Visit all 50 (added 4 more)

Years ago, I mentioned the goal that Rick and I have to visit all 50 states.  We were able to cross 4 more states off our list on our most recent trip to Chicago, IL and South Bend, IN to watch BYU play Notre Dame. We added OH, MI, WI & MN.

After arriving in Chicago, Rick and I took off in our rental car on October 18 to get into Ohio and Michigan.  We had already visited Illinois and Indiana and we wanted to add a few more new states on our most recent trip.  We knew it would take us six hours to go into Ohio and then to drive into Michigan before returning to Chicago, but since we were so close, we decided it was worth it to take the time to cross the boarders into some new states and to cross them off our list.  We loved driving across Indiana on a beautiful fall day through all the wooded areas and seeing beautiful fall leaves.  I crocheted  Charlie's little rug and Rick got to listen to talk radio in those areas to his complete satisfaction. 

We set the goal to set foot on the soil of the state we are adding to our list of visited states and to eat there (NOT at a national chain) or make a purchase and talk to a local person.  Mission accomplished!  We ate lunch in Ohio at the Four Seasons family restaurant and we went into a convenience store in Coldwater, Michigan for drinks and snacks. 
After leaving Chicago on October 21, we drove up the shore of Lake Michigan to Milwaukee, WI to look around and have dinner at Ma Fischer's before we forged on to Madison, WI for the night.  The next morning we went to the state capitol building of Wisconsin and drove through the U of W.  Then we jumped on the freeway and headed on to the twin cities of Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN.  We made a stop at the Minnesota state capitol and then enjoy an hour shopping spree at the Mall of American in Minnesota before flying out and heading for home.  Apparently, The Mall of America is the largest mall in the states.  Andy and Chelsea were with us for this part of the journey and they were good sports to go along with us on this adventure. 
Since coming back from our trip, our brother-in-law Grant told us about this organization that recognizes the accomplishment of visiting all 50 states.  We are going to join the organization and get our certificate when we are finished with all 50. 9 to go for me and 3 to go for Rick!  We figure that we need to go on two more trips to get it done and hope to do it before we're 60 years old.




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Keeping up with Charlie

Time to get out the supplies and attempt my 1st pieced baby quilt

I even bought a pattern to learn how to do it

  

It turned into this baby boy quilt for little man Charlie.  It matches the fabrics in his nursery.

I used the left over pieces to crochet a little rag rug for his nursery.

It's he just the cutest little man?

Looking very Dinosaur like for Halloween!

Cute Courtney with the little man

 Our son Dave and his darling family.

Charlie has already been to Notre Dame and to Georgia Tech to cheer on BYU.
 What a budding Cougar fan!

Getting ready for the big game with Mom.

Too cute!

How did he survive all the noise??
 Just fine, thank you very much.
 He has very smart parents who came prepared.

October - Breast cancer awareness month

We went to Chicago and neighboring states to attend the BYU-Notre Dame game last weekend.  I'll get to that report a little later.  What surprised me was ALL the pink breast cancer awareness ribbons we saw everywhere!  It was amazing to see the level of support that was being shown at the Chicago airports and all through the city of Chicago.  Check the links below to see their amazing skyline that was lighted up with PINK!
For several years now, the BYU Cougars have humbled themselves to wear pink accents as they played games at least once during the month of October.  It has been a great show of support.  Now I pay attention to those things more than I ever did before.
I hope these various methods of raising awareness reminds women and the people who love them that they need to get their yearly screenings and not put it off.  I've been happy to hear of a niece, a friend and a sister who said they went in for the annual mammogram and that they were thinking of me while they were doing it.  I hope my experience will help some woman to have the courage and determination to just get it done.  I know mine saved my life because it was detected early and could be treated aggressively. Hooray for breast cancer awareness month!

Chicago Midway airport

Chicago skyline goes pink

Horizon goals

August 24, 2012

When I was 30, I was diagnosed with a tumor that was removed by surgery. After getting over the initial shock of having been diagnosed with cancer, I knew that I had to find simple strategies that would lift my spirits in the short to intermediate term as I went through chemo and radiation treatments, and then serve as a bridge to long term happiness.

I decided to call these "horizon goals," because they were visible and tangible, and I could look forward to them on a daily or weekly basis. They also gave me strength to push forward. Sometimes it meant watching a film I liked after a day of nauseating radiation or chemo treatment. It could also mean planning to have someone special come by and visit.

In addition to my faith, I felt that I needed palpable goals that were meaningful. When we see progress, sometimes it alleviates the work that it takes to get there.

I pray that your treatments are going well. I felt like I wanted to share my experience because it provided me with gradual steps that boosted my morale as I made the journey to wellness.

My best,

Evan

One of the professors where I work sent me this email as I was starting my chemo treatments back in August.  I really liked the idea of setting “horizon goals” and working to accomplish some good as I go through my treatments or just doing something that I really enjoy that lifts my spirits.  I've found that it really helps to have some projects to work on, to have some places to go visit, to have some people over to visit and to just do things I enjoy doing.  It helps to keep my mind off how I feel and how I just want to curl up in the fetal position and not leave my house sometimes.   Here’s some of what I’ve come up with for my own “Horizon Goals.”

Chemo treatments on:

August 22 – Write a thank you card to everyone who serves me (so far I’ve written 50!)  I’ve been served by a lot of wonderful people.  Now it’s my turn to be a receiver of help (which is hard for me), and to be as gracious as I can possibly be.  #1 on that list of helpers is my dear husband.  Also, I will get up, put on my hat/hair/scarf and visit with whoever comes to my door.  I love visitors!

September 12 – enjoy every moment with my mother and let her take care of me (I’ve already written about that wonderful 4 days we spent together.)  Go to Logan and support my cousin Scott.  Go to Rupert and visit my childhood home and my sister Janet and her family.

 

October 3 – listen to the LDS general conference.  Determine to make 2 improvements in my life.  Sew a crib skirt and a crib quilt for my little grandson Charlie.  Go to Chicago/South Bend with our family for the BYU-Notre Dame football game. (This trip was planned long before the word “cancer” was spoken.)  The trip begins tomorrow starting in Chicago and ends in Minneapolis, MN.  Rick and I are picking up four new states in our quest to get to all 50.

October 24 – continue to serve my CASA girl and my Young Women girls.  Find some way to do something special for them. Sew some items for Christmas gifts. Go to some movies with Rick.  Have some people come over for dinner.  I love having dinner guests.

November 14 – enjoy the visit of my daughter Jordan who is coming to help me after the treatment.  Go to New Mexico for Thanksgiving with our daughters and their families.  Five of our six grandchildren will be there!

December 5 – enjoy the visit of my sister Janet and let her help me decorate our home for Christmas (prior to the treatment.)  Celebrate the end of Chemo treatments by going to The Roof at the JSMB after I’m well enough to eat.  Enjoy the entire month with no more treatments and our family all coming home for Christmas!  Could there be a better way to celebrate the birth of the Savior?  Halleluiah!!

I also decided to read the entire Book of Mormon again between the first chemo treatment and the last radiation treatment.

I’ll start radiation treatments in January and they will be every day, M-F, for six weeks.  I’ll need to set some new “Horizon goals” for those long six weeks. 

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