Harvest of blessings.

Our garden isn't as prolific as Joe's but we try!

I have had an interesting couple of weeks since my radiation treatment finished. The medical people warned me that the next few weeks could be my toughest. They were right! I have been so tired. Thats where the blessings have come.

Mondays Roma and I have been mowing our lawn. I trim the lawn and Roma mows. She enjoys the exercise (she says). That day I had a tough day so I decided I wouldn't trim the front lawn. The back lawn needs it because there are so many curves and tight spots that it is hard to mow without trimming first. So  I began to trim the back while Roma started mowing the front. By the time  I finished the trimming Roma began to mow the back yard. I decided to blow the grass off the sidewalks and began to do that. That's when I noticed Dustin and Emily Brown sweeping the sidewalks and my good neighbor Stan Soper heading down with his trimmer to edge our front lawn. He was upset because he couldn't do more, but we had our hearts full of the love we have received from our wonderful neighbors. Things like this have blessed our lives again and again. We are so grateful.

Every evening that we can Roma and I go out for a short walk around the neighborhood. The walk is good for me.  Last night was no different. I had had a pretty good day but felt a little light headed. As we were headed home (in front of the Tuttle home for those of you who know where I live) I experienced my first seizure. It wasn't very bad, but I couldn't talk or walk. Roma went to three homes before she found Mike and Ann Tucker at home. By the time they reached me the seizure had pretty much passed and I was able to stand. Mike and Ann supported me the rest of the way home and made sure I got into the home and was acting okay. 

I have been taking anti-seizure medicine since my tumor was discovered, so the seizure really surprised us. Roma call our oncologist and he said that as long as the seizure was over I would probably be all right. He said just to take me to the emergency room if it happened again. That didn't make Roma feel very good so she called her sister Amy whose husband (Kerry) is an Orem Fireman. Amy called Kerry (he was on duty) and he got permission to bring the ambulance over and check me out. That made Roma feel better. Roma also called the Rogan Taylor to see if he could give me a blessing. He came over with Rich Hill and they gave me an extraordinary blessing. What they said is sacred to me and the Comforter testified to my soul that what was said was the mind and will of the Lord. I may have experienced a seizure, but the the spiritual blessings we received were worth more than the trial.

So adversity brings blessings if we watch for it. I am so grateful for neighbors who follow promptings to come help a neighbor unsolicited and two young people who bring such joy to our lives. I am grateful for people who drop what they are doing to give blessings and honor their priesthood so they are worthy to do. 

The Lord really does multiply our blessings if we will only let him and trust in him. 

Music to my ears-Roma's post

Hi family (and friends) This is my first entry on Paul's blog.  He has been after me to write something for awhile, so here goes!  As you know, he finished radiation therapy on Tues.  They warned us that we shouldn't expect any change in the way he feels (extreme fatigue) for quite a few weeks.  But I can see a difference already!  Thursday I was working in the kitchen, he was in the sewing room working on his 500 piece jigsaw puzzle and I heard him whistling!! It made my day!  Later on I heard him humming too!  That is a sign that he is feeling better, even if it is just psychological feeling better because he is finished with the radiation.  That's progress!  How proud I am of this wonderful, strong, steady husband of mine.  He keeps us all feeling better because of his optimistic attitude and great faith.  Things are well at the Peterson home.

Radiation Done. Now we wait.

Cooper and Grandpa

Good Buddies

The 4 Babies and their mom's. All born in 2009.

I have felt the need to post some comments for several days, but couldn't piece together in my mind what I wanted to say. Then Amy, my daughter, put me onto a video published on LDS.org. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7zwQ_7q-fU&feature=player_embedded   The video is about a man that lost most of his family to a drunk driving teenager. It is very powerful and it explains how he was able to overcome his grief and bitterness by turning to the Savior. 

I have several people in my extended family who have taken some hard knocks lately. Life has a way of throwing curves at you that you don't expect. I know that is part of the Lord's plan. He wants to see us work our way through those trials, but he doesn't leave us alone to wander through the wilderness. In the Book of Mormon in Alma 7: 12 it says "And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities that his bowels may be filled  with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities." The problem is as a Christian people we sometimes don't believe Christ. We wallow in grief and pain, or sin and never realize Christ is waiting for us to submit ourselves to his healing influence. He wants us to trust in his redeeming love. It takes away our grief and pain and replaces it with peace. The problems still remain, but our capacity to overcome is realized. I have a deep and abiding belief of that. 

I finished my radiation this past Tuesday. If the doctor is right I should start feeling a little more energy in a couple of weeks. I am still very tired, but I can see the light at then end of the tunnel. I am scheduled for a MRI the end of September to see the status of my tumor. I am cautiously optimistic that everything will be good. As I have said before; I am an impatient man. I don't want to wait that long but the Lord is teaching me patience. 

By the way; I have the best wife in the world. She is with me through thick and thin. We share laughter and tears. Her's is the tough road. I hope that when I feel a little more strength I can return the favor in a small way. She is my life.

Friends, friends, friends

As I expressed in my most recent entry the radiation treatment I receive is causing me to be extremely tired. Surprisingly so to me. Sleep doesn't refresh me. My mind wakes up, but my body still feels like I just finished a couple marathons in a row. I am not complaining. I could be much worse.

Yesterday our ward had a neighborhood picnic. All day I was looking forward to going; being with some of the wonderful people who are our neighbors. I was afraid I couldn't stay long because of the fatigue I was feeling, but we had determined to go at least for a few minutes. I need not have worried. Going there energized me. Granted, I was still tired but I plopped my body in a chair, ate a good meal, and just soaked up the energy and love from the people around me. My body remained energized for the rest of the night. I so much appreciate my friends and neighbors. You are all in my thoughts. All through this trial I have felt the support of family, friends, neighbors, and a multitude of people I don't even know. Christ says when you are serving your fellow men you are serving Him. I testify that Roma and I feel the love of the Savior through the service we have received from our fellow men.

Why can't I sleep?

This is Shae. She is my second oldest Grand daughter. She is a sweetheart. She is my most honest grandchild. Whenever I get proud she lets me know where I stand. When I told her I was getting speech therapy she thought that was okay (I need it) and then told her mom that she didn't want to talk like Grandpa. (and I thought I was making such progress!)

It is 4:00 AM and I have been awake for almost 2 hours now. I can't figure it out. The radiation therapy is supposed to make me tired and it does. I go around each day barely able to be on my feet for minutes at a time, but almost every night my mind awakes at 4 or so and I can't go back to sleep. I am not complaining. This is still a quiet time and I spend my time reflecting on my circumstances and blessings.

I am still am impatient man and I have a hard time submitting myself to the Lord's will. I have been told that my brain cancer will eventually kill me, but that is not good enough. I want to know when that is. It is driving me nuts to not be in control and yet it is humbling me. I find myself more and more turning to the Lord for comfort and peace and He gives it to me. In our family prayers Roma and I have been inspired to pray not for blessings for us, but to thank the Lord for blessings already received or promised and for blessings for other people. When we do that the Lord showers us with peace and further multiplies our blessings.

We need to believe Christ. Believe that through his atonement we all receive the gift of the resurrection and if we endure to the end eternal life with our families and ourFather in Heaven. I do believe that.

Enough preaching. I have only 4 radiation sessions left counting today. Next Tuesday I will graduate from radiology. I get a month off chemo and when I start back up it will only be for 5 days a month. It will take me a few weeks to regain my strength back but I will at least be on the upswing. My family has a few fun things to do this fall so I am looking forward to those events already. Life is good! I mean that!!