Dear Kids,
Dad and John made a 2-day roadtrip to California, because John was interested in buying a glider from a guy who lives near Fresno. Unfortunately, the glider was too small for John, even when they took out the seat, so they came home empty-handed. But they had a fun trip. Meanwhile, I was having yet another surgery on my hand. Last week it was my left wrist, but when I took off the bandages on Tuesday, my left ring finger locked up. It’s trigger finger, and I’ve had it on three fingers of my right hand. There’s a quick surgery to fix it, but I had to have it done before next Tuesday, when my chemo starts. So my nice hand doctor worked on it Friday afternoon, after he did all his other patients for the day. So my hand is bandaged yet again, but it doesn’t hurt as much as last week.
Friday morning Sharon took the TEAS test, which she needs to be admitted to a nursing program. It’s a test of knowledge in general, not like the more specific one John took to get into optometry school. Sharon studied really hard for the math part, and she got a 98. Her reading comprehension was high, but surprisingly, her grammar score was low. Her overall score was 85, which she hopes will be high enough. Besides the test, she also has to submit a letter of recommendation, and they look at grades, too. We hope she’ll be admitted, of course.
Allen will soon be getting a lateral promotion, to detective sergeant. It’s a position he should have gotten a while back, and the guy that beat him out is retiring. There’s no pay raise, but Al will be working days now. He expects to have the position for four years, and after that, he’ll be so close to retiring that he won’t even have to worry about working nights again. We’re really happy for him, both for the kind of work he’ll be doing, and that he can have a more normal schedule now.
Last week I wrote about Lee Benson of the Deseret News writing a column about John’s eagles. If you want to read it, just google Deseret News Lee Benson January 19 2020. It’s called “Never underestimate the power of a deadline, and a mom” and I thought it was pretty stupid. Lee Benson tried to cover too much ground, and he tried to cash in on the sob story of the brother of two of the eagles (quadruplets) dying in 2018. He made a big deal about their mother keeping a spread sheet of the eagles’ progress, but to my thinking what John did was way more spectacular. Well, I always did think Lee Benson was a dope, and I have nothing good to say about the Deseret News any more. John was way more gracious about it that I’ve been.
January is flying by! Who would’ve thought?
Lots of love, Mom
Sunday, January 19, 2020
Dear Kids,
I’m typing with one hand because I had a surgery on my left wrist on Friday. I’ve been wearing a brace on it for months, because it hurt so much when I used my cane. Finally I had a window of time, before my next chemo starts, where I could maybe have something done with it. I made an appointment with my hand doctor, and he said the pain came from “de Quervain” syndrome. There’s a band of tissue around the tendons that go to your thumb, and if it thickens, the tendons get stuck there and it really hurts. He called it “trigger finger of the wrist.” It’s a really minor surgery to cut that band, and he had time to do it right then. Now it hurts like crazy because I can’t take hard pain meds any more, but when it heals, that will be one less pain I’ll have to deal with. Up till now, I’ve only been adding pains, not subtracting them. I even still have pain from the shingles I had, but I hardly notice it among everything else that’s wrong with me. But now one thing will be better!
A few days ago John had a phone call from Lee Benson, who writes a column for the Deseret News. Benson had a friend of a relative or whatever who was the parent of one of John’s eagles. He could hardly believe that John had shepherded 15 eagles to the finish line, and he wanted to write a column about it. He and John had a great phone conversation. I don’t know when it will be printed, and I don’t know anybody who still takes the Deseret News, but John’s going to keep on top of it. I’ll let you know when it shows up. I’m glad something really newsworthy is going to be in the Deseret News. We stopped taking it more than ten years ago, for lack of real news.
By the way, Dad saw a real bald eagle flying past our window yesterday morning. Maybe he was looking for the 15 other eagles he’d heard about. Or maybe he was looking for one last eagle court of honor he could crash.
Our work on the cabin is moving ahead very slowly. John and Dad have been working on the water tank, and yesterday afternoon they finally got it done, they said. I haven’t been back to see, but I’m hoping to start unpacking again. It’s just like moving! I can’t even remember where the pictures and other wall decor goes. But we’ll get it done. There will be lots of good times at the cabin again!
