Weeks 72-75

Jan 4, 2009
Week 72


-----Original Message-----
From: "Danny & Diane Waller"
To: "Austin Waller"
Date: Mon, 4 Jan 2010 10:01:48 -0500
Subject: Week 72 HAPPY NEW YEAR

Elder Waller,

H A P P Y N E W Y E A R, ok now that all the excitements over its back to the ole grind. This year Mom and I did not have any fireworks. just did not seem right without you and of course that party hard dog "Ace"! I miss the old guy. The other day at work I went online and was looking at pictures of Brittany's. very tempting, but soon I came to my senses, no more pets for a while.

I have a very small Sunday School class this year, only two students this morning. I should be able to handle them with little effort. Remember Dirk Parker??? He is really developing a great testimony, and will make a good missionary one day. Some of those day's back when he was younger I could have sworn that he had "666" tattoo on the back of his head. He was a real trial, it appears that over the course of some years he was actually listening. surprise : )!

Well my golf game has disappeared, played once in the month of December and then only shot a 106. terrible cold and wet! This holiday weekend just too cold.. the morning started out at 27F so brother Jorgensen and I decided we would try next weekend. The weather just came on and it is calling for frozen precipitation by Friday night. Of course they are weathermen and really have no clue even for the next 12 hours.

Still have people commenting about my violin concert on Christmas Eve. they want it as an annual event! Too bad the annual event only involves me, that was a lot of work. These really cold dry days make the violin sound funny, it maybe that the humidity is too low, how can I know?

Well latter gator, I am going back to finish watching Duke kill Clemson!
ACC all the way!

DAD


This is my good week before the 3rd chemo treatment. No nausea, taste buds are trying to return and I don't feel like laying around. But baby it is cold outside. On Saturday it was very windy too. Dad and I were walking from Dicks to Best Buy (just killing time) when that cold north wind nearly took my wig off. Straightaway we turned around and fled for the safety of the car. Burrrr!

I'm not going to send you any of the Fruit Cake cookies. The problem is I was sick and on drugs when we made them and dad stacked them without putting wax paper in between the layers. Now instead of a few dozen individual cookies, we have one big fat tasty mass of cooked cookie dough in the shape of the giant rounded bowl they are stored in. We have to tear and rip each delicious bite from the 5 pound cookie. It is a lot of work. But, I'll bet dad will remember the wax paper next time. I know I will.

Hope this letter finds you well and warm. Love, Mom

Hey!

The letter doesn't necessarily find me well or warm. I have had illnesses in the morning, blech! Warm.....we are walking in the cold nearly all day. Oh well, such is life. It is getting better though.

We had another one of those activities on New Years Eve. We watched Monsters INC and Bolt. I was surprised with Bolt, it was really good. Good subtle message in it though. You can have all the superpowers in the world, but it will never mean anytyhing unless you have courage. It is displayed very well in the movie.

A giant, 5lb cookie...ok. Hey dad, I will be there next year. You wouldn't be alone. MWAHAHAHA! About the violin sounding funny, that is normal, when the weather changes, the sound changes. They actually make rooms certain temperatures when recording to get the exact sound they want. The handmade ones sound much better than the machine made ones. Yours is machine made.

For a while! WHAT! That doesn't sound like what you were saying on the phone! It sounds like you might get another one in the future. Just wait, it will happen. you just watch. If anything, I think you miss him because of the New Year's celebration we normally do. That will get you eventually.

Frozen precipitation? We have that all the time! The stuff we have is not leaving! AHH! It must leave or.....leave! Oh, sure you were just "killing time" going over to Best Buy. For all I know, your wig almost came off while you were coming out with a new 90" flat screen TV! O.o

GO ACC! WOOOO! The rivalries out here are ridiculous. They announce the BYU and UoU games over the pulpit and mention it during testimony meetings! I AM SICK OF IT!

Anything about here? Had an MRI not too long ago. Doctor West called this morning and said that it was really inflamed. It does feel weird, but doesn't hurt right now. He said that if it gave me more problems to call him. He will probably put an activity restriction on me. What does that mean? CAR! Not really, but, that is what I like to think.

Uhhhh.....we got to go see the lights at Temple Square? That was kind of a let down. Only one tree was impressive. It was a big tree filled with red lights. It is in a little film I recorded.

Not much else is happening here.

Love ya!

Elder Austin Waller

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Jan 11, 2009
Week 73



-----Original Message-----
From: "Danny & Diane Waller"
To: "Austin Waller"
Date: Sun, 10 Jan 2010 20:28:54 -0500
Subject: Week 73

Hello Elder Waller,

I haven't been looking at your weather this week, but I have been held hostage in the house it is sooo cold.

I was really blue this week. I felt good physically but could break down and cry at anything. I was wearing what we call my country singer wig but I had tried to style it a little differently. When Danny came home he started singing "Your Cheating Heart" (just the first song he thought of, not an accusation) and I started crying. It was that way all week. Friends and family were asking me how I was doing on Facebook. I avoided answering because I didn't want to lie. Finally on Thursday I told the truth and the support messages started coming in. From all over the U.S. Many military members who have moved. I cheered right up. I should have done it sooner.

Speaking of Ace, I (mom) was surprised at your dad's interest in Brittany's again. He even watched a Dogs 101 which featured the Brittany and loved every minute. The show loved the Brittany. But what he didn't tell you is they cost $600 each. He is much too cheap for that. And I have the same position as stated on the phone. Dad forgets all the times Ace got him out of bed in the middle of the night, sometimes multiple times. I'll make sure dad remembers.

Dad had a funny event happen. A lady at his work was complaining she could not get out of the castle. Huh! This lady is in her 60's is not a cheerful person. She was playing Super Mario Brothers on the Wii. The next day she reported she got out of the castle but now has to teach Mario how to swim to get out of the moat. I cracked up. Maybe old folks can remember how to have fun.

Remember the lady (Helen) at the hospital who showed you her Gall Bladder scar? We had Kielbasa sausage a little while back and dad told Helen about it. We learn that Helen is of Polish descent. She bought back a long link of "real" Kielbasa from New York and told us how to prepare it. We had it this week end and it was good. Much leaner than our choices here.

I get my 3rd of 4 bad chemo treatments tomorrow. So here we go again.
Bleh!!! Actually I am doing very well with the treatments. My blood counts are very good and after the nausea passes, it takes about 11 days, I feel good. Now I need to work on my mood.

We went to see my mom and dad this afternoon. They are doing well, just also very cold. The pond has frozen over. Although we did not go see it today. Too nippy when the wind blows.

Granddad said he has had problems with his knee cap slipping out of place.
He popped it back into place. He said it eventually went away. All of your walking is most likely causing your problem.

Can't think of much more news other than my cousin Pam DeMann said one of the missionaries name in her ward (Murray) is something like Hamiguchi. She's looking for you now. I met again on Facebook. Her mother Aunt Kitty Kirby is your granddad's baby sister.

One more thing, we saw the Stake Presidency today. Ward conference.
President Brew says hi.

Love you much, mom

Hey!

Guess what? I am back to the cane. For some reason it is getting worse without even walking. Took some anti-inflammatories, and they made my pain worse. ARGH! I have 7 doctors confused as to why it hurts now. It is keeping me from walking all-day like I should. But there are promises that when this is over, it is over for good. I like that promise.

Today is the Anniversary of Brandy Shilling's baptism! It has me in a very good mood. From what they told me last time I saw them, they should be getting sealed around this time. I hope they do.

I am doing an Extensive Study on Jesus Christ. It involves all of the Topical Guide references to Christ, Preach My Gospel, and Jesus the Christ by James E. Talmage. So far so good with it.

In a couple weeks I should be giving a talk on the Atonement. That will be big. I get spiritual promptings even now in preparation for it. I get the feeling that it is going to make a big impact on the members of the ward. I am starting to take up the thing Elder Bednar told me when he came to our ward. It wasn't me that said that. It involves the Spirit. The General Authorities love giving talks without writing them down. President Laney has us do the same. It works! Man oh man do you invite the Spirit. You are looking at the congregation all the time, except to read scriptures, and you can get revelation as to what you need to say on the spot. I have been told one that I was "Welcomed into the Seventy!" That was a, meh, moment.

Other than that there is not much else. Why does healthy food have to cost so much money! I get a bag of chicken and it costs $7! What is up! It tastes great and people are already noticing a difference in how I look. I can't tell. But the poeple who don't see me for a month or two do. Sounds promising.

Hmm...I remember Helen. That was a big scar. I have to tell people over here that I cannot eat extremely fatty things and anything spicier that salsa. Super Mario Brothers? That is a very fun game. But...you can't teach Mario how to swim. It is a pitfall. She might have a hard time with that and get even angrier. People out here mention video games all the time. You can't escape it, especially when they have awkward pauses waiting for you to give your opinion. Talk about trying to keep your mind on the mission! AHH!

The pond is frozen over?! HOW COLD IS IT! That is not normal at all. Grandpa's knee-cap slips out? Mine just pops out then immediately comes back in. Still have no idea what is wrong with my knee. Still working on it. I go see Dr. West again on Friday. Hopefully something will happen this time. The anti-inflammatory shot they gave me was basically just water injected into my knee. It just got heavy. The MRI just showed inflammation. The medicene I am taking only makes the pain worse. I am an enigma!

So much for that. You have a Facebook? Hmm...Maybe, maybe not for me when I get back. You never know. Tell President Brew I said Hi.

