Caught in the Middle: 2011

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Tender Mercies

Our Family, without our kid's spouses, I wish we had a picture of them also.

Paul and Roma in love.

In the Book of Mormon in 1 Ne 1:20 it talks about the "tender mercies" of the Lord. Among LDS people it has become kind of a catch phrase for blessings received. In our case and in our situation it applies. Even before I was diagnosed with cancer I believe I was being prepared to undergo this trial. When I learned that I had a tumor Roma and were blessed with a peace beyond compare. We didn't know what would happen or how long it would take but we have always had a feeling we would be okay no matter what.
Proof of that is when our family, friends, and neighbors banded around us giving us support in any way we needed. Our kids and their spouses did a role reversal. They fretted over our comfort, took turns in the hospital during all night vigils, and made sure Roma was never without a shoulder to lean on. Our neighbors took it upon themselves to inundate our home with food and goodies. My co-workers took up a collection to help me with my expenses and my sister in law organized a quilt auction at her quilt store to earn money to help with our growing medical bills. Every day someone touched our hearts with their concern, generosity, and compassion.
The feeling that everything will be alright continues to this day. We still don't know how long we have but have a firm testimony that the Lords in charge. In many ways this has been an excellent experience for us. We know more of the Saviors love and the goodness of the people around us. Truly, the Lord's words where he said that service to your fellow men is service to Jesus Christ have been exemplified by all of you. There are many guardian angels around us and most of them are our family, neighbors and friends.
At this season of the year between Thanksgiving and Christmas we want to thank you for your prayers and your kindnesses. May the blessings of the Lord be upon you.

Sunday, October 23, 2011

A blast from the past

This week was special. Tuesday I received a email from my roommate at the Air Force Academy. He had been talking to my class mates and was wondering if I was involved with the class ring selection. His name is Tom Callen I am ashamed to say I lost contact with all my friends twenty years ago, or more. The fact that he contacted me was a great blessing in my life. I replied with the info that he as seeking and told him about my brain cancer and asked how he and his wife were doing. He immediately sent a reply and told me that he wanted to call me the next day and that he would forward my email and blog address to the rest of my old Air Force friends. He called me Wednesday and he shared info on our families and lives and old times. I had a very select group of friends that I will always cherish my relationship with. We came from diverse backgrounds but hit it off very well and experienced life altering changes together for the 2 years that we were together in the same squadron at the USAFA.

The next day one of my other friends Sonny Childress called and we had a similar conversation and promised to keep in contact. I had had a bad couple of weeks with seizures and other things and I was troubled by things happening in our own neighborhood with a baby dying and one of my best friends illness. Those 2 phone calls made all the difference.

We also had a good time yesterday. My cousin Edith Jo and her husband Richard invited us to lunch. We hadn't seen them for several years and we had a delightful time with them. Jo and her siblings grew up in the same town as I was born in and were very close. Thank you Jo.

One good thing about a serious illness is that it does bring you back in contact with wonderful long lost friends.

I did receive some good news concerning myself. I had an MRI Tuesday that showed that the tumor hadn't grown and possibly had even shrunk. So I am pleased at the progress I am making. Thank you for your prayers in my behalf.

Roma and I at the Graduation parade 1971

Graduation Ball

Commissioning (Tom Callen front right)

Snake, Rod, and Pete (me) I wish I had a picture of all of us.

Sunday, October 16, 2011

NEBO LOOP AND TOMMY'S FAMILY

ON TOP OF THE LOOP

TOMMY AND TYSON

PRETTY DARN NICE FAMILY

TOMMY AND KRISTINE

ONE FAT DUDE SPOILS THE PICTURE

Two weeks ago Tommy and Kris came over and grabbed me to go on a ride. Roma was at work so they figured I needed a change of scenery. They decided to go up to Nebo Loop. They had heard it had good fall colors. We headed up the loop and it was just as advertised. The leaves were beautiful. We got out and took several pictures and had a good time. By the way, Jodi, fall in Utah is the best time of year with gardens and colors and pleasant weather. When we got back home Tommy and Kris picked up some pizza and we met Roma at home for a nice dinner and they stayed and entertained us for a couple of hours. We so appreciate it.
Thursday night I was having a tough night, I had had several seizures during the past week, and I was feeling lousy. As a result Roma and I were feeling sorry for ourselves, then about that time I had another small seizure. The doorbell rang and Kris and the boys were on the door step coming to pick up a charger that Tommy had left here. They came in and the whole attitude turned from somber into light. It was as if the Lord new what we needed just at that moment in time. He sent her and the boys to cheer us up, I can't get over theTender Mercies of the Lord. He grants us peace and joy through many means and through many people. I love my family. We love our family and appreciate all that they do for us. I appreciate our friends who do a lot for us also. We live in a great time with great people.

