tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36157982077924649042024-03-21T10:37:32.592-07:00The Gifta blog to keep everyone informedBethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01013394538795397145noreply@blogger.comBlogger124125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615798207792464904.post-48504581725134615332016-09-14T20:36:00.001-07:002016-09-14T20:36:06.750-07:00And There Shall Be No More Death - Sept 14thIt has been two weeks since Beth passed. I am not yet ready to write about all of the pain, all of the mircales, all of the love, all of the long nights, all of the thoughts that have filled my head over the past two weeks. I just don't have the energy to do so yet. Therefore I will share a General Conference talk from this past April. Elder Paul Johnson perfectly explains that despite the deep sadness and loss I feel why I am able to keep moving forward. I know I will see Beth again.<br />
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I will also share some of the images that our friend Lee Ann Norris captured from the services this weekend. What an amazing job she did. Thank you!<br />
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More posts are coming. I can't say when, but I do have much to say.<br />
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<br />Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10523278311850851395noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615798207792464904.post-9475510156024449512016-09-12T06:19:00.001-07:002016-09-12T06:19:03.205-07:00Hardship vs Happiness - Sept 12thBeth taught me so much. I miss learning from her. She posted this 6 months before her passing. Long live #TheBethEffect <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisve5ZyTsQWgY7_YSShqbu1gJ4Y6I2ZPZcyh-F5f-6nN9R6Ao7Dn4V-zB0wNVMQS_Txm9HK51PV0_1AFaYb8AuqRC5eew4NXzGZP9VoIMxjOt3B78PHgvcDItM0AlQA2O-bynmwXPsCXs/s640/blogger-image--1820016675.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisve5ZyTsQWgY7_YSShqbu1gJ4Y6I2ZPZcyh-F5f-6nN9R6Ao7Dn4V-zB0wNVMQS_Txm9HK51PV0_1AFaYb8AuqRC5eew4NXzGZP9VoIMxjOt3B78PHgvcDItM0AlQA2O-bynmwXPsCXs/s640/blogger-image--1820016675.jpg"></a></div>Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10523278311850851395noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615798207792464904.post-30559486507996488222016-09-07T22:29:00.002-07:002016-09-07T22:29:25.414-07:00Now Here's a Little Story I've Got to Tell... Sept 7th <span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Well, it's looking like another sleepless night for me. I've had about 5 hours of sleep TOTAL over the last two nights.<br /><br />So since we are still all up, I thought I'd share with you a funny story about some of the last words Beth spoke. It was 3 days before she passed (Sunday). It was the last day she was able to really talk. I helped her sit up to use the bathroom. She was so weak that I had to hold her up so that she wouldn't tip over. As we sat on the side of the bed, my arm wrapped around her holding her up, we waited for her to gain strength to try and move to the toilet. Out of nowhere she very faintly started rapping the opening verse of the Beastie Boys, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/track/3gKwVWwKmeuFtPubICbOGc">Paul Revere</a> - <i>"Now here's a little story I've got to tell about 3 bad brothers you know so well..." </i></span><div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />I just love that crazy, spunky girl. She was so funny and full of life up till the very end. I laughed and </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">just imagined her laying in bed all that time reciting song lyrics in her head. </span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I think a lot of her friends would be surprised to know exactly how much rap and hip hop Beth listened to. She would always listen to the edited versions and she always would make me laugh anytime she would hear one of her favorite rap songs but accidentally hear the unedited version</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">. She was always so shocked and upset that they were using foul language. <i>"Why does Tupac have to curse so much"</i>. She cracked me up.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I wish I could find out how many people's lasts words were lyrics to a Beastie Boys song. I'm serious, I think she said maybe 3 more words after her impromptu rap session (for the record those last 3 words were "l love you"). </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Man I miss her so much.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Disclaimer: Beth would want me to point out that in this picture she was NOT miserably failing at throwing up the "Westside" W sign. Her missionary companion took this picture on their P-day and Beth was saying <i>" Only 3 more months till I come home". </i></span></div>
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Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10523278311850851395noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615798207792464904.post-19383351433252812862016-09-02T20:50:00.002-07:002016-09-02T21:01:22.645-07:00Obituary for Bethany Campbell Mowrey<h2 class="no-banner" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; clear: none; float: none; height: auto; margin: 25px 0px 0px; min-height: 32px; outline: 0px; padding: 7px 0px 15px; position: static; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; width: 600px;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-weight: normal; line-height: 30px;"><span style="color: #19447e; font-family: georgia, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.brunners.com/obituaries/Bethany-Mowrey/#!/Obituary">www.brunners.com/obituaries/Bethany-Mowrey/#!/Obituary</a></span></span></h2>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #19447e; font-family: georgia, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 26px; line-height: 30px; text-align: justify;">Obituary for Bethany Campbell Mowrey</span></div>
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; clear: none; color: #404040; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; height: auto; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;">Bethany Campbell Mowrey age 40 of Hudson, OH, formerly of Redondo Beach, CA, died Wednesday August 31, 2016 at home surrounded by her family. She was born March 1, 1976 in Torrance, CA.<br /><br />Bethany loved being a wife of 17 years to Alan Mowrey and mother to Benson, Ella, Caroline & Lily Mowrey, daughter to Neal and Nancy Campbell, sister to David Campbell and Christi (Michael) Cluff, aunt to Chancellor Campbell, London, Ashton, Holland, Joseph, Alexander, Truman & Elijah Cluff, Emily and Anna Crow, sister in law to Randall Lopez and dog lover to Poppy.<br /><br />She is preceded in death by her sister Rebecca Lopez, niece: Sam Lopez and nephew Bo Lopez.<br /><br />The family will receive friends from 4-7 pm Friday September 9, 2016 and 10- 11 am Saturday September 10, 2016 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 8751 Kirtland Rd, Kirtland, OH 44094.<br /><br />The funeral service will be 11 am Saturday September 10, 2016 at the church.<br /><br />Interment: North Kirtland Cemetery, Kirtland, Ohio.<br /><br />Arrangements Entrusted to Brunner Sanden Deitrick Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 8466 Mentor Ave. Mentor, OH. 44060.<br /><br />Send flowers or offer condolences at <a href="http://www.brunners.com/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #19289a; float: none; height: auto; line-height: 14px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;" target="_blank" title="Click to open in a new window or tab">www.brunners.com</a><br /></span><br />
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To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Bethany Campbell Mowrey please visit our<a href="http://www.brunners.com/store/Category.aspx?CategoryId=319&icn=desktop_memorial_obituary_link#chooser" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #19289a; float: none; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; height: auto; line-height: 14px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;">Sympathy Store</a>.</div>
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Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10523278311850851395noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615798207792464904.post-12567344658256247052016-09-01T20:59:00.000-07:002016-09-01T20:59:00.045-07:00I'm Trying - Sept 1st <div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Beth’s services will take place on Sept 9th and Sept 10th. Both the viewing on Sept 9th from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. and the funeral services on Sept 10th at 10 A.M. will take place at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Kirtland Ohio (</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8751 Kirtland Rd, Kirtland, OH 44094), which is about 30 minutes east of Cleveland. More complete details coming within the next day or so.</span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-d4950ff1-e905-0ccb-84a4-efab195e1666" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I thought I knew what today was going to be like. I knew the “day after” would be hard but today was so much harder than I expected. I feel a physical emptiness in my stomach. Numb. I am really struggling. I’m so heartbroken I can barely think straight. Beth and I were a team. We were such a great team. We complimented each other so perfectly. I am struggling to envision doing this without my partner in crime. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lily also had a hard time today. We spent a lot of time crying together. She wants everything to go back to normal. She doesn’t want us to move anything, pack away any of Beth’s stuff and she wants everyone to stop acting like things are normal. I am 100% with her. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I think this will be the last blog post for a while; probably until at least after the funeral. I have not yet decided if I will continue to post on this site. I feel like I need to close this story, print it out and put it on the shelf so that the #TheBethEffect can live on. So that our kids and our grandkids can pick it up and read about how amazing their mother/grandmother was. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Then there is the other part of me that wants to continue on. To keep Beth close to us. To see how the #TheBethEffect will continue to permeate our lives as we adjust and move on.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To continue or not to continue is just one of the hundreds of concerns and worries that I have thought of today. We’ll see.</span></div>
