So it's been a while since I've posted.  So much has happened these last few month. I continue to thank the Lord  for the tender mercies and miracles in my life. It's been a challenge trying to deal with the aftermath emotions. I can understand the fear people face when they need to change behaviors in their life.  When you have lived a certain way your whole life ( even if it's dysfunctional) you are familiar with it, and to change means uncertain territory. You have to rewire behaviors, thoughts, and actions.  And it sucks at times. But with these changes came many blessings and understanding I didn't have before.  I found a recent quote the other day that brought me to tears. It goes " I love the person I've become, because I fought to become her." If we are striving to be a better person or looking for relief from those things we know are weighing us down, we have to change.  We have to face those realities and weaknesses that are keeping us from reaching our potential, and then figure out how to overcome them.  I'm so grateful for a patient husband, forgiving children, and family and friends who have loved me in spite of my challenges and frailties.

My year "cell-abation" was May 23rd.  I was supposed to have a year check up with them. I didn't hear from them at all in May and part of me was hoping maybe I would get overlooked, but alas they contacted me and I do my testing this week and meet with the doctors next week to discuss the results.  Anxiety, anxiety, and more anxiety have been my reality these last couple weeks.  So how am I coping, well the day after my PET scan (June 18th), I will be doing the ragnar relay the next day the 19th and 20th.  I will end up running 3 different times with my mileage  close to 20 for those 2 days. I will also be running a half-marathon the next weekend the 23rd.  I've dedicated both of these races to my dear friends and loved ones who have bravely fought cancer or who are courageously fighting right now.  You are my true heroes, the ones I look up to, the ones who know how to battle when the going gets tough!  So here's to Hammy, Jenny, Adrienne, Sabrina, Grandma Booker, Aunt Connie, Jacob, Dezmon, Lena, Holli, Bonnie, Kumen, and any other dear friends who aren't posted because my brain doesn't work like it used to. Some have passed on, but I hope and pray they will be with me in spirit!


Get ready for major picture overload! I'll try to put them in order best I can! Warning this may be overwhelming for some. I'm stalling because I'm overwhelmed just thinking about it!
I'm going to post a few pictures of our last few months and want to keep this blog updated a little better!

This is what happens when your 9 year old gets a hold of your phone to take selfies!!                    

We had the opportunity to see the Payson Temple Dedicated and Myra and Mateen participated in the cultural celebration. They are in the "Take me out to the ball game" dance, front and center on the 50 yard line right in front of the apostles!

She found my phone again! Another batch of random selfies!!

While they slept! Naughty our elf had a little fun with their stuffed animals!!

Lomax Christmas 2015! It snowed about a foot Christmas Day! It was a perfect Christmas Day! Except that I got stuck in a ditch the day after Christmas trying to meet up with a friend to go running!

Sinterklaas gave us a visit this year!!

The Forgotten Carols

Myra practicing photography this last fall!

Halloween: Taytum was Gabby Douglas the Olympic Gymnast, Tremaine was a hamburger ,and Desi, Mateen, and Mateen's friend Jordan were the Decontaminaton Team from Monsters Inc.

BYU football game!

 

Thanksgiving 10K

 Taytum's picture's consist of birthday, cookies with mom, birthday party at the planetarium, track meet (she won the 200 for the city, and she was 2nd in the 100!), doing gymnastics, and farm camp, and her wonderful 3rd grade teachers ( Mrs. McEntire and Mrs. Hales)! 

 School pictures 2014-2015

 Family trips to the planetarium, Bean museum, and Boondocks (waterslide park)!

 Tremaine's pictures: His teacher the amazing Mrs. Andersen, his track meet (he's the speedy one in the yellow), reading his DARE essay he received recognition for, his 5th grade science experiment was who makes the best Root Beer!, his 11th birthday, and some pictures of his journey to receiving his black belt this May 2015.

A family favorite! Went to the thrift store and picked shnazzy outfits out walked around walmart then went to the movies! Good times 

Desi got to meet the one, the only Ray Lewis! He even had front for seats to listen to him speak! Desi was like a kid in a candy store! HE was beyond excited!

