I copied this from my daughter's blog. I think this may be a little more meaningful to me than to some who haven't faced their mortality yet. Here are the rules.

1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember! Nothing too embarrassing please. :) If we're only blogging friends, write about a post that is the most memorable for you.

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you. If you don't want to play on your blog, or if you don't have a blog, I'll leave my memory of you in my comments. I can't wait to see what people remember.

Love to all.

I had some good news yesterday from my doctor. My CA-125 counts (those little blood markers that tell them if the cancer is growing or receding) were down to 55. That's a phenomenal drop--last month they were at 153. Normal range is 20 - 35. We feel hopeful that the Gemcitabine is working it's chemo magic for now. I'm happy for every day the Lord sees fit to give me! I keep getting the weekly treatments (every Wednesday) and follow it up with two Nupegen shots spaced about two days apart. That seems to be a formula that keeps my white blood counts from bottoming out. My platelets and red blood cells are still low, which makes me feel tired, but it isn't impacting my life too negatively at this time. Still can do most everything I want--with plenty of nap and rest time factored in. The Nupegen gives me aches and pains as it kick starts my bone marrow...but gee whiz, who doesn't have aches and pains in their fifties? Yikes I can't belive that's staring me in the face...but happily so. I will turn 50 on August 14. Be prepared for the birthday bash of all time! I MADE IT TO 50! WHOOPEE!

I haven't blogged for awhile--life gets wonderfully lazy in the summer! I spend my days teaching water aerobics, puttering in my garden, taking the grandkids swimming. Not too long ago we had a fun family photo shoot with Bianca, my talented niece by marriage. Here's just one sample of her wonderful work:

You should check out her site Photography by Bianca
for more of her work and to schedule a shoot with her if she has the time!

At the end of June Our good friends Jessica and Goi visited from Hong Kong. It was so good to seem them. We had a fun family barbeque and Jessica and Goi got to see all the cousins and how grown they all are. Love you Jessica and Goi!

We had a wonderful 4th of July with family coming over for swimming and food. It was 102--so hot! We slept out with Evie and Jacob under the stars. Tiffany and Steven came down from Rexburg and joined us, which was nice since Josh and Elena and Caite and Patrick went to Bear Lake for the weekend. We missed them, but are sure they had fun too...if they didn't get too sunburned!

More neices and nephews married soon: Seth and Amy get married this coming Friday (July 11th) and then just a few weeks and two more weddings in that Ellis family. Kira and Spencer on July 31, then Cecily and Justin on August 2. What a month for the Ellis family...we're all scrambling to stay caught up with them. congratulations to them all--celebrate the LOVE!

Cancer update: still getting weekly chemo, three weeks on, one week off. I get tests done on July 9th, so we'll know if it's working or not. In the meantime, I don't feel too badly from the chemo and am able to do most all I want.

Dave and Josh WON THE GRAND PRIZE Father's Day Essay contest from the Golf Channel. They leave July 18th for St. Andrews in Scotland. I'm sure we'll have some pictures when they return. Thanks to all who voted for them. They are so EXCITED, it's hard to contain them.

My advice to you all--grab life and live it everyday. Appreciate the blue skies, bird songs, and fluffy clouds of summer. Slow down. Read a good book. Have lunch with a friend.