Life is Fragile Handle it with Prayer

I want to have a feeling in life that I am in control and that things will go as I plan them. I don't know why I want this, because life hasn't been that way for me, but I think that I want to believe this to feel more secure.

This week things did not go as planned. Wednesday, Jen woke up with a bad headache, took some Excedrin and when that did not work she called me at work. I had some prescription headache medicine and she took that. It did not work. I had a big monitoring meeting at work. A monitor had flown in from PA to visit me and so I was trying to manage this, while helping Jen. I told Jen to hang in there until I could get home. I was confident it was just a severe headache that we could solve.

At 1:00 Jen was not doing well and I got away from work, thanks to a great monitor and boss who understood and I went home to help Jen. On the way home I called the doctor's office and scheduled a 2:15 appointment. The nurse practitioner saw Jen and diagnosed her with a migraine, gave her a injection pain killer, scheduled a brain MRI, just to be sure, and after 15 minutes Jen was feeling relief, and so was I, so we went home armed with another injection shot, just in case.

Jen was resting comfortably, but at 6:15 was in extreme pain again. Baffled by this, I felt the only thing we could do was go to the emergency at Mountain View Hospital. We arrived there, explained the whole event and waited for a doctor. A nurse gave her some pain meds through an IV and Jen immediately felt better. I was relieved too. A doctor came and questioned her, scheduled a brain CT and we waited. I might note that through the course of the evening she would be given a simple neuro test about 4 times and would be asked if she was pregnant about 6 times.

I was still convinced that it was just a bad headache and all this was just routine when 2 hours later the doctor came back and said they had found something, a 2 mm mass in Jen's brain. He said the mass was either calcification or a tumor and that she needed a neurosurgeon to look at it and that it might be bleeding so she was going to be transported to UVRMC in an ambulance.

Was all this really happening? I was in control of life right? And my children's lives, right? Everything was running as planned. Jen had just graduated from BYU was going to get a teaching job. Her future looked bright. What was this that was happening?

Jen was put in an ambulance and I got in my car and followed her to the hospital. I called Rick to gather Rich, Heidi and Ian and come to the hospital. How strange it was to be following Jen in a ambulance to the hospital and not know what was really happening to her. As I drove, all of the possibilities of what could be wrong, ran through my head. It is a strange thing to be thinking about. Life takes on new meaning at moments like this. It changes, you change. I prayed. I lost count of how many prayers I had said so far.

Jen had already been checked into a room in the emergency ward. Dr Kallas, a doctor that is much younger than me, had already been assigned to her and came in to discuss with us what was going to happen. Jen would have a brain MRI and a neurosurgeon would consult with Dr Kallas after the results of the MRI were back about what to do.

Jen went in for the MRI at 10:45 and was back at 11:15. Now we would wait for results. We waited and waited. Jen rested comfortably now. Her headache was gone. She seemed to have such peace with her too. I was so happy about this. We had called other family members and friends, who were praying for her. Richie and Jason Boogert had given Jen a blessing. Richie told her in the blessing that nothing that happens to us in this life is a mistake. Everything has a purpose and that she needed to put her trust in the Lord and have faith. Lately, when the powers of heaven are called upon through priesthood blessings I have felt God's power very strongly. It was no different this evening. We waited. Rick, Richie, Heidi, Ian and I took turns being with Jen. Only two could be with her at one time. We waited. During this time Jen seemed very strong. Again, very peaceful. God was with her.

At 2:00 am Dr Kallas came in and told us that he had "relatively good news". Jen had a condition called AVM (arteriovenous malformation) in her brain. Rather than the arteries and veins forming a nice little pattern in the brain, in one part of Jen 's brain it all clumped together, before she was born. It is not known how this happens. 1 out of 100 have this condition. 88% of those who have it never know they have it. Jen's had started to bleed and caused her headache. Her's needs to get fixed. Dr Kallas explained that Jen is very lucky. Whatever was in her brain could hav been so much worse. The other thing that made us realized that they were expecting so much worse was when the nurse assigned to Jen told us too how relieved she was. She said that when we came in she was very sad, that things did not look good, but now knowing what Jen has she is very optimistic. She sees AVM all the time and it is a very fixable condition.

Friday Jen went in for an angiogram to take pictures of the AVM. They went through the femur artery and up into her brain and took pictures. The procedure went perfectly. She has had some discomfort but it is all going well.

