Treatment #9

On September 21 I went in for my last (I hope) treatment. Mom and Dad had returned to Colorado at the end of their mission the week before. Lori, my usual chemo buddy, called to let me know that her youngest was sick and it would be wise for her not to come up. My friend Stephanie was able to take me and then drive me home at the end. I was so grateful for her sacrifice for me that day. I was pretty tired and I thought I'd probably try to get some rest while I was there. My body was tired but my mind was pretty alive, so I ended up joining a couple of my work meetings and the rest of the time I had time to reflect. I sat by a man who was on the same treatment that I have been on, but he let me know he had 14 treatments, I was grateful to not have 14! I felt pretty tired when I came home on Wednesday and then on Friday after I got my pump removed, but I did feel a lot of hope. 

My Garage

When I came home on Wednesday, I was surprised to see my garage decorated with hearts and a banner that said "Chemo Finito." The Young Women and leaders that I work with had written sweet messages and decorated. It was so sweet of them! Some of the messages said things like, "We love you!" One looked like it said, "You are stranger than you think!" but on closer inspection it actually said "You are stronger than you think." That one made me smile. One had a joke on it: "Why are ghosts bad at lying? You can see right through them!" Haha. One said, "You are a fighter!! Never forget it!" Another, "It will all be ok :)" And another, "We are praying for you!" A couple of neighbors that I don't know very well stopped by as well and we visited. They were so kind and supportive. 

Reflections

When I wasn't in meetings, I had lots of thoughts about my time doing chemo and the blessings I have received. I have been so grateful to not have been too sick. I've been grateful to be able to work as it has given me a chance to focus on other things besides cancer. Work has given me purpose. I feel like I have had great support from those at work who know. I have felt a nearness to the Holy Ghost and have felt spiritually strengthened since the day of my colonoscopy and then my diagnosis. The Lord truly has been my Light and my Strength. I have been so grateful that I've been able to work at the temple throughout my treatments. I have also been forever grateful for my family and their constant prayers and support. I feel like I have been the recipient of so many prayers of faithful people. 

The Bell and Martinellis

As I finished my treatments, I didn't feel like I could ring the bell. There have been so many sweet, tender mercies that I couldn't celebrate it in the traditional sense. I have just felt so much gratitude. Since that day, I have wondered a little bit if I should have rung it anyway to give hope to those who still have treatments to follow. There is great hope! 

They also gave me a bottle of Martinellis Sparkling Cider to celebrate. So I guess the next time I'm around family, I should open it up!

Celebrating with Clint

Clint was in town the day of my last treatment. He had come up from St. George for some meetings for work. So we went out to eat some Thai food. I've had better food, but the company was great! We ate and visited. I laughed because his rental car was a Tesla. I've never been in one of them so it was fun to drive with him in it. It was pretty fancy! After dinner we came back. He had brought some Baklava. I've had Baklava before, and it was okay but this was in the AMAZING category.  It was so impressive! I had some more the next day and enjoyed every bite!

Side Effects

My side effects with this treatment have been similar to previous treatments. I was so tired when I went to the temple. I did come home a little earlier than normal that day. I spent a lot of time resting. It is taking time to recover and time to get strong. Even now, I've noticed quite a bit of neuropathy in my hands and my feet and they are extra sensitive to cold. I have been pretty slow moving and my body has felt pretty weak. With all that being said, I still feel incredibly blessed. I've been able to work and I've been able to take care of things! I am slowly getting stronger and stronger. It will all work out!

Beauty and Joy

As we are now in October, the seasons are beginning to change again. The leaves are starting to change and there is a crispness in the air. I love the fall! I love the cool mornings and then I love that the days are warm, but not hot. There are so many blessings in my life - Heavenly Father is so good! He is so tender and so merciful! He is so near and wants to be near us. I have great family and am so grateful for their love and support. My friends have also been so supportive! I'm so grateful for their prayers of faith. The world is beautiful and there is joy in little moments! May you find beauty and joy in little moments in your life as well.

Treatment #8

I'm not sure where the summer has gone! But for me it has certainly flown! I feel that summer was such a blessing and I'm super grateful that it was the summer during my main treatments. The cold sensitivity is real and I think winter may have been miserable. But alas! It has been warm weather. I've been able to keep my house warm, and now I'm nearly finished with my chemo treatment cycle.

