Christmas Letter 2025

This is the most difficult letter I have ever written. I read a bunch of the old letters and I tried to figure out a good way to tell you about my year, but nothing seemed quite right, so here goes. The year began like normal with lots of volleyball and schoolwork. My sweetie and I and Princess’s family flew to New Jersey in March when Twizlet was baptized. Not long after that, my sweetie had back surgery in May. He was sure that would be the answer to all of his problems and for a couple of weeks, it was. In June, we went to Phoenix again for the volleyball finals. It was a rough trip with my sweetie still trying to recover. Scout took the time off to come and help with the driving and enjoy all the games with me. My sweetie mostly stayed in the hotel room. After we got home, he developed an obnoxious cough. One night in mid July, he decided that we were only a few weeks away from our Alaskan cruise, but more importantly, it was almost time for Crafty’s wedding, so he wanted to get it checked out.

We got to the ER about midnight and at first, it seemed like no big deal, but then they ran some scans and then more tests, more labs, more scans. About 5:00am, the doctor came in and calmly announced that my sweetie had stage 4 cancer, involving his pancreas, liver, lungs, and esophagus. Then she left us alone. We both just sat there for about half an hour. Then with no fear, my sweetie told me that this would kill him. I knew he was right and I told him I didn’t think it would take very long. Scout moved back home to help. 

Crafty and Craftsman were sealed in the Syracuse Temple on July 26th. We were both happy and sad at the same time. We set up a beautiful reception the night before. My sweetie and I skipped the luncheon; he just didn’t feel good. The father’s dance was the hardest. My sweetie was too weak to stand up for the entire song, so after about 30 seconds, I escorted him off the floor and he twirled Crafty into the arms of her oldest brother, The Beast. The boys proceeded to twirl her to the next brother and then finally to her new husband, Craftsman. I don’t think there was a dry eye in the room. 

After the wedding, my sweetie had his biopsy and then we left for our Alaskan Cruise. Every doctor and nurse said he should go. Pretty sure they knew it was our last chance to travel together, really to do anything together. Princess and The Frog went with us and I am so glad they did. My sweetie was ok at first and we were able to get off the ship and ride the tram at our first stop. You know, one of the best things about a cruise is the food, and he couldn’t eat anything. He tried, but after a few days we ended up just staying in our state room. Thankfully, we had invested in a room with a deck, so we were still able to see some beautiful things in Alaska.

We got home on August 10th. My sweetie had an appointment with his oncologist the next morning and when they did his vitals at the beginning of the appointment, he had a blood pressure of 60/40. They rushed him straight to Huntsman. He spent about 10 days there and it wasn’t long before they told us there was nothing they could do. They did a final paracentesis to drain the fluid from his abdomen, and then they sent him home on hospice. 

In the end, it wasn’t the bile duct cancer that got him, it was ultimately kidney failure. This cancer is an extremely aggressive form that has very few survivors. He passed away just after midnight on September 4th. 

Even though we knew it was coming and we had a little time to prepare, and we knew it was God’s plan, it was still so hard.

We had lots of family and friends here for the funeral. We laid him to rest on our 42nd wedding anniversary. So many good years together! Baby Doll made the sophomore volleyball team at Bingham and all the girls but one who was sick came to the viewing. They each wore a little green ribbon that they later transferred to their shoes and they wore for the rest of the season. Curly was the center for Bingham’s football team and he had 45 boys and coaches show up to the funeral the next day. He is a senior this year and just became the FACS Sterling Scholar for Bingham.

You would think that each day would get a little better, but the pain is more like hills and valleys. There are some weeks I wonder if I can make it one more day. With my family around me, I feel like maybe he is just waiting upstairs for me and I will see him soon. Of course, he never is. 

But this Christmas letter is supposed to be hopeful and happy, so let me share a little more great news. On December 2, Teach and Twiz had twin girls that they named Twinzee1 and Twinzee2. Teach and Twinzee1 came home yesterday, but Twinzee2 needs a little more time in the hospital so she can learn to breathe. 

Bossy and Gamer are expecting a little girl too! She will be induced on December 22 and they plan to name her Wynter Rose (no blog name yet). So many good things. I passed the 20-year mark as the Women’s Sports Specialist at the church. Scout and I were also recently called to serve in the Nursery. We love it! Baby Doll is the president of her Young Women group and Curly is the 2nd Assistant in his Priest Quorum. Dog Walker attends a singles ward and they have been so good to us! They brought us dinner, but then later they brought us an entire Thanksgiving Dinner and lots of other goodies and treats. They aren’t the only ones. I am still writing thank you notes to so many friends and relatives that have brought food or treats or a scooter. People tell me all the time that they are still praying for me and my family. I am so grateful and so humbled.

Thank you so much for being my friend. I love you all.

Sandy & the Clan

Guest Blog: The Forgotten Carols by the Dog Walker

One of the most fun events has come to us and it's one of Dad's favorites. That's right. Mom, Baby Doll, Scout, Curly, his girlfriend, and I went to see the Forgotten Carols at Weber State University in Ogden. I almost didn't get to go, because I was almost scheduled to work that day. I might have mentioned it before, but even after working at Walmart for almost a decade, it's not always easy to get a day-off request approved in December, just because associates are needed to help out at the store before the 25th. But I managed to talk with my boss just to switch a day with my day off so I didn't have to miss out on the event.

Anyway, about the event. It was really fun to see. We even stayed right after the show to see Michael McLean's finale gig. Mom, Curly, and the girls thought I was crazy for using these Christmas light glasses as part of the audience using their phone flashlights to go along with the gig, but I thought it was fun.

Curly's girlfriend had never seen the Forgotten Carols before, but she really liked it. We bought an ornament from the merchandise table afterward to remember it by. This was totally an event that we won't forget. We sure missed having Dad with us, but we got to sing to him in the finale.

It's Almost Christmas

Today after church, I shut myself in my bedroom and wrapped and wrapped and wrapped...

I always try to do this early so I can see where I need to buy a few more things and where I need to hold something back for a birthday.

Since I sat on the floor through 7 Hallmark movies, my back is aching as well as a few other parts, but I do love Christmas! It is so fun to imagine my kids and grandkids as they rip and tear and smile.

This is such an amazing time of year! People are happy and generous, more loving and kind...everything Jesus wants us to be.

Merry Christmas!

Ward Party 2025

Tonight was the Ward Party at the church. We ate dinner and had fun   visiting with friends and family. Here's some pics for you.

Merry Christmas!!