Richard and Jennifer Donaldson's Family Blog

A Christmas e-Card

2009-12-16T21:16:00.000-06:00

In the Summertime

2009-06-14T16:36:00.006-05:00

Congrats to John on straight A's all year! Now it's on to 2nd grade! His reading teacher, Ms. Bagley, prepared an end-of-year presentation, a reading restaurant. Each of the children prepared a menu featuring an "appetizer" book, a "main dish" book, and a "desert" book, which was one they wrote and illustrated themselves.

He also got to go to "Camp Invention". He's said for a long time that he wants to be an inventor someday. The camp was one week of creating, exploring, and playing. One of his best buddies, Raymond, also signed up.

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Anniversary Camping Trip

2009-06-04T22:26:00.005-05:00

Brazos Bend State Park--We've been wanting to come see the alligators!

We couldn't believe all the wildlife we saw when we got there. When we came in at night, we saw dozens of raccons, several armadillos, a few deer and opossoms. And the fireflies were like Christmas lights. We tried to cook hot dogs while the nearly fearless raccoons raided our camp, trying to scare us away from our food. The next day, we saw turtles, bunnies, tons of squirrels, and twenty or so alligators (before we stopped counting). It was a fun, memorable trip.

Don't get your toes snapped off, John!

Guys, leave the poor turtle alone.

Baby alligators in the nature center. They also had live snakes, a tarantula, turtles, spiders (tarantula, brown recluse, and black widow). There were a lot of things to touch and look at.

Having fun swinging on the vines. Let's get some of these at home!

We'll be back!

Celebrating Eight Years!

2009-05-29T10:06:00.002-05:00

I made a cheesy little video slideshow for our anniversary. It's simple, but I love slideshows and I love thinking about all of our memories. I know I couldn't really be happy without my Richard.
(I hope this works:)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdeF9yjEBjk

Spring Field Trips

2009-05-28T22:33:00.004-05:00

Lila went to the county fair and saw pigs, cows, and sheep. Mom got to go, too. I liked the petting zoo at the county fair: they had a tortoise, a zebra, and camel, and a kangaroo, but Lila wouldn't let me put her down. She's getting much braver, but she's had a fear of animals since she was a few months old. Another field trip this year was going to the historic Opera House in Galveston where we saw the play, Puss in Boots (with an 'honesty' twist). The play was a little freaky, but it was great how they had the miller's son tell the truth instead of winning the princess with a bunch of lies. Little Lila gets so excited about things. She is full of smiles and jokes. Preschool is over for her now and she misses her friends and teachers.

John's class went to the aquarium in Galveston at Moody Gardens. It was impressive. John was doing a report on sharks at the time and we saw five or six different kinds of sharks. There were also four kinds of penguins. His friends here are Draven and Ryler. Again, I got to go on this fun field trip. We also saw a 3-D IMAX film on Whales and Dolphins. As a side note, John made an "educational" board game called "Shark Attack" as part of his report on sharks, which was very cool and fun to play.

Happy Birthday John-boy

2009-03-22T22:16:00.013-05:00

Spring break! I forget how demanding these kids are when they're home all day. But we had fun. Rich had most of the days off, since the surgeon he was with took them off. We went with friends to a beach barbecue and bonfire one day. There were sand dunes behind the beach, which the kids loved, and lots of kids to play with. We were there most of the day. Another day, we went to the space center, where they had some shows (Sponge bob and pirates), a new Treasure exhibit, and a diving team show where the divers dove up to 85 feet into a tank set up on the lawn outside.

We spent a lot of spring break getting ready for John's party. John is always so excited when his birthday is coming up. He loves to plan parties. So we planned an Indiana Jones-themed party. I made little journals with brown paper bag covers, in which I put an Egyptian word-find, maze and crossword puzzle. I included a hieroglyphics decoder, which they used to find their adventure bags (brown bags with names in hieroglyphics). Rich created a "new" Indiana Jones adventure theme including pirates, namely Jean Lafitte, who was a real pirate here in Galveston, and who may have undiscovered treasure still. Rich made a very fun and involved treasure hunt, using fun fonts, authentic pirate language, letters in envelopes from pirate to his brother, a letter stuck to a tree with a knife, letters from Indiana Jones with warnings, a golden key, booby traps, and other fun things. At the end of the treasure hunt, they had to take turns putting on the Indiana Jones hat and going through an obstacle course--dodging moving swings, swinging on a rope over a snake pit, stepping on the right stones drawn with sidewalk chalk, move through the playground equipment while trying to avoid the natives with their poison darts (the other kids shooting marshmallows from pvc pipes) and slide down the slide with a boulder (beach ball) following close behind, search in the sand for three jewels of different colors and bring them back. Once everyone completed that, the jewels they recovered opened the last clue, which revealed the treasure, or the pinata. The treasure was hidden deceptively in a "crate" marked with the words "explosives" "do not hit". It took a lot of hard hits to break it, but that seemed ok to that group of boys. Rich couldn't come because of work. But it actually went very smoothly. Eight boys came, which was perfect. Wow, I can't believe my son is getting so grown up! We looked at his baby pictures later that day and laughed about his first birthday where he got to make a big mess out of his cake.