Treatment #8

Lori was so sweet and came with me for #8. We laugh and smile when we are there. I'm grateful that we can laugh. She helps make the time go quickly. We also played games that Steven introduced me to. Unfortunately, I get a little chemo brain, so she crushes me on most of the games. Haha! 

I was planning on another slow drip, but I didn't pay much attention to the flow rate. When my nurse plugged it in, he put i the calculation as though it were a large bag of meds instead of the smaller bag that I get, so it ended up being a 2-hour drip instead of the 4. I didn't even realize it until about 15 minutes before it finished. 

When I finished up, I didn't feel too great, so I ended up going down to Lori's with her and spending the night. I did make it okay through the night and Thursday was also a pretty good day. I was able to work and got some things finished up.

Mom and Dad came up on Thursday evening and we went to watch Mckenzie's soccer game. It was fun to be there. I did get pretty tired by the end, but it was okay. On Friday they took me to get my pump removed. Then I rested for a little bit while Mom and Dad ran some errands. They have been so good to be here with me! I truly am so grateful! Then we went down to Lori's for Daniel's birthday party with his friends. It looked like they had a great time!

That evening I went ahead and came back to my house and rested pretty well. I was able to work at the temple. My side effects were ok and I was able to go. It is always so sweet to be there! I ended up working at a couple of standing posts, but I was able to sit down between patrons. Then I had a sitting post and I got really sleepy. Oh boy! Haha but I made it and rested the rest of the day.

Side Effects

Overall, my side effects have been fairly normal. I noticed this time that my feet peeled a little bit, but they weren't too bad. My hands had a few peeling spots, but overall made it. They were extra sensitive to cold, so I wore my gloves a little more - especially for my morning walks. I've also been a little more tired, so I've rested a little bit more. I have made it. Yesterday and today my hands have been pretty red and a little puffy, but it has been tolerable.

Mom and Dad

Mom and Dad officially finished their mission during this treatment cycle. I'm sad to see them leave to go back to Colorado. It has been such a blessing to have them relatively close by. I know it took faith for them to say yes to staying for another 6 months, but what a blessing and tender mercy it has been for me! I really have appreciated having them. I feel like our family is blessed when they are serving. I hope they can feel that their offering and their sacrifices are acceptable to the Lord. They have given much and have made Cove Fort a better place because they were there. 

Reflections

As I am nearing this phase of my treatment cycle, it has been a tender time for me. I have felt so blessed and so strengthened since the day I received my diagnosis. I have felt the love and strength from the Lord, from my family and friends, and I have had amazing doctors and nurses. They have been so supportive and so kind and helpful. I know this probably sounds a little strange, but it is almost bittersweet to come to the end. I want to make sure I have changed through the process of my cancer. I want to make sure I have become someone different as a result. I want to be a better person moving forward and a better disciple of Jesus Christ. I want to be more like Him because of this experience. It truly has become a sacred space and a sacred journey for me. 

Amy Wright, who is a counselor in the General Primary Presidency, described very eloquently how I feel in her talk Christ Heals That Which is Broken. 

Waiting upon the Lord can be a sacred place—a place of polishing and refining where we can come to know the Savior in a deeply personal way. Waiting upon the Lord may also be a place where we find ourselves asking, “O God, where art thou?”—a place where spiritual perseverance requires us to exercise faith in Christ by intentionally choosing Him again and again and again. I know this place, and I understand this type of waiting.

She then went on to describe a little bit of her own cancer journey. This talk has given me a lot of comfort in the last 6 months when she gave the talk. 

Would I have chosen this as my own trial? Probably not. Would I trade the experience I have had - No! Not for anything! It has brought me closer to the Lord. It is helping me to slow down and to remember Him more. I am learning to trust Him. It is helping me come to know Him. It is my very own Rocky Ridge. My own Martin's Cove. My own Liberty Jail. 

This last three weeks we have been studying Isaiah in Come Follow Me. I'm coming to find beautiful things in Isaiah that I love. There are some verses that are so powerful. One of my all-time favorites is Isaiah 41:10: "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." and 41: 13 "For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee."

