Dear Kids,

Congratulations to Emma for her call to the Kansas Wichita mission.  Her service will begin January 22.  I’m just so proud of all these grandkids serving missions. I couldn’t be happier.  

Today is Grandpa Allen’s birthday.  If he were still alive, he’d be 100.  Yesterday I met with my brothers and sisters at Bonnie’s house, and we had a party in his honor.   We had BT cake with ice cream, especially for him.  All my siblings were there, even Ben from Albuquerque, and all their spouses except Monica.  I didn’t gather up any gossip, except for some news about Bonnie.  She said we all had to be out of her house by 6pm, because she had a date.  We said we wanted to stick around and check him out, and probably harass him a little bit, but when Dad and I left, everybody else was picking up their stuff, too.   I’m glad she’s having some fun in her life.

I’m still not sure if we’re doing the soup and bread dinner for conference this coming Saturday night.  I’ll check with everybody tonight and let you all know.  I can’t believe it’s already time for conference again, but it should be, because I’m on my sixth time through the talks.  You only have to read one every day to get through all of them that many times, and it really helps me with my life, especially the challenges I have now.

Book club last week was great.  For October we’re reading The Great Brain, Book 1.  It’s been several years since I read it, so I’m looking forward to going through it again.  Book club will be October 8, just two weeks away, unless something else comes along.  Then, October 22 will probably be Super Sunday again.  We’re due to meet at Tom’s this time. 

Our hikers made it out of the Grand Canyon yesterday afternoon.  Congratulations to Nora, Vanessa, Allen, Monica, and Donna for a trek well done!

I met with my radiation doctor on Thursday, and he didn’t promise me any fabulous results from radiation, but he thought it would probably help me breathe better.  I can go for that!  He said we should wait until my current block of chemo is over with, which will be October 11, and then he wanted to give it about three more weeks after that.  So it will be the end of October before anything happens.  I’m glad I have more time to prepare myself mentally. 

Life is good.  Love to all.  Mom

 Dear Kids,

Book club is this afternoon at 5:00, and we’re talking about Frindle.  I have some good questions prepared, and I’ll be throwing out candy.  Then, if it isn’t too windy, we’ll build a fire out in our fire pit and make S’mores.   Our beautiful fall weather isn’t going to last too much longer, so we have to make the most of it.

Two weeks from now is October conference.  I’ll call around and see if you guys want to do the soup and bread dinner Saturday night, and then watch the evening session here.  Your kids can run around outside, if it isn’t too cold by then.  Or they can walk up the street and play football in the little park.  We’ll see what everybody wants to do.

At the end of this week, Allen, Monica, Donna, Nora, and Vanessa are doing the Grand Canyon rim to rim to rim.  I think Nora and Monica are doing a modified version and camping out in the bottom.  Everybody’s  starting on Thursday, according to Allen, and spreading it over three days, so it won’t be the monster marathon like when Vanessa and her friends did it in one day.  I wish I could do it.  It’s hard to have my best days over with.  (Physically.  Otherwise, my best days are right now.)

I have an appointment with the radiation doctor this Thursday, to talk about when and how they’ll do the radiation on my lungs.  Right now I’m in the middle of a block of chemo, so I’m guessing they’ll wait until that’s over with.  Just guessing. I’ve met this doctor before–it was five years ago when I first had my colon cancer, and he radiated that area.  Now I have sores there that won’t heal, but hopefully it will go better this time.

I talked to Vanessa and asked her how Sarah’s doing.  She flew to the Mexico City MTC on a flight with about 50 other missionaries, and she’s doing great there.  It’s a very secure facility with eight-foot high concrete block walls and lots of chain link.  Sarah will stay there about 5 weeks, till October 20, when she’ll leave for Chile.  I’m sure she’ll have a wonderful mission there.   Aaron will start his MTC work on October 2.  After a week at home, he’ll go to Provo, and then, after a couple more weeks, to Iowa.  I’m so proud of our missionaries! 

Things are good!  I love you all!  Mom

 Dear Kids,

I guess you’ve all heard about the change in plans, and that Super Sunday is today instead of next week.  That’s because Doug and Anita Price are tied up with their stake conference next week, but today will work OK for them.  So today is a combination Farewell/Super Sunday, and it all starts at 10:30 am at John’s ward, 1365 East Center Street in Heber.  Aaron will be speaking.  Lunch is right afterward, at John’s house, and nobody needs to bring anything, because it’s all taken care of.  With all their special diets, it’s tricky.  Speaking of which, John has been on the Keto diet for three or four weeks now, and he’s lost 16 pounds.  I asked him what his goal was, and he said probably 50 pounds, because he just turned 50.  “50 for 50,” he said.

