A day when prayers were answered 7 Feb 2011

I just have to record the things that happened within 24 hours time frame in our family. We always pray for our children and our grandchildren, but lately our prayers for them have been more earnest and on the morning of the 7th they were especially so, as the day before our little four-year old granddaughter in Las Vegas was diagnosed with Juvenile Diabetes creating a family emergency for her parents as she was hospitalized with a 700 high sugar reading. What a scary thing for this young family with no insurance coverage.....and how frightening for a little one to be told she has to have finger pricks and shots the rest of her life! So, our prayers were even more earnest than usual this morning. We were just about to leave the house to get our taxes signed when the phone rang. As it did, we realized that we had been sort of puttering around without knowing why that morning. It was my daughter in West Jordan, Utah telling me that her 17 year-old daughter had been driving from school when a car ran a red light and hit her totaling our granddaughter's car. She was unconscious , the airbag had deployed and the car doors difficult to get open from either side as her car had spun around and was hit on both sides by the other driver. Her mother was calling from the ER and Teanna was awake, but hurting at that time. A miracle she was not killed or seriously injured! After another prayer, we went about our duties of the day which included getting our income taxes signed and ready to go as well as a surgery to remove (Permanently) the toenails from my big toes. I knew I'd have to be off my feet for at least a day and maybe more so was planning a quiet week. When we got home there were many messages on the phone, one from our son Jade in Lewisville, Idaho telling us his wife had rolled their van with the two youngest boys in it. We called immediately to learn they were all okay but the van had rolled several times landing right side up and that no one was seriously injured. Another miracle!!! Two totaled cars with no major injuries!!!

We feel so blessed and thankful for life. Doug said a child across the hallway from Breelynn's hospital room, a little one died....and all of a sudden diabetes became more manageable and even a blessing....they still have a daughter! He said the scream of the other mother will forever haunt him and remind him of his blessings.

I've had minor discomfort from my surgery and a lazy day of keeping my feet elevated, but all is well.

A New Beginning With Blogging!

March 12, 2016

Wow!  I just found this old, old blog I started about 6 years ago!  Just never kept up with it!  Here I am only two days less than 5 years since my first cancer diagnosis.  I had my left breast removed in 2011 and my right one in 2012 and I am doing GREAT!  Sadly, those who were going through chemo at the same time and in the same office as I was, did not have the good fortune that I had and are gone on to the other side.  It makes me feel especially humble and determined to do all I need to do to make my time here on earth account for something.

I have literally devoted my life to preserving my family history. I absolutely love familysearch.org and use it on an almost daily basis.  When I am not researching, or adding stories, photos, or documents, I am searching for ancestors who need temple work completed and teaching others to do all of the above.  I love my calling as a family history consultant and take it very seriously.We have great support from our ward leaders!  I serve one shift a week at the family history center and have been busy lately training new consultants who have proven to be very proficient and diligent.

We are planning a Technology Fair in our ward next week and it is humbling to see how enthusiastic the organizational heads are in their assignments.  It looks like it will be a great experience.

So what is going on in our lives?  Wow, where to start....John has covered the last few years so well in his journal that I think I will just start with today and not try to go backwards.

One thing that has been weighing heavily on my mind is that I need to post George's Book that I wrote a couple years ago about the experiences of having a son with Spina Bifida.  It is very personal and for that reason I hesitate.  How personal should a person get on social media?  Is there someone I need to help by making his story public as well as personal?  I think the first step I need to take is get the permission of my family who are mentioned in his story.  If they aren't comfortable with it, then I better not do it.  That will be my answer.

Life is wonderful!  We have been given the great gift of healing from life-threatening illnesses and we are anxious for the future and so happy to have each other to share this time of our lives.  We have a third family member now, Max, the 5-year old Black lab that my son, Billy, left with us when he was deployed with his family to Germany earlier this year.  John and Max are the best of buddies and it is so neat to see how much joy John has found in this dog.  After Shaddy had to be put down, we weren't sure we wanted another dog, but Max has let us know we do!  He lives for his walks with John!

Although much tragedy is going on in the world, and in the United States, and the political climate is explosive, we have peace in our hearts and a love of Jesus Christ that sustains us in our personal and family trials.

