Tears of JOY

It couldn't get any better than this.

Five wonderful children w/ five wonderful spouses and 15 1/2 grandchildren.

I have had a tough couple of weeks, mostly due to extreme fatigue I am feeling due to the two surgeries and radiation. I conjured up all kinds of scenarios where my cancer was growing again. Luckily I went to the doctor and he said it was normal and that I would eventually feel better. He even said I could begin to exercise. I lost a lot of muscle mass in my legs than I want to get back. 

Even though I have had a tough time I feel like I am blessed mightily. As I kneel in prayer with Roma each night I call to mind the many blessings we have received. They have been multiplied and multiplied again. We have felt the prayers of hundreds of people. We have felt the hugs, eaten the food, received the well wishes in cards and letters, experienced the service of people known and unknown who have blessed our lives.Thank you so much! Most of all we have felt the love the Savior who knows of our needs and has already suffered my sins and experienced our suffering. I love the Lord. I honor him. 

"Sweet is the Joy the Gospel Brings"  I cry tears of joy each night at the blessings we have received. 

A most excellent day! Thursdays Hero and Beyond

As we were waiting for our tour to begin former Coach Lavell Edwards showed up and spent about 15 minutes with us. He is one of my heros. We were able to take lots of pictures. What a day! I mostly spent the day holding back tears (mostly unsuccessful). 

David nominated me for the award so he had to interview. Serves him right.

Bronco was so kind. He spent lots of time with my family and I. When he noticed Noah he took the hat off his head and placed it on his. Noah was pretty proud.

Abe felt a little left out until he was able to try on Riley Jensen's helmet. 

The Team Cheer

The whole group

Bronco and the Boys

The trip over to the Academy. Riley paid at lot of attention to me. She is a sweetheart.

The beginning of the tour.

On the main campus

At the game. Notice the hat. Air Force was far ahead by this picture. The only disappointment was that it wasn't a closer game.

Thursday's Hero

When I was diagnosed with a brain tumor one of the things we planned for my bucket list was a trip to the Air Force Academy for the BYU/AF game. I graduated from the Academy in 1971 so I have ties. I am a big BYU fan but also an AF fan so I don't care who wins. My kids do! They are all BYU fans. That was before I was diagnosed with another tumor that would require a second surgery. The surgery way just 9 days before the game, but we already had tickets and reservations. We had to go. In talking to Dr. Gardener he was a little skeptical but he was willing to consider it. As it turned out I was able to leave the hospital one day early and Nathan had arranged a big van for us to travel to the Academy in where I could spread out and rest when I needed to. 

David, my son, was trying to arrange a field pass for us but wasn't able to. It was suggested that he apply for Thursday's hero. I was chosen. My kid sprang it on me about a half hour before I was supposed to be there. I was shocked but pleased.

We went to the football offices. They were so kind and attentive. While we were waiting for everyone to show up Lavell Edwards came walking in. He is one of my heroes. He spent about 20 minutes talking to me, and all my family. It was awesome!

Then we took a tour of the building including the dressing room, the coaches offices, and team meeting rooms. We ended up at the indoor practice facility where we watched the end of practice.

When they finished they brought me over. One of the players explained the program and gave a bunch of memorabilia and gifts for me and my family.  Another player had me sign the flag they carry on the field at beginning of games. The was a special moment given the names that were on that flag. Then they had me lead a team cheer and every player and most coaches shook me hand. It was a very emotional moment. After the handshake the players all went and signed a flag for me. 

Once the players were done Coach Mendenhall came up and spent a lot of time with my family. He was so kind to me and made me feel like the most important person on earth at the moment. 

AFA Fireside

Friday night we were invited to a fireside with the LDS cadets at the Air Force Academy chapel. Coach Mendenhall, his wife, and a player from the team spoke. The messages were very uplifting.There was good music by the cadet choir and a BYU lineman. It brought back many memories of my time at the Academy. I was group leader of the the LDS cadets while there. There were only 25 active cadets at the time. There are over 150 now. Impressive!

Tour

Jodi was able to arrange a tour of the campus. I spent four years there but my family never had seen the facilities close up. It brought back memories especially when I saw cadets doing disciplinary tours (marching back and forth because of breaking rules). I did a few tours for a slight disciplinary problem I had. My family sure enjoyed the tour. The campus looks just it did when I was there. 

Game

The whole family enjoyed the game, but me the most!  I wish it could have been a closer game.

The academy is a great place to go and enjoy a football experience.  Over all it was a perfect weekend. 

Update

The Best Wife in the World

I wanted to give a short update on my condition and thank all of you for your prayers and notes of encouragement. 

I got out of the hospital Monday morning, one day earlier than last time. I had a great team of surgeons, great nursing, and a great family who was with me every moment of the day or night. I am much more tired than the last time due the radiation and the chemotherapy I finished just before the second surgery, but I expect to feel better each day.  We don't have the pathology on the second tumor yet. I expect it tomorrow. I am just glad it has been removed. It has given me a new lease on life. 

I still think I am one of the most blessed persons in the world. Throughout this experience I have felt a lot of peace. No matter what happens I know there is a plan for me. I know my Savior has my back. I believe in eternal families. Life is good. 

It's Cougar Day!

This is Paul's son, David. This is my first, and most likely last, post for my dad's blog. Paul felt it would be a good idea to send out an update. In my dad's last post he spokes of a seizure that he had experienced. Well, that seizure was followed by another seizure a couple of days later. After a visit to the hospital and a cat scan, it was determined that a mass, most likely a tumor, had grown its way back into my dad's brain. He started having the shakes in his right arm and his speech started to deteriorate, both signs of an advancing tumor. After speaking with his fantastic doctors, Dr. Wallentine and Dr. Gardener, Paul decided surgery was the best option.

Yesterday morning at five my dad checked in to the hospital for his second major brain surgery in three months. I wasn't there for his first surgery, but I was amazed an how calm my parents were through the whole procedure. My dad was cracking jokes and looked as calm and rested as I'd seen him lately. Without going into too many details, my dad both gave and received multiple priesthood blessings in the days prior, and all of us felt a very calm and confident assurance that this wasn't my dad's time. That feeling carried us through the morning.

The surgery was a complete success. Dr. Gardener skillfully extracted all of the badness that he could from my dad's Brain. We worried that this second proceedure would affect his speech and his ability to use his right arm. We shouldn't have worried at all. Other then the usual after effects of brain surgery, he is doing great! His speech is just fine and he doesn't show any issues with his movement. We are truly blessed!

At the moment my dad is recovering nicely in the hospital where I'm sure he will stay for the next few days. Today is the opening Saturday for college football, which my dad loves. We're all set to watch the Cougars take on the Huskies this afternoon.

To close, my dad is doing great. The many prayers and fasting for my dad has had a profound effect. We continually are feeling the influences of them. My dad wants to thank everyone for the many acts of kindness. I'm sure in the next few days he'll feel up to posting his own thoughts.