Exactness

Thought for today, from reading in Alma 57 and Romans 1

"And as the remainder of our army were about to give way before the Lamanites, behold, those two thousand and sixty were firm and        undaunted.

"Yea, and they did ^aobey and observe to perform every word of 
command with exactness; yea, and even according to their faith it 
was done unto them; and I did remember the words which they 
said unto me that  their ^bmothers had taught them.

                                     -- Alma 57:20-21

 I love how these young men had exceeding faith because of the teachings and example of their mother, and that they were blessed by following all instructions with exactness.

 Please click here for info on walking and eating today: http://terreeeblay.blogspot.com/2013/09/13-271.html

 Cheerio!

The Beatitudes Compared To Alma 7:23-24

You may know that I was set apart as a member of my stake high council this morning, something I did not expect at all and certainly not now, thinking Willyne and I had just agreed to continue on for another year or more as church service missionaries working in the 12 step addiction recovery program.

Of course, I was put right to work, and just a few hours after being set apart, I spoke in La Verkin 3rd Ward on the topic of comparing our 2013 stake theme to the Beatitudes.  I had enough material for twenty minutes or so ... as it turns out I had about eight minutes.  If you are interested, click on the link and you can read the notes I prepared for the talk.  The actual talk was the portions of this I was inspired to give, skipping the rest to fit the time available.  As always, I believe the speaker got more out of this than anyone else :-) 

Day 12 was very good.  The allergies are still here, but I only am needing half the antihistamine I did a week ago.  So I am getting a little more energy each day, which I'm really enjoying!  I was tired for a moment as I was leaving the hospital, and at 11 I was thinking I needed to go home for a nap.  I decided to eat lunch a little early, and that gave me more energy.

I have been eating quite reasonably.  Small amounts of meat, generous amounts of vegetables, and overall I am gradually becoming satisfied with small portions.  I am pretty active each day, but haven't been able to go on walks for a month.  I am still looking forward to starting those again and think I will able to soon.

Tomorrow is another treatment, I go five days a week, Monday to Friday.  Because of Memorial Day, I will have three days to rest and recuperate instead of two this weekend.  But so far, I am quite thankful to say that this week has actually been a little easier than last week.  I am so appreciative of this!  I know this may change, which is one reason I take one day at a time.  I am also quite aware of my blessings each day, and am thankful for them day by day. 

Many people, of a variety of faiths, backgrounds, and beliefs, have told me they are praying for me.  I truly feel the strength of these prayers, and I'm so very grateful for them!  I know this is blessing those offering  the prayers as much as it is me, and that realization makes me smile.

I am listening to the Old Testament on CDs in the car and reading lessons in the LDS Institute manual when I get home.  My son-in-law Darin Ragozzine wrote a weekly reading plan at the first of the year that keeps pace with the Sunday School class lessons and also allows the reader to complete the Old Testament in a year.  I am finding the combination of listening, reading the lessons, and checking out scripture references in the lessons very helpful in better understanding and feeling the spirit of the Old Testament.   I'm behind Darin's pace, but staying with it and really enjoying it!

Melissa Fisher, a member of our ward, was in our home tonight.  Willyne is teaching her the missionary lessons.  I'm helping her along with our ward mission leaders, Eldon and Claudia Pierce.  Tonight we talked about baptism and how the sacrament allows us to renew our baptismal covenants each week.  Melissa's smile is growing each week and there is such a sweet spirit in these lessons.  I am very grateful to be able to share in that spirit.

A Nice Quiet Sunday

I will start off with a picture of my beautiful sweetheart, taken yesterday afternoon . . .

And continue with a few details from today:  

• My weekly weigh-in was 254.8 pounds, meaning I lost the half-pound I gained last week and a little more.  Sounds good to me!
• Had the afternoon and evening at home with Willyne.  We planned the next couple months  together.  I read Ruth and 1 Samuel 1 for next week's Sunday School lesson.  After reading repeated cycles of poor choices that led to bad times that led to a recommitment to good choices that led to good times that led to forgetting what caused the good times and instead making poor choices . . . it was really refreshing to read of Ruth's loyalty to Naomi.
• Rebecca returned to Idaho after going to church with us in the morning
• Danielle visited with Jacob today
• I got to talk with Uncle Thom Forsyth and Grand Aunt Helena Belnap this afternoon.  Both are doing well.  Helena is still doing her water therapy three times a week (she turned 101 last October) -- talk about a passionately smiling tortoise!
• I enjoyed watching Ethan, Kate, and Riley on the Beecher Blog.