I see this now with different eyes. I am reminded that anything could happen,we are not in control, God is. It is in His hands. And that is ok. Our job is to trust him. And if we trust Him, all will be well. We do not need to control all.

Now she will go to Dr Paul Gardner, the neurosurgeon and see what we need to do to get it fixed.

Such an wild experience it has been. So unexpected. That is when it was confirmed to me that life is fragile and out of our control, handle it with prayer. There is no other way. Nothing in life is sure, except one thing.....that there is a loving Heavenly Father who is in control who we can trust and will help us through everything. He was and is there for Jen, He is there for me, for our family. And through this and everything life will throw at us, with His help this fragile experience becomes a strong one.

THE HELP

I just read the book, "The Help."

Two thumbs up.

It tells the tell of the maids' point of view during the 60's. It shows how blacks were treated by whitesduring this time.

I kept wondering about my attitudes and beliefs and prejudices towards others.

I hope I learned by reading this book about loving and caring for everyone.

Case Family Reunions

We just returned from the Case Family Reunion followed by another Case Family Reunion.

The George Case family returned to Heber Family Campground for a little reunion. Our family has many happy memories at the Heber Campground. I remember our times spent their with mom and dad.

We arrived Friday afternoon, set up camp, and then went on a little hiking trail around the Legacy Lake. After dinner we went for an adventure in paddle boats and canoes on the lake. That evening we sat around the campfire and roasted marsh mellows and enjoyed each others company. We had beautiful weather.

Those present: Me, Jen, Heidi, Ian, Bryan, Cida, Lindsey, Daniel, Allison, Karen, Brent, Annie, Jon, Sarah, Jon, Lorri, and Kynaston. Karen, Brent and Sarah came later because Karen and Sarah have been in Costa Rica on a field trip of Sarah's.

It was kind of funny because another Case family had the campsite next to ours. We were pretty interested to find out who it was. And the mystery Cases' were: Mike Case and Pat (Sheldon) Case and their families. Mike and Pat are my cousins. Our dad's, George and Gordon, are brothers. Mike and dad were barbers together. We knew Mike very well growing up. We enjoyed visiting with them.

Saturday morning, after a delicious breakfast prepared by Karen, Annie and Jon, we all loaded our cars. Annie and Jon began their drive back to California where they are living for the summer. The rest of us began our journey to another Case Family Reunion hosted by my cousin Craig. He was presenting a Frederick Aaron/Mary Humble Case Reunion in Altamont.


Craig has been doing extensive family history and presented a program of Case history that was just incredible. We met at the Altamont Park across from the high school in Altamont and we had a picnic lunch where Craig had displays of Case history.

We went over to the church for a presentation on Case History.

I learned so much.

I learned that I am related to Princess Diana through the Spencer line.

I learned that the first Case, John Case, who was born here in the US, whose parents came over on the Mayflower, settled in Simsburg, CT. There I had more than 120 family members that also settled there. A group of danish immigrants settled there also. There was a story told there that I find very interesting. They knew John Case and could not pronounce his name properly and said it this way, "Yaun Kuss" It later turned to "YANKEES". Our ancestory could have something to do with this word!

Also in this town were two others...William W. Phelps and 10 minutes away, Wilford Woodruff. The Case family moved to Iowa. There Solomon Cowles Case settled and was a very influencial member of that community. Years later the local community church had stain glass windows to remember him. One says CASE and one says COWLES. That church stands today. My brother Jon and his wife, Lorri have visited that church.

These Cases came to the Utah valley with the hand cart pioneers. Solomon Cowles Case was called "Father Case" because he was the oldest member of the party at 52 years old.

We then took a drive around many places in the Mount Emmons/Altamont area where there is Case history. We saw the property where my grandfather, Frederick Earl Case built his home. We saw the home that Floyd Case built for Frederick Aaron Case.

We also drove to the street in Mt Emmons called "Case Lane."


Wonderful family reunion. So proud to be a part!

Richie's birthday.

Richie turned 24 on June 3rd. 24! He has been home from his mission almost 3 years! Where has time gone.

It has been kind of a different birthday. When he was visiting one night I learned that he is sleeping on the floor at the house because the twin bed there is not good, so for his birthday his dad and I got him a bed.