He's always been such a fun and interested kid. He has two friends now that come over every day to play. They fight like brothers and are so loud! He's finally learning to ride a bike by himself. He picks things up pretty quickly and is getting 100% on spelling tests and most of his work. He still gets to go to "gifted and talented" and that's definitely his favorite part of school. At home, he'll eat most anything, but when it comes to school lunch, he is so particular about what I pack and never will eat the cafeteria food. The only kinds of sandwiches he likes are "just jelly" and tuna fish. At home he won't eat out of the same bowl that someone else ate out of because of the "germs", but he'll still stick his fingers right in the serving bowl, and he'll chew on his toe-nails after he's been running around in the sandbox. Hello, germs! Anyway, he's entertaining. He gets very excited about many things. His teacher is so sweet, she always tells him she loves him. She even tells me she loves me and gives me a hug and sometimes a kiss on the cheek when I come to pick him up.

I love the job I'm doing right now, because I can take the whole week off without asking anyone. I work finding old "ugly" damaged homes for a local investor to buy and he pays me commission. He's very nice and is always so grateful for whatever leads I give him. It's extremely flexible and I get more money than would doing that "stay-at-home" customer service thing that I tried. I mean, that job wasn't so bad, really, but they only pay $9/hr and they remind you that "you are adults now", which means they treat you like teenagers. But really, it didn't end up working because my internet is not very reliable. I'm just glad this investor is giving me the chance to do property scouting. I worked with commercial real estate in San Antonio and liked it. These experiences could come in handy in the future, possibly.

Anyway, here are some few pictures I captured at the party, and also one from Marcus' visit in February (after a Mardi Gras parade) and one from the cruise.

Que Divertido!

2009-03-13T23:47:00.005-05:00

We had so much fun! Being in Mexico was the best part! Sorry, I don't have any pictures yet. I can't wait to share them, though. I need to get my camera fixed. Wow, the water was so clear and blue! I miss Mexico!

Our ship pulled in a couple of hours late into Cozumel and then it took over an hour to get off, so we only got about six hours to explore. There was no time to go to the mainland and I'm glad we didn't try. We snorkled and relaxed on a very charming not-so-touristy beach that our taxi driver recommended. Cozumel is very popular for snorkeling because of it's great coral reefs and fish. We saw so many kinds of fish, who would just swim all around us, not afraid. We were loving it.

Then we took a taxi through the city there, which I really enjoyed because parts of it were almost like being back in Honduras. We went through the city to get to some Mayan ruins. These are itty bitty compared to Chichen Itza or Uxmal, but they were still impressive to us. We were also entertained watching the iguanas that were lurking EVERYWHERE! It was fun to talk to the taxi driver as we drove. He was very friendly, and being a native, he gave us a good feel for what the island was like. We spoke in Spanish and Richard would pick things sometimes, and I'd translate. He also taught us some Mayan, which many people still try to keep alive in parts of Mexico.

It was great to hang out on the cruise ship, the two of us, with nowhere we needed to go, no one calling on the phone. Just us, doing whatever we wanted, together, all day. We played a giant game of chess, shuffleboard, mini-golf, sat in the hot tub, went to the "shows", played board games, watched movies, worked out in the gym, lounged on deck, and mostly enjoyed the food. Good food, especially the sit-down dinners! And we did dress up one night.

A few times on that cruise, I almost forgot we had kids. They came and waved us off at the port and it was the sweetest thing. Grandma claims they were very good for her while we were away. We sure missed those kids, but for the most part, I'm glad it was just us.

Pinch me, I'm dreaming!

2009-02-21T16:11:00.005-06:00

Rich and I get to go on a cruise to Cozumel, Mexico, leaving today! I still can't believe it. We haven't been on a cruise before, nor have I ever been to Mexico, but we've wanted to go for years! Cozumel is an island just off the coast of Cancun. We want to go to the mainland and see the ruins of Tulum and go snorkeling.

We're going on the Carnival Ecstacy leaving from right here in Galveston. We actually got the cruise for listening to a time share presentation. Yes, it really worked! I had to go through all the hoops. We ended up paying about $300 for taxes and stuff. I'm so excited. "Grandma Donaldson" flew here to play with the kids while we're gone. That's fun for the kids. John has school this Saturday as a makeup day.

I'll post pictures when we get back! See you in five days/four nights.

Family on my mind

2009-02-21T16:11:00.003-06:00

We are all happy and comfortable. Here's John and Lila in their bunk bed, one of two pieces of furniture we saved. We'll never again take for granted a place of our own where we can stay for more than a few months at a time. These kids are getting to be so big and so smart! John is turning seven next month and Lila will be in Kindergarten next year.

This little guy is a rare specimen from a planet in the AB-76Y Galaxy. We named him Apollo and tried to make him feel at home.

This next specimen, sitting by John, is named Tristan, and he is from the planet called 2nd grade. I think he wants us to adopt him. He comes over to play almost every day and likes his picture taken.

I have more pictures, but I need to get another kind of cord. I think this picture is cute of little Lila. Picture caption, "Mom, am I so so pretty?" In preschool, she really sticks close to all the other little girls and the little boys seem invisible. She makes little cards for her friends and talks about them and what clothes they wear and who is the prettiest girl in class. She has her favorite outfits and wants her hair a certain way.

This picture is especially for Grandma and Grandpa Alexander who gave her the furniture and dolls for this house. The furniture can light up, talk, change views, etc. It's so cute.