Hope you enjoyed your day too!

It Begins . . . with pictures

Day 1 of radiation treatments.  I have some pictures  --  I think you will find them interesting . . .

Ready to start the treatment

First of six views

Thanks to my two great radiology technicians for being good sports and taking these great pictures!

Dressed again right after the treatments were done, standing with Dr. Richards.  I am enjoying him a lot -- he is clearly knowledgable, answers our questions clearly, and is very kind.

My own impression of what radiation treatments are has changed now that I am receiving them.  I think I pictured radiation going everywhere in the room.  It is not like that at all.  The machine moves to exact positions and the radiation is quite focused -- seems much like a laser beam.

I feel good.  I can feel that something was done for sure, but I was able to put in a full day afterwards.  I was at work until about 4, then left and helped Willyne and the Relief Society sisters honor twelve living past presidents.  It was a nice evening of music (piano and violin numbers), listening to the experiences of these good ladies, and a tasty dinner of chicken and rice, spinach -strawberry salad (thanks, Hilary for the yummy dressing recipe), cranberry bread, and some amazing lemon cupcakes.  I had half mine.


No walk today, but four hours of walking, lifting, and taking pictures so I felt like I got my exercise!


A good day :)

The Smell of Rain this Tuesday Morning

Up at 5:45 today.  Helped Willyne fill the hummingbird feeders and put out bird seed.  It is raining lightly but steadily, smells nice!  Willyne and I visited the Jaques family and said goodbye to Michael, who is on his way early this morning to Job Corps in Montana for two years.  I hope it works out well for him.

Breakfast was a kefir shake, vitamins, and water.  I am enjoying them :o)     As a side note, my weigh-in Sunday morning was 255.0, down two pounds for the week.

Read 1 Nephi 11.  I love this beautiful account of Nephi's vision of the coming of Christ!  Also read Joshua 2-3.  Joshua was definitely a man of faith and a prophet.

Got to work at 8:30.  Tried to get a lot done preparing for going to part-time for several weeks with the radiation treatments starting tomorrow.  Got home at 6:15, had a quick dinner with Willyne, then headed to bishopric meeting.  House smells WONDERFUL, she's cooking up some wonderful creations for tomorrow's dinner honoring eleven past ward Relief Society presidents!

Yes, even with the good smells, I was good.   Lunch was a "Wahoo burger" -- it is a type of fish on a wheat bun.  Dinner was a chicken fajita with some beans.  Drank close to three liters of water today.

Still no walking.  Allergies are gradually improving, but I'm still hour to hour and am afraid I would go into an uncontrollable sneezing fit so I'm holding off a little longer.  I miss the walks!

The tortoise is smiling . . . and he loves company!

Breakfast was a kefir shake, vitamins, and water. Lunch and dinner were premeasured meals (tuna with cheese on pita; shrimp pasta and broccoli).  More water. Had dessert tonight, small strawberry shortcake.

Here's a thought I had today . . .

Clearly we are subject to many rules and laws in our lives.  Some we can plainly see.  Some we can only see the results of.  It is easy to talk ourselves into believing these rules don't exist and live our lives like they don't . . . but we can only choose our actions, not the results of our actions.


Sometimes these results are immediate, other times they are delayed for many years.  That does not change the truth that we can only choose our actions, not the results of our actions.


For example, take exposing our skin to the sun.  If we do not get enough sunlight, we miss essential nutrients and also can get quite depressed.  If we get more sunlight than we need, in the short term we may like the resulting tan and the way we look and feel.  But years later, the results will come in the form of increased wrinkling, faster aging, and possibly even cancer.   When the years have passed, we cannot change the results of the choice we made long ago.


You are undoubtedly familiar with another rule, commonly known as the Golden Rule.  Jesus simply stated it thus, “Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.” (Matt. 7:12.)


