Christmases have changed for Kelly and I over the last few years. Sometimes we are in Pocatello with family, other times we are at home with each other. This was one of those years. Thankfully we have made some very close friends that include us and we always receive an invitation from Kelly's cousin to join them for dinner.
Sunday, December 22nd, we joined Kelly's extended family for a Christmas dinner and gathering. Aunt Javann includes us every year and we enjoy spending the evening with all of them eating and catching up. Because we have spent so much time with Dennis and Vickie, their kids think of us as Uncle and Aunt not cousins. I'm grateful for their love and their willingness to include us.
Christmas Eve was spent with our dear friends, the Pilchers. They have become our surrogate children and grandchildren. When we feel we need a grandchildren fix we go to Pilchers. Every Christmas Eve they have Waffles for dinner and this year was no exception. We were invited to join them and took along Grandma Harman's candy syrup. We enjoyed a lovely dinner, cleaned up and while Dad, Mom and and the three older children played a game, Kelly and I entertained their one year old, Quincy. She was great fun.
Christmas morning arrived and long gone are the very early morning arisings. We slept in. Well, I slept in--Kelly never sleeps in, but he ĺaid back down and we reminisced for a few minutes before getting up. Each of us had read the Christmas story found in Luke 2 and were touched by different learning. This year as I studied the Lord gave me new perspective of each character and how each of their roles apply in our individual lives. I love how the Lord teaches me.
Santa was very generous to both Kelly and I. We each received just what we requested. I think my favorite gift was a new pair of black boots, although I loved everything. Once the gifts were opened, we joined the Killpacks for German pancakes, bacon and sausage. Like I said we have some very sweet, inclusive friends and family. It was decided that we were all going to the movie that afternoon.
After showering cleaning up we made a trip to our friends, the Eborns. They have been so supportive and offered so much the past few months, I wanted to give them something special to remember this time in life, but that story is for another time.
W ventured from there to pick up the Killpack girls and headed to see "Savings Mr. Banks". It was a great story about the author of Mary Poppins, PL Travers, Walt Disney and the making of Mary Poppins. A story of transformation and healing and really quite amazing.
Age is catching up to us and with the busy day we were ready to relax. Upon returning home we enjoyed frozen pizza for dinner and watched "It's a Wondeful Life".
Through out the previous Christmas weeks our home has been visited by many bearing many sweet and thoughtful gifts. It has reminded us of Kelly's five years as Bishop. This year, however, we were remembered by ward and stake members. How wonderful these Magna Stake member are!!!
We retired to bed having been filled with the love of many and the joy of the holidays.
Sunday, December 29, 2013
Wednesday, December 25, 2013
Blessings
It's been a busy couple of weeks. I returned back to work part time and did that for three weeks. It was good to go back slowly. Last Tuesday we met with Doctors again.
After having an echo gram on my heart I was told my heart was good and strong an now I get to do agressive chemo on the 2nd of January. Yeah.
Rosie, the PA said, "When you come in for your second treatment, you'll be all smug that you're feeling good and will have all of your hair. A few days later your hair will start to fall out and you're going to be tired." She suggested it would be good to purchase wig prior to losing my hair. She said the hair loss for women is very difficult.
I told Dr. Ward that we are grateful for the things we are learning. He said that he hoped we felt the same after treatment was finished. I expect our feelings about our learning won't change, the methods may be different and more harsh, but we'll still learn.