A U-Turn

This week I have taken a u-turn I did not want to take---back to possibility of cancer! "It shouldn't be cancer," my doctor said on Thursday, "but we need to know, so I am scheduling you for a diagnostic mammogram and ultra-sound." Today after a two-hour mammo and ultra sound, and getting to look at the pictures myself, there is truly "something" there and the ultra sound ruled out that it might be a cyst; so--- tomorrow I am having a special kind of stereo-tactic biopsy.

The technician showed me the biopsy and there is something very real there; I overheard her and the doctor talking and saying, "We can't ignore this." It didn't show on the ultrasound, so they were able to rule out a cyst. This is a U-turn I had hoped to avoid.

Remember that if in this life only we have faith in Jesus Christ, we are of all men most miserable. I do not feel like I am going to die. I feel like the spirit that I pray daily to have, led me to find this lump and my doctor to pay attention and do something right now. Maybe finding it quickly is going to make a big difference if it is cancer, and besides, if it is anything suspicious and my insurance will cover it, it will be nice to no longer be lop-sided!!!!

If it isn't cancer, then I've had these tests and my mind should be at ease. I thank God for His intervention in my life in so many ways. I know now that my talk on Sunday was not just for the congregation, but it was for me!

2011 has been a year filled with many challenges and blessings for us!!! One thing for sure, my faith and total trust in the Lord has greatly intensified!!! I KNOW He lives, hears and answers our prayers and although the answer is not always what we want to hear, it always comes.

I started off the year teaching a 6-week family history course and was able to do another one in Oct/Nov. I had great attendance at both classes and we all had great success! I love teaching the gospel! Add in family history and it feels like I've gone to heaven!

We have faced the dreaded "cancer" word as I was diagnosed with breast cancer in March -- on the very day our 44th grandchild ("Lizzie" to Bill and Ronda Bean) was born; we triumphed through surgery (mastectomy), chemotherapy, and recovery! The cancer is gone and I'm still here! At my lowest point during chemo when the pain was intense, continuous nausea and diarrhea making it so nothing would stay inside me and I was so totally hungry -- so much so that it hurt; plus I was dealing with the after effects of surgery and bald as a baby's bottom, I honestly did not think I had the strength to keep going. I think that is when I offered my most heart-felt prayer ever -- asking Jesus to take the pain away -- even if just for a little while -- so I could get some rest. The pain lifted like a cloud from me; and the message that I received was that I am not alone through this. He has suffered my every pain and heartache for me -- however, to know and understand the depth of His love for me, He had to allow me to know this pain for a little season. I could call on His strength to comfort me, but this was something I could not be spared. It wouldn't be easy, but it would be worth it. I am now on a 5-year regime of an anti-estrogen pill; looking forward to the day I can truly say it is totally in remission!

Our dear neighbors, friends, and family stepped in and made all of the above much more bearable! We could not have had any greater help than we have had. Suzanne came several times from Utah to be here through my most difficult days. She took me to get my prosthesis and a really nice wig! Something only a daughter could have convinced me to do! Flowers, food -- fresh garden produce, jamba juice, berries, bread, jam, casseroles, desserts -- you name it, we were brought it! The service extended in our behalf has been very humbling! We have loved the many cards, letters, phone calls, visits, and friends honking as they drive by! We have been blessed by personal concerts --vocal and instrumental by the dearest neighbors in the world. And the MANY, MANY prayers offered in our behalf have not gone unnoticed by us or by our Heavenly Father. Truly, we have felt their power and the blessings have poured upon our heads! LITERALLY -- you should see all my hats!!!! All I have to do is look at them and I feel the love that went into their creation! I have become known as the lady with all those "cute hats!" I wish Suzanne could hear all the compliments I get when I wear the fancy hats she made me! She is not the only one who blessed me by making hats. I treasure each one and will always look back on this time as a time when I felt so very loved! I enjoy my wigs and hats so much I am not missing my hair much at all -- it is coming back, slowly, but it will be a long while before I go out in public without a head covering --although I do go bare-headed sometimes at home! (Sorry, Sam, I forgot I didn't have a hat or hair on when I answered the door! Guess you were surprised!!! You should have seen one of John's scouts when he saw me!!!) I look like my son, Doug now!