<br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lastly, just a little glimpse into what a complete mess I am. Today I was putting some things away and noticed a jacket that had been hanging on a hook on the back of the door leading to the garage. It had been there for a very long time. I grabbed it off the hook and there under the jacket was Beth’s purse that had been hanging in the same position for months now. I broke down sobbing knowing that the owner of that purse will never use it again. It has been the small things like this that have really gotten to me today. I think I heard Beth yell down from heaven, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Dude pull yourself together”</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. I’m trying babe, I’m trying. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10523278311850851395noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615798207792464904.post-40567479599098765112016-08-31T19:10:00.000-07:002016-08-31T19:10:16.890-07:00Until We Meet Again - Aug 31st <span style="color: #434343; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.3333px; line-height: 1.2; white-space: pre-wrap;">I hesitated to write anything tonight but I promised Beth a few months ago that I would update this blog everyday until after she passed. This afternoon Beth had a glorious reunion with her sister and her Heavenly Father. She waited until everyone was together - her husband, four kids, sister, mom, dad, uncle, aunt and two cousins. It was a peaceful passing and the spirit was so strong. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Over the 8 years this family has gotten through this trial by laughing more than we cried, finding the blessings instead of focusing on the hardships and by focusing on the eternal perspective versus a worldly one. Beth’s temporary separation from us will not change our approach to this trial or others to come. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I know that Beth will live again and that we will be reunited with her one day. I have thought a lot today about how wonderful it will be to be greeted by Beth when we are called home. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Today was hard, harder than I expected. Tomorrow will be hard. But we will get through this. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I have never loved anyone more than Beth. I have never been loved more than Beth loved me. Until we meet again my love!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was the last kiss Beth gave me. It was 10 days ago. </td></tr>
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Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10523278311850851395noreply@blogger.com43tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615798207792464904.post-88182063289257779762016-08-30T20:39:00.003-07:002016-08-30T20:39:41.787-07:00“Well Done, Thou Good and Faithful Servant" - Aug 30th<b id="docs-internal-guid-5ab354b5-de71-dec1-2bfd-0348aee76f02" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #434343; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 13.3333px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Beth is very close to the end. She has slept all day, has not eaten anything and has only had about 3 oz of water as we had to crush up her pain meds, mix it with water and give it to her through a syringe. Our prayers have changed from praying for time to praying that Heavenly Father calls her home soon. Her work is done here. I was laying in bed last night watching Beth sleep and envisioned that moment when she is reunited with her Father in Heaven and He embraces her saying, </span><span style="color: #434343; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 13.3333px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 13.3333px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Well done, thou good and faithful servant.” </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 13.3333px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I then imagined Him saying, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 13.3333px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Now let’s get to work.” </span></b><br />
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As I alluded to, Beth is still taking oral pain meds. As long as she can still swallow liquids she will not need to be on morphine. I expect Beth to pass before she ever needs morphine. What a fitting way for Beth to go out - tough till the very end. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">About a week ago Beth was telling me about a dream she had. Beth has told me before that she so much wishes she could talk to me as she passes. She wishes she could describe what she sees, who is there, what it feels like. In her dream she had passed away and was told that she could describe to me only ONE thing in detail about what she sees. Beth promptly started to describe a striped dog bowl sitting in the middle of the room. She described it to me in full detail including exactly how much water was in the bowl. After realizing what she wasted her ONE and only chance to describe something she was so mad at herself. “Of all of the beautiful things there is why in the world would I describe a dog bowl of all things?” </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 13.3333px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sunday was the last day that we were able to have any type of real conversation with Beth. Each of our children were able to spend about 15 -20 minutes with her. I am so thankful for that time they got to spend. </span><br />
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Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10523278311850851395noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615798207792464904.post-43403257348925173932016-08-29T20:24:00.000-07:002016-08-29T20:31:43.899-07:00#TheBethEffect - Aug 29th <div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="line-height: 1.2; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I am emotionally fatigued. All I will say tonight is that Beth is still fighting. Last night all I did the entire night was watch her breathe while she slept. She would take a deep breathe and then wouldn’t breathe again for about 10-12 seconds. I sat there waiting for her to gasp for air, hoping that she would. The good thing is that Beth is not in pain and that is such a blessing. </span></span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-d4950ff1-d973-4d16-053e-cdf156825ab2" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">So many sweet moments tonight. Tonight was one of the first nights in 2 months where it was just the six of us together as a family. The house was quiet and reverent. So much peace.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">As we were getting ready for bed, I went into Ella’s room and just hugged her. She has never really had a good cry. Tonight she sobbed in my arms. I didn’t say anything to her, I just let her cry. </span></span></div>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As I held her, I looked over her shoulder and saw these Post-It Notes stuck to her mirror. A few months ago our friend Jonathan back home in LA started a hashtag </span><span style="font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">#TheBethEffect.</span><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> It’s all I could think of as I read those Post-It Notes while holding a sobbing Ella. Ella is a little mini Beth; she has for sure been hit with #TheBethEffect. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #434343; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10523278311850851395noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615798207792464904.post-35147448025593940232016-08-28T19:47:00.000-07:002016-08-28T19:47:54.696-07:00 The Tender Mercies of the Lord - Aug 28th <div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The last few days have been very hard but there also have been some incredible, touching moments that we have been able to experience as Beth prepares to return home. Some have been fleeting moments, some have been memories, some have been conversations with family. Last night I had one of those experiences. This morning, I woke up and was pondering about what happened and was reminded of a talk and true principle that was taught by one of our General Authorities. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In 2005, Elder David A Bednar, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles gave a General Conference Talk titled, </span><a href="https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2005/04/the-tender-mercies-of-the-lord?lang=eng&_r=1" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Tender Mercies of the Lord</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> He describes the “tender mercies of the Lord” as “</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">the very personal and individualized blessings, strength, protection, assurances, guidance, loving-kindnesses, consolation, support, and spiritual gifts which we receive from and because of and through the Lord Jesus Christ.” </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Last night I had an opportunity to experience one of the Lord’s tender mercies. After two days of not being awake or coherent for most of the day, Beth woke up a little before 2am. She nudged me and woke me up and said, “</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Alan, what happened today? I don’t remember anything.”</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> She was as wide awake, alert and articulate as she has been in the last week or so. Her voice was clear and not raspy; her voice actually startled me as I had not heard that voice in weeks. Sleepily I rolled over and answered her. We talked about about what happened during the day, who had come over to visit, what the kids did. She told me about some of the dreams she has had, some funny and some more serious. We shared memories. We just talked, like we used to do every night before bed. Our conversation ended up lasting almost 2 hours. I had so longed for a chance to talk to Beth like that - uninterrupted for an extended period of time. It was a blessing, therapy for me, a tender mercy of the Lord. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Elder Bednar taught us that, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“...the Lord’s tender mercies do not occur randomly or merely by coincidence. Faithfulness, obedience, and humility invite tender mercies into our lives, and it is often the Lord’s timing that enables us to recognize and treasure these important blessings.”</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I am so thankful that I was able to recognize and treasure this blessing I had been given. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lastly, Elder Bednar testified that </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“...that the tender mercies of the Lord are available to all of us and that the Redeemer of Israel is eager to bestow such gifts upon us.”</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUSHzUy3_PY1X3xLZOnrqEV8EnN8UlNI0kIoJnb0yITJdEtFTsflr7LW8I6trNoybrwNwbw_KV7rM_QPqvfZADZsKwdDSwLHq2_LYM05wjz4jhuPRWMD_s1HECrYaTRG8jSZuMFNXsYPQ/s1600/Untitled.tiff" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUSHzUy3_PY1X3xLZOnrqEV8EnN8UlNI0kIoJnb0yITJdEtFTsflr7LW8I6trNoybrwNwbw_KV7rM_QPqvfZADZsKwdDSwLHq2_LYM05wjz4jhuPRWMD_s1HECrYaTRG8jSZuMFNXsYPQ/s320/Untitled.tiff" width="320" /></a></div>
