Thunderstorms & More Thunderstorms!

 YUP, it's getting closer and closer!  THUNDERSTORMS have rocked our area for several days now.  Trees down in places.  Lots of folks still without power.  Thank God, we never lost power since the temperatures have been in the triple digits.  Atlanta had it's hottest day EVER yesterday, so Al is glad she is here!
Last night was fun.  About 35 of us went up to Stonehenge Country Club for a little surprise 60th Birthday Party for Linda Dugent, our Queen of the Tool Room.  She was totally surprised!  Some of us old workcamp folk were there and I got to see MARSHA D....hadn't seen her in AGES!  Ben & Allie hung around for a little bit.
Our 16 year old Yorkie, Will, gave us a scare a few days ago.  We thought he was slipping away.  Then a couple days later, he had a miracle and is now back to his old self.  Yes, he's slower, but he's happy, eating and doing well!
Jeffrey won 2nd place in the VIRGINIA SCHOOL BUS ROADEO, so the Saturday the first workcamp ends, we run him to the airport to fly to Wisconsin for the National Roadeo!  This picture above looks so funny because Jeff looks NOTHING like he used to! 
Tomorrow night the walls go up at Colonial Heights Middle School.  We usually have a gang of about 25 - 30 people there and the walls & stage are up by 9pm.  It's pretty amazing!  Pictures to follow later.
This morning is Tabernacle, but we are watching the storm cells on TV because of all the violent & unpredictable weather.
MUCH TO DO!  MUCH TO DO!

Goodness Gracious!!! LONG TIME!

Goodness gracious!!! I totally forgot that I have a blog!  I totally forgot to post ANYTHING!!!  Our lives are so full this time of year and every day passes more quickly than the day before!  I guess the best way to update is just to give out random information!!
-  Jeffrey won 2nd place in the VA STATE ROADEO in Roanoke last week.  He now goes to Milwaukee in July for the  
   national competition!
-  John has taken on another church.  He now speaks at TABERNACLE METHODIST on the first & third Sundays and
   then preaches at ROWANTA CHURCH on the second & fourth Sundays.  I am visiting Rowanta tomorrow for the first
   time. 
-  Al is home and completed her first semester of grad school at Columbia Theological Seminary in Atlanta with flying
    colors.  She'll head back in August.  She, Ben P. and I went blackberry picking the other day and plan to head back to
    gather more tomorrow afternoon. 
-  WORKCAMP 2012 is gathering steam each day.  Both camps are full.  The second week will be our first international
   camp with a youth group attending from the middle east.  We even have an Arabic interpreter attending hired!
-  A date has been set for a 25th Celebration for workcamp - APRIL 20, 2013
-  I'll be attending a Mega Reunion for Gloucester High School in September.  About 7 classes have gotten together so we
   can see more folks we were in school with.  I am so excited to go!
-  Alicia & Ellen are on a road trip to see Ben & Jen in Corpus Christi, Texas.  I miss them!
-  Niece, Jennifer Long graduated from high school
-  Cousin Bradley Morris is getting married in July.  Jeffrey & I will be missing the wedding because of camp, but Allie &
   Ben P. will represent for us!  Jon & family are heading to the wedding also.
-  I will be 60 years old in September.....John will be 75....and that's all I'm going to say about that!

The Speed of Life Is Picking up!

I love this little picture.  No, it's not Louie, but it looks just like him!  He spent part of today at Crater Vet getting clipped and preened!  I spent most of the day with Alicia at Johnston-Willis with her while she got her pre-op done.  Doc is taking out her spacers next Thursday.  Big happening!
Our little family is taking a few knicks right now.  John stumbled on the pavers coming up from the pool the other day.  The next morn we spent at SRMC getting an xray & CAT scan of his spleen.  Bottom line:  he caught himself landing on the same three ribs he broke last year!  Not as hard this time, but there are hairline fractures in all of the same healed places.  He's doing Percocet, reading, studying and watching movies.  It's all good.
Me....I accidently inhaled some chlorine gas when I opened an old container of tablets for the pool.  Then cut the grass without using a mask.....result:  I think I have bronchitus....I will see the doc Monday if it isn't better.
Allie is wrapping up her first semester of studies in Atlanta/Decatur.  Ben P. has gone down to join her for final activites going on and a friend's wedding.  So proud of her!  She should be home around May 20.
After I visit houses next week I will only need 1 or 2 more.  That part of Workcamp is going smoothly this year.  Actually all of the preparation is going smoothly this year.  I can't believe it's May already!
The pool is open,I am just trying to get the water balanced and clear.  I love riding the John Deere and cutting grass.  The driveway is overgrown and I don't know for sure what we will do about that.
John was voted on at Rowanta Methodist Church and he will be speaking there on the 2nd and 4th Sundays....still at Tabernacle on the 1st & 3rd.  I dont' plan to go to Rowanta Methodist.  My loyalty and home is at Tabernacle.  Plus, I just don't need any more "church" stuff going on in my life!  I have met some wonderful residents for the kids this summer.  Incredible people for the teens to spend time with.
As our older neighbor Margaret used to say..."Much to do!  Much to do!" 

