Women

I thought I would wait until the very end of the year, the very last blog post, for the old "saving the best for last." That would be a huge thanks to the women in my life this past year that have helped, encouraged, loved, prayed for and supported me through this terrible disease. While I don't have a cool poem or pithy saying or anything, here are a few women that blessed me this year.

Mom. I know the year didn't finish like we wanted. I know you're disappointed about not finishing your shift in Greeley and about not being able to be here in Denver today. I am amazed at the strength you showed helping two of the three men you love most in this world battle through cancer. Thanks for another "summer camp" for the kids, an amazing week in San Diego, all the phone calls and text messages, and the unwavering support for your son. I love you.

Janet, my favorite mother in law and "wet nurse." I am so thankful the kids have been able to spend so much time with you, both in Greeley and the Western Slope. Thank you for staying with me after my surgeries, getting me to appointments, learning about my bag, and helping change it in the beginning. Thanks for sharing your church with me, praying for me, loving me, and continuing to build and strengthen our relationship.

The Morrison women! What a huge encouragement it was to always see supportive notes on Facebook every time I posted something related to my illness or treatment. During those dark days this summer, your messages touched my heart and brought me to tears. Love from the Tetons and Love from Montana were very special.

Aunt Kim!! The website that you helped construct and build was an unbelievable blessing! Thank you for the power of prayer that you and Wesley are. Thanks for making possible the various trips to Colorado that Wes made this fall. Your faith in The Lord and your trust in Him are an inspiration to me!

Penny! PPP! You did an amazing job this summer and fall on the chip isle of always pointing me back to God. You encouraged me with His word, a devotional, or a word of prayer on my behalf. The support on Facebook and homemade goodies were always welcome!

Hope, for the coffee, meals, fellowship, support and prayers. Lea thanks for the blood donation, the kind emails, and the statue and medallion of the patron saint of cancer. Thanks to Jennifer's group of friends who loved and supported her so that she could love and support me: Shep, Janelle, Jackie, Amy, Kristen and Kelly. And Kelly, what an amazing offer to create art for those people who supported us financially. I hope you are almost done with all those pieces!!

Which now leaves me to one amazing woman. The number one woman of 2012. Jennifer Sue. I'm not even sure where to begin. Since that one terrible day on May 31, I have been blown away and once again reminded in a powerful way, of the woman that you are. The strength, the perseverance, the tender love, the calm and reassuring partner that was always there. I can't imagine how hard it has been to be the care giver for you sick husband. I think back to those first dark weeks in June, and am struck by how strong you were. How determined you were. How supportive you were in all the meetings, tests, doctor appointments, and the sheer information overload.

I am still so amazingly blessed by your tender love that you showed me repeatedly through the summer, fall and winter. I know there were some intense days, and some heated conversations, but through it all, you loved me. You loved me so much that you learned how to help me with the care and maintenance of my bag. You held me when I was scared, in pain, hopeless. You cried with me when we got good news on some test or procedure or operation or something. You encouraged me to exercise, eat right, stay positive and pray.

Jennifer, my sweet sweet Button, as this year finally draws to a close, I just want to remind you of how much I love you. How much I need you. How much I want you. Thank you for never giving up, even when I wanted to. Thank you for your unconditional love. I promise I will shave.

#620

Happy New Year's Eve from room 620 at PSL in downtown Denver, Colorado! Since I am writing this, you know that I'm alive and survived another surgery. There was only a slight hiccup today when an emergency surgery bumped me from the schedule. So instead of starting at 8, the show didn't start until almost 11:30. It lasted about 90 minutes and about an hour in recovery. I'm now resting comfortably in my room. Thanks again everyone for your prayers, emails, text messages and phone calls. If you are in or around Denver this week, feel free to stop by. I'm expected to be here until at least Wednesday.

Men

Since I'm going to be kinda busy tomorrow, I thought I would post one of those "year in review" posts that are so popular today. That was a terrible lead sentence. I'm sorry dad.

Obviously this year for me and my family was dominated by cancer. It started in January with dads prostrate cancer and it will end with me in the hospital finishing the surgical part of my rectal cancer.

What I would like to focus on in this post however is the men who stood beside me this year. I am truly blessed to have so many Godly, faithful, encouraging, loving men surround me this year. It is not easy to walk with and support someone with a chronic and long term illness like cancer. Yet these men have been with me since that terrible day in May. They have prayed with me, cried with me, taken me to appointments, games, bars, called me, texted me and supported me. These men have given of themselves whether it was money, talents, time, energy and strength.

Even though they might not know it, there were some pretty dark times this summer when their phone call or letter or offer of beer or coffee was exactly what I needed. I am so thankful and so blessed to have the friends that I do. Thanks guys for being my friend. Thanks to Andrew, Travis, Devin, Shane, Anthony, Paul, Dudley and Mark.

And of course a special thanks to the two men who have known me all my life, dad and Wes. I will never be able to thank you enough for your love and support this year. I am so proud to be your son and brother.

All you men in my life, you are truly Big F Friends.


There are friends with a little "f" & friends with a big "F".
The 1st is a large group with sloppy admission standards,
the other an elite, time-tested crew.
What's the Difference?

