Dear Kids,

It’s Super Sunday today, 3 pm, at Tom’s house.  I heard him mention smoked pork, so be there or be square.  I’m excited.

My breathing has suddenly gone south.  It’s really weird.  Last Sunday morning I felt fine, and I was pumped up about everything I was going to do, but by evening I was gasping for breath.  I waited a couple of days and then called my oncologist, Dr. Lewis.  He agreed that I ought to start chemo again, so I’m going in tomorrow morning.  At our last visit he was all excited about Avastin, and how they’re using it now, together with chemo, for metastatic colorectal cancer.  So now he’s going to try it out on me.  It slows your blood flow, so it’s supposed to cut off some of the blood supply to my lung tumors, and make them DIE.  I have a feeling it’s going to work really well, plus, I’m excited to get breathing better.  So keep me in your prayers.

We finally had a decent snowstorm here, five or six inches, but it’s still plenty cold.  It’s below zero practically every morning.  But who cares–there’s new snow on the ground!  Our kitties don’t like it much, but Scout is really fat now, and his fur is thick, and he has his own heated condo to hang out in.  Sonia is in the house most of the time. 

Dad and I drove to Layton yesterday to celebrate Chloe’s birthday (early), and we took the route through the mountains on I-84.  I was thinking Rockport and Echo would be practically empty by now, because the Jordanelle is so low, but they’re still pretty full.  I’m sure their ice is plenty thick by now, because there were lots of ice fishermen out at both reservoirs.  They have their little shelters to keep them warm, but some of them were out walking around.  One guy was relaxing in a lawn chair, soaking up the sun, tending his line.  That’s one sport I can’t figure out–ice fishing.

Our four missionaries seem to be doing great, from their letters.  I’m enjoying them all.  If there’s somebody’s letters you aren’t getting, contact that person’s parents.  It’s really a blessing to have four missionaries out, and there will be lots more coming along.  Our family rocks.

Lots of love, Mom

 Dear Kids,

There’s still very little going on here.  The snowstorm we were supposed to have was just a few flurries, with nothing sticking on the ground.  But we have another chance this week, with three days predicted for possible snow.  My obsession with the weather shows how little is happening here.  If I had any real news I wouldn’t worry so much about the drought.

Dad’s toe has healed up very nicely.  He went back to Dr. Dickerson, who said everything looked fine.  He said if there’s anything else Dad wants removed, to come back.  Toes, toenails–he’ll take anything off.  BTW, I haven’t had any more trouble with my feet since he amputated my two pinkies, and it’s been nice to have a medical situation turn out so well.

Actually, I’ve been feeling surprisingly good.  On Monday afternoon Dad and I walked all the way around the block, and I did OK.  It was my first real walk in months.  I’ve even been laying tile–in the  little room under our basement stairs.  I started it years ago and then went on to something else.  But I found the extra tiles and the mortar and the grout, and I’ve been working on it for two days now.  It feels really good, doing house projects again.  I won’t be on chemo again until April 4, unless my breathing gets really bad, and then it will be earlier.

Dad had to get new tires for the Yerf Dog, since the old ones were splitting apart.  He ordered them from Amazon and they came in two days.  Naturally he had to put them on right away and drive around in the slush.  Can you believe he’s had the Yerf Dog for 17 years now?  If he didn’t baby it, it would have gone to the dump years ago.

Our next Super Sunday is a week from today, 3 pm, at Tom’s house.  Bring whatever you like.  I’m still wondering what the odds are that we’ll all bring desserts some time, but so far it has always balanced out.

I hope you’re all doin’ great and lovin’ it!  Mom  

 Dear Kids,

There’s a 60 percent chance of snow on Tuesday, and that’s absolutely the biggest news around here.  One to three inches expected.  I’m excited the high pressure over us is finally breaking up, although it’s been nice having sunny days for a month and a half.  But we really need winter.  We’re hoping not to have another drought this year, and we don’t want the poor farmers complaining when they only have one cutting of hay.

Our missionaries are all doing fine.  If you want to get on Addie’s e-mail list, contact Nora.  She writes her letter every Monday while she’s talking to her family on the phone.  Nora says so far her letters are mostly about missionary work, but after a while she’ll probably let down and spill her guts.  You’ve gotta do that, on a mission.  As for Jacob, Sterling, and Bentley, if you get their letters, you know everything.