Tidbits....

I do not like this new Blogspot format....just when you get used to doing something with ease, they (whoever they are) think they'll make things better & easier.  Wish they would give us a choice! 

Everyone knows I am not a cook, but I thought these two photos were extra cute ideas for special occasions.  I actually put them on here for Sheila P.  The melon is for a baby shower and the little chicks are actually deviled eggs for Easter.  Way too cute!
Ben leaves today by bus to go down to Atlanta with Al.  She'll finish up school and the both of them will be bringing "stuff" back for the summer.  I am really looking forward to having her back for the summer.....
John visited a church in Dinwiddie this past Sunday.  They want him to preach for them the second & fourth Sundays....we'll see.  He is actually getting up at 4:30am one morning a week and cutting some of the greens out at the Fort Lee Golf Course.  For that, he gets free carts for each week.....geezzzzzzz.  You'd think after being a member their continuously for some 30 odd years and turning 75 this year they would let him have a cart!  Another thing I am p.o. about.
I've been with Alicia on various doctor visits, scans.....report later....
I have much to do and so much to type.....better scurry!

Mid April Already!

Just thought I'd post this terrific pic of John's "Mom" a couple years ago....Everyone is back from all the different journeys and things are back to normal (ha!) again.

The pool is open and the yard is looking good.....Al only has a few more weeks at CTS before she's home....

John has been asked to speak at another local small church on the 2nd & 4th Sundays....he's going to visit there next week, just to check it out.

Will write more later....much to do....and today is SATURDAY!!

Happy Easter.....Quiet...

Here's Lois's deviled eggs for her family Easter dinner! I just had to post the pic...it's sooooooo cute!

Well, Allie & Ben made it to NY at 8:30am....now they are only a couple hours from home....a real whirlwind for them. Once they arrive, Ben has to play the piano for the 11am Easter service at Redeemer Lutheran and Al catches a 3:30pm plane back to Atlanta. Whew! I remember driving from Wooster, Ohio and Savannah, GA just to be home a few hours, so it doesn't seem odd to me, just TIRING! John is at a little slower pace and is flying home on Monday and I miss him terribly!

My Easter....totally quiet. I worked out in the yard and by the pool today and did some ancestry.com. Tomorrow I'll ride the John Deere and cut grass. It actually feels good to have the pressure of Easter relieved.

Best part...the weather is cool!

Change of Plans....

Al flew home for spring break/Easter. It was to be a quiet, easy week for all of us. I guess God had something else in mind. Harriet, John's step-mom that raised him from age 13 up, passed away Monday evening. John flew into Ithica yesterday where Uncle Vic picked him up at the airport and they made their way back to Moravia, NY.
Allie & Ben P. plan to drive up late after he gets off work today (Friday). For them it will be a marathon because Al flies out of Richmond back to Atlanta on Easter Sunday and Ben has obligations at his church. They are driving John's little Honda since Al's car is in GA.
I am staying here in Petersburg to hold down the fort with the animals. It was awfully quiet last night, but I know that we have all made the right decisions to be where each of us are. It's just hard to see everyone going in different directions. All will be well in my world on Monday when John flies back & Al is back at school in GA. I have MUCH to do here to keep me busy so the time will go by quickly....
Tabernacle Church decided to just have Sunday School in John's absence.....it's difficult for Easter Sunday.
I had made up Easter baskets for Al & Ben...they were Prince George camo buckets with goodies! Funny!
It was so warm, we started cleaning the pool area and started up the pump....now it's cold again but it looks so beautiful to have the pool going. I also put out the humming bird feeders.
Alicia took me to have my colonoscopy last week....a good report....I dont' have to have another for 10 years!
Allie & I went to see Dr. Ciurash yesterday and he adjusted her meds so hopefully she'll feel good once she returns to Decatur.
An old friend, Lisa Schaffner, called and did a phone interview for BOOMER MAGAZINE on Workcamp. She was the cub reporter that traveled to West VA with us for our first workcamp with Walnut Hill Baptist Church. She became anchor for Channel 8 and now work's for a non-profit. She will use photos from off our website.
Friend Jerry came by and cut up a good portion of the fallen tree in the back yard from Hurricane Irene...new little solar lites leading the pathway down to the pool...and I get to ride the John Deere this weekend & cut grass (love it!)