To top it all off, the sweetest blessing of all has been my companion's ever loving service -- at my side day and night through the rough times; cooking, cleaning, gardening, rubbing my back, doing all the shopping, sweeping, and errands galore! John has been so awesome and loving through it all! How blessed we are to have one another! He even tells me I am beautiful and is totally sincere about it! (Did I tell you his eyes have grown dim?) He sings to me and plays the most beautiful music on his accordion.

Our family has been so wonderful! We've seen 11 of our 13 children this year; we have been able to see all except four of our 45 grandchildren! How we love them!! We've even given sweet hugs and kisses to all four precious great-grandchildren, too! All my brothers and their families have been here! John's family has been super supportive through all this -- bringing food, preparing a "good luck" dinner; offering and giving lots of help; making the cutest Get Well Banner that I kept up for 6 months! Sharon put together an incredible After Chemo Party inviting both our families and extended family. It was awesome!

John (with some help from Joey and his boys) expanded our deck to double its size; Doug and Suzanne surprised us with new patio furniture; then Joey added some benches and a picnic table he built! John painted all the trim around our home; planted berry bushes and kept our yard looking wonderful. Our neighbors would come over with their trimmer and hoes and just made it fun to go outside to see what they had done next. We had the prettiest flowers this year and I so enjoyed them.

Besides all his service hours, John was able to get in some of the greatest fishing days of his life! It always made me so happy when he could/would get out and go fishing with his buddies. It recharges his batteries when he goes fishing and gives him hope and excitement and stories to tell! So listen up as he writes his Christmas letter!

Love, Cheryl

Merry Christmas! (from John)

Truthfully, Cheryl is the “perfect optimist,” and I learned to enjoy painting, decking our patio, putting in gardens and flowers, and cutting the lawn with a compulsive zest. Our much anticipated dates were spent eating out between doctor appointments. I treasure her, and appreciate every moment we share.

Sam Christiansen and I became co-dependent fishing buddies because neither of our wives condone our fishing alone. Sam has had seven coronary bypasses and a stroke. Neither of us can hear, see, or think and walk straight, so our once weekly outings mainly this Fall have been intriguing. A broken leader usually means we will spend the rest of the trip trying to tie on a new hook. Our water of choice has been Henry’s Lake, because Island Park Reservoir was soupy green with algae, and the river has been muddied by upstream dam construction projects. Finally I really didn’t feel good about fishing until Cheryl neared the end of her chemo treatment in late September. The above limitations now acknowledged, we had some good days bait fishing around the mouth of Targhee Creek (a tributary to the lake). We caught scads of 16-18" brook trout, Sam caught a 6-1/2 lb rainbow-cutthroat hybrid, and I caught one weighing 8-1/2 lbs. Some of those brookies ought to weigh 5 or six pounds next Spring, and the taxidermy business will post record earnings!

I also had some fantastic solo cutthroat flyfishing around the docks at Henry’s Lake State Park at the first of the season, and again during October. Although I had to compete with a crowd, I had a 70 fish day, two 28 fish days, and coached my nephew in his first ever fly fishing endeavor to a 30 fish day. None of those trips exceeded 3-1/2 hours on the water, and often resulted in hooking fish on 4,5,and even 8 consecutive casts. Those experiences keep me busy tying flies early mornings, during the winter, and during the news casts. Those flies go in a hurry at the lake and among my fishing associates. I usually bring home my 2 fish limit for neighbors who request them, but I think Cheryl and I have only baked two fish this whole year.

The big nemeses on Henry’s Lake are the gale winds and blizzards that can freeze one solid in about ten minutes. Cheryl and I parked our trailer up there for the entire Summer a year ago. My neighbor in the camper court reported he was only able to get his boat on the lake four times during the entire month of June, because of the winds. During October I took a good older friend and neighbor who is on kidney dialysis, and not in good health. When we arrived, the area around the docks was frozen solid, and the wind was blowing 50 mph. We parked in the parking lot next to the water, cast our poles out front of the car, and sat inside with the heater and radio going. We ate our lunch and shivered even though we were in a heated vehicle–and within an hour or so, Gerald caught his two fish to take home. Success is a relative measure, and the challenge is in the hunt.

