Life is too short

My dad has been really sick lately. He is often in lots of pain and nauseated or dizzy. He has been to the ER two times because his pancreas is not working right. The doctors said he either has chronic pancreatitis or pancreatic cancer. We don't know which yet. If it is just pancreatitis, he will probably need to have some or all of it removed and become diabetic, but the other option is far worse. Pancreatic cancer is one of the worst cancers because you don't usually feel anything until its much too late and cancer has spread. My sisters and my parents both think he only has a matter of time, though I choose to think that he does unless we're told otherwise.

This whole situation has had all of us reflecting on my dad and all he's done for us, and everyone around him. My dad is the most hard working, selfless person I know. He fixes cars for his family, builds houses to shelter them, lends them money interest free when they are in a tough spot financially, gives great advice, fixes everyones computers, does carpeting for people in the ward, and jumps up and gets to work whenever someone needs some help. He is a wonderful husband, father, and grandfather to us all. The kids can't get enough of "Papa". Benji always has a smile ready for him, and his first real chuckle was at Papa.

I had my dad and mom start a list of things they are going to do whether or not my dad has cancer. Saving for retirement is all well and good, but what if something happens and you don't make it to retirement age? Money is not only meant to be saved, it is also meant to be spent. You can't take money to the other side, and no one there cares just how much you had or made, but you can take, and keep forever, the memories you made. Some things we came up with are; renting a houseboat on Lake Powell with the family, Hawaii with the family, and Alaskan cruise without the family, and they are thinking of seeing the small island my dad lived on for part of his mission in Japan that my dad reminisces about every so often.

Keep us in your prayers, please. :)
Here are some pictures from the last month since I know can get my huge pics onto the internet.

Fun in the Sun! Benjamin's 1st Trip

For spring break we went with the Daffern side of the family down to Anaheim for a week and did 4 crazy days of Disneyland and Cali Adventure. He was such a good baby! He only cried when he needed a diaper change or to eat, and he smiled constantly. He only went on two rides, cause most of the time he was sleepin in the stroller so we didn't want to take him out. He went on the Pirates ride and a toy story ride. He seemed to like them, he stared around with huge eyes taking in all the colors at least. So cute! He just loved his cousins Maddy and Caden. He stared and smiled and laughed at them anytime they turned their attention on him, which was A LOT. Those two always wanted to play with him, my favorite questions were "Can I pet your baby?" -Caden or "Can I hold Bean?" -Maddy at Disneyland standing in a line.The kids had a lot of fun there and us adults did too! I can't remember if it was once or twice we left the kids to go to bed with grandma and grandpa to babysit and went to the parks by ourselves in the evening to ride the thrill rides. I love when we get to spend time with Jana and Lee because as a couple they are a great match for us. It's really too bad for us that they live so stinkin far away! At least we have Nick and Liberty here, they are the same way. It's nice to have a couple on each side of the family that we have so much in common with. Anyway, it was sad to say goodbye to the Gardner's but we are glad we had the opportunity to spend so much time with them! Here are some cute pics from one of my cameras!