6
- Baptism (for primary)
9 - Valentine's dinner presented by the young men and women
9
- Dr. appt.
11
- Zac goes to K.C. Durrant's birthday party after school
12
- WIC
17
- Eat lunch at Como
20
- Farm bureau banquet
23
- Zac eye appt.
25
- Zac's wrestling meet
27
- Blue and Gold banquet
March
2
- courthouse tour
3
- Dr. Paulos
5
- Stake temple day
8
- Dr. Godfrey
8
- Soccer meeting at courthouse, I am secretary
9
- S. Summit wrestling tour.
10
- Zac wrestling - Roy
10
- Ward temple night
11
- WIC
14
- Primary meeting
16
- Wrestling N. Summit
17,18
Parent Teacher Conf.
19
- Swap meet 1 p.m.?
20
- Inservice
22
- Amanda 4-H (horse?)
March
5, 1988 - Letter from Terri
Dear
Gwen, Hi, how are you all doing? How
have you been feeling? Is the baby
growing alot? I am so excited for you! How is Roger's knee? I sure hope he is feeling better now. Things here are just fine. We have been looking around for some
furniture and have found some pretty good deals so on payday, we will probably
get some. Pat also bought a queen-size
waterbed from one of his friends that we are going to get tomorrow. Then we will be all set. Have you heard from my parents lately? I am so excited that they are coming home in
June. My dad said that he wants to take
us to Disneyland. Pat hasn't been there
before, so it ought to be fun. I don't
have a job yet, but I got a call from a Toys-R-Us store for an interview on
Monday. So, I've got my fingers
crossed. It's only a couple of blocks
away from here, so I could walk to work since Pat needs the truck to get to
work. Well, it's bedtime, so I will let you go for now. Give the kids and Rog a luv. Take Care.
Love Pat and Terri
March
9, 1988
Well,
here it is 3 months later. These haven't been too good, but hopefully we're
back on track. It seems the devil works
extra hard sometimes. I am 5 months
pregnant, and weigh 165 pounds. Too
much!!! Amanda starts horse 4-H soon,
and Zac is in recreation wrestling and soccer soon. Rog is back to work. He went back the first of February. He is now relief foreman, and will be foreman
this summer. Amanda and I are reading
the Book of Mormon. The kids are doing
good in school too. Parent teacher
conference is next week. We are slow at
work, but it will pick up.
March
10, 1988 - Letter from Linda
Dear
Rog, Gwen, and kids, I know it's been a
while, but I haven't forgotten you guys.
So how is everyone? All over your
winter colds? It was good to talk to Rog
and Zac. Zac talks so grown up! I wish that you (Gwen and Amanda) could
have been there too. I'm glad everything
is going good for you now. I hope your
knee keeps healing well. So Gwen, send
us a picture of you so we can see how you are growing!! We are getting excited for that new
baby. I hope it doesn't come before we
get home. I am so glad we have finally
made that decision. Financially, I guess, we should stay. But we miss everyone so much. A lot of people once here, think that family
ties mean nothing. They are everything
to us. We all have colds again. Todd has been out of school 3 days. But he's feeling better and will go
tomorrow. He still has a flaming romance
going. Darrin, he ignores the girls
here. (thank goodness) And Brenda, she
just wants to drive all the time. So how
are both your jobs now? I hear Rog has a
new one. We talked to Terri on
Monday. She sounds good, and also very
happy. Boy, I can't tell you how hard it
is letting go of these kids. It doesn't seem possible they are old enough to be
on their own. Enjoy them while they are
small!! Well, mom says a lot of deer are
down now. A lady here told us if you
would put some human hair in some baggies and puncture some holes in it and tie
it on your shrubs and trees, the deer won't eat the plants. Maybe this will help? Try it!
Well, I'll close for now! We love
and miss you. Love Linda
Approximately
March 1988 - Letter from Linda
Dear
Rich Family, It's 5:45 and I'm ready for
work, so I thought I'd write. I'm also
watching "Dirty Dancing" which is a good movie. So, how have all of you been lately? I hope
old man winter is leaving you now, and taking all the colds with it. How is the old knee doing, and the P.G.
mom? What's Mandy and Zac been up
to? I can't remember, do the kids there
have spring break? These kids have all
next week off. Then again the 8th of
April. Spoiled huh? But over her, they need a break away. I hope this darn rain will stop soon. It's warn, but it gets depressing after three
solid months of it. Somedays it rains
only 1/2 days. Well, we're down to a one
car family now. We got rid of the van
yesterday. I'm afraid it's going to take
a while to get used to only having one.
This way me and Bruce go together.
We are all getting anxious to come home.
In fact, it's making all of us a little on edge. I guess homesick. I hope the time passes fast. We won't know the exact date until after
April 8th. This place makes us wait for
everything. How are you and Gwen's jobs
by now? Is Gwen going to work after the
baby comes? Looks like I"ll have a
hard time finding a job at home, with the freeze on. It will be a big adjustment to go from 2
checks to one. I guess I'll have to
get all the kids a job. So do you still
have your rabbits? Will you have little
ones for Easter? Gosh, can you believe
another month gone? YAY! Well, it's time to leave for work! Yuk!
