Copa do Mundo da FIFA Africa do Sul 2010!

Becca called us at 5:30 this morning to excitedly remind us en Portugues that today is the first day of the World Cup finals, so in honor of her and her excitement I present

click here to find out more! (hint: other language choices available at the top of the page)  look for "EN FR ES DE PT عربي"


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It's day 22 with 11 to go!  Getting closer to finishing my treatments :)

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!

Happy Birthday, Benjamin!

I can't add much to what has already been said about Benjamin today, but one more time-- HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!  You are very loved!

Day 2 of my radiation treatments was simpler than the first day.  Nothing to set up this time, not even a wait.  We were there three minutes early, but there they were, door open, ready to take me back from the waiting room as soon as we got there!  Where have you ever had that happen at a medical facility before?  Wow!
The machine moved to all the same places as yesterday, and by 8:50 am (23 minutes after arriving) we were back in the car headed home.  Double Wow!

I am doing well.  I was sore in some places they radiated yesterday, but a good night sleep helped with that.  Today I got a little light headed and queasy in the afternoon.  I could have used a little nap, but I got through the afternoon OK.

When I got home, I had a nice surprise.  Josh, Ethan, Kate, and Riley were here playing.  We had a nice visit, capped off by rocking Riley to sleep.  I love doing that!!!

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 :)

A Busy Saturday

I helped clean our bathrooms this morning.

Had lunch with Willyne and my mother this afternoon.

(Evidence that I'm eating healthy.  Green beans, lettuce, tomatoes, boiled shrimp, grilled chicken (no skin).  One plate. Water. Love those Chinese scubbers!

Had dinner and a movie with Willyne hosted by Jacob and Hilary this evening.

A great day!

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.

Smash Burger with Doug Jr for His Graduation!

I'm wishing now I had thought to take a picture of the new "Smash Burger" in St. George.  This is where Doug Jr wanted to go for his bachelors degree graduation lunch, so Willyne, Josh, Jacob, and I joined him there.  It is a very modern looking place with bright colors and sharp graphics.  The food is fresh and good, we enjoyed a good conversation and meal!  Big congratulations to Doug Jr!

I had a grilled chicken sandwich with lettuce, tomato, and red onion (hold the mayo) on a honey wheat roll.  We shared sweet potato fries, I had maybe a dozen with no sauce.  Drank water, but sampled one taste each of the mint and strawberry shakes others had.  All very good.  Other than that, I had my measured meals for breakfast and dinner and half a zone bar at each of two snacks.  I'll be honest, this is still hard, I like to eat!  But for another day I was able to stay with it, yea!

Thankfully, my allergies were a little better today, meaning I was able to control them with medicine, whereas yesterday, nothing would dent them, I was sneezing almost constantly.

I was looking through some notes today and rediscovered a Gandhi quote that I really appreciate,  "Be the change you wish to see in the world".  I mentioned it to Willyne and she pointed out that is also the message of the Michael Jackson song "Man in the Mirror".  It seems especially appropriate as the days and years progress and more of us seem unhappy with the way the world is going.  When I think this I really try to renew my efforts to be a better person myself.  It is a strong motivator, not to mention a very true thought from both of these men!

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!

I can't believe . . .

Has it really been thirty-two years that I've been married to Willyne? It really went quickly!  We've certainly had our share of challenges, but have to admit they made us stronger -- and we have been greatly blessed in so many ways!

I'm not going to take a lot of time on this special day to write them all, I'll come back tomorrow for that.  Just know I am a very grateful man everyday, and especially today!

PS -Happy, happy birthday, Rachel!  I'm so happy you were our special 4th anniversary present!

A Few Random Quick Thoughts

It is late, I'm going to write quickly tonight.  I did a lot of work today.  I ate healthy again, yea!  Kefir shake and vitamins for breakfast today.  Small amount of leftovers from yesterday's lunch (measured portions to begin with) for morning snack.  Measured portion lunch and dinner.  Afternoon snack was half a zone bar. No evening snack.  Drank two liters of Kangen water today.

My weekly weigh-in yesterday was 257.0.  I almost didn't believe it, really didn't think I had done that well (down 5.5 pounds for the week).

Read three chapters of Leviticus today.  Lots of details about the Mosaic law.  I knew it was detailed, but it still is surprising me just how much so.

I got to see Darin, Sarah, Chloe and Abby on a webcam call for a few minutes late this afternoon, that had to be the highlight of my day!

No walk today.

