Building Memories

FRIDAY

Brianna and I made wreaths today.

(Brianna's wreath)

(My wreath)

 SATURDAY

Dad is making me shelves!

I love how my children are always so willing to assist Dad or me with anything. I also love how Dad is always teaching them how to fix or make something.

Bree and Travis had a date with some friends. While they were gone we babysat Deacon. He was in such a funny mood. He says the funniest things sometimes. When I served him dinner, he yelled for Aubrey. This was their conversation...

Deacon: Aubrey!

Aubrey: What?

Deacon: Come have some dinner! It's delicious. Grandma hooked me up!

Happy Birthday Richie II

When we got home from SLC, Brianna was at our house. Deacon and Aubrey were at school. It's so nice to have her just take over everything when we're not here. She takes such good care of Aubrey's needs and the house. Dick went straight to bed and napped. Later on he taught his CSI evening class. 

Today was Richie's 33rd birthday.

Happy Birthday Sweet Boy!

I love you so much!

Catching up with old friends

TUESDAY

This is one of Dick's oncology surgeons. They've become great friends. Dr. Kevin Jones wrote a book, "What Doctors Can't Tell You." Dick is turning his book into a play. While Dick was waiting for his next round of chemo, they discussed the development of the play. Dr. Jones was very pleased!

WEDNESDAY

We were able to meet with Carla Burmingham and her husband at the senior citizen center. She was my young women's leader in Texas when I was 16, 17, and 18 years old. Carla is part of the Clogging Grandmothers so we went to see them perform.

They were amazing!

 One of the ladies in the group was 79 years old. 

They wanted to take us out for lunch so we called Leanna to meet us at the restaurant.

 Kellan and his wife Lily invited us to dinner. We went to a Vietnamese restaurant and then we had a frosty at Wendy's.

It was great seeing so many friends that have been in our lives for so long.

Staying on the Clinical Trial (Cycle 13)

Dick had scans today before his chemo.

While I waited for Dick to get his CT scans and MRI, I got an email from Anson so we were able to email back and forth.
This is part of what he emailed today.

There's another Elder from Idaho. I love him!

 He came over last night and made me a bunk

 bed. Haha! Those Crazy Idaho kids... Here's a

 picture of my bunk bed. Pretty creative. Two

 dressers, one desk, and two beds. Inside my

 little cave, I hung up all the pictures you sent

 me. I sleep right by your beautiful face.

Dick hit another plateau, but this poster boy is changing the 

clinical trial rules. Normally with this trial,

 if the patient's tumors don't shrink or if they grow more than 20 % 

they are suppose to come off the trial. The oncologist said that 

when patients come off the trial, their tumors start 

growing very rapidly.

 She decided to let him stay on the trial since 

he's tolerating it as best as they've ever heard of. They love his 

positive attitude and are sure that his attitude and

faith is what's carrying him through this journey.

 

 Right after chemo, Leanna and I dropped him off at the stadium to watch the Jazz game with Kellan Hatch. Kellan is an old

missionary companion of his. Leanna gave them her tickets. Leanna and I had dinner and then we waited for him at her place.

 

Young Women In Excellence 2013

Aubrey had her Young Women In Excellence today.

She only needs two 10 hour projects and she'll be done with her Personal Progress.

 Afterwards we went to the VanBuskirk's to have dinner.

He is a preacher at a local church here in town.

 I love them!

 They are good people!

Before we left, Shanin offered a prayer for Dick.

 We have amazing friends!

 So many people from so many different religions are always praying for Dick and our family.

 We are truly blessed. 

Tomorrow Dick goes to Huntsman.

Goodnight Moon

Dick and Aubrey went to the movies and Brianna and Travis went out on a date. After they went out to eat, they drove to Twin Falls to spend some time with Travis' mother. She is struggling with cancer and doesn't look good at all. She was just discharged from the hospital and wanted to share some photos with Brianna and Travis. Travis saw some baby pictures that he had never seen before. I am so glad that they got to spend this special time with her. Deacon and I played Goodnight Moon and Uno. We had a fun evening. I love that he got to keep me company today.

Letter from Anson!

I love this picture of Anson!

He was in Pre-K with Miss Dawn.

(Dawn's Learning Connection)

The same school that Deacon attends now.

This was Western Day.

Last week we didn't get a letter from Anson so the week

 went by super slow.

 We got an email on Monday but no letter.

I love his letters because they're longer and more personal. 

 I will post all his letters that he wrote to all of us

 on his missionary blog 

(Called To Serve) 

but I will post some of my letter on my blog.

I love my sweet boy and I miss him so much.

