The Robleto's at Roselawn

Where did summer go?

2011-09-02T18:10:00.002-04:00

Can't believe it's been May since my last post! Summer flew by and Fall is around the corner! We started off the summer with a trip to Ohio for a wedding. This picture was taken of us on a little excursion we took. Kiara enjoyed hanging out with friends and doing a lot of nothing! (I thinks kids' lives are too overscheduled anyway!) We took a pontoon boat out with friends one day and ventured out to the pool a few times during the hot weather. I began working full time in mid-June... which is one reason I haven't been blogging. It has been an adjustment for me. I really miss part time! The B&B has been picking up business lately. Paul's Antique Mall is pretty steady, and he's now working on a new entrepreneul dream which is about to come to fruition. Kiara started back to school on August 8th (I know... so early!) She is loving 7th grade and has taken an even stronger interest in boys. Lawd help me! So, that's the update on the Robleto's. Hopefully I'll make it back her again before winter begins!

May Update

2011-05-20T16:36:00.003-04:00

I'm at the building pretending to be busy on the computer while Kiara and four of her friends engage in girl talk. Wanna know what a bunch of preteens discuss??? Who has started shaving their legs... and who should. Why someone they know is a "dumbnut". Which teachers are getting married... Well, that's all I got before they left the area. They probably sensed my eavesdropping...

School ends for Kiara on Tuesday. Summertime is almost here! :)

Myrtle Beach

2011-04-13T15:45:00.003-04:00

Four months into the new year and I've finally gotten around to adding a post... What's happened since then? Let's see...

I've finished up my online classes and now have certification to teach the next five years. You just never know...

Kiara is now into her last marking period of the year. She had her first tooth pulled by a dentist and subsequently her first experience with a chewed up lip after experimenting with the effects of novacaine.

Spring has finally arrived. We just got back from a girls' outing in Myrtle Beach...

Happy 2011

2011-01-09T09:01:00.002-05:00

I hope everyone had a great start to the New Year! Here is a picture I took of Kiara on the last day of 2010. It is now one of my very favorites!!!

Holiday Fun

2010-12-18T12:44:00.004-05:00

We spent Thanksgiving in Myrtle Beach which was a treat this time because my mom came along and Kiara got to spend time with her sister who lives in South Carolina.
And now it's time to make some Christmas memories... Here's our tree and mantle this year...

Thankful List

2010-11-14T16:05:00.014-05:00

My friend, Kim, inspired me to write about the things I am thankful for. So now I take time to reflect on the things that add richness and meaning to my life...The blessings that I sometimes take for granted.

First and foremost, I am thankful for my relationship with God. Knowing that He loves me no matter what... that is a love that surpasses anything I could expect from anyone else in the world. I am thankful for His grace and mercy.

I am thankful for a husband who has been committed to our marriage for twenty years. I appreciate his easy going personality (even though sometimes that very character trait annoys me). I am glad that he doesn't take things too seriously and helps me enjoy the little things in life. We have had many great memories together for which I am grateful.

**Note: I navigated to find a picture to go with this part of the post, and can you believe this is the first one I came to??? See, I told you he was laid back!!

I am thankful for the opportunities I have had to travel. Although we haven't done it much lately, I find joy in reliving the cruises, overseas adventures, and just weekend getaways I have been able to experience in my life.

I am soooo thankful for my family. My mom, my brother, and the memories of my dad who still lives in my heart.

Paul and I are especially grateful for the best gift God ever blessed us with... our daughter, Kiara, who joined our family through adoption eight years ago. We love that she is an independent young girl who doesn't feel the need to conform. She is willing to be her own person even if it makes her different from others. (See the picture below... and, no, she doesn't have actual piercings... yet). She is happy and loves to have fun... and she makes us laugh. Yes, we do have our rough moments... but it is all outweighed by the closeness we share with her... our only daughter who we prayed over twelve years for the opportunity to have as a child to raise.

I am also thankful that we have managed to hang on during this hard economic time in our lives. We trust that God will provide for us everyday. Just when things seems bleak, God sends us another renter for our investment house or a full weekend at the B&B. I am glad Paul has the opportunity to have a job that he loves-- owning and running a business.

(Recent picture taken of us in the Tea Room at Keysville Station.)

While it's scary at times to be self employed, it makes our faith stronger and gives us a sense of freedom we didn't have working full time corporate jobs... which brings me to the next thing on our Thankful List... I am thankful I only have to work part time right now. It is perfect for me! While I may need to change that soon, I am glad for the chance to slow down a little over the past year.

I am finding that my list can go on an on. I'm thankful for so much... friends, our community, my health...

I encourage you to make your own Thankful List. Putting it into words just does something to evoke the true emotion of gratitude which we should all have... even if only once a year...

HAPPY THANKSGIVING, EVERYONE!

Kiara's 12th Birthday

2010-10-31T14:45:00.001-04:00

Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.

Coolest Cat

2010-10-08T11:32:00.002-04:00

Keysville Station recently hosted a benefit for the local SPCA. There was stew, raffles, a bike give-away, items for sale, and a pet photo contest. Kiara entered Bo with this photo which won for the category "Coolest Cat". He really is a neat kitty. Ellie is turning into an old lady cat, but she's still my girl-- always cuddling with me. Peeper, our black cat, is another story. He has been doing naughty things around the house and is now banished to a room at the building. We're not sure what we are going to do with him. Paul says this is not a good time of year to find a home for a black cat. Maybe after Halloween...

Online Class

2010-09-26T14:52:00.002-04:00

I am taking an online class now for teacher recertification and am realizing how quickly technology can surpass me. I thought I was pretty on top of the latest tech trends (after all, I AM taking an ONLINE class!)...but I'm finding there is something new to learn everytime I blink. Just when I am getting used to all the tools on my new cell phone and Facebook, here comes another new technological wonder... Our last assignment is to subscribe to three RSS feeds. I am just now finding out what in the world these are, and now I need to find some good ones. So if you know of any out there worth subscribing to, please e-mail me!

Full House

2010-09-17T09:59:00.004-04:00

Getting ready for two full weekends in a row at the B & B! There's gonna be a lot of cookin' and cleanin' goin' on!

Piedmont Pictures

2010-09-13T15:02:00.003-04:00

Kiara hiding behind a tree at my mom's pond.

A view from my mom's pond.

A local winery.

Amish family near our home.

September Post

2010-09-07T20:22:00.002-04:00

Well, it's starting to feel a little more like fall now that school has started for pretty much everyone. It has been strange starting so early when a lot of other people still had a summer left.

We just had a wonderful weekend with Paul's sister, Bev, and her husband John. They drove all the way down from PA to see us, and it was great hanging out with them on an awesome Labor Day weekend. After they left, we drove to Lynchburg to see "Grown Ups" and to get Paul some shoes.

Today, Paul went "pickin'" (getting stuff to resell at the Antique Mall) in Richmond while I stayed home cleaning and working on my on-line class until Kiara got home. Tomorrow I start my next seried of parenting classes which will be held near where my mom lives, so I'll spend the night with her afterwards...

That's the extent of my exciting life in the country. Hope you didn't fall asleep while reading this. Hello? Wake up.....

Gettin in the Groove

2010-08-24T12:46:00.003-04:00

Kiara is into her third week of middle school, and it has been an adjustment for all of us. The B & B has picked up business lately with two full weekends coming up. I am still working part time an also teaching parenting classes. (Then I come home and try to do all the things I've taught and, I admit, sometimes I fail miserably.) I have been more involved with Facebook lately and plan to switch over from communicating through that instead of a blog. So, if you're not a FB user yet, I encourage you to join on in and "Friend Me".

Parents

2010-08-10T19:13:00.003-04:00

This evening Kiara and I were watching t.v. together after school when a commercial came on for the new show featuring the father and son who used to build motorcycles together. They apparently could not get along and the son left the show and opened his own shop. After hearing the struggle of this adult son in dealing with their seemingly irreconcilable differences, Kiara replied, "Maybe we should take him in for foster care until he has things settled."

It got me thinking how blessed I am to have such wonderful parents who always supported me throughout my life, even into adulthood. My parents were always my best friends. I am so lucky to have had a great relationship with my dad while he was here, and I am also blessed to have my mom still here to share my life with. I love my parents!!!

Saturday at Keysville Station

2010-07-24T11:36:00.003-04:00

It's a hot one today... 103 degrees. But that doesn't keep the fun away at our Antique Mall.
Kids touring the Keysville fire truck. Wishing to turn on the hose for some cooling down!

Motorcycle Poker Run stops here! Restin' in the shade of a bike.

Lunch is ready followed by fresh baked cookies from Polar Xpress Ice Cream Store.

What Have We Been Up To?

2010-06-08T20:50:00.004-04:00

Hangin' out with friends...
Enjoying beautiful views from our yard as we spend time outside...
Fun times during a visit with my brother, Scott...

Canoeing down Briery Lake...

Field Trip and Graduation

2010-05-31T18:42:00.004-04:00

I was a chaperone on Kiara's field trip to Monticello, home of Thomas Jefferson. The views were just gorgeous, as you can see from the photos below.

The next week, Kiara graduate from elementary school. My little girl is growing up! Here are two pictures taken on the "Big Day".

Kiara in her graduation dress. Take note... it's not often you see her in a DRESS!

After the ceremony with her "beau".

