Fall break weekend

 We had a nice vacation!

On Thursday Mark and Adam and I flew to Sacramento from Salt Lake City.  Adam and Mark are incredibly kind and attentive to me.  They insisted on carrying my bag and giving me every consideration.

I am very lucky to have those guys.

We were thrilled to see Braeden and Anna and QE.  Braeden and Anna are good parents and it is gratifying to watch them in action.  We were walking along in the park one day, Anna and QE were hand in hand and she looked up at her mom and asked sweetly, "Mom, will you tell me the story of Joseph Smith and the First Vision?"

I mean....

QE is a delightful endorphin rush no one can be uncheered by.  We played with blocks and Legos and went on walks and visited parks and took her to Target on a shopping trip.  I read her stories and told her stories.

On Thursday we mistakenly showed up without snacks!  She wanted a snack from Nana, not a snack from her kitchen so we went to Walmart on the way to their house on Friday.  I got some Nana snacks.

It had been a rookie mistake.

Braeden and Anna hosted a dinner for some of Braeden's friends in his program and it was nice to meet them.  They raved about Braeden to us (they knew their audience:  the parents) and plied Mark for embarrassing stories about Braeden.

One thing that marred our trip was tragic news about one of my dear cousin's family.  Life can just be really really hard.  I wished I could be there, although I don't know what I would be able to do besides cry together and hug people.  At the same time as of all the tragedy, I was struck by the ways the Gospel of Jesus Christ lifted burdens. Hearing about the way my cousin and her husband are responding with Christlike love is a stunning example to me.  They are covenant keepers and that not only blesses them but it also blesses everyone around them.

I am happy we could take our trip.  Life is precious and family is precious.  I am happy to be back for school and life here.  I have my first chemo this week.  I am nervous, but also grateful for treatment.  

And I'm ever grateful for the love and support I encounter.  Adam and our boys gave me a priesthood blessing before we left California, my ministering sisters check in frequently with texts and offers for help.  I came home to a package of shirts that are perfect for chemo from Geri and Whitney.  I'm loved and I know it and I don't take that lightly.