Merry Christmas

On the phone to her missionary Laurel trying out Jackson's helmet Nicole showing off her new perfume Anders and Jackson with Laurel's painting in the background Andrea's home

Mike and Linda's home

#1 present for Jackson

Colton Surprised look

LET CHRISTMAS 2009 BEGIN!!!!

Merry Christmas. We have had a great day. Only three minor issues today. I would call it a successful holiday.

We got to talk to Britton today. He was so good to hear from. He has such a great attitude about life. He has two baptisms scheduled for tomorrow. He loved all his presents. He is so content to serve the Lord. He was amazed at Jackson and Colton and how much older they sounded. He was at the Bishop's house today when he called. He said the Bishop is the Processor of the fish and crab that they catch on the "Deadliest Catch" TV show. He said he had a good holiday. He has been surprised at how generous people have been to him.

Dave's family had their Odle Family party last Sunday and celebrated with dinner at Sandy's home. It was nice to see everyone and re-acquaint with everyone that we have not seen for months. Dave's Dad and his wife Peggy were in Utah for the party and for Christmas. They came to our home today for an hour or so and also spoke with Britton on the phone. They decided that they needed to get back to Mesquite so they left Christmas Day at 3:00pm. It was nice to see them for a little while and for Britton to get to talk to them. Sandy and her kids came over and played games with us. She is taking her kids and Colton to the movies tonight.

Dave and I had a Christmas Eve dinner at our home with my Mom and Dad and our boys. It is a nice tradition that Dave brought into our home from his mother. My family has a tradition on Christmas morning of Christmas Around the Town. We have a progressive breakfast stopping at 5 homes in our family for a portion of Christmas breakfast. We always eat too much but just being together is the best and is what I miss when I am not in town for Christmas. It is so fun to play with our nieces and nephews, their children and our cousins.

I have learned this Christmas that no matter what, relationships with our families are the most important thing in this life. I love being with our family.

Now for the issues:

1. Jackson got hit in the face with a basketball and had a bloody nose.

2. I thought I had to buy my 3 yr old nephew a present, turns out I was supposed to buy my 9 month old niece a present. Turns out she likes Dump Trucks. WHO KNEW?

3. I forgot to wrap and give one present to Colton until he said he couldn't go sleigh riding since he had no snow pants. Lucky that we could find where I had hidden them.

How much does it cost for a date with COLTON?

That was the question that was asked to the student body at Layton High. For the Christmas Service Auction. Colton was asked to allow the SBO's to auction him off for a date to raise money for charity. He was a little nervous. He was afraid that no one would want him. He was supposed to go last out of about 10 boys. He talked his friend Davis to go last so he would not be the last one standing on the stage. Two girls started bidding on him. People started running money down to the girls. Finally the teacher stopped the bidding by telling each girl they could split Colton for $130 each. The answer to the question is $260. Of course they can't leave the school grounds for the date. The next highest auctioned off boy was $30.

Sorry I have been lazy

Well, I finally decided that I needed to update my blog. Here are our current happenings. Britton turned 20, Colton made the All-Region Football team as 1st team, and an Honorable Mention for the All State football team. Jackson has been having fun living his days with football on the brain. Our little cute kitty Mable was fixed right before Halloween and then two weeks later was hit and killed by a car. We are done with animals for awhile. We are getting ready for Christmas with decorating and shopping. Dave is picking up most of the slack for me this year. He is so helpful and wonderful to me. He put up the tree and then I fixed it. I have had what we believe is a Kidney Stone. I think it passed on Thanksgiving Night. We hope that doesn't happen again.

Britton had 4 meals on Thanksgiving and ate at each one. Britton said in his last letter that he has been really working hard to bring the spirit with more strength to those we are teaching. He has been trying to be exactly obediant. He is working on being more focused. He is studing more fervently, praying with more meaning, and working more diligently. He said he has seen a big difference in his missionary life.

For Christmas here is the address if you are interested in sending him a letter or card.

Elder Britton Odle

Washington Everett Mission

PO Box 13390

Mill Creek, WA 98082

DAVE TURNS 44!

Happy Birthday Dave. Thanks for 21 wonderful years together. Here are some pictures for you!

