From Bristol to Boise with Faith

  Original Map From Tom: It's supposed to be a Narwal surfacing out of the ocean Original map From Tom: A battery operated Command Module connected to its charger

Doris found on You Tube: From Scott: A priest, a pastor, and a rabbit walk into a blood donation clinic. The nurse asks the rabbit what their blood type was. "I'm not sure," said the rabbit, "I think I'm a Type O."

  From Doris: Our family has walked 3733.84 miles to Bristol. I have made 85 English paper pieced flowers. We finished Paul’s birthday shopping game at Walmart. He said choosing a gift from the laundry department (non-slip hangers) and cosmetics (Aveeno lotion) were the hardest choices. I am sure that is because his options were very limited in those departments. I made a quilt top for myself this month. Both Kyle and Scott make sourdough bread. We are blessed that they share with us. Because the dough is fermented, Paul can eat sourdough bread without any side effects. We have started making plans to travel to Europe in a year. My cancer treatments will be finished next spring, and I should be stronger by fall 2027. There are four towns within an hour’s drive of Tatiana’ house in England where my Grandpa Owens’ ancestors lived. I hope we can visit those towns when we visit England.

  From Doris:   The return of good air quality allowed us to begin walking outside again. For priesthood blessings. I received two this past month. I was given the strength I needed to speak in sacrament meeting. My talk was based on Elder Kearon’s general conference talk “All Who Have Endured Valiantly.” We will get to meet Katie in just a few days. We will get to spend time with my siblings as well as Paul’s sister and brother-in-law. We had a video chat with all of our children yesterday! Matthew’s work schedule has changed. He now has Saturday’s off work and was able to join us. Julie is healing from her cancer treatment. For the zoom link for both stake conference sessions. Autumn has come to Eagle. The leaves are changing colors and the air is cool in the mornings. For September. It is the month of my parents’ birthdays and their wedding anniversary. I was blessed to be born to wonderful parents.

  The Impossible Dream          To dream the impossible dream To fight the unbeatable foe To bear with unbearable sorrow To run where the brave dare not go To right the unrightable wrong To love pure and chaste from afar To try when your arms are too weary To reach the unreachable star This is my quest, to follow that star No matter how hopeless, no matter how far To fight for the right without question or pause To be willing to march into hell for a heavenly cause And I know if I'll only be true To this glorious quest That my heart will lie peaceful and calm When I'm laid to my rest And the world will be better for this That one man scorned and covered with scars Still strove with his last ounce of courage To reach the unreachable star To reach the unreachable star This is my quest, to follow that star No matter how hopeless, no matter how far To fight for the right without question or pause To be willing to march int...

  From Doris: I had a blood draw Thursday morning. For the first time in over two years my CBC was completely normal. That means 25 tests of my blood were all in normal ranges. That is a miracle.

From Doris Proverbs 16:31 The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.           Translation:         The gray hair of the righteous person is a crown of glory.

  From Doris:   Dreams BY LANGSTON HUGHES Hold fast to dreams For if dreams die Life is a broken-winged bird That cannot fly.   Hold fast to dreams For when dreams go Life is a barren field Frozen with snow.

  General post From Paul:   Cycle 17 of 24   This week Doris had her interim blood labs only, but it designates the beginning of a new cycle of her treatment. The treatment has not changed since January of this year when she received her last infusion.   There are 24 four-week cycles, after which we expect there will be some tests to determine how deeply her treatment has found success. The doctor has indicated that there may be a PET scan, CT Scan or a test for RMD (Remaining Minimal Disease). It is possible that she may undergo a repeat of biopsies for a lymph node and bone marrow. While those experiences are not much to look forward to, they will be much more promising at the end of her treatments, especially with what we hope will be positive results.   This week we had a couple of modified walks. They were modified because we spent less time in the green space and more on the streets. When Doris was diagnosed, the doctor encouraged her to ...

  Original Map From Amy: AI Assisted Original Map From Jonathan: A Trogdor

  From Stephen: What disease did cured ham actually have?   From Tom: Quoting Ian Power: “If anyone ever says, ‘Give me a ballpark figure?’, say 41,649. That’s the capacity of Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs. You’re welcome.”

Our family has walked 3551.71 miles to Bristol. One Sunday Lachlan didn’t do somersaults. He called them salt summers. Paul has an August birthday. We have been playing a shopping game for his birthday. I select a department in Walmart. He finds a birthday gift for himself in that department, but the gift has to begin with a letter of his name. For example, he purchased (A)veeno lotion in the cosmetics department. We pick raspberries every two to three days and get approximately four cups each time. Paul is again serving as a ward organist and as the Elder’s Quorum secretary. I have made 82 English paper pieced flowers. I finished making a wool door hanger for August. Greer designed it. It says SAND.

From Doris:   We have a new granddaughter! Katie was born on July 25th. We will be driving to Utah in September to meet her and attend her baby blessing. There is power in prayer. I am grateful for the many people whose prayers are blessing my life. Receiving hugs. The wildfire smoke has finally decreased and we have returned to walking outside! As my strength increases, I can stay longer at church. My current record is 95 minutes. My bloodwork indicates I have enough immunity to fight illness. We will continue to wear masks in public, but those who visit us do not have to. My oncologist said to make sure visitors wash their hands when they enter our house. We celebrated lots of family birthdays in July and the first week of August. I have been able to participate in family history and temple work for my ancestors. They lived in a part of England that would have been in our mission boundaries. We had a wonderful FaceTime visit with Tatiana. She and her family ...

