Sweet week

Thursday , February 20th was a sweet opportunity for our Stake to host a Magna Stake's Women's fireside.  All four of the Magna Stakes were invited and we were given the treat to hear from our Area Authority Seventy, Elder Peter F. Evans.
A group of women,Elaine George, Carrie Johnson, Jeanine Brown, Sara Mallett, Kayla Lundberg and I was asked to sing "I Come to Him".  We were accompanied by Anita Elliott with a beautiful violin by Amy Winder.  Elder Evans asked his wife to bear her testimony and it was a heartfelt and loving testimony.  Elder Evans works for the Welfare Department of the Church as the Director of Communications.  He is responsible for the Humanitarian videos that are filmed by the Church about the Humanitarian projects done throughout the world.  He shared the story of Sierre Leone and the war that had torn this country apart. The church has come in and helped dig wells in the villages and taught them the importance of good clean water.  They've also taught neonatal care for the infants that are born and saved many lives through this education.

The Congo story he shared was inspirational.  There was water available, but at a long distance and causing their women to be in nightly danger as they went to collect.  A truck was provided and every day at least 90 men would load into the truck to dig through and into the jungle.  A pipeline was created to bring the water into the city and the rejoicing of the members of the city.  This digging and pipeline took 1000 days to finish.  The Lord provided a way to help themselves and they are ready to go forth and help others throughout their country.  Very inspirational.

He shared two statements that have touched my life and that I have pondered regularly.  "Charity Never Faileth is not just a bumper sticker, it is a promise from the Lord."As we practice pure charity, our hearts and lives are changed.

The other statement has changed my outlook a little bit.  "When we lift one burden of another person, we lift one burden from our Savior in the Garden of Gethsemane.  I had always looked to the Garden of Gethsemane as the burdens, sorrows and sins, He lifted from me.  Yes, he took ALL of OUR burdens, sorrows, and sins and it makes sense that when lift one we lift it from him.  I am brought to tears as I realize just how many burdens and sorrows have been lifted from me throughout my life and especially the last few months.

At the conclusion of the fireside, Elder Evans approached Kelly and asked if he and his wife could come visit us on Monday evening following Family Home Evening.  Sister Evans told him that she would make the arrangements with me.  Elder Evans, in fact called me and said that they had just had their family over to open the sons mission call.  The family was leaving and they would like to come by in an hour.  Wow.  Here are two very busy Servants of the Master who took time out of their busy schedule to come and minister one on one to two people just trying to get through a difficult time in their life.  We mostly talked out our families and some of our life experiences.  Elder Evans commended us for our faithful service.  It was a very tender sweet visit where the spirit and love of the Lord was shared in a very simple way.
Lessons were taught and learned from this humble couple.  We feel very humbled and blessed by their visit.

Smiles and giggles

It's been a long two weeks since my treatment on the 13th.  My body is doing strange things in reaction to the chemo. 

I've determined a pattern for the last 4 treatments.  I want to include this as informational and not as complaining.  I realize that my experience could be so, so much worse.
Thursday--Chemo day and body good
Friday-- Good day
Saturday and Sunday--Extreme fatigue and most time resting.
Monday thru Sunday--My throat and mouth have this unusual white coating that causes even more nausea than the chemo.  It feels like I have this terrible cold.  A dry hacking cough ends up in my chest.  I spoke with Dr. Ward's nurses and after explaining these symptoms received the explanation that they had never heard of someone reacting this way and that it must just be my body's way of dealing with the chemo.  Suggestions were given to try a humidifier and maybe my mouth was reacting this was because of dry mouth so to try Biotene. These are my most discouraging days.
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday my mouth, fingers and feet feel like they are experiencing a chemical burn, but at the same time my energy levels are coming back and I start feeling much better.  It is really good to have good days to renew my body and spirit.  I am really learning to appreciate good health and feeling good.

