kathy's korner

Messy Messes

2012-01-27T22:52:00.000-08:00

We went to the Temple today...hence Costco...hence bought Clark's "Friday Pizza". I tried to fit it above the stuff on the top shelf by using the tabs that shelfs fit on...simple as pie. That is what I was thinking and it jjjjuuussstttt about fit! Just about, but not quite, just a little too small, it dropped, spilling a picture of grape juice. Cleaning up grape juice from the top shelf means cleaning...well it means cleaning the entire fridge all dressed up! It was a two person job, grape juice was every where.

Yesterday a friend of mine reminded me that I took piano lessons from her great aunt. This women was one of the classiest person I know. I can not think of her without thinking of another messy mess. She never forgot it either! The last time I saw her we had such a good laugh over that mess. I was in high school, I lived in the country and my lessons were in town. So I walked from the high school to her home. One day I stopped at the bakery and bought a jelly doughnut and ate it on the way to my lesson. Back then, students didn't have back packs, so I was carrying my books. I didn't realize that I dropped just a little bit of jelly on my books, not until we started the lesson. The books were perpendicular and there was jelly on many of the pages of every book! We have laughed and laughed and I always remember that jelly mess when I think of Emmabelle!

As we were cleaning up the grape juice mess today I started thinking how our actions, how ever insignificant, affect other people. Something as simple as a plop of jelly created a humorous memory to last a lifetime. Spilling a quart of grape juice can be frustrating for two tired people but with effort it can be cleaned up.

Sometimes we do things that aren't so easy to clean up. They may have a negative impact, not only ourselves, but the lives of other people as well. That is when we need to repent and as hard as we try to clean up the mess ourselves, only the Savior can can truly get that mess cleaned up. I am so thankful for my Savior and His atoning sacrifice. I am thankful that He has provided a way for all of us to be cleansed from our sins and to be brought back into His presence.

It's All Good (part three, the trip home)

2012-01-24T08:50:00.000-08:00

Now to my part of the story...let me just say that I don't like to drive in the dark and I really don't like to drive in the snow. As we pulled into the parking lot at the Wenatchee Valley Clinic it had just started to snow very lightly. I told Glenn as we entered the clinic that if it was dark and the roads were bad, we would have to spend the night in Wenatchee. Who did I think I was talking to if I thought that was going to fly? He protested big time because he wanted to be home...I don't blame him, we all want the comfort of home after surgery.

When he came out of surgery it was dark! (of course) When I went to get the car to pick him up, our car was covered with 1 1/4 inch of snow!!! I was slipping and sliding just to get to him. But I know that our prayers were already being answered because instead of being too nervous to drive, I was calm and confident about the drive home. Wenatchee had not plowed the roads so it was a slippery drive just to get through town.

The highway between Wenatchee to Quincy was covered with the new snow, it was slushy and slick! Our car has an anti skid censor which helps the car straighten out when it fishtails. There is a big hill just after the dam and the car did several fishtails going up that, it was impossible to accelerate. But the hill between crescent bar and the rest area was something else. I never realized how long that hill was. I was only able to drive 20 miles per hour and every time I tried to go faster I would fishtail. So we just fishtailed all the way up that hill...picture me remaining calm!

I was so looking forward to getting on the freeway, because the "freeway is alway bare". Well, the freeway wasn't bare, so we literally had snowy roads all the way home. Instead of the regular 1 hour and 20 minute drive, it took two hours! But we were both glad that we had come home instead of spending the night in Wenatchee.

I know that the Lord knows who we are and what we need. We wanted his surgery to be earlier in the day so that I didn't have to drive home in the dark. But it was a blessing to have it later, although I did have to drive home in the dark, it wasn't snowing and there was a lot less traffic than there would have been if we had come home in the daylight. I literally felt the calming influence of the Holy Ghost since I normally would have been too afraid to drive under those conditions. Glenn was very patient with me going so slow and he was my extra set of eyes to help me with my night time depth perception problem. So between the two of us and the angels we made it home safe and sound. Making it a practically perfect day!

It' All Good (Surgery)

2012-01-24T00:01:00.000-08:00

His surgery was scheduled for last Friday, I took some pictures of the snow as we were leaving and this is the only one that came out. There was snow on our side streets as we were leaving town, but the freeway and highways to Wenatchee were all clear. His appointment was at 1:30 which meant that his surgery didn't start until some time after 3:30.

This picture is of Glenn, just before he went back for surgery prep.

Here he is waiting not too patiently for his number to be called.

Surgery went well and here it is Monday and Glenn has no pain or discomfort from the "Port". His scares are healing nicely. We feel blessed that everything went well and there were no complications from his surgery!!!

It's All Good (part one)

2012-01-23T08:40:00.000-08:00

Glenn continues to feel good since the last time I posted. He has no pains, no grabs, no pinches. All of which he was feeling before the first chemo treatment on December 19th, at which time he was in a great deal of pain. So he is responding well to the treatment. The last visit that we had with his oncologist, Dr. Julie Smith on the 12th of January, she was "amazed and thrilled" at his progress. She said that "no pain and the marker being down to 5.4 were wonderful signs that the treatments were working". At that time we made an appointment with a general surgeon, Dr Hess, to put a port-a-cath back in his chest so that they can administer the chemo through the port into an artery.

The veins in his arms can not take that many treatments. The last treatment he had, the needle got out of the vein while the nurse was injecting the drug and they feared that some of that strong chemo was under his skin instead of in the blood stream. It was a very tense time for everyone involved. Thank heavens his skin isn't damaged and he won't have to go through that again.

He is feeling fine and his digestive system is actually working better that it was a year ago when he had "no evidence of disease". He is working hard to put the weight on that he lost when all of this erupted. He lost a total of 15 pounds from Thanksgiving until it a couple of weeks ago. His next CT scan will be in 4 or 5 weeks and we will be able to see what is going on inside. Our feelings are that the scan results will be "amazing" as his priesthood blessing indicated. I will make another post as soon as we get the results of that scan. No matter what the results are, he will have at least 4 more treatments after that.

Our Faith Manifest

2012-01-10T20:49:00.000-08:00

After seeing the results of the blood test and the CEA marker down to 5.4 (the lowest ever), the NP (nurse practitioner) stated that didn't mean anything! HO! Well we think it does!!! Glenn was in a great deal of pain with horrendous digestive issues...now he has no pain and his digestive system is back to the way it was before this past flare up.
Thanks for all of your faith added to our faith!
The Miracle is happening and "they shall be amazed"!

Up and Down

2012-01-05T08:52:00.000-08:00

Glenn has his good days and his not so good days, it all has to do with the digestive track....no surprises there. We were strong enough to go to the temple on Tuesday. It is always such a blessing, there is a peace that can not be described.

Sometime you just gotta believe!

2011-12-26T16:45:00.000-08:00

Friday I was shopping and met a girl from our ward who was planning Christmas dinner for another family in our ward. She asked for a suggestion for a classic desert. As I was telling her the ingredients for "Mud Pie" her eyes glazed over, so I volunteered to make the desert for her. Then as I thought about the family's circumstances I decided to get a gift card and some gifts for them. SANTA just happened to be standing in line behind me (not in his suit of course). He volunteered to deliver the gifts for us! How cool is that.

This is our SANTA when he came to pick up the packages. I did not to have time to wrap the gift. Lucky for us Glenn's Niece came for a visit with four other member of her family. We had a mini Santa's workshop as we ferociously wrapped the gifts just in time for Santa to pick them up. HOW COOL IS THAT?

Mostly not so good news--but some good news!

2011-12-24T04:51:00.000-08:00

The last report was just a little while ago and things changed so quickly. Glenn started having more aches and pains in his abdomen during the Thanksgiving Holiday. Then we headed to Hawaii and he felt good only about half the time. He did get to do the things he wanted to do the most: BYU vs Hawaii (we won!), Two 18 hole games of golf on the beautiful Mid Pacific Country Club golf course, Pearl Harbor, Polynesian Cultural Center, LDS Temple and church on Sunday. He didn't get much beach time, but that was my priority and I could never ever get enough of that! He promised to take me back when he feels better.

When we came home from Hawaii we spent lots of time in tests. His abdomen was filling with fluid caused by cancer cells, Tuesday the 13th he had 3 liters of fluid drained and another 1 & 1/2 liters drained Thursday the 15th. That Thursday were given the results of a biopsy which revealed cancer cells in his stomach and cancer cells out side the lining of his intestines which was causing the fluid. That cancer outside his intestines is causing havoc, pain, pressure and misery.

We drove to Utah on the 16th, attended the baptism of Chase Glenn Peterson, who Glenn was able to confirm and then we drove home on Sunday. While we were in Utah, we were with the 4 of our children who live in Utah and their families, plus Clark. We had such a great day!!!! Then we drove home Sunday the 18th so Glenn could start Chemo the next morning.

On the prior Sunday, December 10th Glenn was pretty sick, even though we didn't know what was the matter, he asked President Baker for a priesthood blessing. It was a wonderful blessing of healing. His diagnosis on the following Thursday left us confused (why a blessing of healing and such a dismal diagnosis?). We had a very melancholy trip down to Logan. The following morning (Saturday the 17th) Glenn had "a long talk with the Lord". He told Him how many things we still wanted to do as a couple, among other things. I asked Glenn what the Lord told him. Glenn said that the words of the blessing came into his mind.

As a family we have decided to put our faith in that priesthood blessing, oh contrare' to scientific evidence, and how horrible he feels with the chemo treatments that he started on Monday. Our family fasted for all of us to be able to maintain that faith and for Glenn to get well. We are praying mightily for that healing to take place.

The good news is that we think the chemo is working already and that is a good sign! But it is not easy for Glenn to go through this. The Doctor calls this chemo the "big guns--strong weapons for a strong enemy". He has been sick since Tuesday.

We invite you to join your faith with the faith of our family that he will be able to tolerate this chemotherapy and that he will get well. "That he will be able to continue serving and sharing his wonderful faith, wonderful smile and wonderful friendliness with all he comes in contact with". (These words are paraphrased from his priesthood blessing). We feel so much support from so many people who are praying for him.

Mele Kalikimaka--We are so thankful for our Savior and for His Atonement. What a wonderful time of year to turn our thoughts to Christ and all that He has blessed us with: The Restored Gospel, the Priesthood Power, Living Prophets, The Gift of the Holy Ghost, The Sealing of our Family for time and all eternity...and much much more!

Glenn's marker is down!

2011-12-09T23:53:00.000-08:00

Glenn's marker is down to 9.6. He has been taking a break from Chemo for two weeks and will be off for the rest of the month. (Merry Christmas!) He has an inflammation of the intestines, most likely diverticulitis. He just started taking antibiotics for that today. He is has some ups and downs, but overall improvement from the pain he has been experiencing. Good news and renewed hope!

The North Shore Waimea Bay

2011-12-03T23:19:00.001-08:00

Good Morning:

2011-12-01T10:32:00.000-08:00

We god up early to watch the sunrise:

ALOHA (day two)

2011-12-01T01:34:00.000-08:00

We were all up pretty early (5:00 a.m. for me). I worked on my class for two hours. I would have gone out to see the sun rise, but I can not tell East from West, and we didn't have time last night to find out where to go. But we walked down to the beach at 7:00. I love the ocean, it was deliciously cool, I just walked right in. It was so hard to leave the water, it will be hard to get me out of here!

We went to Pearl Harbor. We got lost several times on the way there, but we saw country that we wouldn't have seen other wise. Pearl Harbor was a sobering and sacred place.

Glenn took it all in, we felt the sacred sacrifice of the men who died that day. We feel like they want us to remember them.

These two rusted things are part of the Arizona that was sunk during the invasion of Pearl Harbor

December 7, 1941 killing most the men that were on board. There is a memorial built right over the ship. The picture below is of the gun turret. This year is the 70th anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor. There were 100's of men who were stationed on the Arizona who were not on duty tat day and they survived the bombing. When most of them have passed away, they have their bodies cremated and put in a capsule that is lowered into this turret and shot into the cavity of the ship. On thie anniversary nest week, 3 of them will be buried here. Their families come and they have a ceremony after closing hours to honor them. The are about 200 of these men who are still alive, they are in their early 90's.

Then we had lunch, did a little shopping and went to Waikiki beach to watch the sunset. Easier said than done. I had to get out of the car to get this shot. Then the light turned green and they drove off without me. I was so happy to be on the beach that I didn't even worry if they would find me in down town Honolulu! This is all we were able to get, but it was worth getting kicked out of the car to get it. Most of all it was worth it to be on the beach, the evening was spectacular! Perfect, no wind, perfect temperature, everyone laid back Hawaiian style!

ALOHA

2011-11-30T07:24:00.000-08:00

Monday night, Glenn had a slight fever and pain in his lower abdomen. The oncologist wanted his to get it checked out before we got on the plane, so we spent Monday night until after midnight wondering if we were going to make it. Then we had o get up at 4:15 to get to Spokane to catch the plane. I am in a sleep deficit.

Star struck and busy,I did not start taking pictures until we were headed through the "Jurassic Park" mountains to our bungalow. My phone was handy and when we were surrounded by this double rainbow I had to start clicking. I was just barley able to capture the essence, it was so close we could almost touch it, and it was on both sides of the car. This is called the rainbow state, and we were treated to magnificent rainbows on our first day. (Now bring on the sunshine.)

The sky was spectacular, wish I had a photo that could capture it, but I wanted to show the first glimpse we had of the ocean. Hopefully I can post little daily snippets of our first vacation in Hawaii.

PS Glenn has been having some rocky evenings this past week, and last night was no exception. He gets an upset abdomen after dinner and a slight fever, I don't think we are going to feed him dinner again....

Glenn's last check up

2011-11-25T23:50:00.000-08:00

Glenn gets a check up every three weeks. This past Monday (we had company) he saw his doctor. His marker went down from 11.2 to 11. Not a big drop, but it did not go up either. So that is good. He did not completely get over his side effects from his last dose of Chemo before he had to start again. The side effect is sore hands and feet, mostly sore thumb joints with the skin coming off (ouch). The DR.changed his treatment plan from two weeks on one week off to one week on, one week off. Hopefully he will tolerate that plan better, it seems like his body is getting a build up of the chemo. He seems to be a little more sick (and tired) when he takes his pills this time than he has been before. I think he is so brave to take them when he knows he won't be feeling very good for an hour or so afterwards.
Other than that he is doing good..

We enjoyed having Heather and Kirk here, Kimberly and Curtis also spend some time with us. It was nice having them and the grand babies here.

Today the teacher posted my grade on my first paper for the class I am taking , it is 15/15. I am so relieved I am working on a paper that is due tomorrow, then I have three more weeks and I will be 1/2 way through my program. It is going so fast and I am really enjoying it. I have a paper due on the 10th and a final power point of film due on the 16th. With Hawaii sandwiched in the middle!

Who could be luckier than me? Life is good..

Hawaii!

2011-11-14T22:33:00.000-08:00

Two weeks from now Glenn and I will be in Hawaii, for the first time ever. We are so excited, and so not ready!

Quick update on that guy of mine!

2011-11-02T21:44:00.000-07:00

Monday we saw the Dr. Glenn's marker went from 11.3 to 11.2, just a wee drop, but we'll take it. He is feeling great, lovin' life. Monday was a glorious day, he just had to go golfing, so he called a friend and had a great time. He is going again tomorrow! Tuesday we went to the temple in the Tricities with some friends. Today we went to Spokane to see his brother Sam who had surgery. So you can see, he is doing very well. He remains positive and I think he does a great job of taking care of himself. He takes chemo by pill for supposedly two weeks on and one week off. By the 11th day on, his side effects are so bad, which show that the liver has had enough, so he can't go the full 14 days. The side effect is 'neuropothy' which is sore hands and feet. He is also not supposed to get exposed to too much sun. I never have to remind him to take his pills. I should remind him to put on sunscreen (if only I could remember), but he has a good excuse for not doing it...don't ask...
Bottom line...he is doing great!

