From Bristol to Boise with Faith

Original walking map From Grayson King Cobra Original walking map From Amy: I see Nefertiti looking to the left. A bee has taken off from having landed on her headpiece. And the inspiration for Amy's imagination

 From Doris: Look at the World | Tabernacle Choir You will want to either enjoy the entire Music and the Spoken Word, or start at 17:58 in the program.

From Doris Tamara Runia, speaker at 2025 Utah Area YSA Conference   She recalled speaking at her oldest son’s funeral, looking down at his wife and four small children and finding herself asking God, “Why?” She spoke from experience as she told the YSAs, “Not understanding is not the same as not believing” and urged them to stay tethered to Christ amid depression and discouragement. “While I may not understand why this has happened, I absolutely believe that God knows you, and He loves you and has a plan for you.”

From Doris:  The drug side effects are getting harder to manage. 

 From Doris: I was able to hold Ewan twice this week.  Holding a baby so fresh from heaven reminds me of Heavenly Father’s love.

  From Doris: Alma 55:31 But behold, the Nephites were not slow to remember the Lord their God in this their time of affliction.

 From Matthew: What’s the difference between Black Eyed Peas and Chick Peas? Black Eyed Peas can sing us a song. Chick Peas can only hummus one. From Thomas: Where do pirates get their hooks? At second-hand stores.

  From Doris: My body is responding well to my cancer treatments. My chemo pill #2 dose was increased to 100 mg/day.   I am learning to deal with the side effects. If I had had to jump to a 400 mg pill (the final strength) instead of 100 mg pill this week, I don’t know how I would have survived the side effects. That I only have to increase my pill strength two more times before I am at the strength needed for the remainder of my treatments. Steve, one of the CIC nurses, told me I am one of his favorite patients.  He enjoys talking to Paul and me. The interior of our house will be professionally painted the week of September 22nd. I went on walks with Paul four days this week. I can only manage 10–15-minute walks currently. Two friends came to my house and visited with me this week. My biopsy wound has healed.     

 From Doris: I take roughly 20 pills a day. Many of them are pills meant to minimize the effects of my chemo pills.   When one goes to St. Luke’s Hospitals, visitors are required to wear wrist bands.  Each day has a specific color: Monday is blue, Tuesday is gray, Wednesday is green, Thursday is purple, Friday is pink.  I have only been on a Saturday once and am not sure of the color.   We have driven 600.9 miles in the last 17 weeks to go to my medical appointments. We spent 26 hours making these trips.   If we were to plan to drive 600 miles from Eagle, we could visit our family in Utah and then continue driving to Cedar City, Utah to visit my friend Sylvia. Or we could visit Matthew in Seattle and then drive on to visit Mount Rainier National Park.    It takes 90 minutes for the pain in my stomach to ease when I have a strong adverse reaction to my treatment medications.

  From Paul: Cycle Three (Continued) This week is week three of the new oral chemo pill ramp up. Week one began with Cycle Three on August 14. The first week was a starter dose of 20 mg per day taken once. This week finished the 50 mg per day and started with the 100 mg per day dose. Each dose increase is preceded by labs to make sure Doris’ blood is responding appropriately. Then we have a consultation with a provider, at which point we have the green light to continue the ramp up dose. Approximately 24 hours after the new dose, Doris has another lab draw to ensure she is not experiencing any serious toxic issues like Tumor Lysis Syndrome.   Each ramp up brings a little bit of discomfort and gastrointestinal issues. We are blessed that these issues seem to be resolved within a couple of days. It seems Doris is adjusting to the dosage, but it takes two or three days for her to get used to the increase. We continued our short walks, this week, but took Friday off, because...