Sunday afternoon I felt the need to write something spiritual on the blog, but when I sat down to write I could only think of the title for this post. Not very profound huh!?!?!?!?
Well, I got up, feeling a bit silly for feeling such a strong desire to write something and then trying to do so, but with no idea of what to say.
Now it's Monday morning and I found this open box waiting to be filled. So, one last time I'll attempt to write.
It was Fast Sunday yesterday and I had many things on my mind and in my heart. I guess I have been feeling a bit overwhelmed at all that is going on in our family (immediate and extended), and in our community. I've worried about the need of parenting correctly and accomplishing all that is required so that our children are strong and immovable in the gospel, with high standards that they do not forget or forsake, courageous and valiant; young men like unto Moroni and Helaman and Alma, or like any of the 2000 stripling warriors, or like Nephi. I want them to learn to be dependable, responsible and .... I could write a page here, but I am sure you get the picture.
There are temptations all around us and I just want us all to be strong and recognize every temptation for what it is. I want my family to have individual testimonies of Jesus Christ and His Gospel, of a loving Heavenly Father who is always ready and willing to help and guide and comfort us.
My purpose of fasting was along this line Sunday and I worried that there were too many things I was fasting for instead of one single focus. No need to worry, it was a beautiful day. I felt the Spirit so strongly that I couldn't contain it. I know that Heavenly Father loves me. I know He loves you. He will always be there for us if we allow Him to be. We must have faith and we must trust Him. Forget the pixie dust! It sounds good, but it's only in fairy tales. Maybe it could represent hope. Don't give up hope! Do not despair!
Carry on! Carry on! Carry on!
Monday, September 29, 2008
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
9/22/08 Doctor Visit Report
We visited with Terry's doctor Monday and learned a bit more info. Terry has been progressively getting worse, but not at the speed he did earlier this year, so we are happy that this disease is taking it's time right now. The best prognosis we have at this point is that by the middle or end of November he will begin his next set of treatments. His next appointment is November 11, so we will know more then. This next treatment will be once a day for 5 days every 4 weeks for 6 months. Then it will be much like after each set of treatments he has had previously, in that we just wait it out until he progressively worsens again and when he gets bad enough they will do the stem cell transplant. Doctor thought maybe a year from now, so the timing is looking better than we had originally thought. It is good that Terry will be able to work through his spring planting next year, and hopefully into his harvest. We'll see. By then we will all be another year older and wiser too. :) We'll continue to keep you informed as we learn more.
The doctor's big concern was for Dennis - she said, "keep him healthy..., no mountain climbing or motorcycle riding for him..., no smoking or drinking :).... We are lucky to have him and we need him healthy!" She reminded us that not everyone is lucky enough to have a matching sibling, so we are feeling blessed. Again, Thank you! to all of our wonderful family!
Be assured that, for us, the harvest season will continue, the wedding plans will continue, the construction plans will continue, and the schooling, sports, church, and miscellaneous activities of the family will continue as planned for the next couple months.
The doctor's big concern was for Dennis - she said, "keep him healthy..., no mountain climbing or motorcycle riding for him..., no smoking or drinking :).... We are lucky to have him and we need him healthy!" She reminded us that not everyone is lucky enough to have a matching sibling, so we are feeling blessed. Again, Thank you! to all of our wonderful family!
Be assured that, for us, the harvest season will continue, the wedding plans will continue, the construction plans will continue, and the schooling, sports, church, and miscellaneous activities of the family will continue as planned for the next couple months.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
School photos (Anthony doesn't have his yet).
BrittanyJo - 7th grade...
Plays volley ball this year, got her ears pierced this fall, and a hair cut, has babysat a few times and makes good money doing it. Did I mention earlier this year that she is in Young Women's now? Our little girl is growing up.
Connor - A FRESHMAN!!!! ...
He is a high schooler, plays football, and the alto sax, still likes video games but has less time to spend on them. He too is growing up - 6 feet tall. He is often known to get right up and do as asked which is most pleasing to a parent -(not to say he is perfect at it, but he is well on his way).
Chase - a Junior...
Chase no longer plays football, but he does play the trumpet. One great recent accomplishment of his is that he just got his license - woo hoo! ya! He will be driving to seminary next week and he might just become the next chauffeur of the family.
Plays volley ball this year, got her ears pierced this fall, and a hair cut, has babysat a few times and makes good money doing it. Did I mention earlier this year that she is in Young Women's now? Our little girl is growing up.
Connor - A FRESHMAN!!!! ...
He is a high schooler, plays football, and the alto sax, still likes video games but has less time to spend on them. He too is growing up - 6 feet tall. He is often known to get right up and do as asked which is most pleasing to a parent -(not to say he is perfect at it, but he is well on his way).
Chase - a Junior...
Chase no longer plays football, but he does play the trumpet. One great recent accomplishment of his is that he just got his license - woo hoo! ya! He will be driving to seminary next week and he might just become the next chauffeur of the family.
Friday, September 19, 2008
We've had a busy week, but only one thing is highlighted today.
Terry is in the tractor lifting trusses to Thomas, Johnny, and Brandon R.
No one fell off the roof so we are happy for that - but it was pretty tricky for me and I was just watching ;), but they looked like they had done this before. It's really starting to shape up. We are racing with the calendar to get this done by October 31. Can we do it????? Yes we can!!! :) (That was for all of you "Bob the Builder" fans.) For additional photos on the building project see the right column of this blog for a slide show, showing step by step progress.
