Today was truly a day I will never forget! The saying I like the most "Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take but the number of moments that take your breath away". Today was that day!

We started our day at 9:00AM at the Grand Canyon Railway. We had reserved seats in the luxury car at the back of the train. It was terrific! What a way to spend the day. The train left Williams AZ at 9:00AM for a two and half hour drive up the mountain to the Grand Canyon. We sat in luxury with a continental breakfast, drinks, coffee and orange juice. We had a great rail car assistant named Carol who was a kick. She told us jokes and was so much fun. Oh as I writing this blog, the train goes by blowing its horn. Didn't sleep much last night because at 2 or 3 in the morning one came through the town blowing its horn. Can you believe that? It was great! I was so afraid Mia would start barking at it. She didn't but seem a little confused as to what that was.

Anyway, our day started with a pleasant and comfortable ride to the Grand Canyon. We arrived there at about noon. The walk to the Grand Canyon Rim I have to admit was pretty hard for me. It was many and I mean many stairs to get from the depot to the rim. I did it but my heart was pounding. Then it happened. My first sight of the Grand Canyon and it differently was "A moment that took my breath away". It almost seems unreal when you first see it. I thought it looked like a painting. I'm so happy I was able to see it. I will never forget this day!

We had a wonderful lunch at the El Tovar restaurant overlooking the Grand Canyon Rim. It was then time to get on the train for the ride back. Again we were in the luxury car and had wonderful appetizers and drinks including champagne. I had sparkling cider to celebrate a wonderful experience. All of a sudden the train stopped and would you believe "train robbers" boarded the train. They came to our car and rob us. The sheriff quickly came through the door and hauled them away. It was so fun!

I hope you enjoy the pictures. Please don't say "someday" you want to go to the Grand Canyon or Yosemite or somewhere else. Do it today! You never know how many todays are left I'm not living that way anymore. I'm going to live life!!!!!

Love,

Debbie

GONE!!!

CO-CAPTAINS RIDING SHOT GUN
LITTLE TRUCK ON ROUTE 66

ROUTE 66

BOB NEEDED EXTRA LIGHT TO SEE THE BBQ

OUR CAMPSITE AT LAUGHLIN NEVADA

On the road in Laughlin Nevada. Long drive to get here and I won't say it is my favorite place. But you know who is loving it! Stayed out late last night at the casino. He's in fine shape today. HA HA! We left today at 4:00PM on schedule and arrived in Williams AZ. The Grand Canyon Railway Resort is beautiful. The property is absolutely immaculate. Tomorrow is a busy day.

We have a train ride to the Grand Canyon. Luxury box car to the Grand Canyon including breakfast, cocktails, private bar with outside platform to walk out on. This is going to be lots of fun! I'll have pictures tomorrow night to share.

I can say this "I can certainly get use to this life real fast". Having a blast!

I'm enjoying every moment.

Love,

Debbie

We are going to the Grand Canyon on a train for the whole day. I'm so excited to see it.

GOING PLACES WITH SMILING FACES

MARK'S ATTEMPT AT TAKING A PICTURE OF ME

TOMORROW WE WILL GET THE OTHER HALF

First day on the motor home trip. 16 days to go! Our first stop was in Columbia. We stayed at a RV park called 49er RV Park. The oldest RV park in California since 1853. It is awesome. The owners were so kind to us. The moment we pulled in with our rented "Curise America" RV they came running. Do you need help? Is this your first time RVing? We said "no". We can do it! Shortly thereafter, while the owners were watching every move, Mark and Bob started taking the little bug off the tow dolly and forgot to undo the chains. Mark started backing the bug off the trailer and they both notice (Bob) that the chains were still hooked. We are popular in the RV park because everyone thinks if you rent one of these Cruise America RVs that you are from Europe or beyond.

Drove today to Yosemite topless ie: little red convertible bug. It was a beautiful drive to Yosemite. The scenery was absolutately beautiful. Mark enjoyed every single tree he saw. Oh including the 10 or 15 waterfalls we saw. I enjoyed every single moment in Yosemite. I'm so happy I was able to see this beautiful part of the country.

Enjoy the pictures! More fun times to come!

Love,

Debbie

Tomorrow on the road to Laughlin Nevada. Mark is so excited and will be bonding with a slot machine. Cindy and I will be shopping! More things for the grandkids. Bob will be shopping for a new pyrex dish for me because he cracked and broked mine.

What's New!

