Face that fire, walk right through it!

I friend shared this song with me.  Haha, it's pretty good.  I'm not a big country fan, but there is a lot of truth to be found in most of the lyrics here.
"But the good news is there's angels everywhere out on the street.  Holdin out a hand to pull you back up on your feet."  So true!

If you’re going through hell, keep going.

- Winston Churchill

Chemo #3

October 3. Not as bad as chemo #1, not as "good" as chemo #2.  Its been hard.  Very hard.
I'm at day #8 now after the infusion and I'm starting to see a light at the end of the tunnel.  No energy.  Shortness of breath.  Fingernails turning white under the nail.  Right eye twitching. Rash reappearing on my hands. Nose bleeds. Chemo brain. No appetite.  Dry mouth. Dry nose.  Digestive issues.  Hourly trips to the bathroom. Nausea.  Not throwing up nausea so much as just feeling yucky.  Nothing sounds good to eat.  Forcing myself to eat and drink.  Don't like the taste of anything sweet.  Bone pain subsided after about day 5, but it was painful.  Even my toes hurt.  Tears.  Blessings.  Prayers. Re-reading my "uplifting thoughts book" from family and friends.  Taking meds to combat the side effects.  Wonder if they are just causing more side effects.
Half way there.  3 down, 3 to go. I can do this, I can do this, I can do this.

Colleen brought us dinner again on chemo day. She is such a dear friend.
My kind mother-in-law went with me to receive the chemo infusion and brought us food.
My sweet ward sisters brought us some delicious meals that were much appreciated over conference weekend.  All this food is a great blessing to my husband who might otherwise starve.
Watched the LDS general conference from my bed with Rick by my side.  Watched the last session in the recliner with Rick, Andy and Chelsea
My cousin Von visited.
A huge piece of my back molar broke off and I had to go to the dentist to get it ground down and fit with a temporary crown on Monday.  Great.  More expenses.  I don't think it is a good idea to mix dental work with chemo. Missed work.
Forced myself to work several hours a day T-F this week.  Thank goodness for a flexible job and understanding and kind people. 
My sis-in-law Robyn visited from CA and brought flowers
My sis-in-law Ann and her husband Brian brought us dinner and gave me this

I LOVE it!  I think I'll keep adding some more pink/breast cancer charms.

Dear friends David and Pam from OR sent this.

 

Love just keeps pouring in.  Uplifting messages, texts, calls and visits  keep coming.It means a lot, I'm not gonna lie.  Lots of love and support from our children and their spouses and our sweet grandchildren
The Beehive and MiaMaid girls came over last night for mutual and made fondue.  It was a great distraction and I loved being with them.

My brother Paul and my sisters Mary Ann, Lee and Janet came by for a visit on their way to AZ.  It's always a mood booster to see the sibs and I appreciate their love and support.

Finally, which hat do you prefer?

Look #1

My good friend Victoria hand crocheted me these hats.  This one almost looks like hair.  Andy thinks I look like a hedgehog.  What do you think?  Eyebrows and eyelashes still hanging tough.

Look #2

Look #3

Look #4 hand made by a sweet woman I VT named Allyson

Temple Square

This is the temple we were married in 33 years ago!

Gorgeous flower beds all meticulously kept up

The temple with a view of the Joseph Smith memorial building to the left

The Administrative offices of the church where President Monson and the 12 apostles have their offices

The beautiful gardens surrounding Temple Square

The name of our church with emphasis on the person who leads it, Jesus Christ

A statue of Brigham Young who first entered the valley and said

 "This is the right place."

The magnificent Salt Lake City temple that took 40 years to build in the late 1800s

Inside the Tabernacle where the Mormon Tabernacle Choir performs their weekly program, Music and the Spoken word

The Assembly Hall were concerts and performances are held

A memorial honoring the strong and courageous pioneers, may of whom were our ancestors

Statues honoring Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum Smith

The Church Office building were church workers carry out the business of the church

The spires of the Salt Lake City temple

There are several beautiful water features to be enjoyed on Temple Square

The Conference Center where general conference will be held this weekend

A week ago last Sunday as we were returning from Idaho, we had an hour to walk around Temple Square on a beautiful Sunday afternoon.  It was so peaceful and nice to just leisurely stroll through one of the best locations on earth.  Temple Square is the center of the universe for members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  This weekend thousands of people, members of the church and guests, will converge on this two block area to hear the words of our dear prophet Thomas S. Monson and the general authorities of the church including all members of the counsel of the 12 apostles.  It is our semi-annual general conference and members and guests from all over the world will tune in to hear the words of our living prophets, general authorities and women auxiliary leaders.  We believe that we have a living prophet, President Monson and 12 apostles who act in the name of Jesus Christ, who is the head of our church.  Messages of love, encouragement and instruction will be given and all are invited to attend.  Please check out this link to the church website to listen to the live lessons of conference. lds.org

A trip back in time

Rick's 2nd home from grade school through post mission in SLC

Rick's 1st childhood home in SLC

 My childhood home in Rupert, ID

Last weekend we went on a little road trip to Logan, UT and then on to Rupert, ID and finally we looked around the area in Salt Lake City, UT where Rick grew up.  We had a great time visiting with my sister Janet and her husband Dave and seeing two of her sons Dustin and Cameron and their families.  We drove out to Oakley, ID to visit the rodeo family and enjoyed going in to Burley for lunch with them.  Dustin and his family came over to visit both nights we were there and we enjoyed catching up with them.  Take a look at this TV interview Dustin did a few weeks ago.  He is both handsome and articulate and I'm very proud of him.  He is doing a great job with his employment and his family!

Whenever Rick and I drive around the areas where we grew up, we are flooded with memories and good feelings about our past lives.  We feel so fortunate to have been raised by goodly parents who taught us by their examples how to live life and how to contribute to society.  Rick always wants to know more about the people, the places and the stories of life in a farming community.  I love to hear his stories about growing up in a city and walking up the hill both ways to his piano lessons.  We usually share some new story that comes to mind that we haven't heard before.  We are such great friends and we enjoy our road trips so much because we have a chance to visit, to reminisce and to share our thought and feelings about a myriad of topics.

I'm also struck my the thought that we have seen the hand of the Lord in our lives, manifest countless times by the little happenings that came along the way.  Some people call them tender mercies, some people call them coincidences, and I like to just call them evidences of our Savior's love and proof that He is aware of us and in control of things.  He gave me a great family and location to be raised in and He gave me opportunities galore for growth and a happy life.  I feel so blessed and so fortunate to have countless blessings in my life. 

Nathan Pacheco revisited

Three years ago, I did this blog post.

Now Nathan is on his way!  I'm so excited to receive his new CD next week from Amazon.  He has also done a PBS special and it is airing all across the country.  It love it when good guys succeed.  If you hear his voice, you'll see what I mean.  Check out his website.  Way to go Nathan Pacheco!