Pumkin days at the Loveridges

2008-11-11T15:09:00.002-06:00

Fall is a fun time. Here are some pictures of us picking out pumpkins and making haunted houses. Also, here is a picture of a dinner with the Loveridges. We're glad to share these fun times with them. We are also excited, though, that we get to move back to Galveston at the end of this week. We'll have to stay with a friend there also, for one or two weeks still, while Rich starts work and before the apartment is habitable.

Two months later...

2008-11-07T23:22:00.002-06:00

We are getting ready to head back to Galveston in a week. We will have been staying with the Loveridges for a whole two months. They feel like family now. Thank you, Loveridge family, for making room for us, moving around your beds and clothes and expanding the kitchen table. Thanks for helping us get our stuff from Galveston and clean it. Thanks Alisha for helping me find a new car and new furniture at yard sales, and for helping me scan all my damp pictures and papers, helping me with sewing projects, and many other things. Thanks for making us feel at home and sharing everything with us so easily. It was so fun and memorable to share this time with you. Thanks to so many people in the Loveridges' ward and also people in the 6th ward and many other friends for their help and to the missionaries who came and helped, and also to family members in Utah.

My Lazy Post

2008-10-05T22:25:00.004-05:00

Alisha (our current host) wrote a couple of really good posts recently about our experiences with the hurricane clean-up. She did a good job with it, I thought, so I am going to suggest you go there for photos and stories of going back to Galveston and of the generosity we've received since. www.abloveridgefamily.blogspot.com
Richard has been doing very well in his Internal Medicine rotation, and it is a very demanding one! Good job, Rich!

I'm not even going to tell you about what we found in the fridge...

2008-10-01T23:27:00.003-05:00

We were finally able to go back to Galveston last Wednesday. Our friend Ben came with us and we drove in his truck, "blue", and pulled a U-Haul trailer. We saved as much as we could, but pretty much lost all the furniture. We were blessed that no important papers or pictures were lost. Not to mention that we did not own the place where we were living. The biggest loss for us was the old '90 Toyota Camry that had been flooded.
It was a lot of work to clean everything up that we did save, when we got it back to San Antonio, but it became easy when my friend Alisha worked right by me the whole time and recruited six missionaries to come over. A Sister in Alisha's ward recruited six other Sisters to help wash all the clothes, bedding and towels we recovered. We have been so touched by the outpouring of offers to help and donated clothing and other things, and many by people we don't even know. We are so grateful for our friends that are letting us stay with them for this extended period of time (probably two monts). I know we are soooo fortunate. Many of the residents of Galveston don't have the same kind of support system through family and church that we have. It was saddening to be on the island and realize that the reporters' photos were not exaggerated. Here are some of our own pictures. These are mild compared to the damage many other's had. Our apartment only got six inches of flooding. These are pictures of some of the mold that grew up on the furniture and walls:

Aftermath

2008-09-16T23:40:00.003-05:00

Hurricane Ike was the most devastating storm to hit Galveston in 108 years. The hurricane that destroyed Galveston in 1900 was the largest natural disaster in the history of the U.S. It could have been as bad this time, also, if it wasn't for the seawall that was built after the 1900 storm. I thought I would write down a little about our experience so far. 

Last Thursday, we heard that Ike turned toward us and was huge. We wanted to start evacuating and the kids' schools had cancelled all classes for the next day, but both Richard and I were told to be into work the next day as usual. On Friday, I went in and was sent home a half-hour later. Richard's meetings were cancelled. We started getting ready to head out. We packed four days worth of clothes and our toiletries. We packed the most expensive foods from the freezer to bring with us. I moved my guitar, Lila's dollhouse, our boxes of childhood things and pictures, our clarinets, and some other things off the floor and away from windows. We also took water, extra flashlights, cash, our computer, and our file box of important papers. 

It took us eight hours to drive to San Antonio, which would usually be a four-hour drive on a good day. We felt like we were coming home, and were so glad to see our friends. The Loveridges took us in and said we can stay as long as we need to. They have a beautiful, large house, and made us feel comfortable. They have four kids who are tons of fun and John and Lila are in heaven, being with them. We were surprised when we found out what a hit Galveston took. We are anxious to see our apartment and to try to save what we can, but so far, we can't get on the island. The officials tried opening it up to residents during the daytime to "look and leave" today, but it was too chaotic, so they changed their minds and we don't know when our next chance will be. I think the fridge will be a toxic mess (I wish we had cleaned it out more) and I also remembered some family albums that were near the floor that I hadn't moved. I also forgot to grab our 72-hour kit.  I hope all our furniture won't be totally ruined. The more we hear, it sounds like we probably got flooded with a few feet of water, and it will be a couple weeks to a month before the island is "inhabitable". The WIC office I work for is closed indefinitely and Rich's residency doesn't know when to expect the hospital to be up and going again. For now, they set him up with a month-long hospital rotation here in SA, which may start in a week or so. 

It's dizzying, all these unexpected twists and turns we've had. It's been about a year since our life has been thrown up in the air. I guess we're STILL waiting for it to come back down. On the other hand, I am really enjoying the moments and the adventure it all is. I feel I can do this because I know my family and I are anchored in the gospel and supported by awesome family and friends. I know that God has blessed us and has great things in store for us.

Take a Hike Ike

2008-09-13T11:19:00.003-05:00

We are safe in San Antonio staying with friends. The hurricane passed over Galveston last night and we're just trying to find out when it will be safe to head back. In the mean time, we're having a good time hanging out with our friends and feeling grateful for what we have.

