My first radiation treatment is done.  I 'm in the machine for a little less than 11 minutes.  The people are very nice where I go and everything went fine.  I see the doctor every Monday before the treatment.

We just got back from a great week in Idaho.  We spent the first night with mom and then first thing Monday morning we headed up to Island Park to stay with Buck and Donetta in their cabin.  We had a great float and fishing trip.  There is no place prettier then floating the river at Island Park.  It was the perfect day and Buck did all the rowing so Randy could fish.  Donetta and I just enjoyed the trip.  The next day we moved to Richard"s cabin and had a great time there with family.  We spent one day just traveling the roads in Yellowstone park that we never go on.  It was amazingly beautiful.  We saw a wolf, lots of buffalo with their calves, an elk with her baby and several waterfalls I hadn't seen before.  It was a cold day so that made it a wonderful day to go.  We did get snow and rain but that is typical for this time of year up there.  It was a great time to visit and enjoy family.  I forgot to mention that on our way to Idaho we stopped and stayed with Jenny and were there on Sunday when little Aumaia was blessed. On our way home yesterday we stopped to drop off a TV to Glenna and Ioua and enjoyed some time with them.  When we got home last night all was well except for a big trail of ants in the basement.
While we were at the cabin Teresa asked me what I had learned from my experience so far with breast cancer.  After a moment of thought I said that probably first and foremost would be that I learned how important the prayers of family and friends have been.  It's hard to explain how you feels those prayers.  You feel the support of those who love you.  I also found out a lot of people like me.  They would and do say such kind things to me.  People here at church and at school have gone out of their way to be so kind and help me in many ways.  I've learned even more how my Heavenly Father loves me and is there for me and will always be there for me.  With his help I can get through anything.  So I will continue to forge ahead with His help.
Tomorrow is my first day of radiation.  If all goes well I will be done with that by July 18.  So I am going to do exactly what they say to minimize any side effects with that and know that there are many who continue to pray for me and that will help me get through it.
I have several friends who have and have had breast cancer.  Many are survivors and some are terminal.  I would like to think that I will be a survivor but recognize that my life is in my Heavenly Fathers hands and that is OK.

Yeah!  My last chemo is done.  I feel so relieved and happy about that.  Today i go for my last shot.  Last night I decided to just stay rather than attempt any sleep for a while because it doesn't happen.  So i stayed up and worked on the blanket for the last grandchild born and almost got the whole thing done.  I finally went to bed at 3:30 and was able to fall asleep right away.   I will probably need a nap today but that is Ok.  So this morning I slept in and then went tot the gym for 30 minutes.  I need to start building up my exercise again.   So the rest of today I am going to just finish up a few things and get ready for company.  We have family coming for Oma's funeral to morrow in Richfield.  So it will be a busy but wonderful weekend with family.  Next week will be quiet and then the next week we are headed for a week in Idaho before I start radiation.  
One thing I learned in my life is that it does not good to freak out over disasters or trials that come our way.  You have to take some time to calm down and think through things  and work things out in the best way possible.  A calm mind can get you through  a lot.  So that is my advice to everyone today.

Tomorrow is my final chemo treatment.  I have had a cold the last few days so there is a possibility that they may make me wait.  This Friday is Randy's mom's funeral and some of the kids are coming and will be here for the weekend.  I haven't mentioned much about my cancer quilt.  I and others have been working on the squares and we are almost done.  Our goal was 30 squares and I believe we have about 3 left to complete.  When it is all complete then I will put a picture on the blog.  Life is good and I am happy to be alive.

Today is chemo #7.  The first time on this drug my arms itched uncontrollably and I had a massive rash.  The second time that didn't happen but the trunk of my body itched like crazy for a week, but no rash.  So I wonder what will happen this time.  I had a rough night partly because of all the steroids I have to take for today and partly because I have so much to do to get ready for today.  I had some things come up the last couple of days that I wasn't planning on so that put me behind.  I try and have the laundry and the house clean right before chemo so I don't have to worry about it for a few days.  The car window was one of the things I wasn't planning on.  I went to roll it up and it fell into the door, so I had to spend a while at Honda until they could look at it and then I had to wait for the shuttle to take me home.  When I got home I realized I didn't have a key for the house because I left it on my key ring at Honda.  I tried a credit card on the downstairs door but couldn't get it.( I tried this because I watched Ashley do it to that door one time and she got in.)  So I decided to call a friend and go sit at her house but she didn't answer.  I watered the plants in the back yard and was frustrated because I really needed to just get in the house and get my stuff done.  Ultimately I decided to get the tall ladder and climb up on the balcony to get in.  I'm glad no one was watching me.  I was successful!  My stomach did do a few flip-flops in the process.  This all happened because we had to replace our door knobs because they were worn out.   Normally we have a hide out key but hadn't set that up yet.  So last night Randy took care of that.  So now I am going to try and get more done before I leave this morning.  Cleaning the kitchen just went to the bottom of my list because getting my applique stuff ready for today has to take priority, of course, because it's more fun.

RYLA

A few days ago I remembered something that Mom did for me that I am very grateful for.  Back in High School I wasn't the best at paying attention (probably now also).  I was selected to go to RYLA which was a youth leadership conference in the mountains.  We were told that we were to all meet at the Farmhouse at a certain time and a shuttle would load up all of the kids and take us up the mountain.  Of course I wasn't paying attention and thought the pick up was an hour or so later than the actual pick up time.  When we arrived at the Farmhouse and found out that the shuttle had left I was pretty upset.  The conference was shortly after Callie Lyons died and it was something that I was looking forward to to get away.  My Mom didn't want to let me down and she drove me all the way up the mountain and dropped me off at the conference.  Thank you Mom for taking the time to drive your foolish son all the way up the mountain that day rather than telling me it was my fault for not paying attention.  I love you Mom.