Home at Last!

A holiday visit to Temple Square.

When I walked out of radiation therapy a week ago with a graduation certificate in hand, I started to cry.  I had such a feeling of freedom!  I was able to go home at last to be with my family.

I felt like Santa driving his sleigh, as I headed home with Jessica.  The van was bulging at the seams with all the Christmas goodies I bought during my stay in the big city.  Steve joked that I had nothing to do up there but shop--in stores and online.  He said packages kept arriving from Amazon, even though he hadn't bought a single thing.  What can I say?  If I can't be with my family, at least I can buy presents for them. :-)

When I got home, I was welcomed with a big sign on the door, and balloons and flowers.  It was so wonderful!  Steve even had a fancy dinner all prepared, and the kids had cleaned the house and decorated for Christmas.  It was all so beautiful and wonderful.  Of course, I had to cry a little again.

With radiation behind me, I was eager to get started on my plan to get my body into better physical shape.  I signed myself and the older girls up for a membership at our local fitness center, and I attended my first Zumba class on Monday with Katie.  It was super fun!  I felt like quite the fitness guru, as long as I didn't look in the mirror. ;-)

Unfortunately, the next couple of days I could hardly walk. I made a trip to the doctor for an x-ray of my pelvis and got a brief scare when the possibility of cancer came up.  But, I'm happy and relieved to report that it turned out to be merely a "degenerative" injury.  In other words, I'm getting old and I'm not nearly as flexible as I was when I was dancing so much in high school and college.  Now, the trick is remembering that.

Secret Santa

I have a little bit of home here with me this week, in the form of my youngest daughter.  It's been fun having her with me.  I have somebody to take care of again. :)

Last night, I took her to Ihop to have breakfast for dinner.  Jess had pancakes, while I had my favorite stuffed french toast with blueberries.  When it was time for the waitress to give us our check, she was interrupted by someone signaling her elsewhere.  I didn't think anything of it until she came back a little while later and told us that an anonymous friend had payed for our meal.  I was stunned.  Nothing like that has ever happened to me before. 

I peered unobtrusively around the restaurant, trying to figure out who it was, but no one gave a clue.  What a kind, generous act!  I was deeply touched.  My only regret was that I could not thank them.

My family and I have been the recipients of many kind and generous acts during this last year.  They have brightened my day and lightened my load.  It's not so hard to go through cancer treatments with such generous friends and family to help you out.  So, thank you to everyone who has served us and continues to help us.  I hope someday I will be able to repay the favor, or at least to pass on this legacy of service to someone else in need.

Old Saint Nick

"Jolly Old Saint Nicholas, lean your ear this way . . .

Don't you tell a single soul what I'm going to say!

Christmas Eve is coming soon, now you dear old man,

Whisper what you'll bring to me: tell me if you can!"

We had a great time visiting Santa, an awesome toy store, and playing in the rain yesterday!

Gumdrop Christmas tree