More fun with Ethan, Kate, and Riley

I know I got a good physical workout today, my body tells me so.  I don't know how far I walked, but I know it was at least a mile!  All doing good fun things with my grandchildren - I held and rocked Riley, pushed Kate on the swings, and kicked the soccer ball with Ethan. It was a good food day too.  I had a small bowl of Irish oats for breakfast with half a banana and a dozen blueberries. I had a small chicken pasta salad for lunch and a large chicken and shrimp salad for dinner (no dressing). I had half a zone bar for morning snack and the other half for an afternoon snack.  Once again, water was the drink of the day.  And for once, I didn't feel hungry in the evening - I was done eating for the day at 6.  I am feeling good (except when I go too long between allergy pills). 

All in all a great day!

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!

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.  :)

Happy Birthday to Sarah and Abigail, Fun at Disney World!

We had a great day at Disney World!  Here are a few pictures:

Welcome to the Happiest Place on Earth!

There were quotes like this up all over the park, this one especially struck home for me!  I'll have to add ths to my list of favorites :)

Love the big Maggie's big smiles when she got out of the Haunted House!

I have no idea how far we walked today, but my body is telling me it was at least three miles!  It was Disney World though, I did eat some yummy treats.  My favorites were a funnel cake I shared with Willyne and a pineapple ice cream/juice treat.

A fun day with Rachel, Terry, Maggie,and Emma in St. Petersburg, FL

Here are some fun pictures from my day today.  Love watching Rachel help Maggie with her puzzle (above)!

This picture of me with Emma speaks for itself, don't you think?  I have cherished this week of getting snuggles from my grandchildren!

Rachel couldn't resist snapping this picture of me in the parking lot  walking to the gate of the Florida Aquarium in Tampa today.  Maybe its the terrific T-shirt, or perhaps those neon white legs.  I'm just glad I didn't shatter her camera lens!  :)

We parked in the far part of the parking lot so we could get some shade.  It worked! -- car felt great when we came back to it!  It also made for a little more walking today - about a mile I figure.

On to Tampa

Had a terrific day. Played one last time with Chloe and Abigail. It was so hard to say goodbye!

Flew to Tampa this afternoon had a good dinner of scrubbers and conversation with Willyne and Rachel at Sweet Tomatoes. :)  Walk today was a mile through the airports.

Now I'm going to catch some high quality and well earned zzz's!

Shot heard from Lexington, ’round the world

We started the day early today and were at the Lexington Green for the annual reenactment of the first shots fired in the American Revolution, April 19, 1775. It was a beautiful crisp morning to be out, and a good way to visualize history as it was originally made. Here's an article with more information on it, Shot heard from Lexington, ’round the world, and a picture from that article:

Here's a larger view of the action on the Green (it's not as clear so you know I took this picture . . .)

To add a little exercise info into this for Benjamin, I walked 0.8 miles round trip to this event, and on the way there I was (unbelievably) the pacesetter at a brisk pace so we did have a good heart rate going.

Later in the morning I walked to Waldo Park near the Ragozzine home with Chloe.  Brought the total to the day to 1.5 miles.  She is a delight at the park as you can see!

I ate pretty well most of the day too, including oatmeal pancakes with applesauce (tasted great!), homemade vegetable soup, and a salad.  I did help eat a treat tonight -- we all went together to the final Patriot's Day event of the day put on by the Ragozzine's ward, which was an ice cream social at this awesome farm about 30 minutes from their house.  Five of us shared one gigantic banana split.  If I'm going to have a treat, might as well be a great one!

A little bit of sun in Boston today

There was not a lot new to say today.  We had another family day today and totally loved it!  I played some more with my grandchildren, watched some movies, had good conversations with my daughter Sarah and her husband Darin, enjoyed being with Willyne, ate some terrific vegetable soup and homemade rolls, and just generally had a really satisfying day!  And for the first time in 3 days, the sun came out twice for a few minutes each in the late afternoon.  They call this place New England for several good reasons, the weather definitely being one of them.  It has been consistently grey skies and occasional drizzles the whole time, but finally a welcome little break in that today. :)

Chloe's birthday is great!

Lots of terrific pictures today!  Most were taken with Willyne or with Sarah's cameras, and these will wind up on Beecher Bunch, although that may take until we get home . . . I will see what I can do in the meantime, but for now just know that we had a real ballerina come to Chloe's birthday party and give a lesson . . . there is also video of me attempting to dance with Chloe .  . . we had a pinata shaped like a ballerina's slipper that was great! . . . we had chocolate cupcakes and Chloe blew out candles on them (and for those of you concerned with my food intake, one cupcake is a lot smaller than a traditional piece of cake, so I'm feeling like I was reasonable . . . Chloe and Abigail were both just a whole lot of fun today -- I loved it!!!