Each of us has countless opportunities each day to decide to observe or ignore this rule.  Often it is to our immediate benefit to ignore it.  I ask you to ponder this day and often what has been the cumulative result of countless people each choosing to ignore the Golden Rule whenever they like . . . and how much difference it would make in our troubled world if a few people "swam against the current" and made a habit to choose to regularly say to themselves  "I will do unto others as I would have them do unto me." 


The tortoise is smiling . . . and he loves company!

Random Thoughts on a Sunny Spring Friday

Had a hard time getting up today, finally put my feet on the floor for good at 7:20.  The allergy medicine saps my strength, but not breathing saps it more, so I'll choose breathing!  It is a pretty morning, I'm ready to enjoy the day!

Read from 1 Nephi 10 and Leviticus 25.  Am thinking I kind of like the concept of a "jubilee year"!

Breakfast was a kefir shake, vitamins, allergy medicine, and water, then went to the office.  Lunch and dinner were premeasured meals. 

Had two visits with Stephen Sanders today, who seems to be doing much better.  He will resume chemotherapy treatments on Tuesday, it is good that he is feeling well enough to do that.

In between the two visits, had a quiet evening talking and planning with Willyne.  We both enjoy that very much!

No walk today, but allergies are gradually improving.  I'm hoping to feel good enough to start walking again on Monday.

The Tortoise Gets Tattooed

Here I am today in front of the entrance to the radiation oncology department of the local hospital.  For those of you who are familiar with the hospital, this department is located on the 400 East (Flood Street) side of the original hospital campus.

Inside they have all the latest high tech equipment that will give me my treatments.   Today I got a CT scan which Dr. Richards will use to create the 3D virtual image of me that I described in another post a few days ago.  They also created a mold where they will put my feet to help keep me as still as possible while the treatments ar going on.  I hold a round rubber donut with both hands to keep that part of my body still.  I am wearing one of those lovely blue hospital gowns with a couple ties in the back.  They will become my friends over the next several weeks.

Not only do they need me to be absolutely still during the treatments but they need to have me in precisely the same position every time.  So . . . .

I was tattooed four times today.  Yes it hurt to do it, after about ten minutes that passed, but it did sting a good while.  More than ever I don't understand why anyone would want to be tattooed voluntarily for the sake of art or personal expression.  When I look at someone with tattoos, all I see is pain!

My tattoos are single pin pricks, filled with ink.  There are two on my upper legs and two on my pelvis.  Then they drew big "X"s through each of them.  These points will be used to line my body up precisely every time.

So the actual treatments start a week from today.  They will take about 15 minutes, so I will spend much more time driving, changing clothes, etc. than I will in the actual treatments.  I lay flat on my back and close my eyes, so while it is going on it is kind of, sort of, like a nap.  If you have ever been scanned then you know about how the treatments are going to be.  I just try to stay really relaxed and the best way to do that for me is to close my eyes and zone out.

I am supposed to be able to drive myself to and from these appointments, but I'll admit it, I like the support of having Willyne come with me!  I'm optimistic and think I'll do fine, but I do plan to take this one day at a time.

In the meantime, yes, I did have small healthy meals today.  I'm about a week in to that part of it now, I'm hoping in three it will be a habit.  So far I am enjoying it!  No walk though, my allergies were going absolutely nuts today, so I passed on that.

Read a few more chapters of Leviticus today, that was good too.

I feel your love and prayers and appreciate them very much!

Fun at the park with Ethan, Kate, and Willyne

Two Pictures of Ethan and Kate on the Wanlass Park Swings

Ethan Loves The Slide!

I worked this morning, played with Ethan, Kate, and Riley in the afternoon and evening.  Definitely fun!

I've gotten up a little earlier the last two mornings, so those walks have been on the treadmill (I like to see where I'm going).  The air is fresher outside, but my heart pumps harder on the treadmill.  Did a mile again today, at a 2% grade.  The last 3 minutes I started sweating big time.

Had half a Kefir shake and vitamins for breakfast, a half small plate of leftovers for snack, measured portion meals for lunch and dinner, and the small healthy pop popcorn and a Weight Watchers ice cream bar for evening snack. 