Lots of love, Mom
I’m typing with one hand because I had a surgery on my left wrist on Friday. I’ve been wearing a brace on it for months, because it hurt so much when I used my cane. Finally I had a window of time, before my next chemo starts, where I could maybe have something done with it. I made an appointment with my hand doctor, and he said the pain came from “de Quervain” syndrome. There’s a band of tissue around the tendons that go to your thumb, and if it thickens, the tendons get stuck there and it really hurts. He called it “trigger finger of the wrist.” It’s a really minor surgery to cut that band, and he had time to do it right then. Now it hurts like crazy because I can’t take hard pain meds any more, but when it heals, that will be one less pain I’ll have to deal with. Up till now, I’ve only been adding pains, not subtracting them. I even still have pain from the shingles I had, but I hardly notice it among everything else that’s wrong with me. But now one thing will be better!
A few days ago John had a phone call from Lee Benson, who writes a column for the Deseret News. Benson had a friend of a relative or whatever who was the parent of one of John’s eagles. He could hardly believe that John had shepherded 15 eagles to the finish line, and he wanted to write a column about it. He and John had a great phone conversation. I don’t know when it will be printed, and I don’t know anybody who still takes the Deseret News, but John’s going to keep on top of it. I’ll let you know when it shows up. I’m glad something really newsworthy is going to be in the Deseret News. We stopped taking it more than ten years ago, for lack of real news.
By the way, Dad saw a real bald eagle flying past our window yesterday morning. Maybe he was looking for the 15 other eagles he’d heard about. Or maybe he was looking for one last eagle court of honor he could crash.
Our work on the cabin is moving ahead very slowly. John and Dad have been working on the water tank, and yesterday afternoon they finally got it done, they said. I haven’t been back to see, but I’m hoping to start unpacking again. It’s just like moving! I can’t even remember where the pictures and other wall decor goes. But we’ll get it done. There will be lots of good times at the cabin again!
Lots of love, Mom
Sunday, January 12, 2020
Dear Kids,
I finally saw my oncologist this week. He’d been out of commission for more than two months, and they said he was only working half-days now. I asked him point blank if he had cancer and he said “Yes,” pancreatic cancer. Whoa! I’m just glad he’s back. I hope he stays alive and well for a while. I told him the whole ghastly tale of my chemo, but he knew most of from his notes from Dr. Thota. I asked him if he had any more tricks in his bag, and he said lots. He spent at least half an hour with us, telling me in minute detail what he wanted to try next. It was great understanding him! He thinks the best option now is for me to go on a gentler chemo–only one of the two drugs I had together last time. The gentler drug only causes diarrhea, mouth sores, and rashes, but not the terrible nausea. I might have to be on it for up to ten months, with a treatment every other week. I’ll be wearing the pump for two days and then going back to have it taken off. I’m willing to try it! It won’t cure me, but hopefully it will stop the tumors in my lungs from growing for a while. They have my first infusion scheduled for January 28. Naturally I still need your prayers! A miracle would be nice.
Scout is totally frustrated by all the snow, because he can’t find any mice. He usually goes out first thing in the morning, scouts around, comes back in, and then sleeps in the basement for the rest of the day. But this morning, he didn’t even head for the back door. Instead, he went to the coat closet and put his paws under the door. There are usually play mice in there, knocked underneath, and he wanted a look. I opened the door for him, and he looked in every corner. Nothing. So I got a play mouse from the kitchen drawer and tossed it to him. He spent the next hour knocking it all over the house, getting really vicious some of the time. Now I know how those poor outside mice get treated! I’ll be glad when he can go for the real thing again.
Dad and I are making progress at the cabin, but it’s a huge project. Yesterday John came and worked with Dad on the bathroom plumbing. Next Saturday they’ll tackle the water tank. Go, John! He’s as good as a licensed plumber. Our contractor’s son came and hung the rest of the doors, and he only needs to fix the air shaft over the fireplace now. Meanwhile, I’ve been making beds, unpacking boxes, putting books back on the shelves, and hanging things on the walls. It’s hard to remember where everything used to be. I haven’t even started on the kitchen, and the mouse turds are still plentiful under the sink. Maybe I should take Scout next time, and he can make sure there aren’t any live mice adding to the problem.
So much fun! January is going by fast this year.
