May 22

Amy had another meeting with her surgeon yesterday in which she was given the green light on resuming baths! Baths were Amy's primary relaxation tool before all of this started, so it's tremendous to be able to have them again. The doctor also said that she has healed so well and so surprisingly quickly that she really has no restrictions at all. With that, Amy promptly stole Fritz's truck and treated herself to a massage.

This week marked the end of the second treatment cycle, meaning that Amy is now on vacation for a week and she is one third of the way DONE. She still has eyebrows and eyelashes and goes around winking and making expressive faces to get the most out of it. At treatments, the chemo nurses look at her askance and wonder if she even belongs there.

We know that Heavenly Father has a plan for our family and that He is mindful of us. We are so grateful for the love we feel from all of you and for your continuing prayers. We appreciate the opportunity to grow together and hope that you feel the hand of God as directly in your days as we do.

Mr. Congeniality

Yeah for Chris! Last night, he won Mr. Congeniality and Second Runner Up in the Mr. Idaho Falls High School pageant. He's pictured here this morning wearing his lovely sash. He did a reader's theater with voice impersonations of Schwarzenegger, Sarah Palin, Crocodile Dundee and Sean Connery for his talent. His bathing suit stunt was hilarious---a Victorian style red striped bathing costume, complete with moustache, top hat, monocle and cane! We are so proud. What a cool way to finish off your senior year!

Thoughts from Amy

Top Ten Things about the Shave

10.The suspense is gone.

9. The rain of hair on my clothes, furniture, and dinner is over.

8. I look better than Sinnead O'Conner and almost as fine as Nefertiti, but not as cute as my granddaughter.

7. Oil of Olay on the scalp. Mmmm!

6. The scarf gets some respect. Suddenly lines are shorter and there's room to sit in public.

5. I might tell your fortune.

4. I never have a bad hair day, and I can change head looks easily.

3. Sunshine on my scalp.

2. Shower spray on my scalp.

and number 1:

Standing in a 60 mph wind in a bare head. Whooha!

Thoughts from Amy

When my brother John and I were little, we used to play Monopoly on the floor of our home. Our 20 pound housecat, Henry, would make unannounced charges through the game, tossing it into the air and ruining the play. At the beginning of March my life gameboard was upset, and for a moment it was all a blur of colored paper, property cards, little houses and hotels, and the puppy dog and the shoe. Things have settled now, and I see that my gameboard is now cleared of all but two things: my family and my faith. But it still has two things! Two can be many, if they include loving people and God.
My old life was complex and rich, and there are hundreds of things I will miss about it, but I must do over and rebuild a new life. I'm not exactly sure of the direction, but I do know it involves music and service. Keep watching--this should be a good trick I'm about to do.
In the meantime, thank you so much for your prayers, thoughts, meals, e-mails, and cards. Thank you to everyone who contacted the Divine in their life on my behalf, including benevolent ancestors and musical offerings. I feel all of these, and they support me like a layer of warmth. Please continue to pray for me, and I will work hard to rebuild.

May 4th

We have now arrived at our first vacation week in the chemo courses and Amy feels really good. The nausea has been well under control (what a blessing!) and Amy is still taking daily neighborhood walks. She feels tired, but uses her bursts of energy to go on errands, play with the little kids, or to go visiting people with Fritz. Because the chemo purposefully weakens her immune system so severely, she cannot be touched by people outside of her immediate family. She feels terrible about having to turn down people that want to hug and kiss her, but right now it is necessary. We are all so thankful for the love everyone has shown--the great food and the cheerful blog comments are a comfort.

Amy thought this picture was hilarious and wanted to share it with you. Hannah dressed up as John Fogerty from Credence Clearwater Revival today for her elementary school's "Dress up like your favorite musician" day today. She took a little plastic guitar to school. We love her flamboyant streak---what a ham!