GETTING READY FOR MY CHEMO TREATMENTS

The first thing I had to do was get my Port in early Monday morning. The procedure went good and now
I'm ready for Chemotherapy. It was a little sore but didn't prevent me from going out with the Jester's for
dinner Monday evening. We go out with them evey month and enjoy this time together.

Don had taken a day off from work so that he could be with me for support and in case I needed him
for anything.

Tami took today off work to be with me during my first Chemotherapy treatment. I am so blessed to have such a
loving and caring family!! Now that I know the ropes, I know what to expect. It's really not so bad since I have an
easy chair that is very comfortable, a hot blanket when ever I feel cold, some good books to read, writing paper to
express my thoughts, good company to visit with, etc. Time flew by and I was done before I knew it.

Tami is wonderful company and supports me emotionally. She also is very knowledgeable about paying medical
bills so I make sure she OK's each bill before I pay for it. This is her job at the VA so I love having her help me
understand what each bill is for and when I should pay it.

Jeff is planning to make several casserols for us and we really appreciate this. He's a great cook.

This is my little fanny pack I have to wear for the next 2 days. It is pumping in Chemo while wearing it. It's amazing
what the treatments are like. I'm grateful to live in this day and age with these miracle drugs to help you live.

I have one treatment down and 7 to go!! I CAN DO THIS!!

CELEBRATION OF LIFE

At first this cruise was for Don's 70th birthday. Then, when I had my surgery the title for this cruise changed.
Celebrating life in general was what it was called. Since we had to change the date of our cruise to a later date it was going to be on Tasha's birthday too. How exciting to have so many things to celebrate.

Tasha had 2 surprise birthday cakes on her special day. I had invited everyone to our cabin

at 11:45 a.m. on July 21, and there were cards, notes, gifts and a cake waiting for her. Later

that day Lara and Ben had bought her an hour of pampering in the Day Spa. To top off

Tasha's birthday, JJ gave her a beautiful card and some gifts before we ate dinner. JJ also had

another surprise cake for Tasha. It was deliverd to her at the end of our meal by our

waiter that night.

We decided that a cruise ship is a perfect place to have a birthday!

Our family paid for this cruise for Don and I. What a wonderful gift! THANK YOU AGAIN!!

OUR ALASKAN CRUISE

SPECTACULAR SCENERY, WONDERFUL FAMILY, LOTS OF GOOD FOOD AND ACTIVITIES SUMS UP OUR CRUISE!!
WHAT A WONDERFUL WEEK WE HAD IN SEATTLE, JUNEAU, SKAGWAY AND VICTORIA CANADA.

MORE ABOUT OUR CRUISE........

Having 8 members of our family able to be on this cruise was so special. We missed those that couldn't be with us
but it didn't stop us from having a fabulous time!

All good things have to come to an end and we all flew home on Friday.....July 23. We decided that in 2 years we
will go on another cruise some where. That gives us some time to save up for it.

I truly feel uplifted and ready for my chemo for the next 4 months. I begin this coming Tuesday with the first treatment.
Please keep me in your prayers.

Don and I loved to meditate while watching out the window of the ship.

We've been through some difficult times the past few years but still feel so

blessed in our lives. Having such a loving family and wonderful friends,

has really helped us.

There's something about the vast ocean that puts

things in perspective.

DON TURNS 70 YEARS OLD!

Tami and Jeff came over after work on July 12, to help celebrate Don's birthday. After opening cards and gifts they took us out to dinner at Golden Corral. We always have such fun with Tami and Jeff and it's wonderful they live so close that we can do these special things together.

When Don and I got home we enjoyed the book I had put together of his childhood years. We had a great time laughing and
remeniscing about what a cute little boy he was. Don's mother had given him a sack full of pictures, awards, newspaper clippings, etc. and I thought his 70th birthday would be a great time to put these things in order and present him this book for his birthday. He really enjoyed this and it took us a couple of hours to go through the book and have him remember these events in his life.

This really was a perfect gift for him this year.

He also loved Tasha's phone call, Lara's email and Dadra's tribute to her Dad on her new blog. Of course, being with Tami and
Jeff for a delicious meal was great too. It was a wonderful birthday for Don and it will continue this week when we go on our Alaskan Cruise this Thursday (July 15).

My next blog will be after our cruise so I will visit with you again with some wonderful pictures. I do begin my chemo on July 27th but I'm not thinking about this until I get home!!

TODAY WAS MY LAST RADIATION TREATMENT!

After I was finished and said my goodbys to all those that helped me get through this part of my cancer treatments, I walked out of the Radiation Oncology area. I've made some special friends there but I hope that I never have to have them take care of me again.

I was given a certificate for completing the course of radiation therapy with courage and praiseworthy good nature. I wonder if this award had anything to do with the chocolate chip cookies I gave them last Thursday?

I have to admit that I'm glad this phase of my treatment is over. I'm grateful that my body was able to handle the radiation and chemo pills for the past 5 weeks. Now I'm looking forward to our family cruise before my chemo in the veins starting July 27th. I'm not even going to think about this for the next 3 weeks.

Don has been so wonderful to be there for every radiation treatment except for the 1st one. He's a great support for me during this time.

Oh yes, Don isn't with another woman.......it's me in my attitude wig!! I thought this would be a good time to wear it since I'm so happy that radiation is over.

HOW FUN CAN IT GET?

Teresa came over and cooked our meal for the 4th of July. It was delicious!

Tami came over about 6:OO to help us do sparklers. We all felt like we were kids again. It's amazing how important these traditions are and how it brings back such memories. We were singing patriotic songs and dancing around like little kids. What a great 4th of July we all had.

We all love this wonderful country and feel so blessed to live in America! May God continue to bless us!!

Hope you all are having a great 4th of July week-end!!

I HAVE BEEN CREATIVE LATELY!

IT'S BEEN FUN MAKING 53 LITTLE SHEEP FOR MY NEXT RELIEF SOCIETY SPOTLIGHT. I CALL THESE MY RADIATION SHEEP SINCE IT HELPED KEEP ME BUSY DURING MY TREATMENTS.

A SPOTLIGHT SURPRISE!

Don helped me with my Relief Society spotlight today. I was Little Bo Peep that lost her sheep and decided it was too hard to find them and besides, she was too busy to worry about it.

The Good Shepherd helped me to realize that every sheep was important by sharing the story in Luke 15:3-7.

The Good Shepherd left his 99 sheep to find the one lost sheep. When he found it He brought it back to the fold and rejoiced.

Little Bo Peep finally understood that the Lord wants us all to help find His lost sheep no matter how busy our lives are. This applied to our inactive sisters on our Visiting Teacher's routes. I then passed out some little sheep that I had made for each sister to remind her of this concept. While I was passing out the sheep a sister came in the Relief Society door and sat down. I looked at her and was shocked to see a dear friend from our San Diego days.......Patty Donahoe. I just couldn't believe it and said, "THIS IS MY FRIEND FROM YEARS AGO!! As I gave her a sheep I told her that I would be right back after changing into my clothes.

We had the Donahoe's come to our home and had such a fun visit for a couple of hours. They were on their way to the Denver area to see their daughter. Patty is another eternal friend. We have kept in touch all these years through Christmas card letters and pictures. How wonderful it was to be together again in person.