Dear Kids,

I think most of you have gotten the message that our 50th anniversary party has been changed to Wednesday, June 1.  That’s because Sarah’s graduation in Pocatello is June 2 at 3pm. Thanks to Sharon for contacting everybody and arranging for the new date.  I’m really glad that everyone can make it, even Monica.  We’ll have to get a good picture of Dad, myself, and you nine kids.  I haven’t contacted the city yet about reserving the park for the 1st, but if it isn’t available, we’ll meet somewhere else.  This party will happen!

And next Sunday will be the second meeting of our family book club, talking about Chocolate Fever.  I realize it’s Mothers Day, too, but hopefully that won’t get in our way.  5pm, our house.  Be there or be square.  I think reading together is one of the best things a family can do, and I’m grateful to Nora for getting this ball rolling.  

Last Monday I had my CT scan, and Thursday I met with Dr. Lewis, my oncologist. He was really excited to show me how my tumors have shrunk.  The main one we’re watching, the “canary in the coal mine,” had shrunk from 1.8 to 1.5 centimeters, which might not sound like much, but it’s 20%.  And that’s just the diameter.  If you think of it in 3D and do the math, (4/3 π r-cubed) the volume shrank by 42%, which is spectacular.  Besides that, some of the tumors looked like doughnuts, because they were dying from the inside.  Needless to say I’m really happy.  I’ll be off of chemo now until the first of July, so I’m planning to do lots of plain, ordinary things like hiking and working at the cabin.  

Paul and Stefanie and their kids stayed over here Friday night because they had an appointment at John’s office Saturday morning.  It was really fun to get out my toys for the kids.  (One tote at a time, of course.)   Paul and Josh got out the legos and put together a little car with a man.  Paul wanted to take it home, so I said he could.  Some things never change, and I guess fascination with legos is one of those.  

I hope you’re all doing great and enjoying this pleasant spring weather.  Yeah, we had snow this week, but it melted within an hour.  There’s no stopping summer!  It’s coming! (Sharon’s family has had warm weather for weeks, but we won’t stew about that.)

Lots of love, Mom