Mom,

     So the letter that I wrote you guys last Monday, I never sent because the next day I had an awesome experience that I had to share with you guys. My two companions and I were at the stake center for a meeting. After we had our meeting, we got in the car and drove off. As we were pulling out of the church parking lot I saw a man walking real slow. Well about three or four blocks later, I got this overwhelming feeling that can't be described any other way than the Holy Ghost. I told Elder McAllister that he needed to turn the car around. (Not realizing at the time that I yelled .) Shocked he said yeah okay are you okay, are you sick and need to use the bathroom? I said look I don't know but we need to get back to the church ASAP. So he flipped the car around and sped back to the church. The guy that I saw was gone and that gave me a horrible feeling. Especially knowing that the sister missionaries were still in the building teaching a lesson. I then told my companions about the guy and that I had a bad feeling. Not knowing what to do we ran inside to check on the sisters. As we were walking down a hall, I saw the bathroom door open and the guy steps out. As soon as I saw him I knew for whatever reason I was told to come back, that it was for a good reason. We talked to him for about twenty minutes. We found out he was on some sort of drug and he wasn't too happy after Elder McAllister told him to call the bishop, as he was in need to find a place to stay for the night. The guy blew up on him. He then apologized and said he had to go to lie down in a field. (Which is a hard thing to do when you're in the middle of the city.) He then left and we locked the doors and waited for the sisters to leave. Whether that prompting was for the sisters safety or for my faith to grow, I know it was the Holy Ghost. For about three days before this experience I had been praying that I would feel the spirit because I wasn't really sure that if what I was feeling while I was teaching was the spirit or not. This experience has helped me to recognize that feeling. I LOVE MISSIONARY WORK!!

     Man it's so great out here. It's so crazy how strong the connection is between missionaries and our Father in Heaven. I love feeling the spirit 24/7 and having the spirit there to tell me what to do. I miss you guys so much! I also think about you all the time and what you are doing. And little Deacon. I miss him so much. I miss him holding on to my ear. I love the missionary quotes. They really motivate me. Keep them coming. ;)

Love, Elder Call       MWAH!  

My blog

My husband has a Logan High School website and invited all his high school buddies to visit our blog. Dick said, "Why are so many people emailing me and telling me that they can't get into our blog?" So many friends of mine are emailing me too and asking why they can't. I left a post here a while back and announced I was going private. I want my blog to be private because I put so much personal information here since I don't keep another journal. It seems so complicated for so many dear friends though. Cyndi Ogdon , I've added you as a reader to our blog with the two emails you gave me. I promise! I don't know why blogger is not allowing you and others to visit my blog.
So anyway... It won't be private for a while again. At least until I feel like making it private again. Sorry for the inconvenience.  

From Anson... Oh I miss you little cutie.

Anson emailed us some pictures today.

 It sounds like he's pretty busy all day long but he's loving his mission. He said, "Believe it or not, I was asleep in this picture!" I believe it. He's always gone to bed with a smile, he sleeps with a smile, and he wakes up with a smile. 

 These next two pictures were in Redwood City.

 Anson said he loves this. It's on his companion's wall.

In Anson's email he said, "Oh I miss you little cutie." I love hearing him call me little cutie. I love the nicknames my children have given me now that they are older. Oh how I miss my boy too. I miss his sweet spirit and his big smile.

A visit from Richie and Grace and Ryan's funeral

Richie was a guest lecturer for Dick's CSI class Thursday and Grace tagged along with him. Aubrey and I 

kept Grace company while Richie and Dick went to their class.

 When Grace heard the doorbell, she ran to the door and screamed, "Deacon!"

 These two love eachother so much!

 Brianna took us all to Kiwi Loco or as Grace would say, "KIKI LOCO."

 Deacon has very little frozen yogurt with his cherries.

 This was what Brianna's frozen yogurt looked like. It looked just like Grace's.

 Look at the cherry stems by Deacon's cup.

When we got home, Grace had a little accident in her underwear so Brianna gave her a bath and blow dried her hair so cute. When Grace looked in the mirror she said, "Hey! I look like Dora!"

The next day our family, Brianna's family, Richie, and Grace had breakfast at Wayside Cafe. We are always talking about their breakfast and how wonderful it is so Richie wanted to go. We saw the Brices there and they snatched our bill out of the server's hand to pay for our breakfast. Wow! They are pretty amazing people.

Deacon was lifting Grace up to look out the window.

After Wayside, Richie and Grace left and we all went to Ryan's funeral. I love the Willes family. As we went through the line and saw his family, all we could do was hug. 

Sometimes just holding each other and not saying anything is best.

This was in the back of the program.

I fell in love with this poem.

The Broken Chain

We little knew that morning 

That God would call your name.

In life we loved you dearly, 

In death we do the same.

It broke our hearts to lose you,

You did not go alone;

for part of us went with you,

The day God called you home.

You left us peaceful memories, 

Your love is still our guide;

And though we cannot see you,

You are always at our side.

Our family chain is broken, 

And nothing seems the same;

But as God calls us one by one,

The chain will link again.