Easter Blessings

Spring is here...at least today it is here. The weather has been crazy, but I am looking forward to digging in the dirt and working outside in the yard. I love spring. I love how everything comes back to life. I love to see the daffodils and the tulips, hyacinths, crocus, the leaf buds on trees and the perennials poking their heads up out of the ground. Yesterday, Justin and I got to teach the three and four year old primary class at church. They were so much fun. We talked about Easter, and the reason we celebrate it. We talked about why Easter is celebrated in the Spring and how when the plants all come back to life, it reminds us of Jesus being resurrected. We went on a walk around the church looking for signs of life in the plants and trees and flowers. Those little boys were so amazing and full of faith. They are pure and untainted by society and the world around them. It was such a neat experience. I am deeply grateful for this Easter season, for the chance to reflect on the life of Jesus Christ, our Savior. It brings me such joy to know that He and our Father in Heaven have a plan for us. The knowledge of an eternal life with those I love is comforting and brings me peace. How grateful I am too, to have parents who have taught me these things, and have shown me, through their examples, how to live worthily of the blessings we may receive.

Speaking of blessings...for those of you who get on this blog to hear how my dad is doing and not to hear my rantings, I will get to it. Please forgive me for adding my own feelings. I can't help but feel blessed being among so many good family and friends. Dad is doing wonderfully. He has, as many of you know, been on a trial drug along with his chemotherapy. He is still taking the chemo very well, and still looks so good. Although we don't know whether he is taking the actual trial drug, or just a placebo, we are hopeful that he is on the drug. He says that he has a new symptom, which has been said is common with this trial drug. He also gets to have more frequent PT scans, which he had a few weeks ago. The most recent scan shows he is continuing to improve and the cancer is shrinking. Dad is still as positive as ever and we are hopeful and optimistic as well.

I hope that all is well with those who may still occasionally check this blog. I am sorry for the time between postings. I haven't been very good at updating this blog, and I apologize. Thanks, as always for your thoughts and prayers. Until next time, Happy Spring!

Happy New Year!

Grandma with Kate and Ty on Christmas

Aunt Marion, Aunt Bessie, and Aunt Margie

The grandkids while they are singing

Once again, time has gotten away from me. I can't believe it is the end of January already. Much has been happening in the last few weeks, and I hope you forgive me for the time I've allowed to lapse between postings.

Dad had his scan on December 15 and met with the Doctor on the 19th. The news was good! The Chemotherapy is working as they expected and one of the tumors is even shrunken by half! We were also happy to hear that because Dad has so few symptoms and his body is taking the Chemo so well, they want to do a clinical trial drug on him that has promise. He has since had a couple more treatments and will start the clinical trial shortly. He will be monitored more with scans so the doctors can see the progress more often.

On another good note, Jenny was married on December 30 to Andy Johnson. It was a great event. Mom and Dad said it was an especially rewarding day for them as all six of their kids and their spouses were in the temple together for the wedding. We all had fun visiting with family and friends. It was good of so many people to come and we all appreciated your well wishes not only for Jenny and Andy, but for Mom and Dad as well. Life is good and we have much to be thankful for. Dad looked and felt great at the wedding.

Christmas was also wonderful. We were all able to visit with Mom and Dad. Not at the same time, but over two days. I'm sure they got their fill of us. We did have a family get-together before Christmas and we also went Christmas caroling to Aunt Bessie, Aunt Marjorie, and Aunt Marion (Mom's Aunts). We all had so much fun! The grandkids especially loved singing and visiting. We all have a great time when we get together.

I hope now that the new year is in full swing, we can all remember to be thankful for each day. To live in the present and to not have any regrets of the past. I read a quote from President Monson that I thought was poignant.

"This is a wonderful time to be living here on earth. Our opportunities are limitless. While there are some things wrong in the world today, there are many things right, such as teachers who teach, ministers who minister, marriages that make it, parents who sacrifice, and friends who help.

"We can lift ourselves, and others as well, when we refuse to remain in the realm of negative thought and cultivate within our hearts an attitude of gratitude. If ingratitude be numbered among the serious sins, then gratitude takes its place among the noblest of virtues" (Thomas S. Monson, "An Attitude of Gratitude," Ensign, May 1992, 54).

One of my new years resolutions is to cultivate an "attitude of gratitude." I have so much to be thankful for in my life. Most of all, I am thankful for my Father in Heaven for the peace I feel and for the knowledge I have that Christ gave his life for us so we can return to Him again and live with our loved ones in happiness forever.

So, even though it is the end of January, Happy New Year!