He continues to bring joy and beauty. I feel it regularly and I pray that you may also find joy and beauty and love along your journey as well!

Treatments #6 and #7

The summer is passing so quickly! Each treatment comes and goes and then it's done and time for the next one.

Treatment #6

For Treatment #6, the treatment part went just fine. It was pretty status quo. On Saturday Amy and Analeah came. Analeah was coming for Education Week at BYU, so they visited a little. Amy flew back to Oregon on Sunday morning and then flew back on Thursday night so they could drive back. Even though it was a short trip, it was really fun to have them here! We stopped by Lori's on Friday morning and visited with her before they left. It was so fun to be together! We need each other!

Meeting with the Surgeon

I went back to do a check in with my surgeon right before #7. He likes to check in to make sure the chemo is making a difference. He asked about my side effects and if my bowel habits have improved. And they have, so that is what we wanted to hear. He talked like there will be a month between chemo and radiation which should be a good time for my body to get stronger. Then after radiation, I'll have about 2 months for the healthy tissues to heal up before we go into surgery. So there is still quite a bit of a road ahead, but I'm actually grateful that we are able to take it slowly. I had to laugh. In the lobby of the surgeon's office, they had Bob Ross playing. The reason I laugh is that for all of my treatments, Clint has been sending me a "happy little shirt" that has "happy little trees" on them, as a reference to Bob Ross. So that made me smile when I went in for my appointment and he was playing. 

Treatment #7

Treatment #7 was actually more eventful than others. My brother Steven came to be with me for it. He flew in on Tuesday afternoon. We went to eat at a Venezuelan restaurant in Salt Lake - if anyone needs some good Venezuelan food, I'd highly recommend Arempas. Steven said it was legit and the food was awesome! We were both so full when we finished. 

That afternoon we went down to Lori's and hung out with her and her family. We did some good catching up and that was a lot of fun to share pictures and adventures everyone has been on.

Wednesday was my treatment and Steven was a trooper. I wasn't able to get my "normal" seat where I like to sit on the end, so we were a little bit in the middle. Poor Steven ended up being right in front of one of the nurse's stations where they have all their supplies and the other side was in front of one of the other patient's IV pole. But he was a trooper. We visited. He even introduced me to a 2-player game on the phone. we played a couple of word games and Battleship. Unfortunately my chemo brain kicked in and I wasn't very fast at any of the games. Haha. But it was nice to have him there.

That night I wasn't feeling awesome and Steven thought I looked about the same color as my walls, so we laid pretty low. He made us a really delicious dinner of pork tenderloin, Irish smashed potatoes, wilted lettuce salad. It was fabulous.  

Cove Fort

On Thursday I was feeling pretty good, so we drove down to Cove Fort to see Mom and Dad. It was fun to visit. Steven has lots of great wisdom. I enjoyed the time to visit and to catch up. It was fun to be with Mom and Dad. We visited and they took Steven around the Fort. I hung out inside a little more and walked around a little, but was pretty restful. We even played "Guess how fast that car is going" on the freeway. Steven has a lot of practice with it. Haha!

Friday and Saturday

Friday was good too. We were able to run a couple of errands in the morning. Then I was able to get my pump removed and that always feels good, every time. I did a lot of resting on Friday afternoon. In the evening, Mom and Dad came up for their P-Day and Clint was here for work meetings, so we got together with Lori and ate dinner in Lehi. Taqueria 27 is also a great place if you want fun tacos. My favorites are the pear and beet tacos. They've got some great balsamic vinegar drizzled over them and oh they are so good.

On Saturday I rested and didn't go work at the temple. I was able to be here with Steven. Then I took him back to the airport so he could go home. I'm afraid it wasn't a very entertaining trip for Steven, but he was a great support and it meant a lot to have him here. It is really fun for me to have adult relationships with my siblings. I am continually amazed at their strength and their characters. They are all fun to be with and faithful and strong. They make me want to be a better person. 