Lots of love, Mom
I finally saw my oncologist this week. He’d been out of commission for more than two months, and they said he was only working half-days now. I asked him point blank if he had cancer and he said “Yes,” pancreatic cancer. Whoa! I’m just glad he’s back. I hope he stays alive and well for a while. I told him the whole ghastly tale of my chemo, but he knew most of from his notes from Dr. Thota. I asked him if he had any more tricks in his bag, and he said lots. He spent at least half an hour with us, telling me in minute detail what he wanted to try next. It was great understanding him! He thinks the best option now is for me to go on a gentler chemo–only one of the two drugs I had together last time. The gentler drug only causes diarrhea, mouth sores, and rashes, but not the terrible nausea. I might have to be on it for up to ten months, with a treatment every other week. I’ll be wearing the pump for two days and then going back to have it taken off. I’m willing to try it! It won’t cure me, but hopefully it will stop the tumors in my lungs from growing for a while. They have my first infusion scheduled for January 28. Naturally I still need your prayers! A miracle would be nice.
Scout is totally frustrated by all the snow, because he can’t find any mice. He usually goes out first thing in the morning, scouts around, comes back in, and then sleeps in the basement for the rest of the day. But this morning, he didn’t even head for the back door. Instead, he went to the coat closet and put his paws under the door. There are usually play mice in there, knocked underneath, and he wanted a look. I opened the door for him, and he looked in every corner. Nothing. So I got a play mouse from the kitchen drawer and tossed it to him. He spent the next hour knocking it all over the house, getting really vicious some of the time. Now I know how those poor outside mice get treated! I’ll be glad when he can go for the real thing again.
Dad and I are making progress at the cabin, but it’s a huge project. Yesterday John came and worked with Dad on the bathroom plumbing. Next Saturday they’ll tackle the water tank. Go, John! He’s as good as a licensed plumber. Our contractor’s son came and hung the rest of the doors, and he only needs to fix the air shaft over the fireplace now. Meanwhile, I’ve been making beds, unpacking boxes, putting books back on the shelves, and hanging things on the walls. It’s hard to remember where everything used to be. I haven’t even started on the kitchen, and the mouse turds are still plentiful under the sink. Maybe I should take Scout next time, and he can make sure there aren’t any live mice adding to the problem.
So much fun! January is going by fast this year.
Lots of love, Mom
Sunday, January 5, 2020
Dear Kids,
We’re all happy and relieved that Sharon’s family made it back to Maryland OK. I guess their only hitch was the 2-hour delay in Evanston, but they still made their targeted stop that night. Dad and I really miss them, though; we really enjoyed the few days that our house was their headquarters. I guess the New Years Eve party was wild and crazy, at least it sounded like that. I was upstairs stretched out in the recliner with agonizing gut cramps. And then, in case there hadn’t been enough partying, there was another party the next night. Nora’s family was on their way home from the cabin, and they brought the party with them. It was too late for me to join in, but Dad and I smelled the bacon from the jalapeno poppers.
By the way, in spite of the Mair party at the cabin, it really isn’t open for occupancy yet. We still have to have the final inspection and then get a certificate of occupancy. (The fake one Allen uploaded doesn’t count.) There are about four things the contractor needs to finish, including getting a door for the Moose bathroom (who knows where the other one went!) and I’m going to start pestering him this week.
On New Year’s day Mandy and Eddie came to our house to visit Sharon’s family, and for some reason Sonia was obsessed with Eddie. Maybe because he doesn’t like cats. She sat on the bench next to him, staring adoringly, waiting for a chance to jump on his lap and make starfish paws. He totally ignored her, which drove her crazy. She wasn’t used to being ignored, because Sharon’s family had admired and petted her every minute of every day they were here. After they left to drive home, she wandered aimlessly around the house for a couple of days. Now she’s hanging out more with Scout, so it’s all OK.
I’m supposed to meet with my oncologist one of these days, but he’s been very sick with something they won’t tell us about. Whenever I ask, they say they don’t even know if he’ll get better. Maybe he has cancer! That would be odd. During my chemo I was seeing his partner, the lady from India, but I had too much trouble understanding her. For example, she said “I don’t want you to womit.” I had to think about that for a minute. And you have to understand your oncologist completely, because it’s a matter of life and death. If poor Dr. Lewis doesn’t recover, I’ll have to find somebody new, that I can understand. I’m sure everything will work out for me, though, and I’ll live as long as I’m supposed to. About the only good thing in all this is that I have a permanent handicap sticker for our car. Dad absolutely loves it. I do, too.
