Missionary Connor

Occasionally we get pictures from Connor, or pictures from nice people who happen to be in Japan and who meet him and send pictures to his Mother (me).  Here are some of those.

Notice that Elder Connor is holding a picture of him and his "twin" Kayli in both pictures.
He takes that picture everywhere I think!

I don't know who the non-missionaries are -- or really anyone except Connor
Maybe some of them are the ones who sent me the picture?

Missionaries!

Connor and his companion and delicious muffins.

These last three pictures were taken in Connor's new area.  He is in Kanazawa, Japan.  He said he has been a Zone leader for half of his mission now!  I love my missionary!

Fuller Family Reunion

(I meant to post this before the Bean Museum -- oops!  This happened first!)

This year the Fuller Family Reunion started the last day of May and went until June 2nd when my Dad turned 80.  The reunion was held in St. George.  Trisa, Tia and Mike, Kayli, Jake and Dan were all there with Derek and me.  We made some little video clips of people saying happy birthday to Connor to send to his companion who was preparing something for Connor.  The pictures with Trisa and Derek were me trying to take video I think :-)

We spent most of our time at Jenny's house visiting, swimming, and relaxing.  Jenny and Jeff ended up doing a lot of the work but we did try to help.  I hardly got any pictures.  I enjoyed watching Derek talk to Kelli.  They always seem to enjoy one another's company.  We had a dinner and a talent show at the clubhouse in my parent's neighborhood.  It was fun except for the part where I fell while taking stuff to the car.  I couldn't see that I was getting ready to walk off the curb.  Oops!

I had two or three days worth of radiation left after the reunion, and then I was done.  Yay!

Silly Derek with Trisa

Derek and Trisa again!

My Mom with the Rainbow Ridge Singers performing for my Dad's birthday gathering.

Derek and I went to take a picture of the statue of Robert Gardner Jr. for his cousin Ricki Gardener.

Across the street from the statue, was a giant spider statue along with pretty flowers.

The Bean Museum at BYU

Brian and Stephanie came with their kids for a day after the reunion and we went on an adventure with them to the Bean Museum.  Unfortunately, I took no pictures with people in them.  Here's what I did take pictures of.

This was in the gift shop.  I took a picture of the elephant for my friend Shellie, who loves elephants.

I sent this picture to Kayli because I thought she would like these.
I was right!  I think she called them her "Spirit Animals"
She has several spirit animals.

Perhaps I'm fascinated with the violent animal displays!

This is the national bird of Finland so I took a picture of it and sent it to Derek.

So, I didn't take any picture with people in them, but I took a few pictures for people!  It was fun to have Brian and Stephanie here for a little while.  We are happy for any time we get to spend with them!

Trip to Capitol Reef National Park

A week after Tia got married we took Jake, Dan, Kayli, and Kayli's friend Maddie to Capitol Reef National Park.  It wasn't a long trip.  We went on a Friday and stayed in a hotel, where we went swimming, and Saturday we went to the national park to hike.  I was still having radiation treatments and so we didn't do any really long hikes and there was one section the rest of the group climbed up while I waited at the bottom.  The weather was beautiful for hiking, and the company was great!

Derek

Derek and Kayli

Maddie, Jake and the deer.

My radiation Dr. told me about
a vine at this park that you could
climb on.  It was damaged and is
fenced in so it can recover.

Derek and a nice smelling
flowering bush.

Dan

Derek, Jake, Kayli, Maddie, Dan

Derek, Jake, Kayli, Dan, and me (Sherie)

Dan and Derek

The Canyon

Dan's Last Fun Run in Elementary School

Dan at the finish line of his last one mile fun run (posing).

Every year the Elementary school has a "fun" run.  Some times I have run with my boys (or walked).  Sometimes I have walked / jogged but never really saw my boys until the end since I couldn't keep up.  This year I was in the middle of radiation treatments and didn't run or walk.  I just waited for Dan to get back so that I could take his picture.  He did a good job and I think he jogged the whole way!

The Non-Wedding Part of Derek's Birthday

A book he asked for.

Chips from Tia and Mike (I think)

Cookies also from Tia and Mike

Travis brought his Segway which Derek and the boys enjoyed trying.

Tia Got Married! (In May!)

On Derek's birthday, and Mike's Mom's birthday, Tia and Mike got married in the Payson Temple.  There was a luncheon afterwards at the Emerald Eve in Salem.  Derek spoke, as did Mike's parents.  It was really great!  We love having Mike in the family!