I decided it was time to go shopping for a wig. I called my friend Jen Eborn to go looking with me. Friday we set out on our adventure. We started out at one shop that had a very good selection of wigs and I tried on about 7 or 8 wigs. After finding one I liked I asked to look at color options. I was not all that impressed with the clerk that helped me. She seemed somewhat uncomfortable with the situation, but it being a wig shop you would think they would work with cancer patients regularly. As we left I suggested we go to Creative Wigs. This brought a whole different experience. Michelle. the clerk, educated us to the different types of wigs, their fits, etc. She explained how my head would go through changes and some of the things that could be done for my comfort. She was very caring and after seeing the types of hairstyles I was looking for brought out 5 or 6 wigs to try on. The first
one was the one that lit up mine and Jen's eyes. It was the one and Michelle was so attentive she noticed the lit up eyes. So the decision was made but I was still going to wait and give it thought. Jen wouldn't hear of it. She knew this was the one and after a insistent argument between us--the clerk refused to take my credit card in place of Jens and the wig was purchased for me. In the return car ride home Jen explained her feeling, "I'm so angry about you having cancer, it's just not fair. I just want to buy the wig to help me with the anger." Whatever the reason, she really is an an angel>
Saturday was very productive as I completed all of my school assignments and finished my finals. I have contemplating school and trying to decide if I should put school on hold. There are so many unknowns at this time and my focus needs to be on health and not completing assignments... But what if I breeze through this...will I regret putting school in hold? I think probably not.
Although Saturday day was good, night time was not. Once Kelly was asleep, my mind began to race. Okay--I'm going to lose my hair and probably my brows and eyelashes. I've been assured that I will crash every night after work and that I shouldn't be sick with the help of medication, but there is no guarantee. Reality had set in. It was one of those nights that the tears began to flow, flow in great racking sobs for an hour. It was, to say the least, one of my more difficult nights. The next morning I woke with sadness. I wasn't sure I wanted to face my friends at church, but receiving assuring words and a comforting hug from Kelly, I was ready to face the day. He really is my hero and champion.
It was day to pay tribute to our Savior. Our ward has started a new tradition. The Primary children were followed by the Young Men and Young Women each sharing a Christmas musical number. Five women in the ward had been asked to bear testimony about favorite hymn they had chosen and the congregation sang the hymn. I was perusing the hymns and was touched by the words of a hymn that soothed and healed my soul from the previous dark night. It was the second verse of "I Know That My Redeemer Lives".
He lives to grant me rich supply.
He lives to guide me with his eye.
He lives to comfort me when faint.
He lives to hear my soul's complaint.
He lives to silence all my fears.
He lives to wipe away my tears.
He lives to calm my troubled heart.
He lives all blessings to impart.
Once again, the Lord wiped away my tears and calmed my troubled heart. I am so grateful to feel his love and goodness. Once again, I am amazed and reminded that He is aware of us and our individual specific needs. He has blessed me with knowledgeable, capable doctors, with amazing caring friends and family, an incredible hero husband and with His all knowing love and concern. I feel so, so blessed and love my life.
After having an echo gram on my heart I was told my heart was good and strong an now I get to do agressive chemo on the 2nd of January. Yeah.
Rosie, the PA said, "When you come in for your second treatment, you'll be all smug that you're feeling good and will have all of your hair. A few days later your hair will start to fall out and you're going to be tired." She suggested it would be good to purchase wig prior to losing my hair. She said the hair loss for women is very difficult.
I told Dr. Ward that we are grateful for the things we are learning. He said that he hoped we felt the same after treatment was finished. I expect our feelings about our learning won't change, the methods may be different and more harsh, but we'll still learn.
I decided it was time to go shopping for a wig. I called my friend Jen Eborn to go looking with me. Friday we set out on our adventure. We started out at one shop that had a very good selection of wigs and I tried on about 7 or 8 wigs. After finding one I liked I asked to look at color options. I was not all that impressed with the clerk that helped me. She seemed somewhat uncomfortable with the situation, but it being a wig shop you would think they would work with cancer patients regularly. As we left I suggested we go to Creative Wigs. This brought a whole different experience. Michelle. the clerk, educated us to the different types of wigs, their fits, etc. She explained how my head would go through changes and some of the things that could be done for my comfort. She was very caring and after seeing the types of hairstyles I was looking for brought out 5 or 6 wigs to try on. The first
Saturday was very productive as I completed all of my school assignments and finished my finals. I have contemplating school and trying to decide if I should put school on hold. There are so many unknowns at this time and my focus needs to be on health and not completing assignments... But what if I breeze through this...will I regret putting school in hold? I think probably not.