Mateen's 15th birthday, he's mastering the rubix cube, got his learners permit (heaven help us)! Found a weird looking tortilla chip, saw Ed Shereen for his birthday, got a guitar and still enjoys being a thespian!

We did a few hikes this year, This one is the Y and we also hiked up to the hot pots. They got to sit in warm sulfur water!!

Myra, Myra, Myra this girl has personality for days!! She got a big bag of popcorn for her 16th birthday, drivers permit, learned a little ball room dancing, played a game of basketball with her mom (it was so awesome), went to Prom with her good friend Austin, and last picture is her girls camp sight down in Moab! They went repelling, hiking, and rafting! Was an exciting adventurous week for her!

Spent time with Doug's family at Christmas time! We had a blast crammed into our little house! I can't figure out how to get this picture back where I want it so this is random last picture!

2014 Totals-- Miles from Friends and Family!

Hello!  This is Cathy

As friends and family we have been logging miles over the past year to show our love  and support for Ali.   Our goal was to sweat for 50,000  miles (or minutes in class or pounds lost) and "dedicate" them Ali.  We had 94 friends and family units participating.   Thank you to everyone who worked out a little harder  or a little longer or ran some races and contributed miles.  We  hope it has been a blessing in your life.  We hope that good habits were formed.   So many kind words and inspiring stories were shared through emails.     Thank you!


Total Miles in 2014 = 62, 955

Christmas Letter via Blogspot!!

I figured since we have a blog I would do our Christmas letter on here. The Lomax family made it another year in tact. It was a long hard year, full of scary, uncertain, and happy moments. We started this year knowing it was going to be a long year. January was when were getting ready to start my second bout with chemo treatments.  This time I knew a transplant would be in place. I didn't know what to think. I was hoping by some miraculous cure I wouldn't have to do it.  My parents didn't hesitate at all in their efforts to help us out. They were down here within hours of a phone call.  It took so much pressure and relief off, knowing my children were well taken care of. Not just by my parents, but by so many other wonderful angels! It is one thing to be independent. It is another thing to be dependent. People are so quick to talk up independence like it is the best trait in the world, but there is something about dependence that teaches us to submit.  I have never felt so much gratitude, humility, and submissiveness in being dependent on others.  Gratitude in the many sacrifcies made on our families behalf, garage sales, 5k's, auctions, blogs, donations, the list goes on and on.  I was truly humbled by this and the outpouring of love and prayers recieved on our behalf.  I was humbled many times, realizing that this journey was going to be long, and I would be starting all over. I had to submit many times to treatment and doctors. Trusting their judgement, and course was the best choice. We also went to the Lord many times asking him to guide the doctor's and us to know which way was the best. We felt guided and learned so much in being dependent on others. I don't think it made us weaker, it made us stronger and blessed so many others in the process.
       One of my favorite stories I'd like to share is with my 11 year old boy.  He is our child that struggles with anxiety.  He was really having a hard time with me going away for a while. I knew he was worried and scared.  I went into his room to talk to him about it and he just broke down. "I don't want you to go!" he cried.  We decided to do a trade, I first asked him for his favorite blanket.  He agreed at first, then quickly changed his mind realizing he needed that more.  He agree to give up "Monkey" his favorite stuffed animal, and I gave him my pillow and hung a picture of me up by his bed. I told him he could give me a good night kiss every night. So we eased his anxiety a little, but I was truly touched by his genuine concern and love that he showed.
      This year had a few highlights as well.  We got to watch Mateen perform in his school play.  He was fabulous!  Mateen placed first at the State Hershey track meet in the 200 and second in the 100.  He was spoiled by grandpa taking him golfing lots.  He had a great year in football and decided to try wrestling. Not sure he likes it.  Myra turned 16.  She is in the National Honor's Society and is still waiting for her first date (Desi is okay with her not dating :). She got a job at the local grocery store and loves it. She has a very uplifting personality. She loves to make people happy.        Tremaine ran his heart out in track. He can't wait until he is fast like his brother!  He is working very hard has his Senior red belt. He is on target to get his black belt in May. We are so proud of his dedication!  He stepped up to the plate this year and played center in football. Poor kid. I think after taking on 130 lb. linemen he's learned how to overcome a little bit of anxiety!      Taytum is our little perfectionist. She works hard in school and is getting better in her reading every week.  She ran track this spring and made her dad giddy everytime she ran. He can't wait until she is older.  She loves gymnastics and is doing front handsprings and back walk overs any chance she gets. She loves that they are letting her practice back handsprings at gymnastics.  She is quite the artist and is always leaving a mess somewhere in the house, of paper scraps, scissors, or markers somewhere.                             Desi is busy, busy, busy, but he love's what he is doing and is so glad he had an opportunity to leave the Sheriff's office and pursue a job that lets him use his degree!  He has felt this is what he was meant to do, and loves helping people change for the better.      I stay busy, just kidding. I get my workout in the morning, some morning's I'll run 6-8 miles and some mornings I go get my butt kicked at my favorite gym! Push it Gym! I'm still trying  to figure out how long I wait to get into things again. I'm not doing hair anymore, and I miss so many of my friends I've come to love and know through doing their hair.  We'll see what the next few months bring and with a few good bills of health I'll probably get into some kind of health and fitness avenue. I would love to help others feel good about themselves and see them change their lives. I am grateful for my time with my kids. I use to take for granted all the running around and now I cherished more the moments I have with them. Things are more simple now. We don't fuss and fight as much, we have more patience in how we raise our children. Each day is truly precious.