From Preschool to Middle School

2010-05-15T18:07:00.007-04:00

Kiara has one week left of elementary school. I can't believe she is about to become a middle-schooler!! Seems like yesterday I was taking her to preschool. She is certainly picking up all those preteen traits. I've dealt with children up through age 11 all through my teaching career, foster parenting, and helping w/ friends' kids... but this is a whole new territory for me. Pimples 'n boys 'n hormones 'n girl feuds 'n texting 'n drama 'n eye-rollin'. What's a mom to do? No, really... I mean it... what's a mom to do????

Kiara at age 3- sweetly and innocently holding a kitty.

Now at age 11 torturing our cat, Bo... at least it's a reprieve from torturing me!

Tractors

2010-04-26T13:17:00.004-04:00

Tractors are a big deal in our small town. Last year we had a tractor parade that went down Main Street...

A few weekends ago, our Antique Shop hosted an Antique Tractor Show...

We don't have any fancy restaurants, theatres, or even a Walmart... but we do have us some mighty fine tractors!

Two Times in 2010

2010-04-24T12:20:00.004-04:00

2010 isn't even half way over, and we've had the opportunity to go to the beach twice already! Is this a sign of a great summer ahead? I hope so! This last trip was over Spring Break where we stayed in my sister/brother-in-law's Myrtle Beach condo. Thanks, Eileen and Phil for lending us your vacation rental! You guys are awesome! Here are some picture highlights from our trip...

We were amazed at how many campers there were next door. This is one view from our window.

Kiara watched the fish and turtles in a pond on the complex of Myrtle Beach Resort.

Kiara and Paul look for treasures on the beach.

Paul relaxes after a good meal. (Just kidding! This was a baboon we saw at a local zoo. I loved the expression on his face. The back side of him made an interesting picture, too!!)

Beach Pictures

2010-03-15T10:38:00.005-04:00

The girls focus intently on their DS game which refletcts onto their faces.

We see who's really in charge...

View from our balcony.

Friends forever.

The gang's all here at VA Beach.

Favorite family shot.

A Quick Hello

2010-03-11T17:29:00.003-05:00

At my mom's now and thought I'd change the background on my blog. Tired of seeing those snowflake and opted for spring-like pastel polka-dots. I'm so ready for spring! Went to the beach last weekend with friends and hope she posts pictures on her blog so I can link to her site. My friend, Kim, just started her own blog so go on over and check it out sometime! (Just click on her name in the last sentence and it will bring you directly to her blog.)

Getting ready to watch a chick-flick with mom now. Gotta treasure those girl times whenever I can. Every moment is precious...

Pictures, Finally!

2010-02-24T08:56:00.003-05:00

I don't know what I did to make my "add image" button finally work, but it did... so here are some pictures to post while I can. Who knows what will happen next time I try. Would add more but I have to leave for work now...

Snow Pics

2010-02-16T10:39:00.003-05:00

My brother is helping me figure out why I can't post pictures from Blogger on my computer. It works fine from his laptop (see 2 pics below of my mom and him). He seems to think I might have a virus or maybe one of my settings is off. I'm hoping it's just a setting problem. We're still working on it. Technology is wonderful when it works!

February Snow

2010-02-13T09:18:00.002-05:00

I know, I know... it has been a long time since my last post. I must admit I just lost the motivation for a while- but I'm back now! February has been a month of snow. Kiara has missed most of the last two weeks of school. Today (yes, Saturday) was supposed to be a make up day, but we got the call early this morning... closed again because of snow. Kiara is loving it. I wanted to post a picture of her sledding with her friends, but Blogger won't let me add images. It won't do anything when I click on the icons. I 'll have to try to figure it out later.

My sister-in-law, Joan, just headed back to New Jersey. We went down to Georgia last weekend for my brother-in-law's ordination as a deacon in the Catholic church. Paul stayed in Keysville to keep watch over the B&B and the store. It was a little strange going down without him, but, hey, they're my family too! Kiara likes hanging out with all her cousins, and she often brags about having 17 of them!

My brother has been staying with us lately as well. He is in town waiting to hear back from a job for which he interviewed. He may be moving from Florida back here... we'll see!

Time to start the day... finishing up my hot tea now and ready for a nice warm jacuzzi bath, then coziness by the fire. Snow days really aren't all that bad.

A White Christmas ???

2009-12-18T18:15:00.004-05:00

The falling snow inspired me to try changing my background again. I managed to get something in with a little manipulating, but the blog edit buttons still aren't acting right. Good enough for now.

We are expected to get about a foot of snow tonight and tomorrow... and it MIGHT even stay around for Christmas! I can only remember one other white Christmas since I've been married, and it was the our very first one together back in 1989.

So, Kiara is off of school for two whole weeks. Yay!

We had a function (dinner for 18) scheduled for Monday night that is now cancelled b/c of the snow. This might be a relaxing holiday after all! I do have to work the part time job M, T, and W though... but they should be easy days.

Background Trouble

2009-12-14T21:12:00.002-05:00

I've been trying to update my blog background to a winter theme, but everytime I go to edit I just get a beeping sound and it won't let me in. Anyone know what's going on? Until I figure it out, I will just have to keep it in the Fall decor.

Only 4 more days until Kiara's Holiday break begins. I'm not quite ready for Christmas yet. Have some shopping to do. Shouldn't take long, though, because we are on a tight budget this year.

The B&B has one function coming up... this Monday. 12-15 for a holiday dinner. Friends are coming this weekend. My brother leaves to go back to FL tomorrow.

Got my car stuck in mud yesterday-- and I mean really stuck. Paul had to pull me out w/ a tow line. It has been raining so much here that every bit of ground is a mud pit.

Hmmm, what else is new?? When I asked Kiara what I should post, she suggested I tell everyone that "the goats are doing fine". So... the goats are doing fine. LOL

Back on Land

2009-12-03T18:24:00.002-05:00

We got back from our 9 day cruise on Monday! Can you believe we couldn't find our camera, so the only pictures I have are on my cell phone?? I need to get a cord to download them to my computer. We had a great time, although the weather wasn't always on our side. We had to miss one islad because the seas were too rough. Luckily, we had been to that one before on a previous cruise, so we already had that experience. This was the first time we'd sailed with Celebrity, and the one thing we noticed was that it was an older crowd. It was a quieter and slower paced cruise that we were used to, but we enjoyed the "down" time. The music on board was exceptional, and the shows were great, too. So now here we are-- back in reality.

Thanks to my mom, Kim, and Uncle Donald for taking care of our precious daughter while we were away!

My brother is in town for a while, and I'm looking forward to spending time with him during the holiday season.

How Times Have Changed

2009-11-15T13:16:00.006-05:00

I haven't taken any pictures in a while and decided to go through old ones to see what I could post. I came across this one that my cousin sent me recently. It is of me holding her in a car when I was about 12 and she was just a toddler. Not only are neither of us buckled, but she isn't in a car seat. Remember the days when it wasn't a big deal to ride like this? In today's society, this would warrant a call to CPS!

Paul told me that once he and his 7 siblings were riding in their station wagon when the youngest (who was just a baby then) actually ROLLED out of the car while his dad was driving! Can you imagine? They turned the car around and picked him up unharmed, thanks to the tight bundling of clothing. I wonder what our kids will be critiquing when they get older and look back on how we parent today. Only time will tell...

November Already?

2009-11-02T16:45:00.002-05:00

Looks like I didn't do too well posting in October. It was a busy month with B&B guests every weekend and a week-long training out of town for my new position, which BTW, started TODAY! I am now working part time as a Family Resource Specialist. I will be the one to screen first time moms in our 7 county area to determine what their needs are and to offer community referrals- one being home visitation services (if they qualify) which is what I was providing until today. I will also connect the community with our program participants through things such as church donations and Angel Tree at Christmas. So if you want to "adopt" a family this holiday season, let me know and I can hook you up!!

While in Richmond for training, I got to visit with some special friends and co-workers from my past "city life". If you were one of those who went out of your way to meet with me, thanks a bunch. I had a great time catching up!

The Antique Mall is slowing down a bit at the weather gets cooler. I have been spending most of my time there working on the upstairs where we will eventually move when Roselawn sells. Kiara's room is almost ready and we are getting our plumber in there soon to see what we can do about adding a kitchen.

Haven't taken any pics lately, so just boring ole' words for this post...

Happy November!

New Hues

2009-10-05T20:33:00.004-04:00

A fellow blogger, Kimmie, saw my last post and felt led to e-mail me a doctored version of the photo. She said this is what "God may have allowed my dad to see". What she didn't know was that the day before he died, my dad mentioned how the colors he was seeing were different. I just figured the morphine was affecting his vision. I was so touched that someone I don't really even know would take the time to speak to my heart like this. Here is the picture she sent:

A Change of Seasons

2009-10-02T19:22:00.004-04:00

This season is bittersweet for me. It was 3 years ago this month that I lost my father to cancer. As the mornings turn cool and the leaves begin to change colors, I am reminded of the change of season in my life when my dad was here one day and gone the next. It happened so quickly that I still sometimes still find it hard to believe. It's like when autumn is at its peak and you want so badly for it to stay that way for longer so you can enjoy the fireworks of colors God splatters on the landscape... and before you really get a chance to take it all in, the leaves turn brown and fall off the trees. That's how it was for me in October of 2006. My parents had just moved into a house they built after sacrificing for so many years. My dad was getting ready to enjoy his retirement. I was finally able to give him the granddaughter he grew to love so much. We had just opened the B&B and everything was going great. It was a colorful life. Then it all changed and suddenly everything felt brown and barren. But I keep pressing on knowing that my dad would want me to enjoy this season of my life. Each day is such a gift from God. So I take time this autumn to reflect on my dad and how he helped me enjoy the seasons of life here on earth and to not be afraid of moving into the next life in heaven. I'll never forget his words "It's beautiful there", spoken with such conviction just the day before he died. I truly believe he got a glimpse of a place even more beautiful than the most perfect autumn day with those spashes of many colors dotting the landscape in a way that only God could paint.

