The Beginning of 2023 - January 2023

 After Christmas, we traveled back to St. George, finished packing the trailer, loaded ourselves in the car and truck and began our yearly journey to Yuma, Arizona.  This year, I was still in a boot and so driving was difficult (besides, I wasn't myself yet) so Adrian drove me and the car down.  She was able to stay a few days and see how we live, go on a RZR ride, and meet all the neat people we associate with.

Theron drove Adrian to Phoenix where she caught a flight home and now we are on our own.  

I wore my boot faithfully the month of January.  Most of the skin graft was healed and only a small area between the toes was taking a long time to heal.  It was frustrating sleeping in a boot, so I complained about it to Theron and he invented a small support for bedtime.  What better use of duct tape and cardboard.  It worked, sleep finally.

The middle of January, around my mom's 90th birthday, January 18, Theron and I drove back up north to see the doctor for my foot and tend grandchildren.  Ali was turning 12 in February so Marc and Brittney wanted to take her on a 12th birthday trip.  They went to Disneyland and Theron and I stayed with Tyce, Mason and Kacy.

While there, we celebrated my mom's 90th birthday by taking cake and ice cream to the assisted living center and sharing with all the patients and staff.  Mom was just getting over having some squamous cell carcinoma removed from in front of her ear.  She is doing well and seems to have adapted to all things that have changed.

We were fortunate that it did not snow while we were there, so my foot stayed dry.  The doctor did tell me that I could start wearing a shoe on my foot again.  This was now very helpful and I could walk without bending my toes that helped continue the healing.

We then returned to Yuma where we were asked to be TFH Consultants - image that.  Each Monday, we met with individual members of the Branch to help them with their family history questions.  It has been a good experience getting to know some people on a very personal level.  There are so many different family stories and situations.  It's amazing that any of us grow up and are normal - whatever normal is.

Christmas 2022

 We traveled north and stayed with Adrian to be close to the kids.  We entertained the kids the day before Christmas by making cookies; Aunt Adrian is so patient.

Because I was unable to walk about much and wasn't feeling all that good, we just went to Curt's house for Christmas.  I was able to attend sacrament meeting on Christmas Day and then sit with my foot propped up the rest of the time.

Wrapping paper was flying and the kids really enjoyed all their presents.  Theron traveled to Morgan and brought mom down and she was able to spend the day with us.  

In my younger years, I always enjoyed getting lots of presents and was very particular about what I wanted and what I didn't want.  It worked out most of the time.  As I have gotten older, especially this year, I wanted to see others enjoy presents.  Theron and I didn't buy each other things; except he did get me some saran wrap and a new hair dryer (Our old one died just before Christmas.).  We have certainly been blessed with much prosperity and too many things.  The most precious gifts are our family and friends.

Jesse's new slippers.

A little love time.

Curt is always looking for the perfect gift.  This year it is a toilet seat on a hitch to put on behind the razor for comfort in the woods.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a wonderful new year!!!!!!

And The Cancer Trend Continues

 The first part of December, I went to the dermatologist for a check on a couple of spots on my face.  I had watched a dark spot appear by my left big toe and didn't think much about it, but had him check that spot also.  The spot on my toe came back as melanoma.  It was .6 mm deep (.8 is the worry depth).  The dermatologist immediately set up an appointment with a surgeon, who just happened to have a cancellation so I was able to meet with him.  This would also involve a plastic surgeon and he just happened to have a cancellation, so I consulted with him.  These two offices worked together and I was in surgery on December 21 (about 2 weeks after the diagnosis). 

All went well, I was in a boot for Christmas, but was able to travel north and sit in a chair for the better part of the time.  They were able to get all the margins clear and I am no cancer free - at least in that spot.

We have so much to be thankful for in our day - modern medicine, great diagnostic tests, men and women who study this and perform these delicate operations, and so forth.

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.