May Dad Rest in Peace...

How does one...express...the lost of a parent, spouse, sibling, child, or 

a dear friend...?  It feels strange to think...that a 

"veil" is separating us...they "alive" on one side...and 

we "alive" on the other side...

...Can't pick up the phone or go visit...yet, they can be near...

if an occasion arises for them to communicate...

The blessing is having KNOWLEDGE...that we are only separated...

temporarily.....for one day...each of us will be called home...

to never be separated, again...

For me, it places a "reality" check...that I have been moved up

the line...My grandparents and now my parents...are no longer

living on this earth with me...

My father wanted a "blue" casket...smile 

He, indeed, got his wish...

My brother, Scott, had part of a "Viking Prayer" written in

his "memorial" program...

"Lo, There do I see my Father

Lo, There do I see my Mother and

My brothers and my Sisters

Lo, There do I see the line of my people

back to the beginning

Lo, They do call to me

They bid me take my place among them

in the halls of Valhalla

Where the brave shall live Forever

nor shall we mourn but rejoice for those that

have died the glorious death."

Dated Between 4 B.C. and 3 A.D.

As you know, my father nor many who attended his Graveside

Service...were "religious" in nature.

However, they LOVED what Caleb, Josh, and Hyrum contributed

to this service...Caleb officiated and gave a short memorial

talk...Garvin gave a short opening prayer first...Caleb spoke...

Joshua dedicated Dad's grave and a blessing...

Hyrum gave the closing prayer.

My brother Scott was so PLEASED with all 3 of the boys...

Actually, he voiced his thoughts MANY times...smile 

Afterwards, we had a luncheon...but, did NOT end up having

any "memorial" thoughts presented...Beyond my control...reasons/incidents...

seem to prevent it from happening...but, still it was a wonderful event...

I have very few pictures...but, will only post what I do have...

that represents

"family"...

 My father's only living cousin...left...

in the U.S. - John Jensen and his wife - Trish

In the background is Peach and her cousin..

Jerilyn and Steve are way in the background - she in a black/white

blouse and Steve standing next to her...

 My dear brothers...Steve on the left...

and Scott on the right...side of me...

 Chris Jensen - son of one of Dad's cousins - 

Howard Jensen - whom Dad has now joined...

Josh in the background (right side with cap on)

Caleb talking on the left side of picture...

Time Together....

Friday - 12 August 2016

Often when a family needs to gather together...when a loved one passes away...there are always precious moments...with those family

members who are still here...

Such was our day...on Friday...

Josh, Caleb, and Hyrum were able to get away from jobs

and their precious families...to support my brothers and

their families and myself...Plus, to be a part of my Dad's 

burial service and luncheon that took place 

on Saturday the 13th of August.

I know some of my boys...wish I would GO AWAY with my camera

but, I just wanted to remember as much as possible and

pictures are so vivid and real...

So...I began that morning...smile

WORKOUTS BEFORE THE DAY BEGINS 

of running around Sacramento for things I really wanted to 

do and see...for I don't believe I will ever return...

to Sacramento...

This picture was taken after everyone cleaned up from working out...

getting ready to leave for the day...We had a GREAT BREAKFAST at a 

small "healthy" type restaurant...SO GOOD...It was SMALL...but

packed with people...I would go back there, again...if the opportunity

ever came back up...smile 

VISIT to the OLD HOUSE I lived in MOST

of my Growing Up Years...

Went to the home that my grandfather, Herb Peterson, built for my

parents in 1957.  I lived in this house from the age of 7 years to

18 years of age.  However, after we moved my father to

Boise, Idaho where my brother, Scott and his wife, Peach could 

be with him EACH and EVERY day...we had to sell the home...

I wanted to see what this contractor was going to do to 

the house...I was quite surprised...for they gutted the 

ENTIRE inside of the house, except the fireplace...

It is going to be REALLY nice once they put it all back together, again...

but, still...it came as quite the surprise...

 Josh and Hyrum

 Caleb

They are making this area ALL ONE ROOM...

no longer will there be a formal "Living Room"...

"Family Room" and "Extended Misc. Room"

 Gutted out the KITCHEN and DINING area

 This was the area of the laundry room and back bathroom

 They were working on the BATH HOUSE...tore out all the bushes, grass,

but, left this one plant that wrapped itself around one of the bath house

poles...that produces ORANGE flowers...that the hummingbirds LOVE...

plus, the ORANGE tree (not pictured) that has incredible oranges on it...

 Adding a walk in closet off the master bedroom that

took out part of the "formal living room"...

 Completely gutted...

Took out the old front pane window...put in a new one...

tore out all the plants and grass out front...

Yeah....

