Cancer

This picture was taken last year around this time. My great friend Alexis and lots of others had been helping out with our remodel project. One night they were all at our house until around 2:30 in the morning working to clean things up for our family Christmas party. She has served with me in church callings, she is wonderful and amazing and I love her dearly. This year she is battling cancer. She is one of the strongest women I know. She was meant to be one of those pioneer woman that pulled the handcarts, but right now she is at home sick and tired. She does chemo and radiation everyday and it makes me so sad that I can't do more for her and her family. Cancer stinks. My dad had colon cancer when I was in the 8th grade and again when I was a junior in high school. I knew it was hard and that he was sick, but I think watching a friend go through it I now realize that my parents didn't let me see how bad it really was. I talked to him about cancer once Alexis was diagnosed and asked if there were days he wanted to die. He said that he did and that he hated how sick he was and how much pain he was in. The first time he got cancer I got mad at him and didn't want to talk to him. I really just didn't want him to die and leave us. I love my dad and am so glad that he is still around. He is a great man that I now know has been blessed with the power to be healed. I know it is a gift of the Spirit and that he is a miracle that I will appreciate everyday.
I think that was one of the things that scared me the most of Alexis getting cancer. I even told my mom that I was afraid I had already used my cancer miracle. She told me to let Alexis be another persons miracle then. We did a ward fast for her and I think that was the easiest fasting has ever been for me. I fasted that she would be able to take the chemo pills because she is not good at swallowing pills and she has been able to take them. I know that fasting works and I now know that I didn't use up my cancer miracle because there isn't a limit on miracles. God loves us and is aware of Alexis and that He has a plan for each of us. I have faith that He hears our prayers and He will answer them and we can feel peace and comfort right now when everything feels so scary and hard.

11 Years

Miya you turned 11 today. Yikes! I can't even believe you are that old and yet I really can't remember what is was like before you came to our little family. You are a beautiful and wonderful girl and we are so very happy that you are in our family. Here are 11 things I love about you:

1. You love to cook and you will happily make lunch for your family Sundays after church while I am at meetings.
2. You are an excellent example for your brother and sister.
3. You are dependable.
4. You are the best babysitter. You always are willing to make dinner and you have everyone in bed and asleep when we get home late.
5. You are smart. Every time I am at your school another teacher comes up to tell me how smart you are and that you are always asking amazing questions. You started taking my Japanese book to school and have started teaching yourself Japanese.
6. You are kind and take great care of other kids.
7. You are willing to try new things. You try to cook harder things when dad throws them at you.
8. You like to have fun. When we were camping this summer you jumped right off those rocks into the river without a second thought. Then you jumped off the higher cliff when you went back with just dad.
9. You listen to what Heavenly Father wants you to do even when it is hard. You thought about quitting piano until you prayed about it and knew is was a talent Heavenly Father could use from you and you have been great about practicing ever since.
10. You love earrings. It took a few trips to the mall to get the job done, but once you got your ears pierced you have loved wearing different earrings.
11. You are always prepared. You are the one with the snacks in your bag or the one with something to draw on if we are waiting in the car for something.

I love you so much and am so grateful I get to be your mom.