I hope you’re all having a great new year! Lots of love, Mom
We’re all happy and relieved that Sharon’s family made it back to Maryland OK. I guess their only hitch was the 2-hour delay in Evanston, but they still made their targeted stop that night. Dad and I really miss them, though; we really enjoyed the few days that our house was their headquarters. I guess the New Years Eve party was wild and crazy, at least it sounded like that. I was upstairs stretched out in the recliner with agonizing gut cramps. And then, in case there hadn’t been enough partying, there was another party the next night. Nora’s family was on their way home from the cabin, and they brought the party with them. It was too late for me to join in, but Dad and I smelled the bacon from the jalapeno poppers.
By the way, in spite of the Mair party at the cabin, it really isn’t open for occupancy yet. We still have to have the final inspection and then get a certificate of occupancy. (The fake one Allen uploaded doesn’t count.) There are about four things the contractor needs to finish, including getting a door for the Moose bathroom (who knows where the other one went!) and I’m going to start pestering him this week.
On New Year’s day Mandy and Eddie came to our house to visit Sharon’s family, and for some reason Sonia was obsessed with Eddie. Maybe because he doesn’t like cats. She sat on the bench next to him, staring adoringly, waiting for a chance to jump on his lap and make starfish paws. He totally ignored her, which drove her crazy. She wasn’t used to being ignored, because Sharon’s family had admired and petted her every minute of every day they were here. After they left to drive home, she wandered aimlessly around the house for a couple of days. Now she’s hanging out more with Scout, so it’s all OK.
I’m supposed to meet with my oncologist one of these days, but he’s been very sick with something they won’t tell us about. Whenever I ask, they say they don’t even know if he’ll get better. Maybe he has cancer! That would be odd. During my chemo I was seeing his partner, the lady from India, but I had too much trouble understanding her. For example, she said “I don’t want you to womit.” I had to think about that for a minute. And you have to understand your oncologist completely, because it’s a matter of life and death. If poor Dr. Lewis doesn’t recover, I’ll have to find somebody new, that I can understand. I’m sure everything will work out for me, though, and I’ll live as long as I’m supposed to. About the only good thing in all this is that I have a permanent handicap sticker for our car. Dad absolutely loves it. I do, too.
I hope you’re all having a great new year! Lots of love, Mom
Sunday, December 29, 2019
Dear Kids,
Christmas has been wonderful, from the Messiah party to the cousins’ party to Christmas Eve, to visiting some of you on Christmas day, to the sledding party at the cabin and the after-party here, and even Nora’s adventure of the flat tire on her way home. And the fun isn’t over yet, because there’s going to be a New Year’s Eve party here at our house Tuesday night. All of you are invited, along with your kids. Sharon and Nora are planning it, so contact them for details! I still have a block of ariel fireworks left over from the fourth of July, so we can set them off! If I bug out early and go to bed, at least I’ll be having fun with all of you in spirit!
Last night Dad and I went to a fantastic party with my brothers and sisters at Bonnie’s house. Everybody was there except for Ben and Monica, and it was lots of fun talking to them all, and catching up on some of the news. Every year that goes by, we appreciate each other more. It’s miraculous that we’re all still alive, for now, and I wish that could go on forever, but as Katie pointed out in a text, we came into our family one by one, and we’ll start leaving one by one. I’m so glad for the Gospel, and to know we’ll be with our families forever, Dad and I, and our siblings, and all you kids. I appreciate that knowledge more and more all the time now.
Dad and I spent yesterday morning working at the cabin, and after two hours, you couldn’t see that we’d done anything. It will take a long time to get it completely functional again, but I’m planning to spend at least one morning a week there now, and Dad will put in plenty of time, too. Hopefully it will once again be the great party place it used to be!
Since 2020 is an even year, we’ll be having the big Allen family reunion this summer. Bonnie has chosen August 8 as the tentative date, and we’re planning on the same park again. It’s impossible to find a date that will work for everybody (Barbara says we’re up to 281 people now) but hopefully as many of you as possible will be able to come. And of course our own Ackerson family reunion will be the weekend before that, from Thursday, July 30, to Sunday, August 2. Tom is in charge this year, and we’ll be at the Chalet. There’s no stopping the fun!