I read the chapter in the Old Testament Institute manual that explained what I read in Leviticus 4-12 yesterday -- why all the various types of sacrifice were important.  It was definitely helpful to read that!

A New Doctor Today

I had my first visit with Dr. Ray Richards today.  Willyne came with me.  He is the one we have been referred to for radiation treatments here in St. George.  It was a good and productive visit.  I will go back next week for some scans to help him plan precisely where the radiation will be directed, and then we will proceed about a week after that.  Dr. Richards sounds like he wants to do six weeks of treatments rather than eight, and he was optimistic on the results (while not guaranteeing them).

We have discovered that Dr. Richards is Doug Jr's stake president and my brother Steve's former neighbor when Steve lived on Lizzie Lane.  Additional proof it anyone needed it that this is indeed a small world!

My allergies have been awful today, my nose is now cracked and I've put ointment on it to try to help.  So I will make the rest of this quick -- I did a mile at 2% grade on the treadmill this morning, I had small healthy meals today, and enjoyed listening to some chapters in Leviticus on a DVD while driving today.  That puts a good spirit in the car!

Allergies are affecting me.  Had to take a Sudafed PE tablet to stop the dripping enough to go to bed last night.  I could feel the effects of that waking up this morning (much harder to get alert).  Up at 6:15, out walking my mile loop around the elementary school at 6:40.  That felt great!  Allergies kicked in again as soon as I got home.  One day at a time, I can do this!

I am drinking a kefir shake and taking my vitamins for breakfast, and am on my second twelve-ounce glass of Kangen water.  My fan is going on the highest setting and the allergies are subsiding without another Sudafed tablet for now.  Always thankful for that in the height of spring, especially the Spectrum newspaper says this is the heaviest allergy season in many years!

I enjoyed 1 Ne 9:6 this morning . . .

"But the Lord knoweth all things from the beginning; wherefore, he prepareth a way to accomplish all his works among the children of men; for behold, he hath all power unto the fulfilling of all his words. And thus it is. Amen."

I am thinking it is a great companion to one of my lifetime favorite scriptures, 1 Ne 3:7, which reads,

"And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them."

This reading really blessed me this morning!

Restarting the daily wellness routine!

Woke up at 5:30 with my lower back/tailbone worse than yesterday. I was thinking it's still trying 2 recover from flight.  But I wandered from my eating pattern at Disney World 4 days ago and have needed gradually smaller cereal bowls before bed each day since. Willyne thinks that's it. I'm feeling a little better after a bathroom visit that makes me think we're both partly right. I'm heading out for a short slow walk now... about 2 hours ago via txt

Walked 1 mile to LaVerkin Elementary & back. Cool crisp morning air and walking feel great! Just don't ask me to bend down! :)  about 1 hour ago via txt

Had breakfast -- small bowl of Irish oats with a few blueberries, a twelve-ounce glass of Kangen water, and vitamins.  Read scriptures, it is like exercise, hard to start and then it feels so good!  One verse that touched home for me today was ". . . after I had traveled for the space of many hours in darkness, I began to pray unto the Lord that he would have mercy on me, according to the multitude of his tender mercies" (1 Ne 8:8)

I know that He does bless us with a multitude of his mercies and that they are indeed tender!

Continuing on food as the day progressed, I had a small bowl of lentils for lunch and a small strawberry shortcake.  For dinner I had two small bowls of lentils and two wheat rolls with butter.  I am on my fifth twelve-ounce glass of water as I update this a little after 5 pm.  Now if I can just make it through the evening on that . . .

Random Sunday Thoughts

My weigh-in today was 262.5 which put me about 3 pounds less than two weeks ago and even for the week of the trip.

It was a usual busy Sunday. Meetings 7 to 12. During Priesthood I had a temple recommend interview with President Eves that was an opportunity for both of us to bear testimonies to each other that was very sweet.

Helped finish up the last audit of this semiannual cycle and turned it into President Chamberlain. I had a good conversation with him too, how often do you get that in the same day? He released me to focus on my upcoming radiation treatments and beating this cancer. I have know this might happen for a month, and I needed that month and now have come to realize it is for the best.

I know the Lord is in charge of His church, that He loves us completely, and He wants what is best for us always, even when it takes us awhile to see it!