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Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10523278311850851395noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615798207792464904.post-38902612440028930792016-08-27T20:51:00.001-07:002016-08-28T07:27:24.631-07:00Time to Shut it Down (visitors) - Aug 27th <div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Very tough day today. We have made a decision that visits are no longer able to happen. Beth has been asleep for 2 days now. She is not eating or drinking and is not very responsive when we try and wake her. She has a hard time communicating or keeping a train of thought. I hope you all can understand that we need the time we have left (especially time when she is alert and awake) to be with family.</span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-5ab354b5-cf3c-a112-b897-75b34c486609" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For those out of state that were trying to come visit Beth soon, please consider replacing a visit now with a trip out for the funeral services. They will be held in Kirtland at the Stake Center. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For our local friends, we can’t thank you enough for all of the time spent and love you have given Beth. Beth had three visitors today and none of them were able to talk to Beth as she never woke up. Visitors have been a source of anxiety and concern for Beth lately. The last 3 or 4 days Beth has been very anxious knowing that people were going to be coming over and that she would feel the need to be awake or converse. We have decided to take that stress off her plate and shut down all visitors. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lastly, I just looked on Beth’s phone and she has not replied to a single text since early Wednesday (and even on Wednesday she only replied to two people). I just wanted to let you all know so that no one gets offended that she is not responding. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tough conversations are much easier while eating a Swenson's Burger</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I remember asking Dr T. a few months ago what to expect the last few days before Beth passes. She said, Beth will sleep more. She won’t be able to communicate much. She will not want to eat or drink and she will become very weak. She will basically fade away. I hate that I see that this is what is happening. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">On Wednesday, after her panic attack because she couldn’t breathe, I told her that I am not ready for her to pass. I asked her if she was ready and she said, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Some days I think I am”. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When Lily and I were talking tonight, she said, “</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 13.3333px; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Dad, I don’t want you to get remarried</i></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.” I asked why not. She said, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“You don’t need to, you have me.” </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Oh boy, did I ever lose it. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Man this sucks.</span></div>
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Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10523278311850851395noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615798207792464904.post-51067179787831065672016-08-26T20:00:00.001-07:002016-08-26T20:00:40.067-07:00Let's Take a Break - Aug 26th<b id="docs-internal-guid-d4950ff1-c9f0-6487-1547-99d097380818" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #434343; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.3333px; line-height: 1.2; white-space: pre-wrap;">Anyone else sick and tired of Beth hogging up all of the attention on this blog??? I mean, EVERYDAY it’s all about Beth! Right?? Who’s with me? Hello? Anyone? </span></b><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ok, well despite what everyone really wants we are going to take a day off of talking about Beth and give you all some insights on what’s going on with everyone else in the family.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Alan</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - Still riding the high from two Championships at work (Cavs and Lake Erie Monsters). Trying to play basketball as much as I can. Fired up that I found two increible taco joints in Cleveland, on back to back days. Las Americas in Bedford (Thanks Smiths and Pattersons) and Taco Tontos in Kent (Thanks Talentinos). Only took 4 years to find good mexican food. </span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; margin-left: 48px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Last movie watched: Reverent (Thanks to the magic of VidAngel.com) </span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; margin-left: 48px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">First Song that popped up on your Spotify playlist when you hit shuffle: El Camino, Amos Lee</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; margin-left: 48px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Best thing that happened this summer: Spending time in Florida with family. </span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; margin-left: 48px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you had a $100 what you buy/do: Buy new basketball shoes.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ben</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - Started 10th grade. Slowly learning how to drive. Hasn’t figured out how to properly backup. Dying for the Cavs season to start. Loves to read and write. </span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; margin-left: 48px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Last movie watched: Reverent (Thanks to the magic of VidAngel.com) </span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; margin-left: 48px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">First Song that popped up on your Spotify playlist when you hit shuffle: On Top of the World, Imagine Dragons </span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; margin-left: 48px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Best thing that happened this summer: Cavs winning a Championship and being in the parade. </span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; margin-left: 48px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you had a $100 what you buy/do: Go to a New York Knicks game.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ella </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- Started 9th grade. LOVES school. Trying to get into the College Credit Plus program so she can start knocking out College. Wants to be a doctor. </span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; margin-left: 48px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Last movie watched: Princess and the Frog</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; margin-left: 48px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">First Song that popped up on your Spotify playlist when you hit shuffle: When Will my Life Begin, Tangled Soundtrack. </span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; margin-left: 48px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Best thing that happened this summer: Went to EFY.</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; margin-left: 48px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you had a $100 what you buy/do: Put it in the bank.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Caroline</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - started 7th grade. Made the Middle School Soccer team. Wants to play basketball and Lacrosse as well. Loves her new long board. Wants to major in Sports Management in college. </span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; margin-left: 48px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Last movie watched: Soul Surfer</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; margin-left: 48px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">First Song that popped up on your Spotify playlist when you hit shuffle: Roses, The Chainsmokers</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; margin-left: 48px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Best thing that happened this summer: Girls Camp</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; margin-left: 48px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you had a $100 what you buy/do: Go to Dicks Sporting Goods</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lily </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- started the 6th grade (Middle School). Obsessed with the Jones’ litter of puppies. “Will DIE waiting to turn 13 so she can get an Instagram account”. Plays rec soccer and loves to read.</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; margin-left: 48px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Last movie watched: Sixth Sense</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; margin-left: 48px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">First Song that popped up on your Spotify playlist when you hit shuffle: Can’t Blame a Girl for Trying, Sabrina Carpenter</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; margin-left: 48px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Best thing that happened this summer: Ziplining with cousins.</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; margin-left: 48px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you had a $100 what you buy/do: Buy a puppy</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Grandma Mowrey - </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">secretly loves being here to take care of Beth. Just saw 2 plays - Kinky Boots and Steel Magnolias and loved them. </span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; margin-left: 48px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Last movie watched: Miracles from Heaven</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; margin-left: 48px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">First Song that popped up on your Spotify playlist when you hit shuffle: WHAT IS SPOTIFY?</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; margin-left: 48px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Best thing that happened this summer: Moved to Florida</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; margin-left: 48px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you had a $100 what you buy/do: Buy lottery tickets.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Poppy</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (Dog) - Just had ACL surgery. Has to wear the dreaded Cone of Shame. Super stressed out about Beth. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now back to our regular schedule programming….</span></div>
Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10523278311850851395noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615798207792464904.post-34717458973409147462016-08-25T20:20:00.000-07:002016-08-25T20:57:55.840-07:00I Don't Like Feeling Like The Smartest One in the Room... - Aug 25th<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I have only had a few times during the last 8 years of Beth having cancer that I have legitimately “freaked out”. Yesterday was one of them. In yesterday’s post I talked about how Beth had one of her hardest days yet and she was starting to panic because she couldn’t breathe. I mentioned that I called her doctor in Chicago and we agreed that Beth should start home hospice care. The reason we decided to start home hospice care is because Beth is suffering. It is getting increasingly harder and harder for her to breathe. We increased her oxygen output to the highest setting - 5 liters/per hour. She is very weak and frail. She can no long walk to the bathroom. Doctor T said that there is really nothing more that can be done to help her symptoms and that it is time to stop Beth’s suffering and let hospice come in and get Beth on morphine. Morphine will help with her pain but more importantly it will relieve her sense of breathlessness. Doctor T then gave me this warning, something that I will never forget, she said, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Alan, I need to tell you that once morphine is started things will move very quick”. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I asked for clarification and she said, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Expect Beth to pass quickly after she is on morphine. I am talking more like days, not weeks”. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #434343; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When Dr T told me this I had to sit down. My mind started racing. Days??? How could that be? She was just playing Taboo with all of her High School friends 4 days ago. This can't be right. We are not ready for this. I knew that time was short but I never in my wildest dreams thought it was days away. </span><br>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br></span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Morphine will suppress her </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #434343; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">respiration and tell her brain that it is okay that she can’t catch her breath. In Dr T words, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #434343; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“It will allow for a peaceful passing instead of a painful suffering that she is going through now</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #434343; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">”. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #434343; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I left work and came home early. On the way home I called Beth’s sister and told her to come. I was about to call Beth's</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #434343; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 13.3333px; line-height: 1.2; white-space: pre-wrap;"> parents but did not as I wanted to meet with hospice in the morning and get some more information. Christi is only 4 hours away where as Beth’s parents are 12 hours away. I wanted to make sure I had all of the information before calling and having them trying to race here. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #434343; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So we met with hospice this morning. The nurse was great and was able to lessen some of our fears and concerns about morphine and give us a better understanding of exactly what their role will be. She said that hospice is not there to extend or shorten Beth’s life. They are there to make sure she is as comfortable as possible. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #434343; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Beth was doing very well this morning when the hospice nurse came as she was able to get a decent night's sleep. The nurse evaluated her and talked about what care she would be receiving. At the end of the visit she said from what she saw Beth was alert, her pain was manageable and her breathing, while labored, was adequate. She said that if we can stay ahead of her pain, anxiety and breathing problems by using her current mix of medications that morphine will not be needed at this time. She did say that as the disease progresses or if Beth is no longer able to take medications orally they would move to a very low dose of morphine. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #434343; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Overall, we were very impressed and happy with what hospice will bring to Beth’s care. Her time is not DAYS. Her time probably isn’t months though either. We will continue to pray for quality time, comfort and peace. We are so grateful for all of the prayers on our behalf. Everything will be okay. We know how this story ends. One of our friends left this beautiful reminder in the comment sections of yesterday’s post. It was something her sister said to her as she was going through her own battle with cancer. It rings true for all of us, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #434343; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“...you know, in a hundred years, this happening won't matter, what we do before during and after will. We will be together forever someday.”</span><br>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #434343; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 13.3333px; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We love you all.</span><br>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #434343; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 13.3333px; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">#BattleTogether</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #434343; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">**With Beth’s permission I recorded a few moments of Beth talking to the hospice nurse. In this clip she was giving the nurse an account of where she started 8 years ago and everything in between that has happened to date.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #434343; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 13.3333px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Beth playing Taboo just 4 days ago with her High School friends. It was the best medicine she has had in a long time. </span><br>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #434343; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 13.3333px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #434343; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 13.3333px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/w64QjRGIsm4" width="420"></iframe></span>Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10523278311850851395noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615798207792464904.post-65712625145402060422016-08-24T19:57:00.000-07:002016-08-25T03:49:34.863-07:00It's Been Real, Chicago! - Aug 24th<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It’s been a very emotional and draining day. We have decided to not go back to Chicago on Friday and stop all treatments. After 4 great years we will not be going back to Cancer Treatment Centers of America. Consulting with Beth’s doctors both parties decided that we will start home hospice care immediately. I will elaborate tomorrow on why we made this decision and what home hospice care means; most of it is good but there are some fear and concerns. </span></span><br>
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 1.2;">The decision to stop treatment was coupled with a friend of ours coming over tonight to help us plan funeral services. While it was a huge weight lifted off our our shoulders to know that most of the funeral services are taken care of, it added to the emotional fatigue of the day. Props to Ella for snapping this picture of Beth and I napping post funeral planning.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444;"><br></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444;"><br></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444;">Beth struggled with her breathing today more than she ever has. She called me at work this morning and told me she thought she needed to go to the emergency room. She was freaking out because she couldn’t catch her breath, she was exhausted and was getting scared. My mom was able to get her to calm down and take some of her anti-anxiety meds which she had been trying to stay away from. After a while she was able to relax. The last fews days Beth’s oxygen levels have bounced between 83 and 93%</span></span><span style="color: #444444; line-height: 1.2; white-space: pre-wrap;">. The last few days she has not gotten past 93% - which is not good. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 17.6px; white-space: pre-wrap;">#BattleTogether</span></span></div>
<span id="docs-internal-guid-5ab354b5-bf99-0f0e-b329-e8783b97978b"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br></span></span>Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10523278311850851395noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615798207792464904.post-25668207508496319772016-08-24T08:03:00.000-07:002016-08-24T08:03:18.101-07:00"Because I Live..." - Aug 23rd<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Not much to report today regarding Beth’s health. There was no notable change in her breathing. The </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Furosemide she started yesterday is supposed to help remove fluid from her body and in Beth’s case specifically the lungs. The problem is Furosemide makes you have to use the bathroom often. For Beth, getting out of bed, using her walker to get to the bathroom, sitting down and standing up in the bathroom and then returning to the bed takes everything she has. I was helping her the other day in the bathroom and she said, “</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is the hardest part of my day".</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Yesterday, while I was helping her in the bathroom, I had to bend down to let her put her arms around my neck while I grabbed her waist and pulled her up off the toilet to stand up. After I got her into a standing position I just held her and hugged her for a few seconds. She started to cry and said, “</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I am so sorry this is so hard for you</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">”. I reassured her that there is nothing I want to be doing more than what I am doing now. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We held each other for a few more seconds and I rubbed her back. Beth has lost so much weight that I could feel every bone in her spine. I then noticed that there were some bumps on the side of her spine that ran parallel to her spine. I had not felt them before and asked her what those were. She mentioned that the cancer in her spine has caused abnormal bone growths to occur. It felt like she had two spines in certain places. She says they are very painful and makes laying down hard (that’s a tough one when she lays down 23.5 hours of each day). </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As I was holding her, I thought to myself, </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“They could find a cure for cancer tomorrow but Beth would never be the same”</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Her body has been ravaged. There is no reversing what has taken place. I then thought about the Resurrection of our Savior and what that means for each of us as we pass </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">from this life to the next. I then remembered reading a quote that someone had shared on social media about the Resurrection. After searching around on LDS.org I found it. It was from a talk in 2000 on the </span><a href="https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2000/04/resurrection?lang=eng" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Resurrection, by Dallin H. Oaks</span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. I included a portion of his talk below that gave me great hope and comfort. Through scripture and revelation we are taught that because Jesus was Resurrected, we too will live again in a resurrected body. Furthermore, we learn that, </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“the spirit and the body shall be reunited again in its perfect form”. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Someday Beth will be free of all of the damage cancer has done to her body. Someday when I hold her again her body will feel so much different than it does today. What an incredible gift and promise that is. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“The possibility that a mortal who has died will be brought forth and live again in a resurrected body has awakened hope and stirred controversy through much of recorded history. Relying on clear scriptural teachings, Latter-day Saints join in affirming that Christ has “broken the bands of death” (</span><a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/mosiah/16.7?lang=eng#6" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mosiah 16:7</span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">) and that “death is swallowed up in victory” (</span><a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/1-cor/15.54?lang=eng#53" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1 Cor. 15:54</span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">;) Because we believe the Bible and Book of Mormon descriptions of the literal Resurrection of Jesus Christ, we also readily accept the numerous scriptural teachings that a similar resurrection will come to all mortals who have ever lived upon this earth (see </span><a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/1-cor/15.22?lang=eng#21" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1 Cor. 15:22</span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">; </span><a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/2-ne/9.22?lang=eng#21" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2 Ne. 9:22</span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">; </span><a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/hel/14.17?lang=eng#16" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hel. 14:17</span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">;</span><a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/morm/9.13?lang=eng#12" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Morm. 9:13</span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">; </span><a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/29.26?lang=eng#25" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">D&C 29:26</span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">; </span><a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/76.39,42-44?lang=eng#38" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">D&C 76:39, 42–44</span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">). As Jesus taught, “Because I live, ye shall live also” (</span><a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/john/14.19?lang=eng#18" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">John 14:19</span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">).</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The literal and universal nature of the resurrection is vividly described in the Book of Mormon. The prophet Amulek taught:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“The death of Christ shall loose the bands of this temporal death, that all shall be raised from this temporal death.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“The spirit and the body shall be reunited again in its perfect form; both limb and joint shall be restored to its proper frame, even as we now are at this time; …”</span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 13.3333px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">-Dallin H. Oaks Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles</span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I know that is a lot but it is what gives our family hope, that the Lord has a plan and it will all be better. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">We love you!</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">#BattleTogether </span></div>
Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10523278311850851395noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615798207792464904.post-38087304560481849062016-08-22T20:03:00.000-07:002016-08-22T20:03:48.618-07:00Late Night Thoughts from Beth - Aug 22nd<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 1.2; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Beth really struggled with her breathing today so much so that we called her doctor in Chicago to see what if anything could be done. We had already increased her oxygen to 4 liters/per hour and yet she still did not feel like she was able to catch her breath all day. Her doctors prescribed her </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 1.2; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Furosemide which treats fluid buildup and swelling caused by certain conditions like liver failure, kidney problems and is also used to treat fluid buildup in the lungs. Furosemide works by helping the kidneys to remove fluid from the body. The doctors are hoping this helps remove some fluid in Beth’s lungs that may be the cause of her breathing problems. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A result of Beth’s labored breathing was she had a very high heart rate. This morning Beth’s heart rate was 136 BPM, the highest it has been. This was all while she was laying down trying the breath. We will meet with her doctors on Friday in Chicago to see if there is anything more that can be done. We are very afraid that they may tell us there is not anything to help her breathing. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">One of the things that has been the source of some good laughs lately has been some of the things Beth has said while hopped up on pain meds. Sometimes she will be asleep, most likely dreaming and she will yell out random things. Here are few of them and the more random they are the funnier they are:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Is there a baseball game on I can watch right now?”</span><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - Beth woke up and suddenly yelled this out in the middle of the night around 3 am. For the record she has NEVER asked to watch a baseball game.</span></span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“See!! This is why I can’t join LinkedIn. I don’t do anything” </span><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- another middle of the night revelation from Beth.</span></span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Avocado dressings. Why so much oil????” </span><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- Apparently Beth watched way too much Food Network channel this day. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">These phrases might not sound funny on thier own but picture Beth dead asleep and then all of the sudden shouting out one these.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lastly, a few days ago I mentioned that a friend of ours sent us some #BattleTogether T-shirts that he had made. Yesterday, he posted a Facebook message saying he had started a fundraiser for people to order the shirts. Thank you Heath for being so thoughtful, I love my t-shirt. If you want to take a look at the shirt or order your own visit Heath’s page by clicking here </span><a href="https://www.bonfirefunds.com/battle-together-for-the-mowrey-family" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://www.bonfirefunds.com/battle-together-for-the-mowrey-family</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Georgia; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://cdn.bonfirefunds.com/public/hashed_shirt_designs/88/f0/06/174371/510x510_174371-2-3.png" style="text-decoration: none;"><img height="218" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/77-rIEuz3gZf0HvXle3xMdhiO4ilOlzHbGDFrSrpfS1sdwV_cf43z0AlYQrhX6RnRFd2aF2iNhBEPCp0hpqWMBGtnNY-13f9OmmNY767BD_8WMSvav7BlaWE7IBpYC0npeqpckYb" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="218" /></a></span></div>
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<br />Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10523278311850851395noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615798207792464904.post-35276554925828100532016-08-21T19:35:00.003-07:002016-08-21T19:35:29.864-07:00Goodbyes are Hard - Aug 21st <div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 1.2; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444;">Beth’s friends all went home today. While it was a short visit (one friend was only able to be in Cleveland for less than 36 hours) it was a visit that did so much good. Beth was able to "DIG DEEPER” and fight through her aches and pains, sickness and fatigue to make the most of their visit. After they left Beth went into a much needed mini coma. She slept hard after everyone left. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I think we have made a decision that we are going to make the trek back out to Chicago on Friday for Beth’s scheduled 3-week check-up and antibody infusion. In addition, they will do blood work to see how much the cancer has progressed. Beth also wants to meet her doctors and have them evaluate her lungs and see if they can help with her breathing. Her breathing has been the most problematic symptom of the cancer the last few weeks. </span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 1.2; white-space: pre-wrap;">We’ll be in Chicago on Friday from 6am to 5pm. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #444444; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Anyone want to party? If you are in the Chicago area come hang out at the hospital with Beth. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #444444; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Aside from all of the good that this weekend’s visit did for Beth, a random impression came to me as I looked at my kids (especially my girls) watching Beth laugh with seven of her closest friends from her childhood. I thought about how awesome it is that my kids have an example that shows them that some of their friends they make NOW can and will be there for the rest of their lives. They will help each other through the tough years of middle school and high school. They will be there as they go to college and start families. Despite the fact that some of their friends might move away for college, jobs, etc, if they work and strengthen their friendships now they will always be in thier lives. This weekend was a testament that. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #444444; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It was an emotional goodbye. Beth may feel differently but I have had a hard time with goodbyes lately because each time someone from out of town visits and then leaves I can’t help but ask myself if this is the last time Beth will ever see that person. I know it’s a weird thing to think but there is some reality to that, especially today. All of Beth’s friends that left today all live on the West Coast and have jobs, families and other responsibilities that require their time back home. As much as they probably would like to come back next weekend it is just not realistic. That is why the time was so sacred this weekend. </span><br />
