With Thanks in 2008

Hope everyone had a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving. We have so much to be grateful for - family, faith, freedom, friends, and food.

We spent five beautiful days in the desert with friends, as we have for the past 8 years. We normally get away once a month, but this time it's been two and a half months, and we could really tell. It is so relaxing to just leave.

Here is some of the gang at the buffet table.


Don and Sean are in the center back in white and grayish. It rained Thurs. morning, and the DARK clouds were gathering in the afternoon. We expected rain at 3:00, our feast time, and it did rain - for about 10 minutes - then cleared up. Hurrah!! We have had to eat in the trailers a couple of years.


Here's our feast table and our "other" family. The Jorgensen group is at the top, Don with his arms outstretched. With Brad (bf), Becky, Carolyn to the his right, and Sean, Donnie, Julie, Joe and Janey to his left. We were so happy they could all make it. It's a 3+ hour drive and they came just for dinner with us. Tami and Kimber went with their friends to a different desert.

Since prices on "toys" are way down, and Becky is an excellent money manager, she was able to buy a 2006, 23' Week-end Warrior trailer/toy hauler and spend a couple of nights. The normal Thanksgiving crowd was a little light, and the dunes were great. Becky and Brad ride motorcycles, Don drives a sand buggy.

I'm back!

Sorry for the long absence. My hard drive crashed in August and when I got it back, it wouldn't recognize the USB ports - so no pictures could be downloaded. But it's fixed - so here we go.

Here's 4 month old (June 28) Janey Heathman in her workout clothes for Halloween. She's a real cutey with a dimple, and oh so strong.

And here's 3 year old (Oct 10) Kimber as the little Mermaid. Always with flowers and a smile. Must be the age. She's either got a princess dress or a very full nylon slip on most of the time.

This is our house from the top of the driveway. It's 3/4 of a mile to our mailbox, with only two houses for almost the entire way.
Don has really enjoyed creating an army of rock sentinels along our driveway. There are so many rocks here, and he has used MANY of them in the landscaping.

This is our view toward the north west. Not much out there. In the valley there are some farms and our next door neighbor has 25 acres of dragon fruit. It's a Vietnamese treat and he's the largest producer in the USA.

This is our view of Escondido to the south east. Note the strong wind blowing the flag, that also blew the big, heavy wooden swing over the bank.

Escondido is much different then living on the coast, but we are really enjoying it. Our ward is small and struggling and we're feeling needed. It finally dropped out of the 80's today - thought winter would never get here.

Have wonderful Thanksgivings where ever you may be, and travel safely wherever you go.

Molly and water

Although Molly was not bred for water, she was bred to be a companion. We usually don't take her on water trips because of the heat (usually over 100), but this time we did. She did GREAT playing in the water and riding on the Jet Ski. At first she looked at me like, "You've got to be kidding!". And tried to jump off a couple of times, but at the end of three days, she was a Pro, and even seemed to enjoy it!

She rode zipped in the back pack with her harness and leash secured to the handlebars. She even went to sleep! At the end, I could turn and go fast, though she didn't like wakes much.

She does look a little scraggly though.

Staying cool and making sure we don't leave without her.

Aaahhhh! Breathing again.

It's been a busy few weeks, but we made it. I so feel for Teresa. Hope all is well with her and her family and that they are enjoying their new life!

We moved July 2&3 to an almost finished house. The cabinet maker is here today installing all of the cabinets and drawers so now I can unpack and organize. Plus the electrician and media wiring guy are finishing up. I'm happily unpacking boxes and taking them outside. Yahoo!! However, I'm not sure that I need 1/2 the stuff I brought! I'll post pictures when it's unpacked.

July 3-12 we went on our first trip to Lake Powell. Even the drive through northern Arizona was beautiful!
Coincidentally, Tudi and Roger were there for a couple of the days and joined us. We sure enjoyed their company.

We are standing in front of Rainbow Bridge, considered one of the 7 new natural wonders of the world. It was 50 miles up river plus a shortish, HOT hike, but worth it.


Here we are at Sandy Beaches, where Krista spent the week. Hot and barren, but a nice cove with an incredible view.

Don is really a kid at heart. He is playing in the sand after being buried up to his chin. Everyone is amazed, and pleased, with his youthful exuberance and energy.

We were very impressed with Lake Powell. It is HUGE. You could get lost and never be found! The weather was perfect (high 90's), the water was like glass much of the time, and since we go Monday-Friday, it wasn't too crowded.

It was great to get away for a few days and come back refreshed and relaxed.

Janey Heathman and family

Newsflash: Janey Heathman has arrived home.
Loving parents, Julie and Joseph, are thrilled with her arrival,
adjusting well, and looking forward to an eternity together.

Julie and Joe are Parents!!

And here She is!

A beautiful, healthy 7 lb 1oz baby girl, Janey Heathman, was born to Julie and Joe at 9:50am on Saturday, June 28th, 10 days early. Everyone is doing well and they went home today. Julie is a trooper and according to Joe was "amazing". More to follow.

Look at that wonderful hair!!

Grandma and Janey are doing fine. Julie's a little tired.


We are finishing packing for our move tomorrow. I'm so glad she came early since we are planning on being at Lake Powell on her due date. The Lord takes care of the details if we just ask, and I didn't have the heart to ask that she come a week late.

Seems like forever since I wrote - so here's a catch up. Sorry - no pictures - for some reason my computer is not reading my memory card and I haven't had time to look for the cable.

We have been VERY busy making all the last minute decisions for the house. I think if it was just one person making the decisions it would go faster, but with two, and then we brought in a designer for some suggestions - it takes a while. We've driven all over San Diego looking at things - some decisions we are very pleased with, others we would have done differently. But it's all good.

We will move in by the end of June, ready or not (hopefully ready). Most of it should be done. The oil prices are affecting more then gas - when we got the bids for the construction loan in Sept 07, the cost of the asphalt driveway was going to be $8,000.00. This week, 8 months later, it has gone up to $20,000.00!!! for the driveway!! it has to be asphalt or concrete for fire regulations. Ugh!! There went my front loading washer and dryer, my new living room and bedroom furniture!! The prices all seem to be HIGH!

Although I try to keep a decent journal (monthly) I've started a new one just for daily miracles. If you look for them, every day several miracles occur. I found my car keys in an obvious place after searching at least three times, the upstairs, the downstairs, the car, then saying a prayer. Why didn't I just start with the prayer?

I take raw almonds to the Temple to put in a small bowl for the Sisters to snack on. But I was out and hadn’t gotten to the store to get more. I was prepared to apologize numerous times as Sisters came in for their “almond fix”. At 5:30am, as I was preparing to leave for the Temple, I looked in a cupboard that I don't usually look in until dinner, and there was a baggy of almonds that I hadn't seen before! just enough for the day!

By focusing on miracles, I recognize blessings, I see the Lord's hand in my life more, which makes me more grateful, which gives me more faith (trust) that He knows me and loves me and will provide for me. What a great feeling when the media focuses on so much negativity. It can change your life.