This past week was a rough one. I had chemo on Tuesday and then met with Dr. Scherir at Stanford that afternoon. My lambha light chain count went up from 75 to 141 and of course he is very concerned. I'm always sick, tired and sore after chemo each week. So what does he recommend three weeks a month of chemo with one week off. I'm not happy but what choices do I have. That means three weeks each month I feel awful. Not the quality of life I want!
I asked if I could wait until I return from my vacation to start the new treatment plan and he agreed. So the first week of June I will start the new treatment and hopefully my numbers will start to come down again. I was so excited when they went to 75 but its like something inside of me (a monster) keeps telling me that he has control and I have to keep fighting. It is so hard to keep up the positive attitude when you are faced with this each and every day.

Now I just want to go away for these 3 weeks and enjoy every moment. I really need the time away. We are going on a 17 day motor home trip with Bob and Cindy Keyes. They will be with us for the first 9 days and then its me and my hubby alone for the rest of the trip. We are visiting Yosemite, Laughlin NV, Grand Canyon, Bryce, Zion, Salt Lake City, Yellowstone, Weiser Id (Mark's sister), Crater Lake, Grants Pass and then to the coast in Crescent City and home through the Redwoods. It is going to be a beautiful trip and one I have wanted to do for over 20 years. I feel so blessed to have seen such beautiful places like Italy, Spain, Alaska, the Caribbean but this is going to be so very special. I will be bringing my lap top and will share photos and updates along the way. So look for updates. We leave on Saturday and return on June 6th.

I also have the most special news to tell, I'm going to be a grandma again. Mark and Erin are expecting baby #2 in December. I'm so excited to have more grandchildren. Little Markie is the love of my life. I watch him every Monday and it is the best day of the week. He is why I keep fighting along with my family who love me so very much. I'm so blessed.

Well I will update on the road starting Saturday.

Remember: Every moment is a gift!

Love,
Debbie

Lots of News to Tell

Plenty to Drink
Pool and Spa

View of the golf course

Little Markie's First Easter

Well my first big and I mean big news is that I'm going to be a Grandma aka Nana again. Mark and Erin are expecting baby #2 in December. I couldn't be happier. God bless them all!

Easter was a fun time. Little Markie had so much fun. He did great during the Easter egg hunt. We spent the morning at Erin's Mom's house and it was so much fun. Jeff made a great brunch and it was nice spending time with family.

In the afternoon we went to Scott and Linda's house for their traditional Easter day fun. I love going there to see the kids and meet up with friends. This year Mom came with us and Max, Mark, Erin and Little Markie too. We had so much fun. Little Markie watched the kids running around, painting their faces, hunting for eggs and playing on the jumpie. His little head just was turning from one side to the other. It was so cute. He cried when it was time to go.

This past weekend I had a Wild Women's Weekend in La Quinta. Diane Long my friend from Chico and her sisters, Terri and Cindy invited me to join them in the desert for a women's weekend. I had so much fun! Terri's home in the desert is absolutely beautiful. It felt like a resort. I had my own bedroom with a beautiful bathroom. We spent the time laying in the shade (i can lay in the sun anymore) swimming, eating, drinking water (i can't drink wine anymore too) going out to dinner and much more. I spent all day Saturday visiting Uncle Sal and Aunt Sue who live there. It was fun talking about my early childhood. They were so nice to me and they have a beautiful home. I can't wait to spend time with them this summer. Mom and I will plan a trip to visit. I had alot of fun and thank Terri, Cindy and Diane for asking me to join them. They were wonderful!

Mark stayed home and put in my lawn. My little backyard is beautiful! Pictures to come!

This week watching the Sharks go on to the next round. GO SHARKS! This weekend we will be going to the Giants game on Saturday and maybe take a Sunday drive to the lake.

My other big news is that I will be fulling my big dream - taking a motorhome and see the United States. I will be leaving on May 20th through June 6th. Our friends Bob and Cindy will join us the first 9 days and Mark and I will finish the trip ourselves. We will be seeing Yosemite, Laughlin NV, Bryce, Zion, Salt Lake City, Yellowstone, Visit Mark's sister, Bend, OR, Crater Lake, Crescent City and on the way home we will follow the Avenue of the Redwoods. What a trip! Of course I will be taking my lap top and camera and will post each day all the fun stuff we will do and see.

It's about making every moment count because "Every moment is a gift"!

Love,

Debbie

LIVE-LOVE-LAUGH

SPENDING MOMENTS WITH TIPPI MARKIE LOVED HIS BIRTHDAY CAKE

MARKIE PLAYING IN THE SAND AND WATER TABLE

MY LITTLE BUG (MIA TOO!)