Out Of My Comfort Zone! But it is Not about ME, is it?

2011-10-29T15:24:00.000-07:00

When our combined ward Halloween Costume Party came up, our Laurel class president commanded "You have to dress up too"! If you know anything about me at all, you know that Halloween, witches, and goblins are not my thing. I am a Halloween Scrooge! Passing out candy to the trick or treaters is about all I can muster. I am costume challenged to boot! But with the help of my creative daughter-in-law, I came up with a costume. I end up being the only adult from our ward in a costume, (UGH) and my girls were so busy dancing, talking and eating that they didn't even care! :-) But it not about me, is it?

Hehehehehehehehehehehehe! (-:

Luckily someone let me use his camera, so I acted like I really did belong out there in that dark shed, with the super loud music, dressed like a witch, and I took some pictures. Most of them didn't turn out, but here are some that did.

The girls are really awesome and it really isn't about me!

The all enjoyed getting their pictures taken, I wish they had all turned out!

I tell them over and over that they are the best Laurel Class in the church and I really think they are!

Too bad I didn't get a picture of the fluffy
orange, lime and multicolored striped
fluffy ruffles that I put on the bottom of my
pants...but it isn't about me, is it?

Ya just have ta make th best of an "out of comfort zone" experience!

Two contrasting Thresholds

2011-10-19T09:58:00.000-07:00

I have reflected back to the different thresholds of my life and the way they have informed my attitudes and behaviors. Two contrasting architectural thresholds of significance to me are the potato cellar I grew with and Latter-day Temples. The potato cellar is symbolic of physical life and the Temple is a symbol of spiritual life.

I have contemplated the potato cellar…the kind of “architectural structure” it was and the roll it played in shaping my life. The potato cellar gave me a chance to work with my mom and dad who were people with a strong character and a strong commitment to home, family and church. I feel an overwhelming gratitude to them for teaching me to work and to be dependable.

Work in the cellar centered on sorting and cutting potatoes; planting potatoes; weeding and rouging potatoes; and picking potatoes. I remember working in the potatoes with my siblings and neighbors who helped me gain an optimistic and encouraging attitude. From this work and the rhythm of the seasons, I learned how our actions lead to consequences.

The cellar was constructed from dirt, logs, and straw, meant to be a temporary earthly structure. It had only one large heavy wooden door which was big enough for a truck to drive through. The ceiling was made of logs; it was high pitched, came up from the ground, and was covered with straw and dirt. The cellar was specifically designed as a cool place to store potatoes. It had a wonderful smell; I love the smell of potato dirt! Compared to the great architecture of the world this is a seemingly insignificant structure, yet it had a great impact on my life. It help shaped my character and grounded me as a “down to earth” person. Our livelihood depended on it, and depended on our being there to help. It physically sustained us, it made me feel secure to enter into that dark cool cellar, and I loved it.

In contrast to the potato cellar, its earthiness, coolness, darkness and how it symbolizes physical sustenance, Temples are a significant part of shaping of my religious and spiritual life. They are magnificent structures made of stone, beautiful windows, spires, and great deal of architectural detail, they are built to last through the millennium. In contrast to the earthy dark cellar; they are sparkling and radiant. Once inside, there is a feeling of peace and being away from all the cares of the world. Everything is beautiful, serene, light, symbolic, and sacred; I feel welcome and a feeling of unlimited potential.

I was married in a temple, crossing that threshold was a life altering sacred experience. Although the marriage ceremony happened in just a short time, I had made many thoughtful choices before that defining moment. Just as the choices we make in our early childhood education determine whether we will qualify for entrance into a university or not, so do the choices we make in how we conduct our life determine whether we will qualify to enter the temple or not. The beckoning portals of the temple have helped me recognize the importance of choice and free will on the path that leads to the thresholds we desire to cross.

The architecture of temples divide them from the outside world, yet they are also an invitation to enter, beckoning all to come, come in, and find rest from all your labors.

The Old Potato Cellar

2011-09-28T00:05:00.001-07:00

Mission Facts

2011-09-25T20:12:00.000-07:00

I was called to serve in the Edinburgh, Scotland mission in the fall of 1965. I had wanted to serve a mission since I was 11 years old and I always said that I was going to serve a mission to Scotland. I was thrilled when I read, "you have been called to serve in the Edinburgh, Scotland Mission", over the signature of President David O. McKay.

This is a black suit that I loved wearing on my mission it was made by a sister in our ward who also made a red suit and a gray dress. They were made of wool, very dressy. If you can believe, I had a pair of wool plaid shoes (read, black and gray), very classy, wish I had a picture!

Here I am in front of that tree where dad always put me to take pictures. I am wearing a basic dress I bought in Arco, just before I left on my mission. There is no where to buy clothing in Arco now, so sad. This was a great dress, except it had to be dry cleaned. What were we thinking?

These are the people who came to my mission farewell in the fall of 1965. Everyone in this picture is on the Kirby side of my family, except my grandmother Jensen on the far left and the guy to my left who was a friend from BYU (who had served in the Edinburgh, Scotland mission). I am grateful for the support I felt and for the love that I feel for my family as so many of them have departed. How is this for family history? The people on the back row are: James Kirby, John Kirby, John Kirby, George Kirby, James Kirby, Ardell Duncan, and George Kirby. Next row: Grandma Jensen, Julia Kirby, Edith Kirby, Elsie Kirby, Brian Ditty, Diane Duncan, Marietta Kirby, Lynn Knapton. Third row, Harold Forbush, Catherine Jensen, Kathy Jensen (me), Doyle Jensen, Sylvia Jensen Engle, Laura Jensen, Kirby Jensen. Forth Row: Janine Kirby, Hal Forbush, Gale Forbush, Kirby Forbush Bobby Engle, and Cynthia Jensen.

This after my mission, my cousin Joe Kirby and me (Kathy) Joe served in Scotland the same time I did! While we were there we had a chance to visit all of our Grandmother Kirby's Scottish relatives. Grandmothers two brothers, Andrew and John Johnston, John's wife Cathy and their sons James and Angus. Mother's cousins Catherine, Agnes, Isabelle and Anne. Catherine's husband, and daughter Cathy and Agnes' son Douglas. Great uncle Joe Johnston came up from England to meet us as well. We are wearing kilts made of the Johnston family tartan. I still have mine, miracle and miracles since I am prone to toss things, so easily. I returned in May, 1967 and along came GLENN!

(Dad changed trees). This is nine months after my mission, Glenn and I were engaged in this picture. We were married in May, 1968 one year after I return home.

This is a picture of our son Erik. He served in the Edinburgh, Scotland mission 25 years after I came home. He had the same mission home and served in some of the areas I did. He also had a chance to meet our Scottish relatives while he was there. There was a new generation that were his age at the time.

PS. I just had to bold the family names that repeat. They are Catherine (5), Johns (3), James (3), George (2), Joe (2) and Kirby (2). But this is only a fraction of the family, those names are used many more times in this family.

Some old pictures

2011-09-25T19:28:00.001-07:00

"UP"date on Glenn

2011-09-20T09:28:00.000-07:00

When Glenn started this past round of treatment back in April, his blood test showed a protein marker which indicated a cancer level. The marker started at 9.6 and steadily went down to 6.6. Three weeks ago it was back to 8.0 and yesterday it was up to 8.6.

The Dr. is not really concerned but is aggressive. Three weeks ago Glenn was just recovering from the flu and the Dr. thought that might be the reason for the increase. However she said that if it was up again this time she would up the dosage of Chemo. His dose had been lowered because of the severity of the side effects, which were extremely sore and sensitive hands and feet. When she lowered the dose his side effects were minimal.

Dr. Smith increased his Chemo dose yesterday and in three weeks he will go in for another CT scan. He had a CT scan the first week in July and the cancer mass was breaking up. This CT scan will give them a chance for another look. At the present time he his taking his Chemo in pill form which is fairly convenient. Dr. Smith set forth a Plan A and a Plan B depending on the results after the next three weeks on the increased dose and the results of the CT scan.

Glenn's Dr. is just delightful! She told Glenn she was not too concerned about this marker and that he should be more concerned with the BYU Football Team than the cancer! Ha, Ha, Ha!

Creative Leadership

2011-09-10T22:45:00.000-07:00

I just got home from a three day Creative Leadership Class at Gonzaga. The pictures below were taken for an assignment to see and see again the architecture on campus. We felt like this picture was inspirational not only because the statue represents the Savior, but because of the sun shining through the trees. The Library is is the back ground.

We like this because of the monochromatic texture of the arches and circles.

This picture was chosen because of the perspective and variety in form.

Our class was in this library building which is shaped like an open book. The circular part of the structure represents the spine of a book, with the two adjacent parts of the building representing the open pages.

This picture was taken because of the contrasting sky and flag and the campus building in the background. It is especially significant for this weekend.

We had fun on this assignment working with our group, taking lots of pictures from different perspective and the having to choose only four. The object of this is to see and then see again. Don't always stop at the first view, change perspectives, see what can be seen from another person's perspective. Lots to learn and think about.

Several pictures were taken from different angle of the Statue, so it was easy to find just the right one. It wasn't the first or the last picture we took. The one above is the most inspiring.

Oh, by the way...

2011-09-04T11:01:00.000-07:00

BYU as an independent team BEAT

OLD MISS of the prestigious SEC on their field!

14-13

We'll TAKE THAT WIN!!!!!!

Glenn say's, "it's a big deal"!

GO COUGS AT TEXAS NEXT WEEK!

I went down to watch the game the fourth quarter. The score was Old Miss-13, BYU-O. After BYU scored the first touch down, I said, "What BYU needs to do is get a turnover and leave Mississippi standing there with their mouths hanging open!" BYU Sophomore linebacker Kyle Van Noy scored the winning touchdown after forcing and recovering a fumble Mississippi's 4 yard line. BYU kicked the extra point and Old Miss fans were standing in the stands with their mouths hanging open. I called that one---Love, Love, Love it!

The News Paper Article on Diane's Death

2011-08-11T19:35:00.000-07:00

For those of you who haven't seen this on face book, this is the Article about the accident that killed my cousin, along with her husband and grand daughter. Our families are reeling from this tragedy. Diane was a dear friend as well as my cousin. They will all be missed! Thanks to all of you for you condolences. To see this article click here.

There is nothing like cousins

2011-08-10T23:30:00.000-07:00

"Two Peas in a Pod"

My cousin Diane Kirby Duncan Butler passed away today (August 10, 2011) in a car accident that killed, her husband, herself and one of her granddaughters. I can honestly say that I have not had a death hit me as hard as Diane's. We were close cousins, her father was my mother's brother and we were the same age. I grew up on a farm in Idaho and she grew up in Salt Lake City. Every year Uncle George would bring his family up to the farm for a visit. Diane and I grew very close during those years. When I was in my teens I was able to spend time with her in the summer. Our husbands were very magnanimous towards us when we would get together, as we would talk and laugh non stop. As our families got bigger, it was much more difficult to spend time together, yet we always remained close. The above picture was taken 18 months ago at our aunt's funeral.

Diane's first husband passed away expectantly Thanksgiving weekend three years ago. When this picture was taken, she was telling me about a man who wanted to marry her. She wanted to know what I thought. Since I have not been in her situation and didn't know the man all I could say is something a widow friend of mine had asked herself when she was in that situation..."how would I feel if I didn't marry him?" (Thank you Sharon). Shortly after that they got married. Funny thing, her husband was my sister's husband cousin (cousins married cousins, small world).

I had 6 cousins my age: Loraine Knapton was killed in a car accident when we were 19, Bruce Jensen died in Viet Nam at the age of 21, Sharon Sorensen Swasey literally dropped dead while she was getting in her car just a few years ago. Diane passed away today.

We have been planning a cousins trip to Scotland, where our Kirby grandparents came from. Just today on my way home from visiting my mom I was thinking about Diane and wondering exactly when we were going to go...it makes me sad that we won't get to go together. I just visited with her last week and told her that we would come and see her on one of our trips to Utah, her last words were, "surprise me!" Little did I know that Diane would be the one to surprise me. I will miss Diane.

Who could be luckier than me?

2011-08-05T07:00:00.000-07:00

Yesterday afternoon Clark and I were driving to Walmart. We had "The Spirit of God Like a Fire is Burning" playing on a CD. Clark was singing along, he has a beautiful singing voice. I love to hear him sing, even though sometimes he is a little off key. The fact that he can sing seems like a miracle to me. Clark loves church history and the Doctrine and Covenants. He started telling me the this song was written for the Kirkland Temple dedication that was on March 27, 1836. The song is written by W. W. Phelps. He wants to go to Kirkland on a mission...is that before or after or while he is in Nauvoo on a mission?

Clark gets excited to go to LDS books stores, he collects books on LDS history, particularly books about the Prophet Joseph Smith. (We have a hard time keeping any of those books in our own library). He found a set of DVD's by Truman Madson discussing Church History and he watches them by the hour. In the car yesterday he went on to tell me that section 112 was to Thomas B. Marsh. It is rather humbling to be taught by my 24 year old son who has Down Syndrome.

Clark was able to ride a people for people bus out to the college and attend the institute class out there this past spring. The class was The Doctrine and Covenants. The first day he went, the lesson was on The Hauns Mill Massacre. Clark stood up and told the class the story. The second day the lesson was on Zion's Camp. Clark can't be restrained from leading the singing, he has perfect rhythm and when given the choice will choose "The Spirit of God".

He brings such a special spirit to our home, he spends a lot of time in his room watching DVD's about church history. The minute our conference CD's come, he confiscates them. He carries lesson manuals and one of his Church History books on the bus to work and to church. He has an iphone and can locate scriptures and hymns very quickly.

Lest you think he is about to be translated, I must say the he is still a "kid" and can be frustrating at times, but that being said, he is truly a valiant spirit. We await the day when the veil will be lifted and we are allowed to see his magnificent spirit. Meanwhile I feel inadequate to the task of being his mom. Times like yesterday when we were together and he was telling me things I couldn't remember bring me up short and help me remember what a special person we have been privileged to have the stewardship to raise. We will be riding his coat tails in the next life as he is invited to "come in unto the marriage of the Lamb and partake of the supper of the Lord, prepared for the great day to come". (D&C 58:11)

6.6 and dropping

2011-08-04T15:22:00.000-07:00

We went to Wenatchee this morning so Glenn could see his doctor and get the results of his blood tests. His CEA marker is still dropping. The mass is breaking up. When he started Chemo the marker was at 9.6, three weeks ago it was 7.2. Today it is 6.6. It is dropping faster now than at the beginning. Good news for us. He is feeling good, a little anemic...but hey, he really does push himself. He is golfing as we speak and yesterday along with other things he painted some trim on our new shed. Tomorrow we are driving to Idaho to visit my mother...a post for another day!

Clark is a good uncle!

2011-07-18T23:42:00.000-07:00

We went to Walmart today and Clark was such a big help in taking care of my two granddaughters and they we so good. I thought they were so cute walking together, I just had to have a picture.

Purple Petunias and Courtleigh Tombs

2011-07-17T10:38:00.000-07:00

Every time I smell Purple Petunias I am taken back to my childhood. I grew up on a small farm in the Lost River Valley, we were surrounded by farms. The only exceptions were: the cemetery which was on the lane directly through the field from our house and our LDS chapel which was a lovely one mile walk on the lane that was perpendicular to our house. The church custodian, Courtleigh Tombs not only took great care of the building, but he was a horticulturist (I didn't know what that was at the time). Every summer he planted among other things purple petunias. They have such a beautiful strong sweet scent. In the summer evenings, I could smell the petunias all the way from the church to our house! I love that smell and I always think of Courtleigh and his petunias when I smell purple petunias. I bought some purple petunias yesterday, and "zipp" there I went...right back to my childhood memory of those peaceful summer evenings with the scent of purple petunias wafting through the air! Delicious!

