Flying to Arizona....

April 13..15, 2018

I found out that Jodie was flying to Phoenix for a mentorship with a Photographer who lived there.  I decided to go with her as my daughter Jennifer and her family lived in Surprise, next to Phoenix.  I did not remember seeing Jennifer's two youngest children, Cameron, and Penny.
I asked Pauli if she would be able to take my place if it came to it. I hadn't been feeling very well for a couple of weeks,  My flight was paid for, and I knew it would be good for her to go.

Just before leaving I found out that Launie,  her daughter Sharlyn and her baby girl would also be there.  I called Jodie and asked if she would see if another ticked could be bought for Pauli, as it would be nice to have all the sisters together again.

Our flight on Delta was a ruff flight.  The piolet said to keep our seat-belts on as every level of air space was experiencing turbulence.  Not good for Pauli as she experiences motion sickness.
Even the landing was hard, and a slamming of the breaks....made me feel we were coming in too fast and had to slow down almost to a stop before turning into the airport.
Jodie and Pauli and I sat together, Pauli liked the window and Jodie preferred the isle way.

Jennifer picked up Pauli and I from the airport.  Jodie had a rental car and needed to leave for her appointment.  It was good to see Jennifer and her family,  the kids were so little the last time I remember being with them.  They came to Utah for Thanksgiving before Lynn pasted away, but I don't remember very much about that time, as it was a few weeks before Lynn died in December.

Phoenix is still a beautiful place.  Still a dry desert.  I had forgotten how short the trees are in a desert.  Phoenix has grown a lot since we had moved in 2005.  I found myself being disoriented because of all the changes and growth of the area.

Jennifer has her hands full with five very active kids. a job, and a working husband, and a beautiful home, and a family of cats...

While we were there we had the privilege of attending the Temple with Sarah, Jennifer, Mike... This was Sarah's first time to do Baptisms for the dead.  It was a honor to be with her at this time.
I can't believe how much my grand kids have grown.

I also enjoyed being with Launie, her daughter Sharlyn, and her baby daughter.  Such a happy baby girl. Sharlyn was just glowing, and so was Launie.  I wish we had more time to visit with each other.

At Walmart,  I had the kids pick out something that they would like to have.  I was surprised that most of the items were extremely small, and inexpensive.  I had fun watching how they took their time choosing what they wanted most.  It was nice just being with and watching them make their decisions.

Time flew too fast and it was time to leave.  We only had two days but it was great.

(Draft written by mom but never posted 💗)







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Things I Really Like...

June 28 2019

I was thinking the other day about what I like, and why it has been through out my life.

In no certain order...
I love clocks.  My brother Verl, who is eleven years older than I am, enjoyed clocks.  He had brought back a Coco clock, when he was in the Navy.  It really caught my attention.  Not only that it made a sound but the workmanship was beautiful.  I would love to have one, but they are really expensive.
I do have several clocks,  One has scissors for hands...reminds me when I worked in the shops.
One looks like a car tire, very fancy... David gave it to Lynn, and when he could not protest any longer, after he died, It became mine...
I have a owl clock that Verl brought back from Germany when he was in the Navy, back when I was in the fifth grade.  I Love it... I need to get it cleaned.
I have my mothers anniversary clock that Verl gave her.  It has a glass dome over it and it has a diamond shape face.  I understand its very valuable now.
I have a small, about a two inch square travel clock which faces me when I am seated at my desk.
I also have a marble clock that rolls little marbles in different shoots to tell the time.  I usually have him out around Halloween.  However this year he has sat on my kitchen counter all year.
I prefer Roman numbers on a clock face.  I have a large round clock hanging in my bedroom which has words on the face of Home, Love, Family, Friends ect.  I have a clock hanging in the main bathroom that I changed the face, The numbers are at the bottom of the clock, as if they had fallen there.
I also have a watch that is a skeleton watch, you can see the wheels working inside, both front and the back.  I love it...I love to see how it works, its amazing how someone came up with the idea...

(Draft written by mom but never posted 💗)

Receiving Promptings...

Oct 23, 2019

I learned, and was surprised, at a prompting I had received.  I was to receive two tickets in the mail for a Conference session in the Salt Lake Temple on Oct 27. for Temple workers, and a guest.
I was still invited, even though I have been on medical leave for a while.

I needed to call Sis Smith, who was to send the two tickets to me, to let her know I had not received them.  I received a prompting to call her.  During the many hours during the day I was bombarded by loud thoughts that I should not call her, with many, many excuses with them.
Latter I thought, of how loud these were, and almost a constant war. 
I remembered the Holy Ghost speaks in soft, quiet tones.  I told myself that the first one was a very quiet thought, and I would go with that one.....It was a good thing I did, as Sis Smith had mailed them to me, but I had never received them.

Some how, things will work out so that Pauli and I will be able to attend that meeting.




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Update...

June 28 2019

Pauli and I saw Dr. Thomas K. Varghese Jr., my Surgeon, at Huntsman Hospital.  I am scheduled for surgery on July 12.  They will remove the lower part of my left lung.   The tumor has shrunk some which is good.  However my body has a problem with the chemo causing my white blood count to drop too low to continue.  I may have to have more chemo after surgery.

