U4ia: Sunday, May 27

So Miranda came home from her mission a couple weeks early to have some surgery, but I have this great excuse to still write our family history down, since her novio is still on his mission in Paris, France for the next year. So until May 9, 2019, I'll still write a missionary letter for our blog posts. =)

Ok, first of all, I forgot this picture last week, of celebrating Natalie's bday at Carol's... Miranda Joy and Lucy Joy. =)

Monday, Jeff & Miranda left for a scouting trip to find a good spot/ route for the Teachers' Quorum High Adventure trip in a couple weeks. Since we were in two "camps," I'm going to write about our simultaneous adventures, and switch you back and forth in our adventures. First, Jeff & Miranda went hiking around. Gorgeous.

Meanwhile, Derek came home from school with this cool artwork. I love his art talent, no matter what he creates. =) I especially love the photo bombing of the Kiekery trying to escape the pic.

That evening, the kids & I visited Carlie at work... the kids are always up for this kind of supporting their sister. =)

Then Jeff & Miranda set up camp:

After FHE, STERLING the boy came by with cookies his family made. "We decided to take them to friends that live around us." He doesn't live anywhere near us. And they were super yummy.

Tuesday morning, sleeping beauty awoke:

And they went hiking and offroading.

That was the morning of the State Fair in 5th Grade. K:

While this happened, too:

When they got back, Miranda & I went to a "wardie" reception. Here's the castle that's one of the options to rent, on our way back to the car.

Then, still Tuesday evening, we ran straight to Carlie's choir concert... it was beautiful, as usual. Our favorite redhead. =)

Wednesday, Miranda drank her radioactive serum and had her PET CT scan - like a champ. She also got scheduled for an MRI while we were there. Went home and waited for results. =) I couldn't help snapping this as they were putting her into the MRI machine. That's my baby.

Right when we got back, Jeff ran to Westfield to catch the kids performing in their school's music program. It was all tropical themed, and the kids did dances and played instruments, singing Hawaiian songs.

That night, Halle & Kierste had their piano recital. They did so well! H:

Connor & I took them to Blue Lemon, while everyone else scattered to Mutual, etc.

And this popped up:

On Thursday, I got to go to court. Remember Chloe's mug shots? Remember how she's a felon and went to jail? I got to go BEFORE A JUDGE to try to tell them that she really did have her rabies shots and now has a proper license, etc. I took a pic of the guy ahead of me - he was in a lot of trouble for wreckless driving. The other 2 guys ahead of me were pretty thuggish, too. And then I got to explain that my tiny unthreatening dog really is cared for, and it was just a fluke that she ran away without tags on... it was one of my favorite parts of the week.

Then, when I got home, I got to take the felon to the vet for new shots, and to talk about her coughing. Poor Chloe, and poor Miranda. If the antibiotics don't cure the coughing, it could be something like heart disease, collapsed trachea, etc. So hopefully it's just Kennel Cough, from her trip to jail.

That night was the 9th grade dance. So proud of Morgan for going... we both wish he had danced with all the girls. #liferegrets But super handsome!

Afterward, we got all suited up, and went to:

But there weren't any characters there; no real hype for the movie. Not even new displays, or balloons... the crowd cheered a little in the beginning, but I think I was the only one clapping & cheering when iconic things happened during the movie. Guess if I cared. We even missed taking a pic of our group fanhood on our way out, so this is the only pic you get, above. Dang it.

BUT, the subject title of our letter comes into play for our next news:

Friday, Miranda showed up for an ultrasound of her neck/thyroid.

Then we had a 2 hour appt, where her oncologist dropped bomb after bomb. It seemed to me that Miranda just kept taking every hit like, Yep - we can do that. But when there was this slight hesitation of the doctor's about skipping a semester of school, it was like it was the straw that couldn't be added. First tears of the day. Normalcy and getting through some generals before a certain someone comes home is one of the things that going to get this girl through. =) But Dr. Fair (I know, he spelled it wrong) kept saying "We're going to get you through this safely. We're going to cure you, and you're going to live a long, healthy life, and do all the things you've always planned on doing." And as far as odds go, 90-95% odds that after this treatment course, it won't even come back... pretty dang good.

So on the way home, we decided she needed some seafood.

This was also the day the kids had Field Day, and came home with a new PET, Taylor the Goldfish. We messaged the neighborhood and asked if anyone had a few flakes we could feed her, and the convo was joined by other parents whose children came home with surprise pets, too. It turned into a contest, whose fish would stay alive the longest. The other fish have all gone to fishy heaven, and Taylor is still going strong! So proud.

Miranda posted this announcement,

And we started 2 straight days of yard/house work to get ready for guests. Not that our house isn't always immaculate!!! We just wanted to spiff things up a little. =)

That night, Morgan went to a friend's bday party, where they hired a professional card dealer, and had a night of poker. I've already voiced my opinion on this, but it was the party of the year, and they all loved it.

Carlie is talented:

Saturday, Connor had his last game. He was a warrior:

Farewell, Purple Eagles.

He & Morgan had last games at the same time, so the nice camera was with me. But Morgan was a warrior at his game, too, and here's their team picture:

And H&K had played their last game last week, and taken their team picture, too:

Connor also had his last tennis lesson,

And then we went to Connor, Derek, & Carlie's piano recital. I think all of us are excited to have a break from practicing and worrying about it for a while.

We ran through Wendy's for FULL SIZE frosty's for their treat, and went home to clean some more!

It was all worth it. The day couldn't have gone better. All our family on both sides came, as well as so many family & friends that don't even live very close, and she looked & sounded like an angel.

It's perfectly fine that I took these. It was just to include people that really wanted to be there, and just couldn't make it. Something about being in another country... kind of a lame excuse, but whatever.

Then the house was filled with people vying to talk to Miranda. Everyone was so eager to find her and ask her about everything.

I cannot believe the amount of people - literally everyone who stops to talk to me about her - that have said she's radiating goodness; shining like a light. And it's totally true.