This is what my parents' front yard looked like the week before my dad passed away. I had taken the picture and brought it to his hospital room so he could have a piece of his home with him there.

20 Years Together

2009-09-17T19:00:00.005-04:00

Paul and I celebrated our 20th anniversary yesterday! We booked a CRUISE as our official gift to each other and will be leaving November 21st for a 9 night get-away to the Caribbean! We are sooo excited, and it's a line we haven't been on before so we are anxious to see how it is different from Royal Caribbean and Carnival. Here's a picture of the ship (It once serviced Alaska, which explains the background).

Roselawn for Sale

2009-09-14T17:42:00.005-04:00

It's official... we signed the papers to put Roselawn on the market today. I am excited, sad and nervous all at the same time. We put a lot of ourselves into making our home and business what it is today. I hate to let go of it... but we are excited about making the space above the Anique Mall into a cool urban loft! We plan to keep as much of the structural integrity as possible, but we will need to upgrade the bathroom and add a kitchen. The goal is to be able to focus all of our energy into that business. It should be much easier living right above it and not having the responsibilities of keep up a 5,000 sq foot house and 2 acre lawn. I also plan to start working part time (for the same agency) beginning in November. Sooo... we have a lot of changes coming our way. Those of you out there who have been meaning to come visit the B&B over the last 3 years but haven't better do it soon! Roselawn, we will miss you...

Happy September!

2009-09-03T18:49:00.003-04:00

I love the cool, crisp mornings and the change of seasons! I was helping Kiara study for her test on the regions of Virginia last night and thought to myself, "We do live in a pretty awesome state." We get all four distinct seasons (although sometimes winter lasts just a little longer than I'd like). We have the mountains to one side and the ocean to the other. There's urban and rural and everything in between. Virginia is a nice place to live. (Although, I've never lived anywhere else so maybe I'm just being narrow-minded.) Where would I choose to live if Virginia wasn't an option? Well, in all of my travels I'd have to say the hills of Tuscany in Italy were pretty awesome. I wouldn't mind a Caribbean island either... But until I learn how to make wine or weave seagrass hats, I'll enjoy living in good ole' Virginny!

Watermelon Smoothies

2009-08-17T20:51:00.003-04:00

Melissa and I made a refreshing and filling summertime drink that's so easy. You should give it a try:

Mix the following in a blender and pour:

2 tbsp lime juice

1 - 2 cups ice

1 cup raspberry sherbert

1 cup fresh watermelon

*You can add mini chocolate chips to the top to make it look like watermelon seeds, if you want.

Past Two Weeks

2009-08-16T17:09:00.004-04:00

We have been busy the past two weeks trying to squeeze in a few final days of summer fun before beginning the new school year.

Kiara, my mom and I went to a "Cowboy Day" and got a taste of the pioneer days. Couldn't believe how tall this corn grew...

Getting together with friends after school makes the transition a little easier. Here's what it looks like when your daughter figures out how to get V-Cast t.v. show clips on your cell phone (hope it's something covered on our plan. Guess we'll find out when our next bill comes in!)

Kiara entertains company with her "granny" skit.

Roselawn hosted a tea party/baby shower last weekend. Turns out the guest of honor was Kiara's 4th grade math teacher! Didn't realize it until half way through the event!

This past weekend we had two of our closest friends visit from Richmond. They have come to Roselawn often and somehow missed the honor of being presented on my blog in the past... So this time I want be sure to introduce to you... Kevin and Melissa...

(Previous photo courtesy of Kiara, which is why our bellies are the focal point!)

It was so much fun hanging out with them, and I'm sooooo glad we've managed to keep in touch despite the distance! I really do believe that "friends are friends forever if the Lord's the Lord of them". This is truly a friendship blessed by God!

Now on to a full work week and possibly a trip to NJ to see some family this weekend. Still working on the plans.

Happy August

2009-08-04T22:15:00.002-04:00

It's getting late and I'm too tired to download pictures to post, but thought I 'd at least write a quick update for this last full month of summer.

Yes, summer for Kiara is almost over. She starts 5th grade a week from today! Hard to believe it is her last year of elementary school. Seems like yesterday I was enrolling her in preschool!

Paul's business has been going well. The ice cream shop is a huge hit in this small town. Give people somewhere to go on a warm summer evening. Not sure what the plan is one the weather turns cool. Maybe try a coffee shop inside.

We had some other B&B owners over yesterday for a social/networking event. Started at 3 and thought it would last maybe an hour or so. We had so much fun the last guests didn't leave until almost 9 pm! Then we headed over the the drive in to see Ice Age 3 with Kiara. It was pretty cute.

We have a tea party lined up at Roselawn this weekend and a shower the following. The fall looks promising as several overnight guests have made reservations. May not have time to blog much for a while, but I'll try!

Years Gone By

2009-07-22T21:20:00.003-04:00

Kiara's sister and family came to visit over the weekend. The girls had a great time catching up with each other! They are both growing up sooo quickly! Here's a picture of them as preschoolers (before we adopted Kiara), then one of them taken during the recent visit...

Newborn Kitty and Ice Cream Shop

2009-07-12T16:55:00.003-04:00

We found a newborn kitten on the side of our house. It couldn't have been more than a day or two old. Luckily, a friend had a momma cat that is still nursing, so we are going to try to see if she'll take it. Isn't is soooo adorable???
Also, Keysville Station (our new business in town) now has an ice cream shop! It just openend on Thursday, and so far it is doing quite well! Here's a picture of the local newpaper in which it is featured. Our friend Kim Henry is managing and operating the business, but they are NOT all of her kids (only 2 of them are). You'll notice that the child on the far left is our very own Kiara. And, yes, she has had ice cream everyday since its opening!

Last Weekend's Beach Trip

2009-07-11T11:31:00.009-04:00

Fun at Ocean Breeze Park.

The kids got to drive around the military base on our friend's Gator.

Paul entertained us with his Mad Scientist experiments using dry ice during our down time.

Say hello to "Hermie", Kiara's newest pet. She chose the shell painted like a bunny. If Hermie only knew what he was carrying around on his back!

The governor of Virginia stayed a few doors down in this beach cottage on base. We saw him hanging out on the front porch.

I got to visit with a friend from college that I haven't seen in 18 years!

A family pictue.

Country Friends

2009-06-28T13:53:00.004-04:00

Who needs human friends in the country? Although Kiara has several friends, her favorite playmates are Kenai and Belle, our goats. Here's what I often see when I look out of our window...

When the goats have gone in for the night, human friends will have to suffice...

Why is the Grass So Tall??

2009-06-21T20:35:00.002-04:00

Figuring that a B&B should always have a manicured-looking lawn, we went ahead and splurged on a nice zero-turn mower less than a year ago. I volunteered to take over the grass mowing job since Paul is at the building so often, but I'm thinking that I might be fired very soon. I had to go get him once to get the mower out of the mud it got stuck in. Another time I had to report that I had accidentally bulldozed into the brick side of our steps crumbling it into pieces. (My argument was that it waws over 150 years old so it was about time to replace it anyway!)

But this time I think I've really done it. I filled the mower with gas and proceeded to cut the lawn. After a while it started to sputter and die much like a mower does when it runs out of gas. That couldn't be though because I had just filled it. I lifted the seat (where the tank was on our LAST mower), took off the lid which read "Do not top off" and looked inside... yep, plenty of gas. Then I looked to the right and noticed a big black container-like part. Hmmm- what goes in there? I took the top off and looked inside. It was empty. Then it hit me. That's where the gas should've gone.

Sooo, the lawn will have to wait until Paul can flush out the system and add new hydrolic fluid 'cause that's where the gas went. We are praying it didn't do any damage to the mower. If all is well with it, I bet he'll have the grass cut before I even get home from work! I guess I don't blame him for wanting to take the job back!

Pertinent Quote

2009-06-13T09:54:00.001-04:00

I happened upon a quote in another blog that ties in well with my last post. Couldn't resist sharing...

“I am still determined to be cheerful and happy, in whatever situation I may be; for I have also learned from experience that the greater part of our happiness or misery depends upon our dispositions, and not upon our circumstances.”~Martha Washington

41 Tomorrow

2009-06-11T16:47:00.002-04:00

Tomorrow is my 41st birthday. I am spending the day with Kiara at my mom's house. As I reflect on lessons I have learned so far in my life, I think these would be at the top of the list...

1. Contentment is easier to hold onto when you can find be thankful in every bad situation. When you loose $5, be thankful it wasn't your whole wallet. If your boss is annoying, be glad you aren't married to him! If you are having a bad hair day, be glad you haven't lost it all from chemo.

2. When people ask "How you are doing?", they really only want to hear "fine" or "great". People do not want to hear much more than that... especially complaints and problems. They have enough of their own. God doesn't want me to complain, and I've really tried to get better as I grow older (and I seem to find more things I feel are worth complaining about).

3. My goals here on earth must be Christ-centered. There will be no corporate ladders, salaries, IQ tests or beauty pageants in heaven... so why focus on worldly things now? I try to focus my thoughts on what matters to God and brings Him glory. This isn't easy, but it is one of the most important things I'm realizing in life.