Super Sunday will be two weeks from today, on February 27, at Tom’s house.  I can’t believe how well these Super Sundays are working out!  It’s so much fun to go to each of your houses (or parks, or the cabin, or wherever) and talk to all of you.  This family rocks!

Dad has finally had a medical “condition,” so it isn’t all me.  I’m glad it’s him now.    A couple of weeks ago he stumbled against our dining room table and stubbed his big toe really badly.  It was all black underneath the nail, and it hurt him like crazy.  After a few days of pain he went to see Dr. Dickerson, the crazy guy who has been taking off my toes.  This podiatrist doesn’t just sit there and talk about your feet–he gets in there and does things.  He took off Dad’s toenail, permanently.  (Dad said it had fungus, anyway). He treated it with chemicals so the nail hopefully won’t grow back.  Dad’s other big toe had that treatment years ago, and hasn’t given him any trouble since.  If you have fungus, you can try all kinds of treatments, but the only thing that really works is having the nail taken off.  

Tomorrow is Valentines Day, and 50 years since Dad became my permanent valentine.  Where did all that time go?  I hope you all have a wonderful day with the ones you love.

Much love to all, Mom

 Dear Kids,

Jacob is in Alabama!  And he has evidently hit the ground running, because as soon as he was off the plane, they sent him out tracting for three hours.  Go, Jacob!  We know he’ll have a wonderful mission.  I haven’t heard any updates on Addie, but I assume she and her super companion are working hard.  So is Sterling, along with eating lizard, and so is Bentley, along with skinning deer.  What a group of missionaries!

Our next Super Sunday should be on February 27 at Tom’s house.  I haven’t talked to him or Kim about it yet, but I think we can all plan on it.  Oh, yeah, and the dates for our summer family reunion are July 28-31, according to Monica.  I look forward to all our family events, and they’re always super, thanks to everybody’s careful planning.

Aubrey tested positive for Covid, and had to spend some time alone in her room.  Dad and I have had really bad colds with really snotty noses, so for all I know, we may have had covid, too.  Neither of us wanted to get tested, so we’ll never know.  We’ll all have it, sooner or later, and thank goodness it isn’t a big deal any more.

It’s still wretchedly cold.  We’re down in the single digits every night, and we’re lucky if it gets up to 30 during the day.  The same dirty snow is still on the ground, and we’re tired of waiting for more.  Might as well wait for spring.  Winter has turned into a total bust.

Since I’ve finished my four rounds of chemo, I had to have a CT scan and then see my doctor.  I usually don’t mind the scans, because the techs are so nice, but I got a lady who had nothing but a dull scowl on her face, and she didn’t even talk to me.  So when I was lying on the table, I said, “I guess I’m just a piece of meat, aren’t I?”  She looked surprised and said, “No, not really.”  Then she actually smiled.  I hope I livened her up for her other patients.  In that business, you just can’t be grumpy.

My visit with my doctor was very nice.  I know some of my tumors shrank, because I’m breathing better, but the main one we’ve been watching didn’t shrink at all–it just changed its shape.  When I have chemo again, the first part of April, they’ll add Avastin, a blood flow reducer.  It’s supposed to shrink the little blood vessels going to my tumors so the chemo can hit them harder.  Meanwhile, I’m enjoying being chemo-free.

Life is good.  I love you all!  Mom

 Dear Kids,

Things are pretty dull here.  Every day is exactly the same–blue sky, sunshine, and very cold.  We haven’t had a real serious storm since the end of December, and I’m worried we’re going to have another drought this summer.  And the winter started off so well!  We had five snowstorms in October!  And now nothing.  It’s totally Groundhog Day, but without any celebrating.

Speaking of which, I hope you’ve marked your calendars for Thursday, June 2nd.  We’ll be celebrating our 50th wedding anniversary.  We’ve got the pavilion at the Francis park along with the community building, which is sort of an oversized shack.  I’m ordering Bam Bam barbecue.  Now all that is something to look forward to.  And at least, on June 2nd, I won’t be hoping and praying for snow.  (So we might get it that day). 

A few weeks ago I posted some kind of hint in my letter to the effect that everybody should enjoy the cabin now, because eventually we’ll have to sell it.  Since then, at least a couple of Tom’s friends have approached him about wanting to buy it.  Do they read my letter?  How could they possibly know?  Anyway, it looks like it will be easy to sell when the time comes.  But maybe we’ll re-think everything by then.  One friend told Tom there just aren’t any properties like that on the market, so we should hang on to it.  Whatever.  I’m glad our cabin is so popular.