No one fell off the roof so we are happy for that - but it was pretty tricky for me and I was just watching ;), but they looked like they had done this before. It's really starting to shape up. We are racing with the calendar to get this done by October 31. Can we do it????? Yes we can!!! :) (That was for all of you "Bob the Builder" fans.) For additional photos on the building project see the right column of this blog for a slide show, showing step by step progress.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
WE HAVE A MATCH!
I have begun this post in so many different ways, and I can't seem to say it the way I want to. If only you could feel what my heart feels right now!
Terry's need for a stem cell transplant sent us on a search through his siblings for someone who could be his donor. It had to be a perfect match to work.
Everyone of his siblings willingly agreed to be tested and we sensed that each wished to be that perfect match. Our children even volunteered to be tested, including the younger ones - volunteering with a feeling of love for their father that overpowered their feeling of fear and anxiety. Many friends even offered to be tested. We are surrounded by such good people.
The testing began! The first results we received were from Gregory. He had opportunity to be tested a couple years ago in California. They checked his records and found that he was not a match, but he was definitely "half" of each his father and mother. This was really fun to hear and see - it touched our hearts and brought great pleasure in a time of uncertainty.
Because of the cost of each test we began with just two at a time. We started with Terry's siblings living closest to us, keeping Sherri's paper work that was to be sent to her, but knowing that she would have already been tested had we not asked her to wait.
Troy and Shawna were the first two to be tested. We learned that neither of them were a match for Terry, but they were a match for each other. We hope that they never need to use this new-found info in the future, but it was exciting to learn.
Dennis and Ellen were the next to be tested. The phone call came two weeks later at 9:19am Thursday morning, September 4th, 2008. Dr. Julie Smith was the bearer of the good news. "We have a match, the search is over, and the others do not need to be tested." Her voice was filled with joy and that joy spilled over into my heart. (And my heart spilled over too! :)
Each sibling was so willing and even anxious to give and help and support their brother. Who the perfect match is does not matter as much as just the fact that we have a perfect match. We are so grateful to have such a wonderful family who lovingly cares and willingly shares, and we thank each of them equally.
The perfect match does belong to Dennis, which means he will also bear the greater burden in the future. We don't know when this will take place, and we know very little about what this even really means, but we will keep you posted when we learn more.
We are traveling through this new experience on a course that is laid out before us only moments before we take each step. We are learning and growing and we have faith that the final destination will be worth every rock, every stump, and every raging river we come upon. Sometimes we can even see bridges being built before us to help us on our way. With the Lord on our side, we cannot fail. And, He has sent us some pretty awesome help.
Terry's need for a stem cell transplant sent us on a search through his siblings for someone who could be his donor. It had to be a perfect match to work.
Everyone of his siblings willingly agreed to be tested and we sensed that each wished to be that perfect match. Our children even volunteered to be tested, including the younger ones - volunteering with a feeling of love for their father that overpowered their feeling of fear and anxiety. Many friends even offered to be tested. We are surrounded by such good people.
The testing began! The first results we received were from Gregory. He had opportunity to be tested a couple years ago in California. They checked his records and found that he was not a match, but he was definitely "half" of each his father and mother. This was really fun to hear and see - it touched our hearts and brought great pleasure in a time of uncertainty.
Because of the cost of each test we began with just two at a time. We started with Terry's siblings living closest to us, keeping Sherri's paper work that was to be sent to her, but knowing that she would have already been tested had we not asked her to wait.
Troy and Shawna were the first two to be tested. We learned that neither of them were a match for Terry, but they were a match for each other. We hope that they never need to use this new-found info in the future, but it was exciting to learn.
Dennis and Ellen were the next to be tested. The phone call came two weeks later at 9:19am Thursday morning, September 4th, 2008. Dr. Julie Smith was the bearer of the good news. "We have a match, the search is over, and the others do not need to be tested." Her voice was filled with joy and that joy spilled over into my heart. (And my heart spilled over too! :)
Each sibling was so willing and even anxious to give and help and support their brother. Who the perfect match is does not matter as much as just the fact that we have a perfect match. We are so grateful to have such a wonderful family who lovingly cares and willingly shares, and we thank each of them equally.
The perfect match does belong to Dennis, which means he will also bear the greater burden in the future. We don't know when this will take place, and we know very little about what this even really means, but we will keep you posted when we learn more.
We are traveling through this new experience on a course that is laid out before us only moments before we take each step. We are learning and growing and we have faith that the final destination will be worth every rock, every stump, and every raging river we come upon. Sometimes we can even see bridges being built before us to help us on our way. With the Lord on our side, we cannot fail. And, He has sent us some pretty awesome help.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Our Visit to Utah - Adena and Gregory's house. August 2008
Tawny with her pigtails.
Playing Hungry Hippo. Brayden, Michael, BJo, Tawny, Anthony.
More Hungry Hippo. Thomas and Brayden - it had to be Brayden's favorite game while we were there.
Brayden and his grandpa sword fighting - or block fighting. This is a calm moment during that fun activity.
Playing Hungry Hippo. Brayden, Michael, BJo, Tawny, Anthony.
More Hungry Hippo. Thomas and Brayden - it had to be Brayden's favorite game while we were there.
Brayden and his grandpa sword fighting - or block fighting. This is a calm moment during that fun activity.
Our Guests - August 2008
Our guests last month included Gregory, Adena and children and Brandon and Megan.
Here are a few photos from their visit:
Grandpa feeding Tawny a popcicle.
Brayden and Michael building a block temple.
Playing in the rain.
Brayden, Brandon and Megan.
Here are a few photos from their visit:
Grandpa feeding Tawny a popcicle.
Brayden and Michael building a block temple.
Playing in the rain.
Brayden, Brandon and Megan.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)