Love to all, Mom
Christmas has been wonderful, from the Messiah party to the cousins’ party to Christmas Eve, to visiting some of you on Christmas day, to the sledding party at the cabin and the after-party here, and even Nora’s adventure of the flat tire on her way home. And the fun isn’t over yet, because there’s going to be a New Year’s Eve party here at our house Tuesday night. All of you are invited, along with your kids. Sharon and Nora are planning it, so contact them for details! I still have a block of ariel fireworks left over from the fourth of July, so we can set them off! If I bug out early and go to bed, at least I’ll be having fun with all of you in spirit!
Last night Dad and I went to a fantastic party with my brothers and sisters at Bonnie’s house. Everybody was there except for Ben and Monica, and it was lots of fun talking to them all, and catching up on some of the news. Every year that goes by, we appreciate each other more. It’s miraculous that we’re all still alive, for now, and I wish that could go on forever, but as Katie pointed out in a text, we came into our family one by one, and we’ll start leaving one by one. I’m so glad for the Gospel, and to know we’ll be with our families forever, Dad and I, and our siblings, and all you kids. I appreciate that knowledge more and more all the time now.
Dad and I spent yesterday morning working at the cabin, and after two hours, you couldn’t see that we’d done anything. It will take a long time to get it completely functional again, but I’m planning to spend at least one morning a week there now, and Dad will put in plenty of time, too. Hopefully it will once again be the great party place it used to be!
Since 2020 is an even year, we’ll be having the big Allen family reunion this summer. Bonnie has chosen August 8 as the tentative date, and we’re planning on the same park again. It’s impossible to find a date that will work for everybody (Barbara says we’re up to 281 people now) but hopefully as many of you as possible will be able to come. And of course our own Ackerson family reunion will be the weekend before that, from Thursday, July 30, to Sunday, August 2. Tom is in charge this year, and we’ll be at the Chalet. There’s no stopping the fun!
Love to all, Mom
Sunday, December 22, 2019
Dear Kids,
Sharon’s family arrived in Centerville right on schedule yesterday, in time for the ice skating, even. Their drive was flawless! Of course lots of us were praying for them, but their good planning played a part, too. And we really enjoyed the wonderful party at Nora’s. I was sorry to drag Dad away early, but I was really tired. We sure had fun talking to everybody, though.
Of course you’ve all heard the sorry news of Tina’s departure to Kitty Heaven yesterday. Her decline started about three months ago when she seemed to be gagging a lot, and her breathing seemed raspy. After two visits to Arcadia clinic, we realized she probably had something incurable, and maybe we’d just let nature take its course. So we waited, day after day, week after week, while she got thinner and thinner, until she was just a bag of bones, and she struggled more and more to breathe. Finally, yesterday morning, she gave me a look that said she’d finally had enough. I understood. We called Arcadia clinic, and took her in. Dr. Pickett looked her over carefully, and said she had enlarged lymph nodes and fluid in her chest. It could be some kind of lymphoma, or another cancer, or some other disease, of which he named several. None of them could be treated. We told him we had prepared ourselves for the worst, and we were willing to say goodbye to her. But Dr. Pickett didn’t want to say goodbye! He stroked her head for a while, and then he got papers ready for Dad to sign. We had our choice of a private cremation, where we got her ashes back in an urn with her name on it, or she could have a group cremation with other pets in an apple orchard in Spanish Fork. Of course we chose the apple orchard for her. Her spirit would be gone, anyway.
The actual process of sending her off was very sweet, and Dad was glad he stayed in the room to watch. She got a shot to relax her, and then, a few minutes later, the final shot. I thought I could feel her spirit leave. It was weird that we got her on a summer solstice, June 21 of 2016, (Sharon’s birthday, too,) and she left us on a winter solstice. You could hardly plan that!
Scout and Sonia are behaving like cats just before Christmas. Santa sure wouldn’t visit them if he had a chance! They’ve been racing and fighting and trying to destroy the Christmas tree, until I sprayed it with febreze (blood orange and spritz aroma) which Sonia hates. Since then Sonia has been rocketing back and forth through the living room and kitchen. (She told me her favorite Christmas song is “Rocket Around the Christmas Tree.”)
