The Ugly, The Bad and most of all The Good!

I have noticed over the years that when bad things are happening in my life, I tend to not write. It is as if somewhere in my mind there is the feeling that if I don't write about it that it didn't really happen. During the past few months we have been hit with one bad thing after another in our family. It all started when Bill was diagnosed with cancer. It was found during a routine check. How could my very active husband have the dreaded word "cancer?" (We have been working through his treatment, and things are going very well.) Shortly after that, Ethel was put in the hospital with multiple problems and well since March, I have had someone either in the hospital or in the ER every 2 weeks. It is really bad when the ER staff knows you by name, and well, you know them as well. It has just been a bit of an ugly stretch for our family. This all caused so much stress that it sort of made me sick with bleeding ulcers and sleep deprivation and that was bad.

However, through all of this there has been much good . . .

In preparation for recieving the priesthood, Daniel learned to how to tie his own tie.

Well lets try that again Daniel. . .

Jessica was once again on the YMCA Swimteam and she with her fellow Barracudas finished the season winning the North Suburan Confernce title. Jessica greatly improved her times this year and will continue to swim 1000 meters, 3 days a week in prep to be on her High School team in the fall. Jessica isn't built like many of the other girls, at first that was a great disavantage until her coaches put her to swiming the power strokes. Seems that she is built perfectly for those. That would be the Freestyle and the Butterfly. She won many personal ribbons this year. We are very pleased.

Between events we spend a lot of time at what is called the "crash site." Here the swimmers re-fuel, re-hydrate, and relax--it is extreemly noisy. The avarage meet lasts 4-5 hours. All of the events are under 1 minute of swimming. Jessica usually participated in 3-5 events. I spent my time knitting.

At the beginning of June I was released as Relief Society President. I was exteemly sad, however somewhat releaved as well. During my time as RS Pres. Our family developed a wonderful relationship with the missionaries. Now I think it is in the book they have, that the Helm famliy is weird, but always has extra seats at the table for dinner. We have them at least 2 times each month. It greatly enriches our lives meeting and getting to know these young men. As time moves while they are on thier missions, they miss things they did before they left. One of the things our Elders missed at the beginning of June was going to camp (Scout camp, and Girls camp was the first 2 weeks of June) So we built a fire in the fire pit and let them cook dinner for us over the camp fire. We also introduced them to a family favorite--Wookie Vomit.

Elder Jensen and Elder MacIntire couldn't wait. . .

Mandy turned 22 on July 3rd and we forgot to take pictures of most of her birthday stuff, except Jessica was so proud of making her fruit pizza that she took a picture of it early. Notice that the fruit spells the word "Happpy"

Each year, on the 4th of July we have a family tradition--we get up early and make doughnuts in the shape of stars. This year the missionaries wanted to be a part of this tradition. We then take the doughnuts to the ward picnic.

Daniel and Josh told the Elders that at the end, when we don't have much dough left we make doughut holes and then we get to eat the doughnut holes. That is when they quit making doughnuts and concentrated on the holes.

Daniel turned 12 on July 10th. We celebrated with a Pirates cake made out of cupcakes.

Matthew felt that the ultra green frosting that was way toooooo thick was good for only 1 thing. . . . .a new type of hair gel. I don't think it will fly, however it probably did attract flies.


All in all, so far it has been a pretty good summer. We have read some really good books, watched some movies, and played many games. Most of all we have enjoyed being a family.