August 196 - from my journal

August

15 - We move into new house

 20 - Primary party

23 - Mom comes home from California

August 1, 1986

 I've started a new job at the courthouse in the Assessor's Office.  It will be okay after I get used to it.  We are so busy with the house.  Both Roger's and my heads are spinning.  The carpet and linoleum are finished and the fridge and stove are delivered.  We are getting the water line hooked up today, and then UP&L is supposed to be hooking us up and Mt. Bell (phone) should be in 10 days.  The plumber and electrician should come today to finish up.    I hope and trust in the Lord to help me.  Help me to go on and live up to the ideals that I know are inside of me.

August 6, 1986

There is electricity in the house now, and Dwight Gailey is supposed to hook up the finish plumbing today.  It will be good to have water in the house so I can start cleaning and then we can move in next week hopefully.  It seems you wait so long for some things to happen, and you think they never will, and then they FINALLY do.  I hope and pray that ALL of our fondest hopes and dreams and wishes come to pass.  I want all of us to be happy forever.

August 7, 1986

I like writing in this journal.   I guess someday someone's sure to read it.  Boy they'll wonder what a crazy woman I am.  My life has changed so many different ways.  Now I feel I have come home for good.  

August 15, 1986 - The day we moved into our house on the hill

(This note was with some things the Rich's gave us as a house-warming.)

To the Rich Family:  Rog & Gwen, We hope you can use some of these things we got for you.  We are so happy for you with your new home.  We are proud of you for the things you have done.  

Love, Mom & Dad & Kelly, Joni & Kerry & family, Lynette & Randy & family, Layne & Susan & boys, Linda & Bruce & family

August 18, 1986

Dear Rog, Gwen, Mandy & Zac  I guess by now you're probably in your new home.  I bet that'a a great feeling.  Maybe you can relax for a while now.  So how is everybody doing?  What have the kids been up to?  Are they ready for school?  I know I'm ready to send mine back to school now.  I think that's neat about Gwen's job. (She is referring to me getting the job at the courthouse)  And Rog, how did your interview turn out?  We're all fine.  As you could probably tell from the tape and pictures.  Except Darrin keeps growing.  And boy, what a low and squeaky voice.  He's even been golfing a little.  We finally got both of the boys some snorkel gear.  And they love it. They are pretty good too.  they see all kinds of things in the ocean.  Lots of tropical fish.  The ocean temperature the other day was 94 degrees.  Pretty warm, huh?  I take the kids swimming quite a bit.  I guess we're going to wait for awhile to go to Korea.  At least until we've moved on base and saved some money.  Right now the YEN rate is lower than ever, so everything for us is expensive.  Especially our utilities, and that comes out of our pocket until we do move on base.  I hope by the time mom comes we'll have moved.  I can't wait for her to come.  She'll love it here.  Or rather marvel at it.  It is so totally different than home.  One thing Okinawa has, is almost NO crime rate.  It's usually done by the Americans on the island.  Gwen are your parents home from California yet?  I know and understand how much you miss them.  We sent all the kids some shells, but they are coming in the mail to mom.  Hope they like them.  Rog, are you still not smoking?  I bet that's tough, huh?  Guess I"ll go for now.  Write when you can.  Love and Miss you Guys, Kiss the kids for me!  Love, Linda

(Approximately end of August 1986)

Dear Roger, Gwen & kids, Hi, How's it going?  It's alright here I guess.  Today we had a typhoon.  Today, all day, the power has been out and it's been real windy and rainy.  So, have you got all moved into your house yet?  Is it really nice?  I wish I was home so I could see it.  Did Roger go bow-hunting?  Did you get a deer?  I hope you did.  I wish we were home so we could go bow-hunting.  Did you guys get the shells we sent?  I hope so.  When we went to the beach I found a starfish.  It was blue on the top and green on the bottom.  Well, I better go for now.  Write when you can.  Love, Todd

August 18, 1986

Well, we finally did it.  We are all moved into our new house.  I never thought this day would come.  But it has, and I'm glad and our house is so pretty and nice.  If I could have one wish, I would wish for enough faith and endurance to believe and trust in the Father that He will take care of me and bless me with happiness if I will strive to do what's right and live a good life and keep the commandments.  I don't want it all handed to me on a silver platter.  I want to know inside myself, and for myself, that things will work out. No good thing will be withheld from those that love and trust the Lord.  I will try and strive for this.

August 20, 1986

 Well we have been in our new home 6 days now, and it sure is nice.  There still are allot of little odds and ends to do, but they'll get done.  Roger went and got allot of wood yesterday and we are going again Friday.  Only 2 more days and mom, Tonya, Erika, and Mark will be coming home from California.  Dad will stay 2 more weeks.  Hope I can get their house cleaned up and looking nice. (Just a note:  There was a terrible rain storm, centered over in North Morgan near the mountain where the road leading up to Pentz hill is located.  It caused a flash flood to come down that mountain.  It rained pretty hard all over Morgan City.  I had left mom's windows opened, and we tore over there expecting to have a mess in their house.  Thankfully Marsha Toyn was there and had things taken care of.  I had hired her to clean mom's house for me.  I just didn't have the time.) It will be good to have them back again.  I am reading a book called "Faith Precedes the Miracle"  written by Spencer W. Kimball.  It's a really nice book, and I'm so glad I got it.  I don't want the miracle before my faith.  It would be allot easier, I know.  But I WANT and NEED to grow.  I want to have a testimony of my very own and not be leaning on others.  I want Heavenly Father to be proud of me and be able to trust me.   I am now building out the lumber of my life, not a tavern, but a temple.  I am so thankful my life has changed and turned around and I hope and pray that we can all be happy forever.  I will always go on and never quit, or give in, or give up. 

August 24, 1986

 Tonight as I knelt in prayer, I felt Heavenly Father's Spirit close to me giving me comfort and a sweet peace inside.  I would like to have this feeling all the time.  I am glad that I now know where to go, and what I must do to have it.  Prayer, it is so important.  Father in Heaven does know what's best for us, and he loves us and wants us to be happy.  We need to reach out to Him.  He is there.  I know within my heart this is true.  I bear testimony of it.  I love my Heavenly Father and I trust in Him and have faith in His justice and goodness.  I hope I can teach my children of these things, so they might have this help and hope and comfort throughout their lives.  I bear testimony of the love Heavenly Father gives to me, and I know He is there, always my friend.  signed, Gwen D. Rich