Proverbs

During these treatments we were studying the Psalms and Proverbs in the Old Testament. I have always loved Proverbs 3:5-6 and I think I love it even more now. Trusting in the Lord is something that is a lifetime of learning to do. I know when I do trust in Him, He makes ALL the difference. He DOES direct my path. He makes everything right,  no matter what I'm going through. I love Him. I've been grateful to learn each week from the scriptures and have loved seeing so many tender mercies and little miracles each and every day. He is very involved in my life and I wouldn't have it any other way!

Gratitude

I feel so grateful for so many family members, friends, coworkers, and people I don'e even know very well praying for me. I feel so strengthened and blessed by their prayers. I know they make a difference. It makes the burden of what could be really stressful seem manageable. It helps me improve my own prayers and I pray for others. I know Heavenly Father hears and answers our prayers, not always in the way that we think we want him to answer, but in ways that He can bless us eternally. I am grateful to know that He is just a prayer away. And for all that are praying for me, I have made a more concerted effort to pray for you as well. May the Lord bless and keep you and may you find gozo y belleza in little moments in your days.

Treatment #5

 Treatment #5 was a better one! That sounds a little crazy, but it was. My friend Stephanie wanted to be my driver and I was grateful! It gave Lori a break this time. She was really patient, especially because it took a couple hours longer than we planned, but she was such a great support and I was so grateful. One of my ministering sisters also brought dinner and that was really sweet. I didn't have to think about it and the food tasted great. She brought over a grilled cheese sandwich and homemade tomato soup and it really did taste good to me. People are so kind. I am just so humbled and grateful for so many people!

Launch of QuickReg

While I was in my infusions on Wednesday, my team and the Welfare and Self Reliance Services (WSRS) team conducted a training on QuickReg, which is a simplified registration system that is designed to be used by local church leaders to offer church-sponsored programs (such as Personal Finances, Start and Grow your Business, Education for Better Work, Find a Better Job, and Finding Strength in the Lord: Emotional Resilience, as well as EnglishConnect 1 & 2) that participants can sign up for. The purpose of the trainings was to introduce the product and to do some basic training for all of the WSRS managers worldwide. Of course it happened while I was at my treatment appointment, but it all went well and everyone seemed pretty excited about it, so I was happy. I was able to join the afternoon session after I finished. We have been working on the product since before Covid started, so it has been a long time in coming. See if you have groups running near you!

Changes in Treatment #5

When I went in to visit with my oncologist, I though my hands looked great compared to what they had looked like. He said "they're ok" and that was all. They were still pretty red and warm and a little puffy, but the peeling had all healed up. So I was pretty happy with them. After we talked a little while, he decided he didn't want to lower my dosage, but he did want to try stretching the treatment out from 2 hours to 4 hours to see if that made a difference. 

I'm not sure how it works because the major side effects don't generally kick in until way after all the meds are done, but it really did make a difference! This was the first treatment that I didn't have to take a nausea pill so that was nice. I felt really good on Thursday and was able to work and do everything I needed to. Mom and Dad came on Thursday night and stayed with me til Friday after I got my pump off.  It always feels so good to detach from it! 

I did come home and rest after I got my pump off, but I felt good in the afternoon. About the time I went to bed, I started feeling some of the pain on my skin, but it wasn't nearly as bad as the time before. I slept good and was able to work at the temple on Saturday morning. It was great to be there! I was a little slow, but very functional. My hands were a little warm, but not hot like the time before. 

I was just so grateful that it was as good as it was! I had decent energy throughout the week. I did take a little nap during lunch, and a rest at the end of my work, but it was good. The launch has gone well so far. There have been a few little issues here and there that the team has been able to respond to, but overall things have gone really well. I am just so grateful!

Lessons from Job and Psalms

Last week we studied about Job in the Old Testament and all he went through. I loved that he kept the perspective of putting his trust in God and he would have what he needed. And after all of the trials, he was still faithful. He asked God a lot of questions about his circumstances, but he never turned away from Him.

This week we have started studying Psalms and there are so many good one-liners, I love a theme that I have started seeing as I have started studying them - they are also about putting your trust in Him. We are his children. He is our Shepherd. He leads us to the green pastures and by the still waters. I love Him and know He is there for me always, but especially in this time. He truly does bring joy and loves us through all of our difficulties. 