We have to acknowledge what our faith has meant to us. Our belief in a God and  our Savior who is mindful of us in our suffering and difficulties is what sustained us through some many times of uncertainty and unrest in our lives. There can be peace in times of sadness, disappointment, and pain! We no longer doubt God's influence in our lives and we humbly thank him for his tender mercies in our lives and will forever praise his name. Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New year. Thank you for your love throughout the year.
                                                  Picture of Taytum with Santa

                       

Kids snuggling in bed with mama!

Family stop for ice cream on our way to St. George!

Annual KP easter egg hunt!

Add caption

Chemo treatments!

Relaxing in St.George

Kids visiting mom in the hospital!

Selfie while Ali is sleeping!

Transplant day! May 23, 2014

Desi at comic-com with the boys!

Walking with the kids at the hospital!

Ali took the kids on a much resisted hike in spanish fork!

before the hike!

Ali's 36th birthday! Yea

Hike to the grotto

Myra's first job!

Byu game with family!

 aBirthday party at the Aquarium!

Lomax family2014!!

Update on Miles

Hi, this is Cathy (Ali's Sis)--

What an amazing group of friends and family who have tracked miles over the past several months.  So far we have collected 58,356 miles for Ali through out this year.  We hope you find yourself in better health for the miles you have logged.  

As you can tell from Ali's last post, she is recovering, but it is hard.  She was very honest about the emotional roller-coaster she has been through.  I appreciate her honesty and love her even more for sharing her feelings.

How thankful I am to have a Father in Heaven who answers prayers.  Who gives us strength, who can give strength to others when we ask for them to be strengthened. I struggle with what to say, so I just leave a picture of something that hangs in my house and helps me get through.

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you who follow Ali's blog!   A big thank you from our family to all of you who have prayed and supported and blessed her and her family!    How thankful I am to have her as my sister.