4. Enjoy every single moment of life because it really does go quickly. Study the beauty of your child's eyes as she looks at you. Take a deep breath to fill your lungs with crisp morning air before heading to work. Watch the deer out in the yard even though you're in a hurry to start dinner. Those little events in life may become a memory you will later cherish.

5. As I grow older, I think more and tend to analyze more-- which lends itself to becoming more set in my ways. Yes, age brings wisdom, but I hope all the wisdom I'm gaining doesn't make me more judgemental. I am cognizant of this tendency and will strive to keep an open mind, accepting of others, and willing to think differently about things even though I might know a lot about it.

Well, I'm sure I could come up with more... but the smell of a birthday cake that my daughter is now baking for me is reminding me to get off of the computer and enjoy a little time with her and my mom. Life is for the living now. I must go seize the day...

A Future Rachel Ray

2009-06-07T15:40:00.005-04:00

So, what do kids in the county do when they're bored? Well, if they love to cook, they get creative outside! Yes, Kiara is a mud pie makin' girl, and when summer arrives it brings forth all kinds of "ingredients". Today, she's making her signature dish: Pecan tree leaves with a hint of seed pods.

Tomorrow she may make her Hay and Goat Poo Casserole... mmmm. Anybody wanna come over for dinner? Hey, any practice she can get to take over the B&B is good with me!

We did drive to the Richmond Zoo last weekend to give her a break from all the culinary stress...

We especially loved feeding the giraffes!

And the little prarie dogs were sooooo cute!

Here's what the zebra thought of us taking pictures of his family...

Look at the tiger in her cage... Oh, wait... that's our cat Ellie on the stairs! :)

Problem Resolved

2009-05-24T15:43:00.002-04:00

Thanks, Joan, for your thoughtful comment on the previous post. It really meant a lot to hear the kind things you had to say about our family! By the time I had gotten to school, Kiara had already resolved the issue with her friends. (But I didn't hesistate to tell the one girl what I thought about her teasing anyway!) And you are right... Kiara has gone into summer mode full force. She had a sleepover at a friend's house on Friday night, then we had friends over our house until midnight last night. She's at a birthday party right now, and I'll pick her up just in time for a visit with my mom!

The Day Finally Came

2009-05-21T21:45:00.003-04:00

I was wondering when this day would come. I picked Kiara up from school and she was upset to the point of tears. It was so painful for me to hear the words, "My friend teased me because I'm adopted." It appears they got in an arument and this girl tried to get back at her by saying some hurtful things like her birthparents didn't love her and gave her away and we weren't her real parents. I can't tell you how much this hurt me to see my baby girl's pain. I tried to explain how special she was BECAUSE she's adopted and reassured her that we were her "real" parents.

Tomorrow is the last day of school. I'm going in to eat lunch with Kiara and to talk to the friend. I pray all goes well with that and that it at least shows Kiara that I'm willing to stick up for her. Kiara asked me to do that, and I really want to start the summer off on a good note. So hopefully things will be resolved. But I wonder if those hurtful words will linger in Kiara's mind and create some insecurities. We've always celebrated adoption, and I hope the positive light we've put it in through the years gives her the reassurance she needs during this time.

Mother's Day Memories

2009-05-11T22:02:00.003-04:00

I spent Mother's Day at my mom's house. She has been raising a calf that lost its mother recently after giving birth. It was a sad story, but the calf is doing remarkable well and seems to be enjoying the company of her foster humans! Here are some pics of our time with Daisy...

Finally Back

2009-05-08T16:15:00.003-04:00

I've been away for different trainings for almost two of the past three weeks! Things should settle down a bit now... just in time for Kiara's school year to end. Yes, 4th grade is almost over for her and, boy, will she be GLAD! It has been a bit of a challenging year, so I'm looking forward to a break from it all.

We have a full house at the B&B this weekend and next weekend. Both with family of friends in town. The Antique Mall is doing well. We are trying to get creative on other things we can add to get people in. We have a smaller storefront connected to the large area that no one has rented out yet. Any ideas? I was thinking of a soda shoppe selling limeades and milkshakes. Or maybe an ice cream or coffee shop? It would be nice to have something with very little overhead costs.

On another note... a friend tagged me with this picture on Facebook. Can you find me?? I'm #6 My, that was a long time ago! I think I was 15 or 16 years old.

Small Town Memories

2009-04-23T20:24:00.003-04:00

When Paul is working at Keysville Station, Kiara gets off of the bus in town and hangs out until the business closes. A friend her age lives across the street above the Chinese restaurant her family owns. It has become an almost daily ritual for them to look for each other across the streeet, then call one or the other over to play. It's neat to watch the whole exchange which usually goes something like this...

"I see you over there... can you come out to play??"

"I'm coming as soon as the coast is clear."

"Yeah! I'm here!"

"Hmm... now what should we do? Wanna come back over to my restaurant and check out the bubble gum machines?"

Kiara has loved the freedom to explore the town on her own. Of course, we have a certain perimeter where she's allowed to go. It includes another friend's mother's business down the street, a playground, the dollar store and a few friend's houses. These are the small town memories she'll look back on fondly.

A Look Within

2009-04-16T21:34:00.004-04:00

For those of you who are curious... here's a look at some of the aniques and vendor spaces in the new business...

(I couldn't resist setting up an old fashioned schoolhouse area!)

These last two are of Paul's sister, Joan's, booth. She has been selling lots of stuff!

Newpaper Article

2009-04-11T09:31:00.003-04:00

I cut and pasted an article that appeared recently in our local paper. That is Paul's sister, Joan, with him in the picture. (I wasn't available for the photo op). Since then people have asked if they were my parents. Ahhh, I feel young again!!!

All Aboard! Keysville Station Now Open
By Samuel Weddington
Published: Friday, April 3, 2009 9:14 AM CDT

When Paul, Sherry, and Kiara Robleto moved to Keysville several years ago from New Kent County, they saw endless possibilities. “We loved the town,” Mr. Robleto remarked. Seizing both the momentum of their new move and opportunity, their first order of business was to open the Roselawn Bed and Breakfast.Over time, Roselawn has become a fixture within the community, opening the town up to even more tourism as well as hosting the monthly meeting of Charlotte County’s Meals on Wheels board meeting. However, the Robletos saw even more possibilities within Keysville. Sensing that downtown Keysville was undergoing a renaissance with the addition of wonderful local businesses like the Perfect Package, but still needing more businesses to increase foot traffic for other King Street businesses, the Robletos struck upon an idea. From this germ of inspiration, the Keysville Station Antiques and Vendor’s Mall was born. Opening March 1st, Keysville Station brings to the downtown of Keysville not only an antiques store, but also a place for people from around the area to come and browse a number of different goods from furniture to collectibles and knick-knacks from multiple vendors. The antiques residing within Keysville Station are remarkable unto themselves, made up mainly of turn of the century pieces.Residing within the old Tri-County Ford building across from the town’s Chinese restaurant, Keysville Station has a lot of room to grow into. The front area of the business is a dedicated antiques and furniture showroom, while the back area of the business houses vendors offering a wide range of goods. The upstairs of the building also houses a number of show areas and vendors as well.
Yet, the Robletos’ dreams do not stop there. In the back area, a sound stage has been set up for bands to play every Friday night. Additionally, a new outdoor flea and farmer’s market is open alongside Keysville Station every Saturday, starting at 8 a.m. To support all of the customers coming to all of the events at Keysville Station, a snack bar will soon be opened up within the building, complete with a train car façade.In the end, the Roblettos see that the larger Keysville area has the population to support smaller, local businesses, and more importantly, that Keysville is still a town where residents congregate to shop and socialize together. Imagining many Saturday afternoons to come in which residents come to the downtown and pick from the wide variety of downtown businesses while meeting their neighbors, the Roblettos are rapidly moving towards making their dream a reality.Keysville Station Antiques and Vendor’s Mall is open Thursday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Sunday from 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Booth space within the building is still available, with prices ranging from $60-$150 per month, and flea market spaces are also available at $10 per unit. The Robletos would also like the public to know that a Meals on Wheels charity booth is up and running within Keysville Station. Donations can be made at the booth, and all monies from booth purchases go directly to Meals on Wheels.

Happy April

2009-04-04T12:59:00.002-04:00

I'm sitting here at the Vendors Mall manning the register while Paul runs home to fix our lawn mower. I am actually happy to see that thing come out of the shed because it means warmer weather and beautiful spring blooms! I think I had a touch of SAD this past winter!

Paul's sister, Joan, is back in town to help out with the new business. Kiara is at her grandmother's house this weekend.

Nothing much new since my last post. Can't put any pics up because I'm not on my home computer where they are stored. Haven't taken any lately anyway, so I guess it doesn't matter.

Maybe my next post will have something more exciting to write about! Until then...

Spring has Sprung

2009-03-29T19:34:00.003-04:00

Finally, some warmer spring-like weather! We finished up our first month as owners/operators of the Keysville Vendors Mall. It has gotten busier there everyday with more and more vendors joining us in their business ventures. In two weeks, we will expand to doing an outdoor flea market as well.

I must admit, it makes for a crazy week for me... working 4 days a week, then doing the B&B and helping Paul on the weekends while also doing the "mom thing" but God has given me the strength to manage so far! Joan (Paul's sister) is back to stay for a while, so that will make things easier. By the way, she has a program on her computer that does crazy things with images, and here's one we made a while back... I just love my self!

