Signing Off 2010

We had a great Christmas holiday with Adam and Andrea and the little girls staying here until Dec. 30. The agenda was full, but we managed to recreate the Nativity, decorate cookies, see Tangled, "do playdough", enjoy the lights at Temple Square, attend a birthday party and even curl up for a book or two. In the meantime, we got our honeymooners back Christmas Eve (Christmas can be so anticlimactic when upstaged by one's wedding!)We had more family fun at Em and Dave's on New Year's Eve where we burned all our regrets from the previous year (in my case--bonfire!) Results are back on the latest PET/CT and I have more lung spots. I hope Dr. N has some really good ideas when I meet with him Monday. Radiation is going well in spite of headaches, low immunity and I am TIRED. Hurray for Septra! I signed up for the new semester of Master's program. Less hours this time--12 was a LOT! The best event was a new grandson, Enoch Jonathan Thomas, born Dec. 28th. Thanks Erin and Jon--we LOVE those babies!

80, 79, 78, 77...

There's some serious "in-love" going on around here, with Jamilyn and Nathan now well under 80 days until their wedding. They have been great wedding planners, with their biggest problems coming, not from disagreements, or inability to find what they want, but from too much of a good thing! When you're planning early, with a comfortable budget compliments of the Parent National Bank, almost anything is possible! We look forward to the exciting day. (Were you KISSING? Oh my heck.)

Children's Day

I spent an unofficial Children's Day with Erin's family yesterday. A morning at Wheeler Farm was followed by water fun at Liberty Park. After a rather mad search for a Wendy's, we ordered "to go" and spent some luxurious time under the trees, eating Wendy's and listening to Jon read Harry Potter. Back home, there were tributes and gifts and a big hurray dog pile of love for everyone. A Nurf War was planned to wind up the day. But too-tired granny bowed out, exhausted and smilin' from such a huge day of happy.

Ten Reasons to Smile

1. Cancer treatments. 2. My buddie. 3. The new grandchild a' cookin'. 4. Our baby in love. 5. Nathan for keeps. 6. A2+2 (see post header photo). 7. LOST and other great escape. 8. Sunshine and sundresses. 9. The view on a rainy morning from 10600 So. Jordan River Parkway of the Oquirrh Mountains. 10. Things that comfort...warm blankets, kind words, hot chocolate, the Spirit.

Coming Home

The kids are headed home! Caroline's sweet little voice on the phone this morning made my tummy squirm with anticipation. Adam, Andrea and their girls will arrive via grandma and grandpa Winegar, sometime in the night. Jamilyn is still recording, but Nathan is with her now and they will point their ride toward home later this week. Family is just the very best!

CONGRATULATIONS TO MASTER JAMILYN BECKSTROM WMU GRADUATING CLASS OF 2010

Joy Zap

'Tis the season of love...and to lift you from the dregs of recent dreary post, I bring you this tiny tidbit of romantic humor. My husband and I go waaaaaaaay back. I'm talking we could have attended WOODSTOCK together! His younger brother recently e-mailed him this cheesy '70's photo of the two of us boating (dig that groovy swimsuit!) Said hubby turned the laptop screen my way (I was at my post--three pillows deep, buried in covers up to my chin on the heated side of our waterbed, on my back, trying to avoid discomforting the painful nothing that is my absent bosom). I saw the picture, and how did the feeble remains of my feminine anatomy respond to what it saw...THAT TINGLE! You know the one...that slightly embarrassing little surge of oh-my-hottness that thrilled over your skin whenever your current crush appeared unexpectedly beside you in the cafeteria of your Jr. High...Yesiree Bob! The Joy Zap. Apparently, in spite of all odds, I've still got it bad for the fast guy with biceps like Popeye...all it took was a photograph. And that, people, is romantic!

Christmas Pageant

Blake and I were honored once again this year to be in attendance at the second annual Thomas Christmas Pageant. Everyone was well-prepared with memorized scriptures from the New Testament. Costumes were even more spectacular than we remembered. We were welcomed by the narrator, who conducted us in musical inserts to embellished the unfolding of this beloved story. Pretty Mary patiently awaited the arrival of her baby, who was God's own Son. She also kept the angels, shepherds, wise men, camels and baby-to-be from prematurely shedding their costumes. A glorious angel declared the good news--a Savior had been born in the city of David! Reluctant shepherds ("I not a shepherd, I a ghost!") came to behold the wondrous sight. Shy wise men came on trusty camels, bearing gifts. Best of all was the addition of a perfect, live baby Jesus, nestled in a comfortable Fisher/Price manger, complete with entertainment. It was a not-so-silent, but oh-so holy night to remember--the best Christmas pageant ever!

Just Try To Catch Up

Time to catch up here.

Time flies when you're havin' fun! May 29th--D Track Kindergarten Zoo Day

52 class T-shirts arrived as we were boarding the bus.

We were supposed to be wearing them

to the zoo.

That afternoon I had Avastin scheduled,

but my doc went out of town.

They rescheduled me on voicemail

to come whileI was at the zoo!

Avastin appointments ARE the zoo.

I went on Monday instead.

So I was trash at school on Tues. and Wed.

(this usually happens on the weekend.)

Friday, June 5th I had a mammoram.

THAT HURTS!

But after much crushing, I got the "all clear".

Clear breasts, clear blood, clear urine.

Some news is worth a little pain.

But maybe mammograms cause cancer.

Little Caroline had a birthday.

She was proud to be two years old.

Saturday, she'll be packed up

along with the U-haul

and her parents

and her baby-brother-to-be

and they'll head for law school

at Franklin-Pierce in New Hampshire.

Guess who gets to tag along...

the Granny! (woot!)

June 19th. Avastin. Again.

Then dad died.

My final grades were due.

The house filled with company.

Life got insane.

We had a funeral on

the second-to-the-last day of school.

And school ended.

We've had three grandkid dates

and we've been a little sporty

in the canyons near our city.

I went to Michigan for a week of frivolity

with my Sweet BabyJames.

And I had Avastin for the last time.

The next day we pulled off

a family reunion

and the next Tuesday

I saw Harry Potter!

But first, I attended

Kindergarten Core Academy

that day, and the next day

and the next day.

July 21st teachers went back to work.

My teaching assignment changed suddenly

from split C/D track

to Double D (yep, you heard me)

So I get to track off

and I can help the movers after all!

This week I'll screen

another teacher's C Track students

since she doesn't exist yet...

I'm still officially their teacher.

But on Saturday,

goodbye insanity, and goodbye grandpa...

cuz this Granny's hittin' the road!

Patience!

Ok, so yes, a lot has happened since the last time I blogged and I do plan to write about it. You just gotta have patience, ok?

Evolution

Look at this! I'm learning to pimp my blog. It's time for evolution! I'm ready to focus on more than just cancer and to blog like the real people.  I'll still mention cancer details when they crop up in ordinary life. But I'm "here and happy" and ready to talk about the everything else that makes up a full life, since I've been given the opportunity to carry on :0)