I'm back! AGAIN!

So after my adventure in OK and MO I was able to chill, my form of chilling. I was able to help out a little bit with VBS, my job was to take pictures of the various groups and the activities they were doing. The kids were having so much fun! I didn't make it the last day, I just didn't feel well : /

I then proceeded on my way to UT. My friend Kalla Paige let me stay the night at her house since my flight left around 7:00 am. Neither one of us did much of anything, just sat and talked which was awesome!

I made it to UT. It was so great to see Whitney! To be able to have a friend who has known you pre cancer and have so many other things to talk about besides my health. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind updating people on my journey and I am so appreciative of all of your support and prayers to our Maker.

It was a relaxing trip, even though we did several things. Most mornings we would get ready and then head over to a park to read. It was beautiful out there. It was the perfect temperature underneath the shade of the trees. It was great just being out in nature looking up at God's blue sky above being framed by the tall deciduous trees. If I hadn't been taking a break from reading to take in the beautiful surroundings that God had provided us for that day I would have missed it, a blue heron flew across this frame that I was looking out. God surprises me with all the things he has created. Everything has beauty in it's own way.

We went to see Harry Potter, we watched part one of the seventh movie the night before. I was slightly under whelmed with part two. I would have liked to see more of the other students fighting. And although it has been several years since I have read the seventh book I noticed several things that were missing. But on the other hand I understand that it is difficult to turn a book into a less than three hour movie which is why they made two. I still loved the movie, it's Harry Potter, it has been in the making for, what, 13 years now?! It is kind of sad that this is the end. One guy in the theatre yelled out "what am I going to do now?!".

I taught Michael and Whitney hand and foot. I didn't teach them exactly right. I didn't remember the scoring so we just played for fun. She beat me the first two times we played. It did her very well to pick up eight cards when she had the opportunity, a risk I used to rarely take. We also played nerts, the game where you play a form of solitare and also build up piles in the center of the table that everyone else is playing on.

Whitney and I went to a go paint place. I told her it would most likely take around three hours. She didn't quite believe me. Well we were there for almost three hours. She made a serving dish and I made an alligator memo board for my nephews. I really enjoy doing this activity of ceramic painting. Although I rarely try to do something where I have to decide the design. I like to just to pick the colors and go with the design that is already there. I usually need to be inspired by something that has already been painted.

I left on Thursday morning, mom picked me up and we went up to Evergreen CO for the night to visit Wanda and Stacey and their boys. I was really tired so I didn't do much :( Mostly just relaxed and read more.

Friday mom and I made our way to Co Springs. We didn't do too much, we watched movies, played the wii, and I did more reading. Just to give you an idea, I started this trilogy when I was in high school... I've had the second book for about a year and am about half way through it. I just haven't been doing much reading and now I am realizing how much I am enjoying it.

We went to an improve show called stick horses up at palmer lakes, one again a beautiful site even with all the trains in the area, it made it more unique. The show was pretty good, it made me laugh. My mom suggested a razor for something that you could put in a large box and I suggested an oompa lumpa for something you would go window shopping for. Sunday night Tri-Lakes church was having a grill out that along with home made ice cream! After we had our over fill of food mom and I made our way back to Fort Collins!

It's good to be home!

I'm back!

I have spent the last week and a half in Oklahoma and Missouri and am now back to update you all on my doctors appointment and my trip!!!

Doctors:
No new information to update you on. Received my Avastin and lomustine. My appointment was in the afternoon around lunch time  I got my own little room with a bed and a TV that my mom and I could watch and eat our lunch. The nurse comes in with my anti-nausea and I was about to take it until I realize I needed to wait a little bit to take the antis and then wait a little bit longer after that to take the lomustine. Needless to say we were there a lot longer than we had expected to be.

The next day
Airport:
I had quite an interesting time at DIA. I arrived at around 10 am because my mom had a flight at 11:30, my flight wasn't suppose to leave until 4:30. So I waited with my mom until she left and then I found a little cafe bought some chai and read the book Polishing God's Monuments until around 3. I then made my way to the gate and found out that all planes were grounded due to microwind bursts people were being rerouted and flights were being canceled. To make a long story short my gate was switched 7 times (I moved each time) and then got cancelled around 7:30. I bypassed the customer service line and went to the very front asking the couple if I could cut in front of them giving them my reasoning. Turns out they were boarding a plane to Springfield that would be leaving in ten minutes, she gave me a ticket and I booked it as fast as I could to this new gate.

I try to see God's purpose in our lives when little things like this happen, when things don't go our way. As I had previously stated I was reading a book and the last chapter I read was concerning how God's ways are mysterious and he has certain events occur partially so that we can connect with others.

Lots of things happened in Missouri:
My mom's car overheated luckily we were able to get a rental for the weekend
My grandma had a massive migraine and lost control of her body and had to go to the ER. They did MRI's,  CT scans, heart scans but they couldn't find anything wrong! Praise God

My dad's car overheated
Rachels van overheated
Our basement flooded
Family got in a fight, got resolved
Got to break beans with my grandma, sister Laura and my nephews

Oklahoma:
Had a good trip, saw LOTS of family! Most of whom I didn't know, my cousins got married and have started having children. Have I ever mentioned that my mom was the youngest of 11 kids (my mom and uncle Roger were fostered) The oldest of the group had a child himself that was very close to my moms age. So her brothers and sisters have had kids who have had kids. I haven't seen them for several years so in the end it was a great time!

More Family
First of all I was so surprised to find out my mom's biological family had driven in. Rachel spilled the beans, she didn't know it was a secret. I hadn't seen most of them since I was 10 and then took a trip to Ohio in 8th grade. It was so so so so so great to get to see them. Sunday we had brunch at Cracker Barrel and went back to their hotel to hang out until they all had to take the long journey back. Hopefully we will be getting together again next year. Temporary plans, Branson MO.

The Benefit
The bands were great. One of the guys who played was the father to some kids that I rode the bus with. The food was very tasty, pulled pork! The auction went very well. So many people donated so many different things. There were LOTS of homemade baked goods along with home made quilts. Several places from the area donated gift cards or their services. One guy donated a one hundred dollar bill and it sold for $135. Saw lots of people even my grandpas siblings and their children and their children. Thank to all who came and enjoyed the day despite the heat.