Christmas is upon us! Dad and I will be driving around visiting some of you on Christmas Day, if I feel up to it, (still recovering from that one chemo infusion), and on Friday we’ll have our sledding party in Pocatello. Lunch will be at noon, and we’ll be having a potato bar, so besides bringing your leftover Christmas goodies, you might also bring one potato topping. We’ll go sledding right after lunch. There’s talk of a trip to Lava, either early that morning, or later in the day, so if you’re interested, check with Vanessa.
So much fun! So much family! I love you all! Mom
Sharon’s family arrived in Centerville right on schedule yesterday, in time for the ice skating, even. Their drive was flawless! Of course lots of us were praying for them, but their good planning played a part, too. And we really enjoyed the wonderful party at Nora’s. I was sorry to drag Dad away early, but I was really tired. We sure had fun talking to everybody, though.
Of course you’ve all heard the sorry news of Tina’s departure to Kitty Heaven yesterday. Her decline started about three months ago when she seemed to be gagging a lot, and her breathing seemed raspy. After two visits to Arcadia clinic, we realized she probably had something incurable, and maybe we’d just let nature take its course. So we waited, day after day, week after week, while she got thinner and thinner, until she was just a bag of bones, and she struggled more and more to breathe. Finally, yesterday morning, she gave me a look that said she’d finally had enough. I understood. We called Arcadia clinic, and took her in. Dr. Pickett looked her over carefully, and said she had enlarged lymph nodes and fluid in her chest. It could be some kind of lymphoma, or another cancer, or some other disease, of which he named several. None of them could be treated. We told him we had prepared ourselves for the worst, and we were willing to say goodbye to her. But Dr. Pickett didn’t want to say goodbye! He stroked her head for a while, and then he got papers ready for Dad to sign. We had our choice of a private cremation, where we got her ashes back in an urn with her name on it, or she could have a group cremation with other pets in an apple orchard in Spanish Fork. Of course we chose the apple orchard for her. Her spirit would be gone, anyway.
The actual process of sending her off was very sweet, and Dad was glad he stayed in the room to watch. She got a shot to relax her, and then, a few minutes later, the final shot. I thought I could feel her spirit leave. It was weird that we got her on a summer solstice, June 21 of 2016, (Sharon’s birthday, too,) and she left us on a winter solstice. You could hardly plan that!
Scout and Sonia are behaving like cats just before Christmas. Santa sure wouldn’t visit them if he had a chance! They’ve been racing and fighting and trying to destroy the Christmas tree, until I sprayed it with febreze (blood orange and spritz aroma) which Sonia hates. Since then Sonia has been rocketing back and forth through the living room and kitchen. (She told me her favorite Christmas song is “Rocket Around the Christmas Tree.”)
Christmas is upon us! Dad and I will be driving around visiting some of you on Christmas Day, if I feel up to it, (still recovering from that one chemo infusion), and on Friday we’ll have our sledding party in Pocatello. Lunch will be at noon, and we’ll be having a potato bar, so besides bringing your leftover Christmas goodies, you might also bring one potato topping. We’ll go sledding right after lunch. There’s talk of a trip to Lava, either early that morning, or later in the day, so if you’re interested, check with Vanessa.
So much fun! So much family! I love you all! Mom
Sunday, December 15, 2019
Dear Kids,
Sorry I didn’t write a letter last week. I couldn’t even sit, let alone type. I was flattened so low I couldn’t even read, or watch movies, or barely talk to Dad. I just existed, for a couple of days, before I started to improve. So thanks for all your prayers. I can barely imagine how bad it would have been without them! The only idea that kept me going was my decision to never have any more chemo, ever. I’m sure there are people who can handle it better than I did, but I feel like it’s going to take me weeks to recover back to where I was. I’m not even afraid of my cancer, because my life is in the Lord’s hands, and when my time comes, He’ll take me mercifully–I’m sure of that.
We’re trying to get into Christmas here. Nora helped us set up our tree, but then Sonia walked around it, looking to see if there was anything dangling from any of the branches. She remembers last year! They were still kittens, and they had fun climbing up the middle, bending down the branches, and knocking off ornaments. Maybe we’ll have to be content with just lights for this year, like a family with toddlers. I’ve tried putting a few presents under the tree, but Sonia comes running, lands on one, and skids across the floor until it stops. So most of the presents are flat, with bite marks. Scout’s behavior is a little better, since he’s still preoccupied with the mice and voules outside. I don’t think he’s catching any, but he patrols. No matter how deep the snow, he goes out looking for them.
