Part Three of our Anniversary Trip

Theron and I left after breakfast and headed to Culpepper and Warrenton to mosey around their downtowns. This is one of the fields behind the Inn.

This "little" guy was really watching us as we stopped to take some pics. I think he knew I'd eaten one of his buds the night before at the inn. They only use produce from local farms, so the menu changes daily. The beef I ate came from one of the farms, so really could have been his bud. :(

A frozen pond near the inn.

This is known as The Schoolhouse and is part of The Ashbury Inn. It is about 2 or 3 houses down from the Inn proper and has 4 rooms inside that they rent out. They are bigger than our room was, but we liked our privacy. Our view was better, too. We'll get the same room in April when we go back for Theron's birthday.

DC: Part One of Our Anniversary Trip

Theron knows I love the National Art Museum in DC, so our first stop was the metro station to ride into DC for the morning.

This is inside the foyer of the museum. Love that ceiling!

We left the museum after a few hours of looking at some beautiful art. We walked to the metro station a few blocks over.

This is the National Archives building. We didn't go inside this time, but have before.

The Capitol building as I stand in the middle of the road to get the shot.

You can't tell very well, but the white you see on the water was ice. There was quite a bit.

Next, we headed to Middleburg, VA to shop and then on to Paris!

Part Two of Our Anniversary Trip

We stayed the night at the Ashby Inn in Paris, VA. We were supposed to come on our actual anniversary in December, but that's when the big snow hit. So, we postponed it. I am really glad we did as it gave us something special to do in January. Our honeymoon was in January, so I kind of like keeping that tradition. The side view of the Inn. The glassed in side is part of the restaurant, which is where we sat for breakfast.

The Ashby Inn & Restaurant

The library

Our private entrance

This door is across the porch and goes right into the restaurant. We were given a key, so that if we wanted to use the library during our stay, we could make ourselves at home. We found out the next morning, that we were the only guests in the whole inn!

We had a separate entrance, and our room was over the kitchen. We had the best view out back. This is what you see when walking into our room.

Looking back down the stairs.

Up the stairs and here is our room.

This is the view from the back of the inn. This was taken as we walked from our car from their back parking lot. That's our room with the fan window.


The king sized brass bed....very comfy!


Our room

It started snowing at night. I took this of the footpath leading to the parking lot.
The view the next morning, out of our window.

It wasn't a lot of snow, but just enough to be pretty!

I took so many of these with the self timer, but none turned out. This is the best one, and it's not good! We did match rather well, even without trying!

Can't wait to come back in April for Theron's birthday! This was the best B&B we've been in.

Christmas Parties, etc.

TJ took his new girlfriend to the teen banquet at her church. He got a new suit and then borrowed her dad's tie to match her. :) Here he is afterwards.

Our church has the best Christmas parties. This year it was a Fiesta theme...great Mexican food, fun games and singing, too.

One of the crazy games.

Pin the tale on the creepy donkey!

Theron and I host a Christmas party for Radiance each year for the D.C. area employees. We always hold it at the Occoquan Inn in Occoquan, VA. It is a great restaurant in a quaint little town by the river.
Looking out the front of the restaurant. It even snowed for us!

Theron and I always get there early to make sure everything is just right. Then, I decorate the tables with the edibles I buy for each person to take home with them.

I bought chocolate Christmas trees for each employee and used them as decorations on the tables. I also bought small foil wrapped chocolate as the gifts under the trees. It was really cute!

Here's Johnny and TJ getting ready to go play soccer.

He's a cute elf!

My Mom

My mom, Mary Stone, was such an awesome lady. She was so much fun and such an incredible example of how to be a godly wife and mother. I miss her laugh and her wisdom and her great sense of humor. I know she is happier with Jesus, and that helps my heart. I am so grateful to God for allowing me to know her for 29.5 years. We had lots of fun along the way. I told her when I was about 16 or 17, that if my kids loved me half as much as I loved her that I would consider myself a success. Mom sacrificed for us all the time, but didn't do it to be told how wonderful she was, she was just that wonderful. Mom led me to the Lord when I was 6 years old. My earliest memories are of her singing and reading to me in the rocking chair. She was a great homemaker and wonderful wife. She was the best mom and grandma ever. She loved all of us equally, and when she died we all five talked how she made each one of us feel like we were her favorite! THAT is wisdom! She went to be with Jesus on January 13, 1994. She had fought her battle with breast cancer valiantly and was an amazing witness to a lot of people during her 7 year fight. I love you, Mom, and miss you so very much. Mother's Day 1991 (I think) This is one taken when we weren't ready, but I can't find the other on the computer right now.
Mother's Day 1988. My sisters flew me home from NM to surprise my mom for Mother's Day. I was pregnant with the twins, but didn't know at this time that they were twins!

Me, Nessa and Mom at the Mother's Day banquet at church.
I'll add more pics as I find them, but can only handle doing this little bits at a time.