Treatment #4

Wow! Treatment #4 has passed and is history now. Time is going so quickly! I'm halfway through chemo infusion treatments!

Blood Work 

I went in to do my blood work and my number "were gorgeous" so that was exciting. It seems like the Udenyca shot that they are giving me is working to boost my blood counts, which allows me to get the treatments. Yay!

Side Effect Management

My hands were a little more normal for Treatment #4. At least they weren't burning. They went from warm to cool (cool is normal) so that was better. However, they did do a lot of peeling. So everywhere I went, I probably left flecks of skin. 

All I could think about with this side effect was when I would go over to my Grandma Johnson's house after one of my grandpa's brothers had left from a visit and how adamant she was that everything be dusted, vacuumed, and cleaned as soon as she could because he had a skin condition where his skin peeled a lot and it gave Grandma the willies. 

Luckily my hands didn't really hurt. They looked pretty bad, but didn't have pain related to the peeling. I did have some more neuropathy in them where they felt tingly and numb. They also spazzed out a little bit where they cramped up. I had to massage them out and then they were ok. 

My lips and mouth have some tingling and numbness too. What is also kind of funny and kind of strange is that the lower lip also spazzes out a little bit. So when I'm in a meeting and it starts wigging out, I have to get it back under control. I am trying to make sure I get enough liquids and enough electrolytes in me to calm it down.

Starting the Friday in the evening after I got my pump out, I noticed my skin became very sensitive to the touch. I noticed especially in my neck that it seemed like all my glands and lymph nodes were on high alert reacting to the chemo. That lasted until Sunday morning when I woke up.

It seemed like it took a little longer to bounce back this time. I try to go out for a walk every day. This time it took about 8 days to feel like I had a little more pep in my step. The other days I walked very slowly. One day I even had to take a nap after my walk before I got ready for work. 

I can tell that I would benefit from a nap in the daytime. I've been listening to a book about sleep and it talks about societies that honor the siesta actually are more healthy overall because they get a rest in the middle of the day. On some days I didn't take a nap and by the end of the day, I wished I had taken the time to do that. 

Random Cravings

Have you ever had a random craving and weren't sure where it came from - especially for a food you haven't eaten in years? Yep. That happened this treatment. I have to say I was a bit surprised at it. But all I could do was get myself to the store to purchase some Top Ramen noodles. You got it! A little strange but they tasted so good! Haha. The next day I ate spaghettioes. You know, the Franco American kind? I was so determined to eat so healthy and to only eat things that are going to be good for my body. I didn't do so well, but I ate something. :) And that was worth something for now.

July 24th

The 24th of July weekend was great! I was able to feel up to traveling down to Cove Fort where Mom and Dad are serving their mission. I was able to spend Saturday - Monday with them. It was great to be there. We had some good time to sit out and watch the wild turkeys come in to eat apples. We had some nice rain while I was there and it made the day a lot cooler. It was fun to see all the projects Mom and Dad are working on. I even got to watch Dad "break in" to someone's car who had locked the key inside. Mom and Dad both have some awesome skills. :) 

It was also great to be there in their sacrament meeting on Sunday. Mom and Dad were the assigned speakers. They tied in the pioneers but Mom really focused on being "in the right place" and Dad really focused on following the prophet and our leaders. They both did such a great job! I love watching them do their handiwork!

We also sang Come, Come Ye Saints. I love one line and sing it to myself prior to each treatment. "Gird up your loins, fresh courage take." While we were singing, though, I also noticed the next phrase "Our God will never us forsake." And that is so true! Heavenly Father is very much a part of our mortal journey if we let Him be. And He is so good! He gives comfort and strength in so many ways that we never have to feel alone. He is there if we seek Him. He is the source of all that is beautiful and all that brings joy. May you find that in your journey as well!

Treatment #3

I feel like each treatment is one more milestone! And I'm so grateful. I went in for my treatment on 29 June. Mom and Dad were here for a heart appointment for Dad, so they were able to be here with me. My blood counts were on the border, but high enough that I was able to get my treatment. So yay!

I met with one of the PAs instead of my oncologist and she was really nice. We talked through my side effects and how I'm feeling overall. I think they were right when they said most people "tolerate" it pretty well. That is pretty accurate.

