The "C" word

It's weird how one word can turn your world upside down. Dwight and I have deliberately not discussed cancer until we were forced to face the monster head on. Dwight's mom lost a long hard battle to cancer and those memories are best left in the past.
For months, I counted down the days for our vacation. It was supposed to be a relaxing trip to the most beautiful beach in the world, but a nasty Hurricane hit and we thought it foolish to drive into stormy weather. We decided to go northwest instead of southeast.  It made sense at the time. Repacked everything.  Made motel arrangements because tent camping was closed due to increased bear activity.   Game on. Pulling out of the driveway,  we got a call from the doctor.  Dwight has colon cancer.
I think I was in shock for the next couple of hours. The plan was to stop when I got sleepy, but too much to think about and I drove through the night. Dwight was up early so he got to drive. We went on like this for a while. Not really talking, just digesting the word cancer. We had an amazing trip. Dwight said the word cancer outloud and we decided on an aggressive form of treatment.
We got back and met with the doctor to schedule surgery as soon as possible.  Then immediately started setting up time off from work. Every thing just happened so fast. There was very little time to talk about what was happening or how scared I was or how worried he was. Lots of praying and running outside so he wouldn't see me lose my composure.  We both said a prayer that he wouldn't have the room in which his mom died.
Surgery was longer than expected.  Much longer. As I sat in the waiting room,  I could imagine the worst. He ended up taking two feet of colon, eleven or twelve inches of small intestine and his appendix.
So now we begin another waiting game. Waiting on biopsy results.  Waiting on the healing. Praying that the worst is over.
Sometimes you need to look for the good in bad situations.  Dwight and I have been reminded of how truly loved we are. So many people have reached out to us. He and I say the words "I Love you" pretty regularly,  but now we make sure that there's eye contact and lots of feeling. Nothing taken for granted.  Hugs last longer.

Tuesday Day six

Rained most of the day, but we were prepared.  Had a nice hot breakfast at Glacier  Cafe. Their coffee was pefect. Then we headed to Fisher Cap lake. We saw a moose then hiked a mile and then vack to the lake to take more pictures of the moose.

Day five

Rained all day long. We ate at the cafe in Babb. Drove to the Canadian border. We saw free range cows, buffalo, big horned sheep. Ate dinner at Twin Sisters.  Had a great buffalo burger and huckleberry pie.

Day Four

Left Conrad and entered the west side of Glacier park. Visited McDonald and Cascade Falls. Then went on to do Avalanche  Lake hike and Trail of the Cedars.(pictured below). There was a lady playing  an Indian flute on the trail. Evening found

us checking into Hooks Hidewayand eating steak at the Cattle Baron's Steakhouse.

This is me by Avalanche creek. We were exhausted when we finally stopped moving. All of us.

Vacation Day Three

Today started out beautiful with a good brakfast and a full night's rest only to break down an hour later. Six hours to repair a serpentine belt. But then we made good time. We saw black tail and mule deer and crossed into Montana. The sky country is beautiful.  Bear spray bought and ready if necessary.

Vacation day two

Traveled all night in the car because I couldn't sleep. Too much to think about. The word cancer has been said and we're talking a plan of action.
First stop this morning was the Badlands. Chris found it just as captivating as we did so it was a great stop.

Then it was on to Mount Rushmore.  We stopped and got a buffalo burger in Keystone. It was a amazing. The stop at Rushmore was quick and painless, but a great experience.

Then it was on to Devil's Tower. A special place to me and the Indians that have roots here. They tie prayer cloths around the Tower. Legend has it that the wind carries those prayers up to the Great Spirit. I sent my own prayers up for my favorite Cherokee descendant. 

Vacation 2019 day one

Hurricane Dorian ruined our perfect plans to go to the beach in Sanibel Island so we are headed to Glacier Park in Montana. Even though there is a chance of rain. In spite of increased bear activity. 
That's right driving 25 hours to hike through bear country.  I sprained my knee to add to the fun. At some point, something has to go right. I was hoping it would be the phone call following up on Dwight's colonoscopy,  but that was not to be. Monday after we get back, we meet with the doctor to discuss options.  Today, we're just putting distance between our lives and where we want to be. Praying for a good time. A time to recharge.  Then, we can focus on getting him better. Just outside of Kansas City and it's almost my time to drive.

Fair ribbons 2019

The 2019 Newton County Fair is a done deal. All of Dwight's peppers got blue ribbons-jalapeno, bell, and cayenne.

I entered a cake for the first time ever. It won a first place ribbon and was considered for Grand Champion.
All of my jellies got blue ribbons. The peach even got Grand Champion.

My swan picture was considered for Champion too so all in all very happy showing.