I then came home, met Willyne to visit three families with her and go to choir practice. I don't always have time for choir but I love singing (even though I'm only OK at best) because it is such a powerful way to bear testimony and feel the Lord's Spirit!

Back Home In La Verkin

I loved seeing the Ragozzines and the Jacksons, but the plane ride home was tough.  Tonight I feel like I had a five hour ride inside the spin cycle of a washing machine.  My back hurts, especially my tailbone, and I am stiff.  But the trip was very worth it, I so loved seeing everyone!

I did walk about a mile today between the two airports.  :)

I read about half the way home (the other half, Willyne and I did the two crossword puzzles in the airplane magazine).  One thing in particular that I read really touched me. It was by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland about receiving divine inspiration about making important decisions . . .

" .. . once there has been genuine illumination, beware the temptation to retreat from a good thing.  If it was right when you prayed about it and trusted it and lived for it, it is right now.  Don't give up when the pressure mounts"

(Ensign magazine, April 2010, page 24, quoting a 1999 BYU devotional address.)

Magnifying the Concept "Endure to the End"

Today was a "chill" day after all yesterday's excitement at Disney World.  I only walked to the laundry building and back to get a newspaper (a quarter mile round trip).  I got to play with Maggie and Emma when Willyne went off to see the Gator Store with Rachel in the morning, and again in the evening with Willyne when Rachel and Terry were able to have an evening together.

I have Willyne to thank for a good thought for today, this comes from President Uchtdorf's October 2007 conference talk "Have We Not Reason To Rejoice?", she shared it with me from LDSNuggets.com,

"Enduring to the end, or remaining fathful to the laws and ordinances of the gopel of Jesus Christ throughout our life, is a fundamental requirement for salvation in the kingdom of God . . . Therefore, enduring to the end is not just a matter of passively tolerating life's difficult circumstances or "hanging in there".  Ours is an active religion, helping God's children along the strait and narrow path to develop their full potential during this life and return to Him one day . . . Enduring to the end is a process filling every minute of our life, every hour, every day, from sunfise to sunrise.  It is accomplished through personal discipline following the commandments of God."

I often wish the phrase "Endure to the End" was worded "Faithful to the End", after reading this I am thinking I need to strive to be passionately and steadily faithful every minute to the end.  :)

Heading East

Willyne and I travelled east today. We are in Boston until Tuesday visiting with Sarah, Darin, Chloe, and Abigail. Chloe's birthday is tomorrow, I'm dancing with her at her ballerina party, so that should be fun!


If you check my Twitter feed in the right column you'll see some pictures I posted of our day today!

"Life isn't a dress rehearsal.It is to be lived well in whatever circumstances we find ourselves."-Saw this MarvinJAshton quote 2day&LovedIt

Here's some of those pictures :)

Grandpa loves Abigail and Abigail loves Grandpa!

Chloe the Ballerina Entertains Her Family!

Happy Easter!

I'm enjoying Easter at home with Willyne, Doug Jr, Becca, Danielle, Jacob & Hilary. A real treat! less than 5 seconds ago via web from La Verkin, UT

What a Wonderful Easter Gift - Christ Lives & Loves Us! Please take two minutes to consider this thought: http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=bd163ca6e9aa3210VgnVCM1000003a94610aRCRD&locale=0

Benjamin and me walking in to conference!

In the ConferenceCtr.Priesthood Session starts in 25min.Choir is practicing and I'm loving it.PresPacker was first in his seat,great example.

My exercise today was walking the mile roundtrip from the parking lot to the Conference Center. No speed records were set, my corns were doing a number on my dress shoes, but it was a walk all the same. At least the company was good!

Through Jesus Christ and Faith in Him All Things Are Possible - and other thoughts that inspire me

This thought onJohn17:3 inspired me today! http://bit.ly/dBMHZo about 13 hours ago via txt

I am humbled and buoyed by the knowledge that through Jesus Christ and faith in Him all things are possible! See http://www.scriptures.lds.org/en/morm/9/21a 9 minutes ago via txt
See also Mark 11:23-24 http://www.scriptures.lds.org/en/mark/11/23a & http://www.scriptures.lds.org/en/mark/11/24a 1 minutes ago via txt