Melissa had dinner all ready yesterday.....Oh so yummy.. She even baked me a Birthday cake...
Pictures to follow....It is hard to describe it was so beautiful... The color of the candles were the color of the flame.... Eva-Ollie-Ola and Bry came over to have cake and ice cream ....It has been so Great to see everyone. The heater on the hot tub is not working--They are to come fix it this next week.Bruno and Nadia were all ready to go and enjoy :( Kevin-Becky and Tony are out to dinner (a day early) FOR HIS BIRTHDAY...He is going with friends to a hockey game tomorrow night...Loves to all

Well here we are in sunny Texas, only today hasn't been so sunny. We are caatching up on our sleep. Yesterday our plane left Saalt Lake a little early. We got here in less than three ;hours andTony and Becky were there to meet us. Joan had a little problem because of having to set so long, b;ut all is well and we are looking forward to a couple months R& R. We are supposed to have rain for the rest of the week. I like it when it rains down here. The eye Dr. told me I may not have to use my eye drops here because of the high humidity. I haven't had to use them so far today. I have about worn out from playing with Nadia and Finn. In spite of what I said I am going to have to go and put drips in my eyes. I will close for tonight and send more

I guess I have spent my life looking ahead. Month after next, next month, day after tomorrow and so on, and here I go again. day after tomorrow we will take the big silver bird and head south. I figure that tomorrow I will say that day after tomorrow I will soak in the hot tub. The rest and relaxation is going to be great for Joan. In about eight or nine weeks we will catch the silver bird as it comes back into the snow and wind.
Joan went to the Dr. this morning and he took the staples out of her head. He put them on a tongue depressor and then put tape over them so she could put them in her book of remembrance.
That Dr. is something else. He told Joan they just don't make women like you anymore. He also asked if there are any of the prescriptions that need refilling before we go.
Mara came over this PM and painted Joan's toenails. They look real nice. We took some pictures and will eventually get them on the computer.
I ran across the following item that I want to pass on.

Heaven is not reached in a single bound. But we build the ladder by which we rise
from the lowly earth to the vaulted skies, and we mount to its summit round by round.
I count this thing to be grandly true. That a noble deed is a step toward God--
Lifting the soul from the common clod to a purer air and a broader view.

Love all of YOU GG and Bruno.

Here is a beautiful partly cloudy day in the hinter land. I went to Priesthood and then came home to make certain Joan had something to eat. The Priests will bring over the sacrament. Joan will just have to rest to get over the Blahs and get her strength back.

I ran across the following article and thought I would pass it along.
If you set down at set of sun and count the acts that you have done,
And, counting, find One self denying deed, one word That caused the heart f him who heard.
One glance most kind that fell like sunshine where it went--
Then you may count that day well spent.

But if, through all the livelong day, You've cheered no heart by yea or nay--
If, through it all You've nothing done that you can trace
That brought the sunshine to one face--No act most small
That helped some soul and nothing cost then count that day as worse than lost. George Eliot

Wednesday we are going to take that silver bird and head south. We will be returning in two months. Probably right in the middle of the winter. We love all of you and wish all of you could go with us. GG and Bruno

Last night we were watching a show on TV and the electricity went off. We used our oi l lamp and our little battery powered lantern and the fire place was burning bright. We were able to set and talk without the TV. It was raining and and I imagine a transformer was blown. There was nothing in this mornings paper, but at the late hour there wouldn't be. We went to bed and the power came back on at ten thirty. I got up to turn the lights off and got interested in an old Grace Kelly-Bing Crosby movie
Joan ran across the following item which is real good.
WHAT IS MARRIAGE?
It is sharing and caring
giving and forgiving.
loving and being loved,
walking hand in hand,
talking heart to heart,
seeing through each others eyes,
Laughing together, weeping together,
praying together,
and always trusting and believing
and thanking God for each other..
For love that is shared
is a beautiful thing-
It enriches the soul
and makes the heart sing.
Helen Steiner Rice
Love you all Mom and Dad.

This is a cloudy day, not rain clouds, but high overcast clouds. Joan is still not feeling well but she is trying. She was doing some cleaning of boxes and reading old letters when she came across this poem that she had written back on January 1, 1943. I thought I would pass it on. Mom used dto write poetry and a song or two. She may have written this to Harlan because he was still in the Army.

