our top TEN list for summer

This is in mostly chronological order because all of these were #1! Remember we are simple people, it doesn't take much to make us happy!

#1 Family trip to Boston-Ruth is a Boston Celtics fan, I know it is just wrong! But she got her Celtics jersey she has wanted. Jake and Anna saw Boston from the most wonderful double stroller ever. It was worth all the money that I paid for it!!!!! Em, Ruth and I walked the city over. It was such a family friendly place. A couple of people asked if they were my sisters, that made my day, not so much theirs. The 3 of us got so good at the T, but we did hall the big stroller up and down A LOT of stairs because I didn't listen to the 12 year old who really has hear head on right. We visited Harvard, the Aquarium (not so good), walked the Freedom Trail, watched street dancers, ate roasted almonds from a street vendor, visited the Cappachetti's (our dear friends), CELEBRATED ANNA'S 3rd BIRTHDAY!!!

#2 Fenway Park-You can't go to Boston with a bunch of sports fanatics and not see Fenway. Because we had Anna and Jake we didn't go to a game, but just on the history tour which was very cool. Em took about a thousand pictures of the Red Sox hall of fame. Truly it was one of the most beautiful fields I have ever seen.

#3 Bear Lake with the Petersen Family-If you can look beyond the beauty of the Princesses, you will see the view of Bear Lake that we had from this cabin. It was exquisite. I wish I could describe the happy feelings that were in that cabin. These girl cousins (not to many boy cousins and very large gaps in ages makes them feel a little girl trapped) love each other so much.

#4 Tiling the basement- I know this doesn't sound fun, but it is always neat to learn a new skill with your husband. Alan and I spent 3 Saturdays together (now with Alan's loose interpretation of what a date is I am sure he is counting all three as dates!) cutting and laying about 800 sq ft of tile. It actually has turned out very nice. Someday it will actually get grouted as well.

#5 Photo Shoots with Aunt Di-Di was kind enough to take my girls, and Jakes pictures. Anna wasn't all that interested, she mostly wanted to play with Bella. Jake just wanted to explore, Emily and Ruth just wanted to look perfect, I think they did a pretty good job of that.

#6 Back to Bear Lake to see Alan's brother Dave-Dave was kind enough to do some work for a gift for me so we took Alan's parents up and spent the day with him. It was peaceful, calm, and happy. Jake explored Camp Hunt finding his first stick. Who knew that boys come with sword abilities!

#7 Jake learned how to say "ba-baaaa" let me interpret 18 month old that would be football, taught to him by his football fanatic sisters. I am still shooting for a golfer where no one will tackle my son and hurt him. If that doesn't work then maybe a punter then he will have to be fast and just get out of the way,but at least his blows would be limited!

#8 Best year ever for Summer Fun! Em and Ruth with two of their friends have run a fun camp for kids between the ages of 4 and 9. This year went so smoothly and the girls enjoyed it so much more than they ever had. Most of the days were planned well and with precision. There were a few gliches, but we call those learning experiences.

#9 Ruth got braces and her ears pierced-even though she doesn't want me to say so, she was sooooo excited to get braces! She kept begging me to make the appointment. I don't know if it is the transformation from 6th to 7th grade or the braces,but she is looking more mature.

A few years ago Emily wanted her ears pierce and I said I thought she was too young but if she read the Book of Mormon I would take her the day she finished and have them pierced. Well for the next two weeks she read day and night. So when Ruth wanted her ears pierced I had to follow the same pattern, again she read all day (not at night) till she too had finished the Book of Mormon. Moral of the story is be careful what you say because you have to follow through when you are the mom.

#10 Having one last summer with Anne. Sometimes we need to look at all the little miracles around us. We have blessing upon us all the time. And even when situations are difficult we will see the tender mercies of our Father in Heaven if we will focus on them instead of the pain and heartache that may be surrounding us. We spent a lot of time with Anne and are grateful for every memory.

Hard to believe that she really is so sick, I know!

There is a Taylor Swift song that says "I had the best day with you, today" that is how I felt yesterday as I sat with my sister Anne in the hospital. For days she has been unconcious and unable to speak. She is paralyzed on one side and now blind in her right eye. But as I walked in to her room for my short shift I found her sitting up laughing with 2 of my other sisters and my mom. All of us sat laughing, visiting and waiting for Ward, her husband, to arrive with the kids after back to school night. I sat with her Monday and Tuesday nights and got no reaction at all. I prayed that I might have just one more chance to have a conversation with her. I knew it was a selfish request and did not expect it to be granted. But last night there I was experiencing exactly what I had prayed for. It was a gift that I will cherish always.

She has had actively growing melanoma for the last 19 months and wrung through some of the roughest, most gruesome treatment imaginable in fighting to stay here on earth with her husband and 3 daughters.

Her rapid decline has been almost a shock for our family. She has been doing so good. Friday I talked with her as she ran errands getting her kids school clothes. Saturday she and her husband went on a date with some friends and had so much fun. Sunday at 5:30am she had something in her brain burst and bleed. It is unclear if it is a tumor or not. She is now rapidly declining and completely unconcious again with no hopes of waking up this time. She has said her good byes now. With each ring of the phone I wonder if it will be the news that she is gone.

Death is not an easy process and does take time. It does not scare me anymore. Elder Lance B Wickman said in an LDS General Conference address something that has changed my thinking, he said "grief is the natural by-product of love. One cannot selflessly love another person and not grieve at his suffering or eventual death. The only way to avoid the grief would be to not experience the love; and it is love that gives life its richness and meaning." Because I love Anne I will grieve intensely, but all my memories of her will be sweet and precious.

I know that through the blessings of the temple families can be eternal. I know soon she will be holding and loving my little Sarah and reminding her how much her mom loves her. I know that one day the 3 of us will hug again and that cancer will not be able to hurt us or cause us pain. How much I detest the vile word of cancer, and yet it has been my teacher these last 8 years. It has changed my soul for the better and made me more sympathetic, compassionate and humble bringing me closer to my Father in Heaven.

(Can you believe that I posted soquickly after sending an email!)