40 year reunion...really??

We are all in this together.  We need each other, oh, how we need each other.  Those of us who are old need you are who are young.  And, hopefully, you who are young need some of us who are old.  It is a sociological fact that women need women.  We need deep and satisfying and loyal friendships with each other.  These friendships are a necessary source of sustenance.

Marjorie Pay Hinckley

I got to attend my 40 year high school class reunion last Friday night.  It was wonderful!  Rick was planning to go with me, but at the last minute his dad became ill and he went to help him.  He encouraged me to forge on to Idaho myself to attend the dinner that evening. I'm so glad he did.  I was a little nervous going by myself and seeing people I haven't seen for years, especially since I don't look like I use to (and neither do they!).  As soon as I walked into the door I felt at ease.  We were given name tags with our old high school pictures on them along with our maiden names.  I immediately saw old friends who I haven't seen in years.  I was such a sweet reunion.  We talked and talked, enjoyed dinner, a program and then more visiting afterward.  Our graduating class in 1973 was one of the largest that even graduated from the high school.  It was about 385 students and since it was a county high school, people came from some distance to attend the school.  Someone had prepared a slide show of old pictures from back in the day.  It was fun to see the long hair from the early 70s, the clothes, the prom dresses and some of the activities we use to do.  Title 9 wasn't in effect then, and it was amazing to see that we didn't have very many sports for girls.  It was a walk down memory lane. I haven't seen some of those friends for 20 or more years, since we only have a reunion every 10 years.  It was so fun to find out what they have been doing with their lives.  

The next morning, we had an LDS seminary reunion at the seminary building.  One of our class mates, Bruce N. spoke about directing the new LDS church Bible videos.  It was fascinating!  Again, it was so wonderful to see old friends and to learn about all the good they are doing in the world.  Although we didn't take any pictures, we exchanged email address and promised to "friend" each other on Facebook to stay in touch.  I told them that I'm so proud to be from Rupert, Idaho.  I'm proud of the community, for the values I was taught, for learning to live the "Rupert Way."  I attribute my core values and beliefs not only to my parents and family, but to my neighborhood and community.  I'll be forever grateful for being raised in a farming community with good, down-to-earth people who exemplify the values of what matters  most in life.

 Go Minico Spartans!

The new normal

Is anything truly normal?  Life is constantly changing and "normal" usually doesn't last for very long.  Things come and go.  Relationships change.  People change (some for the better, some for the worst.)  Jobs, homes and interests change.  People grow up, grow older and they try and endure the hand they are dealt.  Life.  The only constant thing about it is...change. There is no going back to the "old normal."

Last July 2 I was diagnosed with breast cancer.  That realization changed a lot of things.  More than anything it made me realize that I'm not in control of much of anything.  I had a life plan.  I was working my plan.  Life was going along well.  Then...boom! Change.  I'm still working my plan but I'm much more aware of the precious time we are given in this life and of the precarious position we are in at all times.  Relationships are what matter most.  Accumulating "stuff" and possessions matter least. I've been the recipient of tremendous love and support.  I know who I can count on.  Some power, some larger plan is in control of the details of our lives and if we can learn to have faith, patience and hope, we can weather the storms that will surely come our way.  I've decided that everyone has challenges.  They test us, try us and make us dig deep to see what we are truly made of.  Our reaction to our challenges is a pretty good measure of who we really are and who we trust and turn to when the going gets tough.  I decided long ago to put my faith in God.  I truly believe that He was a plan for me and mine.  He knows what challenges I need to refine my body, mind and soul.  This past year has taught me that.  He is in control.  He loves me.  I love Him.

This last year has been a journey through new experience and uncertainty.  I'm winding down on the new experiences.  I've got three more doses of Herceptin and then I can get the port removed from my neck. The uncertainty will remain and I will live with it now.  Will the cancer return?  When?  Where?  What can be done about it?  Those kinds of questions inevitably go through a person's mind.  I don't dwell of them, but they are part of the new normal. I've had cancer in my body and while I'm hopeful it has been eradicated, they are no guarantees.  Next week I go in for a mammogram.  I'm hoping for a "normal" review of things of course, but have to also prepare for any eventuality. Part of the new normal is that breast cancer is now a member of our family. Like it or not, those are the facts.

