cancer, why do you hurt so good

In the October general conference Elder Snow told of how his mother had recently died of cancer. He said in his address that he came to learn that cancer is a disease of love- allowing people to come together, fences to be mended, and greater bonds among family members to occur.
Since mom has been diagnosed with leukemia, I too have come to feel grateful for cancer. Now, before you throw rocks at me, hear me out, and let me list the top ten reasons why I love cancer:

1. The one on one time that I have spend with my mom in the hospital. How precious it is to have her all to myself to talk, laugh, cry, and discuss the follies of a certain Mr. Rochester.
2. Greg and Becky leaving paradise to come stay amongst the wreckage
3. Learning to live in the present. All those Thanksgiving, Christmas, and even weekend plans you spent so much time on, can be changed in an instant.
4. Learning that that's ok.
5. Cort and Axel getting their own little father son time together.
6. Seeing a strength in my dad I never knew he had.
7. Seeing a vulnerability in my dad I never knew he had.
8. Hearing him call my mom "cupcake" when she was in la-la land and realizing just how much he loves her.
9. Family coming together for a common purpose.
10. The great buns I'm getting for taking the stairs up to her hospital room.

hair is for suckers!

On November 23rd, the day after Thanksgiving, we all met in Sharon's new room for a hair shaving party. Her first round of chemo had begun the previous Monday, and we were all anxious to rid her of that nasty bird's nest (She hadn't showered for some time, due to being in the twinkie zone and an unfortunate incident with the EEG witch that only Stephanie can do justice). Who needs it? Out of courtesy, we decided to wait until she was conscious. Who said we weren't a thoughtful family? I was hoping she would be terrified of going under the clippers. Hoping she would feel insecure and alone. Hoping she would beg one of her daughters to please shave their heads with her. Hoping that daughter would be me. I obviously don't know my mom. She couldn't wait to be done with that whole hair business. Jeff, Greg, and Jon did the honors (they're our seasoned profesionals) while I got rid of some of the bulk with scissors. I think you'll agree the result is fantastic.







She begs Blaine every day to please let her keep it this way forever (she's never been one for appearances). He responds with one of the worst poo faces I've ever seen (the look you get when you think you just smelled a pile of feces, for those less crass and more civilized than myself). However, the rest of us think she should be our little bald Sharon forever! Why not? "From Spikes to Freedom, Your Choice". (An allusion to the eternally unfinished book, for those of you not in the know. Yet another reason she needs to get her bootie out of that hospital!)

But you know that it doesn't take much to convince the rest of us that Chrome Domes Rock!