We love and miss you bunches!
Love, Linda
Approximately
March 1988 - Letter from Lynette
Hi
Rog and Gwen, So, how is everyone doing
down there? Are you finally getting big
Gwen? What has the doctor said? When is your due date? Let me know, so I can mark it on my
calendar Ok? ok? How is your knee doing Rog? Does it bother you very much now? And how is Amanda and Zac? I bet they are growing up, huh? Boy mine are sure growing. Sommer is really growing. I think she just might pass up Brooke. But they are all doing really good. They sure like school. Well, have you heard what I've been doing? All right, don't laugh. HEE-HEE
Ye, that's right. I've been substituting in school. I did Sommer's class for 2 days, and then I
did Brooke's class. I really enjoyed it,
and I even get paid for it. The teachers
leave you an outline, and all I have to do is follow it. And they finally got me for a Sunday School
teacher. It's Brooke's class, the
Valiant's. I was really excited about this
calling.I feel really good about it. I
just hope I do a good job in teaching them, and I hope I can learn from this too. I really enjoy the kids. I guess you know that we are coming down for
Easter. The kids are sure excited to
come down. I am too. When school gets out, I've told the kids that
we can bring our little trailer down, and stay for a week. We are going to do that when Bruce and Linda
get home too. I can't believe they only
have 3 months left. Those 2 years sure
went by fast, huh? Rog, we sure like our
new Bronco, or new to us anyway. It's a
1985, and it is so nice. He sure took good care of it, whoever had
it. When we come home with it, it got 17
mpg. It only cost us $10.85 to drive it
from Layton to up here. Pretty good huh? We can't wait to drive it back home. How has the weather been down there? Boy, all it has done up here is
"Blow". I can't believe the
wind. It never stops. They told me that it would blow up here, and
it sure does.Well, there's not much else going on for now. So, we will see you all on Easter, Ok? Take care, We love ya lots! Love Lynette.
P.S. Hi Amanda and Zac, we will see you soon ok? You be good, ok? ok? P.P.S.S. Sorry it took me so long to write
back. I'm just slow, Hee Hee
and lazy, Hee Hee, and old Hee Hee (just kidding)
March
14, 1988 - Letter from Mark
Dear
Rich Family, Well, it really took me a long time this time, didn't it. I'm glad you all read Mom and Dad's letter
cause I'm a pretty poor writer. I
appreciate your thoughts and prayers and your letters, another one came today. Your family is so neat, and it seems as
though all is going just great for you all.
Thanks for the letter Amanda, you're a smart girl and glad you are my
niece. If you study really hard, you'll be as smart as your mom someday,
huh? But I guess you don't think she's
so smart. Zac, it sounds as though you
are the wrestling king, a real fighting kid.
I'd love to watch you wrestle. Do
you play basketball next year, or when?
Maybe wrestling is the best, huh?
I miss you two and will miss the new baby that's in your mom's belly
when it comes!! You'd sure like the cute
kids over here, except they would be a little tough to understand I
think. How is the "Fuufu"
doing? That means couple, it sounds like
work, keeping busy, taxes, all is wonderful.
Mom's letter says more, but I didn't want you to think that I'd
forgotten you. I'm having a good time,
improving all the time and enjoying it more and more. It's a struggle at times, but is worth it
all. Wish I could see you all and talk with you, but that will be in less than
1 1/4 years now. Keep the letters all
coming. I appreciate them. Take care, Love, Elder Dickson P.S. About those letters, Gwen,
haven't asked yet, sorry, I'm lazy, patience.
March
22, 1988 - Postcard from Mom and Dad in California
Dear
Gwen and Roger, Amanda and Zac, No
we haven't been to Disneyland, but thought you would like this card. The weather has been beautiful and WARM. The ward members were happy to see us,
and wanted to know if we were there to
stay. Also, all the people at Hughes. There have been a few changes, but we could
still find our way around without looking at a map constantly. Going to San Diego tomorrow, and will be home
Friday or Saturday. Love Grandma and
Grandpa.
March
26, 1988
Well,
I can't sleep at all. It's 10:48 p.m.
and I went to bed at 8:40 p.m. We worked
outside most of the day. The weather was great, probably 70 degrees. We planted some more fitzers and hopefully,
I can keep them watered good this whole summer.
Moved the rabbit pens by the well, and dug out around the cement under
the deck. Hopefully we an get it formed
up for the walls and another cement slab soon.
Our income tax money comes back Monday we hope. We want to pay a bunch of doctor bills and
VISA, and then see about a sprinkling system.
Dad doesn't seem to think it is practical to pump clear up the hill from
the ditch, but there is no way to have a lawn watered on our well. It's depressing.
March 28, 1988 - Letter from Bruce
Dear
Roger and Family, We
sure do enjoy your letters, they mean a
lot to us. Gwen's and Amanda's and Zac's
too. We all are happy to hear your knee
is getting better. I hope it is just a
little bit sore, so I will be able to keep up with you when we go hunting.
