A FAREWELL OF SORTS

It gives me such joy and happiness that my Allie and Ben are together.  If any two people were meant for each other, it was them.  This pic was taken last Christmas (I can tell by the garland in the window).  Now they are married and snug as a bug in a rug!
Today was a bit challenging.  It was the memorial service for Glenn Plott.  Years ago I could hardly have imagined this day.  I just knew that he and Sheila were going to be around forever.  When I walked into the church I was so glad to see Linda W, Jerri S, Christina and the gang waving me in to sit with them.  The service still wasn't quite closure for me....I am sure once I have some one on one time with Sheila, that will happen.
John has First Christian tomorrow....I plan on meeting Al for grocery shopping or whatever. She now has an official FB page for her Reiki practice.  It's very exciting and I am so very proud of her!
It's good to be quiet for the rest of the day and evening.  I have to admit, Glenn's service was emotionally difficult.  As Allie says tho.."it's a funeral!"  Tomorrow I'll be packing up our "Christmas tree de Mexico".

A WEDDING, BABIES & A NEW YEAR

I vow to write on my blog this year.  There have been too many precious things that have and are happening.  The main one....I have a new son!  Yes, Allie and Ben had the grandest of weddings on November 7, 2015.  I am so thrilled to have Ben in our family.  He is a wonderful young man.  

The two of them now have a home in Richmond Virginia.  It's a beautiful old Victorian home and as soon as I can get the pics off my phone I will post them.  Ben is now employed by Afton Company in Richmond and loves his work and job.  Allie has completed all of her schooling and is now in a Reiki apprenticeship to begin her own practice.  She babysits little Zoey Portyrata while she goes through her apprenticeship.  Again, more pictures to see in following posts! I'm thrilled they are so happy!


John is serving as interim pastor of First Christian Church in Petersburg and enjoying it.  It is a fine change from "that church before" and he is loved and appreciated so much by the congregation.
Workcamp is beginning to take off for 2016.  There have been a few changes. the biggest being the Catholic Diocese of Richmond has decided after 28 years to no longer participate.  Long ugly story, but to be honest, I am glad it worked out this way.  Most of the kids are coming to camp next summer under the umbrella of another group or church.
This past year was one of great loss for our family.  Those that passed away:  my uncle Bill Morton, dear friend Roger Green, Allie's loving mentor Ethel Marie Lee, my dear old high school friend Mohammed Ihsan,  Katie Barksdale's little baby girl, handyman &; friend Charlie Curtis and the biggest blow of all - Glenn Plott.  We will be attending his memorial service this Saturday in Williamsburg.  I really want to spend some time with Sheila.
Lots of baby news this past year.  Brad & Sarah have little Sadie, Al & Ben's little niece Zoey, Holly's little Frankie, Jess's little Sawyer and pregnant awaiting are Joseph &; Leah, and Rose & Dan!  Quite a growing clan of little ones!
Our dear friends in Palestine are facing difficult challenges as the Israeli government continues pushing down the brutal road of Zionism.  I now have a page where I just publish news from the other side of the wall.  I will publish the link in a following post.
So, this past year has been full of ups and downs.  I am thankful for both and cherish what is about to happen in 2016!

Allie's Bridal Shower & Tea

I have left this page quiet for too long.  To catch up on the happenings would be impossible.  So, I am loading photos of different events :) Glenn & Sheila, this is mainly for YOU!!! xoxo Perhaps after the wedding I can get back to blogging daily or weekly.  Here are photos of Allie's bridal shower & tea!  So much fun!!!

Blue Willow Tea Room

Allie & Bridesmaid Ellen leaving the house

Allie and her dear Aunt Paige
Allie hairpiece is mine from my wedding day

Bridesmaids Holly, Lizzy, Jenn, Bride Allie, Ellen & Abby
Rose was in Wisconsin & Paul was in NYC

Talented Holly made Allie's garter!!

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Aunt Janet, Me, Elaine, Allie, Paige & Susan 

WHAT TO WRITE? WHAT TO WRITE?

Well, I lied.  I promised myself to get back to writing regularly, but it just didn't happen.  Now there is so much to share I don't even know where to begin!  It's going to be pretty random.
The biggest theme running through our lives is the wedding preparations.  We've bagged lavender to throw, picked out tablecloths, gathered vintage plates for the reception, made the table numbers, and the list goes on.  The major happening though was THE DRESS.  Al met Paul in NYC for the final try-on.  It is so beautiful.  She rode the train up to Penn Station and stayed at an old,old hotel.  I want to post the pics so badly, but alas, everyone is going to have to wait!

My Uncle Bill passed away early in the year, so we all gathered up in the mountains to celebrate his life.  Ben and Al stayed in Roanoke and I stayed with Susan.  I love the picture below of all of us gathered at the church.
                                                                                                                                     

There have been births and deaths.  We just attended a sorrowful graveside service at Blandford yesterday.  Katie Barksdales little 3 month old girl died unexpectedly from SIDS.  I drove to Warrenton to be with the Mills/LeFever kids....their mother passed away very unexpectedly.
There are SO many babies to be born:  Brad & Sarah are having a little girl, SADIE.....both of Al's friends in Richmond are having babies this summer, Ben's brother is expecting a little girl again around the end of the summer.  Cindy Hass is expecting in October.

We had a chance to visit Glenn and Sheila a couple of times.  Paige, Allie and I had lunch in Williamsburg....we hadn't seen her since over a year.  '

The gang from Palestine won't be coming to workcamp this summer because it is just too dangerous....ISIS is hunting Christians and killing them.
I had the chance to visit the Federal Prison and witness a program called Letters from DAD.  You can read about it on my facebook page.