Haven't done a Kiara Quote in a while, so here's one that happened recently:

When asking Paul to sign some forms for me, Kiara interjected... "Don't do it, Daddy. They could be divorce papers!"

Happy Birthday, Mom!

2009-03-15T09:35:00.003-04:00

Kiara and I are at my mom's house this weekend. We helped her celebrate her 62nd birthday yesterday. She doesn't look that old, I know) Happy birthday, Mom! Hope you're not too mad that I posted a picture of you. (If anyone checks back later and finds the picture gone, you'll know that she was upset!)

It's a rainy, dreary weekend here in Virginia. Seems it has been that way a lot since we opened the Vendors Mall. Despite the weather, the business is getting off to a good start. Slow but good. I'm a little concerned about all the family outings we will miss because of having to work weekends (like this one), but somehow we will work it out. I also just realized that I will have to do breakfasts by myself on Saturday mornings, which usually won't be a problem- except when we have a full house. It will be a challenge to cook and wait on guests all by myself. Maybe my mom will come to help... Or it maybe it's time to put Kiara into serious training mode!

Gotta run... breakfast is calling. And this time I didn't have to make it myself. I love it!

Grand Opening and Snow

2009-03-04T20:50:00.003-05:00

The official opening for Paul's Vendor's Mall was Sunday. Luckily, we had a "practice" opening the day before because then along came a huge snow storm that kept everyone at home. We had a good number of people come by to check out the new attraction in Keysville, although all of the spaces aren't quite filled yet. We are hoping for more at the weather gets warmer and people venture out to see what it's all about.

This is the first "real" snowstorm we've had since moving out here. It was beautiful, but having no electricity got a little old. It finally came back on yesterday late afternoon. Here are some pics of our Winter Wonderland.

Okay, I'm ready for spring now!

Friends are Friends Forever

2009-02-22T18:12:00.006-05:00

We had a wonderful visit with friends from our years living in Richmond. It was very, very hard to say good bye to this family when we moved because we were sooo close, but we have managed to keep in touch. Not as well as I had hoped, I must admit, but getting back together for a visit felt like we had never had time apart. It is true... friends are friends forever if the Lord's the Lord of them.

Kiara had a blast playing with Abi even though she's 3 years younger.

They have a lot of the same interests. Unfortunately for the goats, one of them is horseback riding...

Then Kenai decided HE'D like to be the one on a horse...

The kids had a good time shooting Kiara's BB gun. Little brother, Luke, didn't seem to be bothered by the fact that it was PINK! I just love the look on his face as he takes aim!

The kids spend a lot of time playing with our 14 little chicks (still housed in our living room, by the way... C'mon warmer weather!!!)

I know Kerry and I will be friends for life! It was great getting back together again for fun times!

What's New at Roselawn

2009-02-16T17:05:00.003-05:00

Been a few weeks since I posted. Paul's sister, Joan, has been here for the past week helping Paul get ready to open his Vendor's Mall at the building he bought in town. She left today but plans to come back this weekend. The Grand Opening is March 1st, and he really needs her help to get things in place before then. I have been busy working and taking care of Roselawn and Kiara. I try to help when I can, but I'm sure it's not as much as he'd like... so Joan's help has been a welcomed blessing! She was staying here when we first opened the B&B and really helped us get the house going, too. Everywhere I turn there's a reminder of all she did for us... the curtains she made, the decorative woodwork in the bathroom, the walls she helped paint, the pictures she helped hang... Thanks, Joan!

We have 16 little baby chicks in our living room right now. I can hear them chirping away as I type. The get bigger and bigger every minute and soon will be moved to the coop outside. Right now they are too vulnerable to go out there. They require a temp of 95 -100 degrees, so needless to say, it has been hot in our house! Maybe I'll have a pic of them next post.

New Do

2009-02-01T13:18:00.003-05:00

Kiara got her haircut yesterday. It's short in the back and longer up front. I looks really cute on her. Now we need to see how it does with her kind of styling, which is very minimalistic!

We are leaving my mom's house soon to go to a friend's house for a Super Bowl party. I'm not big on football, but I do like hangin' out with food and friends! I was surpised today with a call from a very good friend from back in Richmond. She and her family are coming for a weekend visit in a few weeks. I can't wait to see you guys, Kerry!

The Seagulls are Here

2009-01-28T18:53:00.003-05:00

Pictures to go with my last post...

Beach and Snow

2009-01-20T21:20:00.002-05:00

Just got back from Virginia Beach last night. We went with some friends and stayed on the oceanfront for 4 relaxing days! It was bitter cold, but that didn't matter to us. We just enjoyed looking out at the ocean and being away for a while. Well, Paul had to come back home because our innsitter reported that our pipes had frozen and the guests had no water. He was planning to come back in the middle anyway because he had already committed to playing drums, but the pipe situation mean a longer time away from vacation. He ended up coming back to the beach at around 5 am Sunday and enjoyed two more days with us including an awesome meal at Captain George's. No pictures downloaded yet... maybe by next post. I woke up this morning to a coating of snow on the ground that kept Kiara out of school. (I think a 2 hour delay would've been cautious enough, but she didn't complain about another whole day off!) I headed out to work with no trouble on the roads at all. Guess you never know what's happening in another part of a rural county. We haven't seen a REAL snowstorm since we moved here. I wouldn't mind just one before spring rolls around...

Happy New Year

2009-01-10T14:18:00.003-05:00

Welcome to 2009! I am anxious to see what the Lord has in store for us during this new year. We now own a commercial building right in the town of Keysville. Paul is making plans to open an indoor vendor's mall and possibly rent some of the upstairs spaces to businesses. It is very scary for me, I must admit. I help out when I can and one day might end up working with him full time. We'll see. Here is a picture of the building...
I am still working for Piedmont Healthy Families as an in-home parent educator. It is rewarding most of the time and frustrating some of the time. I feel bad for the moms who are trying so hard to get ahead and can't catch a break, and I feel hopeless working with those who would rather stay stuck in a system that supports their dependency. All in all, it is a great program where I get to use my skills to promote healthy child development. I love working with the little ones, and my flexible 30 hour/wk schedule helps a lot when we have B&B activity.

Kiara is half-way through 4th grade and is literally counting the days until Spring Break. She is Little Miss Sociable and is entertaining a friend here right now as I type this.

Hope everyone has a wonderful 2009 with many, many blessings to come!

Christmas at Roselawn

2008-12-30T22:18:00.008-05:00

Kiara had to follow clues to find her gift from Santa. One was hidden "where Baby Jesus was born" (bet you didn't know that a Diet Coke can also pose as a shepherd!)

The "scary" old doll held the last clue. (Kiara grabbed that one and ran!)

Then she opened...

A pink BB gun! ...And couldn't wait to practice shooting it outside. The smoke from our burning leaves added a neat effect! Talk about a smokin' gun!

Family and friends came over in the afternoon. The weather was so nice that we moved the party outside. "Christmas in the Country" events included burning leaves, jumping on a pogo stick, playing Bocci ball, shooting the bb gun, and "rooster catching". (My mom's friend and her Uncle Donald ended up catching it as he roosted in the tree later that evening. The constantly crowing cock is now cooped up in our henhouse.)

Then some MORE friends came over with their two girls and they acted out the Christmas story for the adults... the TRUE meaning of Christmas.

Later in the week two of Paul's sisters and their daughters came for a visit over the weekend.

I did lots of cooking and baked an apple pie with the gift our long-term B&B guest gave us. A pie plate with a blackbird in the middle. It had a little hole in its beak to release the steam. How cute, huh?

Now time to look forward to celebrating New Year's. Kiara and I plan to go over to my mom's since Paul is playing drums tomorrow night.

HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE!

Deutschland

2008-12-17T20:15:00.009-05:00

Okay, here are a few pictures from my trip to Germany... Still waiting for my brother to send pics from his camera (hint, hint, Scott)

At the airport headed to Berlin. We were in for a looooong night of flying.

A pretty cool shot of a church tower that stands in the center of the city surrounded by modern buildings. Most of it was destroyed during WWII, but they left what remained as reminder of the terrors of war.

Another haunting scene was one of the many torture areas we toured at a concentration camp. I really learned a lot about German history during the time of Hitler. I'm glad I went, but some of the things I heard were quite disturbing.

Scott and I were standing near the Spree River. One night we walked through a gas lantern-lit garden along the water. That was probably my favorite memories of the trip.

This is Spandau Old Town which is actually older that Berlin itself. It has neat little streets with medieval style houses and lots of neat balconies with that bavarian feel.

My mom and I ate up in that "space needle" on the right. It had a revolving restaurant with awesome views of the city. I love how blue the sky looks in this picture.

Glad I had a minute to post some of the pictures. Of course I have other things I SHOULD be doing right now, but Paul convinced me to take a break and have some family time watching a Christmas movie he rented. Sooo, I got in that relaxation mode, then he decided to first change out the DVD player for one he found (yes, found) because he was anxious to see if it worked. He started over an hour ago, and still no Christmas movie yet... so I wandered on over to the computer and ended up getting to the pictures of the trip. Now what... should I go ahead and start wrapping more presents? Organize this messy office? See what Kiara is doing to the cat??? Hmmm... maybe I'll just check in on my blogger friends...

Kiara's Quote: Her favorite Christmas carol at age 3 was Angels We Have Heard on High, especially the line "joyful and try armpit".

