3/25 TO 3/31

Some of the highlights of things of interest this week were:. Willards birthday on the 26th.  It was a relatively quite day. I gave him some books to read.   We were going to go out to dinner but Willard wasn't feeling well and the Durrants were here late.  He seemed to be dragging all week.  He just didn't have any get up and go.

I worked all day on trying to get names ready for the Durrant girls to take to the temple.  Their ward provided 29 males and 32 females of Shortridge linage with the saving ordinance of baptism and confirmations.  She had called earlier to see if I had any names so when I looked into things I found I needed to upgraded my Roots Magic.  I found that the  family search tool was working properly and allowed me to find and submitted name more easily.  I found that there is still so much work to do in just cleaning up the files.  I even found some names on the Hill lines that needed to be done.  I am leaving that up to the Willard to do. On my side I have about 5,000 names to clean up and that is only up to the 15th generation.

Wednesday when I went to radiation they asked me if I was putting my ointment on  my back.  I asked why would I do that.  Then they told me I was red on my back.  It had been itching but I didn't think anything about it and didn't know my back was red.  So the next day I asked them why my back was burnt and they said they were wondering about that too so they asked.  They were told that my radiation had gone through me and burnt my back. They were trying to hit both the lymph nodes in the front and the back. Thank goodness this was the last week for that type of radiation.  However, they told me that for the next 2 years I need to use sunscreen on my back because of the damage to my skin.

Radiation burn on my back

 Also, I am so thankful for my ointment that helps with the pain of my burn under my arm.   My cloths rub on it and I try not to wear my bra. Even though I am numb under my arm the blisters are still very painful (Also, I think it will help when I can shave my arm pit. )    Next week they are going to change the type of radiation.  They are only going to radiate my scar with a beam that only treats just the surface area to make sure that no seed cancer will survive. They literately took a blue permanent marker and drew the pattern where to place the beam.  Only 5 more treatments!!!

My blistered arm pit.

That afternoon Rosemary Hill took me out to lunch at Jakers.  They really had a nice soup and salad bar.  I loved their hearty potato soup.  We had a nice visit.  She is the kindest dearest person.  I love her.

Since, it has been so nice outside and we got the tiller fixed for only $20, I thought I had better get busy with the strawberry garden. (I am getting 60 strawberry plants in 2 weeks)  I decided that I was going to replant the whole side of the fence since some last part at the end hadn't been fertilized and soil treated.  Well the project has really pushed both of us to our limits and beyond.  The arthritis in my hands is really kicking up and Willard just can't work very long.  I hoped to get it done this weekend but we ran out of steam.  We just have to learn to pace ourselves.

Almost ready to till in fertilizer and soil. 

Friday morning when I got home from Cruves, Willard said he was in a lot of pain so he called the Doctor to ask for some pain pills. They asked him to come in to make sure it wasn't an infection.  I was going to radiation and then to the temple to put names on the pray roll.  We were really grateful for Deborah and her willingness to take Willard to the doctors so that I could go to the temple.  They found that he did have an infection which he got from the procedure that they done last week. Since he doesn't empty his bladder, it was a perfect condition to grow an infection.  He is doing a little better now but still is having pain if doesn't use his pain pills.

Trenton is going to have his MRI on Wednesday so I hope they can find out the reason for the mass and swollen knee.  He has been able to work as long as they don't have him stand, but he is still in a lot of pain and his knee is swelling more.  I hope it is nothing serious.  

Saturday we went to Julia's baptism who is a neighbor of mime. She just turned 17 and has been coming to church for almost a year.  At first her dad said she had to wait until she was 18 but after a lot friend-shipping, he could see that the church wasn't a cult and consented to let her be baptized.  Nancey and I played "Love at Home". It was really special to see her so happy and thrilled that she was able to join the church.

The experience and impressions that I had this Sunday as I contemplated Christ and his atoning sacrifice. during the temple session, Julia's baptism and at church are these.  That as Heavenly Fathers children,  we are to have joy in our lives. God gave us commandments so that we can have joy in this life.  There is no other way can we have joy. Obedience to his law and commandments are essential.   Temporal things of the world only give temporary happiness. They get old, worn out and discarded.  But things of a  spiritual nature that we experience will bring us joy for eternity. Then I thought about the Savior and his suffering in Gethsemane and the law of oppositions.  He suffered more than any man ever has or  could but on the other hand,  he also has experienced greatest joy of living with His Father in Heaven.   Yes, life is hard, but there are so many things that the Lord has given us that can  brings joy into our lives if we look for it.  The simple things in life like these little pansy's bring me much joy when I look at them. I am so thankful for a beautiful world that the Lord has provided for us that is filled with beautiful things and sounds. As the song says "There is beauty all around" We just have to open up our eyes and heart to find joy.