Relay for Life 2012

My mother-in-law is a hero.  

When I married Shawn, I knew that 

1. I had big shoes to fill.

2.  I was one lucky girl to marry into such a wonderful family. 

3. I had the best mother-in-law anyone could ask for. 

4. I would probably never be as good of a cook! :)

I could keep going and going... because, seriously Dixie really is that wonderful.  She is selfless, kind, patient, optimistic, encouraging, complimentary (she even tells me things like I am a good cook and have a beautiful voice & she always makes me feel like I look good and am doing a good job), and she is a survivor and a woman full of faith.

It amazes me that she is always thinking of others and concerned for what is going on around her (even at the Relay for Life she was commenting that she hoped there was something for Wyatt to eat & even when she doesn't feel well herself). 

I often find myself thinking about how Dixie would have handled certain situations as a mother, and seek her wisdom, in hopes of raising my children to become as great as her are! 

It was so touching to be able to walk with her during the survivor walk at Relay for Life.  As they played the Disney Hercules song, "I Will Go the Distance," it all hits me (well again), of just how lucky I am and how much I love this lady.   

Thank you, Dixie, for your light and example.   

Your testimony and faith are such an inspiration for all of us.

Not only are you a survivor, but more importantly, you are true example of someone who really does "Go the distance." We love you.  -Darcy

Wow have I been busy.  We got through Glenna and Ioua's wedding and it all turned out great.  Many people helped with it all and that is what made everything so wonderful.  Chemo was yesterday.  This new drug requires a lot of steroids to start so needless to say I didn't get to sleep last night until about 3:00 a.m.  Today I go for the shot that gives you a few aches and pains but it helps with other things so that is OK.  I did have a little reaction last time to the new drug.  I broke out in a rash up and down my arms so I took a lot of benedryl and used a lot of cortisone cream.  This all happened right before the wedding.  So the doctor thinks it was the new drug and I wonder if it wasn't a little bit of wedding also so we will see if it happens agin this time.  But if that is all that happens then I certainly can't complain.  I'm looking forward to the newlyweds coming today and the Open House on Sat.  I am a very blessed person and I thank my heavenly Father everyday for all of my blessings which include all of you!

Yesterday was a bit of a struggle. I ended up throwing up in the afternoon and had to lay down for a while. Then I seemed much better. This new chemo drug causes neuropathy. So my feet and legs feel like I've been at Disneyland until midnight. So we will see how that goes. I want to get up and go and my feet and legs are objecting to that. I'm working hard on my cancer quilt and making lists for wedding preparations. We leave for Ca. Wed. morning. We are very excited about this wedding. We love Ioua and Glenna and know that they will have a wonderful life together. So many people are doing so much to help with this wedding and it is much appreciated.

News

Callie seemed quite devastated by the news, but we are otherwise very excited :)

Love you Mom/Grandma!!

Pride (the good kind) :)

So Mom, this morning I took the kids to run at the track before school.  It was a nice sunny morning, 55 degrees, so we took advantage.  I sat down on a bench to nurse Jane and I noticed a husband and wife, probably in their mid-sixties, walking the track together.  I noticed she was walking pretty slowly, but steadily.  Then I noticed her wig when she came closer.  She was obviously struggling but pushing through and they made it around the track 3 or 4 times.  I wondered if she had just had a treatment, and I felt really proud of her, and proud of you.

So that got me thinking of all the things I'm proud of you for.  There are so many.  Probably because I was hungry, the one I kept thinking about was that I've always been proud of you for being such a great cook.  I was proud when people bid up to $50 a dozen for your cinnamon rolls at the scout auction.  Every time someone came to dinner I was proud of the delicious food you served.  So much so that when they complimented you I felt like they were complimenting me, too. :)

I remember one time you were in charge of the dinner for homemaking. It was probably the March meeting so you wanted it to be special.  You decided to make french crepes.  Usually you went for recipes that were more practical, plentiful and delicious (as a true mother of 6 hungry children plus extras).  I was pretty thrilled not only that you were going to do something so fancy, but that you asked me, Jenny, Melina and Tiare to help you.  I felt like you trusted me to be able to do nice fancy things.  We worked long and hard trying to make those crepes, this was before crepes were really ever eaten in the U.S. and they were pretty new for everyone.  The dinner ones had a savory lemon cheese filling with a lemon sauce.  

After the dinner I remember you were wondering out loud to yourself if it had been the best choice of entrees and whether or not people liked it or had had enough to eat.  At the same time one of the elderly sisters in the ward came into the kitchen.  I can't remember who it was, but she was one of the ladies I admired for her careful appearance and painted nails and perfectly curled white fluffy hair.  Some of the elderly ladies in the ward back then seemed so elegant to me! Anyway, she came in and sincerely complimented you on the delicious dinner, saying that it was light and delicate and delicious and just perfect for the occasion.  I remember I was SOOOO proud of you at that moment.  To me, you were the best cook in the world.

Anyway, just one fun memory from the thousands I have of being proud of you.  I love you, Mom!

I had a great night last night. I went to bed at 10 and woke up at 6. I feel good today. This is usually a good day. I have a "Pampering the Pink" luncheon that I am going to today. Then I go get my shot that I get after every Chemo treatment. I hope to spend some time today with Jenny and the kids. Yesterday they went to Zion and got rained out. The shuttles were running so the kids at least got to do that as the rain fell. They were able to see some deer and wild turkeys and then last night they had another family dinner with the other city employees from Eagle Mt.

The wedding is coming so fast. It's time to make more lists and check them carefully so we don't forget anything. I love you all and thanks so much for your prayers, your cards, and all your kind words to me.

So I found out that those 10 pills I had to take last night and this morning were steroids which explains why I woke up at three in the morning with a racing mind that would not shut down. My blood count was down a little today but still not considered too low. So far I'm doing Ok and feeling pretty good. I have high hopes for a good night sleep to night. So now I'm 5 Chemo's down. YEAH!!!!