Tia shooting in Michigan when she went out to meet Mike's parents (Pat, and Dan)

The cake cutting and "feeding" it to each other

Tia throwing her bouquet (and aiming at a specific person)

Tia's wedding shoes, bought by Mike's Mom Pat

The Luncheon.  I have this on my computer because I was amused by Mike's face.  He thinks perhaps there was a Donald Trump joke going on.

Tia trying on dresses and finding the one she wanted.  Her sisters and I were there.
She had always wanted a short dress, and she looked great in it!

I'm not sure where all of the more professional pictures got to, but just know that Tia was pretty, and Mike was handsome, and the families were happy.

At the reception there was an "Advice Taco".  People wrote advice and put it in the taco.

Bridal Shower / Wedding Gifts

Tia's aunts threw a bridal shower for her at her Grandma Christensen's house.  There were some games that I thought were fun, tasty snacks, and the chance for Tia to be dressed in the wrapping paper all of her gifts came in.  This is apparently a tradition because that is what was done to me at my bridal shower at Tia's Grandma's house!

Tia!  Trisa on the right.

I understand that Tia was NOT happy that I sent this picture to Mike.  Oops!

Lots of presents were mailed to our house.  This is two of them being held by Jake and Kayli.

I do not have a list of everyone that came to the shower, but Tia told the story of how she met Mike and how she ended up getting engaged to him.  A lot of Tia's younger girl cousins were there and they enjoyed the story very much (as did the rest of us).  Aunt Megan told Tia to take a couple of minutes to tell the story and then laughed at the long 2 minutes that was more like 20 minutes.  Still, I think it was most people's favorite part of the event.

Anna Kennington, a friend and my girl's former piano teacher came and so did my friend Shellie.  Shannon and her daughter "Little Megan" could only come for a few minutes, but I was glad they stopped by.  As always, all of Tia's aunts that could make it were there.

Tia Turned 25! (In April)

Kayli, Mike, and Tia.  Birthday dessert!

Tia, Dan, Teddy, and Mike

Happy Birthday to our sweet Tia!

I love Tia!  She is talented in so many ways, and it has been so fun to see her be happy with Mike and to have had Mike to help celebrate!  I really, really love how all of my kids help each other.  I love Tia's gift for helping people smile and laugh.  Her laugh is contagious and she uses it often!

Jake is 16! (Back in February!)

What makes a happy birthday for Jake?  Well, when I asked him if it was a good day he said it was because most people at school didn't know, and the one who did didn't tell anyone. So having most people unaware it is your birthday helps make a happy birthday for Jake.

Here are some pictures:

Jake Opens Presents

Happy birthday cake with candles to make a wish with!

Jake is awesome.  I love how helpful he is.  With all of the doctors appointments and surgeries that I have had this year, Jake ended up doing a lot of work around the house and yard!  He's his Dad's project buddy too.  He loves his family, and this makes me happy too.  Derek and I are glad that we have a Jake!

An Unexpected Year

Ok, so I really did expect 2018 to arrive, but the events in it?  Not so much.  What to do with a year like this one?  I have had to really work on how to have good days in the midst of hard things.  Biopsies, surgeries, treatments, multiple pokings and then a missing dog!  I will be the first to admit that I am not always successful at seeing good days.  Sometimes I lie in bed, or sit in a chair, and just wish everything was "normal".  But I really do believe that Heavenly Father knows what He is doing, and He knows when things are hard for me.  I believe He sends us what we need to get through things, but it is our job to look for those things, and to be grateful for them.  Here are a few things I am thankful for:

1.  People.  Family, friends, medical personnel, neighbors, strangers.  People who are nice.  People who care for other people -- in this case me.  I would not do well without all of the good, kind people I know, and the ones I met, and even the ones I don't know who have smiled and been encouraging in some way.

2.  Music.  Derek gave me Alexa for his birthday (He's nice like that).  I like asking her to play whichever artists I can come up with names for.  I tried David Osmond.  She said, "shuffling songs by David Osmond".  She then proceeded to play exactly one song.   I have listened to it over, and over, and over.   The song is by Shawna Edwards and I love the words. "If we seek the light when peace is hard to find, He'll send us silent nights and touch our ears so we can hear an angel voice.  And in the darkest times He will lift our eyes to see the star still shines."  In the hospital, after some hard days, I was blessed with peaceful nights, and was very thankful. You can listen here.  It will likely give you a commercial first.  Sorry!