My new normal involves changes to my body that weren't there before.  Of course my hair looks so different.  My little grand daughter saw my wig on the dresser and wanted to know when I was going to wear it again.  I asked her if she wanted me to wear it every day and cover up my short salt and pepper hair and she said yes.  That look was the "old normal" look that people are use to and comfortable with.  I don't look like I use to look.  I'm OK with that.  I'm not the same person.  I don't want to go back to coloring my hair and wearing it longer.  Been there, done that. I'm different and I'm going to embrace that difference, knowing that it will take people time to get use to the new normal.
I bruise easily.  I usually have some bruise somewhere on my body from simply bumping into things.  I have neuropathy in my hands and feet. The bottoms of my feet close to my toes are numb.  Can't feel much and that feels weird.  My toes feel like they are on fire many times during the day.  My fingertips are numb and very dry.  I hope that changes with time but it may not.  Chemo kills off the bad cancer cells and some of the good cells as well and can cause nerve damage.  A few lingering digestive issues may remain.  Overall, I feel fine and I'm grateful for that, considering the poison treatments that were put in my body.  I'm grateful to be standing and moving forward to find my new normal.  My oncologist told me that if I completed all my treatments, I would have a good chance of a 90% survival rate. One year done, hopefully many more to go! The first two years after diagnosis are critical.  Get past those and I should be good to continue to enjoy my "new normal" life.

#4 tied the knot! Andy and Chelsea got married!

