Breast cancer

My sister has breast cancer. Totally unexpected. It's happening so fast, I don't even think I have had time to comprehend it all. She had surgery to remove the lump today (Friday). She is getting a double masectomy. Even though it's only in one, she feels that she needs to remove both. Now we are told that she tested positive in her lymph nodes...not good. This was suppose to be the" good" cancer. Now some of our fears are coming true. She will have to have chemo and radiation. It might have spread, we don't know yet. This shouldn't be happening to her. She is too young (38). She has young kids (ages 13-2). I don't understand. This has been a very emotional day for me. I don't know how to deal with it. I can't even go to the hospital. I don't think I am handling it well. I'm angry. This shouldn't happen to her. She is so positive and upbeat about everything. She has a way with people. Everyone adores her.

She was told a year ago that it was just a cyst and just to keep an eye on it. They didn't do an ultrasound, they should have. Then they said she will just have to have radiation but now it's worse than they thought so she will have to have chemo and radiation. She is going to lose her hair. My sisters are talking about shaving their hair. I don't know if I can. Am I too conceited? This is really hard. She just wanted to get this out and move on with her life. We have been praying and fasting for her. Her name is in many temples including the prayer roll of the general authorities. I know we shouldn't ask why but I am. Why her? Why now? Why aren't our prayers being answered? Nothing seems to matter now...I just want DeLayne to get better quickly and life to get back to normal.

Football season has begun

Just a little reminder that football season is here! My husband mowed this logo into our lawn. Our bishop wants to paint a big red U on top of it (he is a Ute Fan). Here's to a winning year! GO BYU!

1st days of school

When school starts again it just reminds me that my kids are getting older. I don't want them to grow up because that means one day they will be all grown up and gone. I hate that thought. All but one started school this year.

Brad is in 8th grade. Yeah so much easier than 7th grade (emotionally for me). I am a little worried because he comes home everyday and says he doesn't have homework. Hopefully that changes.

Preston is in 5th with the same school and teacher. YEAH! We love Miss B. Preston loves school and I am happy about that.

Kailene is in 2nd grade. She likes her teacher but none of her friends are in her class but she is making new friends.

Breanna started Kindergarten. This was hard for me because Bree and I get a long so well. She is my little mommy and helps me so much. As she was walking in her classroom she didn't even look back. Not even a I love you mom, I'm going to miss you, Thanks for the last 5 years of my life, mom. Nothing, just walked right in. She did wake up and hug us by 8 am and told us she loved us and will miss us. She still had 4 more hours until Kindergarten. She loves school and even after trying to persuade her, she still wants to go back.

First free flight

For Brad's 13th birthday (yes, I do have a teenager!) we promised him a trip to San Fran to see Wicked the Musical, which is my favorite! It just so happened that we were able to get a flight and tickets on Aug 18th, one month exactly from his birthday. We just knew it was meant to be. Brad and I flew to San Fran, got a hotel, tried to get lottery tickets but had no luck and ended up buying tickets 9 rows from the stage! I was in heaven. I could see everything. It was pretty surreal to be at a theater performance with my son since that is what I did with my parents. It brought back many good memories. Show was fantastic!! Theater was beautiful. Elpheba and Glinda came from Broadway so we in for a treat. We stayed the night and hung around San Fran for the day. It was a shoppers-heaven. Now, I must admit, I am not a shopper. So walking around for hours was not that appealing to me or Brad but we had fun and tried to enjoy it since our flight didn't leave until the afternoon. Brad couldn't believe stores could be 3-4 stories, a full level just for a certain gender. We flew to Long Beach and unfortunately, we could not get on the flight that night to SLC so we had to spend the night in Long Beach. The flight home was stressful because we didn't know if we would get on that flight and it was an hour delayed. Ugggh! I guess it's not a good idea to fly during the summer or without Paul (you get pushed down on the totem pole if you are not flying with an employee). Even with all our setbacks, it was a great trip that I was able to enjoy with my son Brad. He deserved it and much more! Thanks to Paul who reassurred me all was well at home when I didn't get home for a day later.

FYI: The trolley's are not free and San Fran is so cold even in August!

Remembering Lola

Lola as a pup & Lola all grown up

Our dog passed away this weekend. She was very young and this was not expected. She stopped eating and within days was dead. I don't understand why she died. Did she eat something? Did she get heartworm? Many unanswered questions. It has been really hard for my family, especially me. I am really not a dog person but Lola was a great dog. She was very obedient, well-behaved, low maintenance and loved us unconditionally. I cried for days. Every time I would think of her I would cry. My heart aches that she is gone. I wonder if there was something we could have done. But, then I wonder if the medical bills would have been too much. I consider a blessing in disguise that she died peacefully in our backyard. We don't talk much about where dogs go after this life. Have you seen the animated movie "All dogs go to Heaven"? It doesn't seem like a heaven to me if there are a lot of dogs barking all night, only my dog (which she rarely did, bytheway, only for strangers). I find comfort and peace that she will be waiting for us on the other side and we will still be her masters. We send off balloons with messages to her in the sky for FHE. We love you, Lola.

Diamond in the ruff

Our new favorite spot-Splash park in Highland. The kids love it!

Some pictures of our 4th of July Festivities