Missionary update

In Britton's letter this week he told us that all the missionaries got the flu shot just in time for Elder Silotti to get the flu. He participated in the ward's Halloween Carnival and Trunk of Treat. He and his companion went as each other. They ran out of candy so they ended up giving out pass-along cards. They told the unhappy children that it was spiritual candy. Here are some pictures from Britton. A few weeks ago he performed his first baptism.

Back to Bothell and Back to Work

Well Britton was transferred back to Bothell. He was excited. He did feel bad to leave his last companion just when they were getting along so well. He is assigned to a very efficient family ward and a singles ward. His new companion is from West Jordan, Elder Silotti. FYI Britton has been out serving for over 9 months! This Sunday is what is called "Invitation Sunday". This is a special Sunday where all the meetings will be focused on non-members and visitors. All the members have invited people to attend with them. Britton said that as missionaries they think every Sunday should be like Invitation Sunday since their whole purpose is to invite people to Come Unto Christ.

This Monday I will return to work. It will be an interesting thing since I still don't feel comfortable enough to drive with my double vision. We went to a follow-up MRI on Tuesday for good news; the tumor has not started growing. I have however developed a cold. (No fevers, no chills, no aches thankfully) The Doctor told us that the reason I now tilt my head is due to the sixth nerve that was the most tightly wrapped around the tumor that controls my double vision. He was not sure if it would ever come back. I do find myself shutting my left eye a lot. This makes me see better. I go in February for my next scan.

Football is over for Jackson. They were one game into the playoffs. It was really fun. Colton has at least two more games left. His season has been fun. I wish I could have gone to more games for both of them. Good thing they have a great football Dad.

Update from Britton in Seattle

Our latest letter from Britton came on Friday. He said "Things are picking up here in Seattle." The week started out rough with not much success. They couldn't catch anyone at home. On Thursday the Mission President came to their apartment for interviews. They then got to go with him to each of their zone members apartment for their interviews. They got done with the interviews at 7:00pm and then went to dinner with him and a meeting with the Stake President. Elder Nelson and he hit the last few days of the week hard and were blessed greatly. His teaching pool is growing and he is excited. He got in his third car wreck that he has been in on his mission. He had some girl run into the back of his car that was stopped at a red light. She was going about 30 miles an hour. Luckily no one was hurt and both cars were drivable. The best part of the whole thing, "we got a teaching appointment with the girl that hit us!" This is the second one that he was driving in, but he clearly states that none of them have been his fault. "THANK GOODNESS!"
He has been blessing our family so much through his service. We are so proud of Britton. He is such a great missionary. He has had a few companions try to set him with writing girls that they know, but he keeps telling them no and that "I'm trying to be a BAPTIZER so I need to keep focused."

Climbing Back to the Living

Well, It has been 3 weeks and 2 days since my surgery and I finally feel up to getting on the computer and posting on facebook and the blog. I am doing ok. The tumor was benign. I have been truly blessed and impressed by all of our family, neighbors, friends and ward-members that have been so generous and thoughtful. I actually went to Colton's football game on last Friday. It did me in, and I was in bed most of Saturday. I did go to Sacrament Meeting today and feel ok. The numbness of my head seems to be getting less and less so I am dealing with some sharp pain. I am trying to get better so that I will be ready for work in another 3 weeks. My skin is pealing on my forehead, I am also trying to figure out what type of hairdo to do to deal with the shaved head look. Dave has been so wonderful. He has had to listen to my complaints and yet he has been so good to me. My parents have also had their hands full with making sure I am taken care of. The tumor is benign, I have a followup MRI in a few weeks. I just wish the pain in the back of my head would go away soon. Here are some pictures, I am not proud of them.

The Firth Fifty

On August 20, 2009 my parents Ralph and Kathryn celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary. We had discussed as a family that we were just going to celebrate it privately. It was right in the middle of Kenny's Homecoming, Cherilyn's Baby's Birth, Carly's Wedding, our Firth Family Reunion and school starting. We got together and decided as children that we needed to do something special. So, at the end of July, we all started writing letters to my parents. We have compiled them along with pictures into a little book. Each and every member of the family is represented in this book. It is a treasure. There are some great remembrances and laughs, many thanks and happy times discussed. We presented this book to them tonight. What a wonderful time we had. It is so touching to read what your siblings and children remember and notice that spark your own memories. I will be forever grateful for my family. For loving parents that taught us the good life, even though sometimes it was the hardest things we have ever done. I am grateful for the trials and learning experiences that we have grown through. When it is all said and done, it is the love that you have left. Thanks Mom and Dad for your FIRTH FIFTY.