More good news!

2011-07-11T21:11:00.000-07:00

Glenn had an appointment with his oncologist today and his cancer markers are still going down! AND she reported that the CT scan shows that the cancer mass is breaking up...getting less dense!!!!! We are so glad that it is going in the right direction.
Over the weekend, Glenn had a touch of the flu, but is up and running today. He has been sanding the frames of some window we bought at "Bargain Town" for our shed. Has tons of energy, helped me with the yard and the pool this morning before he started on his "man" project! He's still going strong.

Add to that, he has been able to enjoy the company of three of his granddaughters today.

Saturday we drove to Boise to meet Jeremy to pick up his two girls, so that they can spend some time up here, not just as our guests, Kimberly is the primary hostess, giving Baylee a dose of cousins and (competition). Baylee is loving it!

The trip to Boise had some highlights and some not so highlights. When we took off Glenn realized that he really didn't feel well, so he slept while I drove. Luckily my brother called and told me that our cousins were having a picnic near the place we were meeting Jeremy! I could not believe my luck...I am hoping to get pictures from them. My infamous "Aunt Bonnie" was there as well as her husband Leo, who is my dad's 91 year old younger brother. Also my dad's sister who declined to share her age (as if I couldn't look it up) was there. I was able to see some cousins that I haven't seen for a long time! I was a fun surprise for all of us!

The worst part of the trip was returning home with no air conditioning...we had the van in the shop last week and they said they fixed it...just a fuse. Wrong. It was a marvelous opportunity to practice my "dealing with adversity skills". I have to say our two granddaughters took it like champs!

So the good news is...Glenn's cancer is diminishing, our shed is progressing and we get to have two extra granddaughters for two weeks at which time the rest of our family will join them for a family reunion!

Happy 4th of July

2011-07-04T22:26:00.000-07:00

Glenn has wanted a shed...I think it is a man thing. We have a friend who is helping Glenn build his shed. We were up early and he worked so hard. He is very tired and very sore. They started the shed on Saturday and it is all framed and the siding is on. They have the windows, the electricity, the shelves and some shingles left and voila it is done. It is 10x14 and I think I want to paint it barn red! (Now that sounds like me.) We love it, we are thinking of moving in...at least for the family reunion which will be at our place the last week of July.

Last Monday his oncologist took him off his chemo because his side effects were severe (sore hands and feet). That meant that the chemical was toxic in his system and the liver could not process it properly. Next Monday the 11th, he has an appointment after a CT scan and blood test. We will see exactly (there is no such thing as exactly) where he is and they will go from there. Meanwhile, we are working to get the house and yard ready for the family to come! Oh, did I mention that we are both feeling our age with all of this work?

One thing that Glenn has loved doing this summer is playing golf! What is going on in your life this summer?

Cancer Levels

2011-06-21T13:22:00.000-07:00

We just got Glenn's Test results from his blood work and his levels have gone down to 7.7!! Yea!!

Grandparents

2011-06-15T14:55:00.000-07:00

Yesterday my sister sent these pictures to me that she had take when

she was here a couple of weeks ago. I didn't know she was taking it. I think it is so nice to pictures taken with our grandchildren. We try to get pictures of us with each of them. I told her that I wish that I had a

picture of me with my grand parents. So she sent this one to me today...

This is a picture of my Grandma and Grandpa Jensen at their 50th Wedding Anniversary on June 15, 1960, 51 years ago today! I am in the far left, I think I am serving punch. We didn't try to get so many pictures of people with people like we do now. Thanks Sylvia for caring enough to take the picture of me with my granddaughter and for sending this picture of my with my grandparents.

Flowerbeds done and simplyfied!

2011-06-12T23:31:00.000-07:00

We put ten pickup loads of bark in our yard.

This load is call "fines", it was what we put in the flower beds.

The front corner of our yard next to where Hogsetts lived. Looking
from the street.

The little flowerbed by our sidewalk, next to the house.
These are pink coral bells from mom and dad;s yard.

View from the corner of the driveway. This was all full of grape hyacinths,

bulbs, perennials miniature roses and a big tree that we had removed. This is

from the street.

My Shasta daisies near the front door.

We took out three rose bushes, one mugal pine, and one barberry that were near the Shastas.

One more shot of the flower bed by our neighbor. It was totally covered
with plants, I just keep digging and digging and digging flowers out. Most
of them went in the trash (sob) but I was able to find a home for some of them.
I didn't get a good shot of the bleeding heart that is by the gate and the spurge that is by it.
There are day lilies, shasta daisies, coral bells, arbis, yellow sedem, veronica and holly hocks, each
ready to bloom in turn from these little daises to the perennial asters.

Another view of the bed by Hogsetts corner. The peony if from my dad's yard, he got it from his mother. The dasies are an early spring daisy, have them is two other flower beds, they are from Debbie Redford. The tall yarrow that is about to bloom is from my sister Cynthia's yard and so is the perennial aster that will bloom in the fall. I have a mallow from my mom, coriopsis from the nursery that LaVar Jensen had. There is a galardia from Sandy Hansen's yard and it will bloom soon with red, yellow and orange daisy petals (love it!). This is a day lily from Jackson Perkins and a windflower that will get as tall as the yarrow. That is the result of thinning and thinning and thinning out flowers.

This is probably my favorite flower be right now. It has wonderful curb appeal. It is on the other side of the driveway next to our new neighbors. (yeah) I call it my friendship garden. Almost every plant is from a friend or family. The Stella da oro came from my dad's yard after he passed away. I brought one plant home and now I have it every where and I have given a start to lots of friends. The perennial geranium and Japanese Iris are from Ester Barlow, that little blue grass is from my sister Gwen Butler, I bought one coral bells and I have divided it several times, it is one of my "signature" plants, it is every where.

This is the friendship garden viewed from the street.
These are jupiter's beard, I got them from Mary Winterton. They
stay in bloom a long time.

Same bed, different view. The variegated Iris is from Janet Hogsett's yard. Janet
was a dear friend and neighbor for 22 years, she invited me to come and get starts from her yard before
she passed away. There are little pink strawberry ground cover from Janet, as well, which can't be seen very well on the right hand side of this picture. The yellow Iris is from Verla Hope, I have known and loved her since I was a girl.

This view of the friendship garden is looking toward the street. Hollyhocks, hastas, yarrow, Japanese iris all take turns blooming and add variety and color through the seasons.

This is the west side yard view coming through the gate into the back yard. All the plants, except the trees are ground covers. I manage them by sprinkling Caseron around the to stop them from spreading. I also sprinkle Caseron along the edge of the grass to keep it from growing into the flowerbeds. Caseron is a preeminent that is used around woody plants like trees, shrubs and roses. But it has saved my life here.

Standing in the same spot, looking slightly to the right is another wonderful

perennial bed that has different flowers in bloom all season. This is where I planted my first coral bell, I love them. The peonies came from Marilynne from her mother in law, that orange poppy is supposed to be a red one from Jackson Perkins, and the daises are from Debbie. I love daises! I have more that 5 varieties in my yard, if you count the galardia. In my friendship garden, there is a double daisy and a fringe daisy, and the last variety is the little princes which is on the other side of the pool. I love it that they all bloom at different times and over lap, so that we almost always have some daisy in bloom.

This is our latest addision to the west yard, it is a dogwood, we planted

three of them along the fence and put a bright orange large bark under them.

That lime green and orange are wonderful together.

This is the flowerbed on the west of the pool as seen from the back. We don't quit have it cleaned out

on the day I took these pictuers as can be seen in the picture below where the grass is

just about over taking every thing. It is all done now, but I don't think I will be posting

more pictures, I think it is possible to get the general idea of what the flower bed will

look like when it is thinned out and has bark on it. It will look like the picture above.

Now this is the red poppy that I ordered from Jackson Perkins. I can

have been unable to propigate it. It is the only plant I have, I wish I had

one red poppy to go with each white daisy plant!

I can't believe I didn't get a shot of this with the other flowers around it.

This is in the very back of the yard. We also don't have

this bed cleaned out yet in this picture. Dillon Grigg helped us

with this flower bed, we really thinned it out, replace the wood divider and put

bark down. The little kids love to walk on the stepping stones, it is fun to watch them.

The only plants we saved were the shasta daisies from Marilynne and Irises from Debbie.

This is coming around the back on the east side of the pool.

This flowerbed has always given me greif. I always

have such good intentions to blend annuals with perenials and

let them do their thing, but then I always have to apologize for how

bad it looks. I had Dillon take EVERY THING out, I had flags on the plants I wanted

to keep and the ones to discard. SO...these are my favorite plants that I just can't live

without: coral bells, Stella da oro, and little princes daisies. That is a peach iris in the foreground,

and the plants look a little peaked from being transplanted, but they will recover and it

will be a nice, neat tidy, organized, well behaved flower bed!

This is supposed to be my shade garden of hastas, but we lost our

shade tree this year. I hope they make it. This bed is much prettier

than the picture.

This is another view. It is between our deck stairs. In times past I have filled it with

shade annuals (impatiance and colias), but I don't plant annuals anymore unless it is in pots.

This is a little spot between our fire pit and the tramp. Again thinned,

thinned, thinned.

A close up of "dad and grandma's" peony. I love them, but they

don't stay in bloom very long and they can't withstand the rain and wind.

Mass planting of Jupiter's beard on the other side of the tramp and

between the tramp and the swing set. They bloom for a long

time and hardly take any care. They are showy, but don't make a good

cutting flower.

I am so excited to get play ground bark for this play area! It looks awesome. We

keep the weeds away with Caserone!

I lovely picket fence that Glenn and I built before Kimberly got married

is supposed to surround our vegetable garden. I love it, and I love these

flowers that are by the gate. They are the only flower in the yard

that I have planted from seed that have survived. They are a perennial bachelor button.

They have a long blooming period also and they foliage is fern like and very interesting.

One the East of the house going toward the gate to go to the front yard. This used
to be all flowers! We are loving the simplification.

One the East side of the house coming though the gate.

A view from inside the garden, I can never remember the name of this plant!

Update on Glenn

2011-06-05T23:51:00.000-07:00

I have had several friends ask how Glenn is doing. He is taking Chemo by pill, so his life isn't too disrupted. He enjoys his church calling very much, he says that it invigorates him. He takes chemo two weeks on and one week off. His is in his third two week period, just finished one week and has one more week to take the pills, then he can rest one week. Then he will start his last two week session. His side effects are minimal, a little nausea once in a while. The worst he has to go through is tender or sore hands and feet. They were getting bad at the end of the last session, but I think that was because he was golfing 2 to 3 times a week and walking 18 holes. I finally convinced him to use a cart and wear golf gloves on both hands. Since his golfing buddy moved last week, it has been 8 days since he has played golf, but he has worked very hard with me in the yard. He has way more energy and I have!

Today he was sitting on the stand in our ward and he said that everyone looked so dower. He wanted to get up and say, "it's a beautiful day to be alive! I love every sun rise and sun set that I get to see!" He is a good example to me.

He is enjoying the progress of the yard and asks me to take pictures everyday. I may just do that and post a few.

Can I just say...

2011-05-17T11:44:00.000-07:00

I LOVE THESE GIRLS

We took our Laurels to the Dollar Tree to buy birthday gifts for the Young Women birthdays. Sister Ruth Grigg bouth them Blue Icies! How fun is this?!

This picuter is so fun, Taylor and Madi are so tall and they wear high heals, Chelsea is short and she wears flats. I did a power point on diversity and I just had to use this picture.

It is so cool.

These are our Young Women at New Beginnings.

We had a Pirate theme.

Glenn is Awesome

2011-05-12T10:58:00.000-07:00

Glenn started taking Chemo in pill form on April 11. He will take it for three months, two weeks on and one week off. At the end of the week off he has a blood test to see how he is doing. He had his first blood test on Friday May 6th. He told his doctor that he feels so good that he thought that the cancer marker in the blood would be down. Dr. Smith told him that it usually doesn't go down in the first round of Chemo, so if his went down they would all celebrate!!! He got he test results back on Tuesday and his marker went down from 9.6 to 9!!! That isn't a huge drop, but it is DOWN.

Glenn feels great! He has been able to golf twice a week and he walks at least 9 of the 18 holes, some time he walks them all. He is driving the ball farther than he has ever done before. Tuesday he parred at least 7 holes. (He can edit this with all his stats, they are very impressive, but I am not so impressed that I can remember them).

The thing that I appreciate about him the most is that he has such a good attitude. He is cheerful, busy, positive, hopeful and happy. We are loving his retirement, and I am so glad that he finally has time to play golf and that we can go the temple often.

Anyway so many of you have asked about him and are praying for him, we really appreciated it and we can feel your support. We know that there are many people who are suffering at this time and our hearts and prayers go out to you, also.

Kimberly's Fruit Dip

2011-05-03T11:42:00.000-07:00

1 whole Cream Cheese {thawed}

1 large bottle of Marshmallow Cream

Stir together and serve, Voila!
This is so easy and so yummy!

Juggling 2 Identities: Mormon Bishop and FBI Agent

2011-04-26T22:06:00.000-07:00

When Mike and Judy McPheters were in Mesa, Arizona this past winder and spring, he was interviewed on Fox news. Mike wrote the books Agent Bishop and Cartels and Combinations. Agent Bishop is an auto biography, it tells how he juggled being an FBI agent as well as being a bishop. His second book is fiction based facts; how drug cartels originated and how evil they are. You can see his interview by clicking on the link below:
Mike McPheters Mesa Fox New Interview

Here we go again and it's not about me...really!

2011-04-21T22:31:00.000-07:00

Glenn has a CT scan every three months. In the middle of February he had a scan the showed a little spot. In looking back at Novemeber's CT scan, if they looked really hard for it, it was barely visible, but was not detected until February.
Meanwhile March 4th - 15th we took a trip to Utah and Glenn went to Las Vegas with 3 of our sons, 1 son in law and 1 friend. They had the trip of a lifetime, they were there when Jimmer scored his 52 point game! We were able to stay with all of our kids and their families, enjoying the grandchildren emensely.
When we came home, he had a PT scan on March 19th, which showed more detail, went in for a reading on the 21st, then a biopsy in the middle of the next week.
Meanwhile, I would get nausea everytime I ate for the last two weeks of March. I thought I had a flu bug. On Saturday April 2nd I threw up all day, at least 8 times and then I couldn't throw up, which is worse. I was in so much pain and nausea that I finally went to the hospital where I found out first of all the my heart is in great shape and second that I had a very large gall stone. Then they sent me home, gasp!
On Monday the 4th, I felt great, cleaned house, paid a few bills, found out I couldn't even see a surgeon for consultation until the 20th,
and we were told that Glenn's biopsy was positive for cancer. The Dr. thought since the cell structure differed from the former cancer that it was colon cancer. Better news than if it was his former cancer...didn't sound like good news to us because that meant he would surely have to have one foot of his colon removed, ugh!
Tuesday morning I woke up at 3:30, 4:30 and 6:00 vomiting and then I couldn't vomit, and there was that pain and nausea again, which I could not control with the nausea and pain meds. I spent a few hours in the Dr's office with intervenous meds, trying to settle it down, because the surgeons couldn't schedule me until April 20th.
We finally decided it was an emergency, and a surgeon consented to operate on me on April 6th. So we went to the hospital on Tuesday night, I woke up the next morning and had surgery. It went well and I went home that evening.
The next morning Glenn had to go to Wenatchee for a colonoscopy, I knew I wouldn't be able to get up and go that early, so Kimberly drove him over there and Shelly Nelson drove me over for his consultation.
We learned that his colon was clean, then we had to wait until the next week to find out from more lab tests exactly what kind of cancer he had so that they would know how to treat it!
April 13th we went back to Wenatchee for a consultation with the radiation oncologist and our main oncologist. It was then that we were told that the cancer was metastatic, or the same cancer that he was diagnosed with in 2009. We knew what chemo Glenn was going to take, but still didn't know if he could have radiation.
Monday April 18th, Glenn started taking chemo, it is in 3 pill form twice a day...2 weeks on, 1 week off for two cycles with blood tests in between cycles.
Tuesday he went golfing and had a great game, hit three of the longest drives he has ever hit.
Wednesday we went to the temple and on the way home we called his oncologist and found out that he can not have radiation. Once a body has had radiation, they can never have it pass through that part of their body again.,This cancer is too close to the last spot. This cancer is about the size of a thumbnail, it is a fibery, cloudy, filmy spot in the soft tissue between the colon and the liver. He does not have cancer in any of his organs.
No one wants to hear this kind of news. We know that we must trust in the Lord to hear and answer our prayers for our best good...we want him to be healed and to live a full and healthy life for the next 25 years...Glenn and our oncologist will do all they can to make this happen...however we are putting it in the Lord's hands and praying "thy will be done".

