Thanksgiving in Death Valley

We moved a few days ago across the road to Furnace Creek Campground because the other host had to leave due to health problems. Now we feel like we are in a real campground, trees, fire pits and picnic tables. Sunset Campground was a little bare.
The best thing about this place is that we were able to have Connie, Shawn and the grandkids put a tent up next door to us. We have been having a good time introducing everyone to the glories of this National Park. Today they were on their own because Jim and I had host duties so they drove up to the Sand Dunes and had fun running up and down the dunes, digging and filling pockets with sand.
Sandy and Newel are enjoying Jana and Kevin and grandboys who drove over last night. We are all using innovative ways to cook our turkeys. Shawn is BBQing our turkey breast and Eggers are roasting a turkey roll in the trailer oven.
Most of our campers are quiet today and we hope and pray will continue to behave themselves and be well this evening.
It was so good to hear from the other kids, Jimmy, Amy and family and Jacob, Tania and family. It’s a little more challenging to do e-mail at our new site but Jim packs the computer and hops on his bike and sits up at the Visitor Center to do it. Thank the Lord our cell phone works great here.
Tomorrow our family will leave and we will be a little lonely.
The next event for us will be when Jim’s boss comes to the Furnace Creek Inn for a conference. Jim has arranged a meeting room and we will get to eat at the Inn. Jim’s looking forward to showing his co-workers Death Valley.
We are thankful for the beauty of this place, but even more for our family. God is good!

First Snow on Telescope Peak

So,Why Are We Doing This?

Today we have over 1,000 people in our campground. It's like a little city and we are the mayor, sitting here in our host site, listening to complaints about the park service, government, their neighbors, everything! Last night was crazy, with all sorts of things going wrong, from toilets, to an elderly man falling and needing to be sent to the hospital. We didn't get to bed till past 11PM. But, we are making new friends, solving problems, and hopefully making this experience a nicer one for at least most of the people!
Harry now thinks he owns the place. He thinks he is big enough to fight a coyote that has been hanging around, and he loves the date grove across the street. Lots of good smells over there, I guess.
It's been unusually warm, 94 yesterday, breaking the record to date. Unfortunately, I've been too busy to go to the pool.
How we are enjoying keeping in touch with family more easily this year with Internet and cell phone connections! That makes so much difference to us. It's almost that magical time, 12 noon when the camping tags expire so we need to start checking for empty spots. If you are chilly, drive over to Death Valley and warm up!