GENEALOGY MOMENT

I felt it was going to be my last chance to go to the Sacramento

City Library...hoping to get more clues on my HEISEN

family...The "genealogy" people who could have helped me...did 

not work on this day...so...I found some "reference" books on

NEWSPAPER articles....I had each person...write down any information on

two surnames: HEISEN and MOTT

When I get a chance, I am going to look up every article that

they found in those books...I found some that will definitely interest

me...All them were so good about helping me out on this...

Hyrum, Josh, and Caleb - waiting for the Library to open...

 Garvin, Caleb, Josh, and Hyrum

diligently writing down all that they had found...

Dinner Time at "Olive Garden"

Mandy made reservations for all of us...at the "Olive Garden"...

My brother, Steve, and his wife Jerilyn were unable to join us...since they

were staying with friends...

 Caleb, Hyrum, Josh --- Rob and Kaitlyn Arkebauer

 Wyatt, Bobbie, Garrett (asleep) Mandy Arkebaurer --- Peach and Scott

 Garvin and Caleb

 Scott and I

Hyrum, Josh, and Rob

Had a GREAT time together...!!!

Definitely memories made...My boys were able

to get to know their UNCLE SCOTT...and I promise...

there were MANY MOMENTS of FUN LAUGHTER!

smile 

Cabin Fever...........

I wish to work backwards on our trip to California...

Yesterday, 14 August 2016, Garvin, Hyrum, and I left California to

return home from this past weekend's activities of

returning my father to California where he could be buried

with my mother...

I had to see my grandfather's - Wally Heisen - cabin ONE MORE TIME...

The cabin is located off Highway 50...about 6 tenths of a mile

from "Strawberry Lodge" - where we would go swimming

in the swimming pool...His cabin was on Lot #12...My mother was 9 years old

when my grandfather...bought this cabin...(1938)

The HEISEN cabin holds some of the BEST of the BEST 

childhood/growing up teen year memories...

My father would not go any where else...EXCEPT to the cabin for his

summer vacations from work...Consequently, I celebrated MANY of

my birthdays...at the cabin...smile

This picture was taken of my brother, Steve and I...Had to be 

in the mid-1950's

The people who own the cabin now...added a new 

fireplace...took out the railings...changed the porch

somewhat...I have no idea...what it looks

like in the inside.....but, I believe, it was for the best...

to NOT have seen the inside...

for...I only have the memories I REMEMBER...

But there is something NO ONE can change...except God Himself...

and that is the SMELL...OH...my goodness...the SMELL...

As soon as I got out of the car...I took a DEEP BREATH...

and took in the SMELL...that incredibly CLEAN PINE SMELL!

While, Garvin slept in the car...Hyrum and I went on our

own little adventure...Hyrum was gracious...allowing me...my 

moments...for this experience brought out much

of my inner emotions...

Here are the pictures I took, yesterday...I am going to make some into photos...and frame them on my wall in my office...

 Hyrum observing the cabin for the FIRST TIME...

 Some of the grounds around the cabin...

 When there was still plenty of water in the Sierra Mountains...

this creek would run along side of the cabin...(deck area)

We would dam it up some...so there would be

a pond size amount of water...We would put our

"watermelons" in the pond...to keep them cold...

However, one summer, we all woke up to finding only the

rinds...for a Mama bear and her cubs had come in the night...

or early morning...and had a FEAST! smile 

 The other end of the creek...that went down to the American

river...

This is the SAME bridge my grandfather built...still in its place...

that went over the creek...to our "horse-shoe pit" where many

a competition took place...Eventually, one of my grandfather's

dearest friends, Casper Kolb, bought the cabin next door...This bridge 

got plenty of use...over the many years my grandfather owned

this cabin...

Was My Bit of Heaven...Here on Earth...

The American River is BEHIND my 

Grandfather's cabin...though, you had

to walk a few yards to get to it...

But, the SOUND was ALWAYS present!

 Hyrum took pictures so that Jessica could see this 

incredibly beautiful area...I use to scout out...up and down the river...

Often would find a rock in the middle of the river...

and sit...think...and simply...DRINK IN the solitude...

Further up the river...is where I nearly drowned...smile 

 The forest on the OTHER SIDE OF THE RIVER...

 Hyrum...discovering the sand on the river floor...

 Loved the trees...LOVED the smell....

 Incredibly GRATEFUL...for one more memory....

(my overalls are wet due to wading in the river - smile)

 The TALL peak was known as "Lover's Leap"...

the same two lndian lovers...who had jumped off many

other "Lover's Leap" peaks...smile 

(this peak is right behind my grandfather's cabin...

on the OTHER side of the river)

 When I was a kid...I LOVED looking for this bend on the

highway...where we could see "Lake Tahoe"...

Tahoe was about 30-45 minutes from the cabin...

Still only a two-lane highway through the mountains...