Love to all,

Elder Austin Waller
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Jan 18, 2009
Week 74




-----Original Message-----
From: "Danny & Diane Waller"
To: "Austin Waller"
Date: Mon, 18 Jan 2010 09:39:09 -0500
Subject: Week 74

Hi Elder Waller,

I just got back from getting my labs. I have to go each week to see how my blood counts are doing. For the first time they were down, and I feel it. I am sooo tired. But they expect the counts to come up this week to a normal level. More energy, yeah. Wonder if I am not eating right. Seems everything I put in my stomach doesn't like me. I had the strongest desire for brownies yesterday. So while dad was experimenting with the instruments, I made brownies. I licked the batter bowl clean. That was sooo good. I should have taken the hint when the tiny bit of batter didn't feel so good. But I didn't. I need b r o w n i e s! I was patient for them to cool and had TWO.
To my dissatisfaction the evening was spent lying on the couch with a stomach ache and just after I expressed a desire to purge these things from my body, it happened. I must admit to idol worship this weekend, twice.

Dad was all chuckles when he came in from golf. We told you the last few weeks have been severely freezing. It was finally a clear day which started out at freezing but would be 60 by noon.

The greens were still frozen but starting to thaw and they let dad and Brother Jorgensen play anyway. Dad said their shoes attracted the frost. Even after the 1st hole their feet look liked prickly ice sculptures. Their shoes were heavy and making their feet cold. The putts. He said they cracked up over the putts. They would strike the ball and as it rolled, it would pickup ice crystals. It looked like an icy snowball by the time it could not roll anymore.

This will be a short letter. I have got to go lay down. I am falling asleep from the meds and very tired anyway.

I want to hear about what they are doing for your knee.

Zzzzzzzzz, love m o m

Hey!

To clear up important matters first, on Friday they gave me a shot directly into the inflamed area. It was a very RANDOM location, one just under the knee-cap in the fat. The shot hurt quite a bit the first night, I could barely sleep. It seems to be working more now. I can walk around more, but it will still be a couple days before I can start walking on it constantly. The eliptical in our apartment is helping. The doctor was confused as to why it is. I just simply prayed about what would help my knee the most, and that was the answer. Whenever my knee starts hurting, I jump on it for 5-15 minutes. Hey, whatever works right?

Brownies. I know about those. We have some almost every night for desert. I like them a lot though! I still don't get tired of them. But, I picked up on the idol worship thing. The brownies and the toilet bowl. Clever. Dad's golf? Putting snowballs? Wow. It is colder there than it is here. Not cool. Well...in realistic terms, very cool. More like COLD. I remember how dad used to come in from Golf laughing. We always asked him, "What?" Yeah.

So you are tired? So am I. I can't lay down and sleep though. I have several types of insomnia, probably from the rigors of missionary work. Should be getting something to help with that on Thursday. While I am at the doctor's, I'll ask him about ARMOR. The live thyroid thing.

Sistery Laney was at Dr. West with us. She mentioned looking up some stuff on the internet and she found the blog that you made about my mission. She said it was really neat. She also asked if I had seen it. I don't even know the address. Don't give it to me. I'll see it when I come back in August.

Nothing else really. The area here is exploding. We have 13 investigators and will be picking up 4-5 more. Neat. I sometimes wonder if I care too much for the people I teach. Three didn't come to sacrament yesterday, and I literally became sick. Oh well. Things come, things go. Still will help them the very best I can. One of the people that we are teaching here told me that my strongest trait is compassion. After this experience, I think he is right. It reminds me of Jude 1:22 (And of some have compassion, making a difference;). That is President Laney's favorite scripture. I am the kind of person that wants to help, even when I physically shouldn't. At least I am becoming that person. I am telling you, I will be completely changed when I get home. Expect it.

That is really it. Nothing else that is exciting. I wish I could go to sleep. It is P-Day. I just might. Probably not.

Love to All,

Elder Austin Waller (D&C 58: 27-28)

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Jan 25, 2009
Week 75

Weeks 68-71

Dec 7, 2009
Week 68

-----Original Message-----
From: "Danny & Diane Waller"
To: "Austin Waller"
Date: Mon, 7 Dec 2009 09:12:56 -0500
Subject: Week 68

Hey Elder Waller,

A pregnancy complication can be a whole list of things, such as "This baby ain't waiting for no due date" to serious mother's health issues. Just keep at it until you get your teeth cleaned.

I didn't go to church today. a cough has me hacking at all hours. I am pretty miserable. Dad took care of my talk issue for me. I am off the hook.
But dad is still on. After this week we just don't know how predictable I will be (and dad has to do it for me - that is even what brother Tom suggested ha ha ha). But I do understand about being called by the Spirit to talk. I expect part of me will be in dad's talk.

About Chemo side effects. I wish no one had to deal with them. The day after was fine, it all started to fall apart on Wednesday and is still going on this very minute. Mostly nausea and coughing. But both wear me out. I don't know how I am going to get any shopping for Christmas done. Maybe an improvement will come soon. Dad has been great. Basically there is his food and my food. His food is the normal stuff. Mine is Butternut squash soup, ramen, thinly sliced apples and pears with a few nuts here and there. Dad had some pickles out and the smell made me gag. I had some pizza which tasted good, but, it didn't like me. I had a tiny bit of meat last night with couscous and green beans, the couscous was the best.

President Hinckley! Looks like you are making the best of it. I am glad the cane helps, but I really want to know why you have the pain at all.

Did you get any snow or just cold weather? I heard dad say something about it but I cannot remember exactly what.

We were watching Lord of the Rings and were hearing the screeching of the Nasgould (I don't know how to spell it - it is the evil flying creature).
Dad said that is what his E string sounded like. LOL.

I've got to get on the phone to find out what to do about my cough. It is difficult to do anything to lay around and cough.

Waiting for your letter with love, mom

Hey,

Man, that is tough. Doesn't sound bad, but it probably feels horrible. You don't need to respond to that comment. Sorry about the food thing.

Hey! Knee is better! Guess what happened? A Chiropractor happened! Dad will probably cringe at that. He said that my muscle was twisted and my knee-cap was out of place. Not too long, about 2 mintues, and I was better. I was running that night.

Snow, plenty. We aren't in the big stuff yet, we are at the 4" right now, but here it can get up two 4' regularly. Fun stuff......yeah. We are supposed to get a "big-one" today, but I have yet to see anything near big.

It is spelled Nazgul, but I know what you are talking about. Those are the grim-reaper guys that ride on the undead horses and the flying Wyverns (dragon-like creatures). Sounds like the E-string? Hmm...maybe if you play it a certain way. To get the sound for the Balrog, the big flaming demon thing in the first one, they drug a cinder-block across the ground. Once you think about it, it makes sense.

Nothing much else is happening here. Steven sent me an e-mail. It is good to hear from at least one of my friends. Good stuff.

I had a lot of the President Hinckley comments made to me. I usually picked up my cane like he did. They liked it. Oh hey, I got an eye exam today and got a prescription for glasses. Oh man it makes a difference! Don't need it to function, but it helps to see signs when you are driving. If I didn't have glasses, I would see the sign....when I need to turn. Fun!

Umm...yeah not much else. Just happy that my knee and my eyes are getting fixed and helped. OORAH!

By the way. I sent three packages home today. Just some stuff that is burdening me.

Love to all,
Elder Austin Waller
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Dec 14, 2009
Week 69



-----Original Message-----
From: "Danny & Diane Waller"
To: "Austin Waller"
Date: Mon, 14 Dec 2009 10:10:58 -0500
Subject: Week 69

Hi Elder Waller,

We very much enjoyed your letter last week. With two more essential problems fixed, your remaining mission should be smooth sailing. Dad has had fun with your realization after getting eyeglasses (reading the signs). I was telling about the Pres. Hinckley pose with your cane and also your chiropractor fixed knee. That is the strange one.

I was speaking of my cough last week. It got much worse. I ended up going to Dr Chung. I have a bad case of bronchitis. I am back on inhalers. I have not been able to speak most of the week, and at church I could not sing any notes. It was a very ugly sound that came out when I tried. Otherwise I feel good. Saturday I noticed the first signs of hair loss. Today it is coming out by multiple strands (about 15-20) when I lightly run my fingers through my hair. By the weekend I'll probably be donning my wig. This is not fun and I prepared the best I can for it. The good part is that this is one more unsavory event that will be done with.

Dad's week end was completed this morning. The weekend started by not being able to golf because it was predicted to be too cold (ended up the temps did not fall as predicted). So Dad got this taste for a cherry pie. I keep everything in stock for him. He makes a beautiful pie and we wait about 3 hours in the wonderful baking smells. We were going to watch Transformers 2 when we decided to first have pie. Dad wanted me to get it since he baked it. Okay. He comes along anyway to help. I have opened the refrigerator and reached in to take out the pie. Grasping it by the edges, I carefully lift it and in the process of carrying it to the counter when the middle of the heavy pie in the flimsy aluminum pan starts to collapse straight down the center. While time seemed to come to a very slow crawl, it didn't alter the fate of the pie. If I had just let it drop at that point, dad's darling dessert would have been saved, but, I tried to get my hand under the center (which was impossible) and in the process flipped it upside down. Splat!!
Ohhh the disappointment. Taste buds yearning for the tangy flavors only to be denied. We mournfully cleaned up the sticky mess while dad signed and I snickered (images of America's Funniest Videos memories). I took a photo of the sad sight. Dad said we should caption it "Diane after chemo". Funny : (

So things come in threes right? And they did. Sunday morning we were discussing the pie event when dad promptly poured his orange juice onto his cheerios. Then, this morning he spilled his grapefruit cup all over the place. I'll go get some more pie stuff today.

