Great News and Happy Mother's Day!

Well, my great news is that I had another pet scan last Monday, and got the results yesterday. I am still "clean as a whistle!" No Cancer, no nothing! I don't have to have another pet scan for a whole year!! Aren't I lucky and blessed and relieved and happy? Yes, all those things. As I waited for the doctor to come in (it seemed like it took forever), I tried to psych myself up to handle whatever bad news he might bring...and he told me right off, that everything looked great. Whenever we're waiting for news like that, Spence and I are a bundle of nerves, so we are definitely relieved and very grateful. I guess that whenever you have had a disease (especially like cancer), the possibility of it coming back is always kind of hanging over you. So, for now, we just have an awful lot to be grateful for. I haven't written in here for so long. Isn't it funny, how when things are going along pretty well, we don't write, but then when things get bad, we seem to focus on them, and share the bad things. Let me tell you some of the things I am grateful for right now. First of all, I have a husband, who sincerely cares about me. He was probably more nervous than I was about getting this news...and he was so happy to hear my news. He has his own health challenges, and yet, he cares very deeply about me. What a guy! Kelsey, my daughter, came home from BYU about 3 weeks ago. It is nice to have her home, and especially for our son, Brady, who loves to spend time with her. They harass each other unmercifully, but actually really enjoy being together. Kelsey completed her freshman year at BYU, so that's a huge accomplishment. SHe is here for the summer and working every day...but still she helps with errands and things I need done. It is so nice to have her home. Brady has one more week of school himself, and then he will have completed his freshman year of high school. He plays basketball for the YMCA, and does a great job. He is my favorite player to watch! (actually I like watching Steve Nash too!). Katie has one more semester (well, she is taking a couple of classes this summer) in the fall, and then she is a college graduate. We are so proud of her...and proud of her good husband, Cody, who works so hard at school and work. He is a great guy! Jodie is going to be in another play--she works with this woman who puts on plays with handicapped adults. They are such an inspiration to go to, and believe me, you have never seen more enthusiastic actors and actresses than they are!! They are totally into whatever play they are doing! Brian and keri have the cutest boys--we love to see them on skype, and know they are doing well. Emily and Michael are about to move into a new home, and they just celebrated their son's 1st birthday. We loved skyping with them on his birthday--he loves books and cars, and he loved opening those gifts!! What a cutie! How thankful I am that Heavenly Father blessed me with 6 children--and now 3 "in-laws" and 3 grandsons! A year ago when I was recovering from surgery and a crazy year the year before, it wasn't always easy to see how blessed I have been--but now it is easier to see, and I am truly grateful. I hope all my children know that I am thankful for them, as we approach Mother's Day. I am thankful also for the many women in my life who have been amazing examples as mothers, or who have mothered me when I needed it. I couldn't have done what I have been able to do without their strength and examples. May all the mothers out there be blessed to know that they truly are doing a wonderful work--that has more impact than any other job out there. You are terrific! I will include a few pictures of my favorite people. Enjoy, and have a wonderful day!

Giving a little in return

I had the opportunity yesterday to give a little back to my daughter, Kelsey, who did so much for me in the year that I was recovering from cancer, treatments and surgery. My service to her was so miniscule in comparison to what she did for me...but at least I got to do SOMETHING. She had her wisdom teeth pulled yesterday morning...so I got to be here during the day, and try to help as much as possible. She was an extremely easy patient, so my service wasn't very much. She mostly just slept. I got to change her little ice bags to help cut down on the swelling in her cheeks. I also got to serve her some chocolate ice cream, and make her some soft food that she could eat. But mostly I just thought about the hours of service she and Spence gave to me. When she was in surgery, I had some anxious moments. I knew that what she was doing was very routine, and had basically NO risks, but even so I was a little anxious. It made me think of how truly worrisome it had to be for my loved ones when I was in surgery, and they really didn't know what the outcome would be. It is far easier to be the one going "under the knife" than to be the one who is waiting to hear the results of that surgery. Caregivers have a very stressful responsibility. So it was just a very small lesson to me to remind me again how grateful I need to be for those who watched over and cared for me. How grateful I am that I am not in that situation anymore...and that I can think of others a little more, rather than have them thinking about me. I promised Kelsey that I would NOT put a picture of her with her puffy cheeks on my blog...but I am thankful she is doing well, and that yesterday was just a nice day to be together. She is an amazing young woman, and I am thankful to be her mother.

General Conference is Coming!

I just wanted to write and invite and tell you of an upcoming event this weekend, that impacts my whole year. It happens twice a year, where the leaders of our Church meet in Salt Lake City, and instruct the members of our church for two days. It is a wonderful experience and very uplifting. I always feel like it fills me up to keep going for the next six months--messages which teach me to live more like the Savior, and to prioritize the most important things, and to focus on the things that truly matter. For the next six months, I try to read and study those messages, and apply them in my life. They are such a help and a strength to me. I want you to know that these leaders are truly men of God, and that we all will be blessed if we heed what they say. I am including a link where you can also listen and learn from these inspired leaders. I invite you to do it--I know that your lives can't help but be blessed by the messages they will give. Have a great weekend!

