Tuesday, July 17, 2018
Moving Forward
MOVING FORWARD
July 14, 2018
The month of June passed as if we were in a dream. Mike took his chemo well. His biggest complaint was the fatigue. He slept most of his month away. It seemed that while he napped I would paint trim. He would jump up and put a few more pieces everyday. He really wanted to get our house as "settled" as he could before we headed down to the valley for his further cancer treatment.
It is July 14. My dad's birthday. He would have been 86. Isn't that amazing? We are spending his birthday here in the Banner MDAnderson hospital in Gilbert. We are waiting for Mike's kidney numbers to cooperate. His counts have been high and there is a concern as to why. It may be because of his multiple myeloma and the heavy chemo drugs not getting along. If his numbers do not look better by Monday, a kidney biopsy will be ordered. I still have great faith that all will be well. He has been so strong and done so well.
Before we left Show Low to come down here for a long haul our girls threw us a "I Like Mike" party. The week before the get together, we were both almost sick about it. Who would come? Why would they come? We so hoped someone would show up since the girls put so much work into it. Yet, we hoped no one would. Isn't that just silly? It seemed a long week to both of us. Friday night came and the party was wonderful! All I could compare it to was Heaven. We saw so many friends we had not seen for a long while. We have continually thought of that fun evening and will be forever grateful for our girls and all their work.
July 14, 2018
The month of June passed as if we were in a dream. Mike took his chemo well. His biggest complaint was the fatigue. He slept most of his month away. It seemed that while he napped I would paint trim. He would jump up and put a few more pieces everyday. He really wanted to get our house as "settled" as he could before we headed down to the valley for his further cancer treatment.
It is July 14. My dad's birthday. He would have been 86. Isn't that amazing? We are spending his birthday here in the Banner MDAnderson hospital in Gilbert. We are waiting for Mike's kidney numbers to cooperate. His counts have been high and there is a concern as to why. It may be because of his multiple myeloma and the heavy chemo drugs not getting along. If his numbers do not look better by Monday, a kidney biopsy will be ordered. I still have great faith that all will be well. He has been so strong and done so well.
Before we left Show Low to come down here for a long haul our girls threw us a "I Like Mike" party. The week before the get together, we were both almost sick about it. Who would come? Why would they come? We so hoped someone would show up since the girls put so much work into it. Yet, we hoped no one would. Isn't that just silly? It seemed a long week to both of us. Friday night came and the party was wonderful! All I could compare it to was Heaven. We saw so many friends we had not seen for a long while. We have continually thought of that fun evening and will be forever grateful for our girls and all their work.
Wednesday, June 6, 2018
Hair cut Day
He woke up this day with clumps of hair falling out. What do
we do? Call the best hairdresser on the mt. to help us out.
One more milestone - good or bad. Still part of the game.
Day ONE of his treatment in Show Low
Looking out our back window on a beautiful May evening. We missed AZ skies when we were in England. These elk were part of the neighborhood when we moved in. They could be seen grazing
the green in the mornings and evenings. Nothing seemed to bother them. Sadly, both of them were killed in separate incidences on the highway this summer.
Hair Cut Day
Hair Cut Day
June 5, 2018
We were waiting in line at Walgreen's yesterday to pick up a prescription for my Mikie. He ran his fingers through his hair and held out his hand. It was full of his beautiful almost all white hair. What a surprise! It came a week earlier than I had anticipated. We drove straight to Caitlin's house so she could buzz the rest of it off. Cancer be damned.
Really, when I think about this whole Cancer adventure, it has all been a surprise. When did this nasty stuff have its beginning? Why did it appear at this time when we are supposed to be serving the Lord in the London Temple? Is the chemo that kills his hair follicles also killing the cancer? The questions could go on and on.
I believe all of those questions will be answered in time. If not in this life, surely in the next. The one big surprise that we both have to keep foremost in our minds is that the Lord has truly guided our steps since we got his diagnosis. His hands led us to the correct doctors both in England and here at home. He opened doors for us to buy this home. He filled Norliss McKay's mind with words of peace and encouragement in the blessing he gave Mike. He has inspired our family to reach out and do ordinary and not-so-ordinary things to help us make the transition to our new home.