Are those clothes you sent home too big? Are you still losing weight? That would be great.

Next Monday (21st) I'll be getting my 2nd chemo. Just in time for the holidays.

Looking forward to your Christmas Day phone call. Gotta go get some pie stuff. Love, mom.

Hiya!

This week has been a lot better than the last 11 weeks. GRRR! My heel is bruised because of my shoe, so I have switched them out again. It feels like I have a badger biting my heel, but since I have switched the shoe, it has felt much better.

You don't even know how much better I can see now! WOO! I am excited. All these things are coming together.

So you have bronchitis. FUN! Not really, just being sarchastic. Also the hair loss thing. Think of it this way, you wont have to wash your hair anymore. The water bill might go down! WOO!

So you bought Transformers 2? Nice. I am being reminded at every dinner apointment that I only have almost 8 months left. ARGH! Talk about taking your mind off the mission! The members do it more than you do to yourself! AGH! Yes, the bad thing comes in threes thing. First, my knee, then my heel, now the nearly 2 foot snow. Yeah. If anything though, it is getting warmer here rather than colder now. Most of the snow now is ice instead. I just about died when I heard that dad pured the orange juice onto his cheerios.

I just simply have too many clothes. It makes it a burden. When the winter is over I will send the rest of my long-sleevs home, except for one (temple). I also sent another package home today. It contains the letters and stuff I had come here. It was taking up quite a bit of space. In doing so, I got rid of three boxes, one being huge.

Anything else...uhh...I am getting thinner? It is really easy to do now. I know about that slow feeling when something bad is happening. It has happened to me a couple times. Umm...yeah.

Talk to you on Christmas,
Elder Austin Waller
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Dec 21, 2009
Week 70


-----Original Message-----
From: "Danny & Diane Waller"
To: "Austin Waller"
Date: Sun, 20 Dec 2009 21:00:17 -0500
Subject: Week 70

Merry Christmas Elder Waller,

Hope the holiday is not getting in the way of your work too much. It can be a busy time for families.

Your grandma Harper and Sister Jarman think the knee-cap adjustment is a "miracle". In fact no one I have told it to have ever heard of it. So we keep telling it when someone asks about you.
Sister Groen gave me a clothespin ornament of a missionary. It is so cute and she was so sweet. The Petersons dropped by tonight with a food gift. For all the throwing up I did, I didn't lose any weight. My taste buds love sweet things and cheese. I have to force myself to drink water. It tastes yucky.

I lost my hair this week. Well, it was coming out so badly that dad gave me a buzz cut. He was pretending to be a French hairdresser and then a drill instructor, drop and give me ten, soldier. He was trying to make the event a little easier. I have three wigs now. The first one I probably will not wear. I look like I need to be singing country music when I do. I have a blond shoulder length one that I wore to church today. Someone said do blondes have more fun? Everyone was very nice and complementary. Dad and I went to Wilmington yesterday to attend our family party at Cindy's. We went wig shopping first and bought a brunette-with blonde streaks and curls. It looks similar to my hair when I had it cut in 2004 and was styling it in a poofy manner. Aunt Cindy was wanting to know where this store was. She liked the idea of a wig.

The party was fun. We were doing the cheap gift game. You have a number, it was 1-21. Number 1 picked a gift and was stuck with it until the end when she could exchange with someone else unless someone wanted her gift. Christy was number 1 and the gift she picked took her 15 minutes to open and find all the clues to get to her gift. Then when it was dad's turn, he wanted her gift. She again chose a gift that took her all over the house numerous times to a gift that someone else wanted. It was a hard night for Christy. It was Aunt Sheryl's family that created 4 gifts that took forever to find or open.
Sheryl said they used a whole roll of mailing type tape in getting the packages ready.

I go for my 2nd chemo tomorrow. That is if my white blood cell counts are good. I was supposed to have them tested each week, but oops, they forgot to tell me.

We got your package of letters. Your room is getting full of packages. I sent you a package for this week. It is not all fancy but with my situation it is the best I could do. We'll see Anita, Robert and Crystal on Saturday for Danny's birthday. Most of that responsibility will be on Danny since this will be my sick week. So wish us luck.

Uncle Chuck and Aunt Sharon went to NYC this week to see their son Scott, get married in Central Park. I hope things went well. They had 26 inches of snow up there late last week. Soooo many people are stuck and cannot get out. The airports just opened up today to flights and it is Christmas travel week. I hope they can get back home soon.

We can't wait to talk to you on Christmas. Till then, love mom.

Hey,

If you sent a package, it wasn't here today. It might be here next week. If not, someone in the mission took it and I will not be happy. You'd think that missionaries here wouldn't steal, but they do.

This is the first time that I have ever taken over an area. I am with Elder Brand now. He plays the piano really well and he is waiting for a visa to go to India speaking English.

Not much else is happening back here. My knee went out again on Thursday, and it was fixed againg yesterday. I donned the cane while it was bad. Bro. Sanders is going to be adjusting it about every other day. Why can I see Dad doing that? Hmm...because I can remember him coming out the bedroom as BEAVERMAN! WHOOOSH!

The ironic thing about work during the holidays is that it says in the white handbook that holidays are the best days to catch people home. Here in Utah, everybody goes to their parents! AHHH! You can't catch anyone worth a can of pork-n-beans with ketchup and mustard! ARGH! Don't know about any dinners this week except for Christmas. I bought some cheese, Hagen-Daz chocolate, shrimp, ooo....it is gonna be good.

The Spanish missionaries, Elder Robledo and Hernandez are moving in with us today. I wonder how this is going to turn out. If they stink up our apartment they are sleeping outside. You should have smelled theirs. YICK!

Dad making everything for his birthday? Hmm...he can follow instructions good right? If so, then he is alright.

Wigs? I was just thinking, with what I am going to do in life, I will probably don more wigs than you. Already have for Beauty and the Beast. MWAHAHA! Speaking about those musicals, how done are those scrapbooks?

You sound better. I remember one of the weeks after your chemo, it sounded like it was dragging. I was like, WHOA! Yeah, we keep praying for you everyday, in each prayer, which is over 22 by the way. Looks like it is working! WOO! I am thinking of calling home at 10, 12 where you are. I don't know when Elder Brand wants to, but we will work things out.

Yeah...oh yeah! We found a new investigator who is amazing! His name is Ron. He is stuck in a wheelchair because he broke his back, but he said he will not change a thing. He sees more things now than he ever has before. The work is picking up here. YEAH BUDDY!

Love to all. See you soon. I am not kidding, very soon. 8 months. Not like anyone is counting right?

Elder Austin Waller

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Dec 28, 2009
Week 71

-----Original Message-----
From: "Danny & Diane Waller"
To: "Austin Waller"
Date: Mon, 28 Dec 2009 09:41:41 -0500
Subject: Week 71

Hello Elder Waller,

I was dealing with nausea when you called, so I feel I was about halfway into the conversation. Nevertheless it is always wonderful to talk to you.
This should pass in a few days, then I'll get some quality time before the 3rd treatment on January 11. Then it starts all over again. I feel strong (when not nauseous). The folks that test my blood tell me my white blood cell counts are high which is very good. That means I can fight off normal day to day infections. I can be with people.

I took off my wig to show Anita, Robert and Crystal the real deal. There was just quietness while I modeled and giggled, telling of how your dad helped me out. I didn't intend it to be a shock. I was sharing what we were having to deal with. They are family. They were very quite. I think it was a shock.

On our part the food was sloppily done, Dad got back from golf much later than usual. While I was trying to get the bills paid (all the while feeling so yuk). He was trying prepare the food from my poor instructions. The food was okay, it made me crave cucumbers. Right now the idea of eating a cucumber is making my mouth water.

Then we counted the green (money). Actually dad counted out Roberts and Crystal's ($100) and gave the rest to Anita without counting it. She grabbed that fat wad and stuffed it away with tears in her eyes. I whispered to her that it was $1000. That made her cry more. Robert left very quickly. Anita and Crystal hung around for a good amount of time.

I skipped church, nausea. Dad said everyone is still wanting to know how to help. Hey I know, bring me some crisp, juicy, cool cucumbers. Dad and I are managing well.

Until next week , love mom

Hey!

I just got new shoes! WOOO! They work very well. No more snow in my shoes! MWAHAHA! I WIN!

Nothing much other than that. We talked for quite a while. As far as pictures, I should have a couple to send. Sis. McLean, I heard you were growing tired of seeing Elder Collado (Col-e-ah-do) and I. So I will send another for all of ya.

Hmm...anything else? I am sick? That is it. It is about gone now.

You can't really expect anything giggly coming with a serious situation. I probably would have been shocked also! I mean growing up and seeing you with hair all the time...yeah...I'd be silent too. I'm guessing Robert was able to leave quickly because he has a car? Scary.

Food isn't always the best part of party's. It is a good part, but not usually the best. Me, I like seeing people's eyes light up when they recieve their gift.

The only cucumber that I like is a pickle. That actually makes your mouth water because it is filled with water and vinegar. So dad was able to play golf? How was his game? If you say relly bad I will understand perfectly. Speaking about food still, out here they make bread out of just about all kinds of vegetables. Zucchini, cucumber, pumpkin, potato, squash (I have seen it). They also make cookies from it. I am just about fed up with Zucchini especially.