A little "f" friend: identifies themselves when they call.
A big "F" Friend: doesn't have to.
A little "f" friend: opens a conversation with a full news bulletin on their life.
A big "F" Friend: says, "What's new with you?"
A little "f" friend: thinks the problems you whine about are recent.
A big "F" Friend: says, "You've been whining about the same thing for 14 years. Get off your duff & do something about it."
A little "f" friend: has never seen you cry.
A big "F" Friend: has shoulders soggy from your tears.
A little "f" friend: knows almost nothing about your family.
A big "F" Friend: knows the medical history, dietary habits & marital troubles of everyone on your tree.
A little "f" friend: calls you at 10 p.m. just to chat.
A big "F" Friend: knows you hate to be called after 9 p.m.
A little "f" friend: wonders about your romantic history.
A big "F" Friend: could blackmail you with it.
A little "f" friend: when visiting, they act like a guest.
A big "F" Friend: when visiting, they open your refrigerator, put their feet on the sofa, talk back to your spouse & reprimand your children.
A little "f" friend: thinks the friendship is over when you argue.
A big "F" Friend: knows that a friendship's not a friendship until you've had a fight.

Trivia

One of our new favorite weekly activities this winter as become Geeks Who Drink, a Thursday night tradition over at the Tavern at St. Michaels. We have formed a fairly steady team of six, with other couples coming and going depending on the week. Mostly our teams have included Frontier teachers at the end of their busy workweek. And me. We haven't won yet, but are getting closer as the weeks roll by! Quite a photobomb I pulled in the one group shot, isn't it??

Christmas

Merry Christmas from all of us here at Campingdad! It was a fun day here in Grand Junction. The day started at 630 with presents, presents, presents!! It's so much fun to have older kids who can take turns opening their gifts and enjoy the experience. We were able to spend almost three hours opening the many thoughtful gifts from Jens side of the family.

The rest of the day was spent playing with the gifts, watching movies, playing board games and reading. I was able to knock off 340 pages in Ken Follets "Fall of Giants." Jim cooked a London Broil in his smoker all afternoon, and by the time we ate at 430, it was perfect! A highlight of the evening was the new Christmas episode of Dr. Who. Sadly the vacation comes to an end tomorrow as we head back to Greeley and reality.

Believe

Sarabeth made cake pops this afternoon so she would have something to leave for Santa. Sure hope he remembers to leave the sticks. Merry Christmas everyone!

Christmas Eve

It's been a very nice Christmas Eve here in Grand Junction. Lots of food, laughs, fun, church and more food. The service at Jim and Janet's church was amazing! What a welcoming, connecting, worshipping and service focused group of believers. After a dinner of homemade gyros, everyone got to pick one gift to open tonight. We will open the rest in the morning along with whatever Santa might bring.

Besides a Charlie Brown Christmas, my other favorite Christmas tradition is a little poem:

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.
And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer.

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

"Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.

His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"

Christmas Eve Eve

It's a nice relaxing afternoon here in Grand Junction today. We celebrated an amazing church service earlier today at Jim and Janet's church. Now we are enjoying the Broncos game while kids wrestle, build a gingerbread house, play Risk and warm themselves by the fire. Sure is a big old pile of presents under that tree!

10 Days

It's been 2 months now since my cancerous tumor and my rectum have been removed. It is also only 10 days from the reconnection surgery that I've been looking forward to since sometime this summer. I'm sorry I haven't posted a few more updates on my situation. Here is the latest update!

I have been off of work since October 21. After the week in the hospital, Jen and my favorite mother in law were home with me for a week. Then Janet left and mom and dad arrived. My 2 week post op check-up was successful. I had my 18 staples and my JP drain removed. I also met with my new chemo Dr and discussed the treatment plan that will begin in January. Mid-way through moms second week with us, she tripped in the garage and broke her ankle. That was a tough night for all of us. Dad came and got her the next day. She had surgery several days later and is slowly on the mend.

The next 5 weeks were filled with mostly nothing. Just trying to feel a little better everyday and learn to live with my ostomy bag. The Rocky Mountain Cancer Rehabilitaion Institute and my personal trainer were a huge help. I continue to sleep in the recliner in our room, and hope to return to a normal bed in January.

So, that brings us to today. I had another appointment with my surgeon Dr. Sellers. He checked things out down below and was pleased with how the healing was progressing. I was then able to experience a baridium ennima. It was...not much fun. But the preliminary results were positive. I needed to have no wisping or leakage in my new rectum area for the surgery to have been successful.

We have a pretty busy 10 days coming up. After enjoying Christmas in Grand Junction with Jim and Janet, I'm scheduled to have my port placement surgery on the 27th. Then we head to Denver on New Years Eve for the big reconnection. I hope to be pooping like a normal person by the 3rd or 4th! I have several weeks to heal up before starting chemo on January 21. Then possibly heading back to work before my 36th birthday.

So there's the update. Thanks again to everyone who has been praying, giving, supporting, calling, texting and loving on our family. We have rounded second base and are heading full steam towards third!