Relay for Life

My Laurels asked me if I would chaperon for 'Relay for Life', and since cancer is something that has touched my life, and I love these girls, I agreed to do this. We had to be at Mt. Hood Community College at 1700. James helped by buying all kinds of drinks, snacks and getting us set up. I prayed that I would be able to make it since I usually get really nauseated about 0200.

Here are Megan Farris, Heather Gruwell and Anna Gaittens.



This is Heather running around the track. Someone from our team had to be walking at all times. It was an extremely hot day and that made it hard to be inside the gym. There was always loud music playing and it seemed that the more into the night we progressed the louder the music became. This bothered me because it was Sunday, but because of the music, it didn't feel like it was Sunday.



This is our team picture!

We stayed up all night and left just before 0800. We hurried home and showered so as to make it to church by 0900. I feel very blessed because I found out that the person who was going to teach the Laurels that day, had forgotten and I looked at the lesson at the last minute and gave it at 1100. I didn't get to bed until 1400 and slept until 1700, ate, and then went to a youth Fireside. It was an experience I will always remember, and I feel honored that the Laurels asked me to do this. This experience felt totally different from when I do 'Race for the Cure'.

April 23-27-Trip to Utah for BYU/UVU Graduation

James and I flew to Utah on April 23rd early in the morning. (Our good friend Scott picked us up at 0530 to take us to the airport--He would have to be a good friend to do that!) Aaron was there to pick us up. Wednesday we drove to Bountiful to have Chinese Food with Mary and pick up Grandma Conger. James and I stayed with Matt and Katherine and Grandma stayed with Aaron and Lauren.

April 24-dawned cold and snow was falling. We all met together at 1130 for lunch at Matt and Katherine's. Aaron and Lauren could not attend Commencement because they were working in the Tipanogos Temple. We arrived early at the Marriott Center and saved seats for good friends Denny, Lisa and Ethan Anderson. They were up from Jackson California to see Miranda and Cody graduate. We also were able to talk with our other good friends Larry and Linda Critchfield, also from Jackson who were up to see Matt graduate. Elder Bednar spoke on 'Learn to Love Learning'. It was very enjoyable.

This is Lisa and me. We are and always will be kindred spirits. Last year we got to sit together for Katherine's graduation and I am so glad we could do the same this year. Her friendship means the world to me. Lisa, you look great!

After graduation we went back to Matt and Katherine's and they fixed us dinner of Salmon with Basil Sauce. It was very good!






After dinner we drove to the Tipanogos Temple.
James and I were witness couple while Aaron officiated and Lauren was assisted at the session. It was so nice to be there as a family with Matt, Katherine and Grandma Conger.










April 24th--Happy Anniversary Honey! We have had 28 years of learning and growing. I feel so blessed to be married to a wonderful man who loves me and treats me like a Queen. What better place to spend your anniversary than at the temple with your family. I love you James!












Here is James, myself and Grandma Conger after the session.









April 25-The day came much too early; but we didn't have snow. We had to be at Matt's graduation at 0800. We saved seats for Aaron, Lauren and Grandma who arrived with 2 minutes to spare! There were so many grads in Matt's area that Aaron and Lauren had to leave by 0900 so that they could get to Aaron's Commencement; they were not able to see Matt get his diploma. Katherine called Matt and told him that after he received his diploma, he had to exit stage left. He walked across the stage and made his escape through the throngs of parents taking pictures.

We drove across town to Orem and caught up with Lauren who was saving seats for us. I was very excited to hear Governor Huntsman speak and very disappointed when I learned he had shoulder surgery and the speaker was the Lieutenant Governor.

After commencement we drove back to Aaron's and Lauren's where they fixed us a nice lunch and then hurried to Aaron's graduation. I don't know what we would do without cell phones. We were able to find both Matt and Aaron even though they were in a sea of black capes and graduation hats.



Lauren and Aaron at Utah Valley University at Commencement. Below is Aaron with his aviation wings after graduation.












Here we are: James, Matt, Aaron and Kathleen after graduation at UVU. We were glad Matt had his cap and gown in the trunk so we could have pictures afterward.

















Matt and Aaron

Grandma Conger, Katherine, Lauren and Kathleen after graduation at UVU.



After everyone was graduated, we headed to Tucanos where Aaron and Matt decided they wanted to celebrate. We feasted on Brazilian food. Our favorite was the BBQ pineapple, the garlic sirloin and the fruit drinks.




After eating we went back to Aaron and Lauren's place and watched a video that Aaron had on the Van Nuys Airport in California and small airports in general that are being replaced by subdivisions and shopping malls. We also played a hearty game of 'Bang' in which Kathleen was finally able to be 'Sheriff'.








Saturday we met at Aaron and Lauren's for breakfast and then headed south to Manti Utah and the temple there. The drive through the canyone was scenic. Manti is such a beautiful temple. The stonework is a amazing as is the inside of the temple. We went through a session and then Aaron asked someone to show us the staircases. We were told there were only a handful of this kind of staircase in the US and two of them were in the Manti Temple. One wound clockwise and the other counterclockwise. We stood at the base looking up 6 complete circles and with no center support. It was magnificent.

Here we are at the end of our session. The temple is out in the middle of nowhere. On our way home we stopped at the 'Snow Dragon' for Chinese Food.

That evening we went to Ted and Debbie Conger's in Salt Lake for a Graduation BBQ. We had a wonderful visit with them. Then James and I headed north in the BMW, dropping Grandma off in Ogden (Where she would stay until May 2nd when she reports for her mission.) and we drove on. We planned on making it to Twin Falls but found we were too tired and stayed in Burley. After a much needed rest, we drove home the rest of the way arriving Sunday evening. We are so grateful for our family--they are all wonderful. We love you!

Our Favorite Furry Feline--Blink the Cat

Here is a picture of our wonderful kitty Blink. Blink came to us in October 2000 right before Aaron left on his mission. James didn't want a cat, but the boys, including Josh, talked us into it. It just so happened that Josh's kitty had a litter and we needed to act fast. Our boys assured us that they would take care of Blink and that when they left home they would take her with them. Well...both Aaron and Matt are married and so far they, as well as their wives, have said they don't want her. She loves James and can't stand me. But then, I am the one who buys her food, feeds her most of the time and changes her water. I am the one that when it is freezing I sleep out on the sofa so that I can let her in and out of the house. We love you Blinky!

April 14, 2008--All About Saving Lives

I spent the day with my good friend Toni Norton renewing our Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS). Anyone who knows me is aware that even though I have taken the course at least 8 times it never fails to make me tense. The class was from 0800-1730 and we passed! I received 100% on the written and passed the practicum. I have to admit that they have made it a whole lot easier than it was when I first took it in San Francisco in 1989. Back then they had you stand in front of a group of people and a doctor was there giving you a case history and listening to everything you would do in the event that someone had a cardiac arrest--what joules you would use to shock them and what medications you would give, how much and how often--while someone wrote what you said on the blackboard. When you were through there was silence, and a large blackboard covered with what you had said. Then the doctor would look at you and say, 'Look at the blackboard; is there anything you want to change?' Now days, you may take charge of the code, but it is a team approach. I am done for two years!