Now Tina–well, I’m sorry to say her health is still on the decline. She’s terribly skinny, (even though we feed her Urgent Care cat food at $3.00 a can) and she gags all the time. Dad and I think she has some kind of growth in her throat, maybe a cancer. It isn’t anything the vet can find and cure easily, and we’ve already paid for two office visits. Dad suggested taking her in and having her put to sleep, but it was all talk. Tina said she wants to do it her own way, on her own timetable.
We went to the court of honor for John’s 13 scouts on Wednesday night, and it was a great evening! There was a live eagle! (Awful, evil birds!) The program only lasted an hour, and the refreshments were good. What could be better? I still remember vividly when John earned his own eagle, and it wasn’t very long ago. Aaron was one of the 13, and Jacob took the other route, the “almost eagles.”
Christmas plans: (1) Tonight is the second performance of the Messiah at Tom’s Church at 7 pm. If you look in the middle of the back row, you’ll see three nice-looking blonde singers: Me, Tom, and Bentley. There’s a pre-party at Tom’s at 5 pm. If you want to bring something, there’s still time. Contact Kim.
(2) Next Thursday, Sharon’s family will set out crossing the plains, hopefully to be here on time Saturday for the cousins’ party. Ice skating is at 1:00 at the same rink, and we’ll eat at 5. Contact Nora for a food assignment.
(3) Christmas Day: Sharon’s family will be in Upalco at the Thackers. Dad and I will visit some of you, if I feel OK.
(4) Sledding in Pocatello! More later!
Life is still good! Lots of love, Mom
Sorry I didn’t write a letter last week. I couldn’t even sit, let alone type. I was flattened so low I couldn’t even read, or watch movies, or barely talk to Dad. I just existed, for a couple of days, before I started to improve. So thanks for all your prayers. I can barely imagine how bad it would have been without them! The only idea that kept me going was my decision to never have any more chemo, ever. I’m sure there are people who can handle it better than I did, but I feel like it’s going to take me weeks to recover back to where I was. I’m not even afraid of my cancer, because my life is in the Lord’s hands, and when my time comes, He’ll take me mercifully–I’m sure of that.
We’re trying to get into Christmas here. Nora helped us set up our tree, but then Sonia walked around it, looking to see if there was anything dangling from any of the branches. She remembers last year! They were still kittens, and they had fun climbing up the middle, bending down the branches, and knocking off ornaments. Maybe we’ll have to be content with just lights for this year, like a family with toddlers. I’ve tried putting a few presents under the tree, but Sonia comes running, lands on one, and skids across the floor until it stops. So most of the presents are flat, with bite marks. Scout’s behavior is a little better, since he’s still preoccupied with the mice and voules outside. I don’t think he’s catching any, but he patrols. No matter how deep the snow, he goes out looking for them.
Now Tina–well, I’m sorry to say her health is still on the decline. She’s terribly skinny, (even though we feed her Urgent Care cat food at $3.00 a can) and she gags all the time. Dad and I think she has some kind of growth in her throat, maybe a cancer. It isn’t anything the vet can find and cure easily, and we’ve already paid for two office visits. Dad suggested taking her in and having her put to sleep, but it was all talk. Tina said she wants to do it her own way, on her own timetable.
We went to the court of honor for John’s 13 scouts on Wednesday night, and it was a great evening! There was a live eagle! (Awful, evil birds!) The program only lasted an hour, and the refreshments were good. What could be better? I still remember vividly when John earned his own eagle, and it wasn’t very long ago. Aaron was one of the 13, and Jacob took the other route, the “almost eagles.”
Christmas plans: (1) Tonight is the second performance of the Messiah at Tom’s Church at 7 pm. If you look in the middle of the back row, you’ll see three nice-looking blonde singers: Me, Tom, and Bentley. There’s a pre-party at Tom’s at 5 pm. If you want to bring something, there’s still time. Contact Kim.
(2) Next Thursday, Sharon’s family will set out crossing the plains, hopefully to be here on time Saturday for the cousins’ party. Ice skating is at 1:00 at the same rink, and we’ll eat at 5. Contact Nora for a food assignment.
(3) Christmas Day: Sharon’s family will be in Upalco at the Thackers. Dad and I will visit some of you, if I feel OK.
(4) Sledding in Pocatello! More later!
Life is still good! Lots of love, Mom
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