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Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10523278311850851395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615798207792464904.post-74826042924989513772016-08-20T22:44:00.000-07:002016-08-20T23:05:18.971-07:00Why Are People So Good to Us? - Aug 20th<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It is amazing to see how Beth has responded the last two days with her friends from High School being here. Lots of laughter, tears and lots of Taboo. This visit has re-energized her and lifted her spirits. She had been having some rough days before they came. It will be sad to see them leave tomorrow. Hey Girls - we have a huge master bedroom upstairs sitting empty. Feel free to stick around!</span></span><br>
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<b id="docs-internal-guid-d9c7cff4-ab8c-3f4d-ffef-acfb1f6571c5" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I have purposely not given a ton of public recognition on this blog of all of the amazing things that people have done for Beth and our family over the last few weeks/months/years. Some things have been simple, some things have been extraordinary, all have been incredibly thoughtful. I am hesitant to start giving shout-outs to people because inevitably I will leave someone out and I don’t want people to think that we are not appreciative of all that has been done for us by highlighting just a few people. With that said, I was completely overwhelmed tonight as I looked back on TODAY, ONE day. Today we were flooded with people showing love, support and who are battling with us. So tonight I am breaking my rule. I am going to highlight just a few things that happened TODAY. Again, I could write blog entry after blog entry that listed the unbelievable things that people do for us each day. I won’t do that here, but please know I that I personally fill pages and pages in my personal journal so that our family will never forget all of the love and support you all gave us. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Christi McCaverty holds an annual fundraiser for people battling Breast Cancer called <b>Bus for Boobies</b>. Tonight Christi came over and gave us a check for the money she raised for during her 8th annual event a few weeks. We are forever grateful for Christi's love, kindness and friendship. Please keep an eye out for her event next year.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Our friend <a href="https://www.facebook.com/heath10e?fref=ts">Heath Tenny</a> sent us a package of shirts today that he made. The front had BATTLE TOGETHER and #TheBethEffect. On the back it had all of our names. They are amazing. Beth opened the package in front of her friends and the girls were obsessed with them and want to order one for themselves. Heath - you might be getting a few random friend requests from Beth’s High School friends as they are trying to figure out how to get their hands on their own shirt. Since the Cavs won the championship I have worn my Cavs Championship shirt pretty much 3-4 times a week. With this shirt it will fill out the rest of the week. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: rgb(68, 68, 68); font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Our friends in Salt Lake City ran in the Color Run today and sent us this picture. I can’t tell you how much this picture means to us. Friends we miss so much, hundreds of miles away thinking of Beth. We love our </span><span style="color: rgb(68, 68, 68); font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; background-color: white; font-variant-ligatures: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Polynesian family!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; clear: left; float: left; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img alt="14067524_10155069868227506_4917046525174790001_n.jpg" height="248" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/oCJJ8IEtdngfnOxxTGXedIVHjI1Qcf53eh8WeKESOiqw6d8x73jptUwr3t1FG5N3dMGLGju9gXu1KtfFIfa0RBKPux31PUEzvS7itrzUq31D9r0uOKB4jZJEnB22-vHjKSlyPlrP" style="border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="320"></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 1.2; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lastly, our good friend Lyndee Kennett set up a <a href="https://www.youcaring.com/alan-mowery-615552">YouCaring Fundraiser</a> to help with the upcoming funeral expenses. Beth and I were completely oblivious how much funeral costs are going to be. We were so reluctant to have her do this but now we are so thankful to her and all of the people that have donated. It will help tremendously. I get an email each time someone donates and today I was especially touched by a couple of emails. Beth says it all of the time,<i> “I just don’t get it. Why are people so good to us”. </i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMeL-wSQO8KrYsntRuq8eTCJvfsElTqVQh022wwWtuR6woymvJgiNumrSPWbuZXmfXE-5wkzimjNK2ChARLBrtEkV057Q_fvnESxmWD5wv6us6KL9D5GpPI8G-F6BhahbpbXgjOVJskxo/s640/blogger-image--891591706.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMeL-wSQO8KrYsntRuq8eTCJvfsElTqVQh022wwWtuR6woymvJgiNumrSPWbuZXmfXE-5wkzimjNK2ChARLBrtEkV057Q_fvnESxmWD5wv6us6KL9D5GpPI8G-F6BhahbpbXgjOVJskxo/s320/blogger-image--891591706.jpg" width="320"></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br></span></span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br></span></span>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br></span></span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br></span></span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><br></i></span></span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>“For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:</i></span></span><br>
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><br></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i> “Naked, and ye clothed me. …</i></span></span><br>
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><br></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>“… Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; line-height: 1.2; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Matthew 25</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We love you all...</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">#BattleTogether</span></span>Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10523278311850851395noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615798207792464904.post-45253425301547984102016-08-19T19:02:00.000-07:002016-08-22T15:27:28.721-07:00Today was a Good Day - Aug 19th<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Beth had a great day today. Her breathing was much better. Her appetite was great. She wasn’t in as much pain as she normally is. She has not smiled more than she has smiled today. She hasn’t laughed this much since she watched Steph Curry get kicked out of Game 6 of the NBA Finals for throwing his mouthpiece at a fan. She hasn’t stayed awake for this long during the day for months. What was the difference? Seven of Beth’s close friends flew in from California to spend the weekend with her. Erin, Tori, Gabby, Lizzy, Sydney, Denise and Christi all came to give beth some much needed friendship, love and laughter. We are so thankful these lifelong friends who were able to come out and give Beth some of the best medicine around. </span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-53a98b30-a595-d57f-da3a-6df0bed82a64" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Aside from a 24 hour old In-N-Out Burger that Tori brought me, they also brought lots of stories and PICTURES. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPZi7LGLOaB42MK_HIeOcOfwRsk-92ZwWM-mF78rx08zsaTuP-A1R_3g8E3S6UyKjbOh9oujSk16JdAtPOXTcAII8XQ1P_9UbzTck1CmAmBgo9w1YhcotziR3NUID1XY324BLbL7GgEAA/s640/blogger-image--727246807.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPZi7LGLOaB42MK_HIeOcOfwRsk-92ZwWM-mF78rx08zsaTuP-A1R_3g8E3S6UyKjbOh9oujSk16JdAtPOXTcAII8XQ1P_9UbzTck1CmAmBgo9w1YhcotziR3NUID1XY324BLbL7GgEAA/s320/blogger-image--727246807.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#BattleTogether </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUK0e5_1sgO4X_S-bKnMa4PECXWcvf2lqle6sObUeykZU8ZkDigv9N5I4k_rky0Wh-MBz7lIYEh4pqx9b-EV-sG4amHLjBQTIqVw__lcmBOz0kMbCyaA88wWqjEQxGihq26lUzPl3tkmw/s1600/IMG_3662.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUK0e5_1sgO4X_S-bKnMa4PECXWcvf2lqle6sObUeykZU8ZkDigv9N5I4k_rky0Wh-MBz7lIYEh4pqx9b-EV-sG4amHLjBQTIqVw__lcmBOz0kMbCyaA88wWqjEQxGihq26lUzPl3tkmw/s320/IMG_3662.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was 24 hours old, it was cold, it was partially crushed, it was so good.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqiHyC_oK6r6TDVeDCrS1lYw3UEvOwO0RIsZsdahyphenhyphenvAMLSb1fmaQympqceREXNNlAF2Cu2bVx5-CU7psPth_Pix_2GtfHbiWPH0qr9DCL59Jy1jZP01s2lbm1oCRerMMRPELvNNotSmgQ/s1600/IMG_3680.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqiHyC_oK6r6TDVeDCrS1lYw3UEvOwO0RIsZsdahyphenhyphenvAMLSb1fmaQympqceREXNNlAF2Cu2bVx5-CU7psPth_Pix_2GtfHbiWPH0qr9DCL59Jy1jZP01s2lbm1oCRerMMRPELvNNotSmgQ/s320/IMG_3680.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So much love in this room</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbXs0XRonkNCNefJBMTE9ez-inOA-0p8sgalXCBlU2LXqiiSDH5FNWtRxQuWqnYOiWOtAcnXod5b87CKhsSqNQXK7fhx0H2JLM0L_W1alZ8cypss7chd8sLSVODbvEMzZTUo52K71nVg8/s1600/SCAN0007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbXs0XRonkNCNefJBMTE9ez-inOA-0p8sgalXCBlU2LXqiiSDH5FNWtRxQuWqnYOiWOtAcnXod5b87CKhsSqNQXK7fhx0H2JLM0L_W1alZ8cypss7chd8sLSVODbvEMzZTUo52K71nVg8/s320/SCAN0007.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New Years 1998</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX6vSKcRff5wtXB_OfmZvFraTQmUkQ_fgNrmv8nNeK69KOWovdPxvNXER7IcWoQLqEXcZWrnOu_FTlxNbmXbPNEMskuFv8-bwHFvLNuIiRy2XtNXPLXvS14RXnBm8oG0pvpC0nyl9_3Ms/s1600/SCAN0008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX6vSKcRff5wtXB_OfmZvFraTQmUkQ_fgNrmv8nNeK69KOWovdPxvNXER7IcWoQLqEXcZWrnOu_FTlxNbmXbPNEMskuFv8-bwHFvLNuIiRy2XtNXPLXvS14RXnBm8oG0pvpC0nyl9_3Ms/s320/SCAN0008.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When it all started </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgevfGKGJuriQXOVf53-t-E2JoKqClnLL8DKSeTryqm46Unbr9KeKgPJmgbEwIjLaOpK2L7sUwOBu7bTnC7VOkwq_eqW-5cs4ADMJU4epVA02mUYrJhVsibNwvxT37vVxDMM6-C5-cvCSc/s1600/SCAN0010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgevfGKGJuriQXOVf53-t-E2JoKqClnLL8DKSeTryqm46Unbr9KeKgPJmgbEwIjLaOpK2L7sUwOBu7bTnC7VOkwq_eqW-5cs4ADMJU4epVA02mUYrJhVsibNwvxT37vVxDMM6-C5-cvCSc/s320/SCAN0010.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beth's Missionary Farewell </td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEeAU84og6hyphenhyphenleHT2F5_RXW-_Me7PZoCVYJrgzSvt7JCCc0Z0TIg5AWaAsl8eL_i75I-3VnMtsK-MuFKDz1Z3NFT6-fw5GzyCGNZbSJsWLyRLyjfGllSsoPouKxYrvHX6ilUdpHyJolxg/s1600/SCAN0011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEeAU84og6hyphenhyphenleHT2F5_RXW-_Me7PZoCVYJrgzSvt7JCCc0Z0TIg5AWaAsl8eL_i75I-3VnMtsK-MuFKDz1Z3NFT6-fw5GzyCGNZbSJsWLyRLyjfGllSsoPouKxYrvHX6ilUdpHyJolxg/s320/SCAN0011.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stunning (Beth is pretty good looking too)</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<br />Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10523278311850851395noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615798207792464904.post-308830075052004802016-08-18T20:07:00.002-07:002016-08-18T20:07:33.613-07:00Breaking Down the Numbers - Aug 18th<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Not much to report today regarding Beth’s health. As Uncle Wayne would say, “It’s a beautiful day and it’s great to be alive.”</span></div>