Project Doll House

2008-09-01T11:03:00.002-05:00

Lila got a doll house kit last Christmas, but we delayed the project until after the move. I had fun working on the project with my daughter.

First Day of !st Grade

2008-09-01T10:24:00.004-05:00

John was very brave and friendly on his first day of school. His teacher is Ms. Matthews, who has over 30 years of teaching experience. She is very motherly and gives good hugs.

After just two days, he was ready to ditch the uniform and wear his favorite clothes again. Yea, we understand. He also misses his old school and his friends in San Antonio. Changes are hard. He misses being at home with Mom and Lila and all his favorite toys.

There are 22 other kids in his class. They have class from 7:45 to 3:15.
You'll be great, John! Go Parker Pelicans!

Visitors

2008-08-31T17:52:00.009-05:00

Among our first visitors to Galveston were the Loveridge family, and later, Karen and her family, both from San Antonio. Here are some pictures.

As a final fling before school started, Karen, Cenia, and Isaiah came down to see us and play in Galveston. We played and swam at the beach, went miniature golfing, and visited the Houston Space Center. John, Isaiah, Lila, Cenia

This is the actual Saturn V, refurbished. John is in the lower left corner.
We had so much fun with the Loveridges, too. We had a very full house, and it was a blast! It was nice that Richard was working a self-study rotation so he could be with us.

This is on the ferry.

We spent lots of time on the beach.

...hanging out...

...and swimming in the pool.

We miss you guys. Thanks for visiting!

Galveston, Home on the Island

2008-08-10T19:35:00.004-05:00

In front of our apartment. We're in walking distance from the beach!

On the ferry

Playing with Dad. We love to be in the waves. Aren't they adorable?

Residency at UTMB

2008-07-22T14:38:00.000-05:00

I have started my Residency in Family Medicine at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston.

Lila's Dance Recital - Part 4

2008-06-24T19:30:00.002-05:00

John at 6 years old

2008-06-24T19:08:00.000-05:00

Lila's Dance Recital - Part 3

2008-06-24T19:05:00.004-05:00

With her teacher Ms. Kunz

With her best friend Cenia

Lila's Dance Recital - Part 2

2008-06-10T22:56:00.002-05:00

Lila's Dance Recital - Part 1

2008-06-04T12:32:00.003-05:00

Rich's latest and greatest adventures

2008-03-31T17:30:00.004-05:00

For all who haven't heard yet, we are moving to Galveston, TX to make a fresh start on my residency. In the mean time both Jennie and I have taken up temporary employment. Jennie is working for Xceligent a commercial real-estate research firm as a field agent. The first thing that came to me was a night watchman job.

On my first night I came across a 5 foot long pit viper rattling its ominous tail and reared up ready to strike me if I crossed its comfort zone. The picture is of the calmed down snake from about 10 feet away behind a stone pillar. John has since named my new friend suaria. I haven't seen him again but I am much more wary coming around corners now.

The other picture here is of my automobile accident which took place on the last day of my being an Air Force Officer. It was just one of those days.

Rich's little brother, "Uncle Walter" playing Soccer fiercely

2008-03-28T17:15:00.001-05:00

Popsicles at Great Grandma H's House

2008-03-03T22:25:00.000-06:00

At Sizzler with Grandpa Donaldson

2008-03-03T22:20:00.000-06:00

On our last day in Utah for the holidays (before our 22 hour drive home) Grandpa Donaldson took us out for lunch with Mom and Dad and Emma and Mike. Doesn't he look great. We loved our time with the family, and we miss them terribly.

Sledding at the bowl near Grandma Hofhein's house

2008-03-03T22:11:00.000-06:00

Racing

More racing

Cousin David

David and Adah, I think, had the most fun of everyone. David probably went down about a hundred times.

Don't miss the pictures of the Grandmas below

2008-03-03T22:06:00.001-06:00

Great exercise for all of us. Here is Jennie dragging the sled which was usually occupied by John or me.

John, apparently not recognizing the sensitivity of electronic equipement to water, plasters dad with a snowball on camera.

Dad and John

We couldn't even get Lila near a sled, for fear, but she did like dressing up for the cold.

Grandma Alexander with her treasures

2008-03-03T21:42:00.000-06:00

Great Grandma Larsen

2008-03-03T21:40:00.000-06:00

I guess John was a little sick of holiday photos by this time. We love you Grandma. Thank you for all your support and love.

Great Grandma Hofheins

2008-03-03T21:06:00.000-06:00

Here are the kids at Christmas with Great Grandma. We love and miss you.

Ice and Roses

2008-02-25T22:29:00.004-06:00

I don't know if anyone checks our blog anymore since it's been hybernating through the winter. Spring is in full bloom here in San Antonio now, it's been 90 degrees the last two days.

We went swimming in one of the few indoor public pools in San Antonio in January. The first two pictures are of us climbing the huge inflatable iceburg. That was super fun, but too tall and scary for John.

The other pictures are of our charming valentines day. I had planned on cooking Italian that night and having dinner for two while the kids watched a movie upstairs. We ended up eating Dominoes pizza on a plastic tablecloth in the living room with eight kids. As you can see in the pictures, we also had two sinks piled full of dirty dishes and everything that could be out of place or dirty was in our kitchen. Nevertheless, it was very memorable and there was lots of love.