The good news, at least you can go out and see the world again, in safety. How can they help? I don't know. If I can think of something I will let you know. Hmmm...Nothing right now.

Alright. Talk to ya later!

Love ya! Mean it!

Elder Austin Waller

Weeks 63-67

November 2, 2009
Week 63
-----Original Message-----
From: "Danny & Diane Waller"
To: "'Austin Waller'"
Date: Mon, 2 Nov 2009 09:48:44 -0500
Subject: Week 63

Hi Elder Waller,

We received your package, but the Christmas ornament was in bits and pieces in the gifts, books and scriptures. I hope it was not expensive. It looked like sand and a few sea shells. I am sure it was the weight of the books that crushed it. But you got a real bargain on the shipping price. Who are the scriptures for? There was no name imprinted on them. The glass flower gifts came through nicely. They are really pretty. Thank you.

Racheal died on Friday. She spent her last few days at Onslow Memorial. The cancer had spread to her lungs and overpowered her ability to breathe. Danny and I visited with the family in the Hobgood home on Saturday evening. It was a nice long sit around and talk type of visit. The Mills twins, Brooke and Brittany were there and say hi to you. Joelle and Jessica were not there. Homer and Sylvia, Linda and Leamon and Celeste say hello also.
During the last few months of Racheal's illness, there were no more treatments that could help. Racheal and her family turned to holistic medicine. Very excited about sharing this newly gained knowledge, Leamon squeezed the fluids from wheatgrass, that he had grown and gave to Danny and I to drink. We did, (Dad a little more reluctantly) with a gasp and trying very hard not to make the yuk, yuk, yukky face. Leamon feels if they had known about it 4 months earlier, Racheal would still be alive. I am sure there are some great benefits to some of these foods but the taste of wheatgrass juice will linger in our memory for a while. I'll need to get sicker to embrace it.

Racheal's family are aware of my cancer and were very supportive. It felt good to be around them. Even after the wheatgrass experience. Leamon did warn us that it tasted like grass, but not having the experience of eating much grass, we were not prepared.

Seems like we have had the most dreary days. There is no sun again today.

Uncle Jonathan, Karen, Alex and Cameron came over for a visit last night. I showed them some of the videos you sent. They were cracking up. Alex was amazed you could do stuff like that on your mission. We explained that you do get a "little" time off. They were all impressed with the work you guys did.

Hope to get some good news about your knee. Have you had your dental cleaning yet?

Love you lots,mom
Hey,

Wish I had some good news about my knee. One of the Stake Presidency is a physical therapist and took a look at my knee yesterday. He said I probably did to this knee as I did to my other knee. The knee-cap slipped out of place and came back. A mild dislocation. Yeah...fun. Not really but, it feels as if a horse has kicked me. It is gradually getting better, just like last time.

Hi to Brooke, Brittany, Homer, Sylvia, Linda, Leamon, and Celeste. Also hi to Joelle and Jessica. That is a lot of hi's.

The ornament broke? Man...it was a good one. Oh well...I got it for free! Yay! It had sand and shells in it. It was supposed to remind those who looked at it about how Christ walked on the shores of Galilee. Yeah. I am going to be sending another package today. The scriptures were the orignial ones I brought on my mission. They were just taking up space. The package I am sending today also has some stuff that was taking up space.

I am glad that you liked the flower things. I felt like both of you would appreciate the Snapdragon, since it is the flower that you and dad chose for your anniversary, if I am correct. The Lily-of-the-Valley kinda was my pick for what I am gaining here as a missionary. The other one was obviously for you. Forgot the name.

They liked the movies huh? That is good. We could have done much better, but this is what happens when you are a missionary. Not very good quality. Meh. We could be doing some more here soon. Maybe. Just need to find the time.

Hey, I am reading in the New Testament and am finding quite a lot of tings that I have never known before. I know the Book of Mormon almost like th back of my hand, but now I am getting the NT in. WOO! It is really exciting. Something else that is cool? I am beginning to understand Isaiah! Whoa! YEAH! Cool! Duuuude.

Saw some movies on Halloween that you should see if you haven't yet. Monsters VS Aliens and Ice Age 3. Watch them in that order. It is quite funny. Especially when you understand all the background. HA!

You are dreary because you don't see the sun? I am otherwise! I don't want to see it! Mainly because our living room is white and it blinds us. It snowed last week. Stayed a couple of days. Not much else. Meh. One of our investigators is getting baptized this Saturday. She is really neat and completely ready for it before we even taught her. WHOA!

Not much else to say. Still getting really hard just to get teeth cleaned. Rather a bummer. Yeah.

Love to all,
Elder Austin Waller

--------------------------------------------------------------
November 9, 2009
Week 64


-----Original Message-----
From: "Danny & Diane Waller"
To: "'Austin Waller'"
Date: Sun, 8 Nov 2009 16:11:01 -0500
Subject: Week 64

Hey Elder Waller,

You'll never guess what dad found in the back of his sock drawer yesterday.
Can you guess? Okay, I'll tell you. It was four toys packaged in a folded, clear plastic sandwich bag. The toys were a Swiss Bubble Blower (it is designed like a swiss knife, only instead of blades you can pull out bubble blowing shapes), a rock, a tiny toy car and a flattened penny with an
alligator on one side. It also had a note which reads "To: Santa From:
Austin Waller P.S. Open when ready . Stocking on cabinet behind you." Do
you remember hiding this? Your dad and I laughed and laughed. We can't quite figure out the time frame, probably elementary school. On the paper it has "My Research Notes" cartoon character, but the paper is torn but we can make out that it has something to do with pillbugs! Anyway back in the drawer.. it will good stuff to show future Gran Kids.

What else is going on. hmmm. well Mom and I are cooking brownies this afternoon. Seems like a good thing to do on a Sunday afternoon. Grandma and Granddad Harper are coming over to visit this evening.

Yesterday Larry and I played golf with two young Marine studs out at Rock Creek. These guys really swing hard! They played from the White Tees, Bro Jorgensen and I played the yellow. There is not that much of an advantage from playing from the yellow, anyway we told them they could not play the yellow's that they were reserved for old guy's! What made them try even harder was when our drives equaled there's. Hurt their ego and they swung even harder, and of course went further into the woods. The truth is the woods are full of golf balls from long hitters. For Brother Jorgensen and myself we played from the fairways in the short grass. Actually I was playing pretty well except I could not buy a putt. The final score I lost to Larry by 3 strokes. But we had lots of laughs along the way.

Not too much else going on here! Mom goes back to see Dr Patselas on Thursday to look at the last surgical site and it's healing. They will then schedule to put in another Power Port (Port-a-cath) later in the month. Mom needs that to receive her Chemo Therapy drugs. That means we may not get started with Chemo until December. So there is a really good chance Mom may still be on Chemo when you come home or will have just completed that part of the treatment. We will still be looking at 6 - 7 weeks of radiation therapy, at this rate our new Oncology Center should be opening. At least we won't have to travel to New Bern everyday for 7 weeks.

Ace has been very frisky lately, I think he really likes this cooler weather.

Hey, mom wants to know what you need, she wants to send you a box. How about some brownies or cookies? Socks?? Anything?

We did receive you last box, why are you buying all those old books? Even the library doesn't want them.

Mom and dad wrote different paragraphs, you'll have to figure out which.
Lots of Love from mom and dad

Hey,

I got those books from the DI. They were really cheap and I want to read when I get home. That is the reason. I appreciate books a lot more than I used to. The only thing I really want right now is music. That is it.

Mom will be getting off Chemo when I come home? Are you coming out here to pick me up? By the sound of it, it is a no. Great.

We had a baptism Saturday. One of the most thankful people I have seen. She has waited for a long time and has gone through a lot. It confirms the saying to whoso much is forgiven, the same loveth him more. It was really neat.

My mind is going blank. I don't know why. I will be sending another packge. It will have the first two journals. I am just sending them to lighten my load. I am sending a whole bunch of packages so I can get around the rest of my mission with little to carry. I had to get new shoes. Yay.

For some reason, I don't feel normal today. I seem to be getting very irritable. Something small that I normally don't get frustrated at, I am. Oh well, Satan just keeps putting these things in my path. I am getting better at the piano. With the right hand (melody). Left hand isnt progressing at all.

The gift thing? Uhh....I don't remember hiding it. I remember what you are describing, especailly the flattened penny.

Wish I had more that I can say. For some reason my mind isn't working like it should.

Love,
Elder Austin Waller
-------------------------------------------------------------
November 16, 2009
Week 65

Well, acidentally deleted the e-mail you sent me. So I have no idea what is going on or what to respond to! ARGH!

News here? Uhh....my knee is getting worse everyday...that's news. I should be going back in to see Dr. West on Dec. 21. We were also given a car...for 8 days. Murmur.

It is snowing a bit up here. Apparently the snow in this part regularly gets up to 4 feet. Fun.....

Hope you got the package I sent with my two journals in there. If you didn't....I will be more than mad.

Everything is going very slow here. Mainly because I can barely get 50 feet away from the house. People are actually calling in to President Laney and saying we are doing nothing. They are not seeing the entire picture. There is absolutely no incentive for a missionary to do nothing. Yay...we can lay around and sleep all day! WOO! WRONG! There is nothing you can do except for read the scriptures, eat, and sleep. Imagine doing that for about 6 weeks. Yeah...cabin fever. Basically this means that something is wrong, not that they are lazy. I am just getting fed up with people assuming. Really fed up.