We went out to dinner, as usual, to the Cheese Cake Factory, but we didn't have a cake for him. I told him I would get him one when I got home from choir tour. So it was kind of weird...no gift to open, no cake.

I am very grateful for Richie, grateful he is my son, grateful for all he teaches me, grateful for his perspectives and views. I know he would be surprised to know I feel this way, but it opens my mind and makes me think.

I want to honor him and remember him with some of the photos he has taken since his mission. These photos make me smile.

Love you, Rich!
Richie in Hawaii.

Hawaii, again.


Hawaii.

Hawaii.



Hiking.

Halloween.


A goth party.

Love his smile.


Richie's on a bowling league.

Richie does this thing with a group of his friends, they call "Cheese Day." They go up to SLC and visit several unique food stores and spend lots of money on specialty food items. Of course, one of the stores is a cheese store.

Mapleton Chorale Choir Tour

Mapleton Chorale 2nd Annual Tour. June 3-5, 2010.

Well another year of touring and what a great time I had. We went to SLC, UT and had a great time together.

We left Thursday afternoon taking a bus to our hotel in Salt Lake. We stayed at the Hampton Inn on 400 South and 300 West.

I stayed in a room with Beth Jepson. I had a great time getting to know her.

Our first engagement was a rehearsal at the Assembly Hall on Temple Square. So Beth and I got on our walking shoes and walked up to Temple Square.



Friday morning we again met in the Assembly Hall and had a workshop with Ryan Murphy, the assistant director of the Tabernacle Choir. How did we get such a celebrity to do a workshop for us? He use to be the Mapleton Choir director for 5 years before he moved to Boston to go to school.

It was so good! I learned so much! I am so amazed by his knowledge. Loved it so much.



After our workshop, a group of gals from the chorale went to eat lunch across the street at an awesome restaurant called "The Blue Lemon." It is a healthy delicious new restaurant.

I love sugar cookies and I bought this one at the Blue Lemon.

Our next stop was at the Stake Capital for a tour and we sang a few songs.



Next stop was the conference center for a tour and again we sang a few songs.
Next....Dinner at the Lion House Pantry. I was in charge of arranging the two evening meals, including this one. I heard many remarks that it was a great place to eat. I was happy to hear it. It was a good choice. I was very glad we went there.

That evening we had a wild party at the hotel. Our party committee put on a great party. We had a bunch of get to know you games.

Julie participated in this game of stuffing marshmellows in your mouth.


This was a "minute to win it game" where the participants had to be elephants and knock over water bottles. It was so funny!


I won this game. We were competing to see who could unwrap a Starburst in their mouth first. LIke I said, I WON!


Saturday morning, our last day of tour and our biggest one because we would perform at in the Assembly Hall on Temple Square, started off with singing at a morningside for the Felt family reunion. Jonathan and Melody Felt are in the choir and organized this. There was a marvelous presentation on the life of on of the women that was executed in the Salem witchcraft days. She was a ancestor of the Felt family.


There were also two guests, decendents of Joseph and Hyrum Smith who came and spoke and brought heirlooms from the Smith family, like the box the golden plates were hid in and a stool and bell that belonged to the Smith family.


We visited the SLC cemetary and walked around and sang. Those we saw thombstones for were: many presidents of the church, Orrin Porter Rockwell, William W. Phelps.


We visited the "This is the Place Monument."

We ate dinner at Chuck O Rama.

We walked around Temple Square.This photo was taken by Vicki of the relica of the SL temple. We thought our silloettes in the photo were so funny.


Then we had our concert at the Assembly Hall.

It was an amazing concert, a privilege to sing with this chorale.

I loved every minute of this tour. I am so blessed to be a part of it.

Then we loaded the bus and to home sweet home.

Memorial Day at the Cemetary

Memorial day in the Case family has fond memories for me. I remember cutting flowers from our yard: lilacs, peonies and roses. We put them in large tin cans. We make hooks from wire hangers. Then packing a picnic and we head for Heber where my family on my mother's side is buried and to Mt. Emmons, where my dad's family are buried. Sometimes, we go two separate days to go both places.

Things have changed with the passing of mom and dad. They are buried in Sandy and so now their children, my siblings, visit them.

It is always a solemn occasion for me. There is a feeling of reverence when I visit.

My parents were wonderful people. I have wonderful memories of them.

I am very happy to honor them this day...each year.

Love you Mom and Dad.