Hello Everyone,

I know it's been a while. Sorry to those of you who were following the blog.  Well there is good news. Our scan in September came back clear.  So no cancer as of September. We scan again in December so keep the prayers coming. I get nervous every time.  These last couple of months have been a roller coaster of emotion.  I have been able to get out of the house, but going through cancer is a lonely, scary journey.  It's been hard to find out where my place is again in the world.  What things can I do?  Should I wait to pursue things? How long should I wait? I hate my hair!  It's hard finding your place in the world sometimes.  I think the only thing that kept me going some days was football season! Our two boys played this year, and they both did very well. I stayed busy running them back and forth and making sure they had treats or meals for the games.  Mateen is a great running back.  It was fun watching him run the ball. Tremaine had to step up this year and play center. Poor kid. He's not very big so he would get pretty nervous when he had to face the big linemen in games.  After a few iffy snaps he would settle down and do pretty good.  He would really step up if you bribed him with mint chocolate chip ice cream or a Son of a Baconator from Wendy's! :)

The girls have stayed busy. Myra joined the National Honor's Society and she was a manager for the high school soccer team.  She got keep stats at the games.  She also does quite a bit with NHS. I think it's been an adjustment getting used to high school, but she is doing well.  Taytum loves gymnastics and art. She is either practicing front hand springs, back walk overs, or getting markers and glue out to make some kind of art project.  She is a busy body!

Halloween was kind of quiet this year. Tremaine went as a cheeseburger and ventured out with his friends to trick or treat for the first time.  Taytum was Gabby Douglas (the 2012 Olympic gold medalist). My sister and I took her around. So I only had one child to tag along with. They both got lots of candy, and I told them if I found wrappers around the house I get 5 pieces of candy for every wrapper. I have yet to find one.

I was looking through old posts today on the blog, and didn't realize how emotional it would be to look back at everything.  I was overcome with anxiety reading and looking at pictures. I was also overcome with a great sense of gratitude for my family and friends.  I don't think I can ever say thank you enough for everyone's love and support. It made things that much easier to know my children were taken care of and loved.  That we had so many friends show up to the 5k and support us there.

I was thinking about the Savior's life the other day and his ability and capacity to love.  It is hard to love sometimes.  Especially if we feel justified to be angry or dislike someone.  I have found myself in turmoil these last couple of months.  I think I was angry, depressed, trying to figure what's next for me.  I would find myself looking at people around me wondering why they don't have cancer. Why did I get it? How come I have to start over? Will I have to start over again? I had so much to be grateful for (miracles, support from family and friends, awesome husband, and a beautiful family) yet I was angry and hateful in some ways.  It wasn't until I started to really let some of those feelings go and soften my heart that peace came.  I've had to humble myself many times to feel the Lord's love for me and know he cares and is aware of me.  I've had to make a conscious effort to change my thinking when I look at others and felt angry or spiteful.  It hasn't been easy, but there really is a peace that comes from learning to replace anger in your heart with love.  It makes such a difference in so many aspects of life, but it's so very, very hard.  I still don't have it down perfectly, but I'm trying. That's all we can do to get through life sometimes.

Hi All, this is Cathy (Ali's Sister).    It's almost August 30th.   And that means it's time for the family friendly                         "5K Ali's Way" which is a benefit fundraiser for the Lomax family.  If you would like to participate click here.  The link will take you to the sign up page for race.  The cool logo pictured to the right has been custom designed to help you run as fast as Ali (results not guaranteed).  If you don't want to race or can't be there, but still want a T-shirt, you could leave a comment on the race blog for Becky (Ali's friend) or email Becky at 5kalisway@gmail.com  The time to order T-shirts is quickly drawing to a close...so if you want one, better jump on it soon!

Ali and I went for an 8 mile walk the other day (she slows down for me because I have bad knees).  I took a picture of the T-shirt that our family recently had designed for her.   She looks good in it!

Mileage Update for "50K for Ali"

 It is time to post our mileage for July!  We had a glitch in our spreadsheet over the past couple months....

  So here are the correct totals:

January-- 2906

February--5968

March--9235

April--7625

May--7443

June--6263

July5179

Total  44,623

We are so close to the goal of 50,000 miles for Ali.    Thank you to all of the friends and family that are running/walking/sweating in support of Ali.    We would like to continue this goal through 2014. 

If you would like to submit miles, please send an email to 50kforali@gmail.com

   We record miles at the end of each month.

As part of the 5K we are also doing an auction just following the race.  Click here to go to the race blog to find out details about when and where the race and auction will be held.     Just for fun I thought I would post a couple pictures of two of the items we have for the auction.