I'm Back

2008-12-13T19:52:00.004-05:00

Well, I've been back from Germany for a while, but it has taken some time to get back to the world of blogging. I've been putting extra hours in at work so I can flex some time for Christmas. We've got some family visiting and I want to be there as much as possible.

I was super-busy over Thanksgiving managing the B&B and taking care of our guests while Paul was away visiting his brother in Florida. Last weekend we had an Open House at Roselawn for a tour of historical homes. We had another function today- about 20 ladies for a Christmas party. Now the dishes are done and I am sitting back thinking about my dad. Today would have been his 63rd birthday. My mom is here and we had a cake in honor of him. Happy Birthday, Dad. I miss you.
Tomorrow is our church's youth Chrismas program, which somehow I ended up being in charge of. Once that is over, things will seem a little less crazy... but then, I do have lots of shopping to do. Only 12 days left. Won't be long until the 12 drummers are drumming!!!

Our computer had been sitting at our CPA's office for two weeks waiting for a program installation, and I haven't downloaded the pics from our trip since getting it back. They are actually on the back up computer we used while we were waiting to get the new one back. Maybe next post??? But here's one taken while ice skating at an Adoption Celebration event. Kiara was hanging onto us all the way around the rink. Needless to say, we were very tired after about an hour!

Kiara's Quote: Last Christmas I reminded Kiara that she only gets three gifts because that's how many Jesus got-- to which she replied, "Well, there better not be any myrrh!

Germany Bound

2008-11-06T20:07:00.002-05:00

I have been busy working 12-14 hour days so I'll be all caught up before my trip. Yes, I'm leaving for Germany one week from today!!! I've started packing early because I'll be working 3 ten hour days Monday through Wedsneday before getting on the plane Thursday morning. It's going to be crazy but hopefully worth it all. I am going with my mom and my brother. Paul is saving his travel to visit his brother, Rich, in Florida over Thanksgiving weekend. Kiara is actually excited about me going because she is getting paid to dog-sit for my mom. She just loves Riley, and I guess the responsibility makes her feel so grown up. I might not get time to blog before I leave, so here's a final "Auf Wiedersehen" just in case!

Kiara's Quote from just last week... When explaining she was talking about her grandmother she said: "Not my mumma but my mumma's mumma." (Try saying that 5 times fast!)

Pictures to Share

2008-10-30T21:38:00.005-04:00

Kiara turned 10 last week and decided to get a Nintendo DS instead of a party this year. Of course, we still had to have cake and, of course, I couldn't resist tying in the Nintendo theme, so here's the cake I made:

P.S. Nick and Jenny... Kiara LOVED the games you got her! Thanks so much! How thoughtful!

And now fast forward to today...

It was costume day at school and Kiara went as cheerleader with very fancy eyelashes. We had to make a special trip to the store last night to get them.

Then when we got home, Kiara decided we needed a DEER as a pet instead of a goat so she fashioned some antlers for Kenai...

And now my 10 year old girl is waiting for me to tuck her in, so I must go. Sweet dreams everyone...

Rainy Friday

2008-10-17T20:30:00.002-04:00

Today is a rainy Friday. I guess we've needed it but could do without the cold front that came along with it! I picked Kiara up from school early today so that I could bring her to my mom's while I worked this afternoon. I just got home, and Paul isn't here yet so I thought I'd take this quiet time to update my blog. Problem is, I don't have much to report! This is a bittersweet season for me as it was two years ago during this time that my dad got sick and passed away. Guess I've just been in my own little world remembering and missing him.

On a happier note, I do want to add my "Kiara's Quote of the Day" since I forgot last time. Found funny episode (but a bit embarrassing for me) from when she was 4 years old...

Kiara came in the bathroom one morning and noticed the "stink". Jokingly, I blamed Paul. Later, she came back in and replied, "It smells better in here now... Daddy must've used mouthwash!"

Have a great weekend, everyone!!!

Mother-Daughter Bonding

2008-10-12T14:14:00.004-04:00

Last weekend Paul was in Atlanta visiting family and picking up a car we bought from his sister, so Kiara and I had some "girl time" together. One day we went to a local state park where we had a picnic lunch and took pictures of the beautiful scenery. Then we participated in something called "Letterboxing". We were given a list of clues and had to locate the "hidden treasure" which, in this case was a special rock. (See picture below). It was a neat experience, and Kiara and I finished first!

During the weekend we also went bike riding with some friends to a place called High Bridge. It is an old train bed turned into a trail that will eventually go over the bridge which, as the name implies, is very high. Here are some pictures from that:

We also went to the movies, restaurants (several during the weekend!), batting cages, and arcade where Kiara played her favorite hunting game. It was a fun weekend with my little girl who is growing up so fast. Hard the believe she will be 10 next week!

Fall is Here!

2008-10-03T12:56:00.007-04:00

It's really beginning to feel like fall around here! The temperature is perfect-- I love crisp, cool autumn days when the sunshine warms you up just enough!

Paul is in Atlanta now visiting relatives and picking up a car we are buying from his sister. So, Kiara and I have a girls' weekend! I'll be off to pick her up from school in just a couple of hours and thought I'd sneak in a little blogging while I had time.

I am enjoying my part time schedule. The 3 ten hour days in a row seem unending at times, but then the reward of 4 days off makes it all worthwhile!

My brother is coming into town for a visit the day after Kiara's birthday. Then I'll see him again in November for our trip to Germany. Kiara is so excited about her birthday. She will be 10 on October 22nd. Instead of a big party this year, she opted for a Nintendo DS, so that's what she's getting. Anybody out there know if some good games to get?

Here's a picture taken at school of Kiara with some 4th grade classmates. The boy in the middle is her first "real crush". (Hope she doesn't mind me telling the world that!)

Kiara's Quote of the Day: Just recently Kiara asked a friend how old he was and he said, "I'm in my 50's." Kiara replied, "I'm in my 9's."

Happy Anniversary to Us

2008-09-16T21:11:00.003-04:00

Today is Paul and my anniversary. We've been married 19 years! I still remember walking down that aisle in that little country church like it was yesterday. I must admit that I thought I was the luckiest girl in the world that day, and this has been proven true throughout the years. Yes, we've had our difficult times through the marriage, but Paul always made me feel loved and secure through all the hard times. We didn't let infertility tear us apart and ended up with a beautiful adopted daughter more precious than we could've ever imagined. We wouldn't trade her for a biological child today. Paul has encouraged me to live each day to its fullest and to be a risk taker. How else would I have left my roots and moved to Keysville, VA? We have been blessed with a wonderful family on both sides. He adores my mom and has fond memories of my dad, and I absolutely love all of his siblings, nieces and nephews. We have had so many awesome trips together (and some that he even let me take without him... including one to come-- Germany!) So I just wanted to say, Happy Anniversary, Paul. I love you.

Kiara's Quote of the Day: (To reiterate the fact that, yes, Paul and I have had our hard times...) Kiara quietly witnessed a disagreement between us and interjected..."Ya know, I heard everything ya'll said... and it wasn't pretty!" Age 5

New Computer

2008-09-01T11:14:00.002-04:00

We had to replace our virus-infested computer with a new one, so I've been busy setting up my e-mail, adding bookmarks, and learning the nuances of Vista. Still haven't been able to get my pictures and Roselawn documents off of the last one. For that I think we'll call in an expert. I can't even get it to boot up. Lesson learned.. back up everything right away- on an external drive if possible.

Life outside of the technological realm is going well. We're all off for Labor Day but don't have anything special planned. Just hangin' around the house relaxing, I guess. Should probably be turning over two room from guests that left recently, but maybe that can wait. There's not a whole lot to do around Keysville, although we did go to the high school football game on Friday night, and friends came over last night to "porch sit" with us. I'll be taking a break from small town living to go to GERMANY in November with my mom and brother! Looking forward that.

Kiara's Quote: Looking at the inspection sticker and county decals on the car windshield, Kiara asked, "What'd you have to do to win those stickers?"

Back at Mom's

2008-08-23T20:22:00.003-04:00

Kiara and I are spending the night at at my mom's house tonight. so I thought I'd take advantage of the chance to post some of her pics from our family reunion...

Brotherly love...
Attacked by Jaws at the aquarium...
At the dolphin show...Waitin' for breakfast...
The gang's all here in Annapolis...

Blogger Trouble

2008-08-19T21:22:00.004-04:00

Hi, everyone! I'm posting this from my mom's computer because our computer at home is giving us trouble. It all happened shortly after Kiara attempted to download a game without us knowing... and now everytime I try to sign in to my account, a message comes up saying I need to enable cookies. I tried that but it doesn't help. I've also tried deleting cookies and clearing the cache, but to no avail. Any of my tech-savvy nieces or nephews have any idea what I can try next???

While I have access, I will give a short update on what's been going on at Roselawn...

We recently got back from a family reunion in Baltimore and had a great time (wish I had pics on my mom's computer to post!) Went to lots of great restaurants and enjoyed the Inner Harbor. Kiara was impressed by the sharks and dolphins at the aquarium! She had fun imitating them in the hotel pool that night.

Our good friends from Richmond, Kevin and Melissa, came to visit last weekend and took us out on their awesome boat. Had fun getting pulled on one of those tubes but did almost capsize once. It was a beautiful day and the weather was perfect. We spent the rest of the weekend relaxing on the front porch and catching up with each other. I miss hanging out with them! I'll post pictures if I can ever get back on at home!!!

Kiara started school last week. She's now in 4th grade! We are finishing up horse lessons and plan to get her back into karate soon. It's too hard to manage both while school is in session, so we figured we'd skip riding during the cooler months.