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<b id="docs-internal-guid-d9c7cff4-a0c0-2344-31e2-6199ba7f7ea3" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Let’s dive into some numbers.</span></div>
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 24px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">98</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - Beth’s pulse ox reading while she is awake. That is about as good as you can get. 100 is the max.</span></div>
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 24px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">87</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - Beth’s pulse ox reading while she is asleep. That is not good. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 24px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">119</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - Beth’s heart rate while she was sleeping today. Again, not good.</span></div>
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 24px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">6 </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- the number of seconds in between breaths Beth was taking as I watched her sleep this afternoon. It’s a little scary to watch.</span></div>
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 24px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - the number of flower arrangement sitting in her “bedroom” (former living room). It’s starting to look like we own a florist up in here. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj20pXDKBALSEvc6b3f6vxZr9h3sRFOBoYatCZaX1c1AddTDs1zmqYoX-vALSJNmEZSYLz0oEeS95DZ6NZfSlU-IMOH8qnYgXCLXp9tY_ZYrOR27F9Ocw7tuag-YthBcD53Jx4wPEpoK7o/s640/blogger-image-1549365722.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj20pXDKBALSEvc6b3f6vxZr9h3sRFOBoYatCZaX1c1AddTDs1zmqYoX-vALSJNmEZSYLz0oEeS95DZ6NZfSlU-IMOH8qnYgXCLXp9tY_ZYrOR27F9Ocw7tuag-YthBcD53Jx4wPEpoK7o/s200/blogger-image-1549365722.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 24px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">19</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - number of unheard voicemails sitting on Beth’s phone.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 24px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">11</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - Episodes of Fixer Upper Beth watched today. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 24px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2848</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - days since Beth had a biopsy (8 years ag0) of a lump in her breast that ultimately ended being cancerous. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We love you all. Please don’t forget to laugh. A while ago someone emailed this to me that talked about the health benefits of laughter. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Laughter is good for your health</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Laughter relaxes the whole body.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> A good, hearty laugh relieves physical tension and stress, leaving your muscles relaxed for up to 45 minutes after.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Laughter boosts the immune system.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Laughter decreases stress hormones and increases immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies, thus improving your resistance to disease.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Laughter triggers the release of endorphins,</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> the body’s natural feel-good chemicals. Endorphins promote an overall sense of well-being and can even temporarily relieve pain.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Laughter protects the heart.</span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Laughter improves the function of blood vessels and increases blood flow, which can help protect you against a heart attack and other cardiovascular problems.</span></div>
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Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10523278311850851395noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615798207792464904.post-59831984909421609282016-08-17T20:49:00.003-07:002016-08-17T20:59:26.930-07:00Run Straight to 3rd Base - Aug 17th<span style="color: #434343; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 1.2; white-space: pre-wrap;">Not much new to report today. Beth was awake for most of the day but still struggled to breath and was very weak. Beth has been very hot and sweaty, even with the AC set at a balmy 67 degrees. Other than that, just another day.</span><br>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We will keep this short tonight as we have another early morning tomorrow - we are still getting back into the school routine.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We’ll end with one of my favorite Beth stories. When she was little, maybe 5 or 6 she was playing t-ball and she was standing on first base. Her coach put her arm around her and said,</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> “Okay, Beth when the ball is hit I want you to run straight to 3rd base. Don’t stop running until you get to 3rd base”.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Confused Beth tried to get some clarification, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“But coach! Don’t I…”</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> The coach cut her off and said, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Straight to 3rd Beth, no matter what”. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Reluctantly, Beth turned and watch the batter and as soon as the ball was hit Beth ran directly across the field, over the pitcher’s mound and “straight to 3rd base” from first base. The umpire called her out and she was sent back to the dugout. She was devastated and embarrassed as her coach and some of the parents were chuckling because how literal Beth followed the coach's directions. Beth cried and said, “You said to run STRAIGHT to 3rd”. The coach apologized. Shortly after that game marked the end 0f Beth’s baseball career. </span></div>
<br><span style="color: #434343; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This picture I found tonight reminded me of this story and I wanted to share it.</span><div><span style="color: #434343; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br></span></div><div><span style="color: #434343; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Qxx2D_g8lbQdEiOQDMvhVqjPH4yyJGDhqFgs0VV2-BqNNczj7Hvj__n96RS5WAVEIn_TlmwCedK8_7_nmhaxJDmJ-xf_9FvdakR0hML4i0bHwbpOEv_skkQwdnGZorOW2rQsg7kf9TM/s640/blogger-image--646972778.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Qxx2D_g8lbQdEiOQDMvhVqjPH4yyJGDhqFgs0VV2-BqNNczj7Hvj__n96RS5WAVEIn_TlmwCedK8_7_nmhaxJDmJ-xf_9FvdakR0hML4i0bHwbpOEv_skkQwdnGZorOW2rQsg7kf9TM/s640/blogger-image--646972778.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div>Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10523278311850851395noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615798207792464904.post-16779544189565762322016-08-16T23:20:00.002-07:002016-08-17T08:20:13.594-07:00Endure to the End - Aug 16th<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The ups and downs of Beth health is sometimes difficult to handle. Beth had been doing better the last few days but today she struggled. She had a very hard time breathing as the cancer in her lungs must be progressing. It is getting increasingly more and more difficult for her to feel like she is getting enough oxygen. Up until today despite Beth feeling like she was not getting enough air, her blood oxygen levels had been good. Today my mom checked her pulse ox reading and it showed that it was 83. Normal levels should be at 97-100. Anything below 90 is cause for concern. My mom increased her air to 3. 5 liters per hour. When she first started on oxygen a few months ago she only needed 1 liter per hour. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Beth says that she has to remember to breathe all throughout the day and when she is sleeping she stops breathing quite often (sleep apnea). All of this causes her to be exhausted.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When we found out Beth’s cancer spread to other organs (liver and lungs) the doctors were very concerned with her liver because it was so involved. They needed to treat the cancer in her liver immediately and the cancer in her lungs was almost an afterthought. Her doctor told us that it would be her liver that would ultimately be life threatening. However, her lungs have been causing the most problem and most worry over the last few weeks. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia"; line-height: 1.2; white-space: pre-wrap;">We really need to start home hospice care. We need some direction when Beth has days like she had today. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Several people have sent me this great article by Elder David A. Bednar, titled “</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia"; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Accepting the Lord’s Will and Timing” - </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia"; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://www.lds.org/ensign/2016/08/accepting-the-lords-will-and-timing?lang=eng" style="text-decoration: none;">https://www.lds.org/ensign/2016/08/accepting-the-lords-will-and-timing?lang=eng</a></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia"; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Strong faith in the Savior is submissively accepting of His will and timing in our lives—even if the outcome is not what we hoped for or wanted.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It is a great article and has been helpful through our trials. I am so thankful for our General Authorities that teach us, provide comfort and provide hope. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tomorrow will be a better day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lastly, even with Beth’s struggles we were able to have a very touching and symbolic thing that happened the other day. Beth’s Temple Recommend was set to expire at the end of the month. Our Bishop and Stake President dropped everything and made it a point to come over to her bedside to renew her temple recommend. I was able to sit next to Beth as the Bishop and Stake President interviewed her and it was very moving listening to her answer those questions of worthiness. I just kept thinking, “This is what enduring to the end is all about”. Beth wants to make one last trip to the Columbus Temple in a few weeks. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">#BattleTogether</span>Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10523278311850851395noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615798207792464904.post-65980509980403571712016-08-15T19:56:00.001-07:002016-08-15T20:27:34.037-07:00Better Together - Aug 15th<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Beth’s had a hard time breathing again today. She says it’s exhausting as she has to constantly concentrate on breathing. Tonight she also mentioned that her heart rate was elevated. We checked and her resting heart rate was at 120 BPM most likely caused again from her troubles breathing. Despite her challenges she was awake most of the day and had a relatively good day. </span></div>