These words are so important in my life - LIVE-LOVE-LAUGH!!!!

This past month has just flown by. Markie's first birthday was so much fun. Mark and Erin had over 60 people there for an afternoon lunch and celebration. It was so fun! Little Markie was so good. He played with his little friends in the sand box and I know he was loving it.

I took my blood count for lamhba light chain and this past month it went up again to 106 from 75. This disease is so frustrating. The doctors say I'm stable because basically I'm in the 100s. I want it down close to the normal range. Most patients experience up and down counts and some eventually have problems with other organs. I just hope and pray it stays in the 100s and I can enjoy more LIVE-LOVE-LAUGH!!!

Happy Easter to all!

Love,

Debbie

The Best News Ever!!!!

Markie giving love to his new friend
"Sooo big"

Markie's new friend "Monkey with the big heart"

Markie cleaning out my utility drawer

Nana and Papa with Markie

Yesterday was a sad but also a happy one too! As for the sad part. My Aunt Jeannie passed away on March 11th. What a strong and brave lady. Sitting at the memorial service yesterday brought back so many memories of my childhood. Coming to Sonoma to visit auntie jeannie and uncle jake and my cousins was so much fun. They lived in the country and had all the fun things to do like riding horses and riding motorcycles. We always looked forward to our visit with them. Auntie would make these wonderful dinners and the adults would play cards all night long. The kids would stay outside as long as possible playing. Happy memories of my childhood. I wish auntie jeannie peace and as Sister Diane said, I look forward some day (a long time from now) to visit her again in her new "home".

Now for the best news ever! I finally after so many months got my lambha light chain count down to "75"! That is the lowest ever and I'm so happy. I also had a heart biopsy last week and I had just a mild rejection but the other good news is that there is "no traces of amyloid in my new shared heart". That is the best news ever! I have to protect my new heart and that's why I will continue to take chemo and do what the doctors say. I am so blessed!

I spent the weekend at the lake and had a very relaxing time. I just love my little place. The lake is so full. Its almost over the stone wall and on to the grass area. We should have a wonderful summer with the lake at full. I'm looking forward to summer. The rain is good but I'm so tired of it.

I brought a almost new 2006 red convertible bug. I had a bug in 2000 and love it. So in keeping with our commitment to change our lives and live simply, I decided I don't need to impress anyone with a fancy car and decided to buy a Volkswagen bug. It will be fun having a convertible again but I will have to be very careful in the sun. Most of the drugs I take cause skin cancer and of course so does the sun. So going topless will have to be kept to a minimum. I don't know what it is about these cars but it makes me smile. If you look closely the front of the car is smiling!

I have been watching Little Markie every Monday. I'm so happy to have this special time with him. He is just now starting to walk and will be 1 year old on April 6th. Wow has time passed so fast. Mark and Erin are having a big birthday party for him and it will be a special day.

Maxwell is finishing up what we call a "very rough hockey season". He was traded 3 times and currently is playing in Chicago for the NAHL Chicago Hitmen. We don't know if he will return to the team or have to try out some where else. It is his decision and we will support him. This time off he has to continue training which also means I have to feed him lots. He has to gain weight while he is at home. It will be my pleasure to fatten up my little guy (all 6'3" of him).

The next month of so Mark and I plan to enjoy our little house on Clear Lake. This pass weekend when we went was the first time in 6 weeks. I don't want to wait that long anymore especially with this terrible weather. We installed new windows last year and had a problem with one window leaking. Mark caulked the outside before we left the last time we were there but who knows if it worked. So Saturday when we arrived the first time we did was check for leaks. No leaks! The weekend when it snowed up there and it was a very heavy wet snow it caused alot of damage including trees down. The big redwood tree in front of our trailer is now balded. It lost about 23 branches. We have a better view of the lake but lost some of our shade too. Thank God no branches hit our trailer. So Mark and I will leave again this weekend and spend time there. The big storm this weekend knocked out the power to most of the trailer park except our area. I don't understand how people close up their trailers at the end of the summer and don't come back until the next summer. It is an investment and I want it to be maintained. To be honest I love it up there in the winter more than the summer. There is no one there and we have the park to ourselves. I can walk Mia around and not worry about someone complaining. We take long walks to the lake and sit and watch the ducks. It's my heaven on earth!

Enjoy the pictures and remember "Nothing is worth more than this day!"

Love,

Debbie