Mike has one more round of chemo here in Show Low at the Cancer Center before he goes down to MDAnderson in Gilbert. I am confident that round will finish off his body hair. I am also confident that he will be able to manage it. That nasty stuff knocked his socks off the first time around. I would find him sleeping away and then, he would jump up and put up a few pieces of trim or do a little touch-up painting somewhere. I hope and pray he can continue this routine when the next round happens. I don't care one bit about his hair. That stuff is replaceable. He can be a husband, dad, pops, and friend with or without his hair. Who knows - he may find he likes a clean head after all.
June 5, 2018
We were waiting in line at Walgreen's yesterday to pick up a prescription for my Mikie. He ran his fingers through his hair and held out his hand. It was full of his beautiful almost all white hair. What a surprise! It came a week earlier than I had anticipated. We drove straight to Caitlin's house so she could buzz the rest of it off. Cancer be damned.
Really, when I think about this whole Cancer adventure, it has all been a surprise. When did this nasty stuff have its beginning? Why did it appear at this time when we are supposed to be serving the Lord in the London Temple? Is the chemo that kills his hair follicles also killing the cancer? The questions could go on and on.
I believe all of those questions will be answered in time. If not in this life, surely in the next. The one big surprise that we both have to keep foremost in our minds is that the Lord has truly guided our steps since we got his diagnosis. His hands led us to the correct doctors both in England and here at home. He opened doors for us to buy this home. He filled Norliss McKay's mind with words of peace and encouragement in the blessing he gave Mike. He has inspired our family to reach out and do ordinary and not-so-ordinary things to help us make the transition to our new home.
Mike has one more round of chemo here in Show Low at the Cancer Center before he goes down to MDAnderson in Gilbert. I am confident that round will finish off his body hair. I am also confident that he will be able to manage it. That nasty stuff knocked his socks off the first time around. I would find him sleeping away and then, he would jump up and put up a few pieces of trim or do a little touch-up painting somewhere. I hope and pray he can continue this routine when the next round happens. I don't care one bit about his hair. That stuff is replaceable. He can be a husband, dad, pops, and friend with or without his hair. Who knows - he may find he likes a clean head after all.
Monday, May 21, 2018
Mother's Day in America
Mother's Day in America
May 13, 2018
It's Mother's Day. We have been celebrating with our girls. That has been the main highlight of being home. To see our girls and their families. We've been home three weeks now. Much has changed in our lives. Highlights we want and ought to remember. They will come in handy through the next months when My Mikie is sick and down.
*We bought a house on our second full day of being home. It was the first house we looked at and we knew it had potential. We could make it our own. Ten minutes after our daughter, Lindsay, made the verbal offer to the realtor, he called back with somewhat of an amazed "Yes". He told her that first, he was amazed the owner answered on the first ring as she is very hard to get ahold of. He also told her that he knew he could get more out of the house this summer. We took it as a sign that the Lord was aware of us and our situation. How long can old grandparents live in their daughter's basement? We were in the house in nine days. That's right - nine days.
*It is now May 20 - a week later. After a series of many appointments and tests, my Mikie begins his chemo treatments this week. It is a week of dread, yet a week that we are so glad is finally here. We (he) have frantically been working on this house to get it on order. We don't know what to expect. We are hoping his first series of treatments bring only tiredness - not nausea. We are expecting hairloss during this first six weeks of treatment. That is a minor issue if it saves his life. After his first series of six weeks of treatment, we will be in the valley with him staying in MDAnderson hospital. He has to be closely monitored as this chemo will be heavy duty. After that will come his stem cell transplant. Doesn't that sound painful, yet wonderful at the same time?
*When we met with Dr. Ulrichson in Gilbert and he was going over the process, Mike asked, "I feel good right now. Why would I want to make myself sick?" He replied with, "If you don't make your self sick, you will be dead in a year or a year and a half". That got our attention. He will do this and I will be his best cheerleader. The Lord has been so very kind to us since Mike was diagnosed with this. We have been led to good care - starting with Dr. Thakkar here in the White Mountains. We had big plans to go to MDAnderson in Houston when we began this adventure. We tried and tried to get our ducks in a row but it always seemed there was one glitch after another. Finally, in desperation, we knew we had to start somewhere, so we started here at home. It was a tender blessing when we walked into Dr. Thakkar's office and met with him.
*Mike asked Norliss McKay for a blessing when we returned from England. Mike has always loved and respected Norliss as a boss and friend. As is typical of Norliss, he fasted and prayed for the Lord to put words in his mouth that would be a comfort and a guide for MIke and I at this time. As we walked into the McKay's simple, immaculate home, it radiated with peace and love. There was such a calming spirit there. As he began the blessing, we knew the Lord was aware of both of us. We were given sacred words of wisdom and led to know that this experience is designed for further growth for Mike in his spiritual journey back to Home. We were told to enjoy this time. When it is put like that, I am determined to help Mike all I can. Our girls and their families were also blessed as they watch their dad go through this. We honor and revere Brother McKay for his willingness and worthiness to do this for us - yet again.