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<b id="docs-internal-guid-9c3b99b4-9144-3377-c0f7-6a51cfc7f83e" style="font-weight: normal;"><br></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We are still trying to decide if we are going back to Chicago next week for her 3-week checkup and 3 week infusion of antibodies. We should be making a decision soon. The thing we keep thinking about is what if the infusions are slowing down the cancer by even 10% or 20%? What if we stop infusions and it speeds up the cancer growth? There are really no side effects from the infusions so the only hassle is getting to Chicago. </span></div>
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<br><span style="color: #434343; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Our family has always done everything together. I am sure other parents thought we were crazy when we would drag all of the kids to go watch one of their siblings play in their soccer game. I know for a fact people would make comments when Beth would haul all 4 kids (very young kids) to downtown LA to a Clippers game just so they could see me at work. It just feels better when we were all together. As the kids get older it has been getting harder and harder to make sure we are together. We cherish the times when all of us are home. </span></div>
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<br>Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10523278311850851395noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615798207792464904.post-15877236030591578162016-08-14T20:29:00.001-07:002016-08-14T20:36:56.184-07:00Bend and Snap - Aug 14th<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1d2129; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Today was a great day. Beth had visitors coming and going for most of the day. We couldn’t have picked a better day as Beth was feeling well enough to spend time with everyone. It was quite the accomplishment as her first visitor stopped by around 11am. It was a revolving door from that point on. Beth really enjoyed her visits and all of the visiting will most likely lead to a good night’s sleep. </span></div>
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<b id="docs-internal-guid-a3456339-8c3d-e7a8-829d-150f8a48baa2" style="font-weight: normal;"><br></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1d2129; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We are so blessed to be so well taken care of. It is humbling to see so much love, charity and Christ-like service being rendered to our family and more specifically Beth. Beth gets so emotional whenever she sees someone use the hashtag #battletogether. It signifies to her that people are pulling for her, even from far away. When she feels weak she can thinks about everyone that is “together” with her and it gives her strength. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1d2129; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Today’s visits were “Ativan Free” visits. Ativan is Beth’s anti-anxiety medication that helps her relax and helps with her breathing. A major (and fun) side effect of Ativan is that it makes her very loopy. Beth being loopy on Ativan makes for some really entertaining conversations especially when visitors are present. The other day Beth’s friend Heather was visiting with her and her sister, Christi. Beth had her eyes closed as they visited but was loosely listening to the conversation that Heather and Christi were having. At one point the room got quiet and Beth assumed it was her turn to talk and yelled out, “THE BEND AND SNAP” very matter of factly. In Beth’s twilight state she had been thinking about the movie Legally Blonde and more specifically the Bend and Snap scene. Luckily Christi was there to explain why Beth was yelling out completely random phrases unprompted. Christi even acted out the Bend and Snap for Heather. What a great sister. </span></div>
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Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10523278311850851395noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615798207792464904.post-65430410574382764762016-08-13T22:33:00.001-07:002016-08-13T22:38:06.895-07:00Short and Sweet - Aug 13th<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">P</span><span style="color: rgb(29, 33, 41); font-family: calibri; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; white-space: pre-wrap;">retty good day for Beth today as she was able to sleep last night as well as a good chunk of the morning/early afternoon. She was awake for most of the late afternoon/evening. I am thankful she was able to get real rest. She looked good, her voice sounded so much clearer and conversations were so much better today. </span></div></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1d2129; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We will keep tonight’s update short as it is already 1:30 a.m and I have an 8 A.M meeting tomorrow before church AND I got up at 5 A.M this morning to play basketball AND I didn’t get a nap today. Sorry - I just needed to vent for a second and since Beth gives me ZERO sympathy when I complain about how tired I am, I thought here would be a good place to do it. Disclaimer: the previous statement is not 100% true. She does sympathize with me (5% of the time).</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1d2129; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Since we are keeping this short and someone once said “A picture is worth a thousand words”, I will let a couple of pictures take up the remainder of tonight’s blog post. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1d2129; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We love you all…</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beth needs the house to be so cold that we all had to go outside today to defrost. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lily has been all about the snuggles with mom the last few days. Found them this afternoon like this.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWcE-SwaJe7Dt6cGO2zhO6E02wAljAFe-aH-hhQ_vvN-p-xSr_5N1FTEjZyA30-Og-WOyTLiMZ_WWG2LQmhk54YR7rDfX-eqILrqQAk4ralxpd4wW7KPTgCwKqfxDaD5E1mBhmpRla_6g/s640/blogger-image--1050957336.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWcE-SwaJe7Dt6cGO2zhO6E02wAljAFe-aH-hhQ_vvN-p-xSr_5N1FTEjZyA30-Og-WOyTLiMZ_WWG2LQmhk54YR7rDfX-eqILrqQAk4ralxpd4wW7KPTgCwKqfxDaD5E1mBhmpRla_6g/s320/blogger-image--1050957336.jpg" width="320"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Soccer season has started. If Beth were there she would have flipped out that Lily played with her hair down.</td></tr>
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<br>Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10523278311850851395noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615798207792464904.post-4812427452070230742016-08-12T19:52:00.002-07:002016-08-12T20:24:06.808-07:00"Hope Ya Know, We Had a Hard Time" - Aug 12th<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 13.3333px; line-height: 1.2; white-space: pre-wrap;">Beth had a rough night last night. She was up most of the night as she was having trouble breathing. She finally fell asleep around 5am and slept till noon. I, other hand got a decent night’s sleep and had no reason at all to sleep in until noon, I just did though. Don’t judge. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 13.3333px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-a3456339-81cd-da35-eea4-a202fd1f9049" style="font-weight: normal;"><br></b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1d2129; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We are still trying the find out what works best for Beth in terms of issuing and administering her pain meds, anti-anxiety, anti nausea and others. The goal is to manage her pain without having her be completely unconscious for the entire day. It is a lot of trial and error but we think we may have found something that works. Today was a good day as she was awake for most of the evening. She was able to spend some great time with Lily and even stayed awake for movie night with the whole family. Lily ate it up. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 13.3333px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br></b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1d2129; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The other day I watched this video below. It is really one of my favorites. Listen to the words of </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Quentin L. Cook as he talks about the hardships we face in this life. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1d2129; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> It’s a beautiful message of hope as Elder Cook testifies that the Atonement of Jesus Chris</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">t covers all of the trials and hardships that any of us will encounter in this life. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">At the end of the message he quotes President Thomas S. Monson when he was asked on his birthday what would be the ideal gift that members worldwide could give him. President Monson said without a moment’s hesitation, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Find someone who is having a hard time, … and do something for them.”. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 13.3333px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br></b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This reminded me of Beth. One of the hardest things for Beth to deal with recently has been that she has not been able to serve people. Her favorite calling she ever had was the time she served as Relief Society President. She received that calling only only a few months after moving into the Solon Ward and shortly after finding out her cancer returned for the third time. She loved being one of the first people called when there was a need in the ward. She was able to put her life, her problems, her fears on hold and just serve others. By thinking of others makes our own hardships easier to deal with. She has mentioned to me so many times how much she hates the fact that she is not able to help someone right now. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 13.3333px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br></b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1d2129; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Life is hard. We all have our own crosses to bare. By serving others, it doesn’t diminish our own trials and hardships but it brings joy and helps us from dwelling on our problems. It’s a beautiful thing.</span></div>
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Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10523278311850851395noreply@blogger.com6