So next week will be book club, here at our house at 5 pm.  We’re reading Frindle.  I’ll be throwing out candy to the kids who answer the questions right (and there will even be questions geared to Tyler) and if all the circumstances are right, we might do s’mores afterwards in the back yard.  My fire pit has been unused for too long.

Yesterday afternoon Aaron was endowed in the Provo Temple, and it was a great event.  It was wonderful seeing so many family members there.  Dad and I have a special feeling for the Provo Temple because we were married there, and it’s going to be hard for us when they “rebuild” it.  While it’s closed, we’ll probably go to the Orem or the Taylorsville temple, but neither one of them is very convenient, and it will take time to build memories in either place.

I haven’t written anything about my piano classes for a long time.  We’re still going strong at the Heber senior center.  It’s going on 10 years that I’ve been doing it, and some of my ladies have been with me nearly from the start.   A couple have dropped out, but I’ve just had two new ladies join up, and I hope they’ll be with me for another ten years.  I really hope I can keep it going that long, but having cancer makes it iffy.

Speaking of which, I’ll be talking to my doctor tomorrow morning and I hope to have some answers about radiation.  I’m supposed to be thinking it over, but I’ll just let my team make the decision for me.  At any rate, I’m sure I’ll still be doing the chemo.  I’ll be wearing my pump from tomorrow until Wednesday, and I’ll feel icky until Thursday or Friday.  Onward and upward!

Hope you’re all doin’ great and lovin’ it!  Mom

 Dear Kids,

Josh’s baptism was a great event.  Thanks, Tom, for zooming it to Sharon in Maryland.  There were a couple of blips, but it seemed to work fine.  Thanks, Paul and Stefanie, for the wonderful lunch at your house afterwards.  It was fun to see the Riebens and talk to them again.

Donna says her kids are really enjoying Frindle.  She reads one chapter to them every night, and the chapters are really short, so it works out well.  If you haven’t started it yet, there’s still plenty of time, even though book club is next Sunday evening.  (Sept. 10)  Come and have fun!  It’s my turn to lead the discussion, so I’ll be throwing out candy, like always.

Super Sunday will be combined with Aaron’s farewell, at John’s house two weeks from today.  (Sept. 17.)  John says to bring your food pre-cooked, since some of his family members are super sensitive to foods that are cooking.  I think John’s church starts at 9 am, but I’m not sure, and I’m not sure on the address, so I’ll put those in next week. 

Paul is moving ahead to yet another job, but we’re not worried because every job change has been a step up for him.  He’s been hired by Gardner Engineering in Ogden, and he’ll start working for them on September 25.  He interviewed with Gardner once several years ago, but went with another choice at that time.  Go, Paul!

My cancer has been progressing, which, of course, is what cancer does.  The main tumor in my lungs used to be nicely cavitated (full of holes) and misshapen, but since my last scan it has grown by about 50% and filled in.  (All my other tumors are still cavitated. ) Dr. Lewis mentioned the idea of radiation, just on my one big tumor, and I’m supposed to be thinking about it.  I know about radiation, and I know there can be unpleasant side effects, but I’ll probably go for it.  I don’t know when it will start, if I tell them yes.  I’ll let you all know.  I really appreciate your prayers for me, and I know I’m living longer because of them.  I know the Lord especially listens to your children’s prayers.

Life is good!  Keep on doing good things, everybody.  Love, Mom

 Dear Kids,

I guess you all got the word that Super Sunday is at Nora’s house this afternoon.  4pm.  Be there or be square.  This is going to work out a lot better for John’s family, because they can combine Super Sunday next month with Aaron’s farewell on the 17th.  

Meanwhile, Josh’s baptism is this coming Saturday, September 2, at 11 am.  The address  of the stake center is 1715 W. 1600 North in Layton.   There’s a lunch afterwards at Paul and Stefanie’s.  We hope to see most of you there.  

Then, book club will be September 10th.  That’s coming up quickly, because we’ve been off schedule the last couple of months.  We’re reading Frindle, which is about a boy in middle school who invents a new name for ball-point pens.  It sounds crazy, and it is. 

I saw from a link on my phone that the family photos by Quinn Calder are available.  Wow, he took a ton of pictures!  I don’t know how anybody can possibly choose.  I’m sure Donna can tell you what to do next.  I’m impressed that our family is so wonderfully photogenic.