The dishes are having a harder time getting us to wash them as Richard and I are both working now. I started full-time with a real-estate listing service company called Xceligent, working as their San Antonio field researcher. I enjoy it. It's fun to drive around (in their company car) and see all the places in the city. I like how it's so flexible, I put in the hours whenever I can and don't have to be at work by a certain time in the morning or deal with difficult co-workers. Lila comes with me some days and some days she stays with Karen (neighbor). Karen's kids still come to our house two days a week after school until 8. I am so glad that we can be here to help each other out. The Air Force has given Rich a job to keep him busy until his release on March 18th, but it's pretty flexible, too. He gets news of where his next residency will be on March 18th also. We may still be here for that or we may be in Utah. We'd be happy either way.

Gulf coasting on Mustang Island near Corpus Christi

2007-12-11T19:05:00.000-06:00

Gingerbread houses with the Dunn family

2007-12-11T19:03:00.000-06:00

The Kids and Friends with Santa Claus

2007-12-11T18:51:00.000-06:00

Lila at dance class

2007-11-28T16:12:00.000-06:00

Visiting Scott Hofheins and family in Austin

2007-11-28T16:05:00.000-06:00

On "The Riverwalk"

2007-11-24T12:02:00.001-06:00

Thanksgiving 2007

2007-11-23T09:53:00.000-06:00

Dinner at Mi Tierra with "La Cucaracha"

2007-11-23T09:40:00.000-06:00

"You can't beat the Texas Heat"

2007-11-23T09:38:00.000-06:00

Lila after a restful night camping

2007-11-23T09:36:00.000-06:00

More Medina Lake

2007-11-23T09:27:00.000-06:00

Camping at Medina Lake

2007-11-23T09:25:00.000-06:00

Our little library pirates

2007-11-17T21:42:00.000-06:00

Our new amphibious friends (our yard is "plagued")

2007-10-23T18:46:00.000-05:00

Schlitterbahn earlier this summer with the Davis' Family

2007-10-23T18:44:00.000-05:00

Jennie and friends from Med School (Katie and Holly)

2007-10-23T18:30:00.000-05:00

Local Spelunking

2007-10-23T18:27:00.000-05:00

Our House with Friends and a new Ballerina

2007-10-23T16:29:00.000-05:00

Getting busier

2007-10-18T04:25:00.001-05:00

Here's a picture of our little team player. He's getting better! Their team name is the Texas Heat. They cheer "You can't beat the Texas Heat!" Lila loves her dance class, too. She's learning ballet, tap, and jazz at Nikki's dance studio. Her red hair is still extremely popular.

2007-09-11T22:22:00.000-05:00

John started school!

2007-09-11T22:06:00.000-05:00

John has spread his wings and is off into big things: Kindergarten. What a kid, riding his little bike to school with his backpack and lunch. We walk together and he doesn't put up a fuss at all when I drop him off. He's having fun and says the time goes by fast. His favorite part is snack time. His teacher is Ms. Ernst, a kindergarten teacher of three years, who is kind and fun. Mom cried a little the first day when she saw one of her friends who asked how it went. She wasn't the only one. I took some pictures of John at his seat at the table, but I don't have them right now. Here's an example of John's work that he brings home.

It is supposed to say Horse. He came home today with a note from the teacher saying he had gotten in trouble, which he had already told me (which is good), so I helped him write a note. (see above)

Sea World San Antonio

2007-08-29T22:13:00.000-05:00

More Ripley's Pics

2007-08-29T22:10:00.000-05:00

Attractions in Arkansas

2007-08-26T22:59:00.000-05:00

Hot Springs

Crater of Diamonds State Park

No diamonds, but we collected some nice rocks.

Love Me Tender

2007-08-26T22:57:00.000-05:00

At Graceland's gates

Ripley's Aquarium in Gatlinburg

2007-08-26T22:53:00.000-05:00

Checking out the sharks

"Poison Dart" Frogs

This was totally worth it.

That afternoon

2007-08-26T22:50:00.000-05:00

Camping In The Great Smoky Mountains National Park

2007-08-26T22:47:00.000-05:00

The infamous tent that Jennie and I "burnt" on our honeymoon.

Lila just chillin by the fire.

Makeshift frying pan. We may have caused early onset Alzheimer's in the process. It was worth it. We also had pancakes.

2007-08-26T22:37:00.000-05:00

Heather taught us how to do Maryland crab

The Lincoln memorial at night

"IN THIS TEMPLE
AS IN THE HEARTS OF THE PEOPLE
FOR WHOM HE SAVED THE UNION
THE MEMORY OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN
IS ENSHRINED FOREVER"

http://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/wash/dc71.htm

Abraham Lincoln
Second Inaugural Address
Saturday, March 4, 1865

Weeks of wet weather preceding Lincoln's second inauguration had caused Pennsylvania Avenue to become a sea of mud and standing water. Thousands of spectators stood in thick mud at the Capitol grounds to hear the President. As he stood on the East Portico to take the executive oath, the completed Capitol dome over the President's head was a physical reminder of the resolve of his Administration throughout the years of civil war. Chief Justice Salmon Chase administered the oath of office. In little more than a month, the President would be assassinated.

"Fellow-Countrymen:

AT this second appearing to take the oath of the Presidential office there is less occasion for an extended address than there was at the first. Then a statement somewhat in detail of a course to be pursued seemed fitting and proper. Now, at the expiration of four years, during which public declarations have been constantly called forth on every point and phase of the great contest which still absorbs the attention and engrosses the energies of the nation, little that is new could be presented. The progress of our arms, upon which all else chiefly depends, is as well known to the public as to myself, and it is, I trust, reasonably satisfactory and encouraging to all. With high hope for the future, no prediction in regard to it is ventured.

