It doesn't matter how many times this crashes over my head. I will never get used to it. We learned this week that the cancer is still in my left breast. Back to harsh chemo....
I go back and forth. Sometimes I feel really good and have tons of faith. "The greater the trial, the greater the compliment from a loving Heavenly Father." --President Eyring-- My sister sent me this quote. Other times I really struggle and I cry. I feel totally overwhelmed and frustrated. I try so hard to cling to faith.
Well, I have done it before I can do it again. I have been blessed so abundantly through my trials. I have to remember to count my many many blessing, name them one by one. And it truly does surprise me what the Lord has done!
Dr. Dickson taught us about Joseph in Egypt, how the day he was cast into prison was probably not a very good day. But his mission was to get to know Pharaoh and save all the House of Israel. I know my mission is most likely not that far reaching. But if anything I go through helps the gospel sink deep into the hearts of my children, then anything I suffer will be well worth it. I have to remember this!
Thursday we took a drive to a place that the kids and I had never been: Sun Valley. We ate our picnic at the town park in Ketchum.
We stopped at a fish hatchery near Stanley.
Here is the little multi-denominational church including L.D.S in Stanley.
Stanley Lake
I had a feeling before we left to take a change of clothes for Mary. I'm so glad I followed the prompting!
The dredge on Yankee Fork. Very interesting! There is also a little ghost town a mile up the road. But not much that was photo worthy, plus we were tired and didn't get out. It was 6:30 and we were still far from home.
We drove over to Challis and got a bite to eat (lunchables and chocolate milk) just before the only store in town closed at 8 bells. This is Mt. Borah, the highest peak in Idaho. Dennis has climbed it twice. We got home about 10:30 p.m. It was a really full, fun day. I enjoyed hearing all the interesting geology facts that Dennis has stored in his brain. I'm amazed at all the numbers he can remember (like how tall lots of mountain peaks are in every state and nation!) And I'm so grateful for this beautiful earth!
Monday Dennis and Jerry Belnap got our addition opened up! You are looking at our new living room.
It was a fun week, but always good to go home!
Jeffrey's birthday fell on a very busy doctor day and he tended his siblings all day. When we were still not home by 6:00 Dennis called and asked him if he could make his own cake. He readily agreed. Then when we got home I helped him make his frosting. He had German chocolate cake.
Alexa was baptized in the same dress that my mom made for me for my baptism. All my sisters wore it and so far all of my mom's granddaughters have worn it to get baptized in. I think that is pretty neat.
My mom also made this dress for Alexa (I was planning to make it myself but circumstances did not allow.) Thanks Mom! We love the dress and you too!
The Porter reunion was held in Oxford, Idaho, not far from Weston where my mom grew up.
One of the funniest gifts was this strobe light that was on top of my dad's shop for a few years when he had the business Keith's Red Barn Sales. I didn't know he still had it! 
The kids enjoyed shooting, a genealogy craft and 4-wheeler rides.
Look 
Joe and his COOL hair. 
We had a sharing night. I had made all these pincushions for the ladies in the family (with a little help from Mom.) 
The party continued at Mom and Dad's following Sacrament meeting at the Clifton ward. Dad opened his Father's Day gifts.