Star Player this week

Emma's team is widespread and incredible. We have friends of several faiths, Christian and otherwise, praying for Emma still. We get cards and electronic love regularly, as well as phone calls and people asking about Emma and about our family. We really love all that.

Close by, we have lots of friends who have taken a turn to watch the kids during Emma's appointments. People have found lots of other ways to help lift the load.

My sister, Becky, lives in Oklahoma. She can't watch kids, bring a meal, or drop by. She felt like she wasn't helping enough, being able to only send cards and phone calls, so she took advantage of winter break and joined us for 6 days.

This week, Becky watched kids while I took a sick kid (not Emma) to the doctor. She made frozen dinners and stocked my freezer with chopped onions, peppers, carrots, and ham to ease cooking so I'll actually cook more. She and my sister Sarah disinfected every surface in my kitchen, hallway, and bathroom. She deep-cleaned and un-stained the kitchen sink. She folded laundry, braided hair, and vacuumed the entire house including the stairs, corners, and crevices. She sorted through the baby's clothes and pulled out the things he has outgrown. She organized, cleaned, chopped, and prepped like crazy.

She sent Clinton and I to the temple - an opportunity to pray and meditate together. She sent us out on a date. She played games with the kids and also with Clinton and I. We talked and cleaned and cooked. She was a magnet for my mom and other two sisters to come, as well, and they also joined in to help me out and catch me up on things that have simply slipped.

Mom, my sisters, and me. we didn't take a lot of photos, and none with Becky and Emma.

Her visit coincided with my family's annual reunion, too, which was so much fun. Again, we took Emma and partied like it was the last one. My brother reserved a church gym for a few hours of games and relays. The very best part of that fabulous party was watching Emma run and skip the entire length of the gym.

We aren't done with cancer; but Emma feels well enough to run. Her legs and feet don't hurt her any more. Some future treatments will probably return some nasty side effects; but for right now, she is feeling fine. Now THAT is a silver lining.

Thanks so much, Becky, for giving us a week of you. We loved being with you. You are always a super player on Emma's team, and this week you were the star.