Sunday, October 2, 2011

Baby Blessing in Lacey and some thoughts

Thanks to our kids, brothers and sisters. and our friends we have had a wonderful year. We have prayed that I would have a season of health and the Lord has granted to us exactly that. I have had bouts of fatigue caused by chemotherapy but I have generally felt good. I won't win many races but I can still walk if there is somewhere to sit once in awhile. We have received so many spiritual blessings. Whenever we feel discouraged the Lord provides us feeling and experiences that re-energize us. I recently have been reading about the spirit and have been impressed by a passage in Romans chapter 8

16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

It gives me great comfort to read this passage. If we will endure to the end believe in and trust in Jesus Christ we have great blessings in store for us.

We had a great time in Lacey with Dave's family. We always feel so comfortable there and we have a lot of fun with the kids. Amy was able to fly out so it made it more fun. Thank you Dave, Jodi, Amy, and all the kids for showing such love for us.

Amy and Jodi at Pikes place in Seattle

Pretty Molly

The star of the show, Heidi Denise Peterson

Football Day

School Daze

Grandma loves her Grandkids

Army Pete

Sunday, September 4, 2011

Great trip

I failed to add this to my last blog the last time I posted. It was of Abe and
Dallin on our front porch when they came out in July by themselves to visit us!
We had lots of fun with them.

Roma and I have wanted to go on a church history trip for a long time. We always had a conflict of some sort or another and had never made it. We decided this spring along Roma's brother and sister and their spouses to do a road trip that would include Nauvoo, IL, and Kirkland, OH. We wanted to include some antiquing along the way. Roma's sister and brother are into antiquing. So we used some frequent flyer miles to fly to DFW and then went antiquing around Fort Worth (where Dick and Jane, Roma's brother and sister-in-law live). Then we took two days to get to Nauvoo and spent a day and half seeing the sites. We attended a temple session (that was a special experience).

Next we took two days to get to Kirkland passing through South Bend where I convinced the crew to go see Notre Dame stadium and touchdown Jesus. That was a blast.

Then the next day we spent in and around Kirkland. We toured the Kirkland Temple. It is owned the the Community of Christ church. They gave us a very nice tour of the Temple. It was fun to see where a lot of Church history took place. Then we visited the sites owned by the Church. The Newell Whitney Store and the John Johnson farm. We experienced a very spiritual time at both locations.

Our part of the trip ended near Pittsburgh at my brother Jim's home. Grechen's, (his wife) parents own an antique business. We hit the mother lode as far as antiquing goes. They had to rent a trailer to haul everything home. They left us in Pittsburgh and we stayed two glorious days with Jim and Gretchen. Its such beautiful place. We just relaxed and spent a lot of time on their covered porch, swam in their parents pool, and ate lots of really good food. Tuesday Jim and Gretchen drove us over to Matt and Emily's home just it time for the earthquake and hurricane. No damage was done here but it was an exciting time.

The following week Emily had her baby. They named her Jane Marsha and she is a cutie. She was 8 pounds 5 ounces and 20 inches long. She has lots of dark hair.

I feel great except some tiredness. We have had a great time and appreciate all the kindness we have been given.

Jane's prize Longhorn

On the road

Nauvoo Temple

Carthage Jail

Touchdown Jesus

Kirkland Temple

Johnson Farm

Jim and Gretchen's yard

Home

My brother Jim and his better half Getchen

Jane Marsha

Jane

Sanderson Family

Football Day

Navy/Delaware Game

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Update and some great pictures.

We have had an eventful and busy summer. Since I last reported I had another MRI that thankfully showed no growth in the new tumor. The Doctor didn't change my treatment. They will do another MRI in a couple of months and see if there are any changes.
Emily and her kids came and visited us in June. While here we celebrated Isaac's birthday, Owens (Nate's 2 yr old) birthday and generally had a good time. We also celebrated Tyson's (Tommy's 2 yr old) birthday in June. We spent a few day in St George with the Randall clan. Emily's husband Matt surprised us and came out for the last week of her visit.
After Emily left my 3 brothers came. Its the first time we have all been together since my Dad passed away in 2000. They helped me out with my yard work and spent a lot of time catching up on old times. I appreciate their help and their love. I have good brothers!
We look forward to having a few more experiences this summer. I have sure appreciated the love of my family and friends who have treated me so well. I am doing quite well, a little tired from all the fun activities, but will hopefully rest up this week. Life is good. All is well.