A Dusting of the Cobwebs: June 2011

A Dusting of the Cobwebs....

welcome to my blog!
...allow me a brief introduction...

In a reacent conversation with my daughter, her questions were why I, and her Dad were so quiet about our lifes? Meaning writing or telling about our own personal historys.

I didn't think there was anything important to write about. As I was just a normal person, getting up in the morning and getting the day started, getting kids off to school, or meeting schedules of the whole family, cleaning house, and landry. Keeping little ones busy, and changing diapers, comming home fixing dinner, helping with homework, putting kids to bed, watch some news, go to bed. And then do it all over again the next day. Then some days was teaching lessons in Primary, RS, MIA, Sundayschool, cub scouts, or helping at schools, ect. Family home evening, Visiting teaching, and even some Home teaching and being the family schaefer. most of the time we had one car, 6 kids, one working husband. Oh yes, the multi years of music lessons, and baseball teams, coaching, and even one major jumproap champion, for one daughter.

We had trials too. some were very hard, just thinking about a single memory of losing our son, brings tears. But we are told that this life is to meet trials, and how we handle them will be for our own eternal growth.

A very wise Stake President, President Alred, once said "We are here to be schooled in the principles of eternity. We will work by the sweat of our brow, to work our way through this life... But remember we are here to be schooled in the principles of eternity."

So, I welcome you to my blog. Please feel free to stay and go as you please, and wander where you wish. And, as always, feel comfortable in sharing those stories that you may feel are just "an every day" thing as well...

Jun 27, 2011

Nothing like Family...

I had a wonderful day yesterday, Sunday. James and Pauli, Jodie and Will came spent most of the day. James and Lynn BBQ Chicken and Corn on the cobs. James made one his famous potatoes. We had Watermelon, Cantaloupe, Honey Due, and olives. Will made chocolate dipped Strawberries, and we had for desert Strawberry Short cakes.

James, Lynn, Pauli, Will picked a huge bowl of Strawberries from our garden. They were sooooo sweet. and perfect for desert.

James is so good to come and fix dinner for us, and on top of that he cleaned the whole huge bowl of strawberries. He is so willing to help others, and mostly without being asked. He just sees what needs to be done and does it. James works full time, and goes to school at night. what free time he has is very little, and yet he helps others without hesitation...

First Chemo...

Today seemed scary. I guess anytime you tread into unknown waters, can be very scary.
I had an appointment at the Utah Cancer Center in Tooele, Where I received my first Chemo treatment. It took about 2 1/2 hours to get all the chemicals in the IV. and another half hour visit with the Dr. My nurses were Brook and Shelly, the lady at front desk is Daine, and the guy who takes your vitals, was Rick. I am trying to remember their names. When I am under stress like this, I don't remember very long.
It seems that I have a stack of medicines to take at home to help with the complications of the Chemo. I also have to go to the Hospital tomorrow, the day after having Chemo, and receive a strong shot that helps with the calcium loss in your body. (I understand it can hurt.)
Next Wednesday, I have to drive into Salt Lake, to see the Dr. and check my blood to see how I reacted to my first Chemo.

I am feeling pretty good at the moment. I guess we will see how things go. Chemo destroys the fast building cell in the body. Because Cancer is a fast building Cell.
So are the white blood cells, that fight infections, and sickness. Also the cells in your mouth and stomic, digestion tracks are also fast building cells. And can cause problems. We just have to work with them, and get through it. Fortunately I have only 3 more to go.Sister Mari Trapp, and her daughter, brought a large dish of fresh fruit to me while I was sitting in the chair. I was so pleased to see her, and appreciated her kindness. Mari also went through this last year...

Jun 10, 2011

Ducks?...

I thought I had seen ducks before, but I had to laugh at this. The water run off from the rain and snow has been high this year. Every day on the news they show many areas of flooding. Yesterday the sun was out for a while, and the TV cameras focused on families enjoying being out in the sun at a park, with a lake or large pond. Ducks lined up to catch the bread a child was throwing in the water. As a family we had fed the ducks many times, our kids really enjoyed doing it. How ever these ducks were really clean looking! I looked again and saw that they were not ducks, but Seagulls. Beautiful Seagulls, tame enough to delight the children.