A Bit Of A Break

We Took a Bit of A Break from Life and went up to the Mountains for a couple of days this weekend. A much needed reprieve from the grind of life. Jessica had her Chemotherapy treatments on Thursday afternoon and then we left Friday morning for the mountains. Just above the town of Sweet about 20 minutes. Jessica's Doctor's were not too excited about letting her go as her platelets are soo low right now and she is extremely vulnerable to the slightest bump or scrape or infection. Even the smallest thing to most of us could be a real serious problem for her right now as her immune system is so suppressed.
Thursday was her last day of the Induction phase of her treatments. A pretty significant mile stone for us to cross so far. This coming week, we will rescan and gather data to re-stage the cancer and find out if she is responding well to the treatments. For the next little while, she will go in every Three weeks for Spinal Taps and chemo treatments and five days of prednisone. She has been pulled off of some of the steroids that she was taking every day. The shock to her body to come off of that cold turkey was quite a blow and that really knocked her down. We are so grateful for the few hours that she felt well enough on Friday to enjoy the better part of that day. She slept most of Saturday and Sunday and was in quite a bit of pain. Coming off the prednisone like that gave her a bit of an ulser and put pain all over in her body. She has been achy and tired and flu like this weekend.

Sunday night her brother Reagan and her Dad gave her a priesthood blessing to help her with the discomfort. That was such a special thing to have her brother serve her in that capacity and see the healing power of the priesthood in such a real way. I am so grateful for a husband and sons who honor the priesthood and use it to bless our family. I can't imagine trying to wade through life without it. We are so grateful for the gospel, for the peace that it brings, and for the tender mercies of the Lord along the way.

In the Blessing, Reagan told Jessica that in these moments that are difficult and miserable, not to take the negative road, but to find strength to gather all that the Lord can teach her that is good. He blessed her with the strength to do that and to allow this experience to refine her and give her attributes that will allow her to bless others.

In Church Today, we read again from Mosiah 24: 14-15
"I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions."

We can absolutely testify that this is so true. This promise is real. It works. .........depending on who's side you're on. It's moments like these that can either solidify your knowledge of the truth that God does live. Or it can give you opportunities to be bitter and miserable and alone. (And I can't say we haven't been tempted to go there). He knows us and has huge regard for us, especially in our suffering. He WILL lift the burden from our backs and give us what we need to carry them. He might not remove them, but he will make us strong enough to carry what is ours to carry.

I marvel at Jessica's positive outlook and her strength. Each of us has seen the giant capacity of Love that Our Father In Heaven has for us and at how real and tangible and evident it is in every facet of life. I know now that afflictions and trials really help to illuminate that in our minds and write it on our hearts so that we can put to the test what we say we believe.

Jessica did not attend Church today, and hasn't been in about a month and a half, but is able to have the sacrament here at home. We take things one day at a time.



MaKenna racing down the Zip Line at by the cabin we stayed at this weekend.