Chris Kent 4.10.67 - 10.19.11

It is so difficult to believe that he is really gone. He was only 30 years old when he was diagnosed with cancer and spent the last 14 years in a battle against the ugly disease. I was always amazed at his faith. He was an incredible writer and wrote honestly about his faith and fight against the big C. His words always moved me. He had complete faith up until the very end of his life that he would be healed, and now he is.

I have been blessed to be a part of the end of his life.  It has been bitter and sweet. Bitter to see Chris' frustration each time he woke up and realized he was still trapped in his body. Sweet to see him smile at me and Lisa being silly. Bitter to see him suffer. Sweet to read his favorite verses from his bible to him. Bitter to think about Lisa, Kamarie and Jensen losing their best friend, husband and father. Sweet to know he is healed and living in glory with God.

Lisa said his breathing became very rapid this morning. She called hospice to order oxygen for Chris. Shortly after his breathing subsided. She knew it was the end. She called me and I could barely decipher her words, but I know she said "come" and I knew what she meant. I ran out the door with my shoes in my hand. His body was still very warm, I touched him and told him goodbye through my tears.  I had the privilege of helping to carry his body out of his bedroom when it was time for him to leave the house.

Chris, you changed lives. A friend posted a scripture on your facebook page today that summed up your life. Acts 11:24  For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.  You had the gift of reading what others said about you before you died. I know you were humbled by their thoughts and words and moved to hear the numerous ways you touched their lives. What a gift that you deserved.

A life cut short, but a life lived to the fullest potential. I know you sought after your greatest dreams and desires and achieved all that you set out to do.

Fisherman

My handsome Jordan out catching fish! It was a native salmon so he let it go.

Saying Goodbye

Fourteen years ago this month my brother-in-law was diagnosed with Cancer. At age 30 he was told he had multiple myeloma and wasn't expected to live more than five years. Needless to say we were shocked! He had a beautiful two year old daughter and was beginning a successful career in Nashville as a bass player.

After successful treatments Chris went on to beat that cancer and stayed in remission for about 9 years. During this time they adopted a second child and continued to have a successful career as a musician. He played bass on a grammy award winning album and traveled the world. It is a rare thing when someone can look back at their life and say they lived their dream.

Chris fought a good fight, and as his doctor said last week, he is a cancer success story. His family got to enjoy him for 14 years after his cancer diagnosis. The cancer is now winning and taking over his body. He is prepared to return to his Heavenly Father, to see his parents again, his mother in law, and rejoice in his healed body. We are sad to be losing a humble, loving man.

Chris and Lisa, October 2010

Chris and Lisa, October 2011

This is the blanket that I made for Chris' birthday in April. 

It warms my heart that he sleeps with it every day.

Me and Chris today.

Biebs

She is so adorable!

Amos tried to behave while meeting the kitten.

Jealous.

I'm sure Amos is thinking, oh no, not another one of those!

Savannah adopted a new kitten yesterday. The day Spencer was leaving back to Canada they rescued a kitten that was part of litter that had been dumped at a friend of my daughter in law's. She is grey and white and looks like a mix of Ava and Lucy.

Amos was excited to meet her but acted surprisingly well behaved. I think he was very curious and happy that the kitten is not living at our home.

After Party with the Family

I've been on craigslist hunting for an Xbox 360 with a Kinect. After the fun we experienced this last weekend I want one NOW. If you have not experienced the fun of this game system you are missing out. There are no controllers and the interaction is hilarious. I have not laughed this hard in a very long time.

I love how genuine our smiles are.

Freestyle! Everyone dancing!

Boxing!

Dance Central with Sarah

Kristina

Look at Josie on the couch cracking up at me!

Beach Retreat

This was my heavenly view for my afternoon of reading in Manzanita, OR on Friday. It was a beautiful sunny day sandwiched between two rainy days. But I loved every minute of my retreat.

My first night was spent with Savannah. We arrived late, settled in, made brownies and relaxed in the hot tub. We slept in late and spent the morning in town before she headed home. This left me with 24 hours of complete solitude and no car! I walked the beach, got a massage, had tea in town and did so much reading I had to go back into town the next morning and find a new book because I finished the one I brought. Friday afternoon Mario showed up and we went on a bike ride, visited the farmers market and had dinner in town. The next  morning we made breakfast with our amazing peppered bacon and potatoes bought at the farmer's market, (as well as our own home grown eggs). We made a stop in Seaside, then stopped in Astoria to visit some of my favorite clients/now friends. I brought their kids jaw breakers, which they promptly made into a white, chalky candy mess all over me! In spite of the rain it was a lovely day.

It was just the medicine I needed after a few stressful weeks and the last 6 months on call! I've got one more week off call. We are heading to a family wedding in Utah this weekend and I'm going to try real hard to squeeze in a trip to my favorite Korean spa next week. I also have a reservation for a kayak trip around Willamette Falls on Monday night. I hope the weather holds out until then!

Tula Bakery

There's a new gluten free bakery in town!

Tula Gluten Free Bakery and Cafe

They don't have a website that I can find, but you can find them on facebook 

 This spinach mushroom ricotta tart was delicious. 

The crust had a good texture and taste and the filling was flavorful!

 I can not say no to a chocolate cookie. This one was soft with chocolate chips and nuts with a hint of salt. I LOVE salty and sweet together. Very good!

They also offer pizza, pannini, salad, savory tarts and many choices of sweets. I will definitely be making another visit soon. Since my daughter is newly gluten free, and Tula is very near her house, I think I'll take her on a date soon.

Outdoor Movie Night

We had such a fun activity at our home last week. A few families from church came over for a family friendly movie. Everyone brought movie treats, the kids came in their pj's, and we had a nice mix of people. The weather was perfect and with it getting dark earlier now we were able to get started early enough for the kids to get to bed on time!

Mario borrowed the projector and screen from school and we put chairs and blankets on the lawn to enjoy the movie. The kids were great and seemed to enjoy the movie. My sister and her kids, who had just moved into the neighborhood 5 days before, joined us. As well as our neighbors who moved in over a year ago that we had not met yet.

We watched "Johnny Lingo", which is a movie I've seen at least 10 times, as this was a favorite of my Sunday school boys I taught many years ago. It's a short movie (about 20 minutes), with a great lesson about self worth.

Emilia Addison

Ready to see Taylor Swift.

Showing off her bling jeans.

First day of school, Sophomore year.

She has a job.

She bought her own school clothes 

(including....gasp....a pair of jeans that cost almost $100)

She drives. And she does it pretty good.

She will be getting her license in about 2 months.

She wants to drive in cars with friends. 

But she still watches some Disney shows.

And gives me hugs goodbye.

My baby is growing up so fast.

I love spending time with her and watching her discover who she is.

She is a young woman that I am proud to call my daughter.

Feeling Sorry for Myself

Because I've been on call 

ALL SUMMER!!!!!

If you have never had a job where you were on call (most of the time) then you have no idea what a bummer this is. I did steal away for one week to the beach with my family (though technically I was still on call, the likely hood of my client going into labor was slim). But other than that week I've spent my entire summer on call. 

In the early part of summer my last client was due early August, but then I took a new client on late July for a mid to late August birth. I felt pretty certain that I would still have the last couple of weeks of summer off, and I especially thought I would enjoy Labor Day weekend doing something fun, and I certainly thought that one week into September I'd be free to step away from my cell phone. Ugh!!!

But here I am, feeling sorry for myself and very envious of those who don't live an on call life. Next summer I'm going off call!