Go BYU Cougars

2011-03-21T21:06:00.000-07:00

Glenn and Clark and I went to Provo to the last BYU home game. We collected all our family from that region. We missed having Kimberly and her family and Erik and his family. But we had the rest of the clan.

I was dropped off at the BYU Bookstore with my credit card and two ancious young men. We bought them two "Jimmer" shirts and walk to the Marriot Center just in time to catch the COSMOBILE!

Once inside, I saw the error of my ways in buying just two Jimmer shirts. The kids selling these shirts got to know me very well as I first bought shirts for Jeremy's four kids. (Big deal to get the sizes right, you know) Then I moved on to Seth's three girls. Now since Erik is a Big BYU fan I had to get four more shirts for his kids. (I guess they will have to bring them to the family reunion so that we can see all of them together.)

I had the kids keep track of how many times "Jimmer" made a basket and each of them tried to get a picture of him on the court. This is the best shot.

We won the game and we were the Mountain West Campions! After the game we watched the closing ceremonies. Confettii everywhere. Trophies, cutting the net down one string at a time. All very exciting!

Glenn and Clark got to visit with Noah Hartsock, he is just the nicest nicest kid!

Clark had the thrill of getting his picture taken with Cosmo, he even did a little dance with him! Good times!

Glenn had a hunch that we would see Jordan when we went to the Book Store on Monday! Voila! He was in the student body that did the dance at the game on Saturday the 5th. You can see that amazing dance here. It is on YouTube "BYU Flash Mob". They only had two brief practices, they performed as a student section during one of the time outs. It was amazing!!!! You must see it.

Jack had to get ready for his dad to come home from the games in Vegas.

He is a lovalbe little boy and I got to help Heather while our men folk went to watch the Tornament in Vegas

Mountain West Championship Tournament

2011-03-11T21:03:00.000-08:00

This is a dream trip for Glenn and three of his son plus on son in law! They are having a blast at this historic tournament in Las Vegas. They were there live to see Jimmer make 52 points. He broke the all time BYU high score in a game! Go Cougs.

"I pledge allegince"

2011-02-26T20:02:00.000-08:00

I have recently connected with my high school friends on Face Book. We are having a great time, it is like the "fountain of youth". We were raised in a wonderful place, in a wonderful time. We are sharing so many memories about teachers, places, events, food, or what ever. We have had some serious conversations as well as some funny ones. This is a post that one of our favorite teachers posted on our group. I don't know this teacher who he is talking about, Minnie Brown, but picture this

"Kathy Jensen's comment about the "pledge of allegiance" reminds me of something Minnie Brown told me years ago. Right in the middle of WWII, Minnie was telling her class that rather than putting our hand over our heart we used to put our right arm outstretched-- pointing to the flag as we said the pledge, but that changed when the war started because it was------ and at that point she kicked up leg and said it was too much like "Heil Hitler"--- and as she did that the Superintendent walked into the room. She said she was a bit embarrassed--- but I really doubted that the Supt questioned Minnie's loyalty. You folks are all too young to remember those days. If you remember Minnie's laugh, it was really fun to hear her tell the story. She may have told the story to those of you who were in her room. Minnie had many fun stories----- and could she ever laugh ---- it would shake the building!!!!"

Did you know that they used to solute the flag like that? No one ever told me that. Well that I can remember, that is,

Winter - may be there is global warming after all.

2011-02-24T13:54:00.000-08:00

Grandma Kirby in 1948. This is the road between Arco, Idaho and Blackfoot. The snow drifts were higher than the car, and only one lane. She was not quite 5' tall. She has a great story of faith andperserverance.

Hair Also

2011-01-30T19:33:00.000-08:00

A friend of mine suggested that I post a picture of Glenn our senior year in college. We were both 22 when these pictures were taken. At the time this picture was taken, Glenn was assistant to the mission president in the West Spanish American Mission. He had lots of hair too.

It didn't dawn on me to post this with my "hair" picture, so here it is.

Hair

2011-01-19T09:59:00.001-08:00

This picture was taken my senior year in college in 1967. Some people wear the same hair style they had in High School or College. I don't think I could have ever done that. I have a hard time wearing the same style I wore ten years ago--or even yesterday. Actually I loved this hair style in the late 1960's but I would look ridiculous wearing now, isn't that funny?

This hair style was accomplished by wearing a "wiglet". The hair dresser would style it in big curls and bobby pin it in place. We would put it on a Styrofoam head when we went to bed. We would shampoo our own hair put it in rollers and let it dry, style it, and then we would bobby pin the hair piece on our head. Keep in mind that we didn't have blow dryers or curling irons. (Or we would just go to the hairdresser once a week and have her do our hair). I think it is so funny! Add to that, in the early 70's we wore false eyelashes! You've got to be kidding me. I wouldn't believe it if I hadn't live it. "We've come a long way baby!"

Picasso

2011-01-12T15:48:00.000-08:00

I went with some friends to the Seattle Art Museum to see the Picasso Exhibit. The trip was a lot of fun! The display was on the fourth floor and it was packed!!!!!! That man was a prolific artist! He was a very interesting man. There were hundreds of his paintings and sculptures all displayed beautifully. He was a modern cubist artist, and used many bold colors. I found it very stimulating to be there and to actually see the canvases that he painted. He has such a great variety in his work. We were able to watch a two videos that were made in France and Italy where he was filmed doing a sculpture and painting a picture. I was so amazed at his painting. He was painting on a glass, he was behind it and we were in front of it, so that you could see through the glass and watch him paint. He only used one size of brush and only white paint. He would draw a curvy line and then another and another and voila, soon you saw the shape of a woman, then an animal and another woman with what looked like wings. He is so talented. I must say that he is not my favorite artist, but I am so glad that I went. I would love to belong to the Seattle Art Museum and go there more often, there was much more there than I could take in.

Funny thing, we were in IKEA and there was a picture frame with 5 of his line drawings. I wish I had bought it.

New Years Resolutions Already a Bust!

2011-01-05T16:32:00.001-08:00

In my last post I realized that I had done a poor job of photo documenting some really important events, so this year my resolution is to be more conscientious about photoing important events. Today was a really important event for me. I will digress.

In May of 2009 after hearing about BYU Idaho's "Pathway" program, Glenn and I each decided to get a Master's degree so that we can be adjunct professors to be able to help in any way possible. We were planning on starting in January 2010, but we were side tracked by Glenn's cancer treatment.

We had done most of the work for our applications before Glenn was diagnosed, so this past August when we decided to get ready for September classes, we didn't have that much left to do. My Application process was a lot more involved than his, one of the thing I needed to do to be fully matriculated (accepted) was to take the MAT. I started classes in September and I have already finished 6 credits. I am enrolled at Gonzaga in the Organizational Leadership Online Master's Program and Glenn is enrolled in American Public University Online History Program. Gonzaga's classes are 8 weeks so I completed two classes before Christmas, APU's classes are 16 weeks so Glenn has completed 1 class. He will have to double up some time, but last semester was not the time. Anyway, I decided to study for and take my test during this winter break.

Hooray!!!!! I took my test today and got the required score. I can't tell you the weight that has been lifted off my shoulders! But alas, I took my camera and forgot to find a picturesque place to get my picture taken. As I was lamenting the lost opportunity (we would have gone back, but the weather was so nasty) Glenn told me to take a picture right then. So there you have it, event documented. We were in Spokane, I took the test and passed it, and it was snowing! I took this off their website.

Counting our Blessing...2010

2011-01-01T19:34:00.000-08:00

Our 14th grandchild was lovingly placed

with Heather and Kirk on January 1, 2010.

What a great blessing and pleasure to have
Seth come to Seattle to help me
when Glenn had surgery.

What a blessing a relief when
Glenn not only survived surgery
but he continues to do well.
Who can count the blessing of good friends?
Our friend Carolyn let us stay with her for those
few critical days after surgery.
That was such a blessing,
not only did we have a great visit,
but we were so comfortable.

It was such a blessing to have
our daughter Danielle came to
help us after surgery.
She drove us home and introduced
us to an amazing CD put out by the MTC
..."Peace Live a River"...
which sustained me through
the recovery period and beyond.
She also cooked, cleaned and entertained us as well!
A blessing in
February Glenn enjoyed a visit with
his only living brother, Sam.
We are blessed to enjoy the sunshine
and have at least
one grandchild live in Moses Lake.
We would love to have all 15 of them live here!

We were blessed to have missionaries
living with us, and who knows
how many blessings we received from that?
In the first part of March, many friends helped
us get through the trial of Glenn's eye problem.
We had so many people
bring food, what a blessing!
By the end of March we were blessed to
go to my Aunt Florence's funeral.
It was the only funeral of my aunts
and uncles on my mom's
side of the family that I have ever gone to.
At the funeral we got a picture
of all of my brothers and sisters...

as well as some of my favorite cousins...

my cousin Joe who I grew up with and who
served a mission with me in Scotland...

and Diane, who claims that it was something I said
to her that helped her decide to
marry shortly thereafter...hmmm.
We were blessed to see my mother
and get a four generation photo.

Then we were blessed to go to Utah
and meet Jack for
the first time and...

have dinner with the rest of the troops down there.

Two weeks later, in April,
we were blessed to go to Kansas to meet
Erik and Kristi's new little Isaac,
who was born in October during
Glenn's Chemo and Radiation.
No pictures!

Then just one week later we were blessed
to go back to Utah for Birgitta's graduation!

Grandma is blessed to have a photo
with JEREMY (not Glenn) and Celeste and Jack.
Some where in all these travels
we manage to squeeze in a game of
miniature golf with Danielle,
Jeff and Chase. They live in
Logan, so we got to see them
most of the time coming and going.

Then comes the blessed month of May!
Glenn finished his Cancer treatments,
we went to our final
Presidents Advancement council
meeting in Rexburg (sigh),
we went back down to Utah to help
Heather usher in baby number two, Anna!
In June and July, the blessings keep rolling...
Seth and Jill came with their three girls and
Erik and Kristi came with their four kids.
We swam, played, ate fudge cycles, made scones,
roasted hot dogs and marshmallows,
made cinnamon rolls, played miniature golf,
and did everything fun we could thing of...
what a blessing it was to have
our kids and grand kids come!

Then it's off to Utah to witness the official adoption of Jack!
(The process is almost complete).

The middle of July, we were blessed to have Jeremy and Birgitta come with
their four kids as well as Chase (Danielle and Jeff's boy).
We had a great time and along with all the activities we did with
the other families, we added some service projects. That was really
a fun thing to do. What a blessing to have such willing hands!

I didn't realize that I was going to get so wordy and use so many pictures when I started this blog. I have had so many blessings this year and as noted here, the majority of them center around our family.

In August, we were blessed to go to Provo and be a part of the sealing of Jack to his parents and also the blessing of Jack and Anna!From there we were blessed to go to Logan.
Danielle needed Glenn's help and I needed to go to see my mom.
We had Chase and Zach with us, so I took them on a
road trip to the Lost River Valley!
While we were there my sister Cynthia and I took the boys to the
"Craters of the Moon". My dad used to take us there all the time.

Some where is all this, we painted our entertainment center which
led to major redecorating...
new carpet, walls painted, new furniture for Clark...
I LOVE to redecorate!
I thrive on redecorating!
How were we blessed to get all that done
amid all the traveling and visitors?
It is a mystery to me.

Then Heather came with her twins,
(well they seemed like twins).
Now that was a blessing!!!

The girls (Kimberly and Heather) even did some canning...
what a blessing to see the next generation taking over!

Between the beginning of September and
the end of October we saw three football games in Provo (we won all three) and had lots of snuggle time with with the 10 grandchildren in Utah!
We even celebrated Birgitta's birthday with all of us and her family, too, when we
took Heather and the babies back to Provo. This is Birgitta's cute mom t Birgitta's party!

Then there was baby sitting of the "twins" near the end of October.
What a blessing that the young people are the ones with the babies!
Oh yes, and Glenn went to a ball game the first Saturday we were there.
Anna is having a rare moment getting even with Jack.
We were able to Celebrate Halloween with Danielle and Jeff.
We were blessed to see the wonderful chaos of costuming three kid!
Chase was adorable in the costume his mom made, I don't have a good picture
of him, but here is Jack in Chases first costume.

November we were blessed to go to Kansas for the baptism of our little Bryn, and
what a joy it was to spend Thanksgiving with Erik and his family.
This leads me to a New Years resolution...
better Camera...more documentation with pictures.

Twice a month we are blessed to babysit Baylee.

We have the blessing of knowing that our families
are all safe and living the gospel.
It is a blessing to celebrate Christmas, remembering the Savior
and the Blessings of Family.

It was a blessing to celebrate with some of our family here
and the rest on the phone, long distance.
It was a blessing to see Santa score with a gun for Curtis...
And a bike for Kimberly...
(Curtis hid Kimberly's bike out in our garage and Kimberly
took Curtis' gun apart so he couldn't guess what it was
by the weight of the package. They made cute Santa Clauses).

Who could be luckier than me to have a husband who is a willing shopper...
(Glenn after a few hours shopping sat down at the LDS bookstore)

and helps in the kitchen...
And to take me to the temple regularly!
So this can not begin to count our many blessing for 2010.
We count the blessing of the gospel of Jesus Christ as our most precious blessing.
Our family and friends are right up there, for with out you, we would be nothing.
We are thankful for good health, a warm comfortable home,
the comforts of life, and the means to sustain our selves as well as bless other lives.

1 /1/ 11, 1/11/11,11/1/11/,11/11/11

2010-12-30T19:00:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!!!!!!!!

Cougar Glenn

2010-12-16T07:42:00.001-08:00

Yaba Daba Doo!

2010-11-19T07:52:00.000-08:00

Glenn had a blood test on Tuesday, a CT scan on Wednesday and a visit to his Dr. yesterday to learn the results! Everything looks great! His blood is normal and the CT scan is too. We are so grateful. When he saw the nurse on Wednesday she said, "you look great, your color is great, how do you feel?" Glenn says that he feels 100%! She told him, "you are absolutely amazing! You are an inspiration!"

Again, we are humble and grateful as we see how many people are affected by cancer and other horrific ailments, as well are many other problems. We have so much to be grateful for at this Thanksgiving Season.

Happy Happy Birthday Glenn!