Bishop Elliott is one who asks me regularly why I smile all the time.   My answer is that I have the gospel in my life and that is joy and gives me a constant reason to smile.  Smiling helps overcome any discouragement I may feel in life and provides a positive attitude in the day.

I received a message from Amanda Larsen that she had been in the grocery store and saw a bright, cheery bouquet reminding her of my bright, cheery smile when I enter a room.   They were on my front porch to brighten my day.  During the week  several friends asked if they could come and see me.  

 

They wanted to see my bright, cheery smile.

Annette and Sara brought with them another bright and beautiful bouquet.  I will completely enjoy the brightness of these flowers, when I'm too tired to smile.

I was lying in bed feeling very discouraged (night times are the worst) and wondered, "I feel so crummy, will I ever smile like I have in the past?"    Of course the answer is yes and the reason for the smile has not changed in any way.  I smile because I love my Savior and the life he has given me.  I smile because of the sacrifices that have been made in my behalf and because of the tender mercies I have been given, especially the past few months.  The feeling of crumminess will not overpower the smile.

Another Post from my friend Jen Eborn's blog.

Look Good... Feel Better

The title is very deceiving if you ask me. I don't know that if you look good that you actually do feel better, however, for this adventure I will say this...the beauty that surrounded me during this event was far more than one would ever be able to state in a mere blog post. :)

My beautiful friend Tammy is about to start the downhill slide of her chemo treatments but not before attending a class they provided to her that would open up my eyes a little more and allow Tammy to embrace this new found beauty she sees as her reflection each and every morning.

When I picked up Tammy Thursday evening I immediately worried. She looked so tired. Her cheeks were sunken in and I could tell by just how she was carrying herself that she was a little 'off'. Now she had some family trials come up the previous few days before but it wasn't that and so I double checked that she was feeling up to attending. And true to Tammy being stellar..she said yes. We visited on our way up to the hospital (and I will admit that I LOVE this time with my friend!) and were soon heading up the elevator. And then we were welcomed by some beautiful ladies who were there to put on this 'class' if you will.

As we sat a couple of more ladies arrived and sat down. One gal that I can't seem to get out of my mind even a few days later, could not have been much older than I am. And she was here for round two (yes 2) of cancer. My heart sunk at learning that. Here sat a beautiful young woman, who shared with us that she is a Mom to three boys, and she was having to deal with this horrible disease for a second time. I sat and thanked my Heavenly Father for strength as I sat among these women...whose strength will far exceed mine. Ever.

The FREE bag of goodies that Tammy got to play with (& take home!)

Practicing what was being taught

Eye makeup

I take for granted more often than not (okay, I usually complain about my eyelashes and how I need to be sure to put mascara on so they won't twine together throughout the day!) my eyelashes, my eyebrows...my hair on my head. I find myself complaining about having to do this to my hair or if I just didn't have to worry about makeup, etc. And then I am humbled in an outing. And I am taken back by the beauty of the most strong woman I know!

Finishing touches

Tammy is so beautiful. And yes, she didn't feel well (she admits it now) that night. She didn't have to pick me to share in this experience with her, but she did. I didn't just get an opportunity to see true, pure, real beauty but rather I got to witness the spirit and strength of real honor. Real courage.

I am truly amazed at the strength of not just Tammy but of all the women that were sitting around the tables that evening. I am so grateful I had the opportunity to witness as each of them had their 'shining moment' in their own handheld mirror that evening. But most importantly, I am so grateful to have this amazing woman in my life.

Half way there

I was so blessed to have KelliJo join me again on Saturday, February 8th.  Kelly had a sales training trip to Memphis and it was good not to be alone while he was gone.

I was able to teach Sunday School on Sunday, but as the week progressed, I didn't feel the greatest.  The biggest problem I was experiencing was burning on the feet, the fingers and especially the mouth.  Anything I ate burned in the mouth, so I just forced the food down.  Emotionally I was in much better shape, probably because of the sweet Saturday I had just experienced and because my KelliJo was with me and we had some great visits.