I've been in wedding preparation mode for many weeks/months now.  I do enjoy event planning and I got a big dose of it this last couple of months getting ready for Andy and Chelsea's wedding. This trip put my planning skillz to the test since there were so many moving parts. The wedding was a great success and we enjoyed our time with family and friends on June 14 in the Los Angeles,  LDS temple.  Here's a recap of the goings on:
Tuesday, June 11
I got a dose of Herceptin (no time to take it easy this time around), picked up Mom from the shuttle, picked up the rental Ford Expedition, packed and loaded lots and lots of decorations for the CA reception, loaded the Hyundai and got Andy and Chelsea on their way to Vegas
Wednesday, June 12
Rick drove the Lexus to St. George where we left it at the Philipps' home for his return trip, I drove the Expedition with Mom, Pat and Vern had planned to drive down with Rick and attend the wedding, but we found out while driving that Rick's father Vern has lung cancer which made us so very sad to hear, arrived in Redlands, CA and went to dinner with Robyn and Bob and enjoyed Thai food and good conversation as always before hitting the sack
Thursday, June 13
Rick drove Robyn and Bob's car and I drove the big car to LAX to pick up R and Claire and kiddos along with Dave, drove to the reception place in Malibu to help set up, met up with Courtney and Charlie, Jord and Jake and girls, left to go set up for the rehearsal/family dinner at Duke's restaurant that evening, gathered up all our kids and grand kids along with Chelsea's family and some of our close friends (Marcy & Bruce and Mark & Colleen) for a lovely ocean side dinner with 50 in attendance, tributes, video life recap for Andy and Chelsea, headed to the Sheraton hotel in Augora Hills and checked in and collapsed into bed
Friday, June 14 WEDDING DAY!!
Got all gussied up and ready for the day, drove the 30 miles to the Los Angeles temple in just under 40 minutes, gathered up with family and friends to witness the sealing of our dear son and his beautiful bride, all our four children and their spouses present and accounted for, lots of emotion, pure joy that has no words to adequately describe it, shook hands with President Uchtdorf of the 1st presidency of the LDS church who was at the LA temple to seal his grandson, pictures afterwards, lunch at a slow service restaurant, trip back to Malibu took two hours to cover the same 30 miles in horrible traffic, stressed big time, arrived at the ring ceremony just minutes before it started in the car of my sis-in-law Deborah, Rick officiated at the ring ceremony and did a wonderful job, back to the Morning View mansion for the reception, fun evening, dancing, tributes, beautiful setting, bride and groom picked up by a town car and whisked away to their honeymoon, cleaned up and packed up afterwards, late to bed exhausted
Saturday, June 15
Gave Robyn and Bob's car back, took possession of the Hyundai again, packed and organized to get everything in for the 3 car caravan to St. George, Rick, Jake and girls went to the ocean, R was picked up by his sister who lives in the area to later be dropped at the airport, headed to St. George and arrived at the Philipps home, bought groceries for our stay
Sunday, June 16
slept in, church at 11:00, Father's day dinner of roast beef and the works, Happy 34th anniversary to Vonnie and Rick! (we'll be celebrating that event later), played games, relaxed, gave tributes to our fathers (so sweet), Rick headed for home in the Lexus, Jord drove Jake to Vegas to catch his flight
Monday, June 17
swimming at the neighborhood pool, Claire, Jord, Dave & Courtney to the St. George temple for a session while Mom and I tended the six little ones, tour of the St. George tabernacle (architect great-great-great grandfather Miles R.) and the Brigham Young summer home, splash pad, red rock water park fun, evening performance of Mary Poppins at Tuachan with all the girls while Dave tended the little boys
Tuesday, June 18
Cleaned up, packed up, headed for home, found all well there,
Wednesday, June 19-Friday June, 21 - worked at my job, worked at home, played with the grand kids, got ready for the Utah wedding reception, family enjoyed Trafalga, 7 Peaks water park, went to a class to learn how to thread and use my new serger so that we could make some knit maxie shirts before the moms and daughters left town, met with friends Paula, Pasty and Mary to make the centerpieces, corsages, boutineers, food table flowers, etc for the wedding. Picked up the Phillies truck and trailer to haul things.  Mom was a great help through all this busyness as well as so many of my close friends and ward members who came to my aid and gave so much time and talent toward the effort.  I owe them big time in so many ways and appreciate all the help they gave us.  You know who you are...thank you dear ones.
Saturday, June 22
Got going early, went to Pat and Vern's for breakfast with all the family, started stressing big time knowing all we had to do before the reception started at 6:00 pm, everyone pitched in, picked up the rental chairs, arch, and the tables, hauled the decorations to the Mt. Timpanogos park, set up everything, Carol, Madi and Taylor came at noon and help like hired help (which they weren't), went home and changed into our wedding clothes, Sydney took pictures, started on time!, enjoyed a lovely wedding reception at our outdoor setting in the mountains with perfect weather, temperature and setting.  We SO MUCH appreciate everyone who came.  Enjoyed the evening and then took everything down as it got dark.  There were a few bumps along the way (wink, wink) but all in all it was a wonderful two weeks.  Mom held up like a trooper and went home with Lee and Mike that evening and probably collapsed when she got home. All that work, expense and time was for this special couple who we love dearly.  Congratulations to the newly weds Andy and Chelsea! 

Did you know? Rupert boy makes good.

Did you know that a childhood Rupert friend has been the director of the Bible church videos made for the LDS church?  Yes, it's true!  Former Rupert 5th ward member and Minico class of '73 graduate Bruce Neibaur has been the director of the series of films made in Goshen, Utah to replicate the Bible lands of the New Testament.  How great is that?

The three year project is wrapping up and the elaborate sets that were build for the filming are being put on hold for future projects.  Check out this article here.

Check out the inspirational videos that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has made to bring the stories of Jesus to life at lds.org HERE.  Here is a little preview of the work that Bruce and many others have been involved in producing over the last three years. I'm so impressed with the quality and authenticity of the films and for how they made me feel when I watch them.  I can imagine my Savior more clearly and the stories bring the scriptures to life.  I'm so proud of Bruce and the work he has done!

Showered with bridal happiness

We had such a fun time at Chelsea's garden bridal shower a couple of weeks ago.  Thanks to all who helped and who attended.  Rick and Andy helped out a lot and I couldn't have done it without Sydney Jan.  She made the darling banners shown above and she helped me with the food, the flowers and the set up and serving.  Chelsea got some wonderful gifts and she is well on her way to having what she needs to set up a new home.  Her mom and sister can from Las Vegas for the weekend and we had a very good time enjoying Mother's day with them as well as the shower.  Chelsea is a wonderful addition to our family and we love her a lot.  The wedding is coming up on June 14!