We love the spirit of Christmas, and find joy in trying to appreciate and implement it all year long.

Love Ya, John

May your days be merry and bright! I hope you'll check out the Bible Video site below! The true joy of Christmas comes when we make Room IN our lives for Jesus all year long! We are counting the days, hours, minutes till our Las Vegas grandchildren come --- its only 3 days, 22 hours and 9 minutes till Doug's family gets here!. 9 minutes, 7 minutes, 6 minutes 23 seconds.....

UPDATE: We so enjoyed Doug, Mindy, Georgia, and Breelynn's two week visit in December! The girls are at such a fun age (5 and 6) and kept life exciting -- but we had no snow which is one of the main reasons they wanted to come! Doug took them up to Bear Gulch for some sleigh riding and they built a snowman up there, too, so went home happy! They stayed at the Marriot in Rexburg while here so we got to go swimming with them.....now that was a site -- this bald, lop-sided woman swimming, but I figured if anyone wanted to stare, they had never known someone who had gone through chemo!

We also had surprise visits from Suzanne, Tracy, and Tara from West Jordan and from Steve, Ana Maria, Kandai, Saschika and their cousin! Steve now lives in Moreno Valley, California while Ana Maria is in Florida with the children at least for the school year. They were excited to be all together for the holiday and it was great to have them come home---that meant I got to see another of my children this year-- which makes all of them living, I saw; and all except two of my grandchildren.

Kellie Murphy also came and introduced us to her boyfriend. She has completed boot camp and will be going to school now in Iowa city! What a girl! We loved seeing everyone. Sharon hosted a family party as she has the biggest house and loves to entertain. It was super fun! The kids loved playing with their cousins and especially loved Sharon's play room!

On Christmas day, we went to Jade and Nancy's home with Doug and Mindy's family and we all had a great time. John and Wanita's family, Jeni and Jason were there, too! The rest of her family had the flu. Yummy food and great company!

This is a new experience for me. I want to improve my journal keeping and maybe this is the answer!!! I so enjoy the blogs that I follow -- they inspire me and spur me on to do better...so here goes!!!

John and I just returned from an amazing 10th Wedding Anniversary Trip. First we went to Utah where Jamie's baby, Elise Isaacson, received her name and blessing on April 18th in American Fork. Her daddy, Dennis, gave her a beautiful blessing. We also were privileged to meet Hailey's special boyfriend, Blake, from Malad, Idaho, and I might add, we were quite impressed with him. Of course, Hailey would have good taste!!! She is such a sweet young woman and is attending BYU! Just moved into her first apartment with roommates which is a new experience! The family all gathered round as we enjoyed a concert at the Isaacson home. They always play the piano, guitar, violin, etc. and sing for us. The children have beautiful voices; Hailey and Billy both play the piano by ear. We always enjoy their entertainment. John David and Wanita Bills family also came to the baby blessing from Idaho. Many of Dennis' family were there also and we had a nice time with them. On the Saturday prior to the blessing, we had pizza in the park with Jamie and the children. They are so much fun to visit with. Jamie has been home schooling them this year along with being pregnant. Kristin and Sarah were so helpful around the house and with the younger children while we were there. It was great to see! Rachel is right there with them, too. Billy and Danny are such cute little boys and look so much alike...its almost like seeing Billy grow up twice! Stephen is serving a mission in California at this time. We love getting his email letters.

While we were in Utah, we stayed at Suzanne and Tracy Atkinson's home even though they were not there. They were in Boston where Tracy was running in the Boston Marathon along with my son, Greg Murphy. The whole family got to go. We tended their animals for three days. Sure was weird to be there without Suzanne, though! Shaddy went straight to Tara's room looking for her...but no Tara. At night, she slept right outside Tara's door hoping her favorite child would return, but alas, that did not happen.