  From Doris:   Doctrine & Covenants 14:7 And, if you keep my commandments and endure to the end you shall have eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God.

  From Doris:   Elder David A. Bednar . April 2026 General Conference   Enduring to the end is the joyous quest of a lifetime—a pressing forward with faith in Jesus Christ in a gradual process of trusting in and receiving help from our Savior to become more like Him. As our love for Him grows ever stronger and deeper, we can be blessed to receive spiritual perspective, the Lord ’ s empowering grace, and exceedingly great and indescribable joy.

  From Doris:   I had my monthly blood draw and met with my oncologist. He said my bloodwork looks great. It indicates I am still in remission.

From Doris:   This was my favorite song as a little girl. The sound of Music

 From Paul: Doris has completed Cycle 15 of her 24 cycles of treatment. That milestone date was August 13, 2026. Since we were subject to scheduling availability of the oncologist, her blood draw and appointment were delayed until August 18.   I am encouraged that Doris’ blood labs indicate that her remission is still evident. The doctor also indicated that her labs show she can fight off infections. We will still be cautious, but we can relax our masking practices, especially for visiting family or friends. Her doctor suggested visitors should wash their hands when they arrive. This news is encouraging and we are grateful for the positive indications. This chapter of our lives often brings a mixture of good things and challenges. Many of these challenges are associated with Doris’ ongoing treatments and the side effects of the medication. In general, I sense improvement in her strength and stamina. We are grateful for the improved air quality, because we have been avoid...

From Doris: Today Paul and I read chapter twelve from the book Tuck Everlasting with our granddaughter, Enna. This book is one of my favorite books and we are enjoying sharing it with her. Here is a quote from chapter twelve:   “That ’ s what us Tucks are, Winnie. Stuck so ’ s we can ’ t move on. We ain ’ t part of the wheel no more. Dropped off, Winnie. Left behind. And everywhere around us, things is moving and growing and changing.”   This quote summarizes how I have been feeling lately. Stuck. I am trying to move forward, but I am not on the same “wheel” as those around me. Everywhere around me things are growing and changing, and my progress is so slight that it is hard to feel forward progress.   About twenty-five years ago I had a conversation with Cathlene, my sister-in-law. She shared an insight I have never forgotten. She said that the biggest challenge she felt with her own physical trials was not the pain she felt, but her lost dreams for the fut...

  From Doris: Our family has walked 3414.42 miles to Bristol. I have made 77 hexagon flowers. I do not have a metallic taste in my mouth due to the chemotherapy drugs I take, but I do have a persistent sour taste. It is similar to what one gets when drinking orange juice after having had a bite of syrup drenched pancakes. We have raspberry bushes filled with blossoms. We also have a blueberry bush with lots of ripe blueberries. We love reading Sammy Bird books (by author V. Moua) with our grandchildren. Sammy, the main character, asks the reader questions.

 From Andrew: "Rapunzel, let down your hair [hare]"

  From Doris: Our son Tom and his family came from Iowa to stay with us for a few days. It was wonderful to be with all of them. Our granddaughter Enna wanted to make a quilt with me while they were here. Using a technique called “quilt as you sew,” Enna sewed herself a quilt. Even when family is far away physically, we still share memories of times we were together. We will soon have another granddaughter to shower with love. She will be born later this week. I finished sewing an acorn themed quilt top. For the most part our basement painting and improvements are finished. We did not have to live through the heat wave in England during the past few weeks. We live in an air-conditioned house. I am strong enough to attend an endowment session in the temple. I was able to stay at church for 1.5 hours. My cancer is still in remission

  From Doris: I have seen the hand of the Lord in the lives of family members recently diagnosed with cancer. In both cases, the cancer was found early and was treatable.  

  From Doris: John 14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

  From Doris: TheKing of Love My Shepherd Is   1 The King of love my shepherd is, whose goodness faileth never. I nothing lack if I am his, and he is mine forever. 2 Where streams of living water flow, my ransomed soul he leadeth; and where the verdant pastures grow, with food celestial feedeth. 3 Perverse and foolish, oft I strayed, but yet in love he sought me; and on his shoulder gently laid, and home, rejoicing, brought me. 4 And so through all the length of days, thy goodness faileth never; Good Shepherd, may I sing thy praise within thy house forever.

From Doris: Emily Belle Freeman April 2026 General Conference   “ Jesus Christ brings joy. … You might have a bad day, a bad week, or a bad year. [Just remember,] joy is not the absence of sorrow in your life; [it is] the presence of [Jesus] Christ in your life.”, (quoting For the Strength of Youth: A Guide for Making Choices )     Larry Corbridge ( YouTube  Stand Forever Series episode 21 )   “Faith is not necessarily the power to get your way, rather the power to go on when you don’t.”   Catherine, Princess of Wales   “Healing, whether personal or collective, is not just about fixing what is wrong. It is about finding balance in how we live. Between effort and acceptance, between control and trust, between thinking and simply being. Because in the end, bravery isn ’ t just about pushing forward. It is about knowing how to stay grounded, connected and present, no matter the terrain or landscape you are walking.” 

    From Matthew: It’s very clearly a snail   Original map From Kyle: A nerf gun