Yesterday I went to the Heber airport with Dad to help John fly his glider.  Dad helps John put it together, including scotch tape to hold the wings on.  (There are big bolts, too.) I don’t do anything helpful except drive the golf cart around a little bit.  (The golf cart tows the glider to the launching spot.) John inherited the golf cart from his friend Tom, who died a few months ago.  And Tom was the owner of the dead cat I found in the freezer at the hangar, if you remember that story.  Anyway, they got the glider assembled and then the towplane launched John into the air.  He found a good updraft and was soon near the top of Timp, where hikers at the shack took his picture.   He didn’t stay up very long, though, because some big storm clouds were building up, and he saw some lightning.  I asked John what happens if a glider gets hit by lightning, and he said the wings fall off and you parachute down.  I guess we could do without that kind of excitement.

Tomorrow I go in for chemo again, and it will go on until the second week in October.  I don’t mind too much, because I’ve had such a wonderful vacation, but I sure appreciate your faith and prayers in my behalf.  I know I’m living longer because of all of you.

Lots of love, Mom

 Dear Kids,

What a great week we’ve had!  There have been at least three good rainstorms, and it hasn’t been so hot.  I don’t mind summer winding down, and all our Heber Valley grandkids are back in school.  Life is good.

Book club is this afternoon at 5:00 at our house.  We’re discussing Bunnicula.  It’s a great story!  The Dracula rabbit, Bunnicula, sucks all the color from foods and leaves them white, so I have to think of some white refreshments.

And Super Sunday is a week from today, on the 27th, at John’s house.  I’m pretty sure we’ll be meeting at 4:00.  It’s always fun to see what food everybody will bring.  I’m still waiting for the Sunday when it will be all desserts!

Then, Saturday, September 2, will be Josh’s baptism.  It will be at 11 am, and the address of the stake center is 1715 W. 1600 North in Layton.  Even though it’s Labor Day weekend, I hope most of you will be free to come.   The invitations are really cute!  Bonus points if you can name the temple in the picture.

Yesterday we had a great time at the cabin with our friends, the Garcias.  They took turns driving the yerf dog, which Dad got working for us.  Even Chandra drove it.  You remember the Garcias–they came and raked gravel with us in June.  We all bought lunch at Food Town, my favorite deli.  Everybody gets what they want, and I don’t have to prepare a thing.  Can’t beat that!

It’s been seven weeks since I had chemo, and I have one more week of freedom before I go back.  It’s been a wonderful time for me.  We had the family reunion, Bentley’s wedding, and the trip to Pocatello, besides at least three hikes, and we finished the tile in the pantry of the cabin.  When I’m back on chemo, I’ll just think of all the good times we had.  And with such a wonderful family as ours, there will always be good times.

Lots of love, Mom

 

Dear Kids,

Congratulations to Aaron!  He’s been called to the Iowa City, Iowa mission, and he’ll start on October 3.  I’m sure he’ll be a wonderful missionary, and we’re very happy for him.

Dad and I are headed to Pocatello this morning, and we look forward to seeing a lot of you there.  If you need last-minute directions, the address of the church is 1701 Bartz Drive.  There are two chapels next to the interstate, and we’re meeting in the one farthest east.  You can follow google maps, which takes you off the interstate and winds you north through town, or you can take our usual exit and backtrack.  I’m sure it will be a wonderful meeting.  It’s Sarah’s farewell, and Sterling’s homecoming.

Next week, the 20th, is book club at our house, at 5 pm.  We’re reading Bunnicula, which is crazy and fun.  I’m looking forward to what everybody has to say about it.  Super Sunday will be the following week, the 27th, at John’s house.  Kids and teenagers are welcome to bring their swimsuits and sit in the hot tub.  If any adults want to join them, they won’t be turned away.  

Dad and I did two great hikes this past week.  On Tuesday we did the walk around Mirror Lake with our ministering couple, Susan and Dan Joos.  Dan has a heart condition and can only walk where it’s flat, so it was perfect.  The weather was awesome, and hardly any people were there.  After our hike we had a picnic that Susan fixed.  You know, ministering people are always asking what they can do for you, so I was the one who suggested the hike.  I definitely needed that.

Then, on Friday morning, we hiked the Nobletts trail on the Wolf Creek highway (Hwy 35) with Al. He had camped overnight after the wedding reception, and met us there.  It was way more taxing than I expected, since I’d heard it was a nice family hike.  It was only 2 miles round trip, and mostly shady, but there were some steep places.  We did see a couple of families hiking, and the little kids were doing better than we were.

Speaking of the wedding, wasn’t that a wonderful event?  The temple was beautiful, and the reception was great fun.  I loved having it at the Red Barn, which is only 10 minutes from our house.  And of course it was great seeing most of you there.  Where we used to always be having baby blessings, now it’s going to be weddings and missionary events.  What a family!

Love, Mom