Our landlord agreed to do our dental. We just need to set an appointment. Hopefully it will be soon.

I really wish I didn't accidentally deleted that e-mail. I would have been able to say more.

Love,
Elder Austin Waller
-------------------------------------------------------------
November 23, 2009
Week 66

-----Original Message-----
From: "Danny & Diane Waller"
To: "'Austin Waller'"
Date: Sun, 22 Nov 2009 16:58:01 -0500
Subject: Week 66

Hello Elder Waller,

Okay. You know a missionary is having a bad day when he deletes the letter from his mom. Accidentally of course. I missed your plea message to send the email again by seconds. I was in the sent file re-sending the letter when your "gotta go" message was received.

A lot of the week 65 letter is old news now. Our projected plan of coming to get you has more hope than it did last week. If I can stay on the 3 week schedule, I will be completely finished with chemo and radiation by the beginning of July. If, I get radiation before reconstruction and July does not include reconstruction. Uncle Mike wants me to pick my surgeon before radiation. Depending on the type of reconstruction I choose, some surgeons want to get the surgery done before radiation since radiation can destroy the skin enough to prevent reconstruction. Aye Yi Yi! We have got to have a big celebration party for when this is over.

You will realize after reading week 65 letter that I was in surgery as you woke up. We report to the hospital at 5:30am and surgery will be around 7-7:30. I will be completely asleep for the procedure, but not for very long. I will probably be home when you e-mail, but I don't know how awake I'll be. It is a busy day for Dad. My surgery in the morning and big board meeting that afternoon and evening.

We finally got Elders in our ward. Brother McLean is the Ward Mission Leader and he told dad we have to keep them busy or they will be pulled out again.

Dad decided to use the tractor to mow the leaves in the yard. But he got a little ambitious, forgetting about all the rain we had last week and this week. He got stuck in the area just behind the grow boxes. He came inside and solicited me for help. I sat on the tractor and waited for him to say go while he pushed. But the tractor just spun and spun in the slippery gooey mud. And no I can't tell you a story of dad falling in the mud, but, there was a few times this event had great potential for such a spectacular narrative.

Dad watched part of a football game in SLC so he could see if it was snowing. Do you still have a car? We pray every day that your knees will be well enough to do your missionary work. But a car would work too. In looking up knee pain we have found an association with low thyroid and treatment with Synthroid. It is a common problem and the medicine can be adjusted to alleviate the pain. I hope this is helpful in diagnosing your problem.

What can we get you for Christmas?

We love you very much and hope you will be soon be free from pain. Love, mom

Hey,

In answer to Dad's Matrix questions, it is a modern version of the Bible. There is your explanation. Don't forget that I have all 3 in my room, no commercials! Once you start thinking about it like the Bible, it will become a little easier to understand. That is why they have names as Zion, Nebuchadnezzar, Trinity, and Seraph (seraphim).

You do not know how Mad I was after I deleted that e-mail. Oh I was furious! Bad week for Elder Waller. Speaking of bad, our car just got taken away at 8 this morning, we are moving out of our house for a week, and my knees keep getting worse. I am getting very tired of this. I keep praying about what I should do and the answer is, "Be patient." Patience is not in vast supply right now since this has been happening for 8-9 weeks now. Not the happiest camper here. An explanation of the pain is this, pick up a knife the slam it into your knee. Yeah...painful.

So President Cottrell got the Elders in there? Good. What needs to happen is...hmm. I will send you a chart that L. Tom Perry made for us. Give it to Bro. McLean. Elder Perry is over missionary work. This plan should help get the work going. It works over here!

Snow? You really want to know? It snowed last night so much that the fleet (cars) had to be grounded. Up here we commonly get 4' drifts, sometimes up to 12'. Yeah. This will be an interesting winter.

If you really want to read my journals, go ahead. I will just warn you about those couple weeks. You know what I am talking about. Read them at your own emotional health. And those pictures are actually baptismal programs. Keep them where they are at. You can scan them if you wish, but keep the original there.

For Christmas...uhh. How about we just wait till I get back. Other than the normal dragon (just choose one similar to what I have), I don't know what I want. I have been out for 15 months now and have almost no idea what is happening. So just keep a note that I need to choose a couple things when I get back. I'm not 21 yet! MWAHAHAHAHA!

Love ya lots!
Elder Austin Waller

PS: I met a second cousing out here. Bro. Woodworth lives in the 1st ward.
--------------------------------------------------------------
November 30, 2009
Week 67

-----Original Message-----
From: "Danny & Diane Waller"
To: "'Austin Waller'"
Date: Sun, 29 Nov 2009 22:16:53 -0500
Subject: Week 67

Hi Elder Waller,

Your description of the pain in your knees was awful. I want you to get a car back since you cannot get adequate help. I’ll be going through my first chemo tomorrow. I am not looking forward to it. I’ll probably be complaining a lot. But at least we will have one treatment done with, and I think, with
7 to go. My treatment is at 10am and its duration is about 1 ½ hours. So I could possibly be back by the time your email comes. Dad is taking me to the first treatment.

It happened. We had to put Ace down on Friday. Within a couple of days he was miserable. He could hardly stand up, much less walk, shake his head or the other things he did. He had a head tilt and at one point I saw his eyes rapidly moving back and forth. I looked up the symptoms on Google and it was stroke symptoms. We took Ace in with the intention of having him put down and Dr Padget confirmed our suspicions. There was nothing anyone could do to make him better. Dad and I cried before, during and after he died. We were with him as Dr Padget quickly gave him a shot which worked in seconds. We loved that dog and miss him sorely. But we are so happy we saw the show of that lady’s near death experience where she saw the dogs and cats happily bounding up the steps into heaven and eagerly jump into the bright ball of light. Her near-death had nothing to do with animals, she had just had a baby and a complication is what nearly killed her. I felt our animals would be with us but had not spent a lot getting a testimony of it.

We decided to pick up a Christmas tree after leaving Ace, hoping it would make us feel better. But it didn’t help much. I had to write my check through tears explaining the situation. But we worked through it and put up the tree Friday and Saturday, which you know, is no easy task. We finished decorating the house and cleaning up today. The house is much quieter but pretty.

Brother Tom has asked me and Danny to give talks on the 20th, the Sunday before Christmas. I said yes but I am rethinking it. I will have lost my hair and I am already way over the top emotional. I’ll do some studying and determine what to do, that is between nausea and vomiting. The challenges never stop.

We spent Thanksgiving at Grandma & Granddad Harper’s. Aunt Cindy & Uncle Rickey and all their children but Travis was there. Travis wanted to come very badly but he had a fever of 103. See you later Travis, keep those germs at home. Uncle Mark and Aunt Sheryl, Emily and Avery were there. Aunt Judy and Charlie came over for a visit. We had a lot of good food to eat and had a lot of fun talking. The boys went down to the pond and shot their guns for a while. I took my camera and had aunt Sheryl take some pictures of Danny and I. I wanted to get some made before I lost my hair and eyebrows, etc. A couple came out really good.

We love you and I’ll be able to tell you more about these ‘chemo treatments’ next week.

Big hugs, mom

Hey!

Sorry this is a little late. Ok a lot late. We had a lot of appointments to make. Our dental schedule had to cancel, the hygenist was having pregnacy complications. Ask Larry what that is because I have no idea. Maybe the assistant? Hmm.

More news on the knee. They want to do an MRI. There are too many questions to ask. If there were fewer, they would probably just scope it. But it has gotten pretty bad. I am having to walk with a cane now. It helps a lot. People say that I look like President Hinckley. I raise the cane when they say that. HAH!

It was about time for Ace to go. He made it a long way.

About the talk on Christmas, do it. There are more reasons than one for you to give talks. Not just because they want you to do it, but because they go by the Spirit when asking. We just learned that here when we found out someone had spoken several times during the year.

Hey family! Keep spending time with each other because that is one of the only things I can think about out here. Makes me happy each and every time. Don't forget that families can be together for all eternity. Hope I can see you soon. Hey! I am in the single digits...not that I am counting or anything. We just have to tell people how long we have been out everyday, so I know it pretty well. It is not like I am going to lie.

Anyways! It took me about a week to find out what I wanted for Christmas. Honestly, it took me off guard. I determined that what I want is a PSP. Don't worry, I'll show you when I get back. A rain-check for that too.

Anything going on here? Uhh...I have a cane? Thanksgiving was alright. The work wasn't the best because everyone wasn't home. Black Friday was a pain in the tail. Uhh.....yeah that's about it. It is amazing how just small, simple things can make a place so much more like home. We walked into our room and found a lamp. It was cool. Anyways...yeah. Nothing else. Tell everyone "Hi" for me.

With vast amounts of LOVE,
Elder Austin Waller

Weeks 59-62

October 5, 2009

Week 59

-----Original Message-----
From: "Danny & Diane Waller"
To: "Austin Waller"
Date: Mon, 5 Oct 2009 09:30:47 -0400
Subject: Week 59

Hi Elder Waller,

I am feeling much better. I walked a great deal around the beaver pond yesterday during conference break. I am paying the price today. It is the drainage tubes again. Two weeks today those things were put in and are not scheduled to come out until Thursday morning. Also I have skipped a couple of days of iron tablets and I think I need to work them in although they make me sick. But the surgery sites look good.

If all incisions are closed on the 14th, I'll start chemo on the 21st. It will take about 19 days to lose my hair. It actually breaks off rather than come out at the roots. So once the treatments stop, my hair will grow again.
Many people experience thicker hair than they had before. The oncologist plans to give me my treatments slowly. It may take up 8 months, then I'll have about 7-8 weeks of radiation. Then my last surgery, breast reconstruction.

