Some November Life Changes

 This Thanksgiving November we are thankful that Brittney worked for a surgeon and was in the right place at the right time.  Todd had a cyst on his rump.  Brittney was able to schedule the surgery with Dr. Clarke and they sent it for a biopsy.  The biopsy came back as Merkel Cell Carcinoma.  A rare form of skin cancer.  Brittney kept on top of the biopsy report, and helped to schedule a PET scan and MRI within a few days of receiving the report.  The surgery did not get all the margins, so Todd is now going to the Huntsman Cancer Institute and seeing a doctor in Seattle who specializes in Merkel Cell cancer.

The PET scan showed that the cancer had not left the original site and we are hopeful that with one additional surgery and perhaps some radiation or chemo he will be rid of this tumor.  However, Merkel Cell always reappears.  Having family in the right place was a very tender mercy.

Another change in the family will be Melanee's new calling as their ward Relief Society President.  She just started a new job with the University of Utah, the kids are in Chinese immersion at school, she is involved with the PTA and just finished doing the Primary program.  Her plate is full!  We pray for strength to be with her.

Cameron is a district leader and trainer.  He told us he now thinks in Spanish.  He is giving our family blessings.

Thanksgiving 2022 - a weekend to remember

Together again - well at least 16 of us.  It was a St. George Thanksgiving and the entire family, except Cameron (serving in the Georgia Mission) were present and accounted for.  What a fun, loud, messy, huggy, stuff all over, hectic weekend.  We loved every minute of it.

It started with all of us making the traditional Thanksgiving hats.  This tradition started about 30 years ago.  Theron's mother had died in August and his father did not want to be in a house or in Kaysville.  We all decided to take our trailers (Us, Padillas, Judds, and Grandpa Schaefermeyer) to Arches National Park.  Carol cooked the turkey in her trailer oven and we all had made dishes for the feast.  We parked and ate outside under a small arch.  To entertain our small children as we traveled, I brought colored paper, scissors, glue to make Indian hats or Pilgrim hats.  That's when the tradition started.  Under that little arch, we all wore our Thanksgiving hats and enjoyed the beauties of nature.  For several years after that, we traveled to various parks on Thanksgiving.  Now, we make the hats while we prepare the food - in the comfort of our homes.

 

We have certainly become more creative over the years and for days after, we put on the hat from time to time

The feast never gets old - turkey, jello, sweet potatoes, stuffing, rolls, deviled eggs, mashed potatoes and gravy, and pumpkin pie.

The pool was open and set to a temperature of 85 degrees.  All the kids enjoyed this activity.

Then, of course, there is just sitting around.  Crochet was the learning experience.  Marc and Adrian excelled and became YouTube certified.

The Schaefermeyer 5 Together

 Kendall turned 90 years old on November 16, 2022.  His family wanted to have a dinner and invited all of us thinking that Neala (who lives in Texas) would just call on FaceTime.  Theron began talking with her and convinced her to come up for this occasion.  Then with all the siblings together we could take one last picture.  Who knows when they will all be together again.

Neala was convinced, she flew up and stayed at Adrian's.  We kept it a secret up to the meeting at the restaurant.  Everyone was shocked and amazed!!!  Kendall was almost in tears because he thought he would not see her again in this life.  He told us it was a perfect birthday present.

On Sunday, we all met at Elynn's house for pictures.  Elynn has MS and can't get out, so it was a perfect meeting spot. Theron went through FamilySearch and showed them lots of new pictures he had uploaded and got identification of people from Kendall. (Above picture is Kendall, Norm, Carol, John, and Theron)

These guys are so loving as siblings and always have a good laugh or two or three.

This is a good picture of Elynn with Leslie sitting by her and Adrian on the stool.

Back L-R: Theron and Kendall       Front L-R: Elynn Judd, Neala Perez, Carol Padilla

Memories of the Family - Throughout the Year of 2022

 Marc and Brittney always like to celebrate Halloween with great costumes.  This year it was Peg and Al Bundy.

Cameron and some of his elder buddies.

Mel and Curt at Trek!

Marc and Brittney with their Vespa buddies.

Visiting with Great Grandma and Great Grandpa Schaefermeyer in Kaysville.

A Fall Trip to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon (October 2022)

 We like to take a 2-3 day trip with Collin and Kathy Wood each year.  This year we selected the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.  We stayed in a small village just outside the park and enjoyed the beauty of the vistas inside the park.  We took one day and drove to Williams, Arizona, where we explored Bearzonia.  This is a wildlife park that you drive through and then at the end park and walk.  It was really quite fun.

We have to do slow things now for Collin; his back doesn't let him enjoy as many things as before.  It worked out just great.  Here's a few snapshots:

Two old statues standing by some carvings.

Mountain sheep up close and personal driving through Bearzonia.

Theron and I hiked about one mile of the Bright Angel Trail.  Going down was fun, back not so much.

Collin and Kathy Wood

England, Ireland, Iceland, Greenland, England, Scotland - A great trip!

 Jackie and Steve wanted to venture out and do a cruise, officially ending Covid restrictions.  They found a great deal flying to Southhampton, England; leaving and traveling to Ireland; leaving and sailing to Iceland, then Greenland, and back to England.

We have always wanted to drive the English countryside, so on our return to England, we rented a car and drove up the western coast of England to Edinburgh, Scotland.  Our return was down the eastern side of England and back to Heathrow to fly home.

Ireland Kissing the Blarney Stone	Iceland
Greenland Yup, lots of ice in Greenland	England Stonehenge - Never thought I'd see this.

We drove to Bath, England to see the Roman Baths

Then to the Cotswolds to see the quaint countryside and thatched roof houses.

They love flower gardens.  The picture above and left is of a roof being rethatched.  The black is old and the brown is new.  They put a fine chicken wire over the entire roof to keep the birds from pulling the thatch off.

None of the doorways are really tall enough for Theron.

Now on to Edinburgh, Scotland.  On the way, we passed Hadrian's Wall.  This wall was built across the northern border of England by the Romans to keep the barbarian Scots out.  We have now been to the Great Wall of China, the Berlin Wall (where we chipped pieces of concrete from it.) and this wall.

This is the English countryside that is so lush and green.  We are sitting on a part of Hadrian's Wall which was initially 15 feet tall; not so today.

This is Theron standing at the beginning of the largest portion of Hadrian's wall.

The Famous Edinburgh Castle

This is the English Royalties Palace in Edinburgh called Hollyrood.

From the castle to Hollyrood is called the Royal Mile.  We walked it to see the famous churches, the shops, the curved streets and the famous architecture.

After a long day of walking, this is just how you feel.

Now, on to York and the Viking village and a few of the sights along the way.

Sheep and Scottish Heather.

Jackie found a fabric store.

Lots of alley ways to get lost in.

The Viking Village was an animated ride built on top of the old ruins.

It was a another great adventure.  A real memory builder!!!!!