So many sobering things

This has been a challenging time for our Church unit called a ward. In the last week and a half, we've had 3 funerals. We lost a very dear friend, named Kent Pomeroy. Spence has been his home teacher (visited with him at least once each month) for over 12 years. He has become a very close friend. He had many serious health problems, including cancer and heart problems. Yet, he was one of the most determined people--a fighter to the end, and had SO MUCH faith. He was such an example to me and to so many others. He did prolotherapy (I can't explain it, but he did a lot to alleviate peoples' pain). His concern was always to help others. Ever since I had my health problems, he has been one of my most constant caring friends. Every time Spence would go to visit him, he would ask Spence how I was doing--his thoughts were always for others. He wanted to get well, so he could continue helping his many patients. I feel a real void in his loss, and pray that I can learn something from his unselfishness and caring that will make me a better person. Another death was that of a 7-month-old baby who died--who had a viral infection, and just suddenly was gone. That is so hard on a young family, and it is hard to imagine even in these times of so much advanced technology, that we still can lose a little child like that. His grandmother is a member of our ward--all of these situations give us the opportunity to be there in times of sadness--to "mourn with those who mourn and comfort those who stand in need of comfort." That is really how we show our love for others--to be with them in times of joy and of sorrow. We have another friend,who just had an accident, and is in ICU. It is a very scary situation, and our thoughts and hearts are with him and his family. life is so very fragile, and can change so quickly. I pray for all these people who are going through such hard times--pray that they may be buoyed up by their faith in Heavenly Father, and helped by loving people who surround them. I am so thankful to know that we do have a Father in Heaven who loves us, and who is there for us always, especially in these tough times. What comfort that knowledge gives.

How does YOUR broom stand?

`I just found out the coolest thing today...and consequently have been playing with it all day long...plus letting other people know about it. I went to work out at the cancer center today, and found out some pretty interesting stuff while I was there. (Spence says that's where I find out all the "latest and greatest" stuff!). Right now is the Equinox (I don't really know what that means or how long it lasts), but during this time, the planets are aligned in such a position that if you stand your broom upright, it will stay standing! It is the weirdest but coolest thing. I came right home, and stood my broom up. All day I have been wanting to go to the store, and take the brooms in the broom aisle, and stand them up, and then wait to see what other people would do when they saw that! I don't know if you can do it with other things besides brooms, but I DO know that my broom stands! Well, this is later on today...and Brady, my son, tells me it is not the Equinox...but whatever it is, my broom has stood all day!! Most people who have tried it have made it work. Look at the magical broom that I have! What a fun moment!! :)

Spring Break

I think it's time for another post...even though my life is pretty unexciting. Right now I am in the middle of a huge mess in my house--trying to organize my sewing closet, and years and years of pictures--both are huge undertakings, and I am a little bit crazy to be working on them both. But I AM making some progress so that's good.

It's been spring break for my high school freshman, Brady. It has been a beautiful Arizona spring week, and neither one of us has worked too hard. He has enjoyed the break, and it has been nice not to have such early mornings. But we'll be back to it on Monday--all good things must come to an end.

This Sunday we get to hear my nephew, Kevin Jones, report on his mission. He just returned from the Southern California mission, and he looks great--we got to see him at the airport when he first arrived.I'm going to put a picture in of him coming in , and his family being there to greet him. I'm also including a picture of him at baggage with all the members of his family--so cool! He has served for 2 years, and has been very diligent and hard working. He is a very good young man. It is a very happy occasion when a young man returns from his mission. It is not an easy thing for anyone to do--to give up your normal activities for two years to go out and try to teach people about the Gospel...but many do it, and it is such a blessing in their lives. When our son, Brian, returned from his mission, he was a much more mature person--could look people in the eye, and talk easily with other people. So, it is a great blessing for those they teach, but it is also a great blessing for the missionaries themselves. I hope that my 3 grandsons will all be able and willing to serve missions when they turn 19. It is a great goal, and a great accomplishment. Well, I am going back to my sewing closet--no rest for the wicked (or the weary!) Have a good weekend, and tell someone you know that you love them. I need to do that too! :)

Music is my Favorite!

I love music--I think the hardest sense for me to be without would be the sense of hearing. I just love a good CD--nothing can make me feel better than some good, fun, uplifting music! Tonight we had the great opportunity to go hear Vocal Point, the a capella group from BYU who went to the TV show, The Sing-Off. A few months ago a friend told me about them being on TV, and I was a fan from that time on! When I went to BYU parent's weekend, I heard them in person, and was further converted! Then I started watching them on the Sing-Off, and was so sad when they were voted off the show. But still whenever I want a good uplift, I just google them on my computer, and they perform for me right in my very own house!! But tonight Spence and I went to see them at the Mesa Arts Center, and they were totally awesome! I loved watching them perform--they are so good, but they also are having such a good time together--it was a great evening! They did a song of the 12 days of Christmas where they mixed in all sorts of Christmas songs--I don't know how they did it. Then they have this incredible vocal percussionist, who can make all kinds of sounds. You feel like they must have all kinds of instruments, and they have NONE. It was so much fun to be there--and I just hated it when they announced their last number!! They did an encore of "God Bless the USA," and that was awesome too. It was such a fun evening.

Then a week ago, I took all my daughters to see "Wicked." That is one of my favorite plays, and I love the music in it. We sat on the 4th row--so our seats were amazing, and we had such a fun time then too. So, if I could just listen to good, fun music all day long, I think I would be ever so happy. Of course, that is not real life, so I will enjoy these wonderful moments when I am entertained so totally. What fun evenings those were. I will share a picture of me with most of my girls (Jodie wasn't in this one either) before we left for "Wicked." We always have to do a crazy picture, and they are usually my favorites! I also will throw in one more of my California grandsons, Colton and Logan, the day that they left to go back home. Don't I have some awfully cute grandsons? I think so. :) Have a great day!