That is all about me. Now about you. Where is this stomach illness coming from? You really need to wash your hands often and when it is not possible use some hand disinfectants. Do it for the people you shake hands with if not for yourself.

I think aunt Cindy is from Kearns and are you in the new Oquirrh Temple district? Do you have anyone you are teaching?

Conference was great (as usual). President Holland's testimony of Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon was my favorite. Dad reported that the Priesthood session was wonderful.

Dad wanted me to tell you about grandpa's current hobby. He feeds the fish at the beaver pond. The fish expect him. When he pulled his truck onto the dam you could see something start hitting the water from underneath. Then when he walked onto the dam the water activity picked up. He tosses pellet fish food out to the fish and it is like a bunch of piranha attacking. Dad thinks it is brim and perch. We thought we saw one small bass jump out of the water. Dad commented that this was like feeding the cows without calling out coosukey. I have asked if that term used to be actual words but grandpa only remembers the term as It is used today.

One last sad piece of news. Mr. Cooper died last week. While answering the door at home he fell and broke his shoulder and hip. He was hospitalized (actually at the same time I was in for my surgery) then had to go to a nursing home. He was there only a day or so when he developed pneumonia and was admitted to OMH where he passed away at the age of 90.

I have a heart scan today at 1:30pm (to make sure I am healthy enough for
chemo) so I might not be available for a chat, if you are still able to do that.

Love you much, MOM
Hey,

We don't have a car and it takes a little bit to get to the Stake Center. I am in the Oquirrh Temple district but in the Kearns Zone. Aunt Cindy might be from Kearns? Cool!

Losing hair sounds fun...especially when you know it will come back thicker, or at least a good chance of it. We are only teaching two people. One is a foster child who has to wait till she is 18, her parents wont let her till then. The other lady is gung-ho about the spirit. Really cool.

I liked Elder Holland's talk alot, but my favorite was Elder Scott's. His message had more Spiritual Learning than any of the other talks. Speaking of conference, I was at the Preisthood Session. Yse, I physically saw the apostles, prophet, Seventies. It was neat. Dad now knows the Seventy who lives in our area, Elder Gonzalez. He talked at that session.

I am doing what I can to be healthy. I really don't have any conclusive reason why I got so sick. I only know that I felt horrible. Garndpa likes to feed the fish in the pond huh? Neat. It sounds like the pond is being populated a lot now. It is sad that Mr. Cooper died. He was cool. Oh well, time comes for us all and we need to look forward with an eye of faith and hope to get through the thickest of things.

My new companion, Elder Feriante, and I get along great. He thinks I am weird, which I do not deny, but it is cool. We have many of the same interests. Ummm.....not sure there is much more to report on. We have to wear suits now, full-time. Err...There really isn't much of anything now. Our area is tiny, but I really need a car. We have to walk, but because of the steep hills (although there are some that are steeper) my knee feels wierd. Uhhh....that is really all I can think of right now.

Take care, have fun, and know that I am always praying for you.

With love,

Elder Austin Waller

--------------------------------------------------------------------

October 12, 2009

Week 60

-----Original Message-----
From: "Danny & Diane Waller"
To: "'Austin Waller'"
Date: Mon, 12 Oct 2009 09:58:34 -0400
Subject: Week 60

Hello Elder Waller,

I attended the 1st two meetings of church yesterday. It was familiar and strange. Familiar because I knew everyone and strange because when Sacrament was over, the teachers and leaders are released first and then the rest of the congregation leaves. I can't remember the last time I was in the 2nd group. The end of sacrament always triggered my busiest time of the week.
Then I became engaged in a conversation in the hallway with Kim Carpenter and missed Sunday School. Danny and I came home after that because I needed to take my big antibiotic with a meal.

I was started on a longer course of antibiotic when another fever and swelling showed its' ugly face. Seems my body is adjusting to all the recent changes and has a few complaints. But the recovery appears to be on track again as are my energy levels. Yeah! I have one drain tube left and it should come out Thursday. Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Chemo has been delayed again because of the drain tube staying in a week longer. So now our 1st chemo date is October 28th and we are planning on 8 months of it. Uncle Mike wants me to get reconstruction before we do radiation.

Danny and I had a funny experience last week. I was driving myself to another medical test when it began to rain just a bit. I turned on the headlights and all the inside lights went dark. It was startling and upsetting thinking now we had car repair issues looming. I called Danny and told him. The cars drives just fine and all the safety lights seem to work fine, so I continue. Now Danny is worried and I find out later, is picking out our next vehicle (mentally). He meets me at the hospital after my test and takes me to the car. It starts just fine with all the inside lights working. I begin my journey home and become curious. I turn on the headlights and yup, the dash lights instantly darken. I'm thinking hard and decide to play with the light adjustment knob by the headlights. My inside lights and headlights are all working now. Then I remember taking the car in to have it cleaned just before my last surgery. As they were cleaning, they reset my light controls. Whew! That was a close call because I would have called the mechanics when I got home and Danny was ready to go car shop.

Has it become cold yet? We saw stories on the news saying you have experienced some chilly days. I hope the cold this winter is not so bad on you. Have your knees held up? I hope so.

Remember, it is time to get your teeth cleaned. Let me know when you get it done.

Dad loves telling everyone what you want for your 21st birthday. "What you wished you knew before you got married" counsel. He gets a lot of, wow, that is a wise request.

Love you lots, mom

Hey!

This week has been hard...again. Mostly because it is getting dark earlier and people are going to bed earlier for some reason! AHH! I also hate proselyting on Mondays. Family Home Evening is not good at all for Missionaries. Still have blisters coming up everyday and they do not seem to be going away...quickly. Really wish they would.

I know that Dad would kinda panic at the thought of getting a new car. I wish I had a car. Speaking about my knees, because we are walking up hills my knees are getting kinda painful. And of course, blisters.

We will be eating a lot better now. I got tired of eating all this junk for lunch. So, I bought a rice cooker! YAY!

It has become colder. Today is nice though. Not too cold and you have a wind. The only problem with the teeth cleaning thing is that we can't find anyone to give us a ride! AHHH! Wait...Our landlord is a dentist. (Thought Process occurring) I should ask him!

Why did I have that feeling that Dad likes to share that? Oh well...it is what I want and it will help me for the rest of my life...after marriage. Man...I come home in a very short time. Less that 11 months! I remember when Elder Peters had only single digits left. He didn't like it. I kinda don't also, but I realize that I have a broader role in missionary work after this.

I had an interesting thing happen a couple days ago. We were driving around and we came across some interesting street signs. All of the signs in the neighborhood had names from Lord of the Rings! Some examples are Rivendell, Bree, Brandy Buck, Gandalf, Treebeard, and Mirkwood. I took a picture of the Rivendell one so people cannot say I lied! MWAHAHAHA! Yes...you know I am alright when I start putting in long words that make almost no sense to anyone but me. HA!

Anyways see you later,

Elder Austin Waller

-------------------------------------------------------------------

October 19, 2009

Week 61

-----Original Message-----
From: "Danny & Diane Waller"
To: "'Austin Waller'"
Date: Mon, 19 Oct 2009 09:26:31 -0400
Subject: Week 61

Hi Elder Waller,

Uncle Chuck said you called him about your knees. We have been earnestly praying for the health of your knees and feet. Don't forget to do leg lifts.
That is a miracle cure for my bad knee.

I am doing very well except for my power port area. I have been on antibiotics twice and now 5 days off. It is starting to swell again. But, no fever. Good sign. If everything holds up I will start chemo on the 28th.
I've got to try to get the flu shot this week. Seasonal and H1N1 if it is available.

I came home with a wig last week and was trying it on for dad. I have to lean forward and bend down to slip it on. Ace thought I was playing with him. It is a miracle my wig is still intact. He livens up each time it is in his proximity. Dad was cracking up.

Another dad and Ace interaction. I have been telling Danny that Ace's back leg s have become more weakened which became apparent when Danny witnessed Ace struggling to lift himself up and he starting talking about the final trip to the vet. But the next day, Ace was running around the house and outside like he was on speed. Danny noted it looked like Ace was declaring, "I am not dead yet!".

I attended church again yesterday and the Suniga's have returned (I haven't seen John or Sarah). Bobbi agreed to be my walking partner. Aric Peterson is back and was asking about you. He and Sally brighten up any space they are in.

It has turn cold. We have frost warnings for tonight but only for 1 night.
It should warm up nicely for the rest of the week. I hope so. Last week the sun stayed hidden. It was a dark and gloomy week. Speaking of gloomy, Ryan has asked Anita for a divorce. She and the kids are devastated. I have talked with her a few times and it appears the split was taking place while I was going through the surgeries. She didn't want to add to our pain with the bad news. Anita has asked for our prayers for comfort and solutions.

I need to go shopping. Yup, I am well enough to shop by myself again. Yeah!
No drain tubes.

