May Visit to Virginia

Becky and I drove up to Charlottesville, Va to visit my mom during the last three days of May and, as always, had a great time with her.  We visited South Plains Presbyterian Church, had lunch in the upstairs dining room, dinner at Red Lobster and much discussion and sharing of pictures of the Tennessee P.E.O. State Convention and the status of her grandchildren and great grandchildren.  We left her with many new pictures loaded in her digital frame.  The Grants were very gracious to allow us to use their downstairs apartment while they were in Roanoke on a church missions trip.  While at the Grants, we sneaked a peak of the doll house that Ken has been building for their granddaughter.

 I surely do miss him.  I wonder what he would say to 17 great grandchildren with one named with the first name of James and the another named Payne?

 South Plains Presbyterian Church is growing with two services and a completed administration and education wing.

 More construction at Westminster-Canterbury with a very deep hole where the side parking lot and Dad's raised garden use to be.  Glad Mom moved to the other side of the complex.

 A very pretty 97 year old lady

 Cheap gas in Charlottesville 

Ken's labor of love

Whitestone Country Inn Getaway

Three years ago, our children gave Becky and me a two night getaway gift for our 40th wedding anniversary and earlier this week we finally used it.  The Whitestone Country Inn is located near Kingston, TN and is a beautiful Christian retreat center overlooking Watts-Bar Lake and the Tennessee River.  The pictures don't do it justice since it was pretty hazy the day the pictures were taken but, hopefully, it will give you an idea of how beautiful it is.  We walked, played croquet, used a paddle boat, read and basically relaxed.  Becky did not mention P.E.O. once while we were on the property.  I was so proud of her.

 The School House where we checked in

 Becky in front of the Entrance Barn where our room, The Robins Nest Room, was located

 The Lion and Lamb Conference Center and the Good Shepherd Chapel

 Overlooking Watts Bar Lake

 The Farm House where the meals were served

 The Good Shepard Chapel.  They have a full time wedding coordinator on site.

 Beautiful sanctuary!  The chapel was built as an expanded replica of a small Anglican church that was built in the late 1800's in Rugby, TN near Big South Fork Recreation Area.

 Do you see the three crosses?