sort of regroup and prepare for the tsunami of workcamp registrations that will be at the post office today. This is always an exciting time for workcamp. I have the feeling that the camps may both be full by this evening.