*Our girls and their families have been our angels since we got home. They have all in their own way done things for us that we could not have possibly done alone. Helping us buy houses; acquiring cars; remodeling walls, closets, and floors....the list goes on and on. We will be forever indebted to all of them.
So for now, I say, let the journey begin. The Lord is in charge. He knows and loves my boy. I fully trust in Him and His Son. There is no where else we need to turn at this time.
May 13, 2018
It's Mother's Day. We have been celebrating with our girls. That has been the main highlight of being home. To see our girls and their families. We've been home three weeks now. Much has changed in our lives. Highlights we want and ought to remember. They will come in handy through the next months when My Mikie is sick and down.
*We bought a house on our second full day of being home. It was the first house we looked at and we knew it had potential. We could make it our own. Ten minutes after our daughter, Lindsay, made the verbal offer to the realtor, he called back with somewhat of an amazed "Yes". He told her that first, he was amazed the owner answered on the first ring as she is very hard to get ahold of. He also told her that he knew he could get more out of the house this summer. We took it as a sign that the Lord was aware of us and our situation. How long can old grandparents live in their daughter's basement? We were in the house in nine days. That's right - nine days.
*It is now May 20 - a week later. After a series of many appointments and tests, my Mikie begins his chemo treatments this week. It is a week of dread, yet a week that we are so glad is finally here. We (he) have frantically been working on this house to get it on order. We don't know what to expect. We are hoping his first series of treatments bring only tiredness - not nausea. We are expecting hairloss during this first six weeks of treatment. That is a minor issue if it saves his life. After his first series of six weeks of treatment, we will be in the valley with him staying in MDAnderson hospital. He has to be closely monitored as this chemo will be heavy duty. After that will come his stem cell transplant. Doesn't that sound painful, yet wonderful at the same time?
*When we met with Dr. Ulrichson in Gilbert and he was going over the process, Mike asked, "I feel good right now. Why would I want to make myself sick?" He replied with, "If you don't make your self sick, you will be dead in a year or a year and a half". That got our attention. He will do this and I will be his best cheerleader. The Lord has been so very kind to us since Mike was diagnosed with this. We have been led to good care - starting with Dr. Thakkar here in the White Mountains. We had big plans to go to MDAnderson in Houston when we began this adventure. We tried and tried to get our ducks in a row but it always seemed there was one glitch after another. Finally, in desperation, we knew we had to start somewhere, so we started here at home. It was a tender blessing when we walked into Dr. Thakkar's office and met with him.
*Mike asked Norliss McKay for a blessing when we returned from England. Mike has always loved and respected Norliss as a boss and friend. As is typical of Norliss, he fasted and prayed for the Lord to put words in his mouth that would be a comfort and a guide for MIke and I at this time. As we walked into the McKay's simple, immaculate home, it radiated with peace and love. There was such a calming spirit there. As he began the blessing, we knew the Lord was aware of both of us. We were given sacred words of wisdom and led to know that this experience is designed for further growth for Mike in his spiritual journey back to Home. We were told to enjoy this time. When it is put like that, I am determined to help Mike all I can. Our girls and their families were also blessed as they watch their dad go through this. We honor and revere Brother McKay for his willingness and worthiness to do this for us - yet again.
*Our girls and their families have been our angels since we got home. They have all in their own way done things for us that we could not have possibly done alone. Helping us buy houses; acquiring cars; remodeling walls, closets, and floors....the list goes on and on. We will be forever indebted to all of them.
So for now, I say, let the journey begin. The Lord is in charge. He knows and loves my boy. I fully trust in Him and His Son. There is no where else we need to turn at this time.
Monday, April 30, 2018
THE ROCK
THE ROCK
April 2018
I collect rocks. Isn't that silly? I figure they are cheap souveniers of places we have been. It is easy to write on the back of the rock where I found it. Then, I can look at it later and have the memories flow. When we took our first walk on the London Temple grounds on September 16, 2017, I told Mikie that there would be no Rock Picking on this spot. The grounds were perfectly manicured with greenery in every available corner. Nevertheless, for the next seven months, I kept my eyes peeled to the ground. Looking, always looking - just in case.