Definitely something you don't see everyday!   One of the items to be auctioned off is this
 Hopi Kachina Doll that was purchased on the Hopi Indian Reservation in the 1980's.  The detail is amazing and it is certainly a conversation starter at the dinner table.  

One of the other items  donated for the auction is an amazing quilt that was pieced, quilted, and bound by 3 women who have known Ali more or less all of her life.  The contrasting green is the Green Lymphoma Ribbon Awareness color.   It even looks good hanging over fence with sunflowers.  It is really a beautiful quilt.   Thank you Marlena, Linda and Leslie!

Hiking the Y  with some cool, but whiney kids.

Physically Ali is feeling pretty good and the lab values are going in the right direction.  When I went down to visit a week ago, we took the kids and hiked the "Y", then of course stopped for ice-cream.
 Ali's last blog was a sobering reminder for me of how precious life is and also a reminder to let those I love know it!    None of us know how long we will journey here on earth, but we can love, enjoy and live with purpose.   My visit with her again reaffirmed my belief in a loving Father in Heaven, who is mindful of physical and emotional pain, and honors those who turn to Him during that time.
Thanks for your many prayers in behalf of Ali and Desi and there family.  Keep them coming!

So I'm finally posting on the blog. Summer is ticking away with .  We have tried to keep the kids busy with things. Taking hikes, (unless it's short they complain), making fruit flags, going to One Republic concerts, and going out to breakfast for all you can eat french toast! It's hard keeping everyday occupied. I am so grateful for the friends the kids have to play with on the days we just stay home. I hope they aren't driving the other families too crazy. I will let the kids bring their friends over here and there and let them hang out! They always seem to forget to warn me so I can put a hat a first. I think I  have traumatized a few children in the neighborhood! I hope the kids have been able to make some good memories of this year despite the tough ones. They mean so much to me and I have moments I get overwhelmed. Will I get to be there for Myra's first date? Will I get to see Mateen play football ? Will I get to see Tremaine get his black belt? What will Taytum grow up and enjoy doing? Will I get to be a part of it here on Earth?  Do they know how proud I am of them and what they are becoming. I know this is selfish of me, but I want to be alive to experience their joys and pains. Their highs and
lows. To tuck them in at night.  To scratch their backs in the morning to wake them up for football! I have had a hard time staying positive especially when the anxiety gets to me. You just wish things could go back to normal sometimes. So there you have it I am not this amazing person to look at and admire. I fall short many times when I emotionally overwhelm myself. I can't keep it together. So I stay in my room until I can put it together. I  get up with that hope that things are going to work out. Things are going to work out. I try to remember some of the spiritual experiences I had in the hospital that brought peace to my soul that things were going to be ok. I just need to press forward with  faith and hope. We have to wait a couple months to scan where the cancer has been in the past, so I think if I knew things were fine my anxiety and fear would be good. I'm so touched by those people who have reached out to us to help us financially. It's overwhelming such a blessing to see so many good people take time out of their lives to help us out a little bit.  I don't know how to say thank you enough. I have tried to stay up on it with thank you cards or texts, but I know I have missed some people and I just hope that God blesses them in many good ways!!




So my sister sent me them miles for June so I will post  them for y'all.

                                                                 January--2,858
                                                                 February--5,921
                                                                 March--12,537
                                                                 April--7,603
                                                                 May--7,470
                                                                 June--6,114
                                                                TOTAL--42,480!!
This is so awesome what everyone is doing and I hope it has blessed your life physically, emotionally, somehow made you a happy healthier person by getting out and doing something. I started running a little bit. It is slow,but it gets me back to my destination faster. :) No matter what I do I just can't walk as fast as I can trot there! So be ready at the 5k. I'll be jogging some of it. It will be great to see friends and family there where can cheer each other on and support everyone in their own way!! Don't forget to sign up. Thanks Becky and everyone else who is helping out! Here is the link.      https://www.facebook.com/events/744484095601774/?ref=22  Hope it works from here! :)