New Year @OBX

Hello everyone,

Jan and I traveled to the Beach House, alias Hokies@OBX, on Christmas day after having seen our sister Deborah and kids, and having dinner, church and evening with our brother and sister David and Gloria. On the 1 1/2 hour trip, we probably passed 12 cars!! Not a lot of people out on Christmas Day morning : - )

Jan and I sure enjoyed those few days, having extended quiet times, walking on the beach, checking out the hot tub, a trip to Manteo (always a favorite for us) and eating sea food!! Ymmmmmm!

Tuesday night, the 30th, Derek, Rachel and all the Richmonders descended on the Beach House. What a joy to have them with us. The pace definitely quickens, but what fun! As you see from the pictures, we had a time. We walked down the beach to the Outer Banks Bagel shop where we loaded up one morning on some great bagels. Coming back we stopped and fed the sea gulls some scraps. The kids loved seeing the gulls swoop down and catch the tasty mosels in the air. Of course, the lazy ones just waddled over and picked the dropped pieces off the sand.

Jan and I sure enjoyed holding the kiddos, reading to them, walking around the lake (one of our FAVORITE passtimes) and yes, playing in the Hot Tub. Benny wanted to get in the day it didn't even get above freezing, and the wind was blowing. We had to set a minimum temperature range (so he hovered over the thermometer on the window quite a lot) : - ) You can see in one of the photos, he spent so much time in the Hot Tub, snorkeling, that the snorkel froze to his face and we couldn't get it off when they left on Saturday!!!!

Rachel was the prime puzzle'er, although everyone but color blind Poppy added to the picture. 1000 pieces of Light Houses! Jan enjoyed the times in the loft the most, with Caleb playing his guitar and leading in worship songs!

Rachel's B'day was Friday the 2nd, and we tried to baby her. She and Derek got to go out to dinner while Nanna and I got the priviledge of keeping the grands. And they are GRAND!

I was hoping Saturday night, that the office would call and give me the horrible news that all my next weeks patients had canceled, and that we may as well stay another week. But, alas, no call came, and we had to head home on Sunday! Oh well, we sure had a great time.

Oh yes, and the Hokies won the Orange Bowl! Great time at the beach!

"The heart of every problem is the problem of the heart, and ONLY God's Spirit and God's Word can change and control the heart" Wiersbe

Vacation '08

We had a great vacation the end of September. All of our kids and grandkids (count them, that's right - 11) gathered in Corolla, Outer Banks of North Carolina.

Damon and Andi with their 4 boys (Ethan, Seth, Isaac, and Luke) on the right. Derek and Rachel with their 6 (Beth, Caleb, Miriam, Benjamin, Lydia (Boo) and Tabitha Grace) in the center. Susan and Leonel with Zane on the left. And of course, my beautiful bride and I at the corners!

We had a great time even though we encountered a Nor'Easter the whole week we were there. It didn't matter, everyone was enjoying each other so much, the weather didn't count! We did get down on the beach a few times, but the waves were really going to it. It's the memories that count, and there were many. One of the greatest was when Derek, Benjamin and I were in the Hot Tub together, and Benny announced, "Poppy, I just found out that you are my Daddy's Daddy!" Priceless!

That's why we have family vacations : - )