On the occasion corresponding to this four years ago all thoughts were anxiously directed to an impending civil war. All dreaded it, all sought to avert it. While the inaugural address was being delivered from this place, devoted altogether to saving the Union without war, urgent agents were in the city seeking to destroy it without war—seeking to dissolve the Union and divide effects by negotiation. Both parties deprecated war, but one of them would make war rather than let the nation survive, and the other would accept war rather than let it perish, and the war came.

One-eighth of the whole population were colored slaves, not distributed generally over the Union, but localized in the southern part of it. These slaves constituted a peculiar and powerful interest. All knew that this interest was somehow the cause of the war. To strengthen, perpetuate, and extend this interest was the object for which the insurgents would rend the Union even by war, while the Government claimed no right to do more than to restrict the territorial enlargement of it. Neither party expected for the war the magnitude or the duration which it has already attained. Neither anticipated that the cause of the conflict might cease with or even before the conflict itself should cease. Each looked for an easier triumph, and a result less fundamental and astounding. Both read the same Bible and pray to the same God, and each invokes His aid against the other. It may seem strange that any men should dare to ask a just God's assistance in wringing their bread from the sweat of other men's faces, but let us judge not, that we be not judged. The prayers of both could not be answered. That of neither has been answered fully. The Almighty has His own purposes. 'Woe unto the world because of offenses; for it must needs be that offenses come, but woe to that man by whom the offense cometh." If we shall suppose that American slavery is one of those offenses which, in the providence of God, must needs come, but which, having continued through His appointed time, He now wills to remove, and that He gives to both North and South this terrible war as the woe due to those by whom the offense came, shall we discern therein any departure from those divine attributes which the believers in a living God always ascribe to Him? Fondly do we hope, fervently do we pray, that this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away. Yet, if God wills that it continue until all the wealth piled by the bondsman's two hundred and fifty years of unrequited toil shall be sunk, and until every drop of blood drawn with the lash shall be paid by another drawn with the sword, as was said three thousand years ago, so still it must be said "the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.'

With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation's wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations."

Obviously,an appropriate setting for the most important speech of the civil rights movement.

More Jamestown near the waterfront and in the indian village. Of course, John is only pretending to sleep.

2007-08-26T22:23:00.000-05:00

Jamestown part of the Historic Triangle

2007-08-26T22:21:00.000-05:00

Colonial Williamsburg. "We let them out eventually" (Reluctantly)

2007-08-26T22:14:00.000-05:00

Mom's at the Zoo too

2007-08-26T22:03:00.000-05:00

The Kids with Cousin Hannah at the National Zoo

2007-08-26T21:53:00.000-05:00

Our D.C. Temple

2007-08-26T21:51:00.000-05:00

Bluegrass WV Style

2007-08-26T21:48:00.000-05:00

At Anthony's Creek

2007-08-26T21:44:00.000-05:00

Enjoying some time in the great outdoors after my graduation. Those West Virginia rivers and mountains were almost like heaven.

Swimming Lesson's Summer 2007

2007-08-13T00:57:00.001-05:00

Our newest swimmer floating on his back with some assistance

John's first jump into "the deep end"

"Diving board?" Piece of Cake (with a life-jacket)

The Quarry with Rich A

2007-08-13T00:52:00.000-05:00

WV Art

2007-08-13T00:46:00.000-05:00

A family goal accomplished

2007-08-13T00:24:00.000-05:00

Thanks you guys. Especially you sweetheart,
Rich

Friends in West Virginia

2007-08-13T00:21:00.000-05:00

This was one of my WV grandpa's Carby Hoke, he was an excellent gardener. A retired police officer and military man, he liked to tell the story of being a less active member in the Washington D.C. area when a member of his stake presidency or bishopbric came by and introduced himself as the Secretary of Agriculture Brother Ezra Taft Benson. During their visit one of Carby's kids asked him when his "mom and dad" were going to get married.

These are our friends the Tripps. They are probably enjoying the heat of Arizona now. Good luck on parenthood guys.

We probably have more pictures of our west virginia friends (Webbs, Watkins, Abbey's, Glebus), but if you have some you want posted, email them to us.

2007-08-12T23:58:00.000-05:00

Recommissioning in as a captain just after graduation:

"I, Richard John Donaldson, (social security number), having been appointed a Captain in the United States Air Force, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office upon which I am about to enter, so help me God."
-May 26th, 2007 (Sworn in by Captain Benjamin Wiles under his uncle Major John Wiles)

Captain Dr. Donaldson at work.

Captain Dr. Donaldson on call.

What was that in my pocket?

More Graduation Pictures

2007-08-12T23:25:00.000-05:00

Golf (an old scottish invention just like our family)

2007-08-12T22:42:00.000-05:00

As part of my graduation week activities, my school sponsered a golf outing at the local Elk's Club course. Our "foresome" (sic.) consisted of myself, Peter, Fred and Marco. It was a good time and we only lost about 30 balls between us.

Fred and Marcus (one of them is sucking his gut in, you guess which one;)

The shared ice cold coke really hit the spot on the 7th hole.

The day went much smoother because Pete was "on." None of us are really golfer's but it was a nice day and a good memory.