Hmmm, for Kiara's Quote of the Day... Let me see... (I don't have my journal here for reference, so I'll have to pull one from memory)...

While completing homework in first grade, Kiara wrote her name at the top then read "Date" and replied: "Let's see, who do I want to go out with??"

Married at Roselawn

2008-07-30T19:07:00.002-04:00

Paul performed his second wedding at Roselawn last weekend. Here are some pictures of the special event...

Kiara Quote for the Day:

"When I get married I'm going to live far, far away... like 10 miles!" Age 4

Kiara Quotes

2008-07-22T21:15:00.004-04:00

I thought it would be fun to start putting a quote from Kiara's past at the bottom of each blog (when I can remember to do it!) I started a journal when she was first adopted to keep track of her unique child-insights, most of which have a strong element of humor! She has been known to say some pretty funny things, and I don't share them often because, well, most people get sick of hearing "cute/funny stories of their kids" (yes, you too may suffer from this, ... but I realize it's so hard for parents to resist!!!). I figured this way, those who really don't want to be bothered can just skip that part of my blog. Now Kiara has gotten to the point where, if she says something funny she then asks... "Are you gonna put that in your journal??" So, here goes the first one:

Kiara Quote of the Day:

"My Daddy drives fast... He passes all the trees". Age 3

Silly Kiara, age 3

Jobs

2008-07-13T18:42:00.003-04:00

It has been approved... starting next week, I will be working 3 ten hour days a week! I think this will help tremendously with the B&B, being there for Kiara, and my own sanity! The three days will be long ones, but at least I get to look forward to having 4 days "off". The only down side is that I probably won't be able to continue teaching classes at the community college, and I did enjoy doing that.

We still have two long term doctors staying here. (One of them in our rental house right now.) We are also getting geared up for a rehearsal dinner and wedding next weekend. This will be the second couple Paul will have married at Roselawn! Aside from serving as a reverend, Paul is still working part time for Family Preservation Services. He mentors youth and monitors some who are on house arrest. He's also working on purchasing the old Ford building in town. It looks like that might actually happen. (Scary for me, exciting for him.)

That's the news on the job front. Never know what's on the horizon for us next...

One More Pic

2008-07-09T20:59:00.002-04:00

I forgot to add this picture to the slideshow of our beach trip. It's Paul and our friend, Todd. They accidentally dressed alike, which is extra funny b/c Paul will not do that even with his own wife. He would opt change clothes if we look too similar!

Fun at the Beach

2008-07-06T14:18:00.003-04:00

Had a great time with friends at the beach. Some of the highlights were:

Riding our bikes around the military base.

Breaking open a coconut.

Going down water slides.

Seeing Todd's purple tongue from the purple milkshake.

Eating grilled steaks by the ocean.

Watching 4th of July fireworks on the beach.

Touring the Battleship Wisconsin in Norfolk.

Riding the ferry across the river on the way home.

HOPE EVERYONE HAD A GREAT 4TH OF JULY!

To Stay or Not to Stay

2008-06-28T23:08:00.002-04:00

I gave my resignation letter last week indicating that part-time would work better for me, and my boss counter-offered with a change to working only 30 hours a week. This would enable me to keep my benefits, so I'm seriously considering it.

Stayed busy all week with work, meetings, and functions... so there's really not much exciting to blog about. Kiara is always asking to have a friend over, and usually she gets her way. Today included. She is such a sociable girl-- when she wants to be!

We are heading to the beach this week with friends, so I won't be blogging for a while. Hopefully I'll have some good stories and pics upon our return. Until then........................................... God bless!!!

Roselawn is Hoppin'!

2008-06-21T10:20:00.007-04:00

We've had a lot of activity at Roselawn lately. Two doctors have been staying with us long-term.(One of them has been here for over 2 months.) Last night we hosted a wedding rehearsal dinner. It was catered by an outside source, but they used our kitchen for their prep. I've never seen so much food! They did a really cool thing with mashed potatoes by placing a scoop in a baked phyllo shell. Make the ordinary look fancy!

I also loved their fruit bouquet...

The weather was perfect for an outside event...

Yesterday I got a CD in the mail from my very cool nephew's wife, Jenny, of pics from their recent visit to Roselawn. This girl is one of the most thoughtful people I've ever met. She's always sending something to us, spoils Kiara when she visits, and does an awesome job of keeping in touch with people. You can visit her blog on my sidebar. My totally awesome nephew's is on there as well. We always enjoy their visits, as you can see from the pics...

Don't be jealous, Paul... I threw him back.

Cool Nick with one of the kittens we found in our backyard.

Jenny found a treasure of smashed pennies on the tracks.

Oh, the fun Keysville has to offer!!!

I'm Back

2008-06-17T18:36:00.004-04:00

Hi, everybody... I'm back from my week of training. Well, actually, I'm at my mom's house b/c we had a meeting out her way... so I am staying overnight and loving her attention! We're about to eat lasagna and last night it was yummy catfish! There's nothing like a home-cooked meal made with love!

Kiara and Paul have been enjoying father-daughter bonding time while I've been away. We did celebrate Father's Day together over the weekend by spending the day at a local state park. We had fun swimming and hanging out with friends.

My new job is okay... not sure how I feel about working full time. Part-time would be better for our life right now, so I'm looking at the options.

Paul has been managing the B&B on his own. He's done a good job of turning over rooms and hosting events. We have a full schedule this summer with lots going on, and we thank God for the fruitfulness of the Bed and Breakfast!

Kiara is loving her summer off. She always wants to have a friend over if she's not at Grandma's. Softball just ended, but she's still busy going to horse camp every Thursday. I've been trying to keep her reading and started her on long division in hopes that she'll have an easy start in 4th grade.

That's about all going one here. No pics to post since I'm at my mom's right now.

Meet Our Friends

2008-06-07T20:35:00.005-04:00

We had some friends over recently and thought I'd show you some of the people we hang out with here at Roselawn... Todd and Kim

Lisa and Charles

Matt and Diane

Paul's sister, Chris, and her husband Bob were visited with us all week, but somehow we didn't manage to get one picture of them. How did that happen? Chris helped Kiara make the birthday "cake" for Paul's 47th birthday, which they helped us celebrate.

It was 101 degrees here today, so Kiara has some of her friends over to play in the water. I got this shot of her friends' little sister. It was so cute, I just had to post it...

I love my new camera!!!

I'll be out of town all week for training, so no posts until I get back.

Bridal Bouquet

2008-05-31T12:08:00.004-04:00

First pics from my new camera... We had a bridal photo shoot at Roselawn and Paul captured Kiara making her own bouquet.

Love this Pic!

2008-05-28T22:28:00.002-04:00

This is one of my very favorite pictures of Kiara. It's from about two years ago, but I just "found" it recently and had to share it. Her love for animals shows so much in this! Paul got me an very nice camera for Mother's Day, but I still haven't downloaded any of my new pictures. It's on my To Do list.

My 40th birthday is coming up in a few weeks, and I must admit that I am not looking forward to it. Where did all the years go?? Does this mean I'm officially middle-aged? Well, I guess I'll start deciding what I want for my "crisis". Any ideas???

Hey Katie, Lizzie, Jenny and Bev... thanks for checking in on and occasionally posting comments on my blog. I think there are a few other family members out there that "look" but just don't post... I appreciate you guys, too-- but maybe just not as much :)

Over 2 Months Later...

2008-05-25T22:06:00.003-04:00

I have gotten a few inquiries about my blog being so far behind, so here's my first attempt to get back in the groove! Thanks to those of you who cared enough to check in with me to see if I'd been blogknapped! I'm still around, but busier than I'd like to be. I started working full time again with an agency called Piedmont Healthy Families. Basically what I do it go into the homes of first time at-risk moms and guide them in becoming positive parents. I enjoy my new job, but the adjustment back to working full time has been a bit of a challenge. I've been out of town A LOT for trainings, and when I get home I switch to my other job of being innkeeper, wife and mom.

The B&B has been doing really well lately. We have had several long-termers stay with us. We we have one of our rental houses rented out, but the other one has run into some problems and the renters just moved out, so we are in the process of trying to decide whether to find other renters or just sell it. Paul is also still working on buying that commercial building I mentioned several months ago.

Kiara is finally done with school- as of last Wednesday... Yay! It was a long, hard year but she got through it. She has been busy with softball and is just getting back into horse riding lessons.

We have had lots of family visit over the past several months and are looking forward to Paul's sister, Chris, and her husband who are coming next week.

As you can tell, we have been very busy at Roselawn... but I will try to do better at keeping up with my blog... so don't give up on me yet!!!

Update

2008-03-15T14:13:00.005-04:00

I see it has been over a month since my last post. My, how time flies! There has been a lot going on lately. Here's an update on our family activities...

1. We lost Bambi to a urinary tract infection. Apparently this is something that goats have a hard time fighting, and in his case is was fatal despite our attempts to save him. He died early in the morning on February 29th. It was very heartbreaking, and I can even say anymore without getting upset. We will miss him terribly.

2. Kiara has earned her purple belt in karate and just started softball today. That means we will now be busy with something after school every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and sometimes Wednesdays (Girl Scouts). Then I'm sure there will be games on the weekends. Not sure how long we can all keep this up. We might have to drop karate for a while... we'll see. Here she is getting her certificate.