Although Saturday day was good, night time was not. Once Kelly was asleep, my mind began to race. Okay--I'm going to lose my hair and probably my brows and eyelashes. I've been assured that I will crash every night after work and that I shouldn't be sick with the help of medication, but there is no guarantee. Reality had set in. It was one of those nights that the tears began to flow, flow in great racking sobs for an hour. It was, to say the least, one of my more difficult nights. The next morning I woke with sadness. I wasn't sure I wanted to face my friends at church, but receiving assuring words and a comforting hug from Kelly, I was ready to face the day. He really is my hero and champion.
It was day to pay tribute to our Savior. Our ward has started a new tradition. The Primary children were followed by the Young Men and Young Women each sharing a Christmas musical number. Five women in the ward had been asked to bear testimony about favorite hymn they had chosen and the congregation sang the hymn. I was perusing the hymns and was touched by the words of a hymn that soothed and healed my soul from the previous dark night. It was the second verse of "I Know That My Redeemer Lives".
He lives to grant me rich supply.
He lives to guide me with his eye.
He lives to comfort me when faint.
He lives to hear my soul's complaint.
He lives to silence all my fears.
He lives to wipe away my tears.
He lives to calm my troubled heart.
He lives all blessings to impart.
Once again, the Lord wiped away my tears and calmed my troubled heart. I am so grateful to feel his love and goodness. Once again, I am amazed and reminded that He is aware of us and our individual specific needs. He has blessed me with knowledgeable, capable doctors, with amazing caring friends and family, an incredible hero husband and with His all knowing love and concern. I feel so, so blessed and love my life.
Thanksgiving tenderness
We are learning some incredible life's experiences together and the Lord's spirit has sustained us. Monday Kelly made the comment that, "I hope that I don't lose the spirit we have felt during the past few months." I certainly agree. It really has been quite amazing. I lay in bed each night and thank Heavenly Father over and over again for the blessings of feeling his spirit wrapped around us and for the calming spirit that attends our home daily. I can't imagine going through something liķe this without a testimony and a positive attitude.
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
Thanksgiving
This was to be the year we had Thanksgiving at our home. I love having my family at our home and was so excited to share time with them again. We knew that I would be recuperating from surgery and would not feel up to cooking Thanksgiving dinner and I knew that I would be tempted to do too much if our family was at our home. Kelli Jo willingly offered to host dinner at her home. She is such a great hostess and loves to have her family at her home as well.
She worked hard to have everything ready. I felt completely helpless and everyone was going to make sure I did nothing. I did manage to help with the relish tray. Yeah me!
TJ's family had had a stomach bug a couple of days prior to Thanksgiving and unfortunately Stephanie was suffering from the bug and she wasn't able to join us. There were 24 of us which included our immediately family, my Mom and Hugh, my nephew Zach and nephew David with his wife Kristin. Following dinner, we visited and enjoyed being together. We typically play games, but after a long day of travel, eating and visiting I was ready for rest. Kelly and I went back to the hotel and stayed there the rest of the evening. I missed spending that sweet time with our family, but realized that healing is important as well.
She worked hard to have everything ready. I felt completely helpless and everyone was going to make sure I did nothing. I did manage to help with the relish tray. Yeah me!
TJ's family had had a stomach bug a couple of days prior to Thanksgiving and unfortunately Stephanie was suffering from the bug and she wasn't able to join us. There were 24 of us which included our immediately family, my Mom and Hugh, my nephew Zach and nephew David with his wife Kristin. Following dinner, we visited and enjoyed being together. We typically play games, but after a long day of travel, eating and visiting I was ready for rest. Kelly and I went back to the hotel and stayed there the rest of the evening. I missed spending that sweet time with our family, but realized that healing is important as well.
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| Grandpa and Shaelynn playing Tic Tac Toe |
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| Joslynn and Dad taking a break!!! |
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| Mom and her Sweetheart Hugh. |
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| Raislyn and Joslynn |
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| Grandpa and Joslynn |
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