Menengioma is a swear word! But Hank is funnier.

Well, I have put it off for about a month, debating as to whether or not to blog about my latest diagnosis of a Brain Tumor. Today, I decided that I need to share my information to prevent someone from "waiting too long to be checked out". The word Brain Tumor sounds way scary when the doctor is talking about YOU! However, I have been learning that there is a difference between TUMOR and CANCER. I have also been learning that I can blame any slip-up, wrong word, forgotten thing, silly action or saying on my BRAIN TUMOR. (For awhile there, I was just thinking that I might have Alzheimer's-especially after reading Forget Alice, I really can't remember if that is the name of the book or not.)
I have always had headaches, at least I think I have. They never really bothered me, except a few times in my life, I have had Migraines. I have been to the doctor for them. He said they were caused by stress. (You all know that I major in worry and stress). About two years ago I started having a pulsing sound in my ear, especially when I was lying down trying to sleep. I again went to the doctor, he referred me to an ENT. The ENT looked in my ears and said they were fine, I have lived with that and mostly ignore it. Last Fall, I started noticing that I had double vision in my left (laserd perfect) eye. When I turned my head or stood up it took a few minutes for my eyes to adjust. I ignored that while we were getting Britton ready for his mission. A few days after Britton left in January, I was having horrible pressure type headaches and vision issues. I think many people, including myself, thought I was just in depression after Britton left. I called the Dr. He could not find anything so he scheduled an MRI. (without contrast) I did the MRI the same day Britton left for Everett. They called me back and told me that they did not find anything. I begged for a Z-pack antibiotic because now the pain felt like pressure in my sinuses. A few days later the headaches subsided. My vision seemed to be not bothering or I was just getting used to it. In May, I finally had enough with my eyes. I went to my eye doctor and he said as far as he could tell, I was fine, so he suggested that I go see a Neurologist. In June I did. He immediately thought that I had pseudo-tumor. He scheduled me for a Spinal Tap. I did that but my opening pressure in my spine was not very high, so that was not the clear-cut answer. I suffered about 2 solid weeks with the most horrific (spinal) headache that I have ever had. So that doctor told me to go see the ENT, the Opthamologist and Internist and find out what they think about Pseudo-Tumor diagnosis. The ENT requested an MRI with contrast this time, telling me that there was something noticed on the first MRI but they couldn't really see it without contrast. Another MRI in July. The week later they wanted another picture from the MRI and also a CT Scan. So finally on July 22, 2009, I was diagnosed with the Menengioma, and referred to the University of Utah Neuroscience Department. The good thing about this is 90% of all Menegiomas are benign. Mine is behind my left eye and blocking the optic nerve thus causing bad vision. I feel like I am always looking out of my left eye through a cloud. I have also experienced a loss of viewing of color from my left eye, my eyelid drooping, and the eye just being sore. My visual field test showed that my eye sight is deteriorating fairly quickly. I started with a size of of dime in vision loss on the visual mapping test. About two weeks ago I had lost about the size of a plum.
Now at a few weeks later, and my headaches are still coming and going, sometimes severe and sometimes not noticeable. I have to say that my favorite doctor at Tanner Clinic is the Eye Doctor Larry Nelson. He went to bat for me and got me in earlier than scheduled for my second appointment for the Neurosurgeon at the U.
My Neurosurgeon is great also, I saw him on Wednesday, for a big MRI session and scheduled the surgery. He said we are very lucky that we found this before it got much bigger. He saw a guy the day before with the same tumor but huge and he has lost his vision.
The surgery is scheduled for September 4th at the UofU. It will be a 6 to 8 hour surgery with a 4 to 6 day stay at the hospital. I have requested a six week leave from work. YEAH! GO BANKCARD!
The doctor did also point out to Dave and I that I have something else. My brain is slipping into my spinal column. The doctor said he is not worried about that now, but said that the reason for the bad reaction to the spinal tap was due to this. Right now he is more concerned with the delicate surgery. He said he will fix that if my symptoms don't subside after I am totally recovered. I have complete faith in Priesthood Blessings. I know I will be fine. My family is holding a fast on this Sunday. It is a little uncomfortable and awkward to be at the center of the fast. I am so blessed to be surrounded by good family. I am thankful for the many family and friends for praying and thinking about me and my family.
Today is Thursday the 27th, and I have already been blessed because I got to speak to Britton on the phone today. I called the Mission President last night and he returned my call today. He said it was a perfect day to talk to Britton since he was going to be at the mission home that afternoon. He had Britton call me at 5:00 our time. I told Britton that I had faked a tumor just to talk to him. I also told him that we have named the tumor Hank. My friends at work have given me a Voodoo doll with pins sticking in his head with a name tag on it of Hank.
I informed Britton that he was not invited home until he has completed his mission. I also told him not to plan on me dying yet since they can't get rid of me that fast. He reminded me that we will be together forever, I said, yeah but alive. He seemed down at first, but I told it too him straight. We laughed and shed a few tender feelings together. I am so proud of him. I have gotten permission to have Dave call him on Friday after the surgery. He will be fasting with us this Sunday. President Showalter wanted to visit with him after our talk. I'm sure he got a blessing. I ask for your faith and continued prayers in Britton's behalf also, this is a hard time for him to be away from home. I told him I needed to have him keep the blessings pouring in to our home.
I also ask for your continued prayers on behalf of my sister in law, Michelle. I have only a very minor issue compared to her trials this past year. I love her for her strength, her kindness and concern for me. Thank you Michelle, you continue to amaze us.
My new slogan is DOWN WITH HANK, UP WITH BRAIN!. As for the brain slippage, Some people just have brains that are too big for their own head. (If I stand up and you see something drop out, pick it up, it probably is my brain.)