2010-11-16T15:02:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was Glenn's birthday. As we look back to a year ago our hearts were full of gratitude for the many blessing and miracles that we have seen. Glenn feels great and looks great, too. He went in for a blood test today and the girls up in oncology swarmed him! They are so excited that he is doing well. They told him that he is an inspiration to them. He is amazing. We are so glad. Happy Birthday Glenn and congratulations!

I have few numbers going around in my head today, some interesting connections:

We are both 66
we were born in 44
we were 11 and in grade school in 55
we were 22 and in the mission field 66
we were 33 and living in Moses Lake in 77
we were 44 and our first two children had left the nest in 88
we were 55 and waiting for the new millennium (not yet grandparents) in 99

my father was born in 1911
he was 33 when I was born in 44
he was 44 when I was 11 in 55
he was 55 when I was 22 in 66
he was 66 when I was 33 in 77
he was 77 when I was 44 in 88
he was 88 when I was 55 in 99
if he were alive he would be 99

I am probably the only one who has fun with numbers like that, but there you have it!

Adventures in Baby Sitting

2010-11-12T18:22:00.000-08:00

Two weeks ago we were in Provo tending
Heather and Kirk's two babies
while they took a much needed cruise.

Jack was 10 months old and Anna was 51/2 months old.
Along with tending the babies, we had to feed the cat.
And go over to Kirk's brother's house next door and
feed his two cats, never letting them out!

Day One
Arrive and get all the instructions on:
Bottles, baths, medicine, babies schedules, and individual likes and dislikes
All that kind of stuff.

Day Two
First full day on our own,
the next 9 days loom before us as never ending.
Babies Up, Babies Down.
Babies Eat, Babies Sleep.
Babies Laugh, Babies Cry.
Change One Baby's Diaper,
Change Two Babies Diapers.
Play with Babies,
Sing to Babies,
Read to Babies.
Bottles, Blankets, Snuggles, and Pacifiers.
Wrap up tight and please sleep all night!

This is the day I lost the cat next door. Poor me! Poor Cat! Poor Kyle!
This is a scaredy cat so I am in trouble trying to get her in!
By divine intervention and cat whispering, whew, I coaxed her in!

Day Three
Sunday, go to meeting day!
Baths, showers, dress, pack the diaper bag
and head off to Spanish Fork to go to church with the Seth Perrins Family.
Well, thank heavens the kids are securely strapped in,
because they survived our little car accident just fine.
At the stop light, the driver to our left decided to turn right, right in front of us,
there was no way to avoid the collision.
What an adventure!

Day Four
We brave another run to Spanish Fork,
this time to spend the evening with the Jeremy Perrins Family.
Carving pumpkins with their family was fun.
Alaina and Grandpa are working hard.
Jack and Anna could care less.

Day Five
We decided to break up our day and go look at houses.
Two kids bundled up, strapped in, have bottles will travel!
So this is the plan... as the babies are asleep,
I will go in and look at the house while Glenn stays in the car.
Then Glenn will go in, good plan, right?
When I come out, Glenn is out of the car talking one the phone about our accident.
(He had to step out, you see, because he didn't want to wake the babies!)
You see this coming right? Yes! He locked the keys in the car.
(That mystery remains unsolved!)
Frantic Grandmother! Helpful Sales Associate calls 911!
Babies cry, grandma and grandpa sing, tap on window, babies cry!

Day Six
We wake up to this!
The kids to this:
And This:
And This
And this:

Day Seven
We discover that Jack has two new teeth!
No, they aren't the obvious ones,
they are the one on the top right and on the bottom, to the right of the big ones.
And Anna is just too tired to care!

Day Eight
We pack up the kit and caboodle and head for Logan.
Aunt Danielle and Cousin Chase and Uncle Jeff are happy to see our little group
Thing go pretty much the same as all the days before
Good night little ones, sleep tight!

Day Nine
Happy Halloween!
I regret that I don't have a better picture of the babies with Chase.
Chase is the one in red,
He is Mario and his mom worked all day on his hat.
It was cuter than it looks.
Anna the dinosaur
And Jack the Jack _ _______!
Oh and Glenn left this day, drove home alone to do his church calling,
leaving me in Danielle's capable hands!
Our car was down there, because we left it there,
and flew home from the previous trip.

Day Ten
Quite benine.
We went to church, I took a nap.
We packed up our little troupes.
Drove to Diamond parking lot by the air port to meet up with Heather and Kirk.
...Now finding that place is another story...
Let me just say that the iphone is a great tool if you are thinking straight!

Day Eleven
I did what I could to help the vacationers get settled in.
Then I flew home!

Our Indepentent Son - Part 2

2010-11-11T12:48:00.000-08:00

I really shouldn't be tell this story, it feels like a confession. Again, I want you to know that I did and do try to take care of this kid. This special kid. Here goes.

I was shopping with a friend of mine who was from out of town. We were in the old Maurices when it was next to the old Safeway. Safeway's door came out on the South side and Maurices door was right there. I planted Clark in front of one of the mirrors close to where we were; Carolyn and I were looking at the clothes on the rounds right there, I looked up and Clark was gone. Gone! We looked through the store, up and down the strip mall, I ran through Safeway's, we checked it all twice and I was ready to call the police! My biggest fear was that he would go out on the very busy Pioneer Way.

As I was in the process of calling 911 on the store phone (the days before we all had cell phones), Carolyn came in with Clark. She had found him sitting just out side the first door of the store. He was sitting there with a grocery cart that had stuff that he had put in it. He was sucking on his fingers, like he used to do, and he was waiting to be found. Talk about trust.

Our independent Son...Part 1

2010-11-09T22:53:00.000-08:00

We have or rather I have always been challenged to keep track of Clark. He has a mind of his own and there is a disconnect when I try to inhibit it! I was talking to Seth and telling him of some of my trials in this area. Lest you think I am a bad mother or that I have my head buried in the sand, I want you to know that I have used every method at my disposal, short of tying him up, to keep tabs on him. He is a slippery kid and has eyes in the back of his head, yes a role reversal, I know, but hey, we all acknowledge that he is special, right? Well brace your self, these are true embellished stories, that make me quake when I think of them.

When he was just a little kid and could ride a little "big wheel" he would take off to unknown parts at the drop of a hat. He was just a little bigger than this picture above. One morning a friend of mine who worked at Earl and Earl on Pioneer Way, called me and told me that she was pretty sure that she saw Clark ride by on his big wheel in his pajamas! She was right! Thank you, for angels in the form of friends and those unseen angels that got him past all the intersections and all the traffic safely.

Honor Flight

2010-11-08T10:17:00.000-08:00

Last Monday I flew home from Utah where I had been for 11 days. Glenn and I baby sat Heather's two babies while she and her husband went on a much needed cruise. Glenn drove home on Saturday so that he could be in ML on Sunday to do his calling (it was a $214 talk)! While I was waiting to board my plane at gate 22, several veterans came off the plane at gate 21. It was a very emotional sight, still get all choked up. They went straight to gate 22 and were allowed to get on the plane first! I called Glenn and told him that he was going to be completely jealous! I was about 4th from the last to get on the plane. There was a seat in the front next to this 96 year old man, I decided to step out of my comfort zone (thank you Jane) and sit by him.

A crowd of friends and other people were waiting to welcome them at the airport, complete with a brass band and flags waving. I was first off the plane because they had the veterans get off last. It was amazing to walk through that reception crown and feel the honor that they were waiting to give these veterans. It took a while, but I remembered that I could take pictures with my camera! Wish I had a picture from the front of this crowd. I called Glenn and told him that he would want to come in the airport to see this reception. We decided that it would be worth getting a ticket at the baggage claim parking for him to leave the car and come it!

More pictures of the crown, we couldn't see the
veterans when they come down because the crowd was so thick.

However, we were able to mingle with them.
I stopped and thanked this gentleman, he was so sweet,
he insisted on a hug, and I insisted on a picture!

It was so touching to see them finding their families.
The were overcome with this whole experience.

How can you see this and not get misty eyed?

These are my guys! Shorty and Glenn. Glenn went around and visited with as many men as he could. Asking where they served. Shorty was on the beach at Normandy and ended up in Poland. He was able to save an entire class room of young Nazi boys who were about to get blasted by an American tanker. That is the thing that he is the proudest of. Let me tell you, he was a tough 96 year old. He had to temper his language while we were talking on the plane. It was a joy for me to hear his war stories. He liked me to, he wanted to take me home. I told him that I was already in a committed relationship. He told my husband that he wanted to take me home! But we held out.

The name of this program is HONOR FLIGHT. If you know a veteran who has not been back to Washington DC to see the World War II memorial, you can Google Honor Flight and it will take you to the web page and you can make an application for him or her to take this flight. It is inspiring. My guy "Shorty" said that this was the first time since he got home from the war that anyone had done anything to honor him. I encourage all of us to make sure that we thank our service men for the things the sacrifice to serve us.

Speechless

2010-10-17T16:01:00.001-07:00

I seem to have run out of things to say...
well, that are blog worthy that is.

The cat got my tongue.

It isn't that I am not busy,
because I am,
I just don't think you want to read about it.

It isn't that I have quit talking,
because I haven't,
I can't imagine that you want to hear all that prattle.

It isn't that I haven't had a profound thought or two,
because I have,
It is just that you might not think that they are as
profound as I do.

It isn't that we haven't been to see our kids,
we have,
but that is way too much to post about,
so I haven't.

It isn't because I haven't tried any new recipes lately,
because I have,
but I post those on My Girls Kitchen.

It isn't that I haven't had any good ideas,
I have,
but you have good ideas of your own, right?

It isn't because I haven't read any good books lately,
because I have!

Oooooh, that must be it!

It is because I have:

read so many good book lately,

tried out my good ideas,

tried new recipes,

visited the kids,

thought profound thoughts,

talked and talked,

oh yes, and been busy.

See what I mean about blog worthy and profound?

Rural America is Awesome!

2010-09-10T10:07:00.000-07:00

Rural America is awesome. One time we were driving through Carey, Idaho on icy roads. On one of the sharp corners, out in the country, our car spun off the road and landed in a snow bank. Glenn didn't know what we were going to do. I said, just wait a minute and a farmer will come out with his tractor and pull us out. Sure enough, we saw that tractor coming down the lane and he cheerfully pulled us out. He said that kind of thing happened a lot, as I well know from my childhood in Lost River.

One Missing Thing I am Still Mourning.

2010-08-31T10:37:00.000-07:00

Some years ago our Moses Lake Stake had a display of nativity sets in our building. We, along with our friends in our community, were invited to bring our various and diverse sets. We had these events several years in a row and they were very sacred and spiritual.

The people who were in charge were very careful to mark everything with the owners names. We even had people stay in the building overnight to protect the nativity sets.

Some of us were asked to bring lace tablecloths for the displays. I had a tablecloth that was very special to me. It belonged to my mother and she gave it to me. She had used it at special meals while I was growing up. My mother's mother bought it for her when I was two years old. I was with them at the time they bought it. It was the day that my grandmother had an eye appointment when she was told that she would be blind. The tablecloth was very significant to me.

When I picked up the tablecloth from my drawer to take it to the church, I had a warning that I shouldn't take it. I argued with the voice and thought that I didn't want to be selfish. Later at the church, before it had been used for the display, I saw it on a cart. I thought, "you should just get that tablecloth and take it home". Again, I argued and thought that I didn't want to be selfish. I didn't bring it home. Urgh!

When it came time to pick up our things, my tablecloth wasn't there. There was no way to find it. It was a lesson in listening to the promptings and following them. But that doesn't bring my tablecloth back.

I still mourn the loss of it. I feel bad, because I know that is was my fault that I lost it. The funny thing is that every time I see a lace tablecloth at the church, I look to see if it could be mine. I try to tell myself that it is just a thing, which it is, but I do wish that I hadn't lost it in such a careless way.

The Mystory of the Missing...

2010-08-22T21:30:00.000-07:00

Several weeks ago we came home from a trip. Glenn had his cell phone in hand. He knows he did! We have not seen it since. We have looked and looked and looked--in, under, behind, around and through and all that again. We operated on the theory that if we bought a new one, the old one would show up. We did get a new one and the old one still hasn't shown up. Case closed? It must have fallen into the black hole!

Recently our 9 year old granddaughter lost her retainer. This was not the first time. She was here with her family and her cousin's family. Twelve of us were looking and praying and looking. Her family was planning on packing that evening, but we spent the evening looking every place and checking it twice for that retainer. Lucky for us we got a bonus, they stayed an extra day! Her 10 year old cousin promised her that if she didn't find it, he personally would contribute money to help her replace it. The drama! Her dad finally found it at the bottom of a little garbage container. Fortunately it only had paper products in it.

One time our daughter lost a special ring over at the church in the grass while she was playing with a large group of kids. She came home devastated. We had a house full of neighbor kids.
All of us dropped to our knees and asked for divine intervention. Then we all went over to the church, formed a line and started looking. We found it, miraculously! She later lost that ring along with her wedding rings...they fell into the black hole.

Has this ever happened to you? When you take the clothes out of the dryer there is one sock missing from a pair . I have a little basket above the dryer for socks that don't have a mate. Socks are constantly rotating in and out of that little basket. The problem was more chronic when we had 16 feet trending around the house. (No wonder I get the sock batch of laundry folded in a flash...only 6 feet to clothe!) Sometimes the missing mate is found all wadded up and dirty in random places like behind a sofa or the washing machine, out in the yard or under the bed. But often they are never found. One time I mentioned this phenomenon to a group of women and one woman said that she had never lost a sock in the laundry. I didn't like her after that. I didn't even want to know how she did that. I didn't believe her! Another time we had a washing machine repairman come and I actually stood on a chair to look over his shoulder when he pulled the tub out so that I could see all the missing socks. There were none! Hmmm...the black hole?

Then there are the keys, the gloves, the shoes, the glasses, the ear rings, the wallets, the papers, the library books., the baseball caps. All these things usually, but not always, show up. In a house that has "a place for everything, and everything in it's place" this never happens. Well we do have a place for everything and if it isn't in it's place, I hardly know where to look. Sometimes history is a clue. Sometimes a little looking around helps. Sometime the whole family has to be enlisted to help look. Sometimes finding it results in a faith promoting story.

I wonder how many hours of our life we spend looking for stuff? I can't tell you how many hours I have spent looking in the garbage, I am a pro. UGH!

A friend of mine used to say, "the angels must have needed it".

Some things we lose leave big holes. Others things are lost and gone from our minds. We hardly remember that we had them. Once Glenn lost his trunk in a mission transfer, he has never completely recovered from that.

Glenn and Clark keep the score pretty even for lost and misplaced things. I run a close second. Actually Clark is pretty good a puting things where they belong. If he losses any thing, it is usually while we are traveling. I have to keep a close inventory of the phone, the wallet, the hat, the jacket, the key, the money.

I hate to lose things! I mean really lose them. It totally unstrings me. I find it hard to concentrate and move on until it is found. Clark has been the culprit for many a missing thing. He doesn't steal it, it is just in is room.

This past week I had my credit card out for an internet purchase. Glenn and I remember seeing it on the desk. Careless me. Glenn thinks he picked it up and "put it in a safe place", which is the scariest thing of all. When I put something in a "safe place" I may not find it for months! Well, we have done the looking everywhere thing and we can't find it. We think it fell into that black hole.

Port Removed

2010-08-18T12:37:00.000-07:00

Glenn got his portacath removed this morning. It is simple to take out, hard to put in. He is feeling one step closer to being free! He can't take a shower for 48 hours and can't swim for a week. But hey, that is a small price to pay for freedom! One year ago on September 4 he was diagnoses with cancer. It has been and interesting journey. One that we hope we don't have to take again.

