Kate and Tyson

So our darling niece Kate got married this summer.  She is a BYU attending girl and we have all come to love and appreciate her many qualities over the years.  She served a mission in Peru and is just a top quality young lady.  She has been in our home many times and we love her company. Her chosen husband is also a great guy.  He just graduated with his MBA from UVU and he served his mission in Russia.  They make a great team.  They are kind, helpful, smart, resourceful and fun to be around.  Kate invited our entire crew to attend her marriage and celebration and we had a lovely day with their families.  Their marriage in the Provo City Temple was beautiful on a hot summer day. Later we traveled to Noah's in South Jordan for the lovely reception.  We love this couple and wish them much happiness.

5 years down

July 2 was another milestone.  I passed the 5 year mark since I was diagnosed with breast cancer. This is kind of a big deal since I've read that getting this far without any reoccurrence is very good news.  I went back on July 21 to get my annual mammogram as scheduled.  All went well. Then five days later, I got a call.  Oh no.  Seriously? My heart sank.  They could see something on the mammogram that was unusual. I needed to go back for more tests.  This is how it all started last time.

Five more days passed. I didn't want to panic until I knew more.  I forced my mind to focus. I had had false alarms before and it could be nothing.  Or it could be something.  I started running various scenarios through my mind.  What would I do if I had a reoccurrence? I know pretty firmly what I would do in my mind.  I told Rick about the need for more tests, but didn't want to alarm anyone else until more was known.  We talked.  We prayed.  We waited.

The sonogram proved that the spot was just a cyst.  Nothing more.  Confirmed by two doctors.

A reprieve for now.  Hopefully forever.  That is the unknown part of dealing with cancer.

Two of my friends have recently been diagnosed.  My heart and soul goes out to them.  I hurt for them.  I know.  I know what they are going through.  I wish they didn't have to travel this road. One friend going through this trial is the wife of Rick's cousin who is my age and a good friend. Another is a friend in our area who is younger.  Two strong, brave, beautiful women who are facing this beast.

Cancer of any kind is such an insidious disease.  I hate it so much.  I hate how is disrupts lives and changes happy circumstances to trying ones.  I hate how it becomes the focus of everything.  I hate how it steals good people and carries them away.  I hate how much it costs to fight it and that some people can't afford the cost of treatment.  I hate that it leaves holes in families and heartache so profound in its wake.  I hate that it sneaks in and robs what was whole.  I hate that it robs peace of mind. I hate how it causes fear, anxiety and pain in every way possible.  I hate that it changes family circumstances that will never quite be the same if it overcomes a person's body and takes them away.

And yet, IT causes refinement in an ironic twist of circumstances.  IT causes everything that doesn't matter to fall away.  IT brings into focus sweet relationships and cherished time spent together.  IT shows us that we aren't in control of much of anything.   IT humbles us in a way that nothing else can. IT shows us that the One Supreme Being over us all knows why things happen the way they do. IT shows us our nothingness and our weakness.  IT shows us our dependence on a greater power. Nothing more can combat IT.

Peace comes from knowing, really knowing this.  God is our Father.  He knows us.  He hears our prayers. He knows our hearts.  He feels our pain.  He sends his love through many avenues and most of them appear at the front door with a flower, a plate of food, a hug, a smile, a kind act of service, a note, a call, a remembrance, a word of encouragement.  They have different names, different faces, different ways to show HIS love.  The comfort and peace that can be felt during these extreme times of anguish come through the marvelous atonement of His only begotten Son.  Would we turn to Him and this source of strength otherwise?  He is the answer to getting through this terrible thing we call cancer.  Come what may. He only One.

La La Land

This posted is long overdue.  Nevertheless, I wanted to record it, even though it happened in May. We loved our visit to see Andy and Chelsea in LA.  They are getting to know that huge vibrant city very well. They know where to go, how to get there, what to see, what to do, where to eat and where to have fun.  They have made a great life for themselves and they are doing well in schooling and work at UCLA.  We're so proud of the good lives they lead and the people they are influencing for good. They are a power couple and we love them both so very much.  This visit we enjoyed the following activities:

Rick and Andy attended two Dodger games and Chelsea and I went to one.
The Los Angelenos have become great Dodger fans.
 It was so fun to go with them!

Rom and his wife Bron met us at the game.
These cousins are great friends and fellow Dodger fans.

A visit to the LA LDS temple is always a highlight.
 It is a HUGE temple with very few patrons.
We were happy to participate.

The grounds were beautiful in the springtime.

The Jacaranda trees were in full bloom EVERYWHERE.
 Since purple is my favorite color, I has in heaven!

Chelsea and I attended the LA Symphony production of the move
 La La Land at the Hollywood bowl.  Wow, what a place!
 Parts of the movie were filmed nearby in Griffiths park.
 The singing parts of the movie where shown on
 huge screens with Ryan and Emma singing and live musicians
 playing the instrumental accompaniment.  We loved it!!

No visit to LA is complete without a
visit to get ice-cream at Salt and Straw.

This year we visited the LACMA museum and
broaden our cultural exposure while seeing great works of art.
 It was another great experience and another gem to explore.  

This box car race track was amazing!
Our grandkids would have loved seeing this.
100s of cars going around and around.

Andy is the first counselor in his ward bishopric and
 I snuck this picture of him conducting the meeting.
He did a great job and is a real asset to his ward, as is Chelsea.

This visit we discovered a new area.  The canals of Venice.
 Again, another interesting and beautiful place.

No trip to LA would be complete without a visit to the ocean.
 Rick absolutely LOVES the ocean and he and Andy had
 a great time boogie boarding and riding the waves.
 It was way too cold for me.

My hair goes crazy around the ocean.
The humidity, salty air and wind wreck havoc and it turns so curly.
  Oh well, it was such a fun day.