Christmas festivities

Last Friday we went to Disneyland and to our surprise Dean and Carrie were going too!! We had such a blast with them, like always!!

On Sunday we had our Christmas with Mark & Pam. We always have such a great time and their house is decorated beyond great!! They are so great at throwing parties but they are just super fun to be around!! It was so good to see Abby, Landon & Rochelle (Landon's girlfriend)!! We missed Matt who is still living in Thailand and Chelsie who married Scott and is living in Germany.

We are truly blessed with a great family!!!

Back in Blogland

Well it's been quite a while since my last post, a lot has happened since October!

First, thank you, thank you to those who kept my dad and family in your prayers. His surgery was very long but best of all very successful!! We had many church friends (about 12) at the hospital to support my family - amazing testimony to the family of God and the love we share!! I was so blessed to have my friend Cherie Vann there the entire day and night to be my support. She stayed with my mom and I until we were able to see my dad in his room and make sure he was as comfortable as possible. The mark of a really great friend ~ they will let you go to Tommy's Burgers at midnight and eat right along with you. Just to show support! Love you Cher Bear!!

We are continuing to pray that the nerves in my dad's face will come back sooner than the 6 months the doctors project. Also, for the hearing in his ear which is gone.

Thanksgiving was a really relaxing day with my parents and Grandma. We had so much to be thankful for it was so good just to be together!!! Here's a few pics:

Surgery Tomorrow!

Thank you to all who have been holding our family in your prayers! Tomorrow morning is my Dad's surgery here's a clip of my dad's email to explain it all....

"I received relatively good news this morning from the 10 member Kaiser Oncology Board. After each had felt my neck (and cumulatively given me about an hour neck message), I told them this was an awesome deal ... one hour message for $5 fee (my Kaiser plan payment). They laughed...
Result. It appears to them than the skin cancer (from sun radiation) had traversed down to the lymph nodes. Therefore the total path of travel must be removed. So, they plan to make an incision above the ear down to the lower neck to remove all flesh (fat) and lymph nodes (which hide in the "fat"). So, I will have a skin depression in this area. They will not remove the skin but merely fold it back while they remove the "insides". They must remove the Parotid Gland (as that is the "travel" route).... being careful to not injure the facial nerves that go through the Parotid Gland ... (or all I could give you is 1/2 a smile)."

Well there you go! Please keep him and the doctors in your prayers! Don't forget to put on your sunscreen my dear friends and family!!

A journey we never wanted to take...

On September 24Th, my dad called while I was helping the kids with their homework and the story begins... Cancer is the verdict. My initial response was tears and heartache. My next response was tears and nausea. Then I moved onto more tears and just feeling numb. After the waterfall of tears and about three hours of sleep, I start thinking clearer. I came to the realization that God loves my Dad even more than I'm capable of loving him and like me God does not enjoy seeing His children suffer. I haven't been able to update my blog until now to let you all know whats been going on. I think, I've been thinking if I don't talk about it it will go away -dumb, I know! So, here we go on this journey that we never wanted to take. As of right now we are in the waiting mode. Biopsy confirmed the cancer (Squamous Cell), good news the liver test came back clear. We are waiting on the MRI that he had last Sunday morning, then we'll get a surgery date. We are praying the cancer has not spread to more than one module, the MRI will confirm. So, if you all would keep my Dad and Mom in your prayers, it would really mean a lot to me!! God has given my dad and mom great peace in this. I'm trusting God, still occasionally my heart hurts, I'm my dad's little girl.

Back in full swing!

This weekend Fall Baseball, Softball & Club Ball began. Our first game was Michael's he's on the Dodgers this season. Michael's big moment was when he was playing third base and a line drive came right at him and he caught it! Great job Mikey!!!Samantha is playing her first season ever of softball. She is on the Titans this season. She had a great game and Ed and I were so proud of her!!! You go girl, Peace!! FYI, Peace is Sam's nickname for her jersey - cute, my flower child.Robert had a great game today. He is still playing with his travel team, The Fury. Here's a clip of him pitching, let me brag, he is really good!