The newest Daniel Donaldson

2007-08-12T22:32:00.000-05:00

Ok, so we missed a few months of blogging in the transition so the next few posts will not be strictly chronological. John just barely took his swimming lessions (the previous post). These pictures are going back to late May when I graduated and my in-laws and parents came out. David and Heather were also out with their children. I got such a kick out of their little Daniel. I have very vivid memories of David and Emma at his age and this little guy "is David" for me. Thanks for coming out you guys it meant a lot.

John's Swimming Lessons

2007-08-12T21:40:00.000-05:00

Our newest swimmer floating on his back with some assistance

John's first jump into "the deep end"

"Diving board?" Piece of Cake (with a life-jacket)

Images from being in the Air Force

2007-08-06T13:20:00.000-05:00

Don't forget to pray

2007-07-24T23:15:00.000-05:00

Settling In

2007-07-05T22:03:00.000-05:00

I don't have any new pictures of life in San Antonio yet, but we are in our new home and Richard has officially begun his residency, although he's worked a mere 16 hours while most of his friends work call and have more than 50 already. Rich has clinic for the first few weeks before he has to move into the more demanding schedule. He was off for the fourth and fifth, which was very nice. The movers will finally bring all our stuff tomorrow.
Happy Independency Day! We have never seen so many fireworks on the fourth as we saw yesterday! These Texans really love fireworks! (unlike Lila). We went to some friends' house, the Loveridges, for a Barbecue. It was great fun and was great food! They had a pinata and fireworks. It rained most of the day before that and the high was 82. It's been raining for three weeks here, really. And it's very often so heavy that they start closing down roads for flooding. Crazy.
We're in love with Sea World and have been there several times. We can't wait to have people visit us.

R and J Donaldson Family Chapter 3: San Antonio

2007-06-12T22:35:00.000-05:00

We made it to San Antonio, our home for the next three years. Doctor Richard started Monday with an orientation. He is now a Captain in the Air Force. He has met many of the doctors he will be working with and will officially start his residency on July 1. We spent a few sweet weeks back in Lewisburg before we left and had a perfect time with the family members and friends that came in for graduation week. Thanks again to everyone that came!

We travelled through Tennessee and Arkansas on our way to San Antonio and stopped to camp and hike in the Great Smoky Mountains, play in Gatlinburg, stop in Nashville and Memphis, see Little Rock, tour a bath house in Hot Springs, and dig for diamonds in Arkansas.

We sold our home in Lewisburg to some very nice people, the Jennings, and are working on buying a home here. We should be in by June 25th. In the mean time, the kids are driving us crazy in a Comfort Inn room (compliments of the Air Force). It's an adventure and a half.

More later...

Happy Mother's Day

2007-05-14T23:01:00.000-05:00

I love you, my mother!
My children are such a joy to me, such a wonder. This year, I only got to talk to them on the phone, as I am away house-hunting (and enjoying a little r&r). I talked to them after church and John told me he had made all sorts of presents for me in church and wished I was there so he could give them to me. I asked him if he would save it for me (some of it was chocolate). He said he had an idea to give me a present of words. So he said, "Here it is: I love you so so so so so so so so so much." They sang "I Often Go Walking". They are having fun being back at "Home" in Lewisburg!

The End...for now...

2007-05-11T23:19:00.000-05:00

Richard put on his white coat and went in today for his last day working as a medical student! It was a great day and he's excited to be done. Good job! You're a doctor soon!

Trip to Kirtland, Ohio

2007-05-01T19:58:00.000-05:00

We traveled to Kirtland on the weekend of April 13th. We took a tour of the visitor's center and surrounding buildings, like the sawmill, the ashery, the Whitney Store and home, and the Johnson hotel. We later travelled down to the Johnson farm, which was a spiritual experience. The Whitneys and the Johnsons were incredibly humble and generous people.
We later took a tour of the Kirtland temple, which the Community of Christ church is trying to maintain/restore. It was amazing to be there and the tour guide was very knowledgeable.
When the kids had had enough of that, we went to a park and flew kites.
Then drove to our hotel in Cleveland right by Lake Erie and had fun swimming, etc.

Cake decorating

2007-04-26T11:20:00.000-05:00

I took a cake decorating class at Michael's and this is my final cake. My friend Annie was teaching it and she knows how to make awesome cakes. I never showed her my final cake, but she checks our blog so...how does it look, Annie? Thanks again. My favorite part was learning to make roses out of frosting! (You ask: Who's birthday is it?) Well, I just had to practice writing with frosting. Happy Birthday everyone, especially Grandma.
Love, Jennie

Discovery Museum

2007-04-22T23:23:00.000-05:00

These are in the children's museum (see post below). This is one of those pin-imprint-things but for your whole body. Lila is hard to see down on the right.

Magnet sculpture.

African safari presentation.

Water and sand play. The appalacian mountains are about 160 million years old! and other interesting facts found in this area. There was lots of fun stuff to do!

Discovery Museum

2007-04-22T23:16:00.000-05:00

Charleston has a great children's museum. This is John in front of Hollywood Squares with talking body parts personified as famous actors etc. (A pelvis dressed as Elvis). We were quizzed on health-related issues. It was so cool. The characters were taller than Lila and she was pretty afraid of them.

A ball play place to teach about the water cycle.

Lila frog.

John is a merman-bug with wings coming out of his head.

John is Five!