We appreciate all of you who has included him in your prayers. We feel that he has been blessed by our combined faith. He has came out of this a much more compassionate and thankful man.

I have come out of it feeling very thankful and a little more vulnerable. If it could happen to Glenn, it could happen to anyone. So we are trying to make the most of our days and be thankful for our blessings.

We count our faith, our family, our friends and our health as our greatest blessings.

Glenn's CT/Scan

2010-08-11T18:43:00.000-07:00

Monday Glenn had his 3 month CT/Scan! It was completely normal! Still no evidence of disease! We are thrilled. He kicked up his heals for the staff at Wenatchee Valley Clinic! They were all impressed! He really feels great! His oncologist has ordered the removal of his PortACath from his chest. That is where he had his blood draws and chemo treatments. She thinks it is no longer needed. That is another positive sign of his progress!

If You Give A Moose A Muffin...Part Two

2010-08-08T19:20:00.000-07:00

We finished this project about six weeks ago.

I decided to make this post so that I could
get on with the rest of the summer.

I had a professor tell our class once, that if we bought
all of our furniture in one store, at the same time,
she didn't want to come and see our homes.
But if we collected our things over a period
of time, she would love to come and see.
Well, we have collected our stuff over a long period of time,
but my style is so simple and plain,
I am not sure she would want to come and see it.
But if you want to, you are
W E L C O M E.
Meanwhile, here is a sneak preview of our
"Giving a Moose a Muffin".

This is our red entertainment center, with the 4 times
painted bricks in the back ground. It is a very
old (at least 30 years) oak entertainment center. I have
the dreams that we will have one built by our son in law
just for this spot. But meanwhile
this will do nicely.

View from the hall doorway into the family room.

We painted the little shelf red and hung it on this wall. It
had been on the bricks as a faux mantle.

Try to imagine a big picture of red poppies on this wall....
Also, replace the blue wing backs with some smart
comfy red leather chairs. I will keep you posted on those!
And the poppy painting.

This is walking down the hall, into the family room.
This little dresser came from Hobby Lobby
in Logan this spring;
I didn't know what I was going to do with it when
we bought it, but it was so cute that I just had to have it!
Kimberly put it here one day when I was gone!
It holds our DVDs and Videos.
Perfect! Voila!

We bought this temple picture at Costco in Orem
this past week when we were down there.
Seth and Jill bought the lamp when
they were here, and the H O M E was purchased
one time when we were in Nauvoo.

With the entertainment center moved
and the book case out, the office
takes up less space.
Kimberly was the genius behind this cozy clean arrangement.
Well almost clean, I should have cleared off the
table before I took this picture. We really like
our new filing cabinet, it was long over due
with all of Glenn's tax files.
The filing cabinet and chair came from Staples.

Up close and personal.

This guest room down stairs got a face lift.
The quilt was Clark's and he was giving it away!
I wanted it!
Heather made the "welcome" doll at
Lynn Bair's craft shop a few years ago.
I bought the wicker chest
from Sue's Shadow Box, I have had it for a while.
I broke the blinds when I was cleaning them
and just barely had time to throw these curtains up,
before our first round of company came.
I think I will keep them.
They came from Walmart, along with the bed skirt...
where else, when I was under the gun?
The bedspread is a Nautica, we bought it from Gotchalks
at least 10 years ago.
Sheets? Walmart.

View from the family room down the newly
painted hall, looks new to us.
We were glad to get the walls, ceiling
and baseboards painted!
The paint color is Asian Jute from
Historic Colors of America found at
Columbia Paint. I had them mix a shade
lighter for the ceiling.
The baseboard and trim is Brilliant White,
from Sherwin Williams.
(That is Glenn's body in that doorway,
he just couldn't stay out of the way).

Heather made me these P E R R I N S blocks
for Mother's day, she
gives Danielle credit for helping with the design.
Love Them! Thank You!
The Idaho Falls Temple doesn't show well in
this photo, but it is special to us.
We were married there and my
dad gave us this picture.
The green vases were purchased at
Furniture West, 5 years ago.
The mantle is painted the same color of red as the
entertainment center;
Sun Dried Tomato from Sherwin Williams.
I painted it when we got the vases.

Above the pantry; the gold casserole is from
Tia-pan. (sp) We bought it on one of our trips to
Utah this summer.
The flowered bowl was a wedding gift to my parents.
The Partridge was just put there,
I'll have to think of where it came from.

I just rearranged this so that it had a little red and black.
S I M P L I C I T Y is from Elements,
the plates from Sue's, the vases from Walmart.

I took some red and black from here
and added the gold.
I just bought the vase at Elements when
I was shopping with Birgitta a couple of weeks ago.
The rest was already there, from shopping
at Elements a couple of summers ago
when Danielle was helping me decide
what to do with these cupboards.
The board is a gift from a very dear friend, it says;
"Some of my greatest blessings call me 'grandma'."
Now that's true!

We didn't have to change anything here
as it is about the only
practically perfect thing we have in the house.
Danielle and I bought
these things at Elements,
when she was helping me.
The curtains are from Lowes in Logan.

Oh yes, here is the dining room with our new table!
We love it!
Check out the organized book shelves, no small task!
The table is from Easy Home Furnishings.
The rug is from Lowes.

Jill made me this runner for the 4th of July,
while she was here.
I like it so well, I haven't replaced it.
She also gave us the candle with the ribbon
(I couldn't think of what to do).
I love it when these kids update us.
She showed me how to make the runners.
She says they are easy, I just
need to get some fabric and start!
I could have one for each season, or event.

Oh, then there is Clark's bedroom, lest we forget.
He chose an apple green paint, Merrit Apple,
from Historic Paints of America, found at Columbia paints.
We moved the bookcase from the family room
as it backed onto the entertainment center
in the middle of the room.
His bed is a trundle, from Easy Home Furnishings.
He loves the idea of sharing the trundle
with his nieces and nephews when they visit.
It is so sweet.
His book shelf is full of DVDS and Books,
it is just the right
place for the book shelf!

He loves to have church books and manuals.

As you can see, this is a work in progress.
It doesn't look like it took so much work,
but it was a big deal to us.
We were able to get a lot of things out of the
house for a more stream line look.

WE THINK WE WILL STAY A WHILE!

If You Give a Moose a Muffin...

2010-06-13T21:05:00.000-07:00

Now that Glenn is finished with cancer treatment, it is time to focus on other things; vacations, kids coming home for visits, yard work work work and deep cleaning our house.

About the house...

On Monday, June 7th

I had the bright idea to move our entertainment center!

It is very old so we decided to paint it RED (yum)!

Then we needed to paint our fireplace!
(for the third time since we have been here)
We painted it BLACK (what was I thinking)?

Since it looked like coal, we (Glenn)
primed and painted it again!

The paint store mixed the color wrong! So it needs to be painted again!

Since we moved the entertainment center,
and that was such a big move,
we decided to paint the whole room plus the ceiling!

Since we moved everything away from the walls, we decided to
replace a baseboard heater that hasn't worked for years
with just plain baseboard!

Since we moved the entertainment center,
the cable outlet has to be moved!

Since the room was half empty,
and we need new carpet anyway,
we decided to re-carpet the family room...
the hall... Clark's room... the stairs...
and the living room!

With the family room looking spanking new,
and since the room
doubles as Glenn's office,
and the old filing cabinet we have is all decrepit....
we bought a new filing cabinet!

We looked at the downstairs hallway...
it needed to be painted;
walls, baseboard, door trim, and ceiling,
all before the carpet comes!

So since we painted the trim in the hallway,
we needed to paint the trim in the bathroom!

Then we took some stuff out of Clark's room
to get ready for the new carpet!

It was plain to see that his room needed to be
painted, the trim needs to be caulked and painted, too!

Clark's bookcase and desk are looking shabby (not sheik),
so he needs a new desk and bookcase!

We have needed to
fix and refinish the wood on the stairs,
so of course that needs to be done
before the carpet comes!

All the STUFF needs to be moved out
of the rooms that are getting new carpet!

We can't put EVERYTHING back,
so we need to sort through books, videos, papers, etc!

We can't put ANYTHING back into the rooms
until they are sparkling clean...
windows, light fixtures, cobwebs, baseboards,
etc, etc, etc!

Now that my eyes are trained, I can see that it is time to
replace the rug and shower curtain
in the upstairs bathroom, as well as
the bedspread in the guest room!

Now the garage is full of all the STUFF
that we aren't putting back into the rooms.

Sometime after the kids' visits,
the yard work,
and the vacations,
we will need to have a
garage sale!

As we are doing all of the above,
our flower beds need to be:
weeded,
edged,
treated with preen or casseron,
and mulched with beauty bark.

Just because we moved the entertainment center,
doesn't mean that we can forget
that we have a swimming pool that
needs to be kept clear and sparkling!

Since the house will be all cleaned up,
fixed up and painted,
the pavement needs to be swept and hosed down!
(Actually, it needs to be replaced, but that is another story!)

Meanwhile,
Glenn is re-staining the deck so that we
can put out all of our deck furniture!

The electrician and cable guys are coming on Monday.
I get my hair cut on Tuesday.
The carpet comes Wednesday.
It's my turn to host a luncheon on Thursday.
We are going to the temple on Friday.
Glenn is speaking in conference on Saturday.
We have conference on Sunday.
Glenn is going to girls camp on Monday.
Next week I will have just enough time to finish
cleaning the rest of the house...
The kids start coming on Wednesday the 23rd.

THEN, we can:

RELAX!
SWIM!
LAY IN THE SUN!
LOUNGE ON THE DECK!
WATCH TV!
GRILL AND ENTERTAIN!
(oh ho, we need a new grill)
AND TAKE THAT VACATION!

So far, it has cost us $3962,93 to move that entertainment center!

Now that is an expensive muffin!

YOU ARE AMAZING

2010-06-03T09:05:00.000-07:00

Glenn went in for an eye exam today. Doctor Roth was just amazed at the recovery of Glenn's eyes. His vision is 20/20 in one eye and 20/30 (almost 20) in the other eye. He doesn't even need new glasses! He just kept saying to Glenn, "You are amazing".

Doctor Roth told Glenn how scared he was when he was treating Glenn. He has never seen anything like it. He was literally watching Glenn's eyes deteriorate right before his eyes! They were so close to having the cornea destroyed! When Dr Roth sent us to Seattle, he was not expecting us to come back to him to be treated! He actually didn't want the responsibility. We are glad that it was Dr. Roth that treated Glenn. We know that, since he really didn't know what to do, he was inspired to prescribe what he did. It was very intense, but it worked!

We know that the Lord has blessed Glenn tremendously during these past 9 months. We acknowledge the faith and prayers of many many people. It was something that was tangible to us. Glenn has heard, "You are amazing", so many times in so many check ups. Yes, he is amazing, but more than that, he is so blessed.

42 years ago! Curried Rice

2010-06-02T21:11:00.000-07:00

We celebrated our 42nd wedding anniversary on Monday May 31. Today, I was reading Neighbor Jane's blog about the first taco's she made after they were married. It reminded me of one of the few times my husband and I could not eat the dinner I had prepared.

My idea for that dinner came from my mission. While I was serving in Elgin, Scotland, I was living with members in a lovely bed and breakfast. It was one of my favorite places to live, and one of my favorite areas. Our land lady was a great cook! She got it into her head that I liked spaghetti and my companion liked curried rice. Every Friday she made two special meals, one for me and one for my companion. I do like spaghetti, but if you know me very well, you know that I LOVE rice! Every Friday I would eat my spaghetti, and look longingly over at the curried rice...sigh. I don't know why I didn't ever have the nerve to tell Sister McCaskil that I would like her to serve me rice, but I never did. Sometimes when she was out of the room, I would ask my companion for a taste of hers, YUM!

After I was married, I could never find a recipe, so I tried to make one up. I bought the curry, I remembered that it had chicken (which I forgot to buy) and raisins. In my mind, if a little curry is good, a little more would even be better! Since I had no chicken, I substituted of all things...Oh I hate to say it...tuna. Add the raisins and it was awful!

Neither one of us could eat it! Glenn has never forgotten it! We have since had rice that had curry in it and it has always been good, but never as good as the curried rice that I had in Elgin, Scotland!

2010-05-28T18:24:00.000-07:00

ANNA

JACK

In the hospital. Jack came to see his mama.
He still didn't know that Anna existed.
His shirt says, "ONLY CHILD" (Crossed out)
"BIG BROTHER."
Seth found it in the gift shop, it is so cute!
It was hard to find one small enough.

Just Jack and Mama, just like old times.

Grandma, and grandpa, enjoying these two sweet babies
as we visit and relax in the hospital.

Two peas out for an outing, what a work out!

Jack and Anna

2010-05-26T17:12:00.000-07:00

Glenn and I have had some great experiences in the month of May. One of the highlights is that we were able to be with Heather and Kirk when they had their little girl! Her older brother, Jack is 4 1/2 months old and weighs almost 20 pounds, he is so cute and a pretty happy little boy. Anna weighed 7 lbs 9 oz. That is a pretty good size but next to Jack, she looks like a little peanut! It was a privilege to be there at such a special time.

Heather had Jack on a pretty good schedule of naps and he was sleeping all night. The first few days he was oblivious to her crying, he slept right through it. I think he now knows that his world has been rocked. Anna is a sweet little baby, until she cries and then you really want to make her happy, fast! She looks just like her daddy, the little cutie pie (her, not him, just kidding, Kirk).

Heather is learning the ropes of having two babies, getting them on a schedule and wondering if she will ever leave the house again. Thank heavens we could be there for a week after Anna came, we all shed tears when we left. I wanted to bundle them up in our car and bring them home for a couple of months. But Kirk said, "you can't take my babies, or my babe!"

I have to say that Heather and Kirk are both very sweet parents, even though they are very very tired. We are so thankful they are getting help from friends and family, it is a new experience for them to be the ones getting served, they really need it.

Biopsy Report

2010-05-25T13:42:00.000-07:00

Dr. Smith called a noon today and said, "Good News! Every thing looks great!!!!!"

So Glenn has been right all along! He has maintained since surgery in January "that he does not have cancer", it is just a strong feeling he has had. I had to trust that feeling, because a year ago at this time, he was saying, "I think I might have cancer," He said it several times as he would feel the pain in his stomach. He had a very hard time explaining that pain.

SIGH....Hooray, Jump for joy!

"Lovely Vocal Cords!"

2010-05-24T18:07:00.000-07:00

Glenn went in for his upper GI today. Every thing looks normal/excellent! They took a couple of biopys where the stomach and esophagus were sewn back together, just to make sure. We will get that report mid week.

The doctor's last annotation on the last picture is "lovely vocal cords"!

We are thrilled! Glenn is feeling great and has been busy. He gets tired a little faster than he used to and can sleep at the drop of a hat, but all in all, he as a lot of energy. Everywhere we go people say..."How are you? You look good!" I get a chuckle out of it! There is still a little "chemo brain" going on, but that should get better...I hope!

"WE ARE GLAD THAT DAD IS NOT BAD!"

"NED" No evidence of Disease!"

2010-05-03T10:06:00.000-07:00

This is Dr. Julie Smith. She is thrilled with the results and progress that Glenn has made. Glenn had his CT scan this morning and with the results of the scan and his blood test, there is "No Evidence of Disease!" He will have blood work and CT Scans every 3 months for the next year. Then it is every six months and then once a year for 5 years.

These are some of the Nurses who poke him and give the infusions. He is one or their toughest customers! Actually they just love him, because he is so positive and fun.

The one on the left is Anne Anderson, She was his doctor when Dr. Smith went on Vacation. The other two are faithful happy nurses!
Every body is happy! Now I can breath!

"The Stomach is a Hard Dish to Wash!"