(Just kidding) I bet you enjoy watching
Zac with his wrestling and Amanda with the 4-H.
When we get there we can put some of it on a movie for you to
remember. We will have to plan some
hunting when we get back. Me and the Big
Creeps can hardly wait. Today I feel
just like this saying at the bottom of this page (It said: Sometimes I get so frustrated that I don't
know whether to cry, scream or wet my pants!)
I turned in my papers to start my orders around the first of March. I asked for the 15th of June to go home. Well, last Friday, I found out that on June
20th I would get a raise to a Step 2.
About 56 cents an hour increase.
So I went to personnel to change my date before they typed up my
orders. If I stay to that date at least
I can take that wage home with me.
Anyway, Friday they couldn't find any of my papers. I was fit to be tied. They told me to come back Monday. I went back Monday (today) and the lady was
on leave who did the orders. Her boss
knew of my problem and started looking for my stuff. After he looked through everything he knew of,
he said I'm sorry I can't find it. I was
upset, but kept cool. I happened to look
on the desk and on top of everything was my folder. He said she must of found it Friday and put
it on top and we overlooked it there. I
got the date changed and it looks like around the 28th of June, but nothing
firm till the 8th of April. "What a
Joke" And now the rest of the
story. A week earlier, I changed my
check mailing address. I had my check
sent to America First Credit Union. I
couldn't understand the account number, so I went to payroll and asked them to
explain. The dummy's messed up good. My check got sent to the account number of
the zip code, not my account. Anyway,
they told me it would be 2 weeks, before they could give me another check. What a joke again. $1,300.00 and I can't even spend it. I will be so glad to get back and get on
schedule and forget all the messing with payroll and personnel. I don't want this to sound like a sob
story. I just want you to know how much
fun we are having in Okinawa. I hope
Gwen is feeling okay and also that she waits till we get back to get the baby. I need some movies of a mother to be. I'm sure she will agree. Everyone is ready to get back. All they do is moan at what I do. The first date I applied for to come home was
the 29th. Everyone said change it. I changed to the 15th. No one pleased yet. They said school is out the 17th, and my
raise in the 20th. So I changed to the
28th. I only told Linda this time, and
she said "I like the 15th better"
Oh well, it's going by fast now.
We only have 90 days. We love and
Miss you all, Bruce
March
28, 1988
I'm
getting ready for work. The kids are
playing video games. Me and Amanda are
meeting mom to go shopping tonight. Slept good last night. I'm 6 months pregnant and 167 pounds. Quite a lard___. Oh well, we're all looking so forward to this
baby.
March
30, 1988
It's
1:30 a.m. and I can't sleep. Went to bed
at 8:30 p.m. and woke at 11:30 p.m. I'm
so tired, but can't go to sleep. I
thought I'd write a few things. Last
Saturday was a gorgeous day and we worked in the yard all day and planted some fitzer starts. Zac was bugging me all
morning to get out there and plant the crops.
He's so cute sometimes, and such a hard worker, and he doesn't complain
while working either. Cliff Johnson came
up yesterday and explained a pumping system to us, to water our lawn. It will be great if we can get it all into
place. But allot of hard work too. I'm
anxious to do allot in the yard, but Rog isn't much of a yard person. It's hard.
So much happens I want to write about.
We had a little cat that was so cute and playful. He died the other day. We think maybe he got a poisoned mouse? Hard to tell.
We've still got Duchess and the 2 rabbits. Both doe rabbits. We're going to get a buck from Uncle Grant
for awhile, so they can have babies.
Amanda was sure disappointed yesterday, because Horse 4-H was cancelled
because of the weather. She really
enjoys it. We got her a pair of Roper
boots $5.00, 2 shirts, $4.00 and $5.00, and a hat for $7.50 at a swap meet
sponsored by the 4-H clubs. We also got
a youth saddle for $50.00 from Jessie Mae Frannich. The other day Amanda was asking me about
different sizes of beds. Ours is a
Queen, and Erika's is a King, so she wondered if her's was a Jack! She's sweet and smart. Both kids had glowing reports at parent
teacher conference. Lately I have
enjoyed them so much more than usual, and we get along allot better. I have been reading the Book of Mormon and
praying regularly, and having the Lord's help, helps me so much. I went on an Arthritis Campaign
yesterday. I've got to call Gwen Hayes
and set up a visiting teaching appointment tomorrow. I go back to the Doctor April 5th, (6th
month) Gaylene Kimball is due anytime. (Chase
is the baby she had) Keysto's
birthday is April 2nd, along with the Easter Egg Hunt at the park. Hope it's nice weather. We've got to get planning Amanda's party for
her birthday on April 9th. So much to
do, and not enough umpfh to do it! We
got our refund back from the taxes. $1,800.00 from Federal and $600.00 from the
State. Not too bad. Allot of it will go to bills (Doctor). These operation's have really set us
back! Money-Money-never enough.