2007-04-17T23:51:00.000-05:00

On the morning of his birthday, John woke up wondering what he would be like as a five-year-old. Well, he ended up having to go to time out for something and got very reflective and said in a surprised way, "I'm pretty much the same as when I was four." He still tried to notice differences in himself throughout the day. He found that he was the same in most every way as the day before, just maybe "a tiny bit stronger." He had a party at Chuck E. Cheese with a few friends the Saturday before.

Carson came in from Lewisburg!

Billy

My friend Dania volunteered to help me make a cake. She loves working with fondant, so I got a lesson in cake decorating. This is the Diego adventure cake that we spent too much time making.

Jennie can blog

2007-04-15T21:52:00.000-05:00

I'm new at this. I want to contribute to this more and read the blogs of our family and friends. All of you (family and friends) with blogs are doing a great job, by the way. I think I'll have more time now since I finished my big project. I was spending a lot of my scarce free computer time working on it, which was typing up my preschool lessons. I typed these not only to make it easier for us to use but to be able to share them, so if you would like to have a copy, email me. There are 100 lessons. I'll try to get some pictures up of John-boy's fifth birthday. (I doubt if anyone even looks at our blog being as there's never anything new to see--hopefully that will change.)

Update

2007-03-04T14:30:00.000-06:00

Wow, it has been a while since I posted anything substantial. We are in Charleston now. I have been working in the university hospital system here. I did a month of required general surgery (laparoscopic and open gallbladders, appendices, hernias, bowel surgeries, colon cancer, wound debridements) and then a second month of required surgery elective in Urology (stone disease, prostate, bladder and renal cancers, urostomies, radical prostates, penile implants, and more catheters than you could shake a stick at). My brother-in-law Mike is going to be a Urologist some day. I think he's made a good choice. One of the coolest procedures I observed was laser lithotripsy. The most interesting surgery was an anterior pelvic exenteration with a urostomy using an ileal conduit. Overall surgery left a good taste in my mouth. Of course I haven't seen my evaluations yet.

Now after two weeks of research and then two more months of family medicine, I will trade my short white coat for a long white lab jacket. I have appreciated the many preceptors, students, residents, and attendings, the nurses and ancillary staff members, and all of the people, especially my patients, who taught me so much about medicine and myself.

I am also tremendously grateful for my family, especially my sweetheart Jennifer. Without her not only would this all not be worth it, but I would never have been able to make it. She is truly extraordinary.

I was tagged by my buddy Matt

2007-02-20T16:36:00.000-06:00

Rules of the Game:1. Find the nearest book to you.2. Name the book and author.3. Turn to page 123.4. Go to the fifth sentence on the page.5. Copy out the next 3 sentences and post to your blog.6. Tag three other people.

Campbell's Urology by Walsh, Retic, Vaughan, and Wein

"An abdominal plain radiograph is most often referred to as a KUB (kidney's, ureters, and bladder). An anteroposterior radiograph of the abdomen may also be referred to as a scout film before the administration of IV contrast material for an IV urogram. A plain radiograph of the abdomen and pelvis includes the area above the adrenal glands and extends to 2cm below the symphysis pubis."

Merry Christmas

2006-12-20T12:34:00.000-06:00

It has been a wonderful year. We feel so grateful for our family and friends.
We spent much of the year away from West Virginia, and do miss our friends there. We owe a tremendous debt to the Alexanders for allowing us to invade their home for so long. We love them.

Jennie has been anxiously engaged. In addition to being a concientious housewife, she's always doing fun pre-school activites with the children, going to points of interest wherever we have lived, and still finds time for her other projects like quilting, crafts, and guitar. She takes great care of herself and loves to waterski, run, and do outdoor activities.

Richard was able to do clinical rotations at the University of Utah and University Medical Center in Las Vegas, he also spent a month in San Antonio with the Air Force. We were thrilled to learn that he will be doing his internal medicine residency there. He enjoys his books and passed his second set of board exams last summer. He still enjoys raquetball, fishing and the outdoors, and loves to cook/grill. He will graduate on May 26th.

John was involved in gymnastics and a music classes this year. He is very acrobatic and loves to display his "fighting" skills. He has a beautiful voice. He is hyperactive and always has a creative project going. He is excited to start kindergarten this next fall.

Lila is our little bubble-gum chewer. She is talking now and a delight. She loves to spend time copying her older brother.

Here is a christmas message for all of us. When Jesus was born there was a sign in the heavens, a new star, that wise men recognized and followed to his home. They arrived several years after his birth, bearing gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. While on the very night of his delivery, Angels appeared to humble shepherds keeping their flocks by night, and proclaimed the birth of the messiah in a glorious vision. The angels disclosed the exact location of the baby. The shepherds made haste and were able to give their devotions that very night. Further they told many of the vision and the nativity. Although, the wise men did eventually make it to the savior's home, they obviously had to travel many many miles. The shepherds were close to him already. Let's focus more on being shepherds and less on being wise.

John explores red rock canyon near Las Vegas

2006-12-01T12:04:00.000-06:00

Grandpa, John, Jennie

More summer memories

2006-12-01T11:59:00.000-06:00

At Cabelas see the live bear! Working at the Huntsman cancer institute what a privilege
Running a 5k with my wife, sister mom and my brother. Dave and Em ran the 10k while my brother Marco tortured himself on the marathon. He payed the price though with an ER visit at the end which, he maintains, was likely unecessary.
Johanna, Mom, Me, Walt, Jennifer

At the park with cousins

2006-12-01T11:56:00.000-06:00