2010-05-02T06:59:00.000-07:00

Do you have any quotes that your mother used to say? Quotes that at the time you didn't understand, or had little meaning?

Every once in a while my kids will tell me a "quote" that I used say that didn't make any sense to them. (I can't remember which ones at the moment.)

Yesterday, I experienced one of the quotes that my mother used to say, that her mother used to say..."the stomach is a hard did to wash". I can hear it plainly as we speak!

My mom and her mother were very particular about the food they bought and the food they served. Food had to be high quality and prepared right. Food was also a means of nurturing, not only the body, but the soul.

Yesterday our family went to the city wide clean up from 8:00 to 10:00. We were then invited back at 11:00 for a lunch. I had the impression not to go back...but I went. Michael's on the Lake catered the lunch of hot dogs, hamburgers, potato salad, chips, cookies, and a drink.

I decided to eat a hot dog. UGH! Clark had one and his looked great. When mine was served, it didn't look great! My head must have been in a fog, because I know I was impressed NOT to eat it. But did I listen to yet another warning? NO!

About 1:00 I started feeling sick. Sick! Really sick! My husband suggested that I go throw up, which I have made myself do before when I ate something that made me sick. But who wants to do that? No me! I suffered until 5:00, at which time I thought that maybe some toast would settle my poor ailing stomach. NO! It accentuated the negative!

This post could also be about listening to that warning voice. Had I done that, my day would have turned out as I had planned, and I would have done yard work all afternoon instead of moaning, groaning and writhing in pain.

Finally at 5:30 I did the unthinkable, cleaned out that dish. Now, I confirm..."the stomach is a hard dish to wash!"

Con-GRAD-ulations!

2010-04-27T07:23:00.000-07:00

This past week end we went to Provo for the graduation of our daughter in-law, Birgitta, she is Jeremy's wife. She already has two associate degrees but wanted to get her bachelors from BYU. She started when they only had 2 children, now they have 4. Such discipline! Jeremy made a great post here.

This is me in my glory with one of Jeremy's daughters and Heather's baby! Love it, love it, love it!

LAST WEEK OF CHEMO

2010-04-26T16:30:00.000-07:00

This is Glenn''s last week of chemo! Even though Glenn isn't looking forward to this week, he is looking forward to this week being over! His blood work is mostly good, his neutrophils are low (germ fighting cells). If they are not better by next week, he will have to have an antibiotic shot so we can take our trip to Rexburg. But that is OK. His WBC (white blood count) is also low, but within range. The Doctors and Nurses at the clinic are just in awe at how well he is doing.

He is doing remarkably well with his eating since the surgery. All of that will take a while before it reaches a rhythm of it's own. But as a not so casual observer, I think he is doing excellent. He maintains his energetic positive self. I have to say I am very proud of how positive and uncomplaining he is.

He has a CT Scan, next Monday and an upper GI near the end of May. I am trying not to hold my breath that long, or I won't be here to make a post!

He will have checkups on a regular basis for the rest of his life!

Some of my greatest blessings call me Grandma

2010-04-25T07:13:00.000-07:00

With a trip to Kansas and a trip to Utah these past two weeks, we were able to see all 14 of our grand children. I won't tell you that they are the cutest, smartest, sweetest, funnest, and most talented children in the world, because you already know that.....about yours that is.

What amazes me about grandchildren is:

Their love is unconditional.
They are so excited to have us come.
They are so sad to see us leave.
They warm up to us pretty quickly when they are two and shy!
They say and do the cutest things.
They are completely honest, yet so nonjudgmental.
They give cuddling a whole new meaning.
They love to play games and are better at them than we are.
They have boundless energy!
They are each unique!
Their is something about them that is so familiar, (like we knew them before they came.)
They are in our thoughts and prayers every day and we miss them more than we knew was possible.
Their parents are happy to share them with us and to see the love that flows between us!
They are naturally respectful.
It is such a great honor to be their grandparents....who knew that grand-parenting would be this special?
They can melt your heart with a smile, a hug, a simple request, an "I love you" or just walking (hopping) beside you holding hands.
We have great expectations as we think of each one of them.

Thank you to our children for giving us grandchildren and for willingly sharing them with us. It just gets better and better.

WE LOVE YOU GUYS!

Glenn is doing well

2010-04-20T18:06:00.000-07:00

Just a quick note to say that Glenn is doing well. His last few check ups have been marvelous. They just can't believe that he doesn't have any problems with the surgery or any thing else. We feel so blessed! His eyes don't bother him at all.

He has been able to travel, drive, mow the lawn, wash the car, help around the house and with my flower beds. He is like the energizer bunny (still!).

Thanks to all of you who have been so kind with your gifts, caring thoughts and prayers. We are humbled at the out pouring of love.

Mortar and pestels

2010-04-12T19:52:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I made a post about the new equipment we had for Glenn's new life style. I showed a picture of a coffee grinder that I could use to grind up pills that were too big for Glenn to swallow. A dear friend; who is a nurse, whose husband is a pharmacist, about died when she saw that grinder. She appeared a few days later with this lovely gift. I love it, I love it, I love it. It does and amazing job of making powder out of pills, best of all, it is "Self Propelled". Meaning Glenn can grind his own pills!!!!!

Glenn's brother who died of pancreatic cancer in 2009, was a pharmacist. These of just a few of the many mortar and pastels he collected. Seriously, I did not know they even made them for modern times! I thought that pharmacists just collected them.

Thank you, for a wonderful, clean, efficient gift! It travels nicely, too!

(Now I can use my grinder to grind up flax seeds.)

And here we have Idaho!

2010-04-02T16:05:00.000-07:00

Sunday, March 21, my Aunt Florence Nightingale Kirby Forbush passed away at age 90. She is my mother's youngest sister. Mom (94) and Aunt Vi (97) are the only living siblings out of 8 children. Aunt Florence was born 5 weeks after her father passed away, leaving Grandma Kirby to raise 8 children. Grandma and Grandpa Kirby joined the church in Scotland and immigrated to America in 1912. He passed away 7 years later in 1919. Florence lived up to her name and became a nurse. She served in the Navy during World War II. We took advantage of a break in chemo to go to her funeral, which was last Saturday. All of my brothers and sisters were there as well as eight of my cousins (no picture yet). Left to right: Cynthia, Kirby, Laura, Joe, Kathy, Sylvia and Gwen. Gwen gave the life sketch.

After the funeral on Saturday, we drove to Logan to see our grand son Chase and his parents. Sunday we went to Provo to meet our new little 3 month old grandson, Jack! What a cutie. We spent Monday with 7 other grand children and their parents. The girls made a cake and we celebrated my birthday in Jeremy and Birgitta's beautiful new home.

Tuesday we headed back to Idaho to see my mother. We were lucky enough to take Kimberly and Baylee with us so we took a 4 generation picture:I think my mom just looks great, she was very interested in all of us. She enjoyed seeing Baylee for the first time. It was a forced march, but we were glad to get out of town and spend time with so much of our family.

Change your brain - change your life

2010-04-01T20:45:00.000-07:00

I have three books that I am loving:

Change Your Brain, Change Your Life.
Change Your Brain, Change Your Body.
A Great Brain at Any Age.

You can see some U-Tube's at this site. They are fascinating reads, they explain why we do what we do. Why our brains don't function at their potential. They have great ideas for helping brain function with food, exercise, supplements and some times prescriptions.

Glenn gets better and better every day!

2010-03-24T12:29:00.000-07:00

We saw both the oncologist and the ophthalmologist on Monday. His eyes are still healing, I have to say they look awesome. He finished this last round of chemo with only a little nausea, some mouth sores were beginning to form. They are healing. His blood tests were awesome, no sign of cancer in any other organs! He is getting is vim and vitality back! We have two weeks off, then two more treatments.

We celebrated by going to Michaels Market & Bistro, then we went furniture shopping. That held my attention at bit more than the two men. Glenn found a nice easy chair to wait in and after missing Clark for a while, I looked and found him sprawled out on a nice comfy mattress. OOPS.

The highlight of the afternoon was "coin" shopping. Glenn has decided, now that he is retired, this would be a fun hobby. He bought some coins and has been looking them up and categorizing them. Anyone who knows him would know this is a perfect hobby for him! I surprised him this morning by presenting him with several coins that I have been collecting through the years. He was delighted. REALLY DELIGHTED. He kept asking, when did you get this one? Where did you get this one? I could never be a serious coin collector, but I do enjoy them. I also enjoy shopping for them! I can see now, that is will be a little easier for me to coax him to take those little trips around Washington State that I have been wanting to take, lucky me!

It was fun to just relax and have a fun time out on the town, after that intense experience with his eyes. This is part of retirement that I have been looking forward too!

2010-03-21T20:42:00.000-07:00

Elder Christensen was here for only 3 weeks, now we have a new missionary straight from the Mission Training Center, his name is Elder Aldridge. Two missionaries, who are going to Argentina are waiting for their visas, so they were sent up here to wait. Elder Acosta, who was here as a new missionary, was one our first missionaries. Now he is training this new missionary. they are a fun set, very comfortable.

How I spent my money this morning...

2010-03-19T15:27:00.000-07:00

I am probably way behind the rest of you in some of the following areas. From all my reading, I have gleaned that when you microwave in plastic containers, toxins get in the food. Same with freezing in them. Hence the Pyrex glass containers, because I love to cook and freeze, It is the only way I can keep up with the meals and everything else. I didn't buy the books this morning, but they are the cause of this spending. Xylitol is as natural sweetener that can be used like sugar. Stevia is another natural sweetener. Raw apple cider vinegar is used in many of the recipes in the beautiful "Feel Good Cookbook, cooking with whole foods". Then there is Healthy Mayonnaise and Whey Protein Powder, which has become a staple in our diet.

I have said before that Glenn is going to a Naturopath. He has lots and lots and lots of supplements and I do lots and lots of cooking. The ND recommends; no sugar, cut way back on dairy, and Chinese mushrooms. (Can't abide the Chinese mushrooms, we had to get that in a tincture.) Blaulalalala.

I bought a coffee grinder, because Glenn can't swallow pills. I put some in his smoothie yesterday (he gets at least two high protein smoothies a day) that was nasty!! So I bought the coffee grinder, with the hope that he can down the powder with apple sauce. Poor guy, wish him well.

THE PERFECT RECIPE TO FEEL GOOD WHILE ON CHEMO!

2010-03-18T21:44:00.000-07:00

BYU WINS FLORIDA STATE IN DOUBLE OVER TIME!

REJOICE!

NO SIDE EFFECTS WERE FELT TODAY!

GO COUGS!

Eyes Healed - Chemo again!

2010-03-15T22:29:00.000-07:00

Glenn's eyes are doing fantastic! The Ophthalmologist agrees with us, that it is a miracle. We are cutting back on medications a little at a time.

Glenn's oncologist thinks his eyes are doing so well, that she started him on chemo again this morning. We were stunned. I am glad, but still a little over whelmed.

Glenn was his usual funny self in the oncologist's office. When they talked about a shot, he didn't skip a beat and said, "oh that is such a pain in the _ _ _!" Then as we were walking down the hall to the infusion room, I know he felt like he was being sentenced to jail. But he managed to say, "Well, there goes my good looks. I mean, my 'looking good'!" He told Dr. Smith, "with friends like you who need enemies?" She thinks he is funny!

Yesterday at church every one kept saying, "You are looking so good". He has been looking so good since he hasn't had Chemo for 4 weeks! He will be done May 2nd. This only makes it one week later than planned.

He is getting a smaller dose of each of the three chemos. He thinks he is already getting a mouth sore. Poor guy. I hate to see him go through this, but I am glad he can have this precautionary chemo. We have to keep a close watch on his eyes.

"Let them eat cake!"

2010-03-15T08:09:00.000-07:00

REDEMPTION

Cherishing life's simple pleasures

2010-03-13T08:04:00.000-08:00

Woke up this morning and saw a Red Winged Black Bird in the Weeping Cherry Tree right by our kitchen window! He would take a bite and "ok-a-leeee" "konk-ka-ree". You can listen here.

Yesterday I heard a cluster of them and couldn't identify them or their sound. I was thrilled this morning when one of them was near enough to watch and identify. I have always loved birds, but I never enjoyed them as much as I am enjoying them now. I see each experience like this as a tender mercy.

Each pair of Red-winged Blackbirds raise 2-3 broods per season. Each time they build a new nest, which keeps the nest from becoming infected with parasites that could kill the baby birds.
During migration the Red-winged Blackbird can travel at over 30 mph.
The Red-winged Blackbird is native to North America.
A group of blackbirds has many collective nouns, including a "cloud", "cluster", and "merl" of blackbirds.

When my dad passed away, Mom let me take his "Birds of North America" book. Dad loved nature, I am sure that is where my love of nature comes from. Nature FILLS my soul!

One Cake Sheet Cake Your Cake No Cake!

2010-03-12T15:52:00.000-08:00

It's all about communication.

March 1st was Elder Christensen's 21st birthday. I was posting, using a Dr. Seuss theme. (Dr Seuss' birthday is March 2nd.) Elder Christensen said, Oh his birthday is one day after mine. It was about 4:00 in the afternoon. Elder Christensen had only been living here a week, not long enough for us to learn each others communication styles. I said why didn't some one tell me today was your birthday?

I told him if I had known it was his birthday, I would have baked him a cake. I asked if he would like me to bake a Texas Sheet Cake for him. He said he would, but he seemed a little less than enthusiastic. They were leaving in a half hour, not enough time to have it done before they left. They were going to a member's house for dinner and he didn't know if they were going to have cake or not. I told him I would bake one and it would be here when they came home. End of discussion.

Keep in mind that March 1st Glenn's eyes were very red, I was under deres, but I sacrificed and made the cake. We waited for them to come home. They got in about 9:30, said "mmm, we smell cake"...they were stuffed to the eye balls. They come in with two other missionaries, so there were four elders, enough for a party, I thought. But no...they were too full! Too full for cake! I can't relate, I have NEVER been too full for cake. What were they thinking?

We went to bed at 10:00. They came upstairs and said good night. That should have been my first clue that they wanted cake, but I missed it.

Next morning, I didn't see them. I wanted them to know that they could have cake any time, so I cut it in pieces, gave Clark a piece. They didn't have any. Our family would eat cake for breakfast if it were out on the bar with a piece out, but no, they didn't eat the cake.

I had just signed a contract to not eat sugar, there is a Texas Sheet Cake on my kitchen island, that nobody seems to want, but me.

So in one giant moment, I covered a piece of cardboard with tin foil and whisked the cake over to the Seminary Building, where I knew it will be appreciated and cause no harm!

That's my side of the story!

Elder Christensen's side of the story is just hilarious, I wish you could see him tell it with all the facial expressions and the body language. Oh the body language!

So after they had come in for the evening and settled in, they came upstairs to eat cake. But we had gone to bed and they didn't know how to tell us they were there for cake. So they went to bed. They didn't dare eat the cake, because he thought that we might want to sing to him or something.

Next morning we were never in the kitchen at the same time to discuss the cake. They saw the piece taken out, but in his family, you didn't just help yourself to cake. I can't remember what the consequence was but it was drastic, like no cake for three months. Poor Kid!

They go out and put in a hard mornings work, all the while thinking that they would have cake for lunch! (I'm dying by now as he is telling me this story.)

They are really looking forward to cake. Glenn and I aren't home, Elder Christensen comes in the kitchen...no cake! He panics, what is he going to tell Elder Collier? He starts a desperate search, opens all the cupboards, looks in the cookie jar, opens the refrigerator and even looks in the trash...no cake! (Poor Kid!)

The cake pan is washed clean and they think I am mad. Oh the agony. They try to call, I don't have my phone, so I don't answer and now they really think I am mad!

