From Bristol to Boise with Faith

Walking map July 7: Mapped walk Shawn - the winner for the week: "Oh this is a night! It's a beautiful night! And we call it a Bella Note!" Walking map July 8: Mapped Walk Kyle - runner-up for the week: Boot kicking a saxophone Walking Map July 11: Mapped walk Amy - honorable mention: Sam Eagle

  From Tom A handyman asked for a numbered list of things I needed done around the house. He came to me the other day and told me he was done with the list, which is confusing since he’s only finished about half of items on it.  Then I reread his business card and it all made sense. It turns out he only does "odd" jobs. From Andrew

  6  Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. ( Philippians 4:6-7 )

  Consider the Lilies | The Tabernacle Choir

Will my life ever return to what was normal a few months ago? This week I struggled with discouragement.  In addition to cancer symptoms and treatment side effects, I had to cope with a sore knee. 

  The temple workers at the Meridian Temple adapted to my limitations which allowed me to serve and worship in the temple this week.

  When the winds are against us in our lives, are we willing to be cheerful and courageous? How can we remember that the Savior does not forsake us and that He is near us, perhaps in ways we don’t yet recognize? Are we willing to go to Him in faith, especially when the path before us seems impossible? Benjamin M.Z. Tai

  I did not have any medical appointments this week. Our pergola is finished.  Greg Mower found a cover for it that blocks sunlight.    For the first time in the ten years we have lived here, I enjoy sitting on our back patio in July. For vincas.  These flowers bloom even on hot sunny days. I learned about vincas when we lived in Phoenix. I have some planted in a galvanized tub I inherited from my father which sits on our back patio. The pergola blocks much of the sun from coming through the patio glass door into our family room. We attached Lachlan’s swing to the pergola.  His laughter and delight while swinging was contagious. Even though I have to wear a mask around Lachlan, he doesn’t treat me any differently than he always has.   I am grateful for wise counsel from my friend, Rosie, who is also battling cancer.   On Wednesday Paul and I took a break from cancer.  We drove up to Sweet, Idaho via Emmett and back home via Horsehoe Bend. ...

  A text exchange with my friend Rosie triggered some personal reflection.  She is battling breast cancer. She reminded me that we have to fight to get better and that Jesus would fight beside me.   The scriptures counsel me that I need to be willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon me ( Mosiah 3:19 ).   Are submissiveness and fighting to get well opposing actions?  I do not believe they are.  In order to fight to get well, I must accept or submit to the reality that I have cancer.    Submissiveness is more than stating a fact.  It is trusting that my having cancer is part of God’s plan for me.  It is trusting that He will not abandon me on this journey.  It is being willing to admit that I need to learn lessons that only having cancer can teach me. Accepting cancer doesn’t suggest that I simply hope and pray I will be healed, although hoping and praying are critical.   ...

 Cycle 2 (Continued)   Medical treatments require patience. That must be why those who are being treated are called “patients”. Things take time, and with the treatment protocols that have been prescribed for Doris, we are learning patience. After the fast-paced experience of Cycle 1, we are learning that there is a way that we can live our lives, find a balance, and enjoy time together in the process.   Doris continues to feel fatigue and some weakness, whether from the effects of the treatment, or from the disease itself (MCL), or both. That is the ambiguity of treatment from which we are learning patience.    We are still learning to wait on the Lord, for His hand to be manifest in our behalf. The means by which His hand is being manifest seems to include the medical treatments. With only one infusion during Cycle 2 and the continued oral chemo pills, we carry on.    In the meanwhile, we continue our re-assimilation of our stored ite...

 From Thomas:  That’s when you know a joke is a dad joke—when it’s fully groan.  From Jonathan:

Wednesday, July 2, 2025 Map  From Amy: Clippy (aka the Microsoft paperclip helper) has had a really stressful day! He tripped on the curb and got bent out of shape. Thursday, July 3, 2025 Map From Kyle:

There are six construction cranes between our house and the St Luke’s Cancer Clinic in downtown Boise.  I had a genetic counseling appointment there this week. Because my father had mantle cell lymphoma, I had a thirteen times greater chance than most people of getting MCL. Because both my father and I have/had MCL, my children have a higher risk than I did. My blood has cancer mutations so testing for genetic mutations cannot be done via a blood draw.  I will have to have a skin punch biopsy.  

Romans 8:38-39 38  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to  separate  us from the  love  of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 39  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to  separate  us from the  love  of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 39  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to  separate  us from the  love  of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. nt, nor things to come, 39  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to  separate  us from the  love  of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 His Eye is on the Sparrow 1. Why should I feel discouraged? Why should the shadows come? Why should my heart be lonely And long for heav’n and home, When Jesus is my portion? My constant Friend is He: His eye is on the sparrow, And I know He watches me; His eye is on the sparrow, And I know He watches me. I sing because I’m happy— I sing because I’m free— For His eye is on the sparrow, And I know He watches me. 2. “Let not your heart be troubled.” His tender word I hear, And resting on His goodness, I lose my doubt and fear. Though by the path He leadeth, But one step I may see: His eye is on the sparrow, And I know He watches me; His eye is on the sparrow, And I know He watches me. I sing because I’m happy— I sing because I’m free— For His eye is on the sparrow, And I know He watches me. 3. Whenever I am tempted, Whenever clouds arise, When songs give place to sighing, When hope within me dies, I draw the closer to Him; From care He sets me free: His eye is on the sparrow, And I ...

 From  Thomas S. Monson former president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Do not pray for tasks equal to your abilities, but  pray for abilities equal to your tasks . Then the performance of your tasks will be no miracle, but you will be the miracle.”

This journey does not feel like a mission.  Each day is much like the previous one.  I awake, take chemo pills (trying to minimize their side effects), go on a walk, take a shower, read scriptures, each lunch and then take a nap. The only variety is what may happen in the afternoon before I take chemo pills again.

I was strong enough to go on walks three times this week.  The holiday and a medical appointment took the place of our walks on Wednesday and Friday. Kyle’s family came over to visit us multiple times this week.  Lachlan’s smile is a gift from heaven. In just a few days, Lachlan’s little brother will be born.  He is due on July 24th. My sister Karen and her husband were visiting Idaho to attend a granddaughter’s baptism.  They came to our house on Sunday afternoon.  It was wonderful to visit with them.   I found the birthday gift I bought for Greer a few weeks ago.  I hid it, but I could not remember where it was hidden for days.  I found it this morning, just in time for her birthday celebration later today. My sister Julie completed a book I began about three years ago. It includes life stories of my parents, grandparents and great grandparents.  The stories were written by me and my siblings. The book will be printed, but will also be avai...

  Listening to hymns brought comfort to me.

  Cycle 2 (Continued)   With no treatment events scheduled this week, the only medically based activity we had was an appointment for genetic counseling. Wednesday was Doris’ appointment for genetic counseling, so we were not able to fit a walk in before our designated arrival time of 7:45 AM in St. Luke’s Boise. Doris gathered as much information as she could in preparation for this appointment relative to direct blood relatives who had suffered from cancer. It is a significant effort, for which she reached out to family members to obtain more information. In addition to cancer instances, Doris was also asked about auto-immune based diseases. We walked on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday mornings this week. I track our walks on my Apple Watch as workouts and select “Outdoor Walk”. This creates some statistics, but what is more fun about them, is the map which produced some interesting graphics. We post those graphics in our family discord exchange and invite our family memb...