Super Sunday

I really miss Fabulous Friday and feel like I am not recording the things that I want to and should since dropping it.  You know it was kind of like my friend that I wrote to every week.  So I've decided I'm going back to it, except we are going to do Super Sunday.  Only positive, wonderful things about my week will be reported.  So here goes:

1.  Tuesday my friend Janelle accompanied me to Dr. C's office.  He is a Radiation Oncologist that Dr. D works with.  He was amazing.  He thinks that he can radiate the tumor on the posterior iliac crest, only 4 treatments in 2 weeks.  He needs to look at my prior radiation treatments and if he feels it is safe we will do it.  I hope so, because the pain is slowly creeping back.  He said that if he can't do it, meaning if it is too risky with the bowel having too much radiation exposure, that I could have it surgically removed.  Dr. D said she wouldn't surgically remove it, but he said he knows other surgeons who will.
2.  Wednesday I met with Dr. S the research Dr. regarding the biopsy I had a month ago.  There were no genomes matched, but he also said a part of the test wasn't done correctly.  In a few months I'll have another biopsy.  They will by then be able to take some of my tissue, grow it and see what meds react to it.  In the meantime, he said he wouldn't change anything anyways because the Tamoxifen is SHRINKING the tumors!  This is so exciting.  I pray that it continues and especially to shrink the ones on the ureter.
3.  It is warm enough here in Phoenix, that it is actually like Summer.  I mean when it's 100, it's Summer.  I spent Friday morning at my cousin Laura's in her pool with her and her kids.  It was super fun and the perfect time for a pool party.  We also had lunch at Gecko Grill, where they have the best salsa. Oh and my cousins have a snow cone machine, like the real deal shaved ice.  I'm totally getting one with the amazon gift card I won way back when.  I LOVE shaved ice.
4. Friday night I went with my Aunt Leslie, cousin Autumn and my friend Barbra to the Millennial Choir and Orchestra.  It was the most powerful performance.  It is now something I do twice a year and look forward to each performance.
5.  We had Stake Conference this weekend.  The talks and music were all so uplifting.  I feel like I need to listen more to the spirit and obey its promptings quickly.  My friend Jennifer's sister wrote the music to this song Does the Journey Seem Long and a lady in my ward sang it.  Oh my, it was absolutely beautiful!
6.  I had a delicious dinner with Deborah and her family and Gordon and Leslie today.  It was to celebrate Gordon and Dallins birthdays.  Dallin got his mission call this week.  He is going to the Guatemala Guatemala South or East I can't remember Mission.  Anyway, my brother Tyler when to the central one 20 years ago.  Dallin is such an amazing guy and will be a fabulous missionary.
7.  This week I got my new Favorite Cookbook in the mail, What's Gaby Cooking.  Oh, I love it.  The recipes are simple and fresh.  Will definitely get plenty of use from it this Summer.  These wonton strips were at Winco. Yummy!

8.  And one more thing...I got 2 pounds of delicious strawberries from sprouts this week for $1.88.  Hello cheap! 

Mom's Staycation

Mom came to visit me for a week.  Just her and I!  Really she came to check up on me to makes sure I was eating and to go to the Dr. with me. 

Saturday when she arrived I took her to a Thai restaurant that I had driven by the day before in Tempe.  It was super delicious.  I then took her to ASU where we listened to some students perform in a quartet.  They were incredible.  We also went to a play, but the language was so bad that we didn't even make it through 1/4 of it before we left. 

Monday afternoon we had lunch with Aunt Leslie and our friend Tina who was visiting from PA.  We met her at our very first Canadian Tenors Concert.  It was super fun to visit with her and catch up.

Tuesday morning my friend Nicole came over and we had acia bowls and chatted.  Her husband got into PA school and they are going to live in my house when their lease is up over the summer and before they move to Florida.  I'm not home much in the Summer so it will be nice knowing someone will be here.  And when I am home it will be fun to have her here.  We have become such great friends and I'm so thankful for her in my life.