Wednesday brought a much better day and we decided to pay a visit to the Jordan River Temple.  The temple brings such strength to my life and the new films teach on such a deeper level. I am learning so much about Celestial Marriage and Adam and Eve's role in this wonderful plan of Salvation.  How incredibly obedient they were and such a great example of endurance.  I love the display of love given by our Father to his son for the willingness to provide a Savior for us.  I am grateful for the greater knowledge I am receiving as I attend the temple and I'm especially grateful that Heavenly Father has helped me to feel well enough to attend and be strengthened by my attendance.  It was a sweet day to be back at the temple with Kelli.  I think it's the first time I've been with her since her return to the temple.  Makes a Momma beam.

Yeah!!!!!! Thursday brought the halfway mark for chemo.  It was good to have KelliJo with me on this halfway mark.  We spent time visiting and she shared some of her ideas about the family picture  book she is creating for Kelly and I.  Unfortunately, she wasn't feeling well and left to visit a Urgent care clinic.  As the evening progressed she learned that she had the flu.   That brings a whole other story that I hope she will share in this blog.


Nurse for the day and the last infusion for Devil's Blood. 

It seems that everyone at the Huntsman was encouraging about this halfway benchmark.  I've been told that this next chemo is not so hard on the body, so that makes me optimistic.  Here's hoping!!!!

52 was too young too die!

We recieved the news that Kelly`s baby sister died on Wednesday evening.  She had been battling COPD for a very long time and it finally took it`s toll.  As I contemplate her life, I remember her as a rolly polly cute little girl who grew up into a tall slender beautiful young woman.  Born Novemer 19,1961--Died February 11, 2014.  I wished I had known more of the dashes in her life.  She loved her family.  Her core family was her everything. She lived for her husband, her son, her daughter and especially for her granddaughter Shayln.  They will miss her love and her smile as will we all.   She had a great laugh that I loved to hear.  As the days progress I will try to remember the good times we had to together and share here.

Who needs hair when you have hats and scarves!!!

Substitute Valentines Day

Saturday the 8th I slept in late.  If I wasn't going to feel well I was going to stay in bed.  My bed and I have become very good friends.  SURPRISE--my sweet Kelly brought breakfast in bed to me.  I honestly don't remember the last time I was treated to breakfast in bed, but I'm sure it was when the kids were little.  Scrambled eggs, toast and orange juice and lucky me, he joined me!!!

He had invited me to have an early Valentines Dinner this day, knowing that my next chemo was the day before Valentines Day.  I had been looking forward to the day all week and praying that I would start to feel better.

It would be an early dinner around 3:00 to beat the rush.  We drove into the Chili's parking lot and when I entered the restaraunt there stood our son TJ and his sweet family.  I threw myself into his arms and starting sobbing.  What a special treat to have Valentines with family.  Kelly said, "You haven't seen any of the kids since Christmas and I thought you needed a grandkid fix."   All had been invited, but given varying circumstances, TJ's family was the only one able to come. After lunch was ordered, Nicole presented me with a big red tub labeled "Nicole's Gift of Love".  Enclosed was a beautiful porcelan doll made by Nicole and Stephanie.  After having her hair cut, they had searched for someone to make a wig for me from her hair.  Finding it too costly it was determined that a doll using her hair and some of Jessica's hair would be created.  My heart is too full to express the love I feel for each of my children and this certainly was a tremendous way to lift my spirits after a long couple of months.

After having a wonderful lunch with Kelly, TJ, Stephanie, Nicole, Shaelynn, Casey, Taylor and Joslyn, the Harman's made their way home, beating the rain and ice on the roads to Pocatello.  KelliJo arrived out home about 5:00 that evening.  I was blessed to have her come and spend the week with me while Kelly went to Memphis for training.  My life is blessed with wonderful, caring family.