Rollercoaster!!

Our lives have been a true rollercoaster. There have been numerous trips to UVA and several trips to ERs because of Al's pain. The UVA Pain Management center was a true waste of time. Bottom line is that she is having lap surgery on Wednesday, April 29th at UVA. We are convinced now that all of this involves the bladder and she has had a MEAN bought with thrush because of sensitivity to certain antibiotics. I am not one to exagerate, but it has been really %$#@ for her.

I helped Alicia with a Mother/Daughter retreat out at Camp Keehukee the other night. It was fun to see all the little girls and reflect on times of bonfires, somores, and sing a longs!

Jeffrey just won the title of ROADEO Champion for school bus drivers for the City of Newport News. Now he goes on to the next level! Yep, he might win the state title this year!

Don't think we'll get to go to his show at DONK'S since Al's surgery is on Wednesday and the show is Saturday.

Much is happening and we'll have to play it by ear. Drew graduates on May 10th with a family barbecue the following weekend. John has a wedding to perform in Richmond the end of the month.

In WORKCAMP NEWS:

I have quite a few more houses to assess. Debra Bailey's husband Kurt, has kidney stones. Erica Balmer Hanchey sent me a photo of her pregnant at 24 weeks! The photo is of our new warehouse space for workcamp. It's the old boathouse on Willcox Lake! Yep, Bob D and Jerry G can fish in between runs!

Easter & Hope

Today is Easter. JR delivered an wonderful sermon, then communion. Then he jumped into our old bunny suit to help the little ones look for eggs. Al & Drew walked about two blocks from her apartment in Richmond and went to Grace & Holy Trinity Episcopal to their early service. Then, on to the Murphys for a big family Easter dinner. Al continues to push herself. I pray.

We head to UVA again this Friday to meet with an endocrinologist /surgeon. Then back again the following Monday. I truly believe all of this is going to be good. We are supposed to go to a baby shower for Leigh Barksdale the Sunday in between the visits, but I think we may just have to bow out of that one.

Jeffrey is gearing up for his big show at DONK's the first weekend in May. Looking forward to it and seeing the revitalized theater.

Workcamp is like a steamroller. Preparing, typing, etc. I go to finalize the tshirt order this week. There is a lot of shuffling going on so some churches may be pleasantly surprised with a few more slots for kids on their wait lists.

I must exhibit self discipline this week by going to the YMCA. Alicia & family are in NC with her parents.

John and I started the movie DOUBT yesterday and will finish it today.

Our dear friend ANITA CLARK passed away earlier this week from breast cancer. Billy, her husband, has been doing workshops for new workcampers ever since 1985 when we made our first trip to W VA. The family visitation was at Immanuel Baptist Church because of the expected crowd. She fought long and hard. We will keep Billy busy this summer.

Catching Up Again

This is the design for the tshirts this summer. I think it's really creative!
Allie has had a few good days and now having a few rough days. Back to UVA on April 17th & April 20th.
The pollen is killing us!
Found out that my cousin Tim is coming to visit the first week in JULY! Can't wait. He will be able to get a glimpse of the kaos of workcamp. His birthday is JULY 5th so we'll celebrate on the 4th!
Found a used elliptical on Craig's list and Bob S., Kent and I delivered it on Sunday afternoon. Whew it was a blister to get up a flight of stairs! Now if Al can just get well enough to use it.
Our Simba (14 yr old cat) never returned home last week. We miss her a lot. I imagine that she went off to an "elephant graveyard" somewhere. She was John's sidekick, so he misses her so much.
I wove crosses out of crown palms for this past Sunday. Drew and Al came to church and then we all ate together at church for the first Sunday of the month. JR's sermon was terrific. It was called the DIVINE BAILOUT.
I tallied the SMOKE DETECTOR BLITZ stats. We knocked on about 185 doors. About 100 folks let us in to change batteries, check batteries and we installed 40 + smoke detectors. # of lives saved = priceless
Scrambling to get my taxes together. I've been a bit distracted and now am hussling to meet with H&R Block on Wednesday. Yikes, that's tomorow!