Bentley has passed the 18-month mark in his mission.  Is the time going by fast or what? Sterling is storming around Honduras preaching the gospel.  Addie has a trainer that’s only been out for two months, but Addie says they have everything under control.  Jacob is flying to Alabama tomorrow morning, I think.  What an awesome gang of missionaries we have!  I pray for all of them every day, and also for all the rest of you.  And I appreciate your prayers for me.

Lots of love, Mom

 Dear Kids,

It sounds like the ski party yesterday was a total blast.  Nora said there were 17 people there, and the weather was perfect.  Vanessa’s family stayed with us Friday night and last night, and they’re going to church with us this morning.  (Their own ward is shut down because their stake president is super cautious about covid.) 

And our missionaries were on the move this week.  Jacob went into the Provo MTC on Wednesday, and he’s doing super well.  He’s some kind of tech chief of his group.  (Dad was explaining it, but I wasn’t listening very well.)  And Addie is in England!  There were lots of missionaries going to both her mission and Leeds, and they were all on the same flight together.  She didn’t have to have a covid test when she landed because there weren’t any available. Her first town is Warrington, about half way between Manchester and Liverpool.  That’s all I know, but Nora’s family will be talking to her tomorrow.  Go, Addie and Jacob!  You all know how Bentley and Sterling are doing because they’re both so good about writing their letters.  Tom’s family is hatching a plan to go pick up Bentley in July (Good heavens, his mission will be over already!) and there will be a Bentley reunion in Austin.  So many people on the move! 

John’s family has too many cats!  There are the original four (Adeline, Zelda, Blue, and Sparky) and two other strays are coming around for the free food.  Once you start feeding cats, they make themselves at home, and John’s family is going through bags and bags of cat food.  When they were here Monday night we were giving John our suggestions, but he pulled out his phone and ordered a cat trap!  Sounds ominous to me!  I think those strays better move on to someone else’s house!

Somebody left an exercise gizmo at the cabin and I’m not sure what to do with it.  It looks like a large pair of bicycle handlebars, and the words “Go-Fit” are written on it.  Does anybody want to claim it?  It was hiding behind the lamp, but I put it in the garage.

Writing this letter has left me exhausted.  So many people doing so much!  I’m glad to be sitting home typing, and not using up any of my non-existent energy.

Lots of love, Mom

 Dear Kids,

Addie is flying out on Tuesday, the day after tomorrow.  Hooray!  She got her visa, so she won’t be going to Los Angeles first.  That would have been great for her, but we’re all glad she’s going directly to England (by way of Amsterdam).  Go, Addie!

And if you read Bentley’s last letter, you know he and his comp both have (or had) covid.  That’s the second time for Bentley.  Tom and Ali were tested last Tuesday, but last I heard, they hadn’t gotten any results yet.  What’s the point of testing if it takes a week to get your answer?  Poor Paige has tested positive twice in the last week or so, and has missed a lot of school.  Dad and I were there at Nora’s last Wednesday getting Dad’s hair cut.  I wandered upstairs to look at books, and noticed Paige in her bed.  I talked to her for a little bit before she mentioned she had covid, so technically I’ve been exposed.  Big Deal.  Allen probably had covid last week, and when I talked to him he was in Walgreens buying rapid test kits for his police department.  So it’s everywhere.  Donna’s right–we’re all going to have it.  Maybe more than once.  Life moves on.

Tomorrow is a Martin Luther King Day sledding party at the cabin.  Or is it Human Rights Day?  Whatever it is, Donna has the details about the sledding.  I won’t feel good enough to join in, since it’s less than a week since my last infusion.  But I’m hoping to feel good for the next two or three months, and I hope I don’t have any infusions before then.  My breathing is really good right now, so the chemo has done its work.

I’ve reserved the Francis “community building” for June 2nd, which is our (Dad and mine) 50th wedding anniversary.  We’re going to have a big party, and I’m going to order catered barbeque from Bam Bam’s.  It will be a nice long evening, since it doesn’t get dark until nearly ten o’clock.  The community building is right along the road where you turn in for the park and the rodeo grounds.  So kids can play in the park.  Oh, yeah, we have the pavilion, too.  So there’s no chance we can get pre-empted by a last-minute city council meeting.  Anyway, put it on your calendars.  If you’re reading this, you’re invited.

Sorry for the disjointed letter.  My brain is mushy from the chemo.  But I love you all!

Mom