I have been impressed with Dr Varghese, He seems to be very knowledgeable,  He is very kind, and a happy person.  He knows his worth and seems comfortable helping people.  He is older, which I am happy about.  He takes his time to make you feel comfortable, and understand what is going on.


Update...
I had surgery on the 12th of July, it ended being five hours long.  Dr. Varghese said once they got inside the opening in the back, he had discovered more damage inside.  They did deflate my left lung and remove the bottom half, took out part of my diaphragm , and a good hand size of my chest wall.  They did have to open my back to get to the areas needed.  I ended up having 30 staples down my back, and some stitches.  I also have dissolved stitches, and some that don't dissolve inside.

He did tell us that I was cancer free, and I don't need to see him until the middle of Oct.

Its hard to learn how to breath again..
My ward, and my kids have been wonderful...I was not to be alone at night for the first week, and they took turns spending the night with me.

Even Launie, and David, and Jodie, who live so far away came when Pauli had asked them too...
I could never Thank Pauli enough for all the long hours, caring for me and working everything out in my behalf...All the phone calls, driving me to Huntsman, and all over the place...I could not survive without her, and her family's large sacrifice in my behalf...

Pauli told me latter how she was blessed that she had not been sick, all year that she was caring for her mom...








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Closing SL Temple...

April 19, 2019

Today President Nelson,  announced that the Salt Lake Temple will be closed  Dec 29, 2019. for four years.  The Temple, needs a lot  of renovations and updating.  This will also include Temple Square, and some of the Church office grounds.  All Temple workers will be released. 

In this last General Conference, the Prophet announced a new Temple will be built in Tooele Utah.
Maybe I will be able to serve there, when its built.


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Cancer in the lung

March 23 2019


Not getting any answers why I was having so much pain in my left side, just above my hip.. I called Pauli and told her I needed to go to the ER at the Hospital in Tooele, as I was not getting any answers as to why the pain.
I was seen by a smart Dr who saw something he must have reconized, for he on his own with my permission, called the University of Utah and had my information added to the Pulmonary unit there, which was also housed at Huntsman Hospital.

After many skans and test, I was informed, that I had a 2inch cancer tumor inside the bottom of my left lung. My lung is just above my diafram, or sits on it, and was causing it to be irritated, it was the pain I was feeling. The Surgeon said that when you have cancer in or of the lung, you don't feel it, and it also goes straight to the brain... so they gave me a brain skan.. No cancer.. next they needed to check my lymph nodes inside my  lung to see if any cancer was in any of those... No cancer.  They think the cancer is contained.

I have met with my chemo Dr. and also my Surgeon.  The plan for me is to have six weeks of chemo before having surgery, hoping to shrink the tumor before having surgery.

When I was set-apart by the Temple President He blessed me to have Good health,  Pauli said that He ordered me to have good health, among other things. I have also had two Priesthood blessing telling me I would have good health.  Later in one of the blessings I was told I could choose to stay or to go...


April 2 2019
I will be starting chemo on Monday, April 8th.  The Chemo is not as strong as the one I had before, and I might keep my hair.
Another blessing I have is that Pauli has arranged for each of my kids, except for Jennifer who lives in Arizona, to take turns driving me to Huntsman's, for its a day long process.  This way I have a captive child of mine that I  can catch up on what is happening in their lives...nice!

When you think about it, I have been given a great blessing.  No cancer in the brain or in the lymph nodes. Making it possible to be cured, with chemo and surgery. Living in a Ward that cares about me, and the best neighbors the Grua's in the whole world.  My daughter Pauli who dropped everything to help me, drive me to Huntsman, and make arrangements and keeping family, ward members, neighbors, who requested updates, and being the main contact between Huntsman and myself.

If I had not fallen last Sept. I would not have known about the cancer in my lung.  Pauli said that as I was on my way to work at the Temple, a Angel stuck out his foot and tripped me.... That's how I found out I had cancer.

I know dealing with cancer can be extremely frightening, as its mostly a death sentience, but looking at all the information I have, I am being blessed greatly.  Yes I will have things I have to face, but it does have a great outlook.

A Good Laugh...

4 January 2019


I have been in lots of aches and pains since I fell last Sept.  Fighting through  Pneumonia for two and half months and bruises every where, I seemed to be getting no answers about why my left hip area was hurting so much.  I had talked to Dr.s, five times but they seemed to be only interested in my lungs.   I made an appointment with Dr Douglas office, who had replaced both my hips and knees, because I knew I would get a xray done, and then would see if there was anything to be worried about.

After waiting for a hour, I was able to see Dr. Packham, one of the Dr.s who worked on me before.
After talking a little and expressing my concerns, he brought up my xray, and said something about seeing how I was held together with a Saftypin!

I could not believe my eyes for on the xray, in the middle of my body, between my hip and my stomic was a very large Saftypin!

After a minet I began to laugh, and explained that I had lost so much weight being sick, that I had to order new pants, Levis.  The waist was still too loose for me so I cut into the waist band and ran a new elastic.  I used a saftypin to hold the ends because I didn't know how much I would need to take out.
The Saftypin quietly slipped into the waistband when the pants were being washed, and I had forgotten about it.......Surprise!!...What A Surprise!


It was real good to talk with Dr Packham again.  He told me his oldest son has been in the Mission field for a year, and his next son will be ready for his mission in about a year and half, he was very excited.  He was also excited about the new Temple sessions which started last week, which are Awesome....





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