Football Moms

L-R: Jechelle, Me, Sue, Lena, Sally, Suzanne

Proviah Katsigazi - Kampala, Uganda and her necklaces

Tonight we met at Paradise Bakery in American Fork. They have soups, salads, sandwiches, and yummy desserts!! Sue brought some handmade necklaces that someone from her work had given her to sell. They are made by a member of the church in Uganda that is a returned missionary. She makes these necklaces and bracelets to help pay for her education. She's earned her bachelor's and now she wants to get a master's degree. They are made from newspapers and magazines. They require a lot of time and patience - each necklace takes at least 5 days to make. I think we all bought at least one that night - they were $10-15 each. This girl is incredible to sell her craftmanship for that little!!

Sue also gave us each a bracelet with a heart on it that is now our "official" football moms bracelet. We will wear it each time we get together (and more often, too, of course!). It is a gentle reminder of Sue's love for each of us and the bond of friendship and love we feel for each one of these wonderful ladies.

Shelly was sick tonight so she couldn't join us and we all missed her smiley face! We'll look forward to her joining us again next month.

Cancer is a word that strikes fear!

I noticed a small blackish spot on my left shin sometime earlier this summer. I thought to myself I ought to have that looked at, but since it didn't grow or change I didn't do anything. Then, on Monday October 20 this little voice said to me you need to go to the doctor and have that checked out. So, I went on October 22 and he did a punch biopsy that was probably 1/4 of an inch in diameter and put 2 stitches in. I went back November 3 and had the stitches out. He didn't have the pathology report handy and couldn't access it online, so he said he'd let me know the next day. He would call with the results if they indicated something, otherwise he wouldn't call.

So, when the phone rang and the number indicated it was him, I knew for sure it was cancer. For a moment there's a shiver of dread that runs through your body. I have to say that I've known deep down inside all along - ever since I first noticed it - that it was skin cancer. I shouldn't have been too suprised, however, as my sister, dad, and mom all have had it. The word cancer used to pretty much mean a death sentence, but there have been so many advances that now the survival rates are much better.

He told me it was squamous cell carcinoma and the biopsy showed the cells went out to the edge so I needed to come in again and have a larger area removed so the cells would show clear to the edge. Squamous cell carcinoma is a pretty common skin cancer, so I was pretty confident that by removing it everything would be just fine. I feel very fortunate and lucky - although I'm sad my tanning days are over!! I love a good tan and always feel so much better with a tan, but - I'd rather be healthy and alive!! I guess if you're going to get cancer, this is a good one to get!

One more time I really appreciate the good women I know that have survived their bouts of breast cancer - they are the true heroes and survivors!! I have several good friends that are breast cancer survivors - Theresa McClellan, Lena Frampton, and most recently my sister-in-law Beth. May I say that you women are true inspirations and I love each one of you.

Elders have birthdays too!

Elder Clawson
Elder Meyer

Elder Clawson and Elder Meyer both had birthdays within a few weeks of each other. We celebrated Elder Clawson's on October 20, and Elder Meyer's on November 17. Hopefully we brought a touch of home to each one of them as they turned another year older and wiser so far from home!!

The Escape Route is Fixed!!

From this . . .

. . . to this.

While Dave was on his fishing trip to Canada in May Missy noticed a bulge in our ceiling in the entryway. It looks like we had a leak in the roof and it settled in the insulation and sheetrock of the ceiling. When Dave got home he took a screwdriver and poked it into the ceiling thinking that would make the water stream out. That's when we realized it had been absorbed by the insulation and sheetrock. So, Dave made a hole in the ceiling so he could find where the leak was. Time went by and there was no need to hurry and fix it as the weather was warm. However, as the temperatures got colder he decided he needed to get it fixed before winter really set in. That way our furnace wouldn't need to be on all the time!! So, the afternoon of November 15 he made the time to fix it. It was a very messy job and I wish I'd taken a picture of the floor afterwards! He found that the project was bigger than originally thought as the ceiling still bowed in places that you really couldn't tell by just looking at it! Dave is quite meticulous when working on a project such as this, wanting to make sure it's done just right. However, he also knows his boundaries, so he'll hire someone to put the sheetrock in, mud it, and texturize the ceiling. It's much warmer in the house now - you can't feel the cold air rushing in like you could before!!

Pictures from Mitch

Paris, Dublin, London - which way should I go?

Mitch sent home a camera card with lots of pictures on it. He is in a beautiful area - it's hard to decide which ones to share! His companion is being sent back to Iraq with his Marine unit - he wanted to go with them. Mitch said he's served on his mission 18 months so he's not feeling too guilty about leaving the mission service.

Small world story: I work with Susan Baker. Her son James is serving in Mitch's mission. As of this past Wednesday they are now companions!! Susan and I joked about how we should call the mission president and have them be companions. Guess the Lord heard us and took matters into His own hands!

The season's over :(

The 2008 PG high school football season came to an end with their loss in the last 1.2 seconds to Syracuse High School. The Vikings had come from a fairly big deficit to go ahead in the last few minutes 25-21. However, with only 1.2 seconds left on the clock Syracuse scored and won 27-25. That ended the hopes of this team being able to go to Rice-Eccles stadium again and play in the semi-finals. This team should hold it's head high - they are Region champs, and those that were seniors and had played varsity all 3 years were part of 3 different region champion teams. Congratulations Vikings!!

Holy Smokes - Todd's 30!

Krysta had a birthday party for Todd on his 30th birthday. She too rented the clubhouse at her complex for the event. Several family members and friends stopped by to wish him Happy 30th! His mom, dad, and sisters were in California so they weren't able to be there, but his brother, our families, and his extended family came. Many friends were there too - the Atkinson's, the Marchbanks', Seegie, some neighbors, and even Justin and Beth came from Idaho to surprise Todd. Pizza, salad, drinks, and of course ice cream were served! The favorite gift given to him was a book filled with notes and letters people close to Todd had sent in to Krysta and then she added some pictures too. It's quite a treasure!

Merry Early Christmas to me!

Krysta, Missy, and Brie came into the house so excited and hiding things from me. Why, you ask? I had told Krysta at one time that I wanted her to help me decorate above my cupboards because she's done such a cute job of decorating her house. So, the girls had gone to DI and Ross and found some "treasures" to decorate with and wanted to do it now!! So, Merry Early Christmas to me - now I can enjoy their work of art for even longer. Thanks girls!! (Their next project they said is the area above the wall between the living room and kitchen.)

Dave and his new do!!

Dave is such a good sport sometimes. While at Taylor's birthday party the little girls somehow talked him into letting them "do his hair". They must have used every hairbow they have (plus a "bit" of water!), and then had him show off his new do! He's such a good Papi!

Tay-Rae's 1st Birthday

It's hard to believe that a year has already passed since Taylor was born. Her birthday is actually November 4, but Missy and Jeff had her party on Saturday the 1st. Missy rented the clubhouse at Krysta's townhouse and invited friends and family. She had a ladybug theme and had a little "pin the dot on the lady bug" game for the kids. The highlight was watching her dig into her special ladybug cake. (Brylee got to the eyes of the cake before anyone noticed!) She was a little timid at first but then decided it was OK. She got some wonderful gifts - clothes, toys, books.