Warmest Greetings!

We hope this year's holiday season finds you happy and well. This has been a year of many changes. It began with a move to Yuma on winter solstice of 2001. I found employment as a seamstress in January, and was happy to return to an old skill.

It took Julia quite a while longer to find employment. She first had a temporary job in the summer with the department of Community Development for the city of Yuma. That only lasted three weeks, but gave her excellent references. At last in the beginning of November, she found a permanent job with Yuma city, at their Public Works division.

Sadness has crossed our path in that we lost our dear Laura at the end of July. She had an heart attack while bicycle riding, and the damage it caused made it impossible for her to recover from the subsequent infections. We miss her deeply, but do feel her spirit with us daily.

She had seven good months in our new city together with us, and they are treasured memories indeed. We find we really like the town here, as it's not too big, and not too small, and we've found a friendly community here.

There are always fun events to go to here. In January, over 'over 200 beautiful quilts' were at the 'Desert Lily Quilters Quilt Show' at the Yuma Civic Center. That month, we also visited the Arizona Territorial Prison here in Yuma, and were fortunate to be there just when the fourth annual Gathering Of The Gunfighters was happening. There were sixteen different re-enactment groups from various areas all dressed in period costumes.

That month was busy, for we also went to Lake Martinez which surrounds the Imperial Wildlife Refuge. In the summer months, when the heat was on, we stayed inside and cool, while we played computer games together, enjoying the interactive world of Everquest.

With the coming of cooler weather, more events come to town. We had the 'Art Train' come here, with its exhibit of artwork from the NASA space program, in October. In November, there was a fantastic Twelfth Annual Colorado River Balloon Crossing which began just before sunrise. Nearly thirty brightly colored hot air balloons ascended to the heavens, gracing the sky with magnificent glory.

I've grown more experimental in my creative endeavors. Trying my hand at fiction, I've written a love story between Dark Elves, loosely based in the role-playing world of Everquest. Now I'm seven chapters into a vampire tale, also a love story. It is fun to let my mind of fantasy come alive in these works. I've continued making digital mandalas, which is also fascinating, for as they begin, I have no idea how they will develop. Each element calls forth the next mentally in an additive fashion.

Julia has tried her hand at creating her own digitized music, so her creative gifts are blooming, as well. We are indeed glad to be in this pleasant city and are finding quiet blessings like rainbows and hummingbird sightings a joy. Laura saw to it that we have not one but two hummingbird feeders hanging from our eaves, and they visit often, especially now that the weather is cooler.

We hope the holiday season is happy for you, and the new year brings great blessings.

Love,