3. Paul and I have been working hard this past month getting our rental ready. They are moving in one week. We are down to the final touches and, I must say, it has turned out to be a pretty nice place. I almost hate to have someone else come in and make it lived-in after we worked so hard to flip it! We are both glad it's almost over and it can finally start bringing in a little bit of income!!

4. We have had a lot of Paul's family visit lately. His one sister and friend came back for a visit a few weeks ago, and his other sister, husband and two friends stayed this past week. It was nice to see them all and look forward to the next group to visit Roselawn. Next on our reservation list is his other sister, Chris (and her husband, Bob)... then our nephew, Nick, and his wife are planning a visit.

5. We just got back from my mom's house. Yesterday was her 61st birthday. (She doesn't look that old, does she?) Happy, Birthday, Mom!!!

P.S. I tried get pictures of Phil, Eileen and their friends off of my camera to post here, but for some reason my computer isn't recognizing the device right now. So, maybe next time.

One Spoiled Goat!

2008-02-12T15:21:00.000-05:00

We've gotten attached to this cutie, and our cat is even getting jealous! Here's Ellie tried to squeeze her way back in to the spot she's always held laying on my chest...

He's even had the honor of helping me tuck Kiara in at night...

And now we are even starting to dress alike!!...

**Note: You may have missed my most recent post because I started it a while back and finished it last week, but I couldn't figure out how to change the date. So if you want to read about a few of my favorite things, go down to January 9th.

Sorry I haven't been blogging much lately (Kerry- I'm speaking mainly to you because now I know you look forward to living vicariously through us! We really enjoyed our night out recently with you guys and hope you're still planning to come visit next weekend!!)

My brother came for a visit from Florida and stayed a week. It was nice to see him again, but after about the 5th day, we reverted back to our sibling bickering. I still love you, Scott-- even though you are a pain!

Kiara has been working hard at school and in karate. She's really a natural at it and will be testing for her purple belt next week. (Of course, I'm all excited because then it will match her purple sparring gear. She doesn't care one bit about what it matches and is focused on her ultimate goal... the black belt!)

Paul and I have been busy working on renovating the Church Street house. We have renters moving in next week, so the pressure it on. We have a Gala for Meals-on-Wheels this Saturday and are working a Wedding Expo in Farmville to represent Roselawn on Sunday. Needless to say, I will probably be too busy to blog for a while, but I'll get back to it at soon as I can. Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!!!

Been Busy with Bambi

2008-01-23T18:46:00.000-05:00

Paul and I went to the Mid-Atlantic Bed and Breakfast Conference in Natural Bridge, Virginia last week. It was a nice little get-away, and we met a lot of fellow B&B owners-- some of whom we hope to keep in touch with! Kiara missed some school because she was with my mom while we were away, then when we got home she missed the next two days because of weather. On top of having her at home unexpectedly, we have also been busy fostering a baby goat that lost his home to a fire. (We agreed to help out a friend whose barn burned and left Bambi without a shelter or siblings.) He's just adorable. Here are some pics...

Kiara had the weekend off and Monday (holiday) and today she went in two hours late because of ice on the roads. Needless to say, I am still trying to get back in the groove as our routine has been off since we left for the conference.

I did get to enjoy having lunch today with my mom and grandmother, which was a treat!

A Few of My Favorite Things

2008-01-09T21:18:00.000-05:00

A friend named Adele inspired me to make a list of my favorite things.... I started this several weeks ago and just finished to post. Here they are:

Since I'm somewhat of a minimalist, it's hard for me to think of many THINGS that I like. The only nicknacks I guess you could say I collect are Willowtree angels. They are like the Precious Moments figurines of the new millinium. Each handcarved angel is so simple yet says so much. The have a "theme" that the figure symbolizes. Hmmm, guess I never thought of it before, but the reason I probably like them so much is because they are so simple! My minimalist side shows through!

I have this love for storage items. I love all kinds of containers that help me stay organized and keep things in their place. I know that sounds a little obsessive-compulsive, but I didn't say I was great at using them. My stuff still piles up in my little organizing baskets... but I love them nonetheless! (BTW, this is not my closet!!!-- I wish is was!!!)

I love the music of Wes King. He's a Pop-Christian artist with so much talent! He was recently diagnosed with leukemia and is a young father of 3. His determination to live and serve God inspires me.

I just adore baby animals. Any kind. (Well, except infant insects and reptiles!) Little lambs, puppies, kittens... they're all so cute! See post above for pics of our recent addition-- Bambi the baby goat (we are fostering him for a few months)!

I also love moonlight reflecting on an ocean, cozy fires, pink skies at dusk, fireflies on a summer night, rays of sun beaming through trees, flickering candles, and the anticipation of a sunrise (when I'm up early enough to catch it!) Most people don't realize the effect lighting has on our emotions and moods. I just love the calmness and peace it can create.

So, those are a few of my favorite things. Have any you'd like to share? Put them in my comments section. I'd love to hear them!

First Post of 2008

2008-01-06T19:53:00.000-05:00

Wow! It has been about 2 weeks since my last post--Guess we've been busier than I even realized. Paul, Kiara and I welcomed in 2008 at our friends' house where we ate, watched fireworks, stayed warm by a bonfire and counted down to midnight! (One of the daughters of this family is pictured below with Kiara looking at the trains.) I recently discovered that a very good friend of mine from college is closely related to them. That's life in small-town America!

Paul's sister, Joan, and a friend of hers is here visiting us now. We are having a great time just hangin' out! Joan stayed at Roselawn for a few months when we first bought the place, so she has seen it since the visionary stage. She actually had her hand in transforming a lot of the areas in the house. Thanks, Joan!

Guess I'd better be a good hostess and get back to visiting!

Merry Christmas to All

2007-12-26T22:29:00.000-05:00

We had a busy Christmas starting with our extended-family party at my cousin's house where Kiara got to play with lots of second cousins...

Had Christmas Eve dinner at a friend's house, which was delicious! (Didn't get any good pictures, though.) Then went home to "get ready" for the next morning. Here's how the tree looked after Santa visited late that night...

Christmas morning... Kiara changed into her new camo pj's she got as a gift and happily opened her next present - karate sparring gear.

Later that day, we had lots of visitors. My mom and Kiara's aunt and uncle came over for dinner, then some good friends of ours stopped by for an evening of fun! We just got back from hanging out with these same friends tonight. Had homemade pizza and watched "Underdog" at their house. Cute movie!

Next celebration... New Year's Eve! Hmmm... what will we do?

Happy Birthday, Scott!

2007-12-23T20:53:00.000-05:00

Today is my brother's 38th birthday. He is a year-and-a-half younger than me, but he looks much, much older. Just kidding, Scott-- (but the hat I got you for a gift did serve a purpose... to hide your thinning hair! Ha, ha.) Hope you had a wonderful day!

All Aboard!

2007-12-21T12:39:00.000-05:00

Yesterday we took Kiara and her friend, Caroline, to a nearby small town called Blackstone. There's a hardware store that sets up a huge train display every Christmas. We had always heard about it and finally decided to check it out for ourselves. It WAS really COOL. It looked so realistic and had a lot of special effects. There was a drive in theater with the movie Happy Feet actually playing (created by a small portable dvd player). Even the roller coaster worked! (see bottom right hand corner of picture)

My favorite was the house that would "catch on fire"... smoke and all! The alarm would sound and the firestation next door sends a fireman down the pole. A firetruck then comes out of the station with its hook-and-ladder to put out the fire. They had real water shoot out of the hose to "put out" the fire!

The girls had a great time, and so did we! Think we'll make this trip a yearly holiday tradition.

Oh, Christmas Tree

2007-12-19T20:23:00.000-05:00

Kiara's class Christmas party was today, and her teacher asked me to come in and do an activity with the kids. I chose to have them make this adorable pinecone tree. This is Kiara's finished product:

Here are two of my friends' kids helping to decorate the tree in our house...

Happy Birthday, Dad!

2007-12-13T20:36:00.000-05:00

My dad would've been 62 years old today. Mom and I spent the day in Richmond running errands and shopping. We are back at her house now getting ready to settle in for the evening. It was our tradition to have shrimp for dinner on his birthday, but we opted for leftovers from our lunch at Panera's. Happy birthday, Dad... I miss you!

What Happened to Winter???

2007-12-10T12:24:00.000-05:00

It's like 75 degrees outside now! Hard to believe Christmas is only 2 weeks away! Our Christmas parade Friday night went well. Tried to take a few pics of our Roselawn float, but it was too dark out.

Well, I think I'll slab on some sunscreen and go out on the front porch to enjoy the sunshine... It is a beautiful day. Unseasonable, but beautiful.

No School Today

2007-12-07T11:42:00.001-05:00

Kiara woke up this morning to a surprise day off of school. Apparently, the weather was bad somewhere in this rural county. I checked outside to find no snow, no ice... nothing. We even had to convince Kiara that school really was closed. She was off yesterday because of a bad cough, so this makes an extended weekend for her!

Our Keysville parade is tonight. Roselawn B&B will be in it with several of our animals. We re also involved in setting up our church "float". This parade is one of the highlights of life in the country.

Paul is working to purchase this building in town with his sister and brother-in-law as partners. The plan is to rent out the 5 offices upstairs and two 2 storefronts downstairs. The back part of the building will be a vendors' mall. So, we'll see what happens...

Roselawn in Earlier Times

2007-11-30T10:24:00.000-05:00

Came across some old pictures we had scanned. The top one was taken in early 1900's and the bottom one in the 1950's. It's amazing to think this house has seen so much history! It was built in 1857... wow, 150 years old!