When we come home, Elder Collier comes out to the car to test the water. He says something crazy like, Elder Christensen was really glad I made him a cake, and they were sorry that they didn't eat it...I said that is was OK, I took the cake over to the seminary building.

I seriously I don't know why I didn't wait until their lunch time, except that they don't eat lunch here every day and I didn't know they were coming home.

Even though it makes us laugh when Elder Christensen tells the story, I do feel bad. When I told my sister this story, she said it sounded just like something I would do! I don't see how I could be that predictable!

Anyway, I promised to make him a Texas Sheet Cake next Monday. I hope for redemption.

Small World

2010-03-11T22:45:00.001-08:00

Tonight was opening night of Hello Dolly! It was fabulous! Kudos to Melanie Moody! She set such a great pace. I loved the casting, the costumes, the singing, the dancing, the orchestra! Great entertainment! Thanks Toby and all the production crew.

Clark really enjoyed being a part of the cast. He always loves to give a big bow at curtain call, he knows how to get a great ovation! It warms my heart that he has so many fans. He had two lines and they were spoken loud and clear. We are proud of you Clark.

Moses Lake coincidences never end. As I was sitting by the stage, waiting for Clark to come, a woman sat down by me. She was commenting on how much talent we had in our Stake.
I asked her where she was from.
Idaho.
Where?
Idaho Falls.
I was born and raised in Arco. (60 miles West of Idaho Falls.
Oh really, I have a sister who lives in Arco.
Really, who?
Bonnie Jensen.
Bonnie Jensen is married to my Uncle Leo Jensen, who is celebrating his 90th birthday on Saturday. I have been so sad that I won't be able to go. There she is a perfect stranger to me and she will be there! We gave each other a hug, she will take it to my Uncle for me! Come to find out, she was at my dad's funeral! Small world, after all.

Life goes on!

2010-03-11T09:22:00.000-08:00

Yesterday Clark came in the kitchen, dressed in his "policeman's'"costume. He is in the play our stake is putting on..."Hello Dolly". He has a small part. He seems to love playing the policeman, he has played that part in several plays. He was so cute when he came in to show me his costume. A dear friend of ours has taken him to all the rehearsals, so I haven't seen it before.

Clark said, "this is so cool, I want people to see it'. He really wanted me to see it! He usually goes over to the high school when school is out to visit Fran , (the athletic secretary whom we have known since we moved to ML.) Vivian, the receptionist, and any sport team that is practicing. (At the present time he is "assistant" coach of the Freshman baseball team.)

I let him wear his costume over to the school. How could I refuse? I saw him out in the cul-de-sac when a car came, he gave the cutest turn, showing off his duds, bowed with a flair, tipping his hat. I would love to have been able to catch that on film. It kind of looked "Seussical". I think I will always remember that cute stage move. He was born to act.....ah.....the next life!
We have been so glad, that with our lives in such turmoil, Clark has been able to do some of the things he enjoys. He is pretty independent, which has been a great blessing. He is working 2-3 days a week, comes with me to work out in the morning, he has variety in his life.
I couldn't resist taking the picture below a couple of days ago. When we had all of a grandchildren here for Kimberly's wedding in August of 2007, they were constantly taking ALL of the cushions and pillows off our sofas. It was quite the sight. The other day, I walked into the living room and saw this handy work of our 20 month old grand daughter. No one taught her this. It must be genetic! It just tickled me and reminded me of all our dear grandchildren who we are missing so much. (I never have to put them back, Glenn gets right on it!! LOL)

Missionaries come...these two came about 3 weeks ago. Elder Christensen and Elder Acosta. Elder Acosta was one of our first missionaries last June! He is back again! They are pretty easy to have around.

Missionaries go...Elder Kelly was only with us 6 weeks. Elder Scoggin had been here since September. It is interesting to house the missionaries as we are going through such challenging times. Maybe that is why we are having so many blessings.

The fire is almost out.

2010-03-10T14:15:00.000-08:00

Glenn is doing much better today. The following are the notes that I took at the doctor visit. Feel free to skip the details. I am sure they are very boring unless he is your dad.

The ophthalmologist used the analogy that we have been putting out a forest fire. There is one place at the 5:00 o'clock area on the iris that still as an ulcer. But the rest of the cornea has healed. We can't call of the fire fighters (meds) because we still don't know what caused it, or exactly what is healing it. We will back off the Motrin tomorrow and there are some other minor changes to the routine, but we will still be treating it very aggressively. We don't see Dr Roth until Monday, and then each med will be taken away, one at a time.

His left eye is 20/30 and his right eye is 20/25!
The white blood count as far as the test last Friday is 17,000. Normal is 4,000 to 10,000.
There is much less infiltration of the the white blood cells in the cornea!!!! It is almost gone.
The ulcers are still 360 degrees, but they are almost totally healed. There will be some scaring.
The blood vessels look good, they are flowing, but his eyes are almost white!
The epithelium is intact.
The pressure in the eye has gone up a little, that is due to the steroid drops. It was 13 and now it is 17.

No, there won't be a test, I don't expect you to get all of this. I can only repeat it because I take pretty good notes.

I could have just said, he is doing much better today. After the doctor appointment, we had to go to Wal-Mart for a renewal on a prescription. Glenn went in with me, instead of sitting with his eyes covered in the car! We saw so many people that we know, so it took a little longer than usual to get out of the store. He can do that! He can also work on his computer!

Even better today!

2010-03-09T20:10:00.000-08:00

Glenn was able to see the computer screen and do two tax returns. One easy, one a little more complicated. He can see across he street. He has no pain. His eyes are almost white. We continue the demanding schedule of eye drops and other medications. He will see the doctor tomorrow and is planning on being able to drive! Yeah!

Turned the corner!

2010-03-08T21:00:00.000-08:00

First of all thank you to all of you who remembered Glenn (us) in your fasting and prayers this week end. We could feel the love and support and we truly needed it.

We saw Dr. Roth this morning and the news is good.

Glenn's eye sight is improving. It had deteriorated to 20/70 on Saturday and today it was 20/50. It was 20/40 with both eyes and glasses. That is legal for driving. (He is not driving yet!)
The epithelium is significantly better!
There is less swelling.
His eye's are pink, not bright red. I can even see some white.
There is no thinning of the cornea.
He is pleased with Glenn's progress that we don't have to go in tomorrow. We will go in on Wednesday.

Glenn eyes have turned the corner...they are starting to heal! This has really been a frightful experience for me, knowing that I am the one helping him take care of his eyes. I am so relieved that what we are doing with the medications and all our collective faith is working.

Sigh....

We still have to wait and see that once they are stable, they can maintain. We are pretty sure it is chemical induced and the farther away from that we get, the better. It has been two weeks.

Glenn will not be getting any more chemotherapy. He looks and feels better already. We will be in close contact with our oncologist, lots of tests, cat scans, etc.

Oh yes, we will still have to deal with the "c" word for at least 5 more years.

Much encouraged today!!!!!

2010-03-07T13:46:00.000-08:00

When we left Seattle, the doctor over there ask Dr. Roth to measure Glenn's eyes every day. Dr. Roth has been simply amazing. He came in yesterday, measured Glenn's' eyes and spent quite a bit of time talking to us, teaching us what to do and helping understand what is going on.

The doctor came in again this morning at 9:00. He very is encouraged with what he saw today, this is what I remember of what he said:

Glenn's vision is slightly better!!!!!! I was so excited as I saw him reading the charts, because I knew that he was seeing some smaller print.

The problem (ulcerative) is that the epithelial (outer or skin) layer of the eye was deteriorating at a very rapid pace. The epithelial is ulcerating and forming a ring around Glenn's Iris. This was happening at a very rapid rate It is like going down a very steep slippery slope. The doctor said that it has bottomed out. It (the ulcer or the erosion) started out in a semi circle under the iris and has progressed to almost 360 degrees around the iris. It's progressed has slowed, has progressed only a little since yesterday. The doctor said that Glenn's body is trying to heal itself. I am sure all the Medicines have got to be helping. Many of them are anti-inflammatory.

Yesterday the doctor suggested that we use Motrin as a pain med because it is an anti-inflammatory. We had not been using it up until then. I felt like he had thrown us a life line. I also know that many prayers are being answers

Glenn's eye balls were blood red or inflamed, as of last Sunday, now they are pink!!!!! In other words the inflammation is going way down. yippee!

Yesterday I was very faithful at giving the eye drops every hour, plus what ever, when ever they were needed. He has 5 or 6 different meds. Today I will do much better because I spent a lot of time yesterday making a wonderful schedule.

What happens is, that usually our eye balls are white. When they are red it is because the blood vessels have expanded and they are leaking enzymes to fight germs and infections. But Glenn doesn't have infection, so his body is attaching itself!!!! Now, the doctor said that it is trying to heal. He said it is like an army has been sent out to fight and they are destroying their own troops. We are calling the army off!

There is no doubt in our minds that our collective faith and prayers are working together with the doctors and the medications to bring about this change. We have every hope that this condition will continue to improve and it will right itself. (in due time, quickly). This epithelium can heal itself. There will probably be some scaring. But he should be fine.

These "ulcers" are open sores and subject to getting infection. Hygiene is of the utmost. He stayed home from church today.

WHAT?

2010-03-05T21:52:00.000-08:00

If you been following along this week, you know that last Friday Glenn's eyes started to give him grief. Red, sore, itchy, runny and extremely sensitive to light.

Monday was bad, he was given a steroid prescription along with artificial tears.

Tuesday was bad.

Wednesday was good.

Thursday his eyes took a turn for the worst, the eye doctor worked him in, upped the strength of the steroid and made an appointment for us to go back this morning for a second opinion. That night Glenn got a very wonderful priesthood blessing from his colleague, President Baker. The steroids worked their magic and he slept well.

Friday morning (this morning, which feels like yesterday) we went in to see the ophthalmologist for that second opinion and this is what happened:

Both Doctors diagnosed his condition as "Peripheral Ulcerative Keratitis". That is a degeneration of the cornea. It is caused by; an infection or a bactetria; or is chemically induced or the autoimmune system is attaching both eyes (which would be very rare). They felt very strongly that it was autoimmune caused and way over their heads.

So, they called a doctor at the Harbor View Medical Center Eye Clinic who agreed to see us today. We didn't know if we would be staying in Seattle or not, so we came home, packed some food Glenn can eat, some clothes, medicines, scriptures, computer, etc and off we went. We could not have been able to get ready if Kimberly had not come over and helped like a trouper! Our appointment was between 2:00 and 3:00. We made it by 3:00.

Glenn was examined by Dr. Wu, who confirmed the PUK (nice enitials) diagnosis. But he doesn't think it is autoimmune caused which we think is good. He thinks it is the Chemo, although there are no reported side effects like this. He took some blood samples, measured the cornea, took pictures of it, prescribed the same steroids that Glenn got Monday and antibiotic plus lubricant eye drops and sent us home. He is requesting Dr. Roth to examine him every day until next Friday when we will go back and see him.

We arrived home at 8:45 PM which is exactly 12 hours from the time we left to go see our local Doctor in Moses Lake!

Big day! Big week. We are glad to be home and we will SEE what the future brings!

Life isn't fair, is it?

2010-03-04T09:45:00.000-08:00

Glenn's eyes still aren't focusing today. All the Dr's think it is a side effect from the chemo. He is improving and as long as he is improving, that is good. He is frustrated, because he would like to be doing taxes. Nothing can be done, but wait for them to heal.

As I work out at Any Time Fitness in the mornings, I have been able to read the Ensign. It has amazing article this month on enduring trials. I have found the articles instructive and uplifting.

But, still I have my moments...

I was sitting on an exercise ball doing weights (hence not reading). I realized that I was at the gym by my self, Glenn is retired, at home not able to be there with me. Last year at this time we were saying:

...next year we will be going to the gym together....
...next year we will be taking adult institute class together....
...next year we will go to all the births, blessings, & baptisms...
...next year we will start our masters programs....
...next year we will visit the sick and less active together....
...next year we will ride our bikes together....
...next year we will travel....
...next year we will work on our family history together....
...next year we will do more yard work together....
...next year...

What a difference a year makes

The Eyes

2010-03-03T06:45:00.000-08:00

Glenn's eyes didn't hurt yesterday, he was so relieved. They were still very red though. We think it is an allergy along with a side effect from the chemo. We'll see how it goes today. The drops really make them feel better. He still couldn't focus very well...no computer screen for him, hence no taxes.

He had a relaxing day. I played the piano for a while as he just relaxed with his eyes closed and listened. He said it was very soothing. I enjoyed that time together very very much!

We are looking forward to this summer when he will be off chemo and feeling better. We are planing to go see the kids and enjoy them coming here. Swimming pool, get ready! I hope we can take a trip to the Oregon coast.

Glenn was able to go to his meeting last night and this is what I did:

I just sat down to read a good book and...voila!
Kimberly brought by pay roll for one of Glenn's clients (she has taken over his payroll accounts). I was reading to Baylee and...Voila!
Some dear friends dropped by! What a treat! They even brought treats (sugar free of course) and gifts for all of us! Like they said, they didn't need to bring anything, we would have just enjoyed the visit. As we were finishing our visit...Voila!
Heather Skyped! We were able to see Jack, who is a chubby, cute 2 month old. They are so in love with that baby! She is quite tired as she is seven months prego, but wouldn't change it for anything. As we were finishing up...Voila!
Seth called! As we were finishing our visit...Voila!
Glenn came home!

So I had quite a lovely evening that I didn't have to get dressed up for, or clean the house for, it doesn't get any better than that!

Keeping the Dr. Seuss Theme going...

2010-03-02T06:56:00.001-08:00

This is the comment that Danielle left after my Dr Seuss post. I think she is pretty creative~

I am sorry for you,for this chemo-caused pooh.
Does it help you to know that we pray for you?

Let me say again, to the both of yous,
you are by far my favorite pair of Za-Boo-Ma-Goos!

Oh, the things you have learned in this flimble-flam fooble flumble.
Sure helps us be thankful, and feel rather humble.

Hang in there, be strong, put your zots-kotz to the test.
Keep using your humor, eat well, and get some rest.

Sorry again that you feel so yugg-yucky...
But being your daughter makes me feel soooo lugg-lucky!

Red, Red, I see Red.

2010-03-01T16:20:00.000-08:00

Red, Red, I see Red!
Pain, Pain, Glenn's eyes have pain!
Light, Light, they're sensitive to light!
Drops, Drops, we drop eye drops!
See, See, he can't see!
Chemo, Chemo, no chemo today.
Rest, rest, just rest!
Drops, Drops, more eye drops!

That little ditty is to celebrate Dr Seuss' Birthday which is tomorrow! Theodor Seuss Geisel. So get out your Dr. Seuss books and have a good time! "Oh the Places You'll Go!" is one of my favorites!

Friday, I noticed that Glenn's eyes were very red! By Saturday we thought that he had pink eye and we got an antibiotic! Sunday morning they were not getting any better! So he got a pain killer for the eye balls! Today, no progress. He went to our family Doctor who made an appointment for him to go to an ophthalmologist. Meanwhile we saw our oncologist and she also wanted him to see the ophthalmologist. She suspended Chemo for one week more.

The results are: no infection, very dry eyes, a reaction to one of the chemo drugs or an allergy. No eye damage! Now he in on steroid antibiotic drops plus a false tear drop called Systane Ultra.. Good tip....The ophthalmologist said they are better for your eyes than Visine type eye drops,

Glenn should be feeling better soon.

This came out of the blue and has really been a trial for Glenn, the worst so far, I think. We say, "The straw that broke the camel's back".

"The Sun'll Come Out Tomorrow",,,and it won't hurt!