Additional Information

An addendum to my doctor's examination - I got a call yesterday from my cardiologist's receptionist and she said they got a cancellation for a stress test and moved my test to next Thursday. Yay! God is watching over us. I am so anxious to complete this test because once I get it signed off on my physical examination papers we can turn our mission papers into the bishop and stake president and then the papers will be sent off to the church mission committee. Then it should only be 2-3 weeks before we get our call. It's a good thing because patience wears thin when there's so much to do and so little time to accomplish it. Still, I am very thankful to be on the last leg of this part of our journey.

Mission Readiness

Today I completed another facet of preparation for our mission - I got my yearly mammogram. Always unpleasant, but gratifying to know I can expect good breast health for another year. When I had that serious scare with a tumor in my right breast many years ago and had to undergo several procedures, including a lumpectomy

to determine if I had breast cancer, I determined to be vigilant in seeing that I have a mammogram yearly. The doctor still makes me have one each year. I do have a story that accompanies my breast-cancer scare. About two days after I had undergone one of the procedures to determine the nature of the tumor I had in my right breast our bishop called me in to issue me a calling in our ward. The calling was to be the new Relief Society President of the Adams Ward in Los Angeles. I was shocked because I knew I would be going through a lot of tests and the lumpectomy for the tumor. When I told him all this he looked me in the eye and told me that never had the Lord impressed upon his mind so strongly that he should issue this calling. With that I told him I would serve, no matter what happened to me, and off I went.

Eventually after all the medical procedures were completed my surgeon came to me and said she couldn't understand what had happened to me, because all the indications were that I had at least stage 2 insitu breast cancer. She said it was a miracle that I had escaped from it. I knew then why I had been called to be Relief Society President by the Lord - it was to preserve my life to serve God and my sisters. I have ever been grateful for that opportunity.

No Pressure Day

Tony and I went to Disneyland today. We had such a nice day. Before we left Tony went to his doc to have his left arm checked because he had the TB test as part of his physical exam for our mission - he passed. Yay! I saw my cardiologist yesterday and he said my heart is in good shape, but I still have to get a stress test, it is scheduled for March 28th. After the test I will be cleared to go. Patience is always difficult for me.

Another Doc Visit

Okay, today I went back to my doctor to have my left arm checked, because on Tuesday when I saw her for my physical she had the nurse give me a shot to test me for TB. Today I passed with flying colors at my re-check. Yay!

Also, yesterday I asked Ramona to send me a new picture of Caroline, and here it is. Sweet baby girl who loves her froggy!

I went to my primary care physician yesterday for my physical examination in preparation for our mission. All went well. She says I am fit for service. I have to have a mammogram and heart stress test, but after those are completed and the reports sent in to her for evaluation and Tony gets his medical evaluation back from his doctor then we can turn in our papers and wait for 'the call'. This is all beginning to become more real to me now and I am getting more and more excited!

I also had to have a TB test and had to get the Hepatitis A/B vaccination, which has one initial shot followed by two boosters before we leave. The doc told me to expect to feel flu-like symptoms for a couple of days - well, when I got up this morning I had some of the symptoms, so she was correct. Our daughter Ramona received this vaccination before she went to Africa several years ago and had a very bad reaction to it. Her face swelled and she was having trouble breathing. She had to go to the hospital for treatment and cannot receive this vaccination at all. I am grateful I didn't have that happen to me.

We received our passports this week, and I am glad. That's one more thing we were able to check off on our list. Next comes my physical exam. I see my doctor on February 28th. Here's hoping I'll get a clean bill of health.

Another Step in Our Lives

Isn't it interesting? Just when you think you're finished - something more important comes along. In the past couple of months as Tony and I began to contemplate our final move from our apartment in Hollywood to our home in Lancaster something just didn't feel quite right. One afternoon after church I found a pamphlet in a box I was looking through and it was regarding senior missionary service. I read it and all of a sudden I got a 'charge' through my whole body, and I knew we needed to go on a senior couple mission. When Tony got home I showed it to him and he said, "Yeah, I've seen this pamphlet before - what about it?" I then told him my experience and we briefly discussed it, then went on about our evening.

The next couple of days the thought of my experience weighed heavily on my mind, but I didn't bring it up again. About three days later Tony mentioned it and said we should go on line and see what type of missionary service was available. Then voila! We found out we could serve a CES (Church Education System) mission, which would include teaching seminary and institute. We did some more research and then Tony called the phone number on the web site and was connected to Bro. Don Bell, Director of CES Missionary services in Salt Lake City. Tony asked him what was available and told him we would be available for a mission by July 1st. I was shocked! Bro. Bell said we could serve almost anywhere in the world and would be able to teach in English. He told Tony we should pray about it and then go see our bishop. Which we did. We both received a confirmation in the affirmative and went forward with our plans.

(This picture will be our missionary photo.)

In a second phone conversation with Bro. Bell we found out a mission opportunity would be coming up in Athens, Greece. When I heard that I just knew that's where we should go. Tony agreed, so Bro. Bell has put our names in as perspective missionaries for that particular mission. We are currently in the process of doing all the necessary preparation for an international mission, i.e., getting passports, physical, dental and eye exams, and a host of other important items.

We have already completed the paperwork for our passports and are waiting to receive them from the U.S. State Department, and I have completed my dental work and have received my new prescription lenses - and I have an appointment for my physical exam on February 28th. Tony just had a colonoscopy yesterday and we are awaiting the results, and he will be seeing the opthamologist in a few weeks to complete his vision testing and to order new lenses as well.

We have completed our first interview with Bishop Badurek and after we have all our medical information ready (signed by our doctors,etc.) then we go to Pres. Bragg for our big interview. Then we turn all our papers in to the mission committee and from there they are sent on the the First Presidency for approval. After that it will be about two weeks before we receive our mission call in the mail.

If all goes as planned we will report to the Senior Missionary MTC in Provo, UT in mid-September and after 10 days of intensive training we will fly in to Athens on September 27, 2012.

Bro. Bell has told us there is a 90% chance we are going to Athens, barring any great change and revelation from the Brethren. So mentally we are preparing to go the Athens, Greece. We are excited at the prospect of going up on Mars Hill in Athens to teach the institute students about the Apostle Paul's great address to the Greeks when we teach the New Testament, and many other of the sacred events that took place while Paul was teaching in Greece. We will get to walk in his footsteps, which is an incredibly awesome prospect!

I will continue to post all the news and information about our up-coming mission call and all the preparations as they arise.

Please pray that the Lord will protect and keep us in good health, and prevent us from any harm or danger as we prepare for this most wonderful assignment - the crowning glory of our service in the church.