On our final full day in England I snuck over to the temple to drop off a Thank You card and little offering to the members of our shift, I went when I knew they would be in prayer meeting. Our last days were hard for us to see people we loved. There were too many tears and repeating of the same old story over and over. As I was leaving the dressing room, I received a phone call from Sister Docherty, a sister we had come to love who worked on our shift. Knowing she had been experiencing quite challenging health issues, I really wanted to talk to her. I returned her call when I got out of the temple. She seemed surprised to hear from me. She didn't think she called me. After a tearful conversation explaining our situation to her and a tender farewell, we hung up.
A short while later, as we were continuing our packing process at home, the doorbell rang. There was Sister Docherty standing at our door with a small heart-shaped white rock. She sheepishly explained that she had found this rock on her way to the temple. She thought we may want it as a memento of our time in the London Temple.
Now, Sister Docherty had no idea I collected rocks. She had no idea that I had been praying for tender mercies from the Lord the last four days when we knew we were being sent home to fight My Mikie's cancer. She had no idea that I had been keeping an eye out for A Rock for seven months. Call it what you want - a sweet story, a coincidence. I call it a tender message from the Lord that He loved Mike and Kim Seaman. He was aware of our sadness, our longings, our feelings of leaving our mission too soon. I give Thanks to Sister Docherty for acting on her prompting to pick that little rock up and make the walk over to Flat #14 in The Lodge. I give Thanks to a loving Heavenly Father who knows and loves us. Some day, all will be made known to us. I will hold that little heartshaped rock and remember a sweet time serving in the London England Temple with my companion and dearest friend.
My Love,
Sister Seaman......aka Mom and Grandma
April 2018
I collect rocks. Isn't that silly? I figure they are cheap souveniers of places we have been. It is easy to write on the back of the rock where I found it. Then, I can look at it later and have the memories flow. When we took our first walk on the London Temple grounds on September 16, 2017, I told Mikie that there would be no Rock Picking on this spot. The grounds were perfectly manicured with greenery in every available corner. Nevertheless, for the next seven months, I kept my eyes peeled to the ground. Looking, always looking - just in case.
On our final full day in England I snuck over to the temple to drop off a Thank You card and little offering to the members of our shift, I went when I knew they would be in prayer meeting. Our last days were hard for us to see people we loved. There were too many tears and repeating of the same old story over and over. As I was leaving the dressing room, I received a phone call from Sister Docherty, a sister we had come to love who worked on our shift. Knowing she had been experiencing quite challenging health issues, I really wanted to talk to her. I returned her call when I got out of the temple. She seemed surprised to hear from me. She didn't think she called me. After a tearful conversation explaining our situation to her and a tender farewell, we hung up.
A short while later, as we were continuing our packing process at home, the doorbell rang. There was Sister Docherty standing at our door with a small heart-shaped white rock. She sheepishly explained that she had found this rock on her way to the temple. She thought we may want it as a memento of our time in the London Temple.
Now, Sister Docherty had no idea I collected rocks. She had no idea that I had been praying for tender mercies from the Lord the last four days when we knew we were being sent home to fight My Mikie's cancer. She had no idea that I had been keeping an eye out for A Rock for seven months. Call it what you want - a sweet story, a coincidence. I call it a tender message from the Lord that He loved Mike and Kim Seaman. He was aware of our sadness, our longings, our feelings of leaving our mission too soon. I give Thanks to Sister Docherty for acting on her prompting to pick that little rock up and make the walk over to Flat #14 in The Lodge. I give Thanks to a loving Heavenly Father who knows and loves us. Some day, all will be made known to us. I will hold that little heartshaped rock and remember a sweet time serving in the London England Temple with my companion and dearest friend.
My Love,
Sister Seaman......aka Mom and Grandma
Sunday, April 29, 2018
Good friends from the London Temple. Launa and Reese Murdoch from
Utah.
The flower beds and temple in the back ground. Beautiful spring.
This is not a good selfie. But look at that green grass at the end
of March.
Our good friends the Wallace's. They worked in the mission office
doing what we did on our first mission.
This is President and Sister Otterson. The London Temple President and
Matron. They were so kind to us. Both English by birth and then
called to Utah for many years to serve as the Church's Public Relations
Director. So they will be moving back to Utah after their term, as their family
is mostly there.
Kim took this one when I wasn't looking. It makes me appear
to be lonely. I am not lonely. But it was our last temple walk.
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