Each day I told my mom I was going to cook for her and each day we found ourselves hungry around 3 and found someplace to share a meal.  Mom often would tell me that I had to eat a few more bites.  I kind of felt like a kid, but I've been in so much pain that I haven't had an appetite. 

Wednesday we were suppose to see Dr. S, but they didn't have the biopsy results, so we rescheduled for next week.  I did take mom to the Neiman Marcus Cafe, which I love.  And we had a visit with Dr. D who increased my pain meds and suggested visiting with her colleague Dr. C who may be able to do some radiation. I also started on a prednisone pack to see if it will decrease the inflammation from the tumor on my right hip which is causing the pain. 

Wednesday evening mom, my friend Barbara and I saw the play Thoroughly Modern Millie.  It was a darling production and our seats were perfect on the front row.  There is so much entertainment in Phoenix and I love it.  Last week Barbara and I went to the Tempe Winds concert where they played Disney songs.  It was fantastic.

I felt a little better Friday so mom and I did a little shopping.  I got an awesome pair of Brooks running shoes, which I have been wanting for a while.  That evening we had a fantastic time with our friends the Sondrups watching the Diamondbacks play.  It was the perfect evening for a baseball game.  I love baseball games.  They are kind of long and drawn out, but relaxing.

Mom left this morning with strict instructions to eat more.  I've lost over 20 pounds in the past year, which I'm not complaining about, but I haven't tried to lose the weight.  I suspect the tumor pushing into the stomach has something to do with it. 

Mom and I didn't do any changes to the house, no re-decorating or painting walls, but we enjoyed each other's company, enjoyed my beautiful back yard, swinging on the swing and relaxing.  Oh, and I slept a little.  The pain meds make me tired, but I'm also still fighting with my thyroid.  Thanks to the steroids, I've perked up a bit.

We Thank Thee Oh God For A Prophet

I have been looking forward to this special General Conference knowing we would be sustaining a new prophet and two new members of the quorum of the 12 apostles, with the passing of our dear prophet Thomas S. Monson on January 2, 2019 and the passing of Elder Robert D. Hales last General Conference, we as a church welcomed and sustained a new prophet of our church and world.  This morning I participated with the rest of the world the solemn assembly as we sustained a new prophet President Russel Marion Nelson.  Even in our home, it was a spiritual experience as I fought back a few tears of gratitude and love for our Heavenly Father who has prepared this amazing man for 93 years for this calling to lead our church under his direction.  The first session of conference was probably my favorite, even though they all were.  There were new temples announced, the merging of Elder's Quorum and High Priest Quorum into one Elders Quorum and VT/HT is now ministering.

President Ballard in the first talk this morning said, "How do we sustain a new prophet, it begins with sincere faith."

Find time to unplug so that we don't miss what the Lord has prepared for us to know and hear.

Remember the gift of the sabbath day.  The blessing of taking the sacrament should not become a routine.

Elder Anderson:
"We follow the prophet because the Lord Jesus Christ has called him and designated him as His watchman on the tower.  A prophet is a watchman upon the towers protecting us from spiritual dangers we may not see." 

"The prophets voice brings spiritual safety in turbulent times."

"Anchoring our souls to the Lord Jesus Christ requires listening to those He sends.  Following the prophet in a world of commotion is like being wrapped in a soothing, warm blanket on a freezing cold day."

"The Lords voice often comes without explanation.  When correction is needed lets not delay."

"As you are humble in following the prophets voice I promise you an added blessing of safety and peace."

"A prophet does not stand between you and the Savior.  Rather, he stands beside you and points the way to the Savior." 

"We walk forward in faith trusting in God, knowing that with time we will receive more spiritual clarity from our Heavenly Father.  The surrender of our will to Gods will is, in fact, not surrendering at all but the beginning of a glorious victory."

If I spiritually align my faith with his teaching, my faith will increase.