Sundance Tradition

Well friends, its that time of year. SUNDANCE !! my favorite time of year. When the movie stars are out in full force, freebies everywhere on Main, and best of all....Crashing Hollywood parties.
I must say, I have had my share of Hollywood Swag, why once I walked right into the Hollywood Life Lounge and got a new pair of boots/ with rhinestones and some great skin care products. (Double Dog Dare) This has been Laura's and my tradition for 10 years. We have watched Sundance Film Fest. start small and become so big, why I was escorting Kevin Sorbo to the Swag , and Lolo was running up to director Jay from Ojai to give hugs. Then hugs all around Ben and Casey Afleck. YaDa YaDaa. She's seen J-Lo UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL . My first party I crashed was the Cesar Dog food at the Cody Art Gallery. Now don't laugh, I walked away with a $400.00 Poochie Dog bag for my little Roo. One year we counted 55 or so "Stars" walking up and down Main. Well folks.... the baton has been passed this year to our Bryn. You all remember Bryn, Holiday Barbie. Well, she just got on a VIP list for a huge party, and to top that, Bryn has been invited back to the Gov's manse for a Birthday party. Oh how I wish Lolo could be part of these exciting events. Oh... to be living in Holiday Bryn's Holiday shoes right now. So we shall keep our little secret from the hard working, freezing footed little missionary. So this year... I must pass on the events and just let Bryn take over and tell us of the exciting stories at Sundance. I totally feel like my little blog for Laura has turned into my journal. Like a dear friend Lynn said" the church says's keep journals, I take that as Blog" Which is like a journal right? Come on validate me. I wouldn't have written this down, so I am taking this time as an opportunity to record some history. Ta Da.
In the mist of all this Sundance excitement, I was thrown a bit , just a wee bit of semi-bad news. During my surgery Dec. 10, when only the left thyroid and tumor were an item. Some how a part of the right was snipped off. Well... the results came back this week. When the nurse calls you 15 times in one day and stays until 8:00 pm to reach you, you can pretty much count on not-so-good- news. The right side of my thyroid is cancer. Full blown in all its glory.Yesss and Ta Da I get to go back to the 5-Star Hospital Feb . 11 for another surgery to remove the rest. This is the cool part of the story. I spent hours at Huntsman, getting pre-op tests and all. I was so tired I could hardly see. I pull into the driveway and close the door. My cell phone rings. To my surprise, ( not really) It's Laura... "Hi... I say" " What's going on?" she asks very firmly, "uh... funny you should ask, I was just trying to figure out a way to tell you I have to go back under the surgeon's sharp knife" "Do I need to come home?" she asks again even firmer. No.....no silly girl (yes, yes... please do) I will be fine, Jilly is going to take care of me" it's okay." Laura " well...fine... then and all the missionary's will be praying for you, I love you.. Bye" The conversation lasted all of 30 seconds. Is that girl in -tuned to me or what.? All those sleepless nights as a mother listening to her breathing, or rocking her for hours on end because you don't want to put their little bodies down, you want them right on your heart forever. You want to remember their smell, their heart beating right next to yours. But as you can see, the tables have turned and much sooner than I anticipated, now she is the Mother/daughter and worrier. As mother's we cannot love our children enough, we want them by us, or at least close to us forever. Ahh... there we go... the lead in for the great and wonderful Plan of Salvation. We can do just that... Yes, be with our families forever. It warms my heart and soul to even think Laura "felt" something was up. It warms me much more deeply that THIS is what she is teaching, to perfect strangers. How cool or scary is it to walk up to a house, knock on the front door and ask the homeowner if they would like to know of our Heavenly Father's plan, and the true Gospel of Jesus is here on earth today, and that they can participate in the blessings promised his children. It leaves me breathless to think of my little one, doing just that. The Master leading, protecting and guiding them "onward ever onward as we glory in his name." Back in 1992 when we first moved to Provo and I was busy unpacking, and wanted a little someone to give me some space, I sent my bundle of love out the front door to look for work. Laura went out, at age 7, in a new neighborhood and knocked on doors , introduced herself, and asked if there were any jobs she could help out with. She came home with 35 cents, and a feeling of accomplishment. Little did I even know, I was helping shape a missionary. Now we laugh about that story. What was I thinking? To send Laura out in a place I knew nothing about. While Laura was polishing up on some missionary skills, I was teaching her to go out in the world to learn and do. I was learning how to replace fear with faith. Funny to think that 15 years later, I would once again have to rely on the Father and replace fear with faith, and trust in his plan. And that Laura would once again be knocking on doors of strangers. We as Latter Day Saints are so blessed to know of the eternal plan for us and our families. I am so grateful for the opportunity Laura has to go and serve the Lord. Laura has touched so many lives, Rochester New York will be sad when she goes. Which is in 9 month by the way. Ya Hoo.!! Oh my... I have gotten off track again, so I will close and let all of you reading this you are loved and we cherish our friendships with you. So... Bryn... go to Sundance and show them how to really be a" star" and shine on baby girl. And Lolo my baby goat, you remember you are so loved and missed by so many. We are so proud of you and your decisions. Keep on rocking Rochester until we meet again. Stay on the Right Side of the Light Side. Be safe, hug your family, tell them you love them and be eternally grateful for our Lord and the love he sends us. I think it's time for me to do some " real cruising" , Love to you all. A Missionary Mommy, Kathy