Sweet Feet of a Super Hero

Crystalee wrote the following essay after a summer visit with Aunt Melanie Kau. It's rare to find a woman of such endless love for her family and unbending faith. You see her in this picture five years ago at Thanksgiving with her sweetheart Uncle Jon. He's such an incredible husband. Their positive outlook, even in the face of cancer, inspires us everyday. Kau family, you're always in our prayers.We love you all.


My mom roped me into the art of foot massage. In my elementary years, she’d give me a bottle of lotion and a dry foot, and I’d begin. My younger sister often took the other side, and together we’d make a hilarious game out of finding mama’s ankle nerve – the one that would send her into a momentary spasm of leg nerves. She’d chide us every time, but never turned down a foot rub from her girls. It’s a special bond we have, between loving hands and feet who need them.

That training came in handy yesterday when I rubbed the feet of a real life super hero.

My mom’s sister, my sweet Auntie Melanie, needed a foot rub on our visit yesterday. It was my privilege. It’s been more than a year since she was diagnosed with lung cancer. Number two killer on the cancer list, she’s fought her opponent with the mighty courage of a warrior. The go-getter who always puts her family at the heart of her life, Melanie’s been my role model for years. Although I was an All-State track girl, she would cream me when we ran together, despite the fact she is 20 years my senior. Beloved by everyone who meets her, over 500 neighborhood friends came to support her in a friend-sponsored “Miles for Melanie 5k” race last September.

This past year, the strength of Melanie’s spirit has been refined inside a ravaging body. Her positive attitude, unbending faith, and the intense love both from and for her husband and four beautiful children keeps her going, causing progress to astonish the medical world. When in her presence, I feel I am on hallowed ground.

Melanie’s double dose of radiation has left her body weak. Her legs are so skinny now it’s hard to recognize them as the formerly lean, muscled runner’s legs that carried her through many races. On our visit yesterday in her room, her feet poked out beneath a thick quilt. It’s the middle of July, but engaged in inner battle, circulation to her feet has become a low priority on the bodily checklist. Although her feet are often cold and lined with purple veins, my auntie’s spunk shows in her choice of hot pink toenail polish.

While we spoke, I couldn’t help but reach for those pink toes and start massaging them. This soon led to lotioning, and circular loving touches from heel to sole. She eased contentedly into my hands, letting me help bring circulation to her toes.

“Oh, I will hold on to the memory of you sitting down there at my feet,” she said in her loving way. She says things like that, making you feel like you're made of magic.

Auntie, it is I who remember your sweet feet. Let's see you back on them soon. Love you.

Read Melanie’s remarkable story at http://positiveoutlier.wordpress.com/

Local Pet Cemetery?

Halloween will soon be knocking (literally) on our door, and signs of the orange-and-black holiday pop up in the most random places. Even PET CEMETERIES. Here in Ogden, Ryan and I happened across the local pet cemetery on an exploration walk a couple months ago. Did you know those existed? I'd never heard of such a thing, but there it is - just a few blocks from our apartment, adjacent to the people cemetery, with it's fancy ironclad sign:


You see it's called Tiffany's Memorial Pet Cemetery. Tiffany, by the way, is a pooch. Her wealthy owner had not just one, but two big statues built for her. She has a much larger monument than most people. Walking around, we saw graves for a variety of creatures. Four-legged and even winged creatures had graves. Does this mean all dogs really do go to heaven?


Happy Halloween. Watch out for black cats.

9 Reasons Why We're Loving Ogden

Note from Crystalee: This poor family blog has been neglected long enough. We went on a first anniversary Maui getaway, moved to Ogden, I started a new job, Ryan's in full-time school and started a new internship, I've been getting closer to my 50 states while 25 goal. It's time to catch up.

We've been in Ogden now for over two months and really like it. We'd heard all kinds of horror stories, but surprise! Ogden's great! We're in a wonderful location, close to the hot spots. Here's the TOP 9 so far:


1. Ogden is new to both of us, and it's fun to explore it together. We feel very blessed to be here, and for all the opportunities we've found in this town with an urban hub and outdoor recreation galore. Did you know that National Geographic ranked Ogden in the top adventure towns? It called it the "Disneyland for adrenalized adults." Now THIS is a place we belong.

2. MarketStar
Four blocks away is this gem of Washington Avenue. I LOVE LOVE LOVE my new Marketing Writer position at MarketStar. They've let me jump right in, helping contribute to the corporate blog, internal magazine, and writing for client projects. With my passion for word-crafting, it's an ideal job for me. Being so close, I walk or ride my bike pretty much daily. I work with ridiculously talented people, and enjoy getting to come home for lunch with Ryan.



2. Weber State University

The primary reason we came to Ogden was for Ryan to be closer to his school, and I'd decided to apply for their Master of Professional Communication program (turned out I got a great job too) Ryan's jumped right in, becoming the president of a contractor's club - he's studying Construction Management - and being awarded a full scholarship for the year. (Yeah, so I'm a proud wife, I know, I know) It's a 12 minute drive, and 30 minute bike ride, as Ryan can testify.





3. Historic 25th Street runs on the south side of MarketStar, and it's such a neat street! Years ago it used to be a scary, R-rated area, but it's been successfully transformed into a family-inviting row of quaint shops, lovely boutiques, and yummy restaurants. I love just walking along it, window shopping, and am fortunate to get to eat there with co-workers.






4. The Ogden River Trail is nearby, and I've loving having such a special place to bike and run. Just tonight I ran along it, admiring the fall colors. It's not a place I feel safe at night, but it's sure a blast in daylight.

5. Along the river trail is the Lorin Farr swimming pool, a very special place because the classic all-American movie The Sandlot had a pivotal scene filmed there. Yes, you know what I'm talking about. Wendy Peffercorn! And Squint's never-forgotten line:

"I've been coming here every summer of my adult life, and every summer there she is oiling and lotioning, lotioning and oiling... smiling. I can't take this no more!"

Filmed blocks from where we live, that's where Squints pulled the moves on the lifeguard.
I love that movie. "For-ev-ER!"


6. Farther down the trail is the Ogden Botanical Garden, a lovely spot for picnics and rose-smelling. It's really an enchanting little place, and I love that it's walking distance away.







7. I recently discovered this incredible place, Rainbow Gardens, which is where the river trail starts. They call it Western America's Largest Gift Emporium, and I tend to believe them. It's HUGE and has such unique, incredible gadgets and gismos. I could spend hours and hours in there, I think any female could.





8. Our LDS church building for the Pioneer Ward is also walking distance, and it's a historic building, uniquely built with intricate design and stained glass windows. We live in a low income, slightly sketchy neighborhood, but this is the most beautiful LDS church building I've attended, and we have good people in our ward.



9. We see the Ogden temple everyday. Unfortunately, it's being completely renovated for the next couple years, but it will be beautiful when it's finished. Ryan likes seeing the construction process. It's being very delicately taken down.