From Bristol to Boise with Faith

 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...