I must start to Blog again!

First Day of 12th Grade

First Day of 5th grade

Jackson *the one with the x

Number 84

Colton number 78

I think he yelled HI MOM!

Nicole and Jessica dancing with Kirk and Ralph at the reunion

Donna and Mike dancing

Ralph and Kathryn celebrating their 50th

Maria and Dave celebrating that they can still dance

Jackson and Maria cutting a rug

All of the Firth cousins except Cherilyn (lame excuse Cherilyn...baby)

All the old with the new

Cleaning the farm off his shoes after the farm tour

Ileen, Donna, and Farmer Ralph

Baby Kate (Amy's at the wedding)

John and Jessica at Carly's wedding

Maria and Baby Grace (1 day old)

Ralph winking at me

Welcome home sign for Kenny

made by Laurel

Easton playing in Carly's veil

Kirk and Laurel

Carly and Jordan with the quilt Mom made

The men practicing for the homecoming music

Baby Grace

No, I have not fallen off of the face of the earth, I have just been busy. We have rounded out the summer by packing all of our summer fun into August, or so it seems. We have had a mission homecoming (not Britton) (but my nephew Kenny), a wedding (not Colton) (but my niece Carly), a family reunion, a 50th wedding anniversary (not mine and Dave's) (but my parents), and a new baby. (again, contrary to what I look like, not mine.) (but my sister Cherilyn). Just to make things exciting we threw in football and first day of school. Why do I live this way? (I know why, I love it!) Just think, while I was being busy, Britton has served 8 months almost. Time is flying. He is struggling a little in his area but he keeps his positive attitude. He is eager to write anyone if anyone wants to write him, (or if you have a cute niece or sister or daughter that wants to write a handsome valiant single missionary:)) Here are some pictures from our activity.

Scoreboard:

Layton High 37 Bonneville 13

Colton caused and recovered a fumble on the goal line while playing defense.

He is a captain of the team this year.

Layton Colts 0 Bear River 6

I swear they suited up a father to go against Jackson. He was huge. Jackson's team did ok. They are going to get better I think. Jackson is fun to watch, he is pretty aggressive on the field.