Just another day

Michael loves to help with cooking, so yesterday after he finished his homework, I asked him if he would peel the potatoes for dinner. This is his work station planted right in front of the TV, what a crack-up! I love his helpful sweet self and the fact that he thoroughly enjoys himself!Since I had my camera out I needed to take a picture of what Robert spends most of his time doing.......Homework! Lots & Lots of Homework!! Robert is a great student and we are very proud of how diligent he works!Up the stairs I went looking for Sam, to my surprise the phone was not attached to her ear! Instead she was contemplating cleaning her room - NOT! Sam is also a very great student and incredibly creative. I've heard that creative minds sometimes like messy rooms because they are so busy organizing the thoughts of the next great story!! Sam, please dedicate your first book to your mom and dad!!

Happy 12th Birthday Robert!!

August 19, 1997, 1:13pm, 21 inches long, 8 lbs 11 oz.


Robert turned 12 years old today - WOW!! Time truly flies by! Robert you are such a blessing and we love you with our whole heart!! Happy Birthday Bud!

Vacation Part 2

We've been home for a week now, so I decided I need to post the rest of our vacation before I forget all we did!!

My last post we were in Billing, Montana. Here's a picture of General Custer's maker where he died at Little Bighorn. All the other markers are where other soldiers fell.
On to Yellowstone, WY where we saw Old Faithful
Morning Glory Pool
On to Beautiful, Jackson, WY
We went to a rodeo and Michael got to participate in a pull the ribbon off the cow chasing contest. He didn't get the ribbon but he got slim (cow saliva) all over his arm - yuck!
Snake River, innertube freak Mom out trip....long story!

Shoshone Falls, Twinfalls, ID

Boomtown, Reno, NV
We stayed in San Francisco, CA for almost a week it was freezing but we really had alot of fun!!
Golden Gate Bridge (don't you love these jackets in July)
Went to an Oakland A's game
Fisherman's Warf
Robert's 1st Cracked Crab, he loved it!
Pier 39 Sealions
Alcatraz
Spongebob and Sammie (seriously!)
Sundaes at Ghirardelli Square
Last but not least, we spent the last week at Pismo Beach. I'm a California girl so I had to have my beach fix!! It was absolutely beautiful!! A super fun part of the week was collecting sand dollars!
Thanks Ed for working so hard to provide us with a vacation of a lifetime! We love you!
THE END

Our Vacation Part 1

We are currently 13 days into our 5 week vacation and having a great time. Yes, it is alot of driving
but the kids have been doing great!
Our first stop was in Cedar City, UT, all I could say is that it was gorgeous and I would definitely go back! Our next stop was Salt Lake City, UT. While we were there we took a tour of the State Capitol which was absolutely beautiful - a must see if you ever head that way. We also walked around the Temple Square and ate lunch and Bringham Young's old home, by the way Mormons don't drink coffee, that it just crazy for someone with my addiction to coffee - I settled for a nice cup of ice water. The grounds were beautiful the temple is off limits to only the chosen people. I thought that was amazing that a "church" could be off limits - obviously they have something to hide. It was really amazing as we drove though the entire state of Utah, every couple blocks there was a church, I don't think I've ever seen so many churches in my life. In Rawlins, WY we had so much fun and I found something I love - Deep Fried Pickles!! We took a tour of the Frontier Penitentiary est. in 1888 - so interesting! They had a gas chamber and a Gallo for hangings - yikes!
We also went to the Carbon County Museum, it was a journey back in time - another must see!!

On to Mt. Rushmore, I don't think we missed much here's a list of where we went - Sturgis,
Wall Drug,
The Badlands,
Crazy Horse Memorial,
The Mammoth Site,
Mt. Rushmore! Amazing, Amazing is all I can say!
Seeing wild Buffalo up close!!
Today we are in Billing, MT. We toured Little Bighorn Memorial and it was - WOW!! It made me sad to see what greed does, how many senseless deaths because the white man wanted more. This trip has been such a great history lesson for the whole family. We are all enjoying every moment. I will try to post more often. I hope you enjoy the pictures!