Be it resolved this New Years day.
As I turn over a new leaf
That I will try not to do or say
a thing that might cause grief.
Each day attempt to wear a smile,
some cheering words impart;
Though I know I shall beguile
The aches in my own heart.
I hope that these new vows i've made
may influence others too.
Then visualize the great parade of
smiles that might great you!
It is signed Your Mother.

We are having a lot of memories as we read these old letters and we have stacks of pictures of days gone by. Some of them we don't know who they are. Today is the day that little McKay had her tonsils out. I was a teenager when I had mine out. I was told to chew asper gum and eat ice creme. My problem was that I had terrible ear aches.
Yesterday I got my shot in my hip that is supposed to stop the growth of my cancer.

One week from today we will climb aboard the silver bird that will head toward Houston. We are anxious to see the little ones down there. Next summer we are going to visit every one of our greats. Life is too short not to visit with them. Well not much happened today, we love all of you. Mom and dad.

My Guy forgot to tell you that before they put the seeds in--they will do an ultra sound to see how the prostate has shrunk and then go ahead with the beads.. We are very blessed to have this caught as soon as it was... Thanks again for all your prayers and support.... We Love ALL of you so very much....

Today was the big day. Bruce picked us up at 9:35 and took us over to the Dr. Office in Salt Lake. Bruce stayed with us because he hears and understands better than I do. The Dr. is a real nice individual and he talked about different treatments. However we settled down on one plan. That is to give me a shot of Hormone and that will stop the growth of the cancer and also shrink the Prostate along with the cancer. He called our Dr. here and they talked for a little while about what would be the best. Dr, Lee (/My SLC Dr. seems like a very fine guy. ) He was a little stiff at first but we got him limbered up and all went well. Here is the treatment. I will receive a hormone shot, probably tomorrow. It will last for three or four months and stop the growth of the cancer. When we get back from Texas or a little later, about the end of February I will give him a call and he will arrange for the procedure they will put about 20 needles into the prostrate and each one will hold four titamium, radio active beads in it . the needle has a little Clutch andwill leave the beads in the prostate. As they wear out they will just be left in the Prostrate and the cancer will be no more. It is an in and out procedure. but I will be put to sleep.
I appreciate all of your fasting and prayers. Tonight is the first night I look forward going to bed for about a month. When Dr. Lee left the room after almost an hour he said for me not to worry that he and Dr. Hibbert will take care of me. I believe that was after he had checked my Government Employees insurance. I can't express how that statement made me feel. I am certain there are many, many men out there tonight who would like to hear the same thing. They may not have a family praying for them. So now we are going to Texas and enjoy our Great Grand Children for a couple of months.
On the way back we stopped an Arctic Circle (Joan loves those milk shakes and burgers) and Joan treated us to lunch.
We love each one of you and appreciate everyone. GG and Bruno

I had made up my mind that I would smile at all adversity and not let anything get me down, but the last couple of days has begin to try my resolve. Yesterday we went to the temple. for some reason I had ignored, not heard, over looked, Joan's desire to go to the Bountiful Temple. Going into the SL temple we hit a lot of road construction that took us down to one lane for a short space. Then I had over looked the fact that Tuesdays always had a high number of marriages so we had a problem finding a parking space. This was beginning to rub a sore spot and in stead of laughing I let it bother me. We had a great lunch in the temple and came home. I might add that we had found a parking spot close to the East elevators which are the ones closer to the temple. On the way home we stopped at Winco for a few groceries. Today is a beautiful sun shining day. We should rejoice with this kind of weather. I took our Halloween light down. Joan had already taken the other things down. I have a few things I have to do such as water the bushes and soak up the new tulip beds. I am still working on the light for the flag pole.
Tomorrow is the big day. I have a Dr. appointment at 10:30 over in Salt Lake. I am hoping to get the word on the treatment I will get for my cancer. We are anxious to go down to Houston for a visit.
I have started my list of the things I am thankful for. No. 1, would be the family. No. 2, would be the fact that we have been together for 62 years. I am sure I will list a lot more in the days to come. We love all of you Bruno and GG