3.  Prayers, and the faith of others.  I pray, and it has helped me through some tough things, but the prayers of others helped too, both with my challenges and when Teddy the dog went missing.  We looked for him for hours, and we were all so sad, and I was so discouraged and worried.  Before going to bed on the second night Teddy was missing Dan said, "Mom, I will pray for Teddy again that he will come home -- like I prayed last night.  When I prayed last night I got a warm feeling, so I think he will be okay and will come home.  I don't know when.  But he will come home."  I am so thankful for the faith of my 11 year old!  I needed it in that moment.  Today, when I was out looking for Teddy and praying aloud asking if Heavenly Father could please just have Teddy walk home -- Teddy walked home.

Even in a "normal" year I am thankful for the things listed above, but in an unexpected year, or more accurately a year with many unexpected challenges, my need for these things is magnified, and hopefully my gratitude for them is too.

Doing The Best I Can At Any Given Moment

Derek and Me at the State Capital when he took me away from my stresses for a weekend.

Derek, Jake, Kayli, Dan and Me on Derek's and My 30th anniversary weekend at Capital Reef.

I want to write today, which doesn't happen a lot lately.  I feel like I haven't given a general update in a very long time.  I think I reported the very good news that the cancer I had is gone.  There was also the, to me, extremely good news that they didn't do an unnecessary mastectomy.  Then came the time to recover from surgery and to start seeing oncologists for follow up preventative treatments.

I have dealt with the unfortunate side effect of surgery, which was pain.  It had finally started to ease up when radiation started.  Now there is the unfortunate side effect of radiation.  I am burnt.  It feels like a bad sunburn, but instead of knowing it will fade in a couple of days, I know instead that it will get worse before it gets better.  Clothing hurts, but don't worry!  I still choose to wear clothes every day!

I opted to keep getting my allergy shots this year in the hopes that I will continue to be able to eat watermelon and avocados and other raw fruits and vegetables once this year is over.  That means that along with getting my blood drawn every week for the radiologist, I get two shots at least every other week.  I also get my blood drawn an extra time if I go visit the medical oncologist.  I try to be a really good sport about all of the poking, but it is possible I am starting to whine when they are taking my blood again!!!

I am more than halfway done with radiation (I have done 20 out of 33 treatments).  I have made friends of the nice people who help me there, and of the lady at the front desk who had breast cancer in the past, and whose daughter found out today she'd need a biopsy.  It makes it easier to go to treatment when everyone smiles and waves and is happy to see me every single day.

My family and extended family have been great.  My friends have been awesome.  I have tried to turn as many of my radiation trips as I can into happy adventures.  I try to let myself rest when I am exhausted, and I do my best to take care of my responsibilities.  I still absolutely do not like to ask for help.  I feel like a two year old who wants to yell "I can do it myself!!!"  even when I really can't.  I have been thankful for sisters-in-law who have just volunteered, and for a husband who has taken off of work he doesn't really have time to take off from to come sit in a doctors office with me so I won't feel alone and overwhelmed.  My friend Shellie came with me once too when Derek couldn't.

When I realized that I was struggling to have good days I read a book by Emily Freeman called "Seeing Good Days" and it reminded me to try looking at things from a different perspective.  It really did help me when I realized that I had chosen radiation even though I still rebel against it in my mind, and that I have the choice how I deal with it.  I can deal with it by turning inward and feeling sad and sorry for myself (which still happens sometimes), or by trying to turn something that is hard for me into something good for those around me.  I have tried to do that and I have received a lot of kindness in return.  The book also reminded me to look for tender mercies from Heavenly Father every day, and they are there.  When I look, I find them.

Once radiation is done there will be a hysterectomy to effectively "turn off" the estrogen made by my ovaries, and then some drugs to turn off the rest.  Again, this was my choice.  I could have tried juggling different drugs, but this option sounded "easiest" for me.

I still cry because I think I "should handle this better", or "it shouldn't be so hard and I don't know why it is".  Derek points out that it doesn't matter why, it just is, and that I am dealing with it the best I can, which is good enough.  Yay for a good Derek!

I always wonder how to answer the question "How are you doing?"  I suppose that I am just doing the best I can at any given moment.  Sometimes that is really great.  Sometimes not so much.  (Which isn't so different than how I do normally!)  Amidst the buckets of tears I've cried, I do know that I am cared for and loved and watched over, and I am thankful for that!  I am thankful for all of you.

And Look!  Tia and Mike got married!!  I have no good pictures really, but it was a great day.
This was right after the cake smashing in the face incident.