When the Going Gets Rough....

the "Rough" go to the beach with "back up"!
Let me first say, thank you for your patience while awaiting the details of our FFF days at the beach;)
As you are aware, Our Girl had a terrible start which didn't get much better til Saturday.
Here's how it all went down...

Thursday: Was spent driving and and getting her right to bed when we reached the beach house. She struggled vigilantly with abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. While she rested we tried to get unpacked and organize the kitchen for our Mexican Fiesta! She never joined us that night, but the rest of us pigged out on tacos, carnitas, rice and beans, chips n salsa and a special treat that Uncle Brian taught Cal how to make that consisted of roasted jalapenos, garlic, pine nuts,olive oil and cilantro salt and pepper. We chose to eat it on EVERYTHING! Cereal was about the only possibility we thought might not work with it!;) We then took a little field trip down to the pier and Hailey with her charm and amazing new hair cut scored us 4 fresh crabs!
We boiled them the next morning and Cal and Uncle Matt cracked em up for all to enjoy!

Friday: She was still struggling, but was able to get out of bed to sit on the couch and visit with a view of the ocean off in the distance. The men and children fled to the beach for a game of football and woofle-ball. The women stayed behind to keep Robynn company. When she was ready for some more quiet time we took off to a cute little place and had lunch on a patio that faced the water. When the kids were done eating they got to run down to the beach and play in the sand and climb rocks til we finished. When we arrived back home, we all watched a video that Madison along with the help of friends, classmates and school staff had put together for "Aunt Robynn". Very sweet, funny, inspirational, full of love and bound with prayer and support! Later we bbq'd ribs, hot dogs, corn, garlic mashed potatoes, garlic bread and fresh fruit. We then got a crazy game of Taboo going that was lots of fun!

Saturday: This was a CRAZY day for me personally and a 2 thumbs up for Robynn! I had to get Cal back to Bakersfield(4 hours) for her Prom, run by Relay for Life @ CSUB and head back to the beach to miss as little as possible! No worries! I got it ALL done! Cal looked gorgeous! We made it to the Luminary celebration and found bags lit up in Robynn's and my Uncle Sonny's "honor". Was there to hear that Bakersfield had raised over 2 million dollars for the American Cancer Society and that my team "Too much Fun Club" came in second place by raising over 47 thousand dollars! AMEN!
Back at the beach was our own mini miracle unfolding! Robynn was feeling good! To take full advantage of this, they whisked her away to the place we had been the day before for lunch and the amazing view. She ate a bit of soup and enjoyed her family and her surroundings. She took a little snooze when they got back and later visited with the girls while the men/boys played poker! Uncle Derek was the big winner, with Uncle Brian 2nd and Tanner in 3rd.
What happened Papa???

Sunday: This was her BEST day by far!(maybe because it is God's day...hmmmm;) She went shopping at the little shops in downtown HMB. It was getting a little chilly and she was tiring so Brian and Brady took her home and we ate at a local Inn and then headed back as well. Hailey had been waiting this entire trip to go horseback riding. I tried to buy her off with a $23 shirt with a gold studded horse on the front...that didn't work! Instead, Hailey got the shirt and got Auntie to go horseback riding. Thank God for Brian and Madison who did not let me suffer alone! Hailey's smile from ear to ear was worth all the "bottom bashing" I endured! It still hurts to walk, sit, stand etc, but I'll be fine soon!!!:) While we were wild cowgirls/boys, the other boys went fishing to catch our dinner! We were ready for countless snapper to skin and gut and throw over the fire like the old days! I think the Lord Himself had realised our overeating and drinking needed to come to an end, evidenced by Brady and Tanner returning with only 1 fish! Pretty tough to split that between 16 people;) Oh well, break out the trays of pasta!

Let the Dance Off Begin...
It all started as an innocent little challenge. Brady has been very impressed with his cousin Tanner's "moves" that you all have watched courtesy of Bill Haines and youtube. He has watched it countless times to pick up some super impressive moves he might use on some hot chicks that will surface in his future. Pretty smart! Anyway, we moved all the furniture and had our make shift dance floor all ready. Brady was IN THE HOUSE and there was no stopping him now! He was unbelievable! He had moves that stunned us all! Tanner was even taken back! So much so,that he had to get in on the action. Little by little we found another one of us on the floor. Pretty soon ALL of us were dancing! Even Robynn!
Beastie Boys, Taylor Swift, Violent Femmes, Kenny Chesney, Tim McGraw (just to name a few) blared in the background. We lined danced and did the Cha-Cha. There was more fun had that night than should be allowed!!! Robynn got to slow dance with her devoted hubby to their wedding song,"Because You Loved Me" as well as "Your My Best Friend". Hailey got to dance to "There Goes My Life" with her Mom and Brady's song with Mom was "Jesus Take the Wheel".
Make no mistake, there were tears flowing at this point, but we sucked it up and moved back to FFF and more boogieing! We had to celebrate being together and savor every second! As I watched Robynn and Brian dance my Mom walked over and asked me "so was it worth the 8 hour drive"? "without a doubt" was my response. I would have driven forever if Sunday night was my reward! Well the party wound down around midnight and a few old and out of shape "troopers" hobbled off to bed!

Monday: We were all packing up and getting ready to head out when I see my brother Matthew lugging this huge bucket full of sand up 2 flights of stairs to the house entrance. I then hear him say "if you can't get to the beach, the beach will come to you...get over here and feel the sand between your toes". Robynn, absolutely thrilled, shrieked with excitement and joyfully jumped in the bucket. A scene that will forever be etched in my memory...thank you Matt!


With each memory we meet again with those we love
for the heart never forgets...
Thank you Robynn, Brian, Brady, Hailey, Mom, Dad, Mimi, Jenny, Derek, Matthew, Erin, Madison, Tim, Cal and Tanner...My heart will not only never forget, it will cherish these moments forever...thank you for gifting them to me!
All my Love,
S

She is not feeling very well today and will have next round of Chemo Thursday.
Please keep her ever present in your prayers!

Pray On Dear Soldiers!