I felt pretty good overall between Wednesday and Friday while I had my pump attached. I even took myself to get unhooked and felt good. They have been giving me a shot to boost my bone marrow so it produces more white blood cells. To manage the side effects of it, I take a Claritin so I don't feel a lot of pain. I feel really lucky. I was talking to a friend of mine who recently finished chemo and she said even with Claritin she had a lot of bone pain. 

Saturday at the Temple

I was even able to work at the temple on Saturday and I felt like I could be useful. I think it was a miracle and tender mercy. I was grateful to be able to serve in many different areas and that was nice. I was a little tired, but not like the last time. With this treatment I've noticed a lot more neuropathy in my hands. So on Saturday my hands were burning hot and felt like they were really asleep, so my fine motor production was a little off. It's a strange sensation. Generally I feel like my hands are cold, but this time they have been hot. It definitely gives me empathy for people I know who struggle with diabetes or other issues and have neuropathy. After the temple, I came home and rested most of the rest of the day. 

Young Womens and Covid

Last week was also the YW camp. I had thought I would go help load and what not. I was feeling good before my treatment. The Young Women's President told me that they had it under control and didn't need my help. The morning they left, five of the people who were going to go had Covid symptoms. Several of the leaders and girls came home with Covid, so it is probably better I didn't help. I wasn't sure what to do about church with so much sickness going around, but when i went on Sunday, I was well-masked and there were a lot of people out. So I stayed and felt fine. However, I have been banned (by the YW president) from doing anything with the young women for a month or so until everything calms down. 

4th of July

I feel like I have been so blessed! So far, I am 3 for 3 treatments that fell on a 3-day weekend, so I have had the Monday after treatment off. It has been such a blessing! I have been able to have one more day to rest and recover. So I ran a few errands on Monday morning and then in the afternoon I took a nap and read a fluffy book for fun. It seems like I've been in the mode of listening to books when I drive or while I'm out and about, so it was fun to actually read a book. 

Mid-Treatment Blood Work

Yesterday I had a mid-treatment blood test to see where I am with my blood counts. Because I was on the border last week, I think they wanted to make sure the shot they are giving me is doing its job. So when I compared my counts, I had double white blood cells yesterday to what I had before I started on chemo.  So that was nice to see. It seems like the shot is doing its job. I also had a chance to counsel with the PA again about side effects. I have had some bowel issues too, so I'll be drinking a daily dose of Miralax and that should keep things moving along. :) (Sorry if that is TMI (too much information))! 

One More Tender Mercy

Two or three weeks ago my brother was telling me that his kids were watching Little House on the Prairie. So I asked him if they had read the books and he said they hadn't. So I'm a regular shopper at a couple of Savers thrift stores. It seems like they have a pretty good collection of books that are in pretty good condition. So a week or so ago I set out to see if I could find all of the books. I found 8 of them that were all in the same edition and I bought them all and was so excited! However, I got home and looked back at the list of Laura Ingalls Wilder books and noticed I was missing the first one. So tonight I set out to see if I could find the missing one. I went to the Savers in South Jordan, and I found a couple of Little House books, but not the one I needed. So then I went up to the Taylorsville Savers and scanned the shelves and couldn't find one Little House book. I was so disappointed. So then I had the thought to go back through the shelves more carefully that time. So instead of going top to bottom, I went bottom to top and I looked at all of the titles. And lo and behold, on the top shelf was the very book I needed. I was amazed once again at how Heavenly Father blessed me in this one little desire (that really means nothing in the grand scheme of life on earth), but it meant something to me today. He is so good! And I was so grateful!

The Book of Mormon and the Old Testament

Since I started my treatments, I restarted reading The Book of Mormon. This time as I have been reading, I think because we are also studying the Old Testament, I have noticed how much Nephi writes about the Scattering, the Gathering, Israel, Moses, and the prophecies of these prophets. It has really opened my eyes as I see the different kings in the Old Testament referred to by Nephi and Jacob in their writings. It has been so enlightening and fun to see the connections! 