See, I'm already tired of writing and I haven't even covered an iota of the things that have happened.  Oh well....more later

THANKSGIVING OVER, HERE COMES CHRISTMAS!

The house is abuzz, yet it's not hurried or rushed.  Thanksgiving was such a good day.  It was John, I, Al, Ben, Ellen, Kent, and their grandfolks.  As you can see by the pic, Ellen and her grandma Ellen cooked the turkey and some pies.  Al and I did the rest.  We had so much fun in the kitchen together, and I am definitely not one to linger in the kitchen!  We ate until
we were totally stuffed.  Then Allie and Ben headed to Richmond to see the Portyratas .  Jenn came over with Jackson so we lured him with toys into taking steps around the house.

John and I took a ride earlier in the week down to Toano to see Glenn & Sheila.  We shared Subway and lots of good conversation.  They are both in their 90s and still just as in touch with the goings on in the world as ever!

Last night Allie was making wedding favors.  I can't say too much about them because we don't want to give away the idea!  Let's just say it involved a beautiful "P" rubber stamp and a calligraphy pen.
The boys are anxious to cut wood, but the chain saw isn't cooperating.  It's off to the repair shop now and am thankful that it's still under warrenty!
Today is Sunday.  John is getting ready to visit another local church.  He's been going to a different church each Sunday....seeing old friends and getting inspiration.  Me...I'm still worship at the Church of the Inner Springs.  Oh, and I'll be heading to the grocery store soon before the after church rush for chicken!

THIS MONTH IS RACING BY

This past year has been one of many changes for the Petersburg Romaines.  Many of them major life experiences.  I guess that's why I'm up at 3am, having coffee and on Facebook.  Usually I sleep like nobody's business, but I'm up so I'll catch up.
Al and I went down to the Old Union Train Station in Petersburg to meet with "Patty", who will be

Old Union Train Station

Blandford Church 

catering Ben & Allie's wedding.  They will be married November 7, 2015 at historic Blandford Church and then ride down the hill to the old train station for the reception.  We are having so much fun planning and having a year to do the planning is a dream.
It's been a difficult year of job searching for Al, but if all goes well, she will have a job very soon.  I don't want to jinx it, so I won't say anymore.

Since John & I have left Tabernacle Church, it has been quite an adjustment for him.  It has been many years since he hasn't either had a church to pastor or a full time job with the government.  He is finding his niche though.  It's hard for him to just RELAX!
We absolutely LOVE following the VCU RAMS Men's Basketball team!  Tickets are way expensive, so we curl up in bed and yell at the television screen!  Coach Shaka Smart has quite a team this year.

Weber dunking

   It's been a year since my best friend, Alicia, passed away from breast cancer.  We have traveled a journey with her kids since her death.  Going  abandonment, eviction (well, you name it, their dad has done it!) has made this past year challenging.   It's all good now though.  They have a cute place to live, more extended family (from workcamp) and a bright future.
My Uncle Bill (mom's brother) passed away last month so we all gathered for a memorial service.  It was so good to see all the cousins and spend time with Susan in her home.  I sure hope we all can get together during the holidays!  

The grand ladies at Uncle Bill's memorial

Moving day for Kent & Ellen

   It is hard to believe that it has been one year since Allie & I were in Nablus, Palestine.  Not a day goes by that I don't think of all of them.  My life was profoundly changed by that trip.
Well, we'll be getting ready for Thanksgiving.  We will have John, Ben, Allie & I,  Ellen and her grandma are cooking the turkey and "fixings", so all of them will be joining us for the day.  We are planning a trip down to see the Plotts soon...very soon!  I have begun looking at houses and visiting families for next summer.  That in itself is a blog.  I will try to share more next posting.      

CATCHING UP WILL BE SLOW!

Well, Allie & I just returned from a whirlwind trip to find her wedding gown.  We drove to Philadelphia, stayed in a hotel downtown, took a train into NYC the next morn, saw Paul B., went to the loft where she selected her handmade dress, looked around at Macy's, went to Penn station, rode the train back to Philly, slept and then drove home this morning.  WHEW!  

Visiting D.C. 

It was perfect and she will be a vision next November.  The dress is handmade by the designer and will be ready in about 5 months.  That's all I am allowed to say at this point!  LOL! 

 So much has happened since I wrote in July when Ben and Al were engaged.  A major happening is that John is no longer pastor at Tabernacle Methodist.  I am glad and will say no more. He is now chaplain for Prince George County's EMS and Carson Fire Department.  He took a class at SRMC and meets with the firehouse twice a month.  He's helped with several happenings including giving the benediction at the groundbreaking ceremony for the new firehouse.  So proud of him.  

Workcamp 2014 was of course incredible.  As you can see we were visited by quite a few special guests as well as the "pope".  Our theme this year was the song "BRAVE"  and we had fun with it!  
Our Palestinian friends were brave and tried everything from power tools to ice skating so that was much fun also!  

The Scudder "kids" were evicted and forced from their home as well as other atrocities by their father.  A wonderful workcamp staff family have helped set them up in their grandparents home and it's been an adventure getting the place ready.  It had been locked up for over ten years, so much had to be done to get it ready.  All is well now though, and everyone is moving ahead.  Especially little Jackson, who is on the move and will be walking any minute!  
We finally had the huge stump from the tree that fell behind out house during the last big storm taken care of.  It was hauled away into the woods and the deck repaired!  Ben replaced most of the aging parts on the pool this summer, so next year should be a breeze!

For now I'll just upload some pics of happenings and hope that this will justify catching up!  

Chicken & Waffles Drag Brunch

Grand ladies at Uncle Bill's memorial service 

Daniel & Sarah's wedding

The murdering in Gaza & the Pope visits THE WALL

My dear school friend Lydia passes away