On Monday, April 19, I had arranged with the Church History Museum for a viewing of a woolen cloak made by John's ancestor, John Bills, in Nauvoo, Illinois, for the Prophet Joseph Smith. John's sisters, Karren and Patti, along with Dave--Patti's husband; and Jamie's family all came to the museum to see the cloak and take pictures of it. What a wonderful experience this was for us. It was a sacred time for me to actually see and be so near something our Prophet wore. It was a double-layer wool cloak so would have been nice and warm. Comforting to our prophet on cold days and nights. The work was all done by hand, of course, and the wool would have been carded by hand also. Just to be there, to see it, to feel the spirit, and to imagine John Bills lovingly sewing it for the prophet -- well, it was a very special experience in my book. My ancestors also loved the prophet and may have even been with him when he wore this cloak. It is a connection and I was filled with awe to have this experience. My deepest desire is for our children and grandchildren to know and love their heritage and to come to know the gospel that so many of our ancestors sacrificed so much for!

From Utah, we came back home for two nights so John could teach his scout merit badge pow wow class on the family living merit badge. Those boys who took his class will never know how devoted and dedicated their teacher was to them!!! As he prepared for each class he taught, he should have earned the merit badge himself. He is a true scouter and he loves the young boys he works with! I can not even imagine the number of boys he has influenced for good through scouting and fishing! He has made such a difference in so many lives.

We left Wednesday for Missoula, Montana. Our wedding anniversary was Thursday and John rented a very nice motel room at the ComeonInn! It was amazing and a very nice place to spend our anniversary. These ten years of marriage have been a wonderful experience for each of us. Our love and appreciation for one another continues to grow as time goes on. It is such a blessing that we do not have to face this age alone when so many things are falling apart on our bodies....like our eyes, knees, backs, hips, etc. It would be a lonely life without each other's companionship!

Thursday we went to Coeur d'Alene where Bryan and Loralee Bean had a time-share condo reserved. They insisted we take the master suite which was much larger and nicer than any motel I've ever stayed in. The condo had three nice bedrooms, a kitchen and family room and a patio with a barbeque grill. Bryan spoiled us with marvelous breakfasts and a grilled steak dinner one night. We had so much fun with Bryan, Loralee, and the children.

I can't say enough about Michael and Lexie. He is 4 years old and Lexie is barely 7. They are incredible. Bryan and Loralee say that Lexie is a gifted teacher and teaches Michael everything she knows; Lexie told us that now Michael knows things she doesn't even know..and that he can spell words she doesn't know how to spell. He reads at a 3rd grade level or more and never has to stop to sound out a word. He can spell perfectly and is a master of numbers....even in Spanish as well as English. Lexie and Michael spell lots of words as they play and if she doesn't spell fast enough, he will jump in and tell her the next letters. She is just finishing up first grade and reads like a pro, too. Michael starts kindergarten this fall. One scarcely notices his cerebral palsy unless it is with his fine motor skills and he is very good at adapting to his challenges. We spent time in the pool together and Lexie learned to overcome some of her fear of the water. She and I had so much fun as I helped her "learn to swim." We read many books, played with silly putty, and played game after game. We sent Bryan and Loralee out one evening while we stayed with the children and had a super time. One afternoon, John went to Cabela's with them while I kept the children with me. It was super bonding time...something I don't get when the entire family is around. I adore my grandchildren (and John's too!)!!! This generation has the best, sweetest, purest, kindest, smartest, and most beautiful children I have ever seen. How I pray for them! How I love them!!! One thing that impresses me so much about Bryan is the kind and loving father and husband he is toward his family. I could never have hoped for more. I marvel that he is this way because it is not the way fatherhood was modeled for him. I thank God every day that my sons are good husbands and fathers....I am so thankful my grandchildren are not having to deal with abusive parents!!!! I am thankful for the kind of mother my daughter and step-daughters are. I think they all got great spouses and have really risen above the things they experienced as children. Prayers are answered!!!!!

It does my heart good to know that Bryan sings to his daughter every night, "I Am A Child of God." When he was gone, she asked me to sing it to her. She said she can't go to sleep without that song! Loralee said her mother used to sing it to her, also. Bryan said he started singing it when Grandma Harmon was dying and he was teaching it to her so she could sing it with the other grandchildren at the funeral. He has done it ever since.

We left to come home on Sunday. We are thankful for this special anniversary trip even though the weather was cold and nasty, our experience was sunshine to our souls!