A Podcast Celebrating Cancer

Last week I heard from a friend of mine about a podcast she had listened to about a woman who talks about celebrating cancer. She sent me the link and I realized it was from a woman who was in my ward a few years ago. I wanted to share the link. She is super inspirational. I want to be like her one day!  

There truly is so much beauty and joy in the world if we look for it and recognize that beauty and the joy. May you find beauty and joy in your journey wherever you are today!

Treatment #2 and Tribute to Dad

Treatment #2 

I made it through Treatment #2! I feel like each one is a successful milestone. I was able to work at least part of the day on both Wednesday and Thursday. On Friday, I actually felt pretty good too! I definitely had more energy than #1. Mom and Dad were here with me this time. So we went to Sam's Club and I was able to walk around and get what I needed and not get too tired. I was so grateful!

After I got my pump out, Mom and Dad wanted to look for some new shoes, so we went to a store and they each found a pair. I didn't do a lot and toward the end, I sat down a bit. Then I came home and slept. I really wanted to try to work at the temple, so I went to bed early on Friday night and was able to wake up at my early hour of 2:45 AM to get ready. I felt like it was a miracle I was able to be there. I filled in a couple of spots and helped with a few random assignments that needed someone extra. I sat down a lot between patrons and was glad I could do that! By the time the shift was finished at 10, I was ready to come home.

It was a pretty funny rest of the day. I changed into my pants and then got on the couch and slept for about 2 1/2 hours. It was a good, deep sleep. Then I got up and ate a little something. Then I thought I might try to watercolor something. So I started watching a video on how to do it and before the 10-minute video ended, I left my paints right there and I leaned back in my chair and took another nap.

Somewhere in there, I also started a load of laundry. So I finally went up the stairs to put it in the dryer, but before I did, I thought I would just sit on my bed for a minute and then I'd change it...Well, an hour later, I woke up and changed the laundry. So that was pretty much how the day went - from couch to chair to bed to chair to couch. And I slept in all of them. I was also able to eat better than last time, so that was nice. I decided I would try to watch a movie before I went to bed to see if I could stay up a little later to make sure I'd be able to sleep. I hadn't seen it before, but I watched Encanto. I had heard good things about it and really liked the message from it! 

Side Effects

My mouth is still a little zingy when I take a first bite or two of pretty much anything and I still can't drink anything cold. I've noticed more neuropathy in my hands. So they feel a little tingly and I noticed especially yesterday morning they were really warm. My hands are never warm. Haha. My body definitely needs sleep and I feel like it is helping to regenerate. Today is Sunday and I've only taken two naps. Haha. I also went out to take a walk - it was short, but I was able to get out. As I was going to church this morning, I got to thinking about how grateful I am that my side effects are what they are. I am able to be out and doing a few things. I can work. I don't feel terrible all the time. And that makes me happy. I can do this with heaven's help!

Tribute to Dad

Today is Father's Day. I have the BEST dad any girl could ask for. Since I was a little girl, I have always looked up to my dad. He is always kind and gentle. He has always treated me with respect and love. He has talked to me kindly and supported me in my every need. He gives great advice. He is wise. He puts up with my silliness. He is a man of faith. He makes me want to be a better person. He is the dad Heavenly Father knew I needed on my mortal journey. He is always ready to give me a priesthood blessing when I need one. He is ready to strengthen me when I am weak. During this time especially, he is willing to drive a lot to be with me when I need him. Because I know and love my dad, it helps me have a glimpse of who Heavenly Father is and what He is like. Happy Father's Day, Dad!

Glimpses of Heaven (written for Dad on Father's Day 2022)

What must it have been like,

Waiting like we did,

To come down to earth

Where heaven was hid?

How would we make it?

What would it be like?

I'm sure Father told me to not fear,

I'd have a dad named Mike.

He would be gentle and kind.

He'd have a heart of gold.

When I had an ache in my heart,

He'd offer his hand to hold.

He would teach me to laugh

And to work and to play

He showed by example

How to find joy every day. 

My dad teaches me of

Patience, love, kindness, humility,

Faith, joy, trust, wisdom,

And the love Father has for me.

My Dad shows me what Heaven must be like

With Father above,

He exemplifies goodness,

And kindness, and love.