Talk to you soon. Love mom

Hey,

My feet and knees are better, eyes are going though. I am going to be seeing the mission doctor on Wednesday, so I will ask him. Anita and Ryan are divorcing?! Hmmmm......the only thing I can say is have them come to church. Many people there know them and will provide support. I know that if they do, they will feel the spirit comfort them. I have seen people do this all the time out here. They always say when they go to church, "I felt a great sense of peace." Talk to them also about personal prayer. If they want, they can e-mail me and I will answer their questions. I am what you call a veteran missionary now. A scripture you can share is Mark 4. The last couple verses are about Christ stilling the storm. Everybody in the ship at that time is panicking. Christ is asleep in the back. They wake him up asking him if he doesn't care that they die. Christ stands and stills the storm to a point that there is a great calm. He then said, Oh ye of little faith. They then marveled that he could command the winds and the seas to obey him. What we can learn from that is that when we have faith in Christ and believe that he can calm our personal storms, we will be able to overcome our obstacles with renewed strength. Never doubt. D&C 112:10 says, "Be thou humble, and the Lord thy God shall lead the by the hand." I hope this helps. You can also share Mark 4 with Helaman 5:12, it also talks about storms and having trust in Christ.

I got to go to the conference center again and see President Monson. It was neat. It was really good and they talked about temples, modesty, trusting the prophet, and rescuing those who do not know about or have faith in Christ. It was Elder Feriante's first time there.

We are doing really good now. We are eating really well, no junk food, and are getting in plenty of exercise (we walk the entire day). Uncle Chuck said that he is going to be serving a Church Service Mission. WOO! That should be fun.

I am having a great time in this area. They have the best leaders I have seen and the people we teach pay attention. We are teaching a foster girl named Elaina who grew up in Russia then moved to Georgia. She is really gung-ho about the gospel and we really don't have to teach anything. She goes to Seminary everyday and pays lots of attention. Elaina is the only one we are teaching right now. I am very happy to be teaching her. If all goes well today, we should be picking up some more people to teach. Pray that we will be able to find people, since that is our hardest thing right now.

Oh! So the Suniga's and the Peterson's are back! Cool! I wonder where Bro. Jones is. His son is Max. I'd like to write him.

If there is any help you need, just ask. I am capable of giving a lot of help...scriptural really. Also, remember to ask Heavenly Father. He is capable of giving us all the help we need, even when we don't know that we need it.

Love to all,
Elder Austin Waller

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October 26, 2009

Week 62

-----Original Message-----
From: "Danny & Diane Waller"
To: "'Austin Waller'"
Date: Mon, 26 Oct 2009 09:38:57 -0400
Subject: Week 62

Hi Elder Waller,

I hope your week went better than mine. Monday evening I started having chills. They continued into Tuesday along with fever and lots of throwing up. We were thinking it was the flu. Crystal Ayden (works with Dad) suggested we come into the Emergency Department before 24 hours. So we can receive the Tamaflu shot. But cultures showed I did not have the flu. It was another kind of infection, probably coming from my power port. Not good. I was hooked up to intravenous anti-biotics. Then a Dr Patel came along and took me off the antibiotics, but wanted me to stay overnight for observation.

So I am taken upstairs where I go into the most severe chill I have heard of. I actually pulled a back muscle which hurts like crazy. My temperature climbed to 102.5 several times. Now they are worried it is a serious infection. But over the next couple of days, they find out it is not a resistant bacteria. YEAH! I came back home yesterday with more pills to take. UUGH!

I will have to get another power port put in so I can get chemo. Please let it be a clean one.

They gave me a pain pill for my back which is making my head bob like one of those wobble dolls. I am having to really work hard to focus on your letter.
Maybe I'll be feeling better next week and write a more appropriate letter.

Love you so much, mom

Hey,

I just sent you a package today. It contains some books and three things for you. Also a Christmas ornament for the year! YEAH! WOO! Now you don't need to search for one.

Guess what? My knee is hurting more than before. I am supposed to go to a knee specialist, but Dr. Laro (the new mission doctor) hasn't told me yet. If I don't get a call, I will call T.O.S.H. myself! AGHH! We haven't been able to work much. I really want to, but working will only make it worse. I hope the others in the mission don't think I am just bumming time. I am just in the path of a double-edged sword.

Had a baptism from my last area Saturday. It went well. Not much else going on. We were able to teach someone new. I told President Laney, because I had to call him because of my knee, and he sounded really happy. We have a lot of potentials out here, we just need to get to them. The Stake President here was just notified that we are having a rough time. At least the leadership knows.

You are like a bobble-head now? Wow. Must be some powerful pain medication. I reallly wish I could have some right now. Not as powerful though. I'd pass out. Other than my knee, we are still doing good as far as food. Got some more rice today and are beginning to have more meals with the members. That is about it. If you are going to pray for me, pray that I will get in to see the knee specialist very soon.

Take care,
Elder Austin Waller

Weeks 55-58

As a change, I have decided to include the letter we send to Austin, since much of his letter's content is in respond to something we wrote. Mom

-----Original Message-----
From: "Danny & Diane Waller"
To: "Austin Waller"
Date: Mon, 7 Sep 2009 09:48:37 -0400
Subject: Week 55

Hello thinner Elder Waller,

It has been a very long week. I see dad indicated I felt like a prisoner. It is true. We didn't get to do anything for Robert on his birthday, Aug 24, because of the surgery. So we called yesterday to set up something before the next surgery, Sept 21st. Guess what, he and Anita are sick. Sounds like the flu. We'll get around to Robert's birthday one day. I have been insisting on seeing them in person and not just delivering a gift, at least while they are here.

Our Church meeting schedule changed from 1-4 to 11-2 yesterday. Yay! I told Danny I may just have to get a mask and hand wipes in order to go to church.
Although that is going to look strange, especially to the children, (I am not teaching anymore because of germs). But, I feel ridiculous sitting at home. Although yesterday, while Danny was at church one of his co-workers called to get our address to bring over a meal. Wow! Didn't expect that. We had leftover steak in the refrigerator. The food she brought was very good and will be today as well.

I saw Rachel sitting on the porch of the house that is next to hers. It looks like her boyfriend has moved there. He was cooking for her. She doesn't look like she has much time left on this earth. She is very thin and frail but her stomach is huge. Her breathing is shallow. She has been to Carolina, Duke and South Carolina and they had told her they have done all they can do medically. She is now getting holistic treatment from a Christian center in Atlanta. I shared with her my illness and that opened the door. She and her friend, Frank, are reading and studying the bible. It appears to be a constant companion. My only silent concern is that she and Frank are still expecting Rachel to be healed. I began discussing the Plan of Happiness, without using that term, talking about death as more of an advancement to our next stage of life. One that each and every one of us has to travel. We should embrace God's love and that this next stage of life will be filled with more love than we ever thought possible.

I was able to share something I learned that day with her. While channel surfing I found some Howard Godall's Big Bang music education series. You may have seen some of them. This one was on the history of notation. It brought out the fact that notation was only created after the death of Christ. It was for the sake of worshiping him. The monks were desperate to find a way for each church to sing the same songs the same way. So, unsurprising to us, it is the influence of Christ that we have organized music and not just noise. Rachel loved this as do I. She listens to a great deal of Christian music.

I watched a show called "I Survived". It is normally the story of how this person fought off a human or animal attacker, or other types of accidents.
This special show was about three people who "died" and came back. They were all very similar in the feeling of exceptional love at the "entrance" to this wonderful place. The funny part was one lady who was sitting on this stairway to heaven (each person's entrance to this wonderful place was a little different) gazing at the greatest beauty she has ever seen when up comes these cats that wind around her legs, purring and loving her. There are also dogs, who stop to acknowledge her then happily bound into this big ball of light. She has not seen these animals before. So dad says, "Road Kill". We crack up.

Anyway.That's a good place to stop. The stories were very interesting.

I know it is Labor day and we may not hear from you until tomorrow.

Til then,

Love you, mom

Sept 7, 2009
Week 55
Hey,

We work on Labor Day too! So you will hear from me today. I will make an effort to write a letter to Rachel. It is hard, seeings how busy we are, but I will do my best. It is good that you had that missionary moment. Sharing the plan of happiness (salvation, redemption, other various names) is something very crucial in the missionary lessons. I will do what I can in the letter to help.

Roadkill huh? I see plenty of cats and dogs out here. Not much roadkill though. Well, uhh this week was very un-eventful. I was kinda in a bind. If I moved at all, a condition I had would become worse and I would have to start recovery all over again. To explain what it was...uhh....lets just say it hurt to sit down. Yeah. It did not feel good at all.

Not much else is going on here. I wish I could say there was more, but when you are in the smallest area in the entire world, work is few and far between.

With much love,

Elder Austin Waller

----------------------------------------------------------
-----Original Message-----
From: "Danny & Diane Waller"
To: "'Austin Waller'"
Date: Sun, 13 Sep 2009 22:22:11 -0400
Subject: Week 56

Hello Elder Waller,

I am looking at my letter from last week and it was a really long one. I don't think I have nearly that much to say this week.

Before I forget, next Monday, Sept 21st, is my next surgery. (this is a double mastectomy with the insertion of a port that will allow ease in delivery of the chemo treaments).I don't have the schedule yet, but send your e-mail to Dad's work e-mail address.
danny.waller@onslow.org

It will be good to get this surgery behind me so I can get on with the rest of my treatments and life. I have been hunkered down here in the house to avoid the swine flu and other maladies. I don't want to miss surgery because I am "SICK". HA! Dad says I will need to be re-baptized by the time I get to go to church again. Ha Ha!

I got a card from Aunt Judy. She has just sent her daughter with her grandson to Provo, Utah to check into the MTC. So you have another cousin on a mission. His name is Eric Smith and he is going to South Denver. You and he are 2nd cousins.

I should be back in time to catch your e-mail tomorrow. I have to go for my pre-op again. Just enough time has passed that I have to do it all over again.

I continue to get so many cards. I think everybody in Albertson has sent one and many employees at the hospital as well. And today LaRue Hambrick stopped by with a beautiful fall chrysanthemum. You may remember her. She was the real estate agent who showed us so many houses. She had a case of breast cancer similar to mine in 1991 and is doing very well.

I sure hope you are doing better. I think I created some more crease lines in my face from all the sympathy pains I had for you. Although it is an embarrassing condition, trust me, nearly everyone has been through it or will. But, you do have to manage it by diet or otherwise. You cannot allow it to sit in your system or continue to have a straining situation. Both are very unhealthy. Eating plant foods is your best bet and stay away from too much white bread.

I just finished talking with your grandma Harper and she told me Linda, Aunt Judy's daughter is back from dropping off Eric. She is super emotional. No one can even ask how Eric is doing and she breaks down in tears. Motherhood is a tough job. God gave us all of these hormones to protect and nurture our children but when the children leave, there is no release from the hormones.
It took me months to calm down from you leaving.

I've spent a over couple of hours trying to write your letter in between phone calls, making yogurt, letting Ace in and out, TV...I'm tired and it is after 10pm. Hopefully I'll get to chat with you tomorrow.

Love ya, mom

Sept 14, 2009
Week 56

Hey,

I AM ABOUT TO GO INSANE WITH THIS COMPUTER! AHHHHHH! It is not working right and it took me 30 minutes just to log in! ARGH! Anyways, sickness is...mostly gone. I have something else now that Elder Parker gave to me. Grrrrrr. Yes...I still growl. Oh very fun week today (sarchasm). One of our investigators is moving. We have been sick on random occasions. I hope nothing else will happen.

President Laney did an awkward interview this time around. He came to our appartment! AHH! Clean, now! Not really. Ours was clean. It was just strange. He managed to get to the house at 1. Long time. He expressed concern for you and asked how you were doing. I told him you were doing alright and when your surgery is. I can call him for anything he said. Yay!

Hormones huh? Uhhhh.....yeah. About that.......no comment.

LaRue came over? Man! Everyone knows! Yes I remember her. I can remember a lot of people. One of the things I use over here while teaching the great apostasy is how many churches are on Gum Branch Rd. 60! AHHHH! They are really surprised. "I didn't know there are that many churches!" One of the reactions I got.

Not much else to talk about. It has been a rough week. Oh yeah! I gave two talks yesterday. It was on Unity. I was told to go by the Spirit. I related it to football. Oh, the congregation paid attention when I did that. Also related it to Emperor Penguins as well. They thought it was funny, but it made complete sense.

Love you all,

Elder Austin Waller
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sept 21, 2009
Week 57
Hi Elder Waller,

Hope your week was better. We have been working very hard to get some house cleaning projects finished before the surgery. Maybe dad can be online again when your e-mail comes in. The last time we were both there when your e-mail came. But tomorrow’s schedule makes it more unlikely that you will catch us both. We check in at 8am and surgery begins about 10:30am. It could possibly be later.

I received a very nice letter from Karan Witzel. On one hand it is scary to meet so many cancer survivors, but then I think of the word SURVIVOR and have to appreciate that. Zack’s (across the street) grandmother went through this three years ago. I just found out yesterday from her. Sister Witzel was very encouraging and sounds like she has seen you through quite a bit of nurturing. Being your nurse down the street and P-day meal supplier. She said you have been much better since receiving thyroid medicine. Please thank her for her testimony and for sharing her experiences and for taking care of you. Reading her letter made me feel more in touch with you and comforted.

Monica Madden came over and gave me a picture of a live oak tree as well as a journal and cookies. She said our family was like that tree for our ward. She said she has started acting on feelings of compassion. Her actions were very touching.

As for news, we received a wedding invitation from Cami Moore. She is getting married to a young man from Brigham City, Utah. They are having a dance and bull riding at their reception. Sounds fun.

Dad and I have been hearing a rattling sound from his car. It sounded like a loose muffler. He took it in and they discover a much more serious problem about to happen. The clutch to the air conditioner was just hanging on. If it had broken it could have thrown out parts and could have broken other parts. Guess what! The rattle is gone and they said this problem should not have caused that sound. We again, feel blessed. And it was also under warranty. Yeah!

Dad went to one of Robert’s soccer games. I didn’t go. (I have succeeded from getting sick) Dad left when it went into overtime (it had also started to rain). After he left the teams played two overtimes and Robert’s team won by 2 points.

We are getting the front porch replaced this week. I may be recovering from my surgery to the sound of hammers. The contractor knows and will finish quickly. We were scrambling to find keys to the back door. I had one set, we got some duplicates for dad in case the front door is not accessible.

I see you have been to Barnes and Noble. You need to stop going to Barnes and Noble. I know I said you could buy some dinosaur books but over $200 worth (three purchases)? Please only purchase what you need. Many times buying stuff makes us feel better, but later we are without that money and have too much stuff. I put $300 dollars back into your account for the items you really need.

It is also time to get your teeth cleaned again. I had mine cleaned last week. And guess what. She was another cancer survivor (Laura Young) and was a loving load of information. Dr. Armstrong came in and cried with us. During chemo I have to be very particular with my teeth as my immune system will be weakened. Their office has rarely seen any big problems when appropriate care is taken.

I am confident in God’s love and blessings. I am only going through what so many have done before me and I too will be a SURVIVOR in body and especially spirit. Lean on the Lord for your answers and thank Him constantly for all we have been given. We have added asking Heavenly Father to soften the hearts of those in your area, so they will open their doors to you. Then they can experience the joy, obedience to the gospel principals bring.

Again with all our love,
Mom and dad
-----Original Message-----
From: Austin Waller [mailto:adwaller@myldsmail.net]
Sent: Monday, September 21, 2009 12:24 PM
To: Danny Waller
Subject: Week 57

Hey,

This week has been hard. Really hard. We go over to Sis. Witzel's home all the time. Quite fun. It has been difficult to sleep lately. I don't know why, but I stay up after midnight without even trying. I'm gonna talk to Sis. Laney about it.

There is one thing that has got me troubled. The strange part, it is not about the mission. It is when I get back! Good grief, I panicked last night. Why? I am completely into the missionary lifestyle and don't really have to worry about anything. Life is simply TOO easy. Next thing you know, 2 years is up and you are slung back into the real world with no buffer at all! AHHH! Scary.

One of the people we are working with who is less-active is coming to church this Sunday! He might have gone yesterday to a Primary Program, but we are not sure. We have been working with Bro. Petty for a while now. I am happy to see him coming back.

Teaching is starting to pick up here. We picked up 2 new investigators this week. It was the first time we were ever let in. I don't really know what else to say. There isn't much. For one thing, I do cover the two smallest stakes in the church!

With Love,

Elder Austin Waller
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sept 28, 2009
Week 58

-----Original Message-----
From: "Danny & Diane Waller"
To: "'Austin Waller'"
Date: Mon, 28 Sep 2009 09:07:23 -0400
Subject: Week 58

Dear Elder Waller,

This is going to be very short and sweet as this last surgery was major. I was doing as well as expected until Saturday morning I woke up feeling very bad. Achy and hot and cold. Dad was out golfing. Then I looked down at my drainage tube and it was maximally filled. But to my alarm the color of the blood was closer to black that red. I hurriedly drained it and the new drain was very dark red but looked more normal. I took my temp and it was 101.
When dad got home he was alarmed and called Penny Burlingame to check me out. I was taken to the hospital, checked out in the ER and admitted until yesterday about 2pm.

They found I was anemic, and may have a beginning infection. The anemia comes from loss of blood from the surgery but not enough for a transfusion.
I am on iron tablets and lots of rest.

Maybe by the time your e-mail comes I can be here and will be more alert. I rested very well last night and have had a hard time waking up this morning.

Don't worry this is major surgery recovery. It will take about two weeks to start feeling close to normal again.

Talk to you later,

Love,

mov


Hey,

Sorry for e-mailing so late. I got really sick this morning and we missed the e-mail time. So we worked our tails off to figure out how we could do this. I was transferred on Wednesday. Our area was whitewashed. Great. Oh well, I like this area and my companion is cool. We get along great.

Man, I can tell mom was not feeling good at all this morning. Why? Her signature was spelled "mov" instead of "mom." I hope I get better soon as well. I have blisters on my feet from walking so much. Bad ones. Then this morning was bad. You can see in my face that something bad had happened. Hey the priesthood works. After the blessing my stomach settled down and I could get to work. Although, I was extremely exhausted and went to sleep from 10-2. Yeah, this morning wasn't good at all.

I am in the Oquirrh Point Stake over in Kearns. Hey, it's fun here! I like it also because we only have one stake to cover and they are very organized and their main focus is on missionary work. YES! I couldn't get over to a post-office to mail some stuff home, so I will get there next week. My new companion's name is Elder Feriante.

Well, that is about it over here. I got my first refill for my medicine. YAY! While there I met the cousin of a missionary that just came in. It was pretty cool. Also, yesterday we met Elder Gonzalez of the Presidency of the Seventy. He was cool. Really nice. Let me know if there is anything you would like me to do out here. Oh yeah! I already know what I want for my 21'st birthday. You might be shocked about this so sit down if you aren't. For my 21'st birthday, I want to know what you wished you knew before you got married. No joke. One benefit to this...well, actually two. It is free, and it is good for the rest of your life. If you could give me that, it will be great.

Talk later,

Elder Austin Waller