We are Latter-day Saints

Our family belongs to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

We are Mormons.

Most people have heard of Mormons.

Some people have some misguided misconceptions of what Mormons are.

First of all, it is important to know that we don't believe that we are perfect.

We are simply a group of people who are trying very hard to do their best.

We are committed to family.

We believe that serving others makes us better.

We love Jesus Christ and we try to live our lives as He would want us to.

We are a very works-based church.

By that I mean, we try to do good works.

Good works are kind acts like helping others in need.

I think most of us want to be able to stand before God at the end of our lives and say that we lived the best lives that we could.   I will often say to my children when they are being unkind to one another or another child....  "you are going to have to sit at a desk across from Jesus some day and explain this behavior and there really won't be anything that you will be able to say to make it alright."  

It really makes them stop and think.

I think most people want to be able to say that they tried their very best to be as good as they could.  Not because they want Jesus to like them more, but because they want to be proud of the life they have lived... to be able to say that their lives were worthwhile, that they did some good, that they thought of other people and not themselves all the time. 

We try to be grateful to our Savior for providing us with His most precious gift, that being the Atonement.  We can be grateful when we act unselfishly and serve other people.  Jesus did good works every single day while He was on the Earth.   And to emulate His life is the greatest way to show our gratitude.   Why would He require good works of himself and not require them of me?

I will willingly admit right here, that I fall short every single day.

Every... single... day.

But one of our beloved Prophets, Gordon B. Hinckley said once

"Just do your best."  

And those four words changed my life.  I can do my best.  

It's MY best

And at the very least, I can do my best.

Kori has had so many unselfish people in her life over these past few months. 

People who have taken time out of their very busy schedules to...

 Bring dinner to their house every night. 

Drive her kids to and from practices and games.

Some come over and sit with her for 2-3 hours in the afternoons, so my parents can have a break.

They have cleaned her home.

They call and check in on her. 

They make gifts for her.

They have donated money.

They have made quilts for her.

They read her blog and show support. 

In Houston, Kori and my Dad and Russ were served daily by good people who were completely unselfish and shared their time and talents with a girl they hardly knew. 

I am humbled by them

I am learning from them. 

Our family has been blessed by them. 

I also want to mention my parents, who have literally changed their lives to serve.

And they will say...  "oh don't say that ....  we are doing what any parent would do."

But, they are two of the greatest people on the Earth.

And at the end of their lives they will both be able to say...  there was not one day of our parental lives that we did not serve our children (or their grandchildren) in one way or another.

And also my sister, Kami, who stops over to visit Kori on her lunch breaks and makes every one laugh and lightens the mood. 

And then there is RUSS.....  Russ has really stepped up to the plate big time and he has taken on the responsibilities of two parents and he has loved Kori and treated her like a queen.  He showers her, washes her hair and gets her dressed for the day, all before he leaves for work in the morning.  He makes jokes at her expense only because he completely loves her.   And he keeps everything real.  

Russ has taken on the role of "at home physical therapist" 

He's learned all the exercises and he makes her work hard at home.

He is learning all about her hand manipulation and exercises.

 The past few days have been like a roller coaster.

Kori will have a good day

A bad afternoon

A good morning followed by a bad afternoon.

Followed by a good day.

Her doctors say this is all normal.

And her emotions and anxiety are expected reactions to 

what has unfortunately become her world for the time being.

This is Doctor Tudor.  

He is her "in charge" oncologist. 

He makes the plans. (Kori was in this picture with Dr. Tudor but it was one of those "bad days" and she doesn't photograph too well on those days.)

Today some changes were made:

No more Ted Hose

No more morning injections (only daily aspirin now)

She is walking a lot more with very little assistance.  

And those things are all happy.

She IS losing her hair.

But the good news is... she has SO MUCH HAIR

it's like she is a normal person now.  However, we might be looking for some cute hats soon.

I personally just want to say THANK YOU to everyone who has been there for Kori in her time of need.

I am so grateful for unselfish people who are putting our sister/daughter before themselves.  Please know how much our family appreciates YOU and the many acts of service/kindness that have been done.

Just know that you will get